Grateful to be alive

Thoughts on 110 days of quarantine 

Some days are fantastic! like when I found out my mom and nephew tested negative for COVID-19, some days are in between and some days are hopeless. Today was one of those days. 

It wasn't that it was a really bad day and it wasn't that anything horrible happened. It was just one of those stressful days where you felt hopeless. I had some disagreements with what to do with our aging mother who needs to be in isolation and cared by someone who has not contracted the virus, but the question is who? taking in to account that she lives far from any family and the only people who were taking care of her are ill with the infamous virus. I can't come where they are and neither can my other two sisters. Grrr! 

I just simply need to let go and not worry about it anymore. Each day I call my mom and have been spending hours with her listing and discussion a book of her choice. Telling each other about our day, playing the piano for her and talking just about everything. Each day while she has been on isolation stuck in a hotel room has brought its own lessons and experiences. 

Even those days when we don't enjoy some nearly as much as others, we just have to remind ourselves that at least we had the day. At least we are alive talking to each other and at times, with a sister who I don't see eye to eye, even fighting with each other but we are still ALIVE! 

Yes, at least, we are alive and with loved ones and if every day was fantastic, we wouldn't appreciate them nearly as much. Most important, a world without bad days would also be a day without the need of a hug. I like the fact that at least I have a hubby that is willing to hug me anytime I feel sad. 

Con amor,
Vero

When we Lose the War on Time

Thoughts on 109 days of quarantine.

My mother in law posted these words and thought, Isn't that the truth! Translation below. Enjoy!

"En algún momento de nuestras vidas perdemos la guerra contra el tiempo...

Nuestra juventud se nos escapa del cuerpo y la gravedad fuerte y descarada se toma todo aquello que cuidadosamente nos hemos esforzado por mantener en su lugar...

Ya no hay cremas ni pomadas que borren las marcas de tantas risas, penas, trasnochas y enojos de nuestro semblante...

Tomamos vitaminas, colágeno, limón, jengibre, vinagre de manzana, miel y omega tres y cuanta fórmula hechicera se nos atraviese....

Comemos menos para llenarnos de hambre...

Sudamos cuando hace frío y el sueño nos desvela...

Un día nos damos cuenta que no hay tacón cómodo, que no vemos sin gafas y las raíces de nuestras canas crecen sin piedad...

Que nuestra cintura se va emparejando y nuestras rodillas se van redondeando...

Un día, nos cansamos de imitar en el espejo, a aquella joven que fuimos..

Nos miramos de frente, sin luz cálida ni sombras y por fin aceptamos que hemos vivido más vida de la que nos queda...

Y que bello que ha sido...

Haberlo vivido y sentido...

Haber dado tanto amor, como haberlo recibido...

Adquirir la experiencia y aprender de paciencia...

Que importa si ganó la gravedad,

que perdimos la guerra contra las arrugas...

Que nos cansamos de hundir el estómago... De sacar el pecho y las pompas...

Que importa si la belleza ya sale del alma..

Si, esa belleza es infinita y llenita de amor y perdón...

Que importa que vamos pa' viejas...

Que las hay más jóvenes y más bellas.

Que importa si tenemos la vida y cada experiencia nos pinta de sabiduría...

Que honor haber sido y continuar siendo madres, esposas, novias, amantes, hermanas, abuelas y amigas...

Que aún nos queda mucho amor por vivir y llega sin exigir ni pedir...

Que maravillosa es esta etapa de ser como somos, de amarnos tal cual.
Que lindo es seguir adelante con todo lo vivido y aprendido..."

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"At some point in our lives we lose the war on time...

Our youth escapes from the body and strong and cheeky gravity takes everything we carefully strived to keep in place...

There are no longer creams or ointments that erase the marks of so much laughter, sorrows, late nights and anger of our face...

We take vitamins, collagen, lemon, ginger, apple vinegar, honey and omega three and how much sorcerer formula we get through....

We eat less to be hungry...

We sweat when it's cold and sleep reveals us...

One day we realize that there is no comfortable heel, that we do not see without glasses and the roots of our gray hair grow mercilessly...

That our waist is paired and our knees are rounding...

One day, we get tired of imitating in the mirror, that young lady we were..

We look straight, without warm light or shadows and finally accept that we have lived more life than we have left...

And how beautiful it has been...

To have lived and felt it...

To have given as much love, as to have received it...

Acquire experience and learn from patience...

Who cares if he won gravity,

that we lost the war on wrinkles...

That we get tired of sinking our stomach... Getting our chests and bubbles out...

What does it matter if beauty is out of the soul..

Yes, that beauty is infinite and full of love and forgiveness...

What does it matter that we go to old ladies...

That there are younger and more beautiful.

What does it matter if we have life and every experience paints us with wisdom...

What an honor to have been and continue to be mothers, wives, girlfriends, lovers, sisters, grandmothers and friends...

That we still have a lot of love to live and it comes without demanding or asking...

How wonderful is this stage of being the way we are, to love each other just like.

How nice it is to move forward with everything lived and learned..."

Con amor,

Vero 

God's Greatest Gift

Thoughts on 108 of quarantine.

“Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man. . . . Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than any possession earth can give. It is inherent in the spirit of man. It is a divine gift to every normal being. . .  Everyone has this most precious of all life’s endowments—the gift of free agency—man’s inherited and inalienable right.”  – David O. McKay

Today was a good day. I had a chance to spend time talking with my mom over the phone. We went over some scriptures found in the Book of Mormon and told her my feelings about them. One scripture in particular talks about the four C’s: Christ, Choice, Covenants and Conversion. She wrote them down. In Spanish only the word choice does not start with a C but we discussed a lot about how lucky we are that we are free to choose. 

Since she is inside a hotel, yesterday being the 4^thof July came and went without them doing anything other than talking to family. They need to stay in isolation until it’s safe for them to get out. That must be so hard for them but my mom knows that it’s not the end of the world and, in the future, there will be many other fabulous holidays she will be spending with loved ones and friends.

My mom and I discussed so many things and among them how grateful we are for those who fight for our freedom. Today I feel patriotic and wanted to personally express my thanks to all those men and women who serve our country today as well as all of those who have served our country in the past.  I have so much respect for those who sacrifice by serving.  Americans are so blessed and so lucky to live in a country that enjoys the freedoms that they do and that wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for those people who protect and defend that freedom. From the bottom of my heart, A BIG THANK YOU!

Even though many people live in parts of this world that don’t enjoy the same freedom people do in America, never forget that God gave every person on this earth the freedom to choose for themselves, and no one can ever take that gift away from them.

As we end one more 4^thof July holiday I love the words spoken by Richard L. Evans in an address he gave titled “Thank God For Freedom.

“May we take a moment from some of the side issues and from some of the irrelevant celebration, and clear our thoughts and humble our hearts and get down on our knees and simply, fervently, thank God for freedom—and then get on our feet with a firm resolve to preserve it against all who secretly or openly would set it aside.

Thank God for freedom—and for the Founding Fathers who reaffirmed to a new nation, an eternal, timeless truth: that the right of choice—that the free agency of man—is a God-given inalienable right, and is essential to the peace and growth and progress and salvation of the very soul.”

God Bless the United States of America and God bless every one! 

Con amor,

Vero

I love freedom part II

Thoughts on 107 days of quarantine.

“Today we celebrate the Fourth of July, a day to celebrate Independence and Freedom for all people.  July 4^th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress.  What an amazing event in the history of the world.  And how much has taken place since that day. 

 According to the US Census there was approximately 2.5 million people living in the newly established independent nation at that time.   On this July 4^th, 2020, the US Census estimates that there will be approximately 328.2 million people living in this nation.  WOW!  How much the United States of America has grown over the years.

Many of us studied the Declaration of Independence back in elementary school and high school, but how many of us have read the powerful words it states recently?  I know that I haven’t.  So I decided to read them this last week so I could remember and appreciate the words that were written and the sacrifices so many people made to get this declaration into place.  I was so touched and inspired at the words included in the document.  I wanted to share those that touched me the most:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

It goes on to say a most powerful quote that I think every leader should hang on their wall so they never forget it:

“A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

WOW!  What a powerful statement that is.  And so true.  Great rulers lead their people, they don’t dictate and demand, they inspire and serve.  They are humble and kind and the love the people they lead.

The document ends with these words:

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Those men who wrote those words lived by them, as have generations of both men and women since then.  Many people have pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in order to protect this great land.  I love that it says “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence”.  It was their belief and trust in God that gave them the confidence to do the right thing.  I can only imagine how scary making this declaration must have been for them and their families.  Yet they trusted in the Lord and did the right thing, fully prepared to face whatever circumstances would result.  They took courage in choosing the right and trusting in God.  I LOVE THAT!  What a great example they set for all of us to follow.

I wish all of you a wonderful Independence Day, wherever in the world you may be, may you enjoy the day and appreciate the cause of freedom.  To all of those men and women who sacrifice so that others may be protected and have freedom in their lives I say “THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU!”  In addition I say, “God bless our founding fathers for the sacrifices they made.  God bless the military for the service they provide.  And God Bless The U.S.A!”

I am proud of my adoptive home and that is why I have such tender feelings for its history as if I was born in the U.S. I hope next year, we figure out a way to travel home because I hate missing out on all the 4^thof July celebrations. 

Happy Independence Day and stay safe! 

Con amor,

Vero 

I love freedom Part I

Thoughts on 106 days of quarantine. 

I got this message from someone who got it from someone else and I think is worth sharing but because its rather long, I will divide it in two parts. 

“As we prepare for the big Fourth of July festivities and celebrations full bbq’s and boating and fun with family and friends, I hope we all contemplate the freedom that we have within to make our own choices and to be the person we choose to be.  It is a blessing and a responsibility that we can’t ever overlook.  Making the right choice can be scary.  Making the right choice can feel overwhelming and near impossible at times. But it is always our choice.

“Stand for something, even if it means standing alone. Because often times, the one who flies solo has the strongest wings.”  -unknown

I believe that making the choices to do the right thing, regardless of the circumstances we face, is always going to make us stronger.  And every one of us will end up flying solo at one point or another in our lives, and when we do we need to recognize that each challenge is making us better, each struggle is making us stronger, and each lesson is making us smarter and more capable to face a future that lies ahead.  Know that no challenge is ever wasted.  Know that no struggle is ever left without its reward.  Sometimes the rewards come much slower than we would like (at least for me because, let’s face it, I am incredibly impatient!), but they always come eventually.

I know that for me this week has caused me to focus on the gift of freedom I have to be a citizen in a free country that was founded as one nation under God, as well as the freedom I have to make my own life choices which was given to us as a gift from God.  I am grateful to God for all the blessings in my life.  I am grateful that he inspired great men to found this country I live in.  I am grateful for the sacrifices that were made and continue to be made by so many to protect the cause of freedom.  And I am determined to never take either of my gifts of freedom for granted – my gift of external freedom and my gift of internal freedom.

“Freedom means that no one can stop you from doing what is right, or persuade you to do what is wrong.”  – Dadi Janki

What a great quote!  Love, love, love that quote.  Because I believe that with all my heart.  We may not all have freedom in our circumstances, but we all have freedom within ourselves.  We all get to choose who we are and whether we will do what is right or wrong.  I love that reminder of how lucky we are to have freedom to choose – we all have agency.  And that is a gift from God.” 

I love the fact that we are given a special gift called free agency. We are free to choose. I love freedom and I love that the United States is still one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” 

Con amor,

Vero

Taking one day at a time

Thoughts on 105 days of quarantine.

My sister in Mexico organized a group call today with my mom and sisters to congratulate her son for his graduation from Kinder. They were going to have a party at his school but got canceled. We were happy to see each other in our respective homes from Buenos Aires, San Salvador,  Mexico City and North Carolina. My mother and nephew are still not showing any signs of illness at this point and we hope they keep that way. This experience has shaken our family to the core.

What I find frustrating is not been able to travel to where they are. Also not knowing how or what to plan for the rest of the Summer given all the COVID  restrictions. I was hoping to visit Utah but with Utah's number spiking, we doubt we can travel any time soon.  it's really been impossible to feel good about planning anything right now. Even more difficult is not knowing just how far it will be in the future before it is safe to make plans and if there is anything that annoys me is not been able to travel. I am known in our family as the "hormiguita viajera"

The uncertainty about the future and when we can all be together again has really become emotionally draining. The inability to plan for the future is frustrating. and stressful. All we can do is take one day at a time, accept that it is what it is and try to make the best of this situation. For now, the only thing to do is not have a plan. Not worry so much of when and how because there is no when and no how.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to accept this reality of not knowing what comes next and the same way I have been on lockdown for 105 days, means I can do another 105 days if its necessary but deep in my heart I am hoping it won't be that long. Only time will tell. Taking one day at a time is all we can do for now.

Con amor,
Vero

Things I do to keep my spirit up

Thoughts on 104 days of quarantine.

Amazing to think that we are entering July 1, which means that a half year went by so slow and fast at the same time. I have learned to do a few new things to keep my spirits up during this long lockdown and the news of family members fighting the virus. I need to feel peace and the song Be Still my Soul comes to mind. There are a few things that have helped me. 

I have started doing yoga each morning after I wake up and follow the same routine for about an hour. I finish my yoga with a five to ten minute meditation. In my meditation I create my day. I think of the things I want to get done and with whom and where. That one is easy since we are not going anywhere and the only person I am spending time with is my husband but I do think about who I will call on the phone. Each day I call my mom. We listen to a book on audible together and discuss it. It gives us both a chance to talk about it and we laugh and just enjoy commenting on the book. I also play the piano to her. That is the highlight of my day. 

There are a lot of things that have changed but there are some things that have stayed the same. Elder Holland has said: "The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most certain, the most secure, the most reliable, and the most rewarding truth on earth and in heaven, in time and in eternity. Nothing-- not anything, not anyone, not any influence-- will keep this Church from fulfilling its mission and realizing its destiny declared from before the foundation of the world. Ours is that fail-safe, inexorable, indestructible dispensation of the fullness of the gospel. There is no need to be AFRAID or tentative about the future" (and that includes death. No one should be afraid of dying if they have kept the faith. We need to always be prepared for the inevitable. We should not be surprised of the things to come before the second coming.) 

Elder Holland continue saying, "...unlike every other era before us, this dispensation will not experience an institutional apostasy; it will not see a loss of priesthood keys; it will not suffer a cessation of revelation from the voice of Almighty God. Individuals will apostatize or turn a deaf ear to heaven, but never again will the dispensation collectively do so. What a secure thought! What a day in which to live! If there are some bumps along the way while waiting to see every promise kept and every prophecy fulfilled, so be it. If you haven't noticed, I am bullish about the latter days. In nothing could I have more faith than I have in God the Eternal Father, in Jesus Christ His Son, in their redeeming gospel, and in their divinely- guided Church. Believe. Rise up. Be faithful. And make the most of the remarkable day in which we live!"

That is what I think about anytime I feel down or frustrated for this situation. 

Con amor,

Vero