Book 'em Baby

One of my favorite childhood authors passed away recently.

Lots of friends have been talking about him these past couple of days. We mentioned the fact that they made a movie of this book and how we felt it didn't do the book justice. Some books are just better left alone. This was one of them. 

We also talked about how some movies made from books have actually thrusted the original book into a broader audience and really helped a newer generation get into them. Percy Jackson series, Chronicles of Narnia Series and Spiderwick Series are some of the books that we felt the movie were able to be respectable, honored the storyline AND inspire the audience. 

I read to my kids. A lot. I like books. I like collecting books. I like collecting series of books. I want that library of books in my living room. Wall to Wall. I want to be surrounded by books. I like the SMELL of good old books. My dad got me a Kindle for Christmas. Plenty of people are into them. I tried the first month and downloaded books. I enjoyed it for a short time and never picked up the Kindle again. I miss the feel of books. The smell, the texture, the pain in my hands from holding the book for endless hours because I REFUSE to put it down until the end. Its an addiction. I know. I don't deny it. Its one thing I am thankful for my family instilling me the love of reading. My grandmother and my dad are addicts as well. We always exchange books and short reviews when we see each other. I have passed that on to my children as well.

In this day and age, they may get distracted for a while with all the internet, smartphones, DVD's and electronic devices out there.... but somehow more often then not, I see them cuddled up in the corner chair reading a good book. 

Makes a momma proud.

I love you, Mommy

Here is my youngest and my little heart warrior, Jacob. We just happened to catch him with the " I love you" sign!

Some of you know that Jacob was born with a Congenital Heart Defect ( CHD) and had open heart surgery at 14 hours old. His heart defect with Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR) and we had not idea of his condition until he was born BLUE and with rapid breathing issues. He was in the hospital for over a month in recovery. He came home on a feeding tube (NG) for several months then graduated to normal bottle feedings. He also a few other issues but I will save that for another time.

He is doing well and loving life. We are so proud of him. And of course, when he gives us that smile, we just melt.

I love you too, Stephen Jacob!

Mommy

International Love

Family and Friends of RJ and Adrianna. Some of whom traveled from 17 different countries to celebrate and witness this joyous event.

Goonies!!!!

The night before the wedding we were invited to a famous restaurant in Bogota. It was wonderful! Dancing nonstop all around our tables. The food was crazy good that you just could NOT stop eating. All of us were going into the wee hours of the night salsa dancing. My legs and feet were sore, but when you're in a latin country NO ONE will let you sit. So dance I did!

And I had the pleasure to sit next to an amazing, strong, powerful, respected Latina

drumroll please......~ Lupe Ontiveros ~

Now you cannot fault me for placing this picture up. If you know me, I am an extreme GOONIES fan. Watched it growing up, loved it and raising all my kids on it! My kids have watched all the 80's movies ( pertaining to their appropriate age groups)

She was in Goonies, Selena, Desperate Housewives etc She was also a guest at the wedding and spend the week with us. She was amazed that there were over 17 different countries represented in the guest list and most of us were Deaf. This was a huge deal for Colombia. The deaf and/or disabled are treated not so well in a third world country. Their education is lacking and their futures are limited. She got the word out in the city and the newspapers came calling. I think it was nothing sort of a miracle what she accomplished. I wish I had the link to the newspaper article. If I find it I will come back and link it here. It is in Spanish but was powerful. We had an interpreter translate it for us while we were there.

The most important reason why I posted this was she taught me something. We should advocate at every possible moment. Everywhere we go in this world is a chance to make a difference. Awareness and Advocacy is import. Each moment counts. She is correct. That struck a cord in me. It made me realize that I need to something. Even something small will have a impact on someone's life. It makes me ponder how to use this when it comes to CHD awareness. Fun and Advocacy can go together.

Every moment counts. Everywhere we go.

I am blessed to have met her and hope to meet again.

Mia

Taste of India

I got a special treat while I was in Columbia.

I was invited to an Indian dinner hosted by the bride's cousin and his girlfriend. I have to tell you, it was AMAZING! The host is Nicolas Van Hemelryck. He is an Colombia photographer who was selected by the Columbia Embassy and The Indian Embassy to showcase photos of the Amazon. The Exhibition's purpose was to help promote awareness of conservation and respect for Mother Nature. He was selected among thousands of photographers.

He had just returned from a 3 month stay in India where his photos were on Exhibition. He traveled the country and took some beautiful pictures.We got to see a few of the thousands he took. I feel it is only fair to invite you to view his website. I am blessed to have met him. His photos speak to the heart and really invite you to his world.

http://www.nicolasvanh.com/

Back to the point...... They did a great job and the food was just nothing sort of delicious!

India is now on my list of places I want to travel to. Someday, somehow!

Mia

Dreaming of Sisga

Columbia, South America

I took a trip there with some friends last year for their wedding. I was invited to fly down earlier and see a little more of the country before everyone else arrived. The brides mother and aunt invited me to come along to their lake house in Sisga.

I think I saw a small piece of heaven.

Note: "Heaven is a place on Earth" by Belinda is now playing in my head.

They own a cottage on a lake in town. The cottage was actually without electricity that weekend due to a flood in the area that took out the power lines. This was actually when Colombia was in a state of emergency and there was massive floods in various parts of the country. It was great being there with candles and making due with fruits and whatnots.

It was serene and peaceful in the way of getting back in touch with nature. We sat around, read novels and told ghost stories. It was exciting and freaky. I ended up telling the bride that her groom would be sleeping alone that night. She had to share a room with me because it was just tooooo scary after the ghost stories. Can you imagine, me at 36 and still being scared silly! Good heavens!

I want to blog about my trip but just tried to learn how to upload several picture and how to type between the pictures. You can tell I have NOT mastered it yet. But I got three pictures in! Thats a good start. I guess its good to write about one part of the trip at time? Should I go with a theme week? I haven't a clue the best way to do this. For now, this is one part of the trip. Come back. I will have some more pictures of the wedding and some cool events that happened!

Mia

Insanity

I have had a headache for the past two days.

Head hurts pretty bad. Also the things INSIDE my head hurt pretty bad. My thoughts ran rampant through the Valley of Insanity, Over the Mountain of Chaos and Down the River of Tears.

Yes, That pretty much sums it up.

Look, life for me is crazy. I got four kids to raise. Their education and social well-being as been left to me. I gotta deal with making sure they have food in their belly, laughter on their mind and love in their heart.

I also gotta try to remember to take care of me. I have to appear sane and well-adjusted on any given day. I save the raving, crazy, crying episodes for night when the kids are in bed. When I am in the comfort of my bed and under the covers. Blankets make for good soundproofing.

Dealing with budgets, mortgages, life insurance, health insurance, food shopping, gas, family obligations, among countless other insane things a normal American family worries about. Its overwhelming and Taxes - don't even get me started on that. Its endless.

I really am amazed at how much us, as parents, have to process over a lifetime, much less on a daily basis. Today was a long workday. Also factoring in all the housework I had to do and I am still not done. I did spend a good deal of the day with the kids and we made a great pasta dinner. That was fun. Kids all did their chores and off to bed at a reasonable time. House is presentable and then I think..... wait...I gotta do it all again tomorrow. Oh, man........

Only thing that really gets me through this.. is all the hugs and kisses my kids give me everyday. Even on Crazy-Momma- Has- Lost-Her-Mind days.... they still love me.

I wouldn't have it any other way.... except maybe a glass of wine for the headache.

Mia