For the furry ones.

It is going on 9 years that we’ve had Nervous Nelly. Rather, I should say, that Nervous Nelly has had us…because she is untouchable. This feral kitten we rescued that summer of 2011 is content with being fed and having a porch, or a planter, or a house to chill on. Never mind her neurotic personality and aloof attitude. This cat’s presence and mystique is enough to (unexplainably) win anyone over.

And now, after years and years of not wanting to take on a dog (for various reasons I will not enumerate here), we have welcomed the newest addition to our household — Beni Heinz — an electrifying ball of energy and 24/7 entertainment with a larger-than-life personality. Needless to say, Beni certainly grabbed our attention and our hearts.

Pets! Because apparently our kids are not handful enough. For the special furry blessings that enrich our lives, I am grateful.

Do you have a furry friend? And what are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.*

“Dogs have owners, cats have staff.”
-Unknown

“Cats never strike a pose that isn’t photogenic.”
-Lillian Jackson Braun

“In a dog’s life, some plaster would fall, some cushions would open, some rugs would shred. Like any relationship, this one had its costs. They were costs we came to accept and balance against the joy and amusement and protection and companionship he gave us.”
– John Grogan

“We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our
own, live within a fragile circle;
easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we would still live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only
certain immortality, never fully
understanding the necessary plan.”
-Irving Townsend

Nervous Nelly and Beni Heinz

For the tools He provides.

Wow, what a start to 2020. Don’t know about you, but for my family this year has been quite eventful so far. Brings to mind the fact that adversity, like death (and taxes), is an unavoidable part of life. The struggles, the setbacks, the obstacles, it can all really suck. Life is ups and life is downs, ups and downs. There’s no escaping that. No one is immune.

Thankfully, we have help from an almighty source. Yup, I think right about now is a good time to remind myself, and anyone reading this, that God has equipped each and every one of us with tools to overcome hardships. Here’s what some of those tools look like to me:

Wisdom – the smarts to see that “it is what it is.”
Strength – the heart to confront it.
Courage – the nerve to do what must be done.
Patience – because adversity, as it turns out, is time-consuming.

In case you’re wondering if it’s easy to turn to these tools when troubles come, the answer is a big NO. I find it easier after I’ve had my temper/doubt/fear tantrums. Then I can ease into these gifts. If you’ve employed this method in the past to get through crappy times, you know it works. If you haven’t, go ahead, try it, reach faithfully for God’s tools and experience what you’ll be able to get through. I mean, really, what couldn’t we overcome if we could hear God whispering to us, ‘I am with you’? Well, God’s tools are His whisper. And for that, I am thankful.

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
-Matthew 17:20

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
-Philippians 4:12-13

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
-E. Kübler-Ross

Note: By the way, in case you’re not Spanglish-speaking, “si Dios quiere” means God-willing. Mom finished most of her sentences with that phrase. I added it to my sendoff in her honor after her passing].

For 11,689 days.

Yesterday, my hubby and I celebrated 32 years of marriage. For youngsters like us, that’s a lifetime. Okay, we’re not youngsters, but seriously, that’s a lot of days married. Fortunately for us, the good days have outweighed the bad.

As with most couples making this commitment, the two of us set out not at all sure of what life would bring us. We had hopes and dreams and a slight idea, and that’s it. As it turns out, life’s brought us plenty. Plenty to teach us lesson after lesson, that’s for sure. For the benefit of my young readers, I’ll share the two that stand out above the rest.

The first big lesson we learned very early on was that love was not going to be enough. That we would need mutual respect, sacrifice, compassion, patience, a lot of prayer, and some comedic relief to push through the rough and tough. You know, the “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health” stuff.

The second big lesson came by way of Lauren and Danny. That’s when we really learned the overall meaning of “to love and to cherish, till death do us part.” Kids tug at the heart like nothing else does.

Fast forward 32 years and I’m not sure what new lessons life can teach at us at this point, but I do know Ray and I would like to learn them together. We thank God for these 11,689 days. May there be many more. Happy Anniversary, babe. ♥

What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“I love being married. It’s so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.”
-Rita Rudner

“Some of the freckles I once loved are now closer to liver spots. But it’s still the eyes we look at, isn’t it? That’s where we found the other person, and find them still.”
-J. Barnes

“Marriage is not a word — it is a sentence.”
-Author Unknown

For goals we can be proud of.

It’s a brand new year, so do you have any new goals? Or maybe you’re continuing to work on a prior one? I’ve never been much of a resolutions person myself. Most of the time it’s a wish that’s too vague and so I easily tire. That’s why they say setting a goal that is S.M.A.R.T. (Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-sensitive), may be easier to stick to and achieve. I don’t know, I haven’t tried that yet. I know atop my list right now is fitness. I feel a bit of rusting going on, if you know what I mean, and I want to do something about that. So I might try this SMART method.

Typically, the goals we consider most have to do with improving our health, creating and sticking to a budget, getting a better job, and organizing our lives. These are great goals to take on, but while health, financial, career, and organizational goals can help improve our physical and material lives, they do tend to lack in the spirituality department. For that, I say why not consider some soul-centered goals? The type that can help us grow spiritually and live in line with our values (and probably keep us sane). We can start a gratitude journal, for example. Pray. Practice patience. Live compassion towards others. Serve. Share our faith. Spend quality time with others. And so on. Just ideas.

Anyway, whatever goals we decide to start, or find ourselves in the middle of, we must keep in mind that God will help us through our goal journey. So let’s pray for focus and willpower so we can achieve goals we can be proud of.

Have you set any goals? What are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

“If you are bored with life, if you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things – you don’t have enough goals.”
–Lou Holtz

“The most important thing is this: to sacrifice what you are now for what you can become tomorrow.”
-Shannon Alder

For another year with those I love.

So far, 2019 has brought everything but the kitchen sink (that’s too bad since I’ve been wanting to replace mine). I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted! Certainly, if Baby Yoda could talk, he’d say “this a boring year, was not.”

While I am thankful that God helped me overcome this year’s challenges and also accomplish some goals, what I am most grateful for is His gift of more time with those I love. Because, without a doubt, there is nothing better or more important than that. Don’t you agree?

So, are you ready to ring in a new decade? I guess that would depend on which almanac you follow (let’s not overthink this, people). I go by the Year of the Lord calendar – Year 1. So yup, I’m ready. I say, bring it on!

To my gang: As always, dale, ready up the traditions! Wherever midnight finds us on the 31st, let’s bring out las uvas, la maleta, y el cubo de agua. Let’s do this! And cheers to many more.

What are you thankful for today?

Signing out for 2019, until next year’s post…si Dios quiere.

“Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.”
-Brooks Atkinson

“The chief beauty about time
is that you cannot waste it in advance.
The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you,
as perfect, as unspoiled,
as if you had never wasted or misapplied
a single moment in all your life.
You can turn over a new leaf every hour
if you choose.”
-A. Bennet

“Here’s to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here but you’re not
‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we’ve been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back
Memories bring back you.”
-Maroon 5