The Greatest Gift

One of the greatest gifts I’ve gotten is a Bible.
I remember getting them as gifts when I was growing up, a tradition for my family. But this isn't about those times...exactly.

It isn’t just the fact that a Bible could, was, and is the perfect gift for someone (for me), but I never cherished them; and didn't really read them (which most of us are guilty of if we really are honest with ourselves). This time with this certain specific gifting, came both sentiment and purpose, so maybe I could cherish it more this time? I did, as it came from my Grandmother's passing. 

So maybe it wasn’t directly “gifted” to me, but my mom asked me what I wanted of her’s (to remember her by) when family were going through her things, and I had no clue to what she may have that I would possibly want. So, I didn’t really put any thought into it. I didn’t really know what, if anything, that there would be something of her’s I even wanted to inherit and/or could remember her by…
Truth was, that after leaving the farm, she did not own many possessions. Having downsized when she moved into the nursing home, there was really not much there to speak of (or keep), that would be all that worth it and/or last.

Furniture got picked through and divided by my uncles and such though, the china given over to my mom, and since those were most of the items she had, I didn’t know of anything left for little ole me in the meager lot…but I was wrong.

My mother mentioned to me that she had had a few Bibles in her possession, and did I want one of them? Since my Grandmother was a diligent reader and studier of the Word, a disciplined servant of God, I recognized that this memento could mean more and last longer than any piece of china, so I said: “Sure!”

I looked through what she had brought home and picked up the Amplified Bible. Looking through it, I realized that it was a more wordy translation than I was used to, and since I am wordy and love words, I instantly knew that this Bible was the right one for me. My mom said: “It’s yours”’. 

And so, now it IS mine, and it is the Bible I use the most.

Throughout it, every here and there, there are these highlighted parts; clearly verses that meant a lot to her or jumped out of for her upon some moment of study.  When I am reading and studying it myself now, I have marked it all marked up as well, while I’m still running into those highlighted ones she left behind. I always wonder what she was thinking, when, and why she marked a certain passage. I will never really know, but it is nice to see that she got much use from the text and thought about what she read. 

There was a moment, one day in church, when I looked at the front inside cover and saw her name there. I hadn’t seen it before, and there underneath it, was the year 1991. I guess, she either received the Bible as a gift or gifted it to herself that year. Under these both, in pencil, were the words: ‘Let my mouth be a well of sweet water’.

I smiled reading that, as it took me back to the talks we had and her passion for God and his Kingdom…

So there was something I actually needed of Grandma’s after all. 

Thanks, Grandma, for your legacy and I’m glad I have your gift.
I hope from the Word getting into me, that the ‘well of sweet water’ comes from my mouth also.

*I intend to pass on the tradition to hand out Bibles as gifts, but make sure my children know the importance in cherishing it...and passing it on.

Starting 2012 by reading and studying the Bible every morning (and praying). I have to commit to this, as I repent from not doing this last year. This is a step and change I can get behind.

My prayer time usually has been at night (and sometimes I read), but it isn't nearly enough; it isn't enough to feed my soul and cause real impact in my life. I've seen fruit, but want more...So now, I've decided to do both.

Saying "Goodbye" to you, 2011.

A new year introduces to us all many challenges and trials; times of reflection, times of tears, and times of joy. 

When I go out this year into the next, I hope to keep God closer than ever before. This past year, God has shown me that he can and will provide for my needs emotional, spiritual, and financial…that he does what he’s promised in his Word to do.

Many times I found myself in dire straits regarding these, with emotional, financial, and spiritual attacks. But as I have grown spiritually, in my prayer life, I’ve become more aware at recognizing these attacks. This has made me lean even more on God’s guidance, protection, and provision than ever before; seeking to conform my mind to Christ all the more. 

This spiritual progress in my journey has also helped me recognize the ways in which he has provided; some supernatural, and some, using people and places around me. One particular moment of God’s intervention and provision was through a friend:

One day, I came out to my car after an evening at a local McDonalds, checking my email, and found my car would not start. It was 11:00 pm and this man drove up next to me. He was wearing a grey t-shirt with a police insignia but drove up in an unmarked car, so I was immediately suspicious. I did NOT leave my locked car. He remained outside of the car asking me (yelling, I suppose), if my car wouldn’t start; if I needed help. I looked helpless but didn’t speak to him, and grabbed my phone and pretended I was calling 911 (truthfully, I was about to call them). 

I looked up and saw that the guy was looking behind my car. I turned my head and looked in the direction he did…There was a truck there, and I guess he said something to them, because they came ‘round to my car to give me a jump. 

This is when I felt comfortable to finally get out of the car. Ironically, since this old long bearded red-neck in overalls was busy hooking wires to my car. He said that his daughter worked there, and that he picks her up from work. So happens, he’s a mechanic. My car jumped and turned right away, but he said that all it needed was a new battery (thank the Lord). I knew I had some money in the bank from unemployment enough to cover it, but was going to pray about it when I got home, because I needed that money for other things (like eating). 

I had turned to see if the guy who had pulled up was still there, but he was gone. *whether he was bad or good, I got the help I needed, and didn’t have to dial 911.

The next morning, I went to start my car and it was dead again. I thought hard and knew I had to call a friend of mine. He was able to come out an hour or so later, jump my car and take me to get the new battery. 

I told the guy at the Autozone what model I had and he got the battery. As I was going to pay, my friend said: “I got this”. “No, insert name!”I said. “People have done things for me before, it is just my time to do this, let me”. “Ok”, I said “Thank you”. 

As the Autozone guy, from the Ukraine, replaced my car battery my friend overheard me joking about how my oil change was due, and that I was going to take it in that day. How ironic it is..and perfect timing too. 

Well, after the guy got done, my friend said: “Let’s go across the street and do your oil change”. “Yeah, that is where I am headed”, I replied. He proceeds to pull this card out from his wallet. “Here,” he says, “use this card for a free oil change..I just bought this a month ago, and I will still have a free one after you use it”. “Really?”  I said, “you are really helping me out...”. 

He stayed in his car, to make sure that all was taken care of…the least I could do was to have lunch with him. And, I tried to buy lunch with my card, but he shoved the amount for his sandwich in my hand shortly after.

I didn’t mention that day again to him, and he wanted no accolades or recognition. What a good friend(s) I have, and what a way for God to answer my cry for help.

I can’t complain, ‘cause God has been faithful. I have to praise him more for this and all he’s done and is going to do. It doesn’t mean that bad stuff will not happen, no. It will, sadly, but God is greater than those bad things, and even those bad things can’t stop what’s in your mind and heart. If you are his, praise him because…

As with always, God has been answering my prayers, protecting me, and providing for me, sometimes in ways that hasn’t always been as I would have liked him too. But he doesn’t work the way my brain works (thank goodness). And when I need something, he always has something better for me in mind. Sometimes showing me that I didn’t need that thing at all, but something else entirely (which relieves a little pressure). However, some lessons have proved harder to learn, come by, or digest. It is all for stretching me and certainly makes me have to stop and examine the truth of the matter: that He is in charge.

I look at this New Year with great expectation. This past year had as many surprises, as it had disappointments; disappointments, because I had hoped for better outcomes than I had received and witnessed.

I lost my job this summer, there were positions I wanted that feel through, my beloved cat BOO passed away, yet I also met such amazing people, volunteered for some great organizations, made new friends…

And so another year is on its way tomorrow…I start it out with some great friends. What a way to ring it in, right?

After all: “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”

 I am in a place where great change can happen, even as I start 2012 with no job, bills, concerns, desires, yet have also already invites to great events and more volunteer opportunities. It is unsettling, not knowing the future, but I do have quite a bit of time to pray and prioritize for it, and am reminded that God was with me in 2011 and He will be with me in 2012.

So, I have to keep up the prayers…

My prayer is that I will grow ever more close to the Lord this coming year. I long for him to prepare me better to help and inspire others in their own spiritual growth.

I also pray that I will be prepared for the greater challenges I anticipate facing because of this growth, and for God to protect and empower me through his spirit and his Word to conquer certain fears I have regarding my future, mend and strengthen my relationships and identity in Christ, and protect and guide me through the emotional, financial, and spiritual attacks that will certainly continue to come my way.

I leave 2011 with an old hymn:

My hope is built on nothing less/ than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

When all around my soul gives way/he then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid rock I stand/all other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.

Remembering Miami part3

The next day, we rushed around again.

 

This time, we had to take Amada to the airport, and then get back to set up for the pro life event. 

It was held back at Tania’s building…on the roof to be exact. There was an amazing pool, and again, a view to die for.  *some of the skyscrapers were decorated with Christmas inspired décor you could clearly see from there…they were tres pretty.

Tania also showed us parts of the amenities that the tenants of her building enjoyed, as we were going back and forth to get supplies. There was a spa, a movie theater, and gym in her building. As tenants, they get free access to these…Pretty sweet deal, I say.

The event went on like clockwork. Ivette was a great presenter and moderator. She really did a great job helping out in every aspect of the event, from event planning, to the details in the announcements and invitations.

My favorite part was when the children spoke about why they were for saving the babies...

Bella and Joshua (aided by Ara), spoke to the crowd, versing well their concern for the unborn.  It was not only cute, but powerful, as Bella was a child that had been saved from abortion by the efforts of actor Eduardo Verastegui, a former Mexican model singer/actor turned pro life speaker, sidewalk counselor, producer, and activist. I had also hoped he had been there as well, since his story is a fascinating one; where he had a conversion of faith which changed the direction of both his professional and spiritual life, to one that serves God instead.

I had no clue who I was going to meet while in Miami. I also didn’t know anyone but Ara there, and not all that well. But I did know, as I was told, the event was supposed to have had speaker Lianna Robelledo from Eduardo’s organization Manto de Guadalupe speak, but she was unable to attend last minute. Ara had to find another speaker to fill in for her…such a bummer. I was bummed to have heard that as this trip to Miami would have been an opportunity for me to hear her speak; but it was not meant to be. *later, I would meet her in person, and hear her story from a friend. She was gang raped, got pregnant, and kept her baby. Amazing, powerful life story of perseverance, choosing Life, and being a voice to the voiceless. I still haven't heard her speak....some other day, maybe.

The video they had so meticulously worked on/compiled, and it was a new thing for me to see, as I hadn’t seen many videos or material of the pro life movement. I was still a newby to it all, only having been “in it” for a few years, but they really did a good job depicting the tragedy of lives lost to the assumed “choice”, and in promoting this new organization. The song featured throughout the video was called “Unidos por la Vida” (United for Life), written and performed by Eduardo himself, and it was the perfect fit to the night’s ambiance and intention.

I spent my time hanging out with Janie, Ara, and Ivette, mostly because of the language barrier at the event, but was happy to meet the people there who were passionate about Life.

We all pitched in to clean up after, and packed up the cars, hugged people goodbye, and headed back home…I made sure I was also packed up that night, so I wouldn’t have to do it the next morning.

I believe this is where Ara, Joshua, and I had scrambled eggs together, just the three of us, the next morning. I remember that Ara was cooking while Joshua watched a movie in the other room. I assumed she didn’t want me watching her cooking skills out of embarrassment or something (maybe this is a cultural thing), as she had suggested I go and watch with the movie with Joshua, but I chose to stay in the kitchen; I wanted to have a moment with Ara all to myself, quietly, before I left.

She was putting ham in the eggs; tearing the meat with her hands…She apologized for not having proper cooking etiquette, but that “this is how we do it (scrambled eggs) in Mexico”. I chuckled and said that I am worse and no worries about it, and I am ready to eat the Mexican made scrambled eggs. 

I almost forgot, we also had toast with mayonnaise on it…yeah, I didn’t know if I would like it, but I did. Apparently, this is also a Mexican thing?? Well, just another new thing I learned while being there.

Then, the last goodbye, and I left the way I came…through the skies.

It was such an amazing time. I had so much fun in those three days…

A mini adventure, for sure.

So glad I took a chance and spread my wings to fly to Miami.

Remembering Miami part2

So, um back to the story at hand…

Round 1 also included a butt-load of sushi and night of dancing at Ara’s favorite salsa club… 

We packed into someone’s car (I forgot who’s) and got to know each other REAL well, lol. Found out that Nikki is a Southern girl, and also Protestant, so that was a kindred spirit moment.  

We all made it there, and everyone at the club knew Ara…It was a fav reg. spot of her’s after all, and once she got on the dance floor she got to it. I just sat and watched in awe at her and her partner (s) movements on the floor.

*Hispanics can shake their “you-know-what’s” btw. 

Man alive!!! It’s amazing… young or old…short and fat, it doesn’t matter when you can dance salsa, you can dance amigo…whoa, yes sir!

Said my goodbye's to Rodolfo and Nikki as soon as I said "hello" to them, it seemed. Nice people...good friends.

The next day, we had a full day running around getting ready for the pro life event on Sunday. But, before that, Ara, David, and I went to mass for Ara’s confirmation (I am assuming to/through Mary). I didn’t know much of what was happening, but that it was an important moment in her life. She needed a sort of fatherly stand-in, and David provided that service. There were these little pins that said: “I have called you by name; you are Mine” , given out to the confirmation participants by the nuns. David grabbed one for Ara (as custom tradition) from the basket, but also grabbed a SECOND ONE…which he gave to me when he sat back down. 

Another inclusive gesture that I had not anticipated, nor asked for…Made me feel special indeed, and I wore it during Rosario por la Vida’s event in their honor.


Eating kind of took a back seat that fast-paced weekend, so, when I could I grabbed it. At the church, I bought some tamales or other and some coffee. 
A girl's gotta eat.

David thought he'd lost his camera...I recall there was an urgency to find his bag. We did find it under the seat luckily as it was a brand new lens.

Ivette, Ara, and I went to Ara’s friends Tanya’s place, for them to finish up some much needed computer work and fine tuning of a promotional video for the event. I had also recognized Tania in pictures (along with her daughter Bella) but hadn’t known that they knew her well, nor that they lived in Miami…and was also surprised at how at home I felt there, at their home that day, despite not having previously known them or having never been in their presence.

It was an added bonus, for sure to meet them, and there was the evident language barrier, but it didn’t seem to faze Bella at all. She took me to her room, showed me her toys, music, and then had a good time poking me while hiding…showing me her dog, etc…Loved every moment of it! 

And like mother, like daughter, they were both soooo beautiful…

*Hispanic (cover my bases) /Mexican people are beautiful, period. There, I said it..lol.

Tania’s place had an amazing balcony that overlooked the heart of the city. Loved the view! You could see many different shiny skyscrapers and water in the near distance.

*I didn’t get to the water or many other parts of Miami…maybe next time.

David, the photographer, joined us there later that afternoon and we ordered Pizza. They wrapped up their work there and we then went back

to put together the small takeaway goody bags for the event. Stuff was strewn everywhere on her dining table and we spent a few hours knocking out as many as we could. It was fun, although admittedly for me, it was interesting to have shown support and help out with the Catholic event.

Clearly there were religious differences that we could have addressed and the Mary contention did came up again later when David, Ara, and I came back from Ara's confirmation, but I was just happy to be there and be with them; meeting many other fun people, not get deeply theological. 

Maybe I was a little in denial about the trip and my participation in these events, but I truly didn’t know what to think or what I would encounter during it, and however complicated the notion of it all (while knowing what WOULD possibly come to the surface), I enjoyed it nonetheless. It is true that I love discussing theology and the bible, but time was a luxury that we didn’t have that weekend, nor did I see that it plausible to attempt a try and make the time…so, discussions of the sort were cut extremely short.

 

I do think these things are able to be discussed, and in a friendly way, but it is best when time allows…You don’t want to rush into things as important as worldviews and friendship…

 

We got ready to go out again that night for another birthday outing. This time, it was a Mexican restaurant. 

Picture this: A little restaurant full of frenzy…A lady singer in a Santa inspired red leotard, salsa dancing, and of course, Mexican food…pretty fun atmosphere and also heavenly, I will just say. 

Met some other friends of Ara’s there: owners of the restaurant, the singer, and a former Univision television PR friend Janie, and her husband…We had more birthday cake…two more in fact. She had lots of friends that loved her, that’s for sure, to have gotten her so many cakes.

continued....

 

Remembering Miami

I had been talking to this friend Araceli on Facebook for half a year or so, and as we had become good friends there, I decided I’d go down to Miami Christmastime 2010 to visit her during her birthday weekend.  

She had been posting online about all the exciting and fun happenings of that coming weekend, including many nights out and a pro life event that Sunday for Rosario por la Vida (a Pro Life Catholic organization), and I was both curious and anxious to get away for an adventure. I thought I could pack the entire time in full purpose: meeting her, having a couple of experiences of a lifetime, and seeing Miami. 

Crazy, right? Yeah, a little….since I had never been to Miami, nor met this person in person.

But, strange as it was, I felt extremely calm about the situation; having an inner conviction that God had orchestrated it somehow, as I’d had just enough money for the trip, even though it was an unplanned event. 

*this happened again, where I had just enough to make a trip to Los Angeles this past summer, and met some beautiful people, able to tour also some great organizations there, but that’s another blog post. ;)

When I arrived, I waited anticipatingly on the platform, going from only the mental picture of what she looked like in her Facebook albums. When I saw the car drive up to the curb, no lie, she looked EXACTLY like her pictures…her smile, already familiar.

Immediately, there was a warm friendly welcome and she and I chatted the entire trip to her house like seasoned friends. I realized only halfway through our talks that her son Joshua was in the back seat, he had been so respectfully quiet...

He warmed up and opened up to me when we got back to the house, by showing me his favorite movie: "Lord of the Rings". He played his favorite part over and over for me. So cute...he's going to be a lady killer.

Ara’s home was a marina, with a nice stucco patio and small pool. Inside, there was a movie theater room which I wished I had taken the time to indulge in…that would have been a cool experience.

I was unawares that there were also two others staying the weekend as well (apparently the custom in her home; being the friendly warm second home to many passer-throughs and friends). That was fine by me, although slightly unexpected, but added just a bit more spice to my stay.

One of the friend’s was a beautiful and graceful former model from Columbia named Amada Rosa Perez, who is post- abortive but now devotes her time and life to living a pure chaste life and being a spokeswoman for life against abortion. The other was a photographer named David (who arrived the next day), whose primary photographic works focuses on a Marian theme capturing the images of Mary, the mother of Jesus, around the globe.

We had some good talks about Mary, his passion, and photography pieces he brought. Out of respect and since I also admired it, he offered me a print of Jesus on a cross he had taken. It was an amazing print he was just going to gift me…I have yet to take him up on that, but I intend to.

I admired Amada Rosa devotion to her prayers. She would read from a prayer book in mornings (and I assumed nights too). I don’t know much about what sect of Catholicism she practiced, but she wore a veil over her head in mass and while she prayed. She really looked like a bride all in white with a veil. I guess that is the point, purity speaking, to be presented as pure with a look of humility also. It was really elegant and regal as well, and of course she was very beautiful. Is it blasphemous to say that she looked almost Marian-like…Well, she did. 

She showed us clips of her former soap opera and modeling career, very different slice of life from the person she is now. She explained to us that she only models from the neck up, her wrists and hands (mostly endorsing Catholic jewelry), as her body is now a temple of the Lord. I really respect and admire that decision, as it gives her purpose and also uses her beauty both rightly and respectfully.

Somewhere in the fray, I met the beautiful stylish l’Ivette Delgado. 

Ivette was a power house of words, movement, and shimmering black hair from the get-go. We clicked right away, as I imagine most people do with her. I can’t imagine anyone NOT liking her, but, there are also some that have said the same about me, and it is a fact that I am also listed on some people’s “NO” list. Not everyone can or does like me/us. Not everyone will, but those that count, do, I guess. 

Well, no, come to think of it, I guess it was the cake that did "sealed the deal". She and Joshua, had planned to bring a cake home for Ara. And, it felt like I was immediately immersed in this family by the placement of a traditional Mexican icing mark on the nose. We all looked like Rudolph the red nose reindeer, only we had white noses. 

Yep, it all was going so fast…I really had NO TIME to think about all the happenings…but just to roll and enjoy it while there and while it lasted.

We got all dressed up and went to mass that first night (and my first time). Ivette sat at my side and kept me abreast on all the happenings, as everything was in Spanish, and was new and different from my norm. We were giggling, chatting like two schoolgirls, sharing a jacket at intervals because the church was so cold. And, every now and then, I would find these little sequins from my shirt on the floor, on the bench, on the jacket. *They even were all around the house later…didn’t know that my shirt would de-sequin and leave all these little reminders like that behind. 

After mass, we met up with some other friends of my host: the handsome, friendly, funny Hispanic Television host Rodolfo Jemenez and his then girlfriend, professional international model Nikki Dubose. *Had I known that that short visit would make these friends some lifelong pals? No, not a clue…but. it. did.

After church, there was some food (two tables, two lines), but I didn’t get any because they ran out of it by the time we actually went up to go get some (everyone I was with, was too busy mingling, which is fine…but, I was admittedly a little put off because I was so hungry. You don’t like me when I’m hungry…just kidding. 

And, as I mentioned by the time we went to the food tables, they had run out…I knew I wasn’t going to die, that night, but had to wait a just a little longer than I wished, for sustenance.

And, people flocked to the beautiful couple…
Oh, the middle aged women there were just gushing over Rodolfo…I hadn’t known yet, that he was a celebrity, but then I was like: ‘yeah, ok…he must be one’, because, even as I don’t know what the women were saying to him (as I was a few feet away), I could tell plenty enough from their body language that he was some kind of “big deal”.

Uh-huh…You know that certain way that people are with celebrities…a lot of silly fawning and gawking goin’ on… 

So, we headed back to the house.

There were all these restaurants along the streets from Cuban, Columbian, Puerto Rican, and Mexican…So great, I would have loved to do a taste test at each of them.

I was just enjoying the ride and then there was this car on fire in the middle of the road. We just stopped both our cars and freaked out yelling: “Did you see THAT”? Wow! We were just assuming it was a gang thing…Apparently the gang world is on fire in Miami (pun intended). 

To start the party, we had authentic real deal no-foolin’ Mexican tequila shots to start off the birthday festivities. 

Haha Yeah, haha…um, and I don’t drink but a glass of wine every two weeks or so. So, of course I was given the LARGEST shot glass out of everyone… *that Rodolfo duped me with his ‘just a little one, come on’. 

I complained to him saying: “How come I get the largest glass???”

His answer: “It’s not the largest, no it’s little, trust me?” *when people say “trust me” that’s when you know you shouldn’t “trust them”, just FYI.

Yeah right, a little one (hmmmm…sure, give the innocent purist the largest gulp of tequila you can pour, we all know you want a show…)…

Whew boy, an felt it go down like fire in da hole, man…for real, I did!!!

But no, I was not drunk (never have been), nor do I condone drinking. And, like I said above, I rarely drink. But, I’ll be honest and say that I am glad that I stopped after that one shot…that Mexican stuff is no joke, folks...not gonna lie.

And, I DO NOT drink beer. Hate the taste (also beer guts), but if someone drank imported beer and not the BUDS, well then, maybe I wouldn’t mind it/them so much. It is the hick image, I think, that comes with American beer that I don’t like...and the smell, and the taste. Oh, I already said that…

Anyways, I have an occasional glass o’ wine now and then, just for a taste of luxurious calm and living.

Oooo and Love, Love, love le champagne…

(Getting way off topic) First had such in high school, when I went to the Marine House in Mad. celebrating some American Holiday or other, and it was fab. 
Oh, those were days…haha (golden blonde tall skinny 16 or 17 year old and well- bodied lonely Marines  COULD have been a recipe for disaster...Thanks God for protecting me, from myself and them!!).

continued....

If you value life at conception to death, then you should respect all life from conception to death. Remembering then, that each person who does not think as you is also a child of God, valuable, a treasure, and loved by the Creator of us all.