Love

Birds Love Gratitude

Moment of Clarity

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read462 views

I awoke this morning for the first time (in what seems to be a very long time) feeling light.
After dropping my son to school and returned home to a daughter and husband still asleep, I decided to go to the backyard, check on my plants and have a moment. I didn’t try to understand or analyze the dream I had last night. I was free. I was set free. I felt free. I could feel the positive energy radiate around and within me.

At some point I felt like I was being watched. As I turned around, I saw a White Homing Pigeon or Dove perhaps staring back at me. The bird was on top of the roof of the backyard workshop and garage. For the next twenty minutes, I took pictures and a video. The bird stood still watching me watching it. I went back in, got my daughter ready for the day, called my Mom and went back out to find the bird on the same spot. As I began sharing my dream with my Mom and got towards the middle, I saw the bird coming towards me and then flying away.

White Homing Pigeon/Dove on the roof.
White Homing Pigeon/Dove on the roof.

I am so grateful for all the information I absorbed these past days and for the knowledge I acquired in the process. In the midst of uncertainty and chaos, I was blessed with a moment of clarity.

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” – Vincent van Gogh

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Birthday Blessings Love Family Gratitude

Thoughts On My Birthday

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read704 views

“As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world.” – Terri Guillemets

I’ve learned so much about myself through the years and I’m perfectly content with my Life.

I am in awe with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for His gift of Life and unfathomable love. I am thankful for my loving Husband who has not left my side and made it a priority to write me a heartfelt note for the past 14 years, on my special day. I am so lucky to have my Children; they’ve made me a better person, taught me things about myself that I never knew about. I am blessed to have incredible Parents who have always stood by me, believed in me and taught me about not giving up. I’m grateful for my amazing brothers who constantly look out for me. Though the grief never goes away and ebbs with the seasons and the years; I’m grateful for knowing my incredible Sister whose love was honest and true. I know she’s with me, always.

In My 30s (Thirties).
In My 30s (Thirties).

My absolute best moment of last week was when I asked my daughter what she would get for me and she said: Strawberry Shortcake Blueberry Muffin Doll and some cupcake toys. And she added, we could play together. She made me smile all week-long and I found it sneaky that she planned on giving me the same items on her wish list. It is so wonderful of her to want to share her favorites things with me.

Thank you all for hanging tough with me another Year.

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Blessings Scripture Parenting Love Weather Children Family Gratitude

My Bringer of Serenity

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read573 views

Finally, after weeks of praying, hoping and waiting; it rained this morning. It was a short moment of heavy rain. Prior to the rain, we had periods of thunderstorm and lightning which started around 5:00 AM until 7:15 AM. My daughter who was still asleep then was awoken by the sound of the rain pouring down as well as the thunder. Once it stopped raining, the sun came out and my husband took his little girl outside to look at the beautiful rainbow.

My Daughter
My Daughter looking at rain drops.

I love it when it rains and I look forward to suit up, get out of the house and smell the clean, wet dirt. Today was different. While it was raining it got hot inside and as soon as it stopped raining it got even hotter. Though the backyard looks beautiful and the plants healthy, the dirt smelled musty for the first time in years. It smelled like decaying organic matter. I checked my younger plants, moved the trash can to the street for our weekly garbage pickup and then I went in to spend some time with my darling little girl.

I am blessed beyond words for having a wonderful family and amazing children. Every single one of them lift me up and renew my Spirit with their love and generosity. From the moment we drop off my Son to school until it’s time to pick him up, I experience great moments with my little girl. We explore, we learn, we play, we watch TV, we dance, we laugh, we plan events, we cock and eat, she calls and talk to one of her favorite persons in the World, we take turns listening to each other …, and she even makes up stories just for me.

Silhouette
Silhouette of My Beautiful Kids.

What I love the most about my kids is that they keep me sane and joyful. They are best friends. They love and have so much respect and admiration for one another. They help each other, compromise and fight fair. They’ve somehow figured a way to give me some space when needed. Her brother though her the ABC’s and 123’s. He reads stories to her every single night before going to bed and they pray together before sleeping (whether I am present or not). Also, they remind me so much of my brother and I at that age.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” — Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)

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Birthday Blessings Love Children Family Gratitude

To My Son (My Silent Strength)

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read1.1K views

“You have filled my heart with great joy. It is greater than the joy of people who have lots of grain and fresh wine.” ― Psalm 4:7 (NIRV)

I woke up feeling thankful this morning. Perhaps it had something to do with the sun streaming through the windows or the sweet sound of my Son’s voice echoing through the house. He turned 6 today and remembered we promised to take him to a fun place. It’s amazing how one simple action can change so much …

He is the complete opposite of his Sister: he is calm while she is feisty and together they form the perfect and inseparable pair. He is the one who literally kept me safe and sane while I was pregnant with his Sister. I remember and I will cherish those moments forever. He is handsome, respectful, mindful, smart, determined, a storyteller and an artist. He loves Muscle Cars (which he collects) and has been drawing since the age of two and a half.

My Son and Silent Strength.

Being a Mother has affected everything in my life. It has made me more productive, a better achiever, a better wife (mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, a better somebody) as well as a happier and positive person. I thank God everyday for giving me such a generous and ever so sweet Child.

“Learning who our children are and shaping who they will become is one of the most rewarding and ultimate pleasures of parenting.” ― Joan Ambu

I’m so grateful to you, my Child, for everything you add into my life. I cannot imagine life without you. You have taught me so much with your innocence and generosity. I’ve been blessed in so many ways because of you. I hope you grow up to become a positive force in the Universe. You are my little boy who isn’t so little anymore. May your star shines forever as we do our best to raise you in a safe and loving home.

God bless you on your special day.

We Love You Tremendously,
Mom, Dad & Sister ♥

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ― Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

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Scripture Love Inspire Life Lessons People

Love and Acceptance

JM Perez By JM Perez3 min read630 views

“Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.” ― 1 Peter 4:8 (NAB)

A few years ago I received a ‘forward message’ in the mail. I greatly dislike forward messages which I never read pass the titles and I personally do not send such emails to others. This particular message moved me. I am sure I was bound to read; so I did and I kept it. I can’t remember who I received it from, but I am glad I read it. I am sharing it with you today given that it compliments my thoughts on the current topic.

The Nail in the Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.” A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Acceptance begins with self-love. To love oneself is to acknowledge that we are unique and therefore, different. We may feel and live things which are irrational to others, but real to us. Still, those are our emotions and moments which we guard defenselessly. We need to recognize that we live in a World full of individuals we may or may not get along with or particularly like for countless reasons. We are probably unlikable ourselves, but that’s beside the point. We need to reconcile with the fact that these individuals have as much rights to be here as we do. We need to accept their presence, adjust to the many differences and learn to live peacefully.

Our differences are both what divide us and what make our strengths. There’s hardly anything new to learn from an individual with similar vision as us and so much to acquire from someone different. It’s our right to be cautious around others; but it’s unfair to hold someone’s mistakes as an excuse to love and/or assist them.

Wolves Face to Face.
Image Source: Flickr.com.

Dissent is one of the main causes of hatred. When you reject someone, be it openly or secretly, they feel it. No one can fake a genuine smile and a good heart is transparent. Unlike the tone of the voice which can be controlled; we cannot fake the true nature of our hearts. What’s the point then of disliking and rejecting others? Does having those individuals out of our lives make us bigger or better? Does it take our pain away? Does it solve our issues? Words are powerful and people never forget how we made them feel.

So, my dear readers and fellow citizens, let’s strive to be more tolerant, more loving, more forgiving, more generous, more patient. As Mahatma Gandhi simply put it, “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind;” therefore, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

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