Strength Of The Small

A Closed Door To New Beginnings

By JM PerezJanuary 1, 20252 min read101 views

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2025 is finally here. The Sun has risen, another day has begun, we are still here, and we can embark on that journey of endless possibilities. A toast to you all for a beautiful, peaceful, healthy, and prosperous year.

2024 was bittersweet. It was a year of temptations and personal growth. It was a year of revelations, acceptance, surrender, and letting go. I was given a rare opportunity to peek into the hearts of wicked men and witness the effects of greed and twisted ego. Now I know I must remain true to myself. Acceptance is liberating.
Just as I was closing down a few doors, others opened up for me. I was blessed with opportunities, and in turn, I blessed others in need. I am grateful for good health, my children who keep me grounded, my big brother who is helping me cultivate the art of patience, and my Mother, who seems to have made it her mission to make me laugh on a daily basis. And then, there are my jewels of good friends. Kindness is rewarded.

As I continue to mourn the loss of many, I give thanks to God for the precious gift of their lives, the beautiful memories we shared, and the hope of reuniting with them again in eternity. While it is impossible to move on, or get over the passing of a loved one, we can learn to cope and live with it as we move forward. May the peace of God surround you as you navigate this challenging time of loss. Today, I can attest that God’s love and grace is unchanging and unfailing, even in grief. God is good all the time; believe He is with you (Lamentations 3:32).

I learned and grew tremendously this past year, and after completely de-cluttering my mind and surrendering to God, He is slowly showing me His path for my life. I am at peace, happy, healthy, and resolute. I remain in a state of gratitude, and I am ready to take on 2025.

Every day is a new beginning, a chance to start again by turning over a new leaf. We should all aspire to move onto bigger and better things or smaller and meaningful things.

May this year be one of healing, restoration, peace, endless possibilities, and abundant blessings.

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” ― J.P. Morgan

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By JM Perez

Winter Christmas Holidays Gratitude

Merry Christmas 2024!

By JM PerezDecember 25, 20241 min read125 views

“Don’t let the past steal the present. This is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.” — Taylor Caldwell

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you, and those around you, a heartfelt Christmas.

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light.” — Judy Garland

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By JM Perez

Coyote Fruits Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Mr. Coyote, The Unexpected Guest

By JM PerezNovember 8, 20242 min read32 views

Living in the desert is like taking a gamble. Most days are amazingly beautiful, and the stars are bright and visible at night. It’s less noisy and polluted as opposed to life in bigger cities. The mountain view is breathtaking, especially when covered in snow, and yes, it snows quite often here. Almost everything you can imagine is at close proximity: schools, groceries, malls, outlet stores, parks, movie theaters, museums, clinics, medical facilities, gas stations, car washes, restaurants, and hotels, just to name a few.

For the most part, living in the High Desert is wonderful; however, we also have our gloomy moments: the extreme heat, the high and gusty winds, the weeds (the obnoxious and undesirable plants), the surge of weird and toxic individuals moving here and disrupting the once established peace, and then the wild animals.

In the past, I was told by some neighbors about seeing coyotes around and a few who raise poultry said some jumped into their yards in an attempt to get a chicken or two. I personally thought they were all making up stories, given that for over seventeen years, I never saw one. Well, not until three weeks ago, when I spotted one in the front yard. I was horrified and petrified. After a while, it jumped over the fence and disappeared around the corner.

Late in the Spring we purchased a Mexican Fencepost Cactus, and a couple of weeks ago I noticed new (weird) growths from the top of the mother plant. At first I thought the tiny buds were flowers developing from the areoles, but they quickly turned into strange pups, as though the new growth are a different species: perhaps grafts? I will be keeping a close watch on this one.

We were gifted a small Sour Fig (Hottentot Fig Ice Plant) this summer, and I am impressed at how much it has grown and spread. Also known as Carpobrotus Edulis, it is a ground-creeping plant with succulent leaves native to South Africa. I have been told that it is an invasive plant, and I will be moving it into a large pot to limit its spread.

Last week we harvested the Pomegranates and there were so many. We ate some and they are so sweet. We gifted some to our daughter’s friend who loves them and we will use them in meals and smoothies.