I will

About 3 weeks ago my girls, who where off to various camps at the time, where asked to sing for my niece Julia's baptism. We picked the girls up that Saturday morning, headed to the church and pretty much gave them 20 minutes to rehearse before the actual event. Analisa had probably played the song twice in her life and it was the first time my cute nieces Ariana and Serina had ever sang it with the piano. I tip toed into the room where they were rehearsing, camera in hand and filmed a small portion of their song. In my typical fashion, it is wobbly, out of focus and not complete. The message and spirit however, are there which is why I even bother sharing.

With the start of school and the many adventures that lie ahead for these little beauties, I pray the words to this song will guide their path.

tree of good and evil

the good:

the evil:

want some?

My Spanish Rose

From Brett:

20 Years Ago...

This photo represents one of the happiest days of my life. I felt like I was the luckiest man alive and I couldn't believe that I actually had found her and she actually said yes.

I spent a-lot of years waiting for my turn and I had no idea that I would find a priceless pearl from the Spanish barrios of Houston. Who would have thought that? I had no clue, no inkling of the road that would lead me to where I am now and that I would find her when I did and how I did. Life is full of serendipity and twists and turns. If you listen down deep, life will take you on adventures and journeys you never imagined or anticipated. And they all will lead you to your true and best self, your most fulfilled self, the one that can only emerge when you have that unique person in your life that fills in all the empty spaces.

longing

Life has been on turbo speed these last few weeks. Only 10 days left of summer and I feel like it just began. Sad.

My mom, dad and two sisters came in from out-of-town which have made things around here extra eventful. Mom impressed us yet again with her absolutely divine cooking. I wish I had the photo skills and vocabulary to adequately describe her gift. It is pure magic what that mama of mine can do with a few simple ingredients. In Papi's exact words, "Pues Martha, te aventaste como siempre." Translation: "Well Martha, as always, you out did yourself!" I have picked up a few of her secrets and can duplicate a teeny, tiny bit of her recipes but mostly I just sit back in awe and take just one, or two, or three... extra bites to savor her magic before she leaves and we're left with cold cereal and boring pizza.

As much as I LOVE her cooking I miss her company the most. Her sweet laugh and the sound of her voice. We enjoyed some quiet time lounging around the pool watching the kids jump off the high dive while talking politics, dating and future possibilities. We'd come home, send the kids to bed and talk some more. It's usually when she's here that I realize how much I truly missed her company. Now she's gone- back to school, work and life's up's and downs in Oklahoma. What I wouldn't give for one more mole enchilada, but even more, a warm mom embrace and the chance to tell her face to face how much she is loved.

miss you, mom.