Tio Alberto

Seems that I usually write in this blog when sad things happen, and it may be because I want to record the dates and events as I recall them fresh in my mind. When my dad died at the age of 48 I was only 14 years old, and it made a tremendously negative impact in my life. I was very close to my dad and his early passing still stings. To top that, when I was 17 my mom moved us from the city where we had our social support-friends, and most of family, to another Province where my dad's relatives lived.

And there was Tio Alberto, my dad's brother, a couple years older than my dad. In my grieving I sought his company and guidance as he was a warm, good hearted man. He would tell me stories about him and dad as kids, from his perspective, and I loved listening to them. Shortly after that, after I graduated from high school I started to work in his business. I did a bit of everything, from typing business letters to bagging ponchos. He had a poncho/ski sweaters factory. I understood the nature of his business, and I appreciated his influence in my life. He was the closest thing I had as a dad, and I desperately needed one. As the years went by I moved back to Buenos Aires, my city of origin, and eventually to California.

Fast forward close to 30 years, to 2005 when I went back to Argentina and visited friends and family, and of course Tio Alberto. He was in his 80s, and it is very different to see people as they age on a daily basis than to be thrown 30 years in the future and have this 50 year old person in your memory, and in what it seems like a day, have them age 30 years. What a trip! That, by the way, was my whole experience with everyone I saw. Not to mention kids, who in my mind were 10, 12 years old, to find men and women in their 40s. The "Twilight Zone" has nothing intriguing compared to my visit.

We had a great time with Tio Alberto and his 4 "children." The oldest, Alberto Jr., is now a lawyer, married with 2 teenage kids, the age that I last saw him. Virginia, always running the other way when we had to work together to help Tio Alberto and I had to literally grabbed her and pull her to her duties. She is now married with 3 kids. Julito, born mentally challenged, the sunshine of our childhood. Always happy exploring the town on his bike; he befriended everybody, and I am nor exaggerating, everyone knew who Julio was. He loved all people due to the lack of ability to see the bad on others, always trusting, like a 6 year old would be, except he got stuck to be 6 years old for life. And then Guillermo. He had a special bond and love for his dad, Tio Alberto, and still does as it was evident in my last visit. A doctor now, he prided himself in providing the best medical care possible for his dad.

Tio Alberto died today, September 19, 2008 of old age. He lived a bittersweet life and was a man of integrity, love for his family, and a good man. He died as a Jew. Only the Lord knows what went on between them, but I surely would like to find him and my dad in Heaven when I join them. Tio Alberto was 87 years old.

Empty Nesters

My hubby and I are at our front porch, enjoying the company of my friend Sue who came to visit with their son Andrew and hubby Milt. Sue and I have been friends for over 25 years when we both started working in the circuit board industry of the 80's. We went through our 20's together, dating, meeting our husbands, having our first baby around the same time, moving different directions, literally all over the map, but always keeping in touch.



Before the Internet era, we kept in touch with each other by phone, even when the long distance carriers were pricey back then. There is a certain bond that keeps us together even as we grow in our calling in life, and even when I see Sue for what she is today, a successful realtor, I can't remove from my mind images of her being silly as a 20 something could be silly. I am sure it is the same for her when she thinks of me in some of my worse moments.

Sue is facing the "empty nest"; something that we would talk about as young moms, a far away and almost impossible reality waiting to happen. Well, the time has come for Sue and Milt to bring their only son to San Jose State University from San Diego, and go back home without him :( Time is a priceless commodity, and the more I think about it, the less I understand it. So, I follow my own advise and try not to think too much.

What makes it more relevant is the fact that I see myself facing the same situation in not so long a time. One day I will wake up and realize that my children are gone to begin their own lives. We are definitely in the process right now, where we have become the influencers and not the controllers anymore in their lives. As I watch them grow, I feel the pride that any parent would feel when I see good choices being made, and the sadness of not so good ones. Nevertheless, when I think of my children I am filled with a love that only a mother can understand, and "I am very fond of them" as God, Papa, would speak of His creation in "The Shack."

To Sue and all my other friends who are becoming "Empty Nesters": "I emphatize with you."

Humility and Lip Rings.

Today I took my son to have his wisdom teeth removed, and as I was thinking about that I prayed that his wisdom would increase as his teeth were gone. Two days ago he got a lip ring, and as I contemplated its meaning I was pretty pleased with myself. My son admitted that I am a pretty cool mom compared to some uptight moms he knows, and that made his lip ring worth it. Or may be he just manipulated my feelings.

Either way, I want their hearts, not the appearance of godliness. Isn't that what God wants? Of course, is it what we give Him? Not always. I am reading "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller and although I don't agree with a lot of his stuff, I really enjoyed his chapter "Confession." In it, he and a very small group of Christian friends who attended this ungodly university decided to open a Confession booth in the middle of campus as they were having a once a year festival/orgie/drug and drunkenness party. This Christian group decided, though, that they would confess their own sins to whoever came in the booth, and ask for their forgiveness for having misrepresented Jesus, for the televangelists, for not taking care of the poor and the needy, for the problems that their own selfishness and pride had caused. The students, mostly unsaved, were touched by this act of true humility, and there were lots of Godly fruit multiplying throughout campus due to these guys' obedience.

Now, next time I see a guy with some kind of piercing or tattoo I will tell myself: "Careful what you think, it could be you son!" And he may be reaching a section of the world I can't.

Downloading my Brain...

Wow, it's been a while. I probably lost all my faithful readers (total of two) because, for no reason at all, I quit posting. Well, maybe I had a reason, and it's the same ol' "I was busy" excuse. Except that it wasn't an excuse, I was actually busy.

Right now I am vegging in my comfy porch, enjoying the cool breeze and missing my kids. They left for a week mission's trip to Mejico, and I miss them. The first day was the emotion of saying good bye, followed by the next day trying to catch up on things never accomplished, which they still remain unaccomplished, followed by my stress class preparation.

Today, we finished one of our 6 weeks classes and I am spent. It takes a lot out of me and at the same time, it revitalizes me. The repetition of the classes help my brain to absorb the truth and firmly set it there. The way to break a bad habit is just that, stop it and replace it with a good one. So my brain is constantly hearing good habits, scripture, fellowship, accountability, snacks, and yet I feel tired afterward. Sleeping cleanses the painful situations that some of our dear ladies go through, it erases the mistaken beliefs that well meaning people buy into, lies from living in this world.

I am thankful for a God that reveals His purpose through the faithfulness of His people, and I am thankful for the peace He rewards them with. I am ready to be entertained by my Netflix collection now... Chau...

Jesse's Graduation

We had a lovely day today in Boulder Creek. The setting was the beautiful mountains, and the occasion was Jesse's high school graduation. It was a nice, short, family style ceremony, cake and punch, pizza later, and then home. I am the proud mama of two high school graduates and one to come next year. Enjoy the pictures. Well, they didn't make it in the blog, but at least you can see them.

Feelings...

Feelings are so deceitful, it is no wonder I need to have God as my anchor to keep me from "feeling" all over the place. One day I'd be singing praises for an answered prayer, the next I'll be down for one of my kid's infractions. I want to be the kind of follower that believes and trusts that God can do all things. Not just a few, but all. I know that feelings follow behavior, therefore I need to keep on working daily on my salvation; not to be saved, but to keep on growing. I know all this too well, so why do I so often forget to apply it? Because I am trapped in this sinful body now, and I can only dimly see what it awaits me when I receive my glorify body and nothing can separate me from the love of God. Specially myself.

Are you worried today?

This should qualify for today's Bible reading.


"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you"
(1 Peter 5:7).


Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 4-7


8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

Carry each other’s burdens… Galatians 6:2

Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34