Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas Kicks


     Greetings to my devoted readers! I am so grateful to you. I see in my Stats that some of you are viewing this blog all the way in Bangladesh. I can't express how happy this makes me! On a side note, some have commented that my daughter looks like she is from there or Sri Lanka. FYI, my children are Belizian, Panamanian and Filipino-I know cute huh?!

     If you are a regular here, you may have noticed that my last blog entry was a repost with slight alterations. I will now be linking up with Reality Check, they are segment of a Pregnancy Clinic I have volunteered with for ages. I started speaking with Reality Check almost a decade ago. As a teen; I had a vision that I would be talking to teens as an adult about sexual integrity (sounds better than abstinence right?). I wasn't sure how that would manifest. I called the Center to ask about volunteering more regularly, the woman who answered asked me "what do you see yourself doing?". When I answered she said "we are starting a program just like that!" Enter Reality Check. The lady on the phone is now one of my best friends-God is good! The linked posts are inspirational topics for teens and parent, you can view them here: http://yourrealitycheck.org/inspirational
      I hope your Christmas was lovely. I saw on Pinterest (the new love of my life-seriously, I mean it, I love it) how you can put uncooked cinnamon rolls in a waffle maker and make basically "cinnawaffles". They are so good! And easy! We are on a major kick right now and have had them every morning since Christmas. BTW use the accompanying icing instead of syrup. Wear an oven mit when you open the waffle maker (I got my machine from CVS for $10) because the steam that escapes is hot!

     Did you indulge in any new yumminess this season??? Or some different volunteer work???

     I wish you all a rejuvenated New Year! We need it right?!

                                             

Friday, December 21, 2012

Saints in "Sin City"


                                                

     My husband Patrick and I just returned from a very relaxing weekend  in "Slots Vegas" with our kids Tatianna, 7 and Ethan, 5. We have family there and were blessed with a hotel voucher for a free weekend stay at the beautiful Vdara hotel and spa. This is a smoke and casino free hotel. I was thrilled by the modern decor of dark woods and egg- shaped soaking tubs with plush crisp towels in high quantities ( I am not eco-friendly when it comes to towels and linens when traveling)! I insisted that everything in our room be put away to maintain the glorious simplicity, my husband was this close to kicking me out, espcially given the fact that I must disinfect all wipable surfaces and it was a weekend for him to "relax". What?!

We met up with my family who were also in town at their time share. In Vegas many of the poolside waitresses are in swim suits. Our waitress had a very noticeable, jarring scar that graced her whole torso. My mother asked her if she is required to wear her bikini. She said they gave her an option to wear a one-piece but she is fine with it. She wears her badge proudly, it's nothing compared to what she survived!

    She explained that while in a car six years ago (she was then 18) a drunk driver slammed into she and her sister after a birthday celebration for her sister's 13 birthday. The airbag deployed and obliterated her insides. She recounted that her internal bleeding was so severe, blood ran from her eyes and ears. She had a 10% chance of survival! Miraculously, through her shock she was able to calm her little sister. After, she remained in a 2 1/2 month coma, the doctors told her mom that even if she survived she would " be just a vegetable" (heard that one before). Her mom said "that's O.K, she will be my vegetable".

    By now my mom and I were both in tears. She remained in the hospital for six months total after four code blues. Her mother slept next to her every single night. The miracle was that she and her mother were not close and had a contentious relationship-until this. Our waitress said that she and her mom and  her 13 siblings (I know!) are closer than ever and speak on the phone daily. By the way; her little sister had just a broken arm but now drives like "an old lady" at age 19.

     Like many, I may conflict with my parents and other people I care about deeply; we even "agree to disagree sometimes". Life's experiences and stories like this one grant us a reminder to savor the moments that we do have with our loved ones.