Happiness Is ...

Today's blog is really a continuation of last week. I had too many picture to post all at once, so I've decided that this post will be the remainder of the pictures.

Happiness is family lunches at Panera. Keziah and Eric are family too!!

Happiness is Mr. Eric climbing the rock with you!!

Happiness is my brother learning to crochet so that he can help his daughter learn!!

Happiness is having a friend like Keziah that can teach him how.

Joyousness for today...

I am feeling a theme for my blogs... :-) Keep checking back to see how many different titles I can find to use for this theme.


So here's the back story to today's joy! I worked at my mom's store today and called her at the end of the day, exhausted and sharing some things on my heart -- being the wonderful, caring mama that she is, and always one to take care of me -- she said "go get yourself something nice for dinner on me". Thus began my mission.

I headed to Whole Foods more because that's the direction I started driving. I intended to drive to the A&P but always forget that it's off of Goffle Rd and not Lincoln Ave. (Sorry if you don't live in this area to follow that).

I shall now break down the pieces to this evening's joyous dinner.

I am not a big sushi fan, but I do enjoy California Rolls although I would prefer them without the crab meat ... TA DA -- I have Avocado and Cucumber rolls with brown rice -- the beginning of the meal.

After the delightful appetizer, we continue the meal with a potatoe pancake, zucchini Parmesan latke (google it), and broccoli rabbe with sauteed whole garlic. To top it all off, I am going to use some delicious salad dressing that my sis-in-law Sarah made for me -- thanks darlin.

What am I drinking with all of this deliciousness? Honest Tea... it's my new obsession - honestly!! That's why there are three that you see, "Agave Mate", "Mango Acai White Tea", and "Lori's Lemon Tea". Hope mom doesn't mind that I bought three. I also have another one in the refrigerator that she bought me earlier in the week (did I mention that she takes care of me?).

Now that I've shared my meal with you, I shall share the dessert portion of today's joyousness moment! I haven't decided if I shall eat the two separately or if I shall eat them at the same time.

My family is a big supporter of the frozen fruit industry, I am in favor of any fruit that someone else takes the effort to cut up and freeze. That being said, I've never seen Mango's be a choice before -- in Ecuador we (mostly my mom and our precious maid, Maria) used to have to do all the work of cutting up the mango and freezing them, and now you can buy a bag at Whole Foods -- life is good.

To round out the night I am eagerly anticipating my Coconut Almond Ice Cream bar made with coconut milk. You can't eat too many of these because the coconut milk makes them quite high in fat -- but man are they delicious.

Joyousness for today, brought to you by Whole Foods (and my sweet mama)!!

What brought me joy today...

Dinosaur Invasion
As I walked in to the home office tonight I almost tripped over this guy -- although he looks quite scary in this picture, he's actually much smaller. The joy of this little guy being in the middle of the office floor is what it symbolizes... it means that little Rodney was playing with it and the toys surrounding it. Little guy took a nap on Grampy's "piddow" this afternoon and then spent some time at Grammy & Grampy's house playing with the toys. Everyone knows that knows that the toys that you don't get to play with every day are better than the boring ones you can play with whenever you want. ALSO -- if I know my dad, I can pretty much guarantee that this involved Grampy down on the floor playing with little Rodney bringing endless delight to both of them. Grammy was probably close by either spoiling him with treats or hugs.

Arrival of Books

I can't think of many things that bring me more joy than new books... but new books for my babies bring with it the anticipation of the look on their faces when they realize that Nonni got them new books. Recently a friend needed some help reaching a goal of selling Children's books, so I decided to see what she had available. (See her great site here). The Shapes Jigsaw Puzzle book is for little Rodney - all the other kids LOVED any puzzle books I brought home so I am sure that Rodney will feel the same way. Sammy, on the other hand, is fascinated with "diggers" -- can you believe that I found a book called "Diggers". He's going to love the endless entertainment this brings him.

Lest you stop and think "only books for the boys, what about the girls, you cad" - have no fear, they are spoiled rotten in their own right, this time just happens to be for my beloved boys. Can't wait to give these to them on Sunday along with some stickers. Oh and I have some jewelry and stickers for the girls too. :-) Sure do love my babies!!!

Thanks for sharing in my joy today!!

Give my regards to Broadway...

A dear friend recently sent me this picture (check out where it came from here) because she knows of my undying love for my city.  There just happens to be something about skylines that make my heart skip a beat.  I enjoy the great outdoors and appreciate seeing stars, but LOVE cities... don't ask me to explain it.

I'm excited to be able to say that I'm going home to it.  Sure, I'll be technically living in NJ, but will be taking any opportunity that I have to be close to my beloved NYC.  

Happy New Year

It's hard to believe that Christmas in Nashville has come and gone.  I looked forward to it for so long, made plans and was giddy... and now it's a memory -- but a beautiful, sweet memory!

The picture you see here is so perfect because it's so indicative of what any time with my family is like.  Even if you add the other half of the family that wasn't able to join us in Nashville, this would be what they would have been doing as well.  

There was a survey here at work about what my resolution for this new year will be... and I started thinking about it.  God gives us a new year... a time to start over.  Our calendar could have just been a list of days stretched out before us but God knew that we would need fresh starts, a time for renewal.  This year is a little different for me than others because I started my biggest resolution about 2 months ago.  I started eating healthy and have lost 23lbs -- I'd like to continue that, but on top of that I resolve to have a new year... one that's different than the old because it's full of growth and change.

I pray you are ready for a time of renewal as well!!

A Christmas First...

I my be a bit biased, but I am of the opinion that the Christmas tree pictured here could quite possibly be the best one this world has ever seen. Of course, it's also the first one I have ever had. I've always been willing to partake of other people's trees -- even participate in the decorating of them --- but this one is all mine. I picked it, paid for it, carried it inside (yes, all 7ft of it), strung it with lights, and decorated it!

I know that anybody reading this knows how wonderful I think my family is -- but this year they have chosen to come celebrate Christmas in Nashville with me and I am forever honored. *(Unfortunately my brother's family won't be able to make the trek and they shall be missed)*. I am looking forward to having them here and have thoroughly enjoyed decorating them. I figured that with them all coming I should have a tree and as soon as my sister holds up her end of the bargain, the kiddie poos stockings will be hung by the fire with care!

We may have to eat in shifts since I can only seat/serve 4 at a time, but I'm sure that it will be glorious.

May you all have a wonderful Christmas with your family as I drink in a full week with mine giving thanks for them and for having a great God who is BIG enough to send His Son to be born for us but for also caring about the details of having us enjoy our time together.

Where were you....

Being in Nashville, so far away from the city I love - make this anniversery that much hard. (I sit crying as I write this -- this picture is the view I had out the window of the office building I worked in)

I got a text message from my sister this morning and it verbalized what I'd been thinking since I got up this morning... "I still thank God that you were with me 'when the world stopped turning'".

From the moment I woke up... since my alarm is talk radio, I was reminded of the day 7 years ago when in the midst of chaos, God protected me and those that I love. I'll never forget anything about that day... I remember walking to work thinking "i'm so bored with this day already". My sister remember staring at her newspaper and thinking "what a boring news day". Little did we know what was to come, but what I do know is that God blessed the events of that day in such a way that my sister and I were together. If we hadn't happened to be on the same floor when we were evacuated we could have been on the same block and never known it.

I was supposed to have a chiropractor's appt. that morning downtown by the towers, and since all of you know how I feel about mornings -- I decided to postpone. God cancelled a meeting that my mama was supposed to be at. God miraculously kept my sister-in-law in His loving arms as she experienced tragedy first hand at the foot of the towers --- but that is her story of grace to tell, I'm just thankful she's around to tell it.

I toyed with making the title of this post "Have you Forgotten"... because so many times it's easy to go through life wihout remembering that day... the day where God provided a Christian family to give us a ride home on a day where all the busses and cabs were either full of price-gouging. Some of you may be reading this and thinking about why God didn't protect everyone, or whether I would be as big on God if one of my family members had been taken. I can tell you, that while I pray on a regular basis for the protection of my loved ones, that God is good... ALL the time!! His plan is bigger than us, and his love knows no bounds.... in the words of a man who knew tragedy "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord (Job. 1:21 ESV).

May you all remember HIS goodness as we remember a day that proves man's need for it.