Thursday, July 30, 2009

Lu

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

It is almost 3am and I just got off my second video call with Charles in Kuwait. He is to leave his 2nd tour in just 3 days- a huge relief. I asked him today what he was most worried about upon returning home and he said the adjustment. I can only imagine. He has been thrown into the Middle East during very distinct times. The first time was in 1993, actually the very day Liliana was born he was boarding a plane heading towards war. It was the triumph of the Iraq "victory." The statue of Saddam Hussein was brought done and the world applauded. However, Charles in his humorous accounts told of mayhem and chaos in the streets and towns. There was no guidance. Charles was crowned mayor of a portion of Baghdad. He had to create order, which he did.

It is now 2009 and the world and our country angers at the mention of the Middle East conflict. Random acts of violence permeate the city. He is married and not with his wife.

I believe it was Christmas of 2007 that I wrote him a very lengthy letter. We are so different. Our paths don't even cross often @ 3018 White Pine Drive. Our lives do not share many similarities. Maybe one day we will no longer even bear the same name. But my LOVE for him is deep. Somehow we conclude that different is bad or at least not as good as "me". I told him that I RESPECT him for ALL that he has done and will do. He has lead men into battle and saved their lives. He has showed integrity and honor in the worst of circumstances. One of his Soman soldiers took the time to write a letter to my dad praising Charles as a leader and man of character. He did the same on the police squad. I will never forget the day that he called me so that I could translate for him. A humble Mexican man who sold "paletas" (ice cream) in Atlanta was having issues and my brother wanted to be assured that he was on his side.

So, today I salute you Captian Charles Jerome Scheck. God Bless You!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Detroit, MI - SPRING BREAK 2009

I feel like I am "catching" up on my life. How could I have ANY blog in 2009 and NOT include my trip to Detroit to see REYNA, BABY ZOE, MARY ANNE and BABY EMMA!?!?! And my dear querida friend Darlin also came in from Baltimore to complete SEVEN chicas under ONE roof! It was TONS of FUN and GIRL POWER!

It was such a GREAT vacation - we left 85 degree Miami to arrive to SNOW and COLD! Liliana and I made a SNOWWOMAN (I'll explain later what differentiates a SNOWMAN from a SNOWWOMAN another time) :) It was emtional to meet BOTH babies - Mary Anne who has waited so long for a child to call her own and was able to bring SWEET SWEET Emma home from Russia just months before our trip and of course my dear friend Reyna with her beautiful Gringa-born Nica baby ZOE! We were blessed to have spent a couple wks with her and Zoe en panza (in the belly) around Thanksgiving. So to finally meet these TWO beautiful girls was a TRUE BLESSING and gift from GOD. Especially since they BOTH (MA and REYNA) have blessed me with their LOVE for LILIANA since she was in the womb.

Ironically I got off the phone with Reyna today and she is starting her own BLOG for ZOE! YAY! Another shout out to JODI......

So, today was a day when I got a pedicure and manicure for $20 and Liliana a haircut and blowdry for $15! It was some hole in the wall - cubanitas- who did a GREAT job! I met up with ANNA and PATTY for lunch (with a coupon) at SUBWAY. Later we met up at the gym and returned to Anna's house for dinner (probably my 500th meal there) and came home.

We are blessed.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

I can no longer label these blogs as DAY #1, 2 or 3 but rather the date will have to suffice. It is just a reflection of my life right now - all out of sorts. I have good intentions and want to have EVERYTHING in order and complete but it seems like I am always falling short.

I try to be a great teacher in Summer School but than I let everything else fall....my kid comes back from Baltimore with her father and I want to be an attentive mother to Liliana and than all of a sudden I am not such a great teacher. The house was clean but now it's not. Where is the BALANCE? How do people get it all done and do it well?!?! If you have any FREE advice I will take it. But it has to be FREE because my finances are not that great right now either. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And Michael Jackson died! So this is the picture from summer school. I taught Spanish I, which I haven't done in five years. It was FUN but I forgot how much tedious planning it takes for just ONE lesson. So of course I HAD to do something with MJ when he died. But what does Michael Jackson have to do with Spanish class?!?! Well, I had them create a MJ memorial using stuff wer are learning in class. It worked, que descansa en paz Michael Jackson.

My other reflection was that of a mother to Liliana. I am so BLESSED to have met such good people here in MIAMI as well. My friend ANNA who watched Lili ALL week while I was at a conference. AND these three adorable girls (Paige, Eden, and Carol) and their inspiring mothers.

So, I for sure am not near perfection but GOD is and HE has been so GOOD to ME!

Day #3- Thursday, June 18, 2009

Great Wolf Lodge, VA

"Isn't it great that Cody Lee is eight!" Today is Cody's birthday and we had a true celebration at the GREAT WOLF LODGE (highly recommend it to anyone with KIDS)!

It's funny I assumed I would had picked a picture of the KIDS for today since there were EIGHT. But instead I picked these two pictures. The one of CODY is obvious, it is his birthday. But at the same time it is not. What memories we have made in the last eight PLUS years. This other picture of Desiree, Jodi and I is SPECIAL. We had such SPECIAL memories from RANDALLSTOWN HIGH that will be FOREVER etched in my HEART and SOUL. I had co-workers who served as FRIENDS, MENTORS, COUNSELORS, SUPPORTERS, INSPIRATION and JOY! We were YOUNG and SINGLE and without KIDS...we had HOPES and DREAMS for ourselves, each other and our students. We had PASSION and FAITH and LOVE....and I hope that we all still carry it TODAY for each other, our CHILDREN and the other children in our lives we are blessed to touch.

Cody, your birth eight years ago was a marker in my life. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your BIRTH and many BIRTHDAYS!

Day #2 - Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg, Va

My brother John comes to this place and I have heard it about it numerous times but it truly is a "must see." There is SO much to do - waterslides (at least 7 or 8), wave pool, surfing, kiddie area, climbing, lazy river, outside pool and activities. But it has been my time with Liliana- two weeks without her is TOO much time. I love having the opportunity to be at my parents as they are the WARMEST and most CARING and LOVING individuals I know but yesterday and today was MY TIME with LILIANA. Of course when JOANIE is around she is the CHOOSEN one so yesterday and today I was the choosen one, by default, but it was nice to have bonding time. It wasn't about all the THINGS but rather the TIME to be together. Of course, lots of slides and fun water activites was a plus but the best was being with LILIANA.

Day #1 - Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

5:15 pm: Colonial Caca....


This is a strange way to start a blog but it was sure to grab your attention (and mine while walking). I could have started with a picture of my daughter, she is my pride and joy. But there will be many photos of Liliana in the days to come. I could have also put a picture of my two former collegues and friends who are here with me. We are three mama's and six kids, but I figured I would upload a picture of them tomorrow. Today it will be caca. It is ironic because I am a optimistic person and shouldn't put something so negative on my first blog. But then again, it made me think about LIFE. We had a GREAT day here in Williamsburg, VA. I am with Jodi and her son Cody and Desiree and her FOUR kids Natalia, Jaxon, Logan and Camden. We drove on Colonial Parkway, one of the most scenic roads I have been on in a long time. We stepped foot in JAMESTOWN, the first English settlement in this country. We wandered around WILLIAMSBURG and tasted and viewed history on every street corner. We came back to Jodi's beautiful timeshare and broke bread and swam in the pool - well, the kids did, my Miami blood thought it was too cool. And then I thought about the CACA. There is shit in this world but it's smell does NOT over power the beautiful scents all around me. It's bleak color does NOT beat the vivid colors of nature. It is ugly especially next to the beautiful scenery and people I was blessed to see today. It is big but pales in comparison to the grandiose world that GOD made. So, I saw caca today but I refuse to allow it to overcome the BEAUTY that I smelled, saw and witnessed today. As I walked the colonial streets today, I stepped over this caca and focused on the BEAUTY around me. What do you focus on?