My only sister

I am looking forward to being close to my Family.

I love each and every one in a very different and special way.

I'm excited to see my sister. Whether she knows it or not, she is my big sister and I love her more than she believes. I would do anything for her.

She is smart, compassionate and beautiful.

I wish we had bonded when we were little.

I remember the times we agreed on things, we were amazed and powerful.

Saying goodbye.

I hate saying goodbye. I know there is e-mail, Facebook, phones, webcam, texting, IM, the list goes on and on. Nothing is the same as "in person". The real thing. Actually talking with a friend face to face, seeing their expressions and body language, laughing and etching the way they look in 3-D into your memory. Embracing your friend and knowing that it is real. Even though we have been a short distance away from each other for so long, it just seems so final now that we're moving to Florida. Could be years before we reunite. You are a true friend, Sea. I will miss you.

Beaches

I don't know what it is about the call of "HOME" when you've been away from it for a period of time.

The kind of calling where you can actually feel IT pulling on your soul and growing impatient for your return. My home just so happens to be in Florida.

When I close my eyes, I can hear the waves crashing on the beach, the crackling sound of the shells when the waves recede back into the ocean. My feet sinking into the cool soft white sand. I feel a warm blanket of wind coming off the sea with the smell of salt as it cleanses my spirit. I see the clouds perform as the sun sets beyond them . The kind of sunset where you know only God could have created. A spectacular encore to the day. Pure poetry.

I've lived out west for 8 years now in Arizona, California and Nevada. I got married in Las Vegas, NV, gave birth to my son in Ventura, CA and will be having my 8th annual wedding anniversary on the 24th day of March. We have been to San Fransisco (loads of fun), San Diego, Sedona (breathtaking), Jerome (nothing like it), Havasu, Tucson, Tombstone (Fun). We know in our hearts that traveling is our calling. Meeting people from all over the world. We have only experienced the tip of the iceberg so far, but we have a lifetime ahead. Florida is the next stop. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am to move back home. I know we will be there for a while, hopefully a few years before we move on.

There are a lot of things I miss about Florida. One of them being the FREE walks on the beach that last for hours. I miss bike riding, skating on the Pinellas Trail, Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, the seafood restaurants, the Grouper sandwiches, the conch fritters, the "She Crab Soup" at Frenchy's. I suppose I miss my family more than anything.

We will live somewhere between Clearwater and St. Petersburg Beach. Preferably closer to the beach.

A lot of time has passed since we have left. I know things won't be the same as they were. We are all in different situations now and we have all changed. Upon our return, I hope that my sinuses clear up from all this pollution. I pray that all of our families can merge together with grace, love and compassion. Most of all, I hope my daughter can embrace the change with the resilient heart she has been blessed with her entire life.

And like always, family & friends are always welcome.

By the way, all of these photos are of Indian Rocks Beach, Florida

Recession Proof cont.

I found Jesus' same "Do Not Worry" analogy in Luke 12:22 last night. Seriously, what are the chances that I would read the same passage from Jesus in two separate places in the New Testament by randomly opening the Bible twice in two nights? I can take a hint. This is a no brainer.

Recession Proof

My husband, who is in the construction industry has been unemployed since August 2008. He was laid off as a Manufactured Products Sales and Design Rep. due to a halt in the building industry. He has applied to aprox. 250 positions ranging from construction sales and management to a counter clerk at 7-11. From Las Vegas to Africa and Ukraine to Australia. Literally everywhere there is a job posting in his industry. Much to our dismay he still is unemployed. Does this story sound familiar? I would put money (if I had any) on it that whoever reads this is effected in one way or another by this worldwide recession. Whether it is someone you know that has lost their job or your within your immediate family. We had saved some money prior to the layoff and adding a little severance pay to that, we have been O.K.

I take the kids to church every Sunday and give as much as I can. I work as a waitress at night and little by little the money is going away. The savings will last about 1 more month and we are still O.K.

I had a really hard time last week as it seems my faith is dwindling as well. That is not O.K.

I've been reading this book lately titled Holy Bible NIV. If you are ever in need of some spiritual uplifting, the New Testament is awesome for that. Just randomly open to any page and the words seem to enter your soul like a much needed warm bubble bath.

Just the other night as I am lying in bed, I (randomly) opened to Matthew 6:25 The title of this passage

"Do Not Worry" (now what are the chances of that?) 25. "Therfore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important that clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?... v.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own."

All we need is faith, as little as a mustard seed. I know we will all be O.K. We will be more than O.K., we will be outstanding! God is recession proof!

Happy New Year!

One of the most wonderful things about
life is that every single night when you
fall asleep you know that there is a light that will shine on a Brand New Day in just a few hours. The same goes for every year. After all the mistakes, worries, defeats and triumphs throughout the year, on NYD you have another 365 chances to make life better. I don't neccessarily want a better year this time. We have been blessed throughout. What I would like for this year is to get connected with friends and family more than ever.

We had a New Years Eve party which by the way went swimmingly. We had friends and neighbors celebrating with us and had a great time all around. In the midst, I had an epiphany! Now some would say that alcohol had something to do with it, I don't know. What I do know is I felt so comforted by my friends and family being here, enjoying eachothers company I realized that I NEED FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!

Even though we have a new beginning for every day we wake up in our lives, no one knows how many are left. My New Years resolution is to connect, reconnect and cherish the connected. We are instructed by our Lord to love one another and that is exactly what I plan on doing this year and for years to come.

So, if any one reads my blog, I would like to personally say Thank You for being a part of my life, I love you and I do and Happy New Year.

How Sweet It Is!

I would like to thank my cousins Kimberly and Meliors for inspiring Nikki and I to make Gramma's Sweet rolls. It seemed as though we spent the entire day in the kitchen mixing, kneading, punching, stirring, sweeping, cleaning then kneading, stirring, sweeping, etc. I forgot to pour the condensed milk over the sweet rolls, so they ended up a little dry. The Carmel Rolls are to die for and they literally M.E.L.T. in your mouth. We also made a batch of Carmel that needs to be perfected. All in all, we had an awesome day together in the kitchen.
Words of Caution:

• Clean as you go.
• Don't forget ingredients.
• Do not engage in flour play :)
• Do not encourage 16 year olds to engage in flour play :)
• I know there's more, I just can't think right now....

The end result was that Nikki and I accomplished everything we set out to do today and more. That makes today a success!

Doesn't it look like the Sweet Rolls are swimming in the frosting?

Oh Yeah Babe!