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?