12 years later 9.11

Today is a day filled with many emotions. The days leading up to today begin to feel heavy and sadness makes an appearance in a way that hurts with every touch. You remember every moment of this day 12 years ago like it was yesterday. Your mind immediately replays the images of the planes crashing into the twin towers and your heart sinks knowing you have friends and acquaintances in those buildings. Praying for them and everyone’s safety during that time. No matter the time that passes the loss is still there. The sadness that someone can hurt so many they don’t even know just to hurt. I can’t begin to understand the hate that is produced in such a horrible crime. Today we not only feel the pain of loss and hurt from such sadness but we have to rise from this hate and be grateful that we are here and we still have our every day. Lord, thank you for reminding us of the good that is still out there. The people that ran into those buildings to help. The people that are still helping us today. We need to love and no matter the difficulty remember faith is around us so keep it in your heart. I know I will continue to believe that the good out weighs the bad and that love conquers all. May you have a peaceful night and may God bless us all. 

Rice Krispies Treats

There’s 24 hours in a day and yet there never seems to be enough time. From the moment you wake up to the time your head finally touches the pillow you realize no matter how much you try you can’t get all the things you need to or think you need to done. It’s hard to take a moment for yourself and just think about the miracles all around you and truly appreciate the day you are given. Today was my reminder to slow down and just take it all in. I was watching the kids play when I had this thought to melt marshmallows. I went to the cabinet and found the marshmallows and began the process on the stove. As I stirred Gio came up to me and asked what I was doing and if he could see. I picked him up so he could look in the pot. The smile on his face went from ear to ear and the twinkle in his eyes seem to light up the kitchen. As I put him down Isa was already at my leg telling me she was next. I picked her up and she stared in the pot. Not knowing what it was she looked at me with a huge smile and said, “so pretty mommy, what is it?” I explained what I was doing and how yummy the rice krispies treats would taste once done. They kept coming back to the kitchen to check on the process. I just kept stirring the marshmallows until they completely melted. I started to think about all the worries and stresses that I put in my life and how they are the whole lumps of marshmallows but that if I let them go and don’t let them consume me they can melt away into something beautiful and I can use that time to enjoy the tastes it brings. Right at that moment both Gio and Isa ran into the kitchen and out of nowhere said, “llllwwove you mommy.” It was a perfect reminder of the miracles we are surrounded by. Those little mouths trying to say they LOVE me and knowing the meaning behind those words. Before you know it the treats were done and the tasting began. We were all smiles and enjoyed tasting just a bit before dinner. It was a perfect end to another beautiful day. 

Sometimes you need to be strong for you

It’s a beautiful day. The breeze is blowing in all the right places. The sun is shining just enough to keep you smiling and the hope in the air is full of grace. There’s so much to be thankful for and you try so hard to block out the negative energy but those people sneak their way into your life. It’s amazing how much energy is being lifted because of stupidity. You try to smile through some sadness, hug the one’s you love to lift the weight and reflect on the beauty you are surrounded by but the energy it takes to get there is draining. Sometimes you just need to confront it and wash it away. Let the people who try to bring you down or cause you grief not enter. At times you need to be strong enough for you. Instead of worrying about all those who don’t deserve your heart. It’s just hard to do it sometimes. If that makes any sense.
Here’s to taking deep breaths, keeping that smile lifted, and love in your heart no matter the situation.

“For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.” Sam Levenson

A little mass to remember those we lost

Today we came together to honor and remember the one’s we lost this year at mass. A mass held at the Mola club where my father and many generations before him belong. The area is set up, the priest enters and the Italian language flows all around us. This year as I held Gio and Isa close to me I listened to the words spoken of death, understanding and life and I smiled knowing that during this sadness I was bringing life to this day. Giovanni and Isannah are our gifts. They are new life and hope and their presence there today made a world of difference. As I looked around the room I saw faces of life lived, moments treasured and hearts that were heavy but most importantly I saw  faith. A faith so strong that brought such a strength in that room. It’s amazing that a service so small and personal can create something so big and wondrous. The presence of children today in that room was what we all needed to see and hear during service.

Life is hard at times. We don’t understand the pain we have to suffer but we know that there is a purpose and reason. Remember there is always more to come and this is not the end. May your hope and faith carry you through each day and keep you in love. 

Dandelion

Do you remember that feeling you would get as a kid when you saw a dandelion? Excitedly you immediately ran to pick it up, you thought of a wish, and then blew it. The smile of comfort and belief that your special wish would come true lit up the skies. You felt the hope the dandelion represented for you. See, that’s how I love every day. That comfort, that smile, that belief that all the wonderful wishes will light up my world. Fill my heart with hope.

Remember taking a deep breath but pausing right before blowing the dandelion just to rethink your wish. Then blowing with all your might so all the seeds scatter around and along with those seeds spread your hopes and dreams. This is what you need to remember and hold on to. Don’t let negativity or disappointment stand in the way of your love, hopes and dreams. Let your seeds scatter all around you and lift high. Keep your pure childhood beliefs alive.

Wishing the seeds spread love all around you.