I am obviously in a reminiscing mood today, school's out, kids are graduating, etc. I ran across this old story I wrote exactly one year ago today, interestingly enough. I thought I'd post it here today for old times sake. Enjoy!
Xavier!
My stepson, Xavier, who is 7 years old, has recently completed a month long stint of restriction. He was restricted from playing video games, playing with friends, and watching television, unless it was the Science, History, or Discovery channels. In recent months, Xavier has been in a lot of trouble, for your normal everyday boy stuff. Not listening, lying about homework, etc. etc. etc. So the month of restriction, which he has completed, was his punishment.
A Broken Door!
Yesterday, I came home from work to a hole in one of my interior doors of my home. My 15 year old son, Jake, immediately fessed up. I say hole, but it was really more like a broken dent, for lack of a better term. Brody and Cecilia were messing around causing Jake to get involved, which ended up with Brody making a comment to Jake that really hurt his feelings. I am leaving a lot of the details out, but please know that Jake had to endure quite a bit of frustration throughout this ordeal trying to control Cecilia and Brody and the entire situation. Jake is 15, however, quite immature and in Special Ed classes at school. Brody made a comment to Jake after their argument that basically made fun of Jake and his learning disability. Jake stormed off and punched the door on the way to his room.
So, as the kids started to tell me what happened, I asked Xavier to go outside and play, since he had no part in the ordeal. He grabbed his brand new bucket of chalk and went outside.
We were inside at the kitchen table for quite sometime, talking everything out with Jake, Brody and Cecilia. I was crying at one point, because as a mother, you never want to see your children argue. And you most certainly don't want your child's feelings hurt. At the end of the conversation, I leaned over to my husband and said "I bet Xavier is jumping for joy that he's not sitting at this table for once!"
Time for Dinner!
Now it's time to start dinner. I try to teach the kids how to cook when I can, so last night was Xavier and Jake's turn at the stove. Cecilia and Brody were helping my husband outside. We decided to make breakfast burritos. Carbs always soothe a broken heart right? As Jake was cracking the eggs into the pan, I was stirring away as Xavier watched. By the 12th egg, I was stirring vigorously, however Jake said "Mom, there was a huge piece of eggshell, hold on!"
Well, it was too late. I had already scrambled it in and we looked and looked and looked to no avail. Xavier said "what are we gonna do?" I leaned over and jokingly said "We'll just keep it our little secret."
Since there are 6 people in the house, I was standing at the stove building each burrito as they stood in line. Starting with Xavier's and ending with mine. By the time I got to the 4th burrito, Xavier came up behind me, having eaten almost half of his, he tugged on my shirt. I turned around and he motioned for me to bend down because he wanted to tell me a secret. I leaned over to him and he said very quietly "I got the shell".
I was so overwhelmed; I was laughing hysterically, and started to cry. I wasn't that serious about it being a secret. My family wouldn't have cared if they found it in their food. But it was absolutely outstanding how Xavier handled the situation. I shared the story with everyone at the dinner table and we laughed and laughed.
Time to Wake Up!
Every morning, before I jump in the shower, I head to the second floor window and stare out for a moment. Checking the weather, seeing the light, while letting my eyes adjust. As I look down to the front driveway of our home, I see something that made me smile from ear to ear, and prompt me to write this today.
Remember yesterday, I sent Xavier outside to play and he took his bucket of chalk? Well, what I saw on the driveway was in large print, each letter nearly 12 inches tall.
It read "I LOVE MY DAD, REYNA, JAKE, BRODY, AND SISTER". It was so beautifully written, it was as if he knew I would read it from my window. What a wonderful way to start me day! We love you too, Xavier!
Wow, I love these kids! No matter what breaks, they mend it with laughter and unconditional love.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Things Remembered
The older I get, the harder it seems to remember important events in my life, scheduled appointments, birthdays, or even someone's name. Thank goodness we live in a technological era and that we can live off of our Palm Pilots, Treos, and crapberrys, I mean Blackberry. I recently decided to start writing some of these events down in hopes that I can continue my list and later it will help jog my memory.
Here's a short list of events that I remember and hope to retain:
My mom's 23rd birthday. I was 3. The cake was chocolate and my dad used green and white numbered candles. It was at night and he turned off the lights so that the room was dark. It was beautiful. She was 7 months pregnant with my sister.
My sister fell into our pool while my dad was mowing the lawn. He couldn't hear me screaming for him because of the lawnmower. I had to run all the way to him. She fell in with her tricycle. My dad ran and jumped right into the deep end and pulled her to safety. She was still holding on to the tricycle. She was 2.
Broke my arm when I was 9 after falling off a horse. We had just recently moved and my parents couldn't find the hospital. My mom couldn't stop crying.
My sister's glasses were accidentally thrown into the lake where we lived. My dad hooked them with his fishing line as he cast out. She is considered legally blind. My dad swam in the bottom of the lake looking for the glasses all night, knowing it took 2 weeks to order new glasses and she would go that length of time not being able to see. They were never found. I still feel terrible for him to this day. She was 6.
My first pony, Sunny, decided to stop, lie down, and roll over while I was still on him. My grandpa watched, laughing hysterically, as I thought I was going to be crushed to death. I was 11.
My dog Gatlin was hit by a car in the middle of the night when I was 8. My parents picked us up out of bed and we drove to the 24 hour vet. I was terribly embarrassed the entire time because I had worn my dad's white undershirt as pajamas that night. It was as long as a dress, but I wasn't prepared for the
public. :)
My best friend invited me on a summer vacation when I was 12. My grandfather gave me $100 privately and said "don't tell your mom I gave this to you, keep it for an emergency and just give it back if you don't use it". My mom had already packed a certain amount of money for me in envelopes marked "Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday"… etc. When I returned from my trip, I had not spent the $100, so to keep the secret I placed it in my Verve' perfume box. I kept it in my room. I planned to return it to him on Sunday after church. Two years later, I was cleaning out my room and found that box; the $100 was still in it!! I secretly returned it to him, 2 years late, and he whispered, "Just keep it".
I remember my first kiss. It was terrible!
Holding Jacob for the first time. He was warm and soft and I never wanted to let him go. And according to Tom, I most likely never will.
Seeing Tom for the first time. I remember his black leather jacket and tan skin. He was introduced to me and from that moment on, the game had begun.
The first time I saw Brody's face. He was born puckering his lips, as if he was ready to give his momma a kiss.
As I write some of these memories, I get that warm and fuzzy feeling. Maybe these memories will help on a bad day too, when I'm not feeling very warm and fuzzy.
And as my list grows, I'll be able to look back, with no pictures needed and remember my fond memories.
And one day, when I am a grandmother, I will cross off each story as I tell it. That way I don't keep repeating myself over and over and over, like most grandparents. J
Have a warm and fuzzy day!
Here's a short list of events that I remember and hope to retain:
My mom's 23rd birthday. I was 3. The cake was chocolate and my dad used green and white numbered candles. It was at night and he turned off the lights so that the room was dark. It was beautiful. She was 7 months pregnant with my sister.
My sister fell into our pool while my dad was mowing the lawn. He couldn't hear me screaming for him because of the lawnmower. I had to run all the way to him. She fell in with her tricycle. My dad ran and jumped right into the deep end and pulled her to safety. She was still holding on to the tricycle. She was 2.
Broke my arm when I was 9 after falling off a horse. We had just recently moved and my parents couldn't find the hospital. My mom couldn't stop crying.
My sister's glasses were accidentally thrown into the lake where we lived. My dad hooked them with his fishing line as he cast out. She is considered legally blind. My dad swam in the bottom of the lake looking for the glasses all night, knowing it took 2 weeks to order new glasses and she would go that length of time not being able to see. They were never found. I still feel terrible for him to this day. She was 6.
My first pony, Sunny, decided to stop, lie down, and roll over while I was still on him. My grandpa watched, laughing hysterically, as I thought I was going to be crushed to death. I was 11.
My dog Gatlin was hit by a car in the middle of the night when I was 8. My parents picked us up out of bed and we drove to the 24 hour vet. I was terribly embarrassed the entire time because I had worn my dad's white undershirt as pajamas that night. It was as long as a dress, but I wasn't prepared for the
public. :)
My best friend invited me on a summer vacation when I was 12. My grandfather gave me $100 privately and said "don't tell your mom I gave this to you, keep it for an emergency and just give it back if you don't use it". My mom had already packed a certain amount of money for me in envelopes marked "Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday"… etc. When I returned from my trip, I had not spent the $100, so to keep the secret I placed it in my Verve' perfume box. I kept it in my room. I planned to return it to him on Sunday after church. Two years later, I was cleaning out my room and found that box; the $100 was still in it!! I secretly returned it to him, 2 years late, and he whispered, "Just keep it".
I remember my first kiss. It was terrible!
Holding Jacob for the first time. He was warm and soft and I never wanted to let him go. And according to Tom, I most likely never will.
Seeing Tom for the first time. I remember his black leather jacket and tan skin. He was introduced to me and from that moment on, the game had begun.
The first time I saw Brody's face. He was born puckering his lips, as if he was ready to give his momma a kiss.
As I write some of these memories, I get that warm and fuzzy feeling. Maybe these memories will help on a bad day too, when I'm not feeling very warm and fuzzy.
And as my list grows, I'll be able to look back, with no pictures needed and remember my fond memories.
And one day, when I am a grandmother, I will cross off each story as I tell it. That way I don't keep repeating myself over and over and over, like most grandparents. J
Have a warm and fuzzy day!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
LOVE U
Tuesday night, I was the last person to bed. Before I went to bed, I had personally cleaned off the kitchen table and remember vividly doing so. I left only a couple of items inside a grocery bag for my next day at work. There were 2 checks that needed depositing at the bank, and two boxes of meal bars that I bring to work, all still inside the grocery bag from my purchase earlier and that was it.
The next morning, I was the last person to leave the house for work. When I came downstairs to the kitchen, I noticed quite a few things all over the table. I stood and questioned everything for a moment, wondering why, who, and when this all happened. I remember specifically cleaning this table off the night before. Now, I know there are quite a few kids eating breakfast at this table each morning, as well as backpacks and the like. However, they have been well-trained and know to put their dishes in the sink. Plus, they were all gone and off to school, and no backpacks were in site.
There were things on the table that just didn't make sense. There were a couple of pens, a coaster, and my plastic grocery bag EMPTY, with the items removed.
Obviously, in the morning, I don't have too much time for investigative work. Now, if it were the afternoon, I would be dusting for fingerprints, looking for shoe prints on the floor and any hair follicles to decipher the culprit. But not this morning, I was headed out the door. So, I quickly put everything away, repacked my bag for work and off I went.
That afternoon, my husband said "Did you remember the checks for the bank?" "Yes, I did", I replied. He said "Oh, good, did you also remember your meal bars for your desk at work?" I said "Yes, I did, I got everything this morning before I left." "Well," he said "did you notice anything strange about your things?" "No, why" I asked. Tom said "oh, well, I guess you didn't notice," with a long face he continued "I had spelled out the words 'LOVE U' on the table."
I thought for a moment, taking in what he just said, replaying the scene in my head, and BOOM! It hit me like a ton of bricks, my heart instantly sank. L What a great fool I was. How could I not have noticed!!!!
He used the two checks to make an "L". He used the coaster from the living room to make an "O". He used two pens from the kitchen junk drawer to make the "V" and my meal bars to make an "E". Finally, he rolled the grocery bag into the shape of a "U".
And I didn't even notice. All I saw was a huge mess on the table. Terrible, just terrible! But you know, this has been a HUGE lesson for me, a reminder to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. My eyes and mind are trained to worry about the messes, and keeping order. Instead of taking a step back, waiting for just a slight moment, I jumped into the mode of "who did this and why". This is a lesson I will hold dear to my heart.
I will work hard to take a step back, and provide myself with a longer reaction time. Perhaps that will save me the embarrassment next time and offer the praise and gratitude that is due, as it was for my husband in this situation.
So, I write this today, in hope that maybe you can learn from my mistake. Don't jump to conclusions, stop and smell the roses, and take deep breathes!
And Tom, I deeply LOVE U too!!!!!
The next morning, I was the last person to leave the house for work. When I came downstairs to the kitchen, I noticed quite a few things all over the table. I stood and questioned everything for a moment, wondering why, who, and when this all happened. I remember specifically cleaning this table off the night before. Now, I know there are quite a few kids eating breakfast at this table each morning, as well as backpacks and the like. However, they have been well-trained and know to put their dishes in the sink. Plus, they were all gone and off to school, and no backpacks were in site.
There were things on the table that just didn't make sense. There were a couple of pens, a coaster, and my plastic grocery bag EMPTY, with the items removed.
Obviously, in the morning, I don't have too much time for investigative work. Now, if it were the afternoon, I would be dusting for fingerprints, looking for shoe prints on the floor and any hair follicles to decipher the culprit. But not this morning, I was headed out the door. So, I quickly put everything away, repacked my bag for work and off I went.
That afternoon, my husband said "Did you remember the checks for the bank?" "Yes, I did", I replied. He said "Oh, good, did you also remember your meal bars for your desk at work?" I said "Yes, I did, I got everything this morning before I left." "Well," he said "did you notice anything strange about your things?" "No, why" I asked. Tom said "oh, well, I guess you didn't notice," with a long face he continued "I had spelled out the words 'LOVE U' on the table."
I thought for a moment, taking in what he just said, replaying the scene in my head, and BOOM! It hit me like a ton of bricks, my heart instantly sank. L What a great fool I was. How could I not have noticed!!!!
He used the two checks to make an "L". He used the coaster from the living room to make an "O". He used two pens from the kitchen junk drawer to make the "V" and my meal bars to make an "E". Finally, he rolled the grocery bag into the shape of a "U".
And I didn't even notice. All I saw was a huge mess on the table. Terrible, just terrible! But you know, this has been a HUGE lesson for me, a reminder to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. My eyes and mind are trained to worry about the messes, and keeping order. Instead of taking a step back, waiting for just a slight moment, I jumped into the mode of "who did this and why". This is a lesson I will hold dear to my heart.
I will work hard to take a step back, and provide myself with a longer reaction time. Perhaps that will save me the embarrassment next time and offer the praise and gratitude that is due, as it was for my husband in this situation.
So, I write this today, in hope that maybe you can learn from my mistake. Don't jump to conclusions, stop and smell the roses, and take deep breathes!
And Tom, I deeply LOVE U too!!!!!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
About Us
Me – The Square
I am a very proud wife and mother. I am thrilled of where I am today in my life. To get to this place was rough at times and I hit a few bumps in the road along the way, but each journey brought new beginnings and taught me appreciation I would otherwise not of known.
Tom – The Disciplined Force
My husband has brought me happiness that I have not experienced in my adult life. He is a true man. He’s smart, funny, a great father, and makes me a better person all around. Oh, and he pays the bills, so that part is my favorite. LOL
He and the kids are halfway to black belt in Tae Kwon Do and I am so very proud of them for that. It takes a lot of dedication to accomplish that goal.
Jake – The Big Softy
Jake is my oldest, and he’ll be 16 this month. He is my best friend and we have been thru everything together, all the ups and downs and “bumps in the road”. I am very proud to be that boy’s momma. He is the reason I work so hard. It just sucks that he’s so tall and hairy. Where’d my little boy go?
Brody – The Asthmatic
Brody will be 12 in June. He’s my baby boy. Brody is intense and passionate about everything he does. Ugh, even girls. He likes to flex his muscles and can kick some butt in Tae Kwon Do sparring matches too. We speak the same language and I enjoy my conversations and bike rides with him. He’s my buddy.
Cecilia – The Artist
Cecilia is my step-daughter. She is 11. She’s almost as tall as I am and her shoes are two sizes BIGGER than mine. At this rate, I will be shorter than EVERYONE in the family in a couple years. Cecilia is a well-rounded human being. I think she’s been in trouble 3 times in 6 years. LOL She loves to paint, sew, and do arts and crafts. Boys are not allowed near her!!!!
Xavier – The Comic
Xavier is my stepson and is 8 years old. He’s been making me laugh since I met him when he was 2 years old. He can remember every line from a movie, or recite a joke he heard his dad say, with funny voices and all. But he cannot, no matter what, remember where his shoes, backpack, or homework is. Perhaps that will come in time. LOL I love to hear him sing and talk out of the side of his mouth.
The Family -
We eat dinner at the table, as a family, every night. We love to watch movies with our popcorn and coca-cola close by on the weekends. We frequent Disneyland and the grocery store. I love my family dearly and am very proud to be a part of their lives. I look forward to retirement, (because I hate working), and Friday nights with my husband, even if we’re just folding laundry. Yes ladies, he folds laundry too. Hello, he was in the Marines.
I am a very proud wife and mother. I am thrilled of where I am today in my life. To get to this place was rough at times and I hit a few bumps in the road along the way, but each journey brought new beginnings and taught me appreciation I would otherwise not of known.
Tom – The Disciplined Force
My husband has brought me happiness that I have not experienced in my adult life. He is a true man. He’s smart, funny, a great father, and makes me a better person all around. Oh, and he pays the bills, so that part is my favorite. LOL
He and the kids are halfway to black belt in Tae Kwon Do and I am so very proud of them for that. It takes a lot of dedication to accomplish that goal.
Jake – The Big Softy
Jake is my oldest, and he’ll be 16 this month. He is my best friend and we have been thru everything together, all the ups and downs and “bumps in the road”. I am very proud to be that boy’s momma. He is the reason I work so hard. It just sucks that he’s so tall and hairy. Where’d my little boy go?
Brody – The Asthmatic
Brody will be 12 in June. He’s my baby boy. Brody is intense and passionate about everything he does. Ugh, even girls. He likes to flex his muscles and can kick some butt in Tae Kwon Do sparring matches too. We speak the same language and I enjoy my conversations and bike rides with him. He’s my buddy.
Cecilia – The Artist
Cecilia is my step-daughter. She is 11. She’s almost as tall as I am and her shoes are two sizes BIGGER than mine. At this rate, I will be shorter than EVERYONE in the family in a couple years. Cecilia is a well-rounded human being. I think she’s been in trouble 3 times in 6 years. LOL She loves to paint, sew, and do arts and crafts. Boys are not allowed near her!!!!
Xavier – The Comic
Xavier is my stepson and is 8 years old. He’s been making me laugh since I met him when he was 2 years old. He can remember every line from a movie, or recite a joke he heard his dad say, with funny voices and all. But he cannot, no matter what, remember where his shoes, backpack, or homework is. Perhaps that will come in time. LOL I love to hear him sing and talk out of the side of his mouth.
The Family -
We eat dinner at the table, as a family, every night. We love to watch movies with our popcorn and coca-cola close by on the weekends. We frequent Disneyland and the grocery store. I love my family dearly and am very proud to be a part of their lives. I look forward to retirement, (because I hate working), and Friday nights with my husband, even if we’re just folding laundry. Yes ladies, he folds laundry too. Hello, he was in the Marines.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Like a Virgin!
My first blog. Aren't you proud? Am I blushing?
Well, to be perfectly honest, I’m not really a virgin. Does that change our relationship now? I've written quite a few things over the last several months, but I was invited here to share it with you. So here goes....
I enjoy writing for a laundry list of reasons, mainly because it makes me feel good. It relieves stress and I can make light of hectic situations. I also write in order to remember heartwarming stories of my own, or to just simply complain, bitch, moan, and groan. Once I’ve written it down, I usually feel a lot better.
It’s like wanting to write a nasty letter to your boss. You spend hours making sure you say everything perfectly. You cuss him out on paper, making sure to cram in every detail of your anger. You use spell-check, and even the thesaurus to make your correspondence seem more educated and refined.
You proofread it several times and even share it with your spouse or a friend to get their opinion. For most of you, you’ll find that your spouse or friend will tell you it’s a little harsh, but you forge on. In fact, you add edgier cuss words and reformat the letter with bullets and numbering.
However, a little while later, you realize your anger has dissipated. You no longer feel the hatred and absolute loathing you felt a couple hours ago. You then decide that it’s best to perhaps sit on this letter for a while. Think about it more and not be too irrational.
The next day, you completely forget about the letter. Weeks later, you come across this repulsive letter and think to yourself “am I really that hateful?” No, you’re not. You’re just reading on paper your own personal counseling sessions, free counseling I might add. Your stress management course is right there in black and white. (Unless you formatted the cuss words is bold red font.)
Writing is a healing process for me, even if no healing is required.
Veracity, for those of you that don't know, simply put means "devotion to truth" or "power of conveying the truth". This is a place for my experiences, my trueness, my triumphs, and my sincerity.
I hope you enjoy my writings. I do it out of fun, and hope to put a smile on your face while you read. Heck, you might even learn a thing or two.
Enjoy.
Well, to be perfectly honest, I’m not really a virgin. Does that change our relationship now? I've written quite a few things over the last several months, but I was invited here to share it with you. So here goes....
I enjoy writing for a laundry list of reasons, mainly because it makes me feel good. It relieves stress and I can make light of hectic situations. I also write in order to remember heartwarming stories of my own, or to just simply complain, bitch, moan, and groan. Once I’ve written it down, I usually feel a lot better.
It’s like wanting to write a nasty letter to your boss. You spend hours making sure you say everything perfectly. You cuss him out on paper, making sure to cram in every detail of your anger. You use spell-check, and even the thesaurus to make your correspondence seem more educated and refined.
You proofread it several times and even share it with your spouse or a friend to get their opinion. For most of you, you’ll find that your spouse or friend will tell you it’s a little harsh, but you forge on. In fact, you add edgier cuss words and reformat the letter with bullets and numbering.
However, a little while later, you realize your anger has dissipated. You no longer feel the hatred and absolute loathing you felt a couple hours ago. You then decide that it’s best to perhaps sit on this letter for a while. Think about it more and not be too irrational.
The next day, you completely forget about the letter. Weeks later, you come across this repulsive letter and think to yourself “am I really that hateful?” No, you’re not. You’re just reading on paper your own personal counseling sessions, free counseling I might add. Your stress management course is right there in black and white. (Unless you formatted the cuss words is bold red font.)
Writing is a healing process for me, even if no healing is required.
Veracity, for those of you that don't know, simply put means "devotion to truth" or "power of conveying the truth". This is a place for my experiences, my trueness, my triumphs, and my sincerity.
I hope you enjoy my writings. I do it out of fun, and hope to put a smile on your face while you read. Heck, you might even learn a thing or two.
Enjoy.
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