New Year 2015-Focus on here and now

Each year we all celebrate the end of one era and the beginning of another with a bang. We dance, we eat, we drink, we stay up late and send messages to our loved ones far away.  Even if we don't do all these things, we are always happy to toast and welcome the new year with the expectation that it will be better than the last and that we will be making changes to improve upon our bodies, minds, and attitudes.

This year it was difficult to celebrate the last week of the year.  On December 23rd 2014 seven of my family members were traveling from New York to Florida to celebrate the season.  Among them were my younger sister Clarabel, my older sister Alba and her husband Juan, their two kids Juan Carlos and Danielly, my aunt Maria and her son Luis.

You could not find a happier, funnier, more lively group of people with whom to spend the holidays.

On this fateful day they were involved in a tragic car accident where of the seven, only three survived.  My older sister Alba and her kids Juan Carlos 23 and Danielly 19.  My sister sustained a wrist fracture and knee injury, she will have a full recovery; Juan Carlos had a shattered hip and dislocated knee, he will also have a full recovery after 6-8 weeks and physical therapy. Danielly suffered a head injury that will require more extensive, long term care, therapy and a lot of time, patience, and dedication on the part of her caregivers.  We are still praying that she will, in time, recover so that she may be able to continue her education and reach her career goals.

As for the deceased, they are sorely missed.  I can't begin to describe the emptiness in our hearts. The desire to send them a text or a quick call to see what they're up to. It's hard to wrap my mind around the facts, it's hard to believe they are gone never to celebrate with us again.

I had the pleasure and amazing opportunity to visit with my little sister Clarabel this past October.  She came to my home and stayed with us for a week of exercise, my crazy kids, fun in the town, and some quiet time just sharing life stories in general. I loved our time together and I am thankful we had this time and did not put it off to do "some day" because as we have learned this past week, some day sometimes doesn't ever come.

In memory of my loved ones who are now angels in heaven I promise to focus more on the here and now and less on the "some day" that may never come.

The family has a hard road ahead, emotionally, financially, and physically. Recovering from this accident will not be easy but we are strong and have the support of our amazing community.

If you find it in you heart, please say a prayer, make a donation, and remember to always wear your seat belts, no matter what seat you happen to be in the vehicle.

Memorial Fund for a family gone too soon.

Have a safe New Year!

Terie

Holiday Travels

"I-95 Winter Day"

For the past three years we have been traveling across the seas to see family during the holidays and whether we go across the sea or across state lines I always ask myself why am I doing this again? I will not be traveling over the holidays anymore. I'm done! It's tiring, frustrating, the car becomes a huge mess, we have to worry about the pets, the kids have to leave their new toys behind, I mean, it's just a real pain in the neck, literally, all that driving and uncomfortable sleeping...ugh!

But each time, when it's all said and done, we're glad we did it. It's a family thing.  We don't want to deal with the inconveniences of winter travels but we want to see family. We want to be close and feel the warmth of each others company.  We feel blessed that we have the opportunity, the possibilities, and the people to go visit, many do not or can not.

I am thankful that we are able to travel and that we have places to stay and that we can see our family, even if only for a little while, during the holidays. I hope to visit more often through the year and then maybe we wont feel so guilty not traveling during the busiest time of year.

I'd like to wish everyone a new year filled with promises fulfilled, hope and dreams attained, and relationships built or rebuilt. May you all get exactly what you deserve...health, happiness, and love!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams" ~ Thoreau

Let's talk next year ;-)

Terie

Back to School in the USA

Here we go again. Day 1 of 180 days of school! Yeepee!! Fifth Grade and Kindergarten.  I feel like he was born just the other day, and only a few years ago we were moving to Cuba and just last month we moved back from Cuba.  We must have had a ton of fun because time flew.

I will cherish these days when they get dressed, eat, and are waiting for me at the door because they are so excited to start school.  In a few weeks homework and early morning wake ups will set in and they will have to be dragged out of bed and pushed out the door. We'll have to see how long I can make the excitement last.  It's not that they don't want to go to school, it's that they don't want to get up early.  If it were up to them school would start with Lunch and go from there. Ha!!!

They are both super excited to get started in their new schools!

Great day for everyone!

Terie

Visiting family and friends

Well this has been a fun filled travel week for us.  We are currently in Pennsylvania with father in law (FiL), have already visited Great Grandma, uncles, aunts and cousins in New Jersey, college orientation for Josh and soon we travel to Delaware and then back to Virginia until moving date.

Whew! That's exhausting.  This is when we appreciate having a big Chevy conversation that seats 7 and hold a week worth of stuff.  I generally keep 2 trash bags in the car for easy clean up, 2 coolers with traveling snacks and drinks, a bag of toys and books and of course some electronics to keep kids entertained.  Oh and lets not forget the good old GPS for detouring when traffic gets ugly - that is definitely a life saver.

The kids have visited the local Zoo with daddy and the park where their dad used to play when he was a kid.  We are planning to visit the King of Prussia Mall in a few minutes here-- it's time to let the baby run himself tired.  You ever been there...it's a big mall with more stores than I can handle but it's fun to walk through it.  It's a bit on the expensive side for me so there's a lot of just dreaming going on --Ha ha!!

Daddy has been reconnecting with old friends and with his brother, going night fishing and catching nothing but good stories and a few mosquito bites but it's the quality of time that matters right? No?  A big fish for dinner would have been fantastic, maybe tonight.

Time to go "window" shopping at KoP Mall Plaza and The Court.  Look forward to sharing more about wine from Neil, more about our trip, and more about life.  Have a great week everyone!!

Christmas Music in November...that's just rude!

Is it Christmas already? No Wait! We ARE still in the month of November right?  By the looks of my photos below, I think I can safely say that Autumn is definitely here and from my understanding after living in this country for the last 30+ years, Thanksgiving comes before Christmas.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm willing to bet, it is still a national holiday in this country.

In case you're wondering where I'm going with this rant, here it is.  This morning I was headed to the gym to attend a Spinning Certification Training.  I was pretty excited too, about the training and about the fact that the Mr. was staying home with all FOUR kids the entire day while I get to mingle with other adult minds.

Anyway, before I get lost in that world, let me move on.  I turned on the radio, hoping to find some sing-along music or something that would energize me.  Then I heard it... Bing Crosby's "Dreaming of a white Christmas."  It's November 8th!!  

Can we possibly get through the month of November before turning on the Christmas cheers.  At this rate, by the time Christmas comes around, I will be sick of the cheery music we get to replay once a year.

Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE Christmas.  I love the feeling of the season, baking cookies with the kids, getting together with family and friends, sometimes I even enjoy torturing myself with a crazy stroll through a mall, just to say I survived.  But I would like to reserve that experience to the month of December and focus on something I equally treasure in November...giving thanks.

I see Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks for the wonderful people in our lives, give thanks for having yet another day when we wake up to enjoy our children, our family, our friends and one more day to give thanks for the beauty we are giving in nature...just look around.   

We can reflect on the material things we have, our careers, our education; but none of that matters without the love of those we hold dear.  The best thing about this holiday, besides the awesome meals and the excuse to gain a few pounds, we don't even have to think about buying gifts because it's not about gift giving and receiving. 

It is, in my opinion, the most honest holiday when families get together to share a meal, share life stories, watch the football game, and catch up with each other.  

I will not be hitting that radio station button on my dial until I'm ready for Christmas music.

  

In the mean time, lets take time to give to those who are less fortunate than us, and extend a helping hand all year long. 

 

A giving heart is a thankful heart! 

My idea of heaven!

I forgot I created this little video on RockYou literally 2 days after the baby was born and 1 day before my husband was leaving for Iraq. It was so bitter sweet but I did what I had to do. Had the baby, baptized him, and with the help of my older kids, we had an awesome Thanksgiving Dinner on November 18th--the next day, at 6:00 am, he left. I felt so lonely even in the company of my kids. Soon that faded as I had to be strong for all the kids, but particularly for this little bundle of joy who needed me.

The husband is now back, the baby is 19 months, still I feel that same bitter-sweet feeling I felt the day we took these pictures and created this slide show.

I love that we're back together again. This is heaven!