Life Lessons
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The Restoration Project
“Hurry up and go to Facetime!” my sister texted. “The graduation ceremony is about to begin!” I joined the rest of the family living in different parts of the world and proudly watched my niece Adriana receive her degree in Art. Her ability to draw, paint and create with her hands in such beautiful way is a gift we discovered since she was a little girl. “She’ll apply to graduate school and work in a museum in art restoration and conservation,” her mom explained. Embarrassed to confess my ignorance before a dozen family members, I looked up the difference. According to Britannica.com: Art restoration denotes the repair or renovation of…
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Do You have a Word?
“Happy New Year!” Our family sang in unison as we slammed the door on 2020. Hugs, kisses and well wishes overshadowed the fear of the dreaded virus. What will my word be? – was my first thought of 2021. Several years ago, I decided to stop writing New Year’s resolutions and instead focus on a word I felt the Lord wanted to show me throughout the year. After praying and pondering I came up with the word HOPE. I thought it was perfect for 2021. The Oxford Dictionary defines hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust.” That made sense…
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The Day My Feast Failed
The smell of roasted turkey with all the trimmings permeated the air of our rented house. It was our first Thanksgiving in a new country, so I tried to make it an extra special feast by cooking everyone’s favorite foods. “Dinner’s ready!” I tried to encourage them with my fake excitement. My husband and three children marched in silently, took their seats and stared at the food. “Thanks mom, but I’m not hungry,” my oldest daughter mumbled. “I’m not either,” chimed the other one. “Where’s everyone else?” asked my youngest as he started eating , oblivious of the fact that our families were hundreds of miles away. “No one else…
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Do you know how to Rest in Motion?
Blue skies kissed the clear ocean water in the horizon. I grabbed my sunscreen, beach towel and camera and picked a spot on the front of the boat. It was my first deep sea fishing trip and my heart skipped and jumped. My best friend from middle school sat next to me and smiled. “My mom packed some food for us. Also, there’s a cabin inside if you get tired or woozy.” “No way,” I said. “I want to get a tan and take pictures like the girl in the Titanic movie.” I closed my eyes to enjoy the warm sea air on my face. I wished that day would…
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The Day I Learned How to Fly- Part II
I glanced at the pamphlet from our tour guide- Big Mistake! “READY FOR AN ADVENTURE YOU’LL NEVER FORGET? Ride cables 2000 ft long, over 300 ft tall, through 14 suspension platforms. An exhilarating experience of boiling adrenaline at its top.” The young instructor strapped me in tandem to his belt and then to the thick cable above. “Does your mother know you do this for a living? I’d stay on my knees praying for you son!” He laughed out loud and jumped off the platform. I closed my eyes, held my breath and prayed. My stomach and heart decided to stay behind. “Lady, open your eyes! Look around you!” I opened my…
