Appreciating DC...

At this time tomorrow, Barack Obama will be our President. I often forget to be thankful that I live in such an incredible area. It's a cool time to be in DC...

Peaceeeee.

We ALL look up at the SAME sky...

As a little girl I found so much comfort in the fact that SOMEWHERE in the world my biological family was looking up at the same sky as me. LOVED THAT.

I spent nights crying and reaching for the stars...I actually still do. I spent nights sitting by my window- singing (not very well, may I add) the songs from Annie and other lonely childrens movies.

I've shared this story with my biological mother many times over the past three years but when I was in Chile, I felt the need to share it with everyone. I let them ALL know I thought of them every single time I looked up...AND THEN...they emailed me THIS picture...

No matter where you are in the world...all ya gotta do is look up. No matter the miles that seperate us, we all look up to the same sky :)

LOVE IT. Don't you?!?! Who couldn't?!

Peace.

BLOG ON, bloggers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHECK IT...my brotha's girlfriend sent me this article. The Vietnamese government is trying to put a hault to truth telling bloggers in order to protect their reputation. Well, they are putting restrictions on bloggers...telling them what they can and cannot discuss.

Can't say I know much about the topic but I think bloggers all around the world should BLOG ON!!!

What's the purpose in writing when someone else is telling you how to tell YOUR story?!?!

Ahhhhh, have I mentioned...VIVE COMO QUIERES?!?!?!

VIVE COMO QUIERES...

"LIVE HOW YOU WANT."

I prefer to be TRUE to myself, even at the expense of incurring the ridicule of others...VIVE COMO QUIERES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace.

Looking Over 2008...

Sitting at the top of Santa Lucia in Chile...sitting at the top of a volcano and overlooking THIS beauty....found myself reflecting on the year and all the days that had passed in 2008.

2008 was a year of CHANGE...changes that brought smiles and changes that brought tears. But I know change does not come without fire- when the smoke settles, you realize, you are right where you are supposed to be.

From changed relationships, to changes in habits (365 days without drinking...and still counting)....I think the smiles will always be remembered and I think the tears were for all the right reasons.

Could I be in love with the way 2008 turned out?!?!?

GIVE Something Greater...?!?!?!

I have always viewed MOST American People as selfish and greedy. They want more and more for themselves, often owning 4 or 5 vehicles with only two eligible drivers in the home. They talk about nothing but their possessions...how they have "everything" and don't "need anything from anyone." Well, if you and your family indeed have EVERYTHING--- give something to someone who does not.


For only $250.00 you can pay for ALL the expenses to repair a childs cleft lip or pallet. Samson, Dominick and I have been devoted supporters of Smile Train...an organization that helps give "life" a whole new meaning to children who have NOTHING. Not even a smile :(

For the first year, I changed our rules. Typically, Dominick gets ONE present for Hanukah, ONE present for his birthday and ONE present for Christmas...Samson and I do not spend a penny on one another and we donate money to repair cleft pallets instead of going over board on gifts for our son and family members.


But this year was different. Over the past 3 years that I have been speaking to my biological mom in Chile, we have talked about EVERYTHING. From her problematic family to her self- distructive lifestyle. I've never seen her smile and often asked why. She explained she had no teeth on the top of her mouth and that the bottom ones were in bad shape.


SOOOOO, while in Chile- I took my mom to multiple dentists. A radiograph clinic to get a full mouth series of X-RAYS for her...the periodontist to treat her severe gum disease...the dentist to extract her rotten teeth...and a dental lab to build her some prostetics/dentures.


Dominick still received his 3 gifts, one for each respected holiday/occaision. But this year, he got a lecture on how our extra money will help Abuelita smile again. Samson and I paid for all her dental work while we were in Chile. Her new SMILE should be complete within a year :) My mom and I are pictured below in the dentist office.











To new SMILES...and the beauty of giving BACK. Along with a promise that we didnt forget all the little children from Smile Train. We promise to give smiles to you kids too!!!

PEACE.

To New Beginings...

Since I do not drink alcohol, I am toasting some FANTA to 2009.

To new relationships, new ideas, new peace, new comfort, new friends...to a good and much brighter NEW YEAR for all.

Happy New Year! Feliz ano nuevo!