The Days Go On...

(Para Español hacer click a qui)

...and the waiting continues. 

It has  been 5 months since it all began.  Five months of tests and still unknowns.  You would figure that by now there would be some sort of answer.  There isn't.  First they thought it was Multiple Sclerosis (MS for short).  The symptoms are all there, they all point to it, but the tests came back negative (aside from a lesion found on my brain.) Now they think it may have been strokes.  Strokes?!! So more tests are being done.  More visits to the neurologists, more blood work drawn, more MRI's, more waiting.  The waiting is the hardest part.  I think if I just knew what was wrong I could deal with it and move one.  Right?  Maybe it is just an illusion, maybe that will be the case.  On the mean time, I hate being in limbo.  The unknown can be scary.  

Out of all this unknown though, there is one thing I have learned.  It is to let go.  To let things be.  To enjoy the now.  Dishes can wait, laundry can wait, housework can wait, even blogging can wait.  Those things will always be there for me to do, they are never ending tasks, they aren't as important as spending all my energy (as much or as little as I may have) with my family and friends:

Cuddling with my hubby to watch his favorite show (okay maybe not his favorite, it's just too gruesome for me, but close enough.) 

Snuggling with my little ones while they fall asleep. 

Leaving an untidy kitchen indoors to spend time out back around the fire pit roasting marshmallows.

Inviting friends (and the lot of kids) over for a late morning brunch.

Having long phone conversations with my family far away. 

Sleeping in when ever I can.

Taking it slow...or slower.  

Yes this are the things I have learned this past few months of unknowns.

As they say:  
After a storm comes a rainbow.  
I am trying to find rainbow where ever I can.

Happy week friends.

2012 Through Instagram

(*Para español ver abajo*)


I've seen these photo collages around other blogs before and I so wanted to create one for the longest time,  especially since this year I took most of my photos with my phone since my Nikon needs to be repaired and I've been to lazy to take it.  It is interesting and fun to see a whole year (or most of it, since I do take way more photos than these) in one spot.  It brings back all these wonderful, happy, sad, and warm feelings.

If you like you can follow me @lisarenata.  

***

Ya tengo tiempo queriendo crear uno de estos collages.  Se me hacen padrisimos.  Y con eso de que la mayoría de las fotos este año las tome con mi teléfono porque tengo que mandar a arreglar mi Nikon, pero me ha dado una flojera llevarla a reparar, se me hizo mas que perfecto.  Es interesante y divertido ver todas las fotos (o la parte de, pues tomo bastantes) en un solo lugar.  Me traen lindos recuerdos.

Me puedes seguir en instagram soy @lisarenata.

Hello 2013

(Para español leer abajo)

Life most definitely decided to throw me some curve balls at the end of 2012.  To be fully truthful, 2012 was a tough year overall for me, the toughest I've lived by far.  And as much as I tried to savor all the beauty within it, It was rough and I am glad it is done and over with.

So for 2013 my resolutions are simple.  Health.  I want good health for me and for those I love.  And to be present, fully present in the lives of those I love as well.  To enjoy the simple things, every moment, every smell, every word.  Because everything else doesn't matter as much.

With the busy lives we live, it is so easy to take the small things for granted.  Like walking.  I mean, really that is a true gift from above, I sure have learned that this past month.

Although this year has began with uncertainties concerning my health, I pray that God will give me the strength to face what ever he has in store for me.  Because with Him and the love of all those that surround me, I know anything is possible.

And so I leave you with these quotes I've (coincidentally? appropriately?) come across through Pinterest these past few weeks:

"Be in love with your life. Every minute of it." 

-Jack Kerouac

"Sometimes you are delayed where you are, 

because God knows there is a storm where you are headed. 

 Be grateful."

- Unknown

Al final del 2012 la vida me mando unas cosas definitivamente inesperadas.  Para ser honesta, el 2012 fue un año super pesado, uno de los mas difíciles de mi vida.  Y por mas que trate de disfrutar las cosas bonitas en mi camino, me fue difícil. Estoy contenta que ya termino.

Por lo cual mis resoluciones para el 2013 son mas que sencillas.  Salud.  En este año pido por mi salud, al igual que la de mis seres queridos.  Y de estar presente, completamente presente en las vidas de los que amo.  Deseo poder disfrutar de las cosas sencillas, de cada momento, cada olor, cada palabra.  Porque la verdad que nada mas importa. 

Con las vidas tan acarreadas que vivimos es fácil de olvidarnos de las cosas sencillas.  Como el caminar.  Digo, en verdad es un regalo de arriba, y eso lo he aprendido durante este último mes.  

Y aunque este año a empezado con incertidumbre cuando se trata de mi salud, le pido a Dios que me de la fuerza necesaria para enfrentar lo que ponga en mi camino.  Por que con El y con el amor de todos los que me rodean se que todo es posible. 

Los dejo con estos pensamientos que (¿por coincidencia? ¿apropiadamente?) encontre estas ultimas semanas por medio de Pinterest: (los traduje lo mejor que pude)

"Ama tu vida. Cada minuto." 

-Jack Kerouac

"Aveces tenemos que esperar, 

porque Dios sabe que una tormenta se dirige hacia ti.

 Se agradecido."

- Unknown

Girl Power: Raising Her With Confidence ♥ Poder de Mujer: Creando a mi Niña Segura de Si Misma

I have a four year old.  She's beautiful, she's smart, she's daring, silly, and full of energy. She's sensitive and stubborn.  Loving and caring.  She's confident, but shy at times. She is this and so much more.  She's my four year old and my responsibility.  

Tengo una pequeña de cuatro añitos.  Es inteligente, valiente, chistosa,  y llena de energía.  También es sensible y necia.  Amorosa y cariñosa.  Es segura de si misma, pero de ves en cuando tímida.  Es esto y mucho mas.  Es mi pequeña de cuatro añitos y mi responsabilidad.

It is up to me to show her that:

De mi depende enseñarle:

She can be a fairy if is she wants to...

 Que puede ser un hada si quiere...

Or a super hero, why not?

También un super héroe, ¿Por que no?

She can be anything she wants to, as long as she is happy. As happy as can be.

Puede ser lo que ella desee, siempre y cuando sea feliz.  Feliz como lombriz.

But mainly what I want is for her to see...

Pero lo que yo mas quiero es que ella vea...

That being herself is the best thing she can ever be.  To love herself and respect herself.  To see that what counts is not what you see, but what's inside that shines through.  To remember that being beautiful on the outside is not as important as being beautiful on the inside. 

Que ser ella misma es lo mejor que puede ser.  Que se ame y se respete a si misma.  Que vea que lo que cuenta no es lo que vemos por fuera, si no lo que brilla por dentro.  Y que recuerde que ser bella por fuera no es tan importante, como ser bella por dentro. 

And no matter how old she gets...

Y no importa que tan grande este...

 

My baby she'll always be.  

Mi bebe siempre va a ser.

And no matter what path she chooses to take, what role she chooses to play, what life she chooses to live, I will always always be there for her and love her no matter what. 

Y no importa que camino escoja, que rol escoja actuar, que vida escoja vivir, yo siempre siempre estaré ahí para ella y siempre la amare.  

It is up to me as her mother, her role model, her friend, to teach her all this and more.  To listen, to advice, but most importantly to be an example.  So she can grow up to be the confident, daring and loving girl she now is.

De mi depende como madre, ser su modelo principal, su amiga.  De enseñarle todo esto y mucho mas.  De escucharla, aconsejarla, pero mas que nada de ser un ejemplo para ella.  Para que así ella llegue a ser una mujer segura, cariñosa y amorosa, tal y como lo es ahorita de niña.

What about you? What are you doing to raise your little girl to be confident and strong? 

¿Que tal tu? ¿Que estas haciendo para crear a una hija segura de si misma?    

Did you know that Dove believes beauty should be a source of confidence, not anxiety?  They are committed to inspiring all women and girls to reach their full potential.

¿Sabias tu que Dove cree en un mundo en el que la belleza debe ser una fuente de seguridad y confianza, no de ansiedad?  Dove se compromete a inspirar a todas las mujeres y niñas a que logren todo su potencial.

If you would like to start the conversation you can follow #DoveIspired on Twitter, Vive Mejor on Facebook and/or ViveMejor.com.

Si te gustas empezar la conversación puedes seguir #DoveIspired en Twitter, Vive Mejor en Facebook y/o ViveMejor.Com.

This post is compensated and in collaboration with Dove and Latina Bloggers Connect. 

Este post fue compensado en colaboración con Dove y Latina Bloggers Connect.

Memories Of a Traveling Abuela

She carried it with her when she traveled.  That's the first thing I would see her carry into the house when she arrived.  Hanging from her hands, those warm loving hands.  It was always full of make-up, jewelry and other trinkets that any child would find amazing.  And sometimes she would have something wonderful hidden in there, just for me.

Oh how I loved to see that little suitcase.  It meant she was here to stay for a while.  To hug me, to sing with me, to play with me, to listen to me.  My first best friend.  My abuelita.  But never would I call her that.  Oh, no.  She felt she was far too young to be called abuela, so instead I simply called her Mama Lisa.  My mama Lisa. 

Always so elegant.  She walked into a room and all would turn and look at her.  An amazing woman.  A confident woman.  A strong woman.  She raised two girls all on her own after her very young husband died of cancer.  She moved to the United States and taught herself English. She spoke it impeccable.  She worked hard.  She sent both my mother and aunt to private schools both here in the US and in Mexico.  She sent them to college as well.  She never gave up.  I admired her then.  I admire her more now that I am a mother.  She was incredible.

I miss her.  I was only nine years old when she died.  

To this day I look up to her, and always wonder how she would have handled things.  I know she is guiding me from up above.  

So when this past spring while visiting my parents, my mother walks into the house (after searching for something for a while in the garage) holding this same little suitcase, I knew exactly who it belonged to.  "De mama Lisa!" I exclaimed.  She didn't need to say it.  My eyes began to get wet.  Memories flashed by.  

"Para ti,"  said my mom.  For me?  "Si," she responded.

And when I carefully opened it, inside we found this:

The one and only things inside.  

A birthday card she had sent me as a child.

It was my Mama Lisa's way of telling us it was meant for me.

Gracias Mama Lisa!  

And look, I filled it with lace and trims!  (I know she would appreciate that very much because she loved sewing as much as both my mami and I do.)

...and tucked inside with all that lace and trim I keep my birthday card to remind me of how special I was to her.  

Trastesitos

Did you have any trastesitos de barro when you were little?  These were mine.  I took them out for them to play with the other day.  They loved them. 

Looking at them brought back so many beautiful memories.

Memories of my carefree childhood days.  Memories of my abuelita, Mama Lisa (because she considered her self too young to be called abuela.)  Memories of warm summer days spent by the beach tasting the sweet warm salt in the air.  Memories of Christmases filled with piñatas, villancicos, ponche and lots of familia.  Memories of a younger sister and I, dressed alike pretending to be twins (she's a fair skin redhead, I'm not.)  Memories of tias and tios, primas and primos.  Memories of long trips across the Mexican country side and the clickity clack sound of a train rocking me to sleep.  Memories.  Beautiful, wonderful, memories that I don't ever want to forget.

Happy Thursday.  May your memories live on.

Time for Me, Time for Them

Time for me...

Time for them...

It's a balancing game this motherhood thing.  It is.  Though many times the scale leans towards them, I need to take moments, some smaller than others, but moments non the less, for me.  Moments to breath, moments to recollect my thoughts, moments to find peace, moments to spend with friends. 

This weekend I did just that.  Spent a beautiful cool evening with mama friends chatting, laughing and enjoying the view at a local restaurant overlooking the river.  Time for me. 

The next day my chiquitos and I took a nature walk with friends, through one of our favorite parks. Time for them.  

I love my chiquitos with all my heart, but to be a better mother to them, I need to find that balance.

What about you?  What do you do to keep a balance?

Our Summer Through Instagram

I can't believe summer is just about over.  Only a few more days and my little guy is off to first grade.  First Grade!  Summer seemed to slip by so quickly.  In a blink of an eye our summer began and ended.  I can't complain though, aside from the problems I had with this lovely space of mine, we had a great summer.  Filled with warm days full of activities, vacations and lazy days around the house.   And so with that, here I share with you our summer through Instagram. (you can follow me at lisarenata)

 

 

 

This summer we:
- relaxed on the hammock and  enjoyed our new pool when ever home.
- celebrated the little ones birthdays with a pirates and mermaids theme pool party.  Lots of prepping and making went into it.  It was fun.  (A future post to come.)
- spent the fourth of July at grandpa's farm, exploring, learning and moving slowly.
- enjoyed the fruits of our edible garden, which sadly didn't do so well this year. But the chiles did and they keep on coming.  
-  picnicked outdoors as often as possible.
- ran around between piano lessons, swimming lessons and baseball practice/games. 
- ate out more than I though possible. 
- enjoyed ice cream...a lot!
- celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary by the two of us escaping to a local lovely island and watched my first eastern sunrise on the beach.  It was breathtaking and romantic.
- got new hair cuts.  She insisted on having her hair short just like mami, so I obliged.  She looks beautiful.
- discovered local bistros and coffee shops.
- spent a week with a friend and her kids in the lovely Massanutten Resort up in mountains.  Two mamas and four kids sure makes for an adventurous vacation.  We survived (and so did the kids.)
- drove through our first safari ever.  It was so much fun!
- enjoyed lazy days indoors.
- squeezes some sewing and crafting here and there.
- visited the lovely city of Indianapolis for the first time.  Fell in love with it.  Very clean and artsy.
- took the kids to their first baseball game.  
- found little "me" moments when ever I could.

Yes, a lovely summer indeed.

How was yours?