Surprise, Surprise!

Guess what? I am packing. Yes, my friends. Packing, again. There are cardboard boxes in my living room and more that I must pick up from a website list, for free. My little ornaments and wall paraphernalia is coming down and lots of paper is being used to wrap them and put them in those blessed boxes. I get to hold them in my hands and remember the funny parts of why I got them or made them. For example, I have a beautiful bellows that was given to my husband by the Tio Pichi. All the way from Bilbao, the Basque country in Spain, where supposedly my ancestors came from.

Or the exquisite square that was crocheted by my sweet daughter and the pattern is called angels, in pink. I framed it and hanged it on my wall as a reminder of her love and of her prayers for us. I also have an old silver plated baptismal bowl that was given by one of my mothers.

I am also packing little sand bags I have picked from the different beaches I have visited and rocks and shells. It almost sounds like I am a little pack rat, but believe me it is just little sentimental things I have collected and are projects waiting to be finished.

I just completed packing the 6^th box tonight, and I am happy I am starting early because I do not want to be stressed out and be running around like a headless chicken in the mess on the last week of August. I remember receiving a prophetic word about moving and I think that it will be fulfilled that day when I will put all my earthly belongings in a truck or pod and take them to a new destination.

My friends, your prayers are coveted. We are not sure what we will do. We have been talking about maybe buying a house or townhome that would not be our forever home, but would be a renting place for when we move again in a couple of years.

We have been looking around the Orlando area, and cannot find something that will be to our “liking and standards” as our realtor said (smile) and that will also fit our budget. I read somewhere that we can ask for signs to confirm or not what we should do, so I am asking for a sign. I cannot tell you what it is, so feel free to put a good word or two with our heavenly Father on our behalf.

I will try to keep you up to date with this never-ending adventure.

Much love and many blessings to y’all!

Unaccounted blessings

Have you read the book "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd? I saw the movie first, and then read the book and let me tell you; I loved the book. I cried reading the last chapter. The movie was O.K. but it did not transcended beyond the screen. There was something about the words in the book, how they rolled and made you feel you were in that place living right along with the main character all the heartache and all the joy.

My daughter just got married a few weeks ago. It was a lovely wedding, full of laughter and dancing and joyful love of friends that are family and of my husband's brothers and their wives who were amazing and brought even closer ties to our hearts.  Yesterday, I was speaking with my airplane friend and she said, we were YOUR family that day, and I have to tell you, I knew I was not alone but had more brothers and sisters than anyone could count. And then I remembered the aforementioned book. In her need of a mother, she discovered she had not one, but three; that loved her and nurtured her.

In my need of family, I have discovered that not only have I had more mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters and cousins; than I could count. Starting with my beloved auntie auntie, but I have had a shepherd, and many more that have blessed me. Sometimes only once; sometimes for years. I have a tall brother, that was a football player when he was younger, I have a brother that is an Entomologist, and knows the name of each bug on the land of the rich coast. I have a brother that was born in Chile, and taught my husband how to drink wine. oh! How many soirees we enjoyed on cool nights of broken wine glasses!!! I have a brother that is my twin, we were born I, on the 21st., and him on the 22nd. Of course, he is 5 years older than I am but nevertheless, my twin because we think very much alike and almost finish each other's sentences when we are together. I have a brother that is married to a beautiful and delightful sister. His family lived in Germany for some time. I have a brother that lives in the country of the Black Forest. Many more that were at the wedding party that demonstrated their love for my sweet baby girl and for us that day. Also, many more that could not make it to the wedding but I still love them all.

What can I say about my sisters? They all are beautiful. I have one that speaks into thousand languages and has gone around the world interpreting. I have a sister that I met when I was flying to New York, she is so good to me, has a heart so big, that it barely fits inside her chest. I have a sister that has green eyes and two lovely girls; I have a sister that believes in organizing, in having everything in order. I have one that likes to defend me against injustice and would probably chop down heads for me, if I would say the word. One of my sisters has a funny nickname: Yogi, like the bear.

My story would not be complete if I do not talk about my niece and my nephew. I have the most exquisite niece, intelligent like her mother and witty like her dad; she makes me smile and makes me want to be wild. In a sense, she has kept my mind open because I have to confess that sometimes I would go down into the obscure line of  narrow mindedness. My nephew has a big heart, studying to become a doctor's aide, his dad and mom taught him well.

This is my family, I love them all and they all love me back. They have nurtured me, comforted me in more occasions that I dare to remember and encouraged me with their own lives. Is not life wonderful, that allows us to love and be loved?

Understatement of the century: I miss you all, love you all and wish we could all live together in a nice quaint town. We would probably call it Utopia. Oh, wait there is a town in Texas called that. If you think of a better name, let me know.

The Science of finding the perfect Peach Cobbler recipe or Peach Cobbler try # 1

Summer is here. By definition summer in the northern hemisphere, is the time when the earth is farthest from the sun. Yes my lovelies, many people believe that because temperatures soar to almost roasting temperatures that the sun is closest to earth. The truth is the other way around. Sun is closer to earth during Winter. But the Science lesson can be left there since I am not a scientist.

Back to Summer... When I was a little child back in Guatemala; my mom would take us to the highlands where cold weather fruits would grow, plums, pears, apples and peaches and many more. Yes, that is how we sunk our teeth on these deliciousnesses (yes, I just made this word up).

We lived in the southern coastal area of the country, where the temperature was hot and humid all year long - what place reminds me this weather of? Wait... Could it be Florida?? I think it was hotter there. The bugs were huge and there were lots of snakes they said, although I never saw not even one. We did not have air conditioner by the way, nor electricity. So, to go back to my story; whenever we would go up - from 1000 to 7,640 feet above sea level at its lowest part, it felt like you were going to heaven. The air was cooler; the color of the sky was deep blue; it had roses, and blue bells, violas and pine trees. The birds were smaller and sang sweeter.

I was happy every time we went there on our way to visit some relatives in Quezaltenango. I felt freedom and could move without sweating.  Where was there? a little fruit farm on the side of the road that had strawberries, plums, cherries and other kinds of fruits. You would walk between the rows of strawberries and the aroma of freshly picked fruit was intoxicating. The people from the farm wore sweaters all the time because the temperature was always a cool 55 to 65 Fahrenheit and their cheeks were red because of the coolness and dryness in the air and because the temperatures would go down to 32 at night!

Now that we live in Florida is kind of hard to find good peaches. The juicy, soft; perfumed that melts in your mouth whenever you sink your teeth to kind of peaches. The ones here in central Florida are more like the ones we used to have in Costa Rica, more acidic and smaller. We went on the hunt for real Georgia peaches close to the Florida/Georgia border last weekend and thanks to my dear friends that live in Jacksonville Beach, we were able to find some with this lady in another little fruit stand. If you ever find yourself driving through Stark in Florida make sure to look for fruit stands. They are also on the side of the road, and you will find fresh okra, strawberries, blueberries, onions and delicious preserved yummy things.

I have started with a very scientific process of elimination to find which is the best recipe for peach cobbler. The first one, which I made this morning; says it is the easiest and yummiest. Disclaimer: this is not my recipe so I have included a link for you to try and make it yourself, if you wish to do so. I used a little bit less sugar than the original recipe, just because I feel that most recipes nowadays are on sugar overload.

More stories about peaches to come (hopefully) and in the meantime; be blessed!!

Best and easiest peach cobbler

My friend Claudia

I was reading some of my old semi blogs, since I have been writing on and off for some time now. For what seems an eternity I had stopped since did not seem like I was going anywhere, but my son encouraged me to continue. He said; take a project; and write about its development. Make it so it will become your life project or a small project. Did I listen? Maybe... (sounds like he has become wiser with time and I have become more determined not to listen). I have to confess that I did not pay too much attention to his encouragement not because of him but because I did not think too much of me.

Yes, I still struggle sometimes with self esteem, yet; a few months ago I distinctively felt the Lord speak to me about who I was and I have not spoken derogatively about myself ever since. But I digress, since this is all about my friend Claudia.

I met her many years ago at church, she had three gorgeous little girls which are all grown up now, with kids of their own and I remember admiring her very much. First; because she is a beautiful lady. Gorgeous skin; maybe with some smile wrinkles, but at our age who doesn't; right? Her eyes have a beautiful pale greyish/bluish color that makes them unique and her smile lightens up a room.

Second, I learned to look up to her because of her wisdom and love for God and others. My sweet friend is selfless and gives of herself and her time to others in ways that I recognize I would not do. Always has a word of encouragement, a little story to tell about almost everything and with that, she shows how much love and wisdom has for everybody and everything. I know that she does not do any of those things to show up or impress anybody because she does not think she is doing anything too special. Nevertheless; she has impressed many people with her caring heart and humble demeanor. If you, by any chance happen to be in her circle of friends; you might consider yourself lucky.

What a great blessing to have met her all those years ago in a small church back in Costa Rica!
Since then, I moved away and now live thousands of miles away from her; and yet; a few days ago we met again and like good friends we have been; we took off in our conversation where we had left it eight or nine years ago.

The time spent together was too short, since time flies when you are enjoying yourself. We walked on the beach, talked about life, grown up kids, grandkids; husbands and life in general. Laughed and I know; prayed under our breath for another meeting like this. Hopefully sooner.

Until we meet again my sweet friend, may you be blessed; and may the desires of your heart come to pass really quickly.