Family Archives – Page 8 of 11 – Strength Of The Small

Music Christmas Strength of The Small Family Gratitude

Sweet Sound of Music

By JM PerezDecember 20, 20122 min read561 views

Sunshine, cool breeze and the smell of freshly baked cookies in the air. Oh, what a beautiful day!

My Kindergartener returned from his end of year Christmas Party at school and together with his sister, they are having fun in the playroom. We will be having him home exclusively for the next three weeks, moments which I am looking forward to create and treasure. I have completed my morning chores and I have made myself comfortable on the loveseat, all relaxed and worry free. I am blogging and sipping a warm cup of coffee while listening to the sweet sound of Benise (“Spanigh Nights” album). We bought his first four CDs in 2002, while he was performing with a group of friends at the Ontario Mills® Mall. We couldn’t resist his unique style of music.

Benise, “Spanish Nights.” — *Benise, Spanish Nights.*

The excitement, anticipation and final countdown to Christmas is making everyone here antsy (myself being the antsiest). In just five days we’ll all be opening our gifts; reaping those beautifully wrapped presents which have been carefully and lovingly placed under the white Christmas Tree. To witness the unbridled joy and gratitude on my children’s faces as they contemplate their gifts is, oh, so priceless. In just five days, we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, to the virgin Mary. One of my favorite Holidays to reflect and rejoice.

Where has the time gone, literally? It’s hard to fathom that this year is almost over and that in just twelve days we will be starting a new year (of new beginnings and possibilities). This year has gone by way too fast. In retrospect, I think 2012 has been our best year so far and we can only hope that it takes us safely into 2013.

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By JM Perez

Christmas Holidays Strength of The Small Love Inspire Family Life Lessons People

Joyful Gathering

By JM PerezDecember 16, 20122 min read616 views

Yesterday was a joyful day as we celebrated the moment, a friendship reunion and new beginnings.
We feel blessed and thankful for all the wonderful people we’ve met along our way through life. We are thankful for those who are no longer in our life and for the life lessons it’s thought us. We are most thankful to those who are still a part of our lives and whose presence (near or far) makes a difference.

Today, I finally met Neri and her loving Family. We are all a DeVry Institute of Technology/University couples. She was Eduardo’s classmate and we used to chat a lot once upon a time, when we weren’t as busy with life and before we got married and started our families. She always had good advice to give and we stayed connected through Myspace and Facebook. After ten long years of wanting and hoping, I finally met Neri, which it seems, I have always known in my head and heart. She is a beautiful, strong and amazing Woman. A compassionate being, a free Spirit and her joy radiates. Have you ever had that feeling of meeting someone for the first time and had the impression of knowing them all your life? That’s how I felt in the presence of Neri.

Victoria's Secret Gifts. — *Victoria Secret Gift Bag.*

Thank you so much, Neri, for your hospitality and for allowing us to share a moment of one of your family’s cherished tradition. Thank you for the delicious food (as well as the ‘Take Home’). Thank you for the laughter, the conversations, the pictures, the gifts, the friendship, etc.

We thank God for you and for your wonderful husband, Michael. We thank God for your lovely children (you are teaching them well). Thank you for your continued encouragements in my life as a Writer and thank you for your invaluable input.

I pray that the Almighty God bless you abundantly and keep you safe, always.

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By JM Perez

Christmas Holidays Strength of The Small Home Decor Family

Dreaming of a White Christmas

By JM PerezNovember 27, 20121 min read943 views

During the end of year sale last year, I bought a large white Christmas pre-lit Tree (my dream tree) and I have been dreaming of a White Christmas Décor since then. I failed at keeping my promise to hold off until the weekend after Thanksgiving. I have been so excited about decorating that I couldn’t wait any longer.

White Christmas Tree. — *White Christmas Tree (with my favorite ornaments).*

Today was decoration day number one and we pulled out all the boxes of Christmas decorations. We got the tree up, fluffed its branches up to make them look full, place the Christmas skirt around the bottom and we started decorating. The tree decoration is partially complete; I am still waiting on the jeweled tree hooks I ordered a few days ago for my glass ball ornaments. Our color choices this year are: white, blue, silver, brown, red, gold and a little green, to complement the gorgeous Owl below. There are two more owls, one on the tree branch and the other on the wreath. I miss my little green tree, we had fun decorating it for years. All we have left is to set the Choo-Choo Train around the tree and decorate the Mantel.

I bought the Owl Ornament at Kohl’s and the Owl Candle Tin at Michael’s.
You can purchase your own Life’s a Hoot With Sisters keepsake ornament here.

A labor of love, all over again …

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By JM Perez

Love Children Education Family

A Cousin’s Gifts

By JM PerezNovember 21, 20121 min read547 views

What a day! We’ve been running errands all morning (from mailing gifts to visiting Vintage shops and everything in between). We stopped by Lowe’s®, where I picked up a pair of Christmas Stockings, some plants, bulbs and a few Barrel Planters. We made a quick stop at Kohl’s® to get the last items on our Christmas decoration list.

As I went to check the mails after unloading the plants from the car, I found a large package waiting for me in the mailbox. By its weight and without looking at the senders address; I knew it was the gifts from my niece to her little cousins. While my Mom was visiting with them in France early this month, she promised to send Books, CDs and other souvenirs to her cousins. These are just a few of them. My son was so excited that he started reading. He has been anxious to read the stories even though they are written in French. Starting tomorrow, we will pick up where we left off and I am confident that he will be fluent in French in no time.

I am grateful for this day and I can’t wait to find out what tomorrow has in store for me.

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By JM Perez

Leisure Destinations Vintage Family Nature

Vintage 3 Faces Toothpick Holder

By EPEngineerNovember 16, 20122 min read1.1K views

Excited and anxious for a relaxed and fun afternoon; we took a trip up into the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains. We had planned a trip to Crestline, CA and today was that day, rain or shine. Regardless of the winding roads and the motion sickness, Crestline is a city we fell in love with four years ago. Crestline is a small town. It’s charming, welcoming and it feels like a World of its own. The sights are breath-taking, the locals are friendly, helpful and the shops are full of little treasures. When it comes to buying Vintage/Antique pieces, this is one of the places we trust and go to. We’ve been in luck so far.

Our first stop was at the Garden Shed & Co. Shop. The kids instantly fell in love with a Cowboy Screw Sculpture which we ended up buying. Myself on the other hand, who is into rare Vintage Wrenches, added a new tool to my collection: a Vintage Garden Pruner. From there we proceeded to My Favorite Things, where we met shop owner Yolanda and stayed a while admiring her huge selection of treasures. Read about her shop here.

At the Crest Forest Senior Citizens Thrift Shop, I bought a Nautical Wooden Decorative Anchor as well as a Three Faces Toothpick Holder for our collection (this piece is also known as Three Graces, Three Sisters and Three Fates). It is from the 1960’s and it is a reproduction by L.G. Wright. The original was produced by Duncan Miller in the Late 1880’s. What fascinates Joan the most is the history behind the art work.

*1960’s Three Faces Toothpick Holder by L.G. Wright.*

After remembering taking some courses in Philosophy and learning about “Three Graces and Fates” in High School; my wife did some research to refresh her memory (knowledge does not update itself). She finally stumbled upon an article while searching for additional information on this Toothpick Holder. The article was written by Zsuzsanna E. Budapest on The Fates and Destiny. While recounting a life changing incident that happened to her and to which she now sees as fate; she proceeded by giving us a bigger picture of the Mythological Goddesses. They are Females portrayed as Fates and Sisters. It is said that when they are in good spirits, they become the Three Graces and when angered, they are called the Furies.