Gratitude

A Sweet Valentine

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read633 views

“Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.” ― St. Augustine

Twig Heart Wreath.
Twig Heart Wreath.

IN AND OUT OF TIME
by Maya Angelou

The sun has come.
The mist has gone.
We see in the distance…
our long way home.
I was always yours to have.
You were always mine.
We have loved each other in and out of time.

When the first stone looked up at the blazing sun
and the first tree struggled up from the forest floor
I had always loved you more.
You freed your braids…
gave your hair to the breeze.
It hummed like a hive of honey bees.
I reached in the mass for the sweet honey comb there….
Mmmm…God how I love your hair.

You saw me bludgeoned by circumstance.
Lost, injured, hurt by chance.
I screamed to the heavens….loudly screamed….
Trying to change our nightmares into dreams…
The sun has come.
The mist has gone.
We see in the distance our long way home.

I was always yours to have.
You were always mine.
We have loved each other in and out
in and out
in and out
of time.

Wishing you all a safe and fun Valentine’s Day!

Linking up to Beverly’s Pink Saturday.

Moments with My Birthday Girl

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read796 views

Where do you take a curious little girl when the weather is not at its best in your area and you want to escape it all? Well, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I took my beautiful Child to Downtown Pomona and surrounding cities for some Vintage and Antique shopping as well as some delicious treats.
Occasionally, my husband and I talk about moving back to Pomona, CA – then we remember there’s a reason we moved out of there in the first place and settled here in the High Desert.

Minnie Mouse Ballerina, Porcelain Figurine.
Minnie Mouse Ballerina, Porcelain Figurine.

We visited a few shops, including our favorite Pomona Antique Mart.

After Pomona, we drove up to Claremont, CA for some Ice Cream at Baskin Robbins. We last visited this location about thirteen years ago and I loved the atmosphere. We decided to take the kids there to have some treats. From there we drove down to Red Ribbon Bakeshop in West Covina, CA, a place my husband used to frequent with his college buddies when they needed a good meal. I instantly fell in love with the shop once introduced.

I placed a large order of my favorite Chicken Empanada (lightly toasted savory dough generously filled with delectable chicken). I also ordered a Mango Roll (which consists of juicy mango bits and rich butter icing tucked into moist chiffon cake). The Mango Roll has always been my favorite in the shop and it is so delicious.

Chicken Empanada.
Chicken Empanada from Red Ribbon Bakeshop.

All in all, we had a blessed day and good moments revisiting some places we love. My Amazing and my Gracious child turned 4 today and I am in awe with my Lord for the gift of Life and Hope.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” ― Psalm 16:11

Thought On Our Anniversary

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read858 views

Today, we celebrate our 13th Wedding Anniversary.

I knew my husband as a Friend and I now know him as a Man who astonishes me time and time again. I’ve watched him turn himself into the kind of man he wanted to be solely by his own strong will. He is generous to a fault, dependable, loyal. He makes me laugh harder than anybody I’ve ever known and he takes care of me and our Children. After fourteen years together, he still thinks he got lucky with me.

Going through my treasure box last night, I stumbled upon a little hand made gift my husband made for me thirteen years ago on our first Wedding Anniversary. It’s a Little Wire Chair he made using a Champagne Cork Holder, after which he placed a note in between the hearts.

Little Wire Chair Made With Champagne Cork Holder
(My Love’s handmade gift for me on our 1st Year Anniversary, in 2001).
Click here for the instructables.

These are the beautiful Bouquet of Flowers and card I woke up to this morning.

Wedding  Anniversary Flowers and Card.
Wedding Anniversary Flowers and Card.

13 years ago, I decided that if I had to pick a husband, I’d pick him.

Our Gingerbread House

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read1.1K views

“The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.” – Henry David Thoreau

Together with the kids, we’ve decided to do something fun while waiting for midnight and the opening of the gifts. We decorated the Gingerbread House (Pepparkaka Hus) we bought at Ikea a couple of weeks ago. I am sure it would have been so much fun making one from scratch.

Plain Gingerbread House.
Plain Gingerbread House.

We used caramel syrup to glue the pieces together and everyone pitched in with the decorations.

Gingerbread House Decorated.
Gingerbread House Decorated.
Gingerbread House Decorated.
Gingerbread House Decorated.

Merry Christmas!

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” – Roy L. Smith

Happy Holidays!

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read473 views

This year I decided to keep the Christmas Tree decorating simple which meant no ribbons, bows, flowers, beaded garland and no train set up around the tree. I selected just a few of the ornaments and we randomly hung them, placing the vintage Angel Tree Topper at the top of our White Christmas Tree.

Christmas Tree, 2013.
Christmas Tree, 2013.

I used two different wrapping papers for the gifts as well as tags, to ensure that we each open what belongs to us.  I have learned the hard way that my daughter dislike people opening gifts for her (unless she ask for help). I have my Christmas wrapping all set up and now looking forward to watching the joy of my kids faces when they discover what are in those carefully wrapped boxes.

In addition to the large elegant Wreath on the front door, there’s a weather-resistant Winter Garden Flag outside our front door to give our visitors an initial warm welcome.

Winter Garden Flag.
Winter Garden Flag.

May your hearts be filled with the Spirit of Christmas.

Happy Holidays!