I took a moment today just to breathe. I walked outside alone and just let myself be. Immediately I felt the breeze wrap around me. My shoulders relaxed and a weight gently lifted. There’s something about today’s wind that is really doing something to this body of mine. If you are out there today, close your eyes, take a deep breath and let the wind whirl around you caressing every bit of your body and soul. This is a must once in a while.
Enjoy your day and let the innocent beauty of today’s breeze shower over you and rejuvenate your soul.
Somewhere between heartaches and waiting comes another chance to be found by someone who can show you that you don’t deserve to be just an option but a choice.
The white butterfly
Mom came over to spend time with us before her departure tomorrow. My mom has a way of easing my aura without doing anything. From the moment I see her I feel myself relax. From the moment she hugs me my body calms and I feel safe. I don’t think she realizes just how her presence can help me and change the negative I sometimes feel inside.
We all decided to blow bubbles and enjoy the kids laughter and popping excitement. The giggles filled the deck while bubbles big and small drifted away. As the bubbles flew around mom decided to brave the mosquitoes from down below. The garden area was filled with weeds after the days of rain fall. Mom began clearing while I watched mosquitoes surround her legs and arms. She must be wonder woman because known dared to bite her. As I watched in amazement of this beautiful woman gracefully moving around the yard an angelic BIG white butterfly flew around her. Sometimes touching her shoulders as she worked. Flying around her head and shoulders touching down on her from time to time. When I told mom about this beautiful butterfly she said to me without hesitation that is was my Nonna. She began to explain that Nonna used to love working in the yard so this was her joining us. My body felt such a happiness and I felt her too. At one point the butterfly flew straight up. So high up that I could no longer see her and then in seconds came straight down to grace us with her presence again. She just continued to fly all around mom. It was a calming awakening, if that makes sense.
Thank you mom for being my calm, peace, and love today. Thank you Nonna for taken a moment from Heaven to bring your beauty to us once again. I love and miss you every day.
Playing together
Love the times when the kids actually play together. I could just sit there and stare at them for hours. Well, if it actually lasted that long. I love the bond that is forming. The connecting that is taken place and the generous sibling love blossoming right before me. I enjoy the quiet times that I have to immediately look over to locate them to make sure something not wrong when all of the sudden it gets quiet. Then when I see them whispering, giggling and just being I beam with happiness. From fear comes immediate joy. It’s amazing how you can go from one extreme to the next in seconds.
Whether it’s building a lego train together or playing doctor the kindness I see in them warms my heart and confirms that we are doing something right in the midst of the craziness. I love hearing the encouragement they give to each other and the pats on the back that goes on. If Isannah falls or gets hurt Gio immediately checks to see if she is ok. His sweet words, OK, Isa? She responds, I’m OK. Then back they go to playing together. It’s moments like these that put all the other things going on to rest so you can enjoy the times that count.
The chucheta
I was walking out of the grocery store heading to the car when I noticed something in the street. It was a chucheta (pacifier) like Isannah constantly used in the NICU. For some reason seeing that chucheta on the ground made me cry where I stood. I guess I was taking back to that time and to the times that if we didn’t have it around when Isa wanted it she would cry so sadly. I pictured a baby screaming while her mom frantically searched for the lost chucheta. I wanted to pick it up, dust it off and sanitize it just to have it on hand in case I found that mother/father and their child. I had to force myself to walk away, wipe my tears and get in my car. Is there something wrong with me?
It was that kind of day!
Sniffles, sneezes and water eyes fill this house followed by a lot of whining, crying and exhaustion. Boy, being sick with the kids in the summer stinks. The constant rain outside doesn’t make it easier but the silliness that occurs when you are tired out of your mind keeps the laughs rolling. Lets just say I had my share of bloopers these past few days. One particular incident comes to mind. Who am I kidding, a couple do and I will share them with you. The kids and I are playing doctor. Well, I’m the patient and they are Doc McStuffins. Yes, they both have to be Doc McStuffins because if you don’t refer to both of them that way the whining and unbelievably loud crying begins. I’m doing my best to avoid that from happening. Gio begins to check my temperature by sliding the thermometer over my forehead as I do to them when they are sick. Isa uses the stethoscope to check my heartbeat then immediately grabs the instrument to check my ears while saying, “ok, mommy all good.” Gio leans over to check my blood pressure but in doing so a big stream of drool from his mouth finds it’s way in my eye. As I try to clean it he hands me something not paying attention I try to grab it. He tells me no that he will do it. Since they always pretend to have food and want to feed me, I let him. All of the sudden I feel this slimy, salty, sticky thing on my lips and half way in my mouth. Gio giggles and says my booger. I went from wiping my eye filled drool to pulling out Gio’s salty booger. This is where the doctors and patient game ends. Now let me fast forward to our bedtime routine. Isa’s already done and in sleep land. Thank goodness! While Gio is just starting. Before they take a bath each now pees and/or poops in the big potty. Gio is tired but still needs to pee so he sits on the big potty. It takes him some time so as I hold him I lower my head. All of the sudden pee is smacking me in the cheek. I don’t want to get to excited in fear the pee will just wash my entire face so I gently help him push it down. I calmly remind him that he needs to hold it down. He gently pushes down and continues to pee. Somehow his pee finds it’s way where the gap between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl meet and pee comes squirting out on to my leg. A quick adjustment and the pee fills the toilet bowl the right way. Soaked in pee I’m grateful that the peeing is done and it’s finally bath time. Wrong again! Gio tells me he is pooping. I decide to make myself comfortable by sitting on the edge of the bathtub while holding him up. I lower my head because I’m about to pass out but Gio keeps me on my toes with a line of boogers carefully placed on my hand. After a peed cheek, soaked pee pants and booger tattoos on my hand, an itsy bitsy poop slowly falls out of Gio’s butt and with a smile on his face he says, “poop mommy m&m’s.” It was that kind of day.
Please feel free to share your stories. I’d love to hear them.
My magical night
I had the most magical night. My husband and I shared our 5th Anniversary tonight. The weather couldn’t get any better. The breeze was perfect and the calmness that surrounded us felt like a security blanket of love. We enjoyed the special emotions the night time in the city brings. I had butterflies in my belly as I stared at my handsome man who sat to the side of me in the cab. We were on our way to a special place. I still had no idea where we were going but the comfort in his eyes and the touch of his hand brought me an invisible peace. The driver stopped and we got out of the cab. Asher gently grabbed my hand as we began to walk. Suddenly I looked up and saw the name of a familiar restaurant and I couldn’t help but smile. This was the restaurant we ate at in the Bahamas. The restaurant where this handsome man proposed. I ordered the same appetizer as I did then on that amazing night. Each bite spread a warmth throughout my body and a smile in my heart. With each bite a memory from that special night surfaced. I was giddy all night long. I kept looking to the right at this beautiful man sitting beside me and thinking how thankful I am and how blessed I feel. The night ended with a stroll in the park where we shared our very first kiss. This was definitely a magical night which ended with the most perfect kiss.
Everyone needs a seal
Today was a day of mixed emotions so it called for some alone time with my Nonna. Sadly, I can’t just go to her and rest my head on her shoulders just to feel the comfort being with her gives or hold her and have her just look at me and ease my mind. She is not physically here with us any more but her spirit is all around. I went to visit her today at the cemetery. I know it’s not the same and a lot of people say there’s no point because it is no longer her but it’s not about that. It’s a comfort knowing that you can be with her at her last place and know that something extremely wonderful took place. Her soul was lifted and now she lives within us. I know that she is not there but her name is there. Her picture is there and the prayers and comfort that visiting her brings is there. At least that’s how I see it. I just sat there and looked up at her photo and along side of her was my Nonno. Both looking down at me as I took them in. Sometimes things, days or just a song can make your day a little crummy or just take you to a place you worked so hard to get away from. You find all the positive that surrounds you and all the love that fills your heart and hold on to that but every once and again something slips in. This is what brings me to the cemetery. A little extra love and ease coming from a woman that loved so much helps me find that seal to close that gap. I hope everyone has that seal.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Nelson Mandela

