14- day Challenge

Years ago, around Valentines, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints suggested to take the 14-day challenge whether you were single, dating or already married to help you get more of a wonderful holiday and to help remember the truest source of love--that of our Heavenly Parents and our Savior. In turn,  doing so, will help us develop more of that love within our hearts.

So, this Valentine's Day, be sure to take the challenge and rejoice in the love that is all around us.

Day 1 Show patience with someone

Day 2 Overlook someone's shortcomings

Day 3 Look beyond looks

Day 4 Resist the impulse to categorize others

Day 5 See a situation through the other person's eyes

Day 6 Forgive someone who has wronged you

Day 7 Don't criticize actions or circumstances

Day 8 Show mercy to someone

Day 9 Give 10 minutes to really listen to someone

Day 10 speak kindly

Day 11 Say thank you to someone

Day 12 Focus on what you have in common with everybody you meet

Day 13 Offer up a genuine compliment

Day 14 See everybody you talk to through God's eyes

Remember these quotes: "Your Heavenly Father love you, each of you, and that love never changes." President Monson

"Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistake seen small. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion." President Eyring

"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though were are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God's love encompasses us completely." Elder Uchtdorf

We all know that actions speak louder than words. We may say "I love you" but do our actions back up that claim? In Love is a choice: Making your Marriage and Family Stronger, Elder Lynn G. Robbins teaches us that love is more than a feeling. It is a commitment, a promise to be responsible, respectful, and responsive to the needs and experiences of other. And like any other action we undertake, perfecting the act of love requires a lifetime of practice and good choices.

Con amor,
Vero

In Memory of Paco

Four years ago, I learned of the death of a dear friend and cousin once removed, Francisco Flores (Paco) Sadly, when you google his name you will find all sorts of distorted twits of his character. But here is the truth I know. Paco was not a thief!

On the contrary, Paco was a good person. He was always thinking of others and doing for others. He was kind and caring. He gave all he had to the improvement of so many poor Salvadorans while he was President. I know it, I saw it with my own eyes.

The day he died was a hard day for me and our family who knew him well. He is a Flores like me. We share great-grandparents. I haven't written about him for the past few years because I needed to digest what has happened. He became ill and died from a brain hemorrhage caused by stress. Everything leading to his death is suspicious but it is what it is. The day he passed away it was too emotional of a day for me. Even as I write about him now it about kills me to think of how much his children and wife must be missing him. My heart aches when I think about not having him around to pay him one last visit.

I was in Manila all the way across the world when I got the phone call that he didn't make it. I was in shock, devastated, angry, hurt, sad, and a million other emotions all at the same time. I felt unbelievable sadness, and deep sense of loss, the loss of a good friend. Paco's death was completely unexpected. He was healthy and strong and only 56 years young. (we were the same age) we attended the same school and attended a few classes together. I remember thinking about him at our 25 year High school reunion in 2003 when he was still President of El Salvador. But today he is no longer with us, just like that, no warning.

 Paco was taken from this life and all our family is heartbroken. He needed more time to clear his name. He didn't deserve to die the way he did. Paco was was not perfect but was an incredible friend. He touched the lives of so many people he came in contact with. He was an angel in this life and I truly believe he is an angel in the next life watching over his family. He will now be their guardian angel. I wish all of you could have known the Paco I knew. 

Everyone in the world would have benefited from having him in their life. He was very optimistic so is ironic the political persecution and torment got to him. One day I hope, when his name is finally clear, people of El Salvador will realize what a great man and President he was. He was the only one who stood his ground against Fidel Castro. Paco was incarcerated like some dangerous criminal when a sentence hadn't even been pronounced. He spent time in jail for two years waiting for a fair trial but there were no proofs of any of the charges which is a total violation of human rights. The world knows El Salvador is very corrupt when it comes to dirty politics. It's so scary and so embarrassing! I detest all those people who used him and even betrayed him. I have been telling people, I have no business going back to El Salvador unless a miracle happens and El Salvador becomes a true Democracy. 

Con amor,

Vero 

An Eternal Instant

Cristi was commenting how much she enjoyed spending time with her family while vacationing in Europe because that gave them time to connect with each other. Their  experience as a family made me think of an amazing article by Max Lucado. He wrote this article that I have read time and time again because I like his views on being present. It is a good reminder of appreciating those moments that might seemed ordinary. Enjoy! 

Find Joy In The Ordinary. “We played every game we knew. We ran up and down the hall. We played “find me” behind the couch. We bounced the beach ball off each other’s heads. We wrestled, played tag, and danced. It was a big evening for Mom, Dad, and little Jenna. We were having so much fun that we ignored the bedtime hour and turned off the T.V. And if the storm hadn’t hit, who knows how late we would have played.But then the storm hit. Rain pattered, then tapped, then slapped against the windows. The winds roared in off the Atlantic and gushed through the nearby mountains with such force that all the power went off. 

The adjacent valley acted as a funnel, hosing wind on the city. We all went into the bedroom and lay on the bed. In the darkness we listened to the divine orchestra. Electricity danced in the sky like a conductor’s baton summoning the deep kettledrums of thunder.I sensed it as we were lying on the bed. It blew over me mixed with the sweet fragrance of fresh rain.

 My wife was lying silently at my side. Jenna was using my stomach for her pillow. She, too, was quiet. Our second child, only a month from birth, rested within the womb of her mother. They must have sensed it, for no one spoke. It entered our presence as if introduced by God himself. And no one dared stir for fear it would leave prematurely.What was it? An eternal instant.An instant in time that had no time. A picture that froze in mid- frame, demanding to be savored. A minute that refused to die after sixty seconds. A moment that was lifted off the time line and amplified into a forever so all the angels could witness its majesty.

An eternal instant.A moment that reminds you of the treasures surrounding you. Your home. Your peace of mind. Your health. A moment that tenderly rebukes you for spending so much time on temporal preoccupations such as savings accounts, houses, and punctuality. A moment that can bring a mist to the manliest of eyes and perspective to the darkest life.Eternal instants have dotted history.It was an eternal instant when the Creator smiled and said, “It is good.” 

It was a timeless moment when Abraham pleaded for mercy from the God of mercy, “But if there are just ten faithful.” It was a moment without time when Noah pushed open the rain-soaked hatch and breathed in the clean air. And it was a moment in the “fullness of time” when a carpenter, some smelly shepherds, and an exhausted, young mother stood in silent awe at the sight of the infant in the manger.Eternal instants.You’ve had them. We all have. Sharing a porch swing on a summer evening with your grandchild. Seeing her face in the glow of the candle. Putting your arm into your husband’s as you stroll through the golden leaves and breathe the brisk autumn air. Listening to your six-year-old thank God for everything from goldfish to Grandma.Such moments are necessary because they remind us that everything is okay. 

The King is still on the throne and life is still worth living. Eternal instants remind us that love is still the greatest possession and the future is nothing to fear.The next time an instant in your life begins to be eternal, let it. Put your head back on the pillow and soak it in. Resist the urge to cut it short. Don’t interrupt the silence or shatter the solemnity. You are, in a very special way, on holy ground.” 

Yes, I agree with Max Lucado’s view that we are on holy ground when we are spending time with our family. 

Con amor,

Vero

Born into Hunger

Whenever I read an article about people from El Salvador I become very interested in finding out more about them. Roberto Mendoza came from a poor family and suffer hunger growing up. He is doing o.k. now but what a story! Here what he said: “I was just paying for his gas. The lottery ticket was a rare impulse buy. "I scratched the top and saw the match for $250,000. ... I go Oh my! Then I started to jump and hit my friend," the chef said. "My next reaction was basically 'this is not my money.' I'd been feeding little ones in Charlotte for five years, and I decided I was going to continue to do that." He was destined to do much more. 

Mendoza was born in El Salvador. A war was raging, food was scarce. "When I was 14 or 15 years old, I went to bed without eating. I said 'God, When I grow up, I do not want to feel hunger.'" But the war got worse for Mendoza. He was kidnapped. The chef doesn't give many details from there. But upon his release, the Salvation Army brought him to Canada. He eventually ended up in California, working at an Israeli delicatessen. 

From the deli, Mendoza got a job at a hotel kitchen. He went to culinary school and became a chef at the Beverly Hills Hotel. As his career flourished, he cooked for three US presidents, a Saudi Arabian prince and the Tennessee Titans football team, among others. 

"I was doing meals for a NASCAR event in Charlotte, North Carolina. There, we fed more than 400,000 people in one week. When I saw that much food, I remembered that prayer from when I was little," Mendoza said. "God made me a chef because I suffered too much hunger in El Salvador."

The chef drummed up support and contributions from around North Carolina, and roasted 600 holiday turkeys for Charlotte's homeless at a university kitchen. A volunteer there first mentioned the Dominican Republic. "She said 'I wish I could do this for the kids in Bayaguana,'" he said. "I went to visit and I saw the poor village."

In 2013, the chef got a $10,000 tax refund. His reaction: "This can't be my money." It was. And he used it to buy land in Bayaguana for a cafeteria. He dreamed of a facility that could regularly feed the area's poor. But the funds just weren't there to complete construction -- until he scratched off a lottery ticket in North Carolina. 

Even after taxes are withheld, $250,000 was a lot to win. But it's not a lot of money to keep Mendoza's dream alive. There is still work to be done, and funds to be raised. 

In the meantime, Mendoza keeps feeding people. From high-end catering at Charlotte's finest events to weekly dinners he regularly prepares for the city's homeless, he relishes the universal sounds of people dining, and knows too well what hunger sounds like. 

"When you are hungry, there is no language, just your stomach growling." I can’t relate to Roberto Mendoza, because I never felt hunger while growing up but I do understand what he is talking about. If Roberto only knew, that all he and his family had to do is knock on my door. I would have fed them. 

Con amor,

Vero

My first two wishes came true!

On New Years when I was eating the grapes to make 12 wishes, my first wish was to take Daniel to Utah so celebrate his 65th birthday.

It has been over 10 years since Daniel has celebrated his special day with family so I kept looking at plane tickets to see if we could afford to go but they were too expensive. I then resorted using our miles and that is how we went. It was the best spent miles ever! We left Saturday January 18 returning Sunday January 26 arriving this morning.

Sunday we were surprised as soon as we arrived by Cristi, Vera and the boys' visit.While the Dames stayed with us, on Monday and Tuesday morning we had breakfast at IHOP one day and the next at KNEADERS We loved visiting the U of U History Museum and to Logan to meet the new puppy. While driving through Brigham City, we noticed the kids were hungry so we stopped at the Fireplace for pizza, another kids friendly place.

Tuesday Jan. 21 was beautiful! It was a nice change of pace and the weather cooperated so Cristi could travel home. It didn't feel that cold either which was a plus. We celebrated Daniel's special day eating at Maddox his favorite restaurant in Brigham City.

On Wednesday I went to the Church office to get all my paperwork done for my VISA and saw both Bishop Causee and Elder Haynie which is always a shock when you are having a bad hair day. After that experience, I went to get my hair done and we went to Red Iguana for lunch and to Antivilos for dinner. I took a cake to sing happy birthday one more time because I had forgotten to record it the night before.

On Thursday we went to Dr.Hales to get our booster shot for shingles ( that hurt our arm the rest of the trip but glad it was done.) Purchased Daniel his birthday gift. Daniel has given Apple watches to his boys and I even suggested to Vale to ask her siblings to go in for another watch for Daniel since his watches are having issues and he loves watches and he cherishes them too but I don't think she got the memo. She did reminded us that we owed her money for some things we asked her to bring to Buenos Aires which at first I thought it was a joke but she was serious. An apple watch was the one gift I wanted him to have for Christmas or his birthday and that was the other wish that came true. In the evening, we had invited the Morrisons to have dinner with us but Ralph was not feeling well to go out so instead, we went for pupusas with Mandy and Spencer.

Friday we did as much as we could running errands and shopping for things to bring back to Argentina. We went out to eat with Gregg and Ann at the Olive Garden in Sandy.

Saturday Vale had invited us to eat at a new Pizza place but it wasn't open so we ended up eating Mexican at Maria's it was also super busy day visiting Hernan and family at his new home and continuing to Andy and familywho were celebrating the Chinese New Year with the most amazing yummy food. We continued over to Rebeca and Matias for another dinner and this time it was Noquis. Nacho and Anais and some other couple from Uruguay also joined in. Finally at around 10:30 p.m. Mandy came over to our apartment to say good bye.

Early Sunday morning we left to go to the airport. We had packed four suitcases, two carry on bags and two backpacks; that is our least favorite part of the trip. Going home!

Con amor,
Vero

For those turning 65

I came across this advice from a friend who is a financial adviser and I have to agree it’s good advice to follow, particularly because my husband is turning 65 in a few days. 

01 – It’s time to use the money you saved up! Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments , even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof . They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

02 – Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money. 

03 – Keep a healthy life , without great physical effort . Do moderate exercise ( like walking every day ) , eat well and get your sleep . It’s easy to become sick , and it gets harder to remain healthy . That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs . Keep in touch with your doctor , do tests even when you’re feeling well . Stay informed .

04 – Always buy the best , most beautiful items for your significant other . The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner . One day one of you will miss the other , and the money will not provide any comfort then , enjoy it together .

05 – Don’t stress over the little things . You’ve already overcome so much in your life . You have good memories and bad ones , but the important thing is the present . Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you . Feel good in the now . Small issues will soon be forgotten .

06 – Regardless of age , always keep love alive . Love your partner , love life , love your family , love your neighbor and remember : A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection .

07 – Be proud , both inside and out . Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber , do your nails , go to the dermatologist and the dentist , keep your perfumes and creams well stocked . When you are well-maintained on the outside , it seeps in , making you feel proud and strong .

08 – Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age , but keep your own sense of style . There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters . You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it . It’s part of who you are .

09 – Always stay up-to-date . Read newspapers , watch the news . Go online and read what people are saying . Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks . You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet . Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age .

10 – Respect the younger generation and their opinions . They may not have the same ideals as you , but they are the future , and will take the world in their direction . Give advice , not criticism , and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today .

11 – Never use the phrase In my time . Your time is now . As long as you’re alive , you are part of this time . You may have been younger , but you are still you now , having fun and enjoying life .

12 – Some people embrace their golden years , while others become bitter and surly . Life is too short to waste your days on the latter . Spend your time with positive , cheerful people , it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better . Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around .

13 – Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren ( if you have a financial choice , that is ) . Sure , being surrounded by family sounds great , but we all need our privacy . They need theirs and you need yours . If you’ve lost your partner ( our deepest condolences ) , then find a person to move in with you and help out . Even then , do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone .

14 – Don’t abandon your hobbies . If you don’t have any , make new ones . You can travel , hike , cook , read , dance . You can adopt a cat or a dog , grow a garden , play cards , checkers , chess , dominoes , golf . You can paint , volunteer or just collect certain items . Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it .

15 – Even if you don’t feel like it , try to accept invitations . Baptisms , graduations , birthdays , weddings , conferences . Try to go . Get out of the house , meet people you haven’t seen in a while , experience something new ( or something old ) . But don’t get upset when you’re not invited . Some events are limited by resources , and not everyone can be hosted . The important thing is to leave the house from time to time . Go to museums , go walk through a field . Get out there .

16 – Be a conversationalist . Talk less and listen more . Some people go on and on about the past , not caring if their listeners are really interested . That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you . Listen first and answer questions , but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to . Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to . Try to accept situations as they are . Everyone is going through the same things , and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints . Always find some good things to say as well .

17 – Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older . Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through . Try to minimize them in your mind . They are not who you are , they are something that life added to you . If they become your entire focus , you lose sight of the person you used to be .

18 – If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them . If you’ve offended someone – apologize . Don’t drag around resentment with you . It only serves to make you sad and bitter . It doesn’t matter who was right . Someone once said : Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die . Don’t take that poison . Forgive , forget and move on with your life .

19 – If you have a strong belief , savor it . But don’t waste your time trying to convince others . They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them , and it will only bring you frustration . Live your faith and set an example . Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them .

20 – Laugh A Lot . Laugh at everything . Remember , you are one of the lucky ones . You managed to have a life , a long one . Many never get to this age , never get to experience a full life . But you did . So what’s not to laugh about ? Find the humor in your situation .

21 – Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking . They’ll do it anyway , and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved . Let them talk and don’t worry . They have no idea about your history , your memories and the life you’ve lived so far . There’s still much to be written , so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think . Now is the time to be at rest , at peace and as happy as you can be !

 Con amor,

Vero

Eeny meeny, miney moe

Six steps to making a good decision from a friend who stole this from another blogger that think is worth sharing. 

It can be intimidating to make big decisions in life when you know they might have lasting consequences. Decisions like where to go to college, or who to marry, or what career to pursue, or where to live, or when to move, or when it’s time to try something new…all those things are big decisions and they can cause us to get anxious and fearful of picking the wrong thing. 

Whenever I have a big decision to make in my life I have a set of steps that I try to follow to help me to figure out the “right thing to do”. These steps have helped me tremendously in life so I thought I would share them with all of you in hopes that they can be of value to some of you when you are trying to make important decisions in your own lives. I realize that each of us are different and we all have different beliefs, so some of the steps I follow may not be relevant to all of you, but hopefully everyone can glean something that will be helpful to them:

Step 1.  Identify the issue you are trying to make a decision on.

As part of this process I write down what my options are ahead of me to choose from so I have clarity on what I am trying to figure out.

Step 2.  I always make sure and say a prayer to ask for guidance as I am trying to make my decision.  I realize that not everyone believes in prayer, but I personally do, so I always try and pray at the start of trying to make big decisions in my life so I can have help to figure things out.

Step 3.  Study the problem.  This step is the one that takes the longest for me.  In this step I try to examine all of the facts.  What are the pros and cons of each option that I have to consider?  What are the concerns I feel about each one of them?  What are the benefits that would come with each option?  I do as much fact gathering as I can to make sure I am basing my decisions on the best data possible.  Part of this step is me seeking advice from those who have experience, those who are smarter than me (and that is a lot of people!), and those who know me best.  That is all part of the fact gathering process.

Step 4.  Make a decision.  After I have studied something as much as I can then its time for me to make a decision.  This is always the scary part because we never want to choose the wrong thing.  But after all you can do to study something out in your mind then you have to make a choice.  Many times in life not making a choice is in essence, making a choice by default, so don’t ever trick yourself into the “wait and see” mode on decisions. Do your best to make a good decision and then make it.

Step 5.  Pray for a confirmation of my decision.  Once I make a decision for myself that is based on all of the facts and options I considered I always take it back to prayer to tell God that I have made a decision and to ask him to stop me if I am making the wrong one, because my plan is to move ahead based on what I know and what I have decided.  And then I have faith he will stop it from going through if it’s not right for me.  I realize other people may approach this step differently, but so far in my life doing it this way seems to work pretty -good for me.

Step 6.  Act – DO IT!  Once I have decided on something and prayed that God will stop me if I am wrong then it is time to put the decision into action and move forward.  Once you decide what is right you cannot let yourself get sucked into second guessing it and worrying.  If you have done all you can do to make the right choice then you need to have faith that you can move forward doing your best and everything will work out as it should.

The most important thing is “Do something, do anything, just make a start.”

Con amor,

Vero

Going the extra mile always pays off in the end

A man was asked to paint a boat story. 

A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought with him paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him.

While painting, he noticed that there was a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it.

When finished painting, he received his money and left.

The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice check, much higher than the payment for painting.

The painter was surprised and said: "You've already paid me for painting the boat Sir!" 

"But this is not for the paint job. It's for having repaired the hole in the boat."

"Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant."

"My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened.

When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention about the hole.

When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.

They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time.

When I returned, and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole.

Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing.

Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your 'small' good deed."

.....So, no matter who, when or how. Just continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively and carefully repair all the 'leaks' you find, because you never know when one is in need of us or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.

You may have repaired numerous 'boat holes' along the way... of several people without realizing how many lives you've saved.

I like this story because I think if you want to get ahead in this life, you need to do more than expected and not just the minimum required. 

Con amor,

Vero

Most checked out books

Here are the most check-out children’s books of all time and to think I gave them all away when we moved, now I wish I had them. 

1.    The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats: 485,583 checkouts

2.    The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss: 469,650 checkouts

3.    1984 by George Orwell: 441,770 checkouts

4.    Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak: 436,016 checkouts

5.    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: 422,912 checkouts

6.    Charlotte's Web by E.B. White: 337,948 checkouts

7.    Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: 316,404 checkouts

8.    How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: 284,524 checkouts

9.    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling: 231,022 checkouts

10.The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle: 189,550 checkouts 

And to these I would add:

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch 

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls 

Goodnight Moon by Anne Carroll Moore 

 Con amor,

Vero

7 -UP lifting ways to start your week

Amy Anderson shared this on her blog years ago and I think is worth noting. She has it on her desk at work as a reminder. I have changed the order and how she had it written but the idea is the same.

1. Wake UP – and Decide to have a good day.
2. Look UP  – To the Lord. He is only a prayer away.
3. Dress UP – The best way to dress Up is to put on a simile!
4. Stand UP – For what you believe in.
5. Cheer UP --Say nice things and have positive attitude.
6. Reach UP – for something higher. Set some good goals.
7. Lift UP – be a good friend and help those around you

It’s a great way to start any week off feeling UP-lifted!

Have a great Monday!

Con amor,

Vero

And God said No!

From time to time when I am cleaning old files, I come across old handouts that I have gotten who knows where and who knows how or when. Maybe it was at a seminary or Institute class or some other Church meeting but it was something someone wrote that I felt needed to be saved. This one is titled " And God said No!"

I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, No.
He said it was not for him to take away
But for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, No.
He said, her spirit is whole, her body is temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, No.
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation,
It isn't granted, it's earned.

I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, No.
He said he gives blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, NO.
He said suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, No.
He said I must grow on my own,
But he will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if he loved me,
And God said, yes.
He gave me His only begotten Son who died for me
And I will live in Heaven someday because I believe.

I asked God to help me love others a much as he loved me,
And God Said,
Finally, you have the idea.

That is my Sunday Sermon for today,

Con amor,
Vero

The Almeida Inn

Today Danae and Gabe left to go back to Ireland and the house feels empty. It is now time to go back to life, back to reality, however I learned something about our apartment that I had never realized since going on vacation takes a lot of work to plan, and it costs a lot of money to pay for everything but I think is still worth it. I was looking at all the fun Cristi, Brooks and the kids had in Europe over the Holidays so Absolutely!  But why is it we haven’t considered bringing our vacation to us?  Or better said – why don’t we ever consider taking a vacation right from our own home?  Just think about it. 

You could take a vacation without ever having to pack a bag or without spending money on flights and hotels.  You could use some time-off work to take a vacation right from the comfort of your own home.  No hotel is better than our beautiful bedroom. You’d get to sleep in your own bed and never need to pack a suitcase.

You could wake up each morning having given yourself permission to be on vacation, not answer the phone or the emails, and do fun activities right at home or by going to visit places close to home. Often times we aren’t even aware of all the cool places that exist within an hour’s drive of our own homes because we’re always so eager to get out of town, but guaranteed there are plenty of fun new places to visit and explore right near our own backyards. 

Vacation isn’t about where we go – it’s about the permission we give ourselves to escape the normal day-to-day routine and enjoy our time. Our apartment has an indoor pool and an outdoor pool a Jacuzzi and sauna and a well- equipped exercise room. 

So maybe it’s time we start thinking about bringing the vacation to our home next time we need a break. 

Con amor, 

Vero 

Dopember

December should be remained Dopember and only Argentines get it. When my husband wants to go on vacation and have nothing planned to do, he calls it, “estar al dope. “and December between Christmas and New Years and even into January, it feels like a long vacation for everybody. Here in Argentina people take the whole month off because it’s Summer here and kids are out of school. 

                         

We all love going on vacation – Why? Because vacations are our opportunity to throw normal routines out the window and give ourselves permission to venture out and do new things without feeling weighed down by any day-to-day expectations, and without feeling the tremendous guilt of forgoing them. We allow ourselves to ignore the cell phone calls and the emails and focus on the right now.  

On vacations, we give ourselves permission to just have fun.  And we’ve told ourselves it’s okay to enjoy ourselves…by example, calories don’t count on when we are on vacation and time is NOT of the essence. We can relax and not rush anything. No meetings to attend, no emails to get back to ASAP and no phone calls to return. How nice! 

Now it’s time to go back to life, back to reality and back to our diet. 

Con amor,

Vero 

Top 40

I remember when I was a teenager around 15, I loved listening to a radio show  each week Known as “the top 40 songs on the Billboard chart” and some hits would remain as #1 for a long time and others would fade away quickly. Here are my top 40 words to live by that has made an impression on me and have lasted for six decades. The photo is a newspaper clipping to announce my 15th birthday (quinceañera) I had two celebrations, one on Friday with one set of friends and another on Saturday with another set of friends. 

1.    Only dead fish go with the flow.

2.    Make it happen!

3.    Doubt kills dreams.

4.    Make eye contact, smile and say “hello.”

5.    You are given this life so live it well.

6.    Live within your means.

7.    Return everything you borrow.

8.    Stop blaming other people.

9.    Admit it when you make a mistake.

10.  Give clothes not worn to charity.

11.  Do something nice and try not to get caught.

12.  Listen more, talk less.

13.  Every day take a 30- minute walk.

14.  Strive for success, not perfection.

15.  Be on time. Don’t make excuses.

16.  Be kind to unkind people.

17.  Let someone cut ahead of you in line.

18.  Be humble.

19.  Choose to be a hero.

20.  Realize and accept that life isn’t fair.

21.  Know when to keep your mouth shut.

22.  Go an entire day without criticizing anyone.

23.  Learn from the past, plan for the future,  live in the present. 

24.  Don’t sweat the small stuff.

25.  When life gets hard: keep moving forward, one step at a time. 

26.  Family is where life begins.

27.  Happiness is a choice. 

28.  Love is a choice.

29.  Don’t lose faith in who you are. 

30.  Bitter or better, it’s a choice. 

31.  Don’t take a single moment for granted.

32.  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and never give up! 

33.  Being a good person does not guarantee a trouble-free life.

34.  Find something you are passionate about and do it.

35.  Have courage to be kind.

36.  We are that person that can change the world.

37.  The grass is always greener where you watered it. 

38.  Don’t assume, ask! 

39.  Don’t look back, you are not going that way. 

40.  Your presence is my present.

Con amor,

Vero