Random kindness

This weekend has been an eye opening to the numerous blessings in my life. The basic needs of a human being is security, food, shelter and emotional connections.
When life's moments hit you with a jolt, you re-examine everything. What's important. You have choices in life that you make. We prioritize based on our needs. And, what I focus on today is random acts of kindness. Why? I get this itch to do it. And, it has an exponential effect.
I hold a door for an elderly couple. I let a car pass me by who is in a hurry. I send thank you notes to those who have shared this journey with me called Life. It is those connections I have with family and friends who lift my spirits. I call them the random acts of kindness and I feel the need to reciprocate to random people. And, again, why? Because...it's the right thing to do. And, in this crazy cruel world. We all need reminders on a daily basis to give us hope.

Presence=present

What a whirlwind of information has been given to me in the last 3 days. Literally, the wind knocked me, my family and what I realized was the people that care for me OFF OUR FEET!! You know that feeling that you can't shake off? WELL, LISTEN TO IT!! It's GOD talking to us. We go through life thinking, it won't happen to me. Then, it happens to me, your mother, father, brother, sister from another mother, bestie, BFF, lover, anyone close to you. And, BAM!!! It hits you like a brick wall! I always wondered why people used cliches. Well, now I realized why...sometimes, you try to relay a message but the most efficient way to describe a situation to someone who has not  gone through what you have gone is use a cliche...They can kinda understand based on their meaning of the cliche.



One of my good friends reminded me the importance of writing down your thoughts. It's a way to vent out your feelings,  a way to communicate to our loved ones when they don't see the signs of frustration and lends a way to reach out to people near or far and touch these people's lives. I say this because I never saw myself as a writer in grammar school, in fact, I couldn't stand language arts. I sucked in it, I struggled with it. English was not my first language, it wasn't the primary language  used at home. And yet, today, 35 years later, I love language arts. I love reading to escape, I love writing letters, email, sending texts, writing notes to my kids and hubby. It's probably one of things that I used to escape early on in life. I would write letters to myself in the form of DEAR DIARY. As, I look at my previous writing, which I have kept, somewhere in some dusty pink box at my parents house, I LAUGH OUT LOUD!!! It is something I can share with my girls and the world around me. I've been talking to GOD all this time. He has been my ultimate best friend! And, I ignored him for years. I paid more attention to worldly things. I GOT sucked in. DARN it! I knew better. I went to catholic school for 12 years. Little did I know, he was paving a way to my heart! He was always there, leaving an imprint in me, through me and for his greater good.


You come into life through the womb of your mother (this bouncing asian looking baby with so much hair, they don't know where it ends). And, you grow physically, emotionally, spiritually and all the while our master's plan is unfolding. His plan always prevails. We are born into a family, we don't make the choice, it is what is BUT there is a purpose. I've come to see my purpose. I am suppose to be a testament of his love. And, like a parent, sometimes, we have to let our children experience life, as painful as it is, let the children go through it so it makes them stronger. I think I may have moved up the ladder in the hierarchy of needs (can't remember the psychologist who made up that darn theory). I've made peace with my life. I give it up to HIM. I am fervent in my desire to be in HIS presence because today is a PRESENT. Relish it, open it with glee, and hold on to what is important. Don't worry about the future and don't harp on the past. Focus on the present moment because it is a gift. Love yourself, each other and be kind to each other, it's a cruel world out there.

Sleep deprived

One the benefits of having insomnia is the ability to work on projects I would normally set on the side during the day. As I prepare for the upcoming week of championship soccer games, teaching, kids school schedule and Catelyn's catechism, I'm immediately overwhelmed with thought about which day or task takes priority. While gathering my thoughts, I get distracted by the thoughts of food and gathering. So, naturally, I decide to cook. And, boy do I cook and bake. Till 5am!! I'm so going to be dying at the championship game tonight. Might I add, I volunteered to have the rosary at our home tonight. What was I thinking? Obviously, I overbooked as usual. This seems to be my M.O. Arghh! I really need to get out of this pattern. It's causing undue stress. This may be one of the reasons I have had this cough for 2 1/2 months.

After a couple of hours of cooking, I end up with fresh mushroom marinara sauce with pasta, frijoles, Quaker oatmeal cookie muffins with Nestle chocolate chips and Heath toffee bits, Steele oats and meat stew with vegetables. Not bad! I've got all three meals ready and maybe able to sneak in a mid-day nap before the game.


Before I get the girls up for the day, I use the time for meditation and reflections from the past weekend. And, it was glorious. Thank goodness because it was also a roller coaster of emotions. The events of our economy, the bombing in Boston, kidnappings on the news, dealing with a hormonal pre-teen and trying balance our finances after completing our taxes has been an ordeal to manage. And, yet when I look at the pictures of my life, I have to say I'm quite blessed. I whine and complain about the everyday trials of life but they are minute in the scheme of life. If only I could recognize my blessings and Eucharisteo at each given moment. This is what I aim towards. I'm definitely a work in project. In the meantime, I've got my family and friends to grow with. I guess they are stuck with me. The good, the bad and ever changing personality of mine.

The galavanting personality of mine is displayed in my overbooked weekend . Just a glimpse of the great people in my life.

Springing upward

Spring brings new changes in the Lomeli household. We are transitioning to having me back in the classroom teaching University level courses, soccer tournaments State wide

and preparing for Catelyn's First Holy Communion at St. Paul the Apostle. The flowers blooming, pollen spreading around is a good reminder of how life can be so bitter sweet. I'm missing the financial rewards of working full-time but enjoy the open opportunities to complete projects, socialize with friends and organize our home. This new found opportunity has brought a chance to reflect on my goals both personal and career. And, it's still a work in progress. While I am fantasizing of an ideal situation of balancing home, work and my sanity, I know reality has a different approach of unfolding itself. I'm contemplating what I'm willing to sacrifice. The priorities I had in my early thirties are so much more evolved than my priorities coming into my forties. Ahhh, what experience and wisdom comes to light when life happens!!! All I know is...life moves forward and upward. Spring reminds me when I get those moments of despair, loneliness and exasperation.

Roman 1

1 So then, now that we have been justified by faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

    2 it is through him, by faith, that we have been admitted into God's favour in which we are living, and 
      look forward exultantly to God's glory.

   3 Not only that; let us exult, too, in our hardships, understanding that hardship develops perseverance,

   4 and perseverance develops a tested character, something that gives us hope,

   5 and a hope which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the
   Holy Spirit which has been given to us.


The first few days early into the month of April reminds me about the importance of presence, patience and perseverance. How my actions affect the world around me whether I consciously recognize it "at the moment" when I complete my daily tasks of cooking, shopping, teaching, talking, organizing, meeting or other menial tasks of being a working Mom/Wife. I'm trying to find activities that are cost effective and still entertain my kids. The results of my research quickly showed me how abundant the blessings are when we look for them. A simple walk to the park to capture a glimpse of the kids growing and playing has definitely left an irreplaceable memory of this Spring 2013.

My babies no more but growing into young ladies.

I hope in my parenting and balancing life to impart the example of perseverance and patience to my children.

"Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." John Quincy Adams

 



Spontaneous combustion

Sunday started off with the normal cleaning duties. As I put my youngest to work, I was reminded of the days when I was her age. My Mom waking us up on the weekends to clean the house. I recalled the countless conversations with my Mom. History repeats itself, I'm doing the same with my girls. It was nice to clean without a time deadline. No plans for the day. Then it hit me as I scrubbed the stove. It's a pretty day! Let's go to Disneyland. I wait to tell Catelyn until she is done with her chore.


A spontaneous idea turned into a Mommy/daughter date with my girls and catching up with my childhood BFF and her kids. The beautiful day was perfect weather with the sun shinning and a cool breeze. I guess most of SoCal annual pass holders got the same idea to go to Disneyland. Two rides later and watching a parade, we decided on an early Dinner at Naples.


The highlight of my day, a wonderful exchange of the girls excitement to clean the house then enjoy a beautiful day at the happiest place on earth as a reward.

Weekend duties

Waking up early to prep a hearty breakfast for my husband and daughter before a soccer game. I'm hesitant to get up because the pillow on my head is so comfortable but my brain tells me I need to get up. They will need the nutrients to sustain them for the day and I remember how much my husband enjoys getting breakfast on the weekends because he's gone in the mornings by the time I get up.
I whip up something separate of their favorite things. This IS not my normal routine but I'm still in a cooking mood. And, I love to hear them Ohhh and ahhhh when their palates enjoy their food which I determined (intrinsic reward) validates my cooking. The last reward was seeing my daughter's team win their soccer game and I gave her a good start to her day that required a great deal of calories to help her team win.

The rest of weekend was nothing spectular but some greatly needed relaxation with great conversation. We got to spend some quality time with the parentals. I recently reconnected with an old friend from college and learned her parents past away last year. What a good reminder to take advantage of the time I have with the parents as I see them quickly in new eyes. They walk a little slower, ask the same question three times, and have visible signs in their faces of the 60+ years. All of which I am grateful, to have these moments with them to share my parenting stories.

Distractions

As the week draws a near, I'm reminded about what a blur the week has been. As I sit in traffic reminiscing about the things I've accomplished this week, all I can do is think of food. I'm in a fixated mood to cook, bake and find new recipes online. I'm inclined to help my family reinforce the important value of home cooked healthy meals and dinner conversations. How easy would it be to pick up cooked? What has been a result of my new obsession? My girls interested in the meal preparation and quality conversations.


As of late, I've had more time to contemplate my career path and consider new opportunities that align with my passion and my desire to provide a mark of my existence. What to do? I want to be able to continue to sharing in the kids everyday activities while contributing to the household income. Is it possible to do it all? I think there can be that balance. I just need to trust that I can find the right career that will allow me to do this long term. I know these years with the girls will pass by to quickly and I won't be able recapture the In n Out lunch, star week poster making and walks to the park.