Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!!


Grandma (Ga) and Papa at Gabi's Thanksgiving play at school








Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends.....








We are thankful for all our family and friends ,for each other .We are thankful for our health and what we have been blessed with...
We pray for those who are sick , we pray for our loved ones in Heaven, we pray for those who are sick, and for those who are sad and lonely during these holidays.. many hugs and Blessings..
~~This isn't just a turkey, as anyone can see. I made it with my hand, which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love especially to say....I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving Day!!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Ga and PaPa
















YEA.......... Ga and PaPa (and Nikki the big black poodle) are here for the winter!!! They are spending the winter with their grandaughters and sunshine instead of snowflakes and cold....We are excited to have them here!! Each of the girls spend a night on the weekends with them in the RV. They love their sleepovers and their grandparents!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Happy 65th Birthday Frank!!







No big party ... just cake at home and a few days away in Vegas (Ga and Papa watched the girls). We were joined by wonderful friends Frankie B. , his girl friend Bev , Mike and Terri. The celebration was lots of good food, drinks, lots of laughs and of course some gambling...

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Neyvada...




Just a picture of beautiful Neyvada...

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Play Date Fun...
















Gabriela, Anabella, Neyvada, Matteya and their friend Izzy had a super fun play date on their Tuesday off school with 4 beautiful sisters ....Parker, Zoe, Maya and Hudson... they are all around the same ages.:) It was an enjoyable morning jumping on the trampoline, playing in the sand box , playroom, swing set and making snowflakes and bead necklaces.. Mucho Gracias Kim!!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Breath-taking Colors of Fall......


Are you enjoying the grace of God in your daily walk...............??



(Central Park, N. Y., photo by Karen Schaler.. http://www.traveltherapytrips.com/)

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Footprints in the Sand...







Footprints in the Sand
One night I had a dream -- I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, There was only one set of footprints..... I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life , This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, You would walk with me all the way; But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, There is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me. The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you...."by Mary Stevenson

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Gabriela's Sweet Words....







Gorgeous Gabi is 6 years old now and getting a little bit of a sassy mouth lately, but she said the sweetest thing the other day with real tears.... She just started crying for no reason one night while we were outside with the dog and i said " Gabi why are you crying?" and she said "i do not want to be a grown up someday " and i said "why?" and Gabi said through tears rolling down her face..." because then you won't be able to pick me up and hold me any more".....that just melted my heart and i told her she can sit on my lap when she gets bigger and i can hold her that way....



She loves that i can pick her up and hold her and that i can pick her up and walk with her(not far though , she is getting tall and heavier:o). That was one thing that really crushed her when i broke my ankle and i was not able to pick her up.. so i will treasure ever time right now she wants to be picked up and held....

Monday, November 3, 2008

Travel Therapy Book....by Karen Schaler.






post from Karen about her new book.................
Hi There! Can you believe it, they are already selling the TRAVEL THERAPY book and it doesn't officially come out until early next year! Very exciting! To check it out you can go to my site at http://www.traveltherapytrips.com/ and click on the link to amazon.com on the top left...Pre-orders are 33% off the regular price so that's cool. Thanks for all the support! Karen Schaler FREELANCE WRITERAUTHOR-TRAVEL THERAPY New York, NY 10023 karen@karenschaler.com http://www.mediabistro.com/ /karenschaler TRAVEL THERAPY WEBSITES http://www.traveltherapytrips.com/ http://www.mytraveltherapy.com/ Have you had your TRAVEL THERAPY today? COMING OUT SPRING 2009!
The TRAVEL THERAPY BOOK features life changing vacation and destination options based on what you’re going through in life. Stressed out? Going through a breakup? Hoping to heat up your relationship or reconnect with a loved one? Looking for a way to reinvent yourself or give back? TRAVEL THERAPY can help!






***Karen and i met at the new health club i joined shortly after i moved here . We met in spin class over a conversation about "where to buy spin shoes" and became great friends instantly. When you move and do not know a soul, it sure helps to make a special friend so fast. So needless to say i cried when she decided this past year to pack up and move across country to pursue her dream of a life time to write and publish a book....i cried being selfish, because i did not want to lose a best friend, but i was happy for her and her amazing heart and courage to just pack up and leave everything no matter what with no fear of the unknown and go after her dream... I cheered her all the way, Karen is one amazing person and i am thankful for our friendship... .. Hugs and Congratulations Karen on your new book coming out next spring and your new chapter in your life !!********

Courage to Vote.......( by Gregg Smith)



November 2, 2008

“Lord, give me the courage to vote for this black man.”

An older Latino man spoke these words to me in Spanish this morning while I was knocking on doors for the Obama campaign in a heavily Latino neighborhood in Milwaukee.

I was nearly finished with my canvass when I encountered the man leaving his house and stepping onto the sidewalk. The naturalized American citizen is a fixture in Milwaukee’s south side Latino community and I’ve patronized his business a dozen or more times in recent years. (Although we’ve met several times he didn’t recognize me, one of thousands of customers who’ve visited his business.)

I greeted him in Spanish and spoke a few words about my knocking on doors and talking to his neighbors on behalf of the Obama campaign. He replied that he is really torn about whom to vote for. He honors John McCain’s service to this country, but in recent days McCain reminds him of some of the old PRI candidates in his native Mexico.

He went on to praise Obama as a man with good, well-articulated ideas and a team of smart people around him. But then in a very soft voice, nearly a whisper, he confided that he’s worried that Obama might be like some of the other “morenos that we’re always hearing about”, and asked me if I know the kinds of people he’s talking about. He quickly re-stated his praise of Obama, and emphatically added that it is time for serious change in this country. And after all, he asked me, isn’t Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, a true champion for citizenship education for newly arrived immigrants, a fellow Democrat like Obama?

And then he asked himself out loud if he is courageous enough to vote for a black man.

With deep respect, I told him that I understand his concerns but that the time is now to work to end to this racism. Surely, as a Mexican immigrant to this country, he has felt the sting of discrimination. He nodded, offering that today is the Day of the Dead, a most sacred day for Mexicans, and a day to reflect on and celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us. I handed him a piece of campaign literature, in Spanish, and opined that nothing will ever change if we do nothing.

“Votamos el martes, verdad?” he asked me. (“We vote on Tuesday, right?”) I replied affirmatively, and he grimaced.

There on the sidewalk, pointing to a picture of Barack Obama, he voiced a prayer: “SeƱor Dios, da me el valor de votar para este moreno.” (“Lord God, give me the courage to vote for this black man.”) I made a quick Sign of the Cross, and he climbed in his car, heading off to Mass.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Perspective....


Perspective ~~~~~~~~~~
Though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see.
Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise.
There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for my family.
There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have.
There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work.
There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life!
Have you thanked the Lord today...............?

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Missing Our Friends..:o(


We miss our friends Joey , Josh, Maria, Olivia, Gabriella and Sophia....We love your costumes , hope you had a fun Halloween..HUGS across the sky to you.... from Gabriela, Anabella , Matteya and Neyvada