An American phobia? or...

am I the problem??? or just another lost in translation thing?

Well I don't like to “label” so using “Americans” is probably not fair, but honestly this is something I strongly feel from Americans in general, except the ones that have direct relationship with latinos of some sort and or my “hippie” American friends, Yes – most of Americans have a human contact phobia.

For the past 10 years living in Cincinnati I being trying to understand how saying “I love you” it's not a lie. Maybe there a big misunderstanding of my part of what that means. I learned that you love people that mean something to you. You love your mom, dad, kids, family in general and yet the one you are “in love” with. Yes you may love friends but yet not to have any contact or to misjudge the actual human contact – that “I love you” becomes a huge lie to me.

I love you is more like “I like you” or a “I like you sometimes” or even better “I like you (or what you are doing) right now” but not a true “I love you”

I'm sure no one cares - this is a total personal issue. I used to kiss everyone – just kiss kiss kiss because that is how I grew up – my culture is very touching and loving – we hug a lot, we touch a lot. But we only say I love you when we mean it. It's not something you say to everyone and all times. So when someone say I love you to me – it should have a meaning. A strong meaning....

Not that Americans don't mean what they say, I'm sure they mean something but LOVE?? Really?

Now when I look in your eyes, I turn my body towards you in order to listen to what you are saying to me, I hug and I kiss you – that just means I like your company, I like to talk to you, you are a good friend to me and I mean it. I love you – NO – NO!!!! Not being in love, like a couple – Now how is that we can say I love you left and right and yet not have a hug, a kiss or a nice conversation without being judged as being “In love with someone” ??? Or being “easy”, “hitting on someone” or whatever you call it! Why can't you touch, kiss and NOT be in love but if you give them any attention now OHHHH – YOU LIKE THEM (sexually speaking) =oP

All I can do is not change myself – yet I must adapt not to hurt people I care for. Totally getting lost in translation and culture on this one Im sure, but that is how I see it.

I hope it doesn't bother you because I will hug, I will kiss and I will touch. Doesn't mean Im coming down on you, but yes that is how I will show you that I care. Then if/when I say I love you its because I do love you, like that... ( or not... heheh) Confused yet?

Why bother?

I was so sore today and all I could think of was a hot tub; since that wasn't available I settled for a bath, got some very hot water in and a nice peppermint lavender bubbles to help me relax - I go in and remember that....

My tub sucks!!!

I have made a decision that my next house - if doesn't have a decent size tub where I can soak in my WHOLE body in - I may as well just have a shower! This little tub its such a teaser!

What is Incompleteness?

I posted this on facebook and it was nice to get a couple e-mails/msgs from people telling me things that otherwise they wouldn't say!

I'm glad to hear from them - I'm working towards to do the same. Good or bad, you can be kind and deliver the msg!!! =) 

I learned about Incompleteness today. From the book:

Incompleteness is any undelivered emotional communication. 

Incompleteness is not limited to major events. It is an accumulation of undelivered communications, large or small, that have emotional value to you.Or in other words something you wish it was different, better or more.

Sometimes incompleteness is caused by our actions or nonactions. At times by circunstances outside our control.Sometimes is caused or exaggerated by others.

Sometimes we are afraid to say or we have been waiting for the right time that never comes. Sometimes that right time never comes, we forget, get sidetracked or a person die.

Being emotionally incomplete does not mean you are "bad" or defective, but that a variety of ciscuntansces, actions or nonactions have robbed you the opportunity to be complete.

I suffer from Incompleteness. Do you?

It is essential that we complete what is unfinished for us. And I encourage you that if heter is any incomplete emotions towards me you deliver it. Now is the perfect time! And i will do the same! 

Much love to you all my friends =o*

A note to self

For no good reason or without any explanation I feel like all the sudden I felt into this “unreal” life mode. Where I'm living waiting for something that is impossible to happen. ~Did that make any sense?


Like all the sudden I feel as if I'm living on a fairy tale and I'm waiting on the “big moment” to arrive and to the happy end.


Hey – don't take me wrong here, I'm happy and satisfied with life, it's just like I'm wondering and imagining all day this “parallel” story of life – or path or whatever you may wanna call it.


It's like I'm living as if I'm a 15 yrs old again full of dreams and wonders.

HELOOOOO! =P

Wake up girl - your life real, berry berry real and there's no fairy tale here! Miracles are happening daily and you are keeping your eyes shut for it!


~Snap out!~


Get back to real life because let me tell girly – ITS REAL! =) and it's good!
Anyways – that is all I wanted to say....

Celebrating life

I got this orchid last year, the day my dad died. The flowers lasted 3 mos; the longest I ever had an orchid to stay flowered after it bloomed. Since December this same plant has a tinny little sprout and I was thinking it wouldn't ever come out, it kind of just froze in that stage.

Today I noticed that is actually is growing, it even has 2 leafs!
In 3 weeks it will be 1 year since my dad died. One year since I got that flower, and here after 1 year of being "dormant" new its coming from it.

I bet we'll have a flower on May 3rd. A flower not to remember his death but a flower to celebrate his life!
Dad was a happy man. Satisfied with the blessings that came his way. Always wished for little and would undress himself to give it to others in need.
Little but amazing times he had with my kids and wonderful memories we have.

Memories we need to celebrate and keep alive in the boys memories. That they may learn to live content like Vovo Celso was. Happy and kind.

I have a feeling I may need some good company this weekend in order to stay positive. I miss my father and all the goodness he always brought around. He would be so upset to see me sad, still I'm sure he understands how much I miss him and how much I wish he was around. He would tell me to stop and be strong. For him, for me, for the boys!

But all I ever wanted was to make him proud! So for that I will smile!

I stand on the promise that soon we will be together again.

Sent from my BlackBerry device from Cincinnati Bell Wireless

Parenthood - welcome to the group!

There's a list of shows I watch weekly, not too bad thanks to DVR and skipping commercials makes into nothing more then 5 hour/week which I don't consider bad!

But I'm specially in love with this new show on NBC called Parenthood. They being working on it for quite a while, if I'm not mistaking on of the producers even had an aneurysm and died on the set and they had all kinds of set back- but all worth the wait - it's an awesome show!

The history of 4 siblings, 2 women and 2 men with each of their families. There is a little of everything! A stay at home dad and it's hard working wife, the party Crosby that just now found out he has a son as well, the mother of 2 teens that married the rock star and it's parenting all on her own and the family with a special needs child. The grandparents are always involved and they have problems of their on!

Great cast - they have among quite a few popular stars it's Lauren Graham as Sarah, Max Burkholder as Max doing a terrific job and my favorite Peter Krause as Adam!
Real
To top it up the series has a great sound track! Lot's of Bob Dylan and lots of other good songs!

So go to the site to catch up with the passed episodes and make sure to set "record" on your DVR because sure it's worth it! ;)

Amazing Grace at Yoga

I'm a Christian but I think I'm pretty relaxing with many things that other Christians aren't.


I'm not too worried about things that are "bad". I try to have an unique relationship with God. He has made me unique - there is no other Lilian out there - nothing even close to the original me - and that is the true to everyone, so when it comes to my relationship with God I live it unique as well. The things He touches in my heart to do it or convicts me not to do it I don't and other things that "traditional" Christian consider not ok do not bother me. Well - confusing, I'm sure but I will get to my point here soon.

Many Christians are against doing yoga. They talk about how the positions are worshiping other gods and it's "not Christian".

Well I believe that whatever "bad" this exercise could possibly bring into your life "subliminally" is not as powerful as my God and unless I feel bothered by it or God personally asks me to stop I just don't give "it" the power to affect me.

So I read this book called "Eat right for your blood type" and surprisingly it said that cardio exercises are not the best for me! I used to LOVE cardio but I think I'm so overweight that I don't have the energy to do cardio. I will do it one day and be in pain for another 4 weeks! lol But anyways, the book actually said that Pilates, yoga and other core exercises would actually kick my metabolism and "do the job" of a cardio. So after months considering and planning and hoping and looking at class's price and schedule - Finally, a few weeks ago I made it to my first class. I tried Pilates with quite a few different teacher and also yoga. Never gave many time to think about the spiritual part of it since I was just taking classes at our local community center not on a studio (as far as I noticed, studios take the whole spiritual side of it much deeper).

So after 3 or 4 lessons this one lady had music during her class. Music doesn't bother me except it kept repeating over and over again name of Indian gods and a humming sound - than THAT bothered me! It sounded like one of those music that stay in your head and you can't stop singing like the Mac Donald's "Give me back that filet - o fish, give me that fish!" so I didn't really want to listen to it.

I was thinking if I sing that or if it stays in my mind I will feel very uncomfortable and like I'm worshiping other gods. So kindly I asked the teacher to turn it down cause it was hard to hear here (and it really was) so she did and I finished that class. Decided that I would not go back to this one teacher (I have quite a few to choose from); and that decision wasn't made just over the music, besides the music that really did bothered me the whole class was very spiritual and I didn't like her paste and the sound of her voice.

So today I woke up with this AWFUL migraine. The pain was killing me and the pharmacy that had my prescription refill only opened at noon, so I was trying to relax all morning waiting for the pharmacy so I decided to go to the Sunday yoga class. This one teacher doesn't have any other classes but this one on Sunday's that are not for beginners but I just needed to stretch, breath and relax; so I went.

So all this post is just to say WOW! =)

The teacher was very very nice, calm and very concerned and yes - she played music during her class. Mostly Enya, and other pretty funny songs for Yoga, songs you can hear on the "Shrek" soundtrack. So I was very pleased with the whole experience....

The last 15 minutes comes, = relaxation and she talks a little about what we are feeling and why we are in this class and for us to meditate... I was thinking "ok I will just relax, if I can't clear my mind I will just breath and pray."

And the new "calmer" song starts for relaxation and what song is first?   AMAZING GRACE! =)

So how awesome was to relax after this massive workout and stretch to the sound of Christian music! =)

To finish it up with a cherry on top by the time I left the class my migraine was gone! =)))

What kind of mother are you?

Not always we know what to do as mothers. Sometimes we feel we are too hard, or too soft – sometimes we find ourselves doing that one thing our mamas did we always said we wouldn't do the same.

Not always we know what's the best way to go – or to correct a problem. Not always we know if we are teaching too much or wonder if they are eating enough vegetable.

Now the one thing the human being it great at doing it labeling and judging. It's a great quality we all have and yet don't use it wisely.

I would bet millions of dollars that Everyone – I mean EVERYONE out there at some point in life looked at a child with a runny nose and didn't think “Oh MY kids will NEVER walk around with a snotted nose”

or when you saw a mother correcting they child you thought “Oh boy, she is such mean mother, I'm never yelling at my kids like that – communication is the best way and kids need limit.” or a

“She has no control over her kids”

and the list goes on and on....

Truth is that for other kids also you can be strong and keep your word – but when it come to your own kids... “aww they are suffering” or “look at those eyes”... and we just give in. Either that or we just don't want to deal with it do we also give in! =oP

Bottom line is that we ALL did and still after you had had your kids and you KNOW by living it it's NOT as easy as it sounds we still do it. All the time.

I sure don't know many things but there is one thing that I know well. And that is the kind of mother I DO NOT want to be. And the kind of kids I DO NOT want to have.

Having the control and power to do that (have or not have – be or not be) is a whole other story.
But I'm working towards it and I have found its harder than it looks but also it's all about keeping your mind in place and not loosing focus!
Writing is being a great tool for me. Finding out WHAT it is that I feel – and finding out WHY is that I'm feeling that way – what can I do to fix it before I loose my mind! =)

After all - I do wanna be a good mama – who doesn't???

We also need to understand and accept 2 things.
1.we are our worst judges (does that make sense?)
2.some mistakes are inevitable and that is just how we learn.

As for this week my focus will be on the volume of my voice. Not yelling. Time to do a little bit of “get out of your butt” parenting. And that won't hurt anyone! =)

I will report here soon! Hopefully with good results.

Just my personal opinion on Sympathy Gifts

My brother in law's younger brother passed away – and I want to send them something. This got me thinking of traditions and different things that you do in different countries!


Well – what I really want to do is get on a plane – go there and be at their service for whatever they may need! Watch the children, cook, clean! So they don't have to worry about anything! Make them company... Bet here with them.

I'm not sure that this is what they want – but sure it is what I would like for people to do for me!

When dad died this past May I got a ton of cards on the mail, with the most wonderful words... I received a ton of food, and that was nice, very nice except I had all this food in the first 2 or 3 days (some of it that we are not even used to eating) and so much went for waist cause we just couldn't eat it all within the first 5 days and then, when I was so depressed in the week to come I had to cook and take care of things.

We got several weird trays – fruit tray and nuts, and dry fruits... got flowers that died very fast. And this got me thinking is that what I want to send to them?

There this one orchid I got the day dad died and it bloomed for almost the whole summer. Not it's there, with no flowers but I know it will come back – and I remember how beautiful it was and how beautiful it is. Yes – every time I look at it I think about how I got it because of dad's passing but it doesn't bring me sadness. It makes me think of all the wonderful memories I have with him, and how beautiful the flowers were and the next thing I think of it is that sooner or later it will bloom again and so now I have something to look forward. IT brings hope and goodness into a “not so good” memory.

I really don't want to sound ungrateful – the fact people were thinking of me in this hard time is so nice and no words can express how thankful I'm. I'm sure people feel different and some people want to be alone and all but for me; I was already feeling alone, now I lost my dad... I can't even call him. Last thing I want is to be alone! I want company – I want people to hang out with... feel me up with good energy and laugh! Yes – we'll cry sometimes and it's nice to have someone to cry with. But when you loose something – in my mind you want to buy a new one. Dad can't ever be replaced but I sure want to feel like I enjoyed every minute I could of my family and friends before I go or someone else goes. Life is short; passes by so fast and we don't even notice until it's gone. And the time we spend with each other and the love we can give to each other ~ that is just priceless!


Clique aqui em "read more"  para ler em Portugues!

Toys - Toys - Toys - Toys

We are well aware that our kids don't need nearly was many toys as they have, we can't even keep up with what we have but yet we are still buying new ones.
I just cleaned the basement with the kids and trashed about 2 full trash bags of broken toys - one huge box went to GoodWill with the still working toys - and the very cool/nice ones are on a box to Brasil. Stilll we have a TON of toys in the basement. It's a room full of all kids of toys you can imagine. Board games we have over 20 of them ...


Yet - still I want to buy them more - and NOT give what we habe away...
I have such a hard time with that – my kids say hey want something I start looking at the price and working ways to get whatever it is that they want.
Sometimes I even feel like I want to give it to them more then they really want something – does that make any sense? LOL

So yesterday we went out to "Toys r us" to do a little "study" on the things that are out there and the things the kids are really interested on and here is their “little” wish list (for what I can remember right now) :

1.WII - $200 + whatever coast of games and accessories
2. Power car - $200 +
3.Scooter $50/each (that will require new helmets for both boys $20/each)
4.Pogo stick $45
5.Drum set $85
6.Digital Camera 4 kids $60
7.Acoustic Guitar $40
8.Scooby Doo set $35
9.DS $150/each + games
10.Skate Board $ 25/each
11.Woody from Toy Story $40
12.LeapFrog game $60
13.Star wars light saber (the new double one) $35/each
14.Geotrax airport $55
15.“Over drive”car $99
16.Trampoline $45
17.Nerf guns from $25 - $40/each

These are the things they are more crazy about it – there are plenty of $10 - $20 stuff that they ask... I can give you a good reason why I should by each one of those 17 on the list... they have a bunch of good reasons as well! =D LOL

Fact is that they may get one if that... =(  It makes me more sad then they will be!

I'm starting to wonder...

Dan is the man of my life - like every other couple we do have our hard times but the way we work them out are just awesome. I always was sure in my heart that we were meant to be together!

It is like beyond our love!
The way we met and how everything worked out for us to be together I have no doubt that we were supposed to be together and God made it that way - special and blessed!

But lately I been wondering - how can we be a couple???
I mean its freaking 60 degrees in the house (I bet is even colder upstairs) and I have a comforter and all and he has a freaking fan into his face!!! - That of course passes him and get into me!!!

How can we sleep in the same bed!!!??? =(
I wanna cuddle and hug and get warm (not just for the first 5 minutes after we are in bed) but the whole night!!!

Maybe he did all these past 7 years and I never was bothered about or perhaps he only did on warmer days... I don't know! All I know is that I need to talk to him about this soon... we need to work this one out!

It came before I could see it coming

It never crossed my mind this day would come!
Often people guess my age wrong - of course they think I'm older then I'm and not just a year or more - like they guess me to be Dan's (DH) ages - 35.
But I'm not - I'm only 28 and being told that I'm older never bothered me. FOR REAL! Really

I could see other people around me and see them getting older - but still I never saw it in me! I knew it would come eventually...

People talk about how they are bothered by turning 30 and here I'm getting close to it and still don't get bothered by it (Or I should say I didn't until...)

Well - so starting from the beginning, when IW as in 3rd grade I started having a lot of headaches, my mom took me to the eye Dr. and yes - farsighted!

Each year after that until closer to my 20s my eyes got worst and worst and today without my glasses I can't see much! So I started wearing contacts and absolutely hates wearing glasses over the year I had many kinds - blue frame, red frame, round and square - oval and metal...
you name it - every year I got a new pair and always hated them. Used contacts as much as I could until....

....a couple of weeks ago my left eye started hurting really bad when I got contacts on, even very new ones still would hurt so the Eye Dr. prescribed drops and 2 weeks without contacts.

So I ordered myself new glasses, a cheap deal I found online just to hold me over for a couple of weeks and it's being months... I being wearing my glasses since!

Until yesterday, Benjamin had a fieldtrip with school and I didn't want to wear my glasses because it was raining... so I got my contacts on and when I look at the mirror OH MY DEAR SHOES!!!

I look so freaking old! I can see all my wrinkles - my face is so... so... so ... down! =oP Swollen!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm getting SO OLD!!!

Where are my glasses??? for the first time in my life I wanted my glasses back on! They hide my face! LOL

Two articles I was not surprised to read

In a surprise, Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

US deficit 'hits record $1.4tn'

mistaking

So – it’s funny the power of your words – this week I told my friend D that I wished I had a disease I saw on House that you tell people just whatever comes to your mind – and I so regret it now, as the best day I had last week I ruined by loosing a friend. l used the most mean words I could possibly use because I was really mad she didn’t do something I asked her to the way I expected before really finding out the reason why.
Not that the words I used shows what I really feel about her – I was just trying to hurt her – really – poor and straight out mean because I was angry. Of course I apologized but she still doesn’t want to be friends. I’m sure I would be feeling the same way. I’m trying so hard not to be judgmental 100% of the time with everyone and every situation (even knowing that it’s human’s nature) And I’m sure if I was on her shoes I probably would be VERY pissed off… however I can’t be mad at someone for too long – it would kill me inside. I’m ok with it. I asked for forgiveness and she choose not to be friends but God comforted my heart and made me in peace that I’m human and I make mistakes like the one that morning – a great morning when of no other reason I absolutely snapped. Now its look forward and work hard on patience and wisdom not do EVER do things without thinking. And waiting for another 2 new friends I’ll meet – I’m sure! Cause God never close a door without opening a window!

Girls – tell me the truth

Be very HONEST:

Can you tell when I man has a crush on you?
Can he just be a very polite and gentle man and you are just getting the wrong message?

Do you think woman in general have this “ability”? The 6th sense?
Well – I don’t want to sound like – I’m not even sure how to describe – Like I think I’m attractive or something like that. I sure don’t feel good about myself these days and I don’t think I’m “important” as we would say in Brasil – but I do know I have good qualities and when I (seldom) take care of me – I’m “decent”.
Anyways – despite how I feel about myself there is this guy – a friend’s husband here in Brasil that makes me feel uncomfortable. I can’t even look at him – I just feel like that person is always thinking “how come we never met before we both got married”

It’s just SO uncomfortable and I can’t help it! I can’t even have eye contact with him and I feel so weird. Just don’t want to be around – talk or even see them. I can’t really explain – It’s just something you know. Does that makes any sense?
Did you ever feel that way???

The worst part is – that even though I don’t like this man at all – not even as a friend (as he is nothing but my friend’s husband) I do feel bad for him because she is just the most annoying friend I ever had!!!
I feel like I could even have a good conversation and a fun time with him – as friends – of course – but I just can’t!
I'm glad I only get to see them once every so many years (LNSOL)

Weird - weird…

It's not fair

I once had you – you always had me.

I know what I love about you - but I'm not sure if there's anything you can love on me.

I need you - and blogspot sucks for not having an optiong to do a private note =oPPP

It's always all about you! And I like it like that! =)

Feeling a lil pain - in advance.

*deep breath*


No sure where to start – I guess I can’t find words to define how great our vacation has being. Of course there are bad times – missing dad, barfs, missing our beds, barfs, missing our friends, barfs, out of any kind of routine, barfs and of course barfs. (If u know my kids u know they barf a lot!) But those have being the coolest days of our lives!

The boys are just growing up so fast. I’m not sure what it is – if it’s the contact with “new” people all the time or just the summer (I believe we grow up, intellectually speaking during the summer and fall) but they are just developing at light speed and I’m just amazed.
Brasil is a beautiful place, full of good people that are just full of love!

Brazilians know how to have fun – it’s just their nature. They see and find a way to have fun in everything they do. I miss that. I think I lost a lot of my roots.
People around here have faith.

But on top of it all – what I love the most here it’s my family – the love they have to my kids and how happy they are. I can say that at least 95% of the days they spend with family – surrounded my love and attention. And I always imagined that this happened because we don’t leave here and we only see them once a year but NO! They are all like that! I see my cousins – my aunts with their sisters and all… it’s just all the time – spending TIME – quality time with each other, having fun and loving.
I know realize how much I have changed - how much of me I have lost...

It’s such a mix of cultures and ways to live. Today we are in downtown at the most beautiful museums I ever seen and the day after we are drinking raw milk and eating homemade cheese.

We are never bored - we are never alone (unless u want to be)

We have never stayed in Brasil for such a long time – we usually stay for a month – two tops so we don’t ever get any extra time to enjoy it all. We see family and that is it. This time we have close to 3 months so we have enjoyed in a different way. Sort of like into people’s routine but not really having one. Hard to explain – all I know is that I’m trying not to think about the time to go home but already expecting to be very hard – this time not just for me, but for both boys too. They will miss the attention – the love – the surrounding…

Blah! =oP

It's official

I'm starting now to do all I can in my power to move back with my family to Brasil!!!
What a wonderful place to be! =)

Public Health Care in Curitiba

Let me tell you my experience here with public health care. Actually first let me tell ya that Benji’s visit to private hospital coasted me about 600 bucks (supposedly my insurance will reimburse us). And during this visit the Dr. touched Benji maybe once or twice.

From the beginning – Noah had a hard night, woke up with a little fever and holding his right ear. This kid has NEVER had an ear infection. It’s being 2 days also he had complained about a belly ache, (however his BMs were ok, Dan had just left and they are VERY close so I never worried). Well – I thought it would be a good idea to take him to the Dr. Just in case!
My mom suggested me to take him to our local office, here in the neighborhood just a few blocks away from her house, “Posto de Saude” – Health Spot, Health Site… something on those lines… because they were good and free so I didn’t have to worry about $ and or filing with my insurance again.
At first I was so not ok with it – I was thinking a bunch of sick people and lines, hours of waiting for crap service but I just wanted to get an opinion on what was going on with him. I usually do my own thing – so then I went and for my surprise, this is what we experienced:
No line, very happy people in a VERY clean environment. There were 2 patients in front of me and they saw Noah within 15 minutes. First the nurses came to measure and get his info – than a Dr. who talked with him in English the whole time. She spent at least 30 minutes with us. Held him, calmed him down – did all the necessary exams to figure it out what he had + more…
Wrote me a prescription for 4 medications – one for his ear (he has a cyst), antibiotics, pain/fever medication if it was necessary + pedialite in case the antibiotic had an effect on his BMs causing him to become dehydrated. All of those were provided at the office with NO cost. I can go back when the meds are over for a checkup or any other time I desire to check on him!

I was SO impressed and satisfied! So much that I want to do something for that Unit. Not sure what yet but I’m sure to think of something.
Just as a curiosity – there they also provide free vaccination, breast milk donated from mothers that are tested at that facility for other babies whom may need, a pharmacy and health classes. What a great service for a 3rd world country!!! =D

Noah never took the pain/fever meds. He is however taking the antibiotcs. Keep him in your prayers - Also my dad; he has a lot of pain, a little reaction from chemo and maybe according to the Drs. may be fighting a flu like virus... Pray that he can get it over and that if it's a virus none of us get it!

A little more about the wedding

The wedding (the 1st of 3) was VERY nice. I was very touched during the whole ceremony, Arthur – my cousin who just got married is very important to me. He is just like an older brother, we lived together for a while, there’s just not a word to describe our friendship. And his wife Mari it’s also a very special old friend. Despite all the sickness around the family we all had a great time. The kids cried at first but were ok with my mom and dad so Dan & I could walk down the aisle, do the whole bridesmaid/groomsman thing, pics and then finally meet up with them after for dinner.

I cried, I laughed, I ate, I drank, I saw many “long time no see” extended family, I danced, I took my shoes off, I had a ton of deserts, I had a good time!!!

I just wish for Tuta & Mari that they can keep in touch and be happy! All God’s blessings poured out into them and their marriage! I LOVE YOU GUYS! I very much thank them for letting Dan & I be part of their special day! What an honor! =)