JustMeAgain

Always thankful

Always thankful, originally uploaded by Maria Hammon.

"In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November."
- Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden

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Thankful and utterly inspired.

I have not been posting very regularly lately. I'm sorry. But even though I haven't been around the blog world as much, my daily life keeps me thankful and utterly inspired. Always with a huge need to share those things that rattle my heart ~and literally make me stop in awe of the beauty that surrounds me. So much to share, and often so little time. 

I need to find balance. I need to find the way to stretch time a little. I know there is a way; it's there, it's really there.  I just need to find it.  In the meantime, I thought today would be a good day to make a list of what is making me smile and even cry (tears of joy that is.)

* BABIES!  This past week I was in huge anticipation of my sister Laura's new baby and she was just born today!  Her name is Karol Elizabeth.  Another cute baby niece to join the bunch of cuties we have (from my sister Laura I also have a niece named Mia and my nephew Arturo; and from my sister Alejandra I have three nieces: Ale, Abigail and Paulina.)  Babies are so cute and darling and precious and oh, so very cuddly. And thanks to technology, I was able to witness the entire delivery process of my new niece!!  My sister's husband emailed me the video of Karol's arrival.  Watching that video brought tears of joy. Truly amazing to watch the miracle of a new life.  I am a proud new auntie again!  And here is a picture I just received, too, taken by my brother in law in Mexico this morning.  Gosh, I love technology! 

* The ending of the Fall season and the anticipation of Winter.  These two are truly my favorite seasons!  In these colder months of the year, I love the excuses to wear sweaters, jackets, scarfs, boots and all the fun warm colors. I am so very inspired by the season; the holidays approaching, and the beautiful sightings all around.

* Music. Andre Bocelli's Christmas CD and Brandi Carlile's new CD called Give Up the Ghost.  I'm in love with the photography in both CDs, too.

* Fun, awesome surprises found in my camera yesterday.  These next two pictures taken by my daughter the other night.  Every time that she picks up the camera to take her own pictures, she gives me a precious gift.  The gift of her own perspective.  An awesome, incredibly inspiring, perspective.  And I must share these beauties:

 

I have not been posting very regularly lately. I'm sorry. But even though I haven't been around the blog world as much, my daily life keeps me thankful and utterly inspired. Always with a huge need to share those things that rattle my heart ~and literally make me stop in awe of the beauty that surrounds me. So much to share, and often so little time. 

I need to find balance. I need to find the way to stretch time a little. I know there is a way; it's there, it's really there.  I just need to find it.  In the meantime, I thought today would be a good day to make a list of what is making me smile and even cry (tears of joy that is.)

* BABIES!  This past week I was in huge anticipation of my sister Laura's new baby and she was just born today!  Her name is Karol Elizabeth.  Another cute baby niece to join the bunch of cuties we have (from my sister Laura I also have a niece named Mia and my nephew Arturo; and from my sister Alejandra I have three nieces: Ale, Abigail and Paulina.)  Babies are so cute and darling and precious and oh, so very cuddly. And thanks to technology, I was able to witness the entire delivery process of my new niece!!  My sister's husband emailed me the video of Karol's arrival.  Watching that video brought tears of joy. Truly amazing to watch the miracle of a new life.  I am a proud new auntie again!  And here is a picture I just received, too, taken by my brother in law in Mexico this morning.  Gosh, I love technology! 

* The ending of the Fall season and the anticipation of Winter.  These two are truly my favorite seasons!  In these colder months of the year, I love the excuses to wear sweaters, jackets, scarfs, boots and all the fun warm colors. I am so very inspired by the season; the holidays approaching, and the beautiful sightings all around.

* Music. Andre Bocelli's Christmas CD and Brandi Carlile's new CD called Give Up the Ghost.  I'm in love with the photography in both CDs, too.

* Fun, awesome surprises found in my camera yesterday.  These next two pictures taken by my daughter the other night.  Every time that she picks up the camera to take her own pictures, she gives me a precious gift.  The gift of her own perspective.  An awesome, incredibly inspiring, perspective.  And I must share these beauties:

 

One of my favorite songs. Ever.

I had to share my newest musical obsession.  Andrea Bocelli's Christmas CD! I love it almost as much as my Josh Groban's Christmas CD.  Okay, I love them both just as much.  I specially fell head over heals over the song "I believe." 

It is one of my favorite songs. Ever.

You just have to read those lyrics.  Insanely amazing to me.  Every line, every statement. So right. So beautiful. This song makes my heart sing and my soul rejoice. 

Here is a youtube link if you haven't heard this song yet.

One day I'll hear
The laugh of children
In a world where war has been banned.

One day I'll see
Men of all colours
Sharing words of love and devotion.

Stand up and feel
The Holy Spirit
Find the power of your faith.

Open your heart
To those who need you
In the name of love and devotion.

Yes, I believe.

I believe in the people
Of all nations
To join and to care
For love.

I believe in a world
Where light will guide us
And giving our love
We'll make heaven on earth.

I believe in the people
Of all nations
To join and to care
For love.

I believe in a world
Where light will guide us
And giving our love
We'll make heaven on earth.

Yes, I believe.

I believe in the people
Of all nations
To join and to care
For love.

I believe in a world
And giving our love
We'll make heaven on earth.

I believe.

November first

I always love to see how Disneyland includes the Day of the Dead in they traditional Halloween decorations. Here are a few pictures of their dedication to the Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead. 
 

 

And as promised, this was the post about shrine sharing.  The group of friends with whom I exchange ATCs and altered art every month, decided to do a shrine exchange this month to celebrate the Day of the Dead.  Here is my contribution for that, and  later today I will share a link so that you can see more of their creations. 

ETA: Here is a link to some Shrine pictures already up. More to come in the next few days.

And I made this next shrine for Rebecca's Shrine Auction, which is raising funds for the Street Children of Oaxaca.  Every little bow and flower around the frame represent the children.  The stuff in the center represents home and love.

 

The best of both worlds.

Being Mexican-American I feel so blessed with a doubling of holidays that are fun to celebrate throughout the year.  Like today's Halloween as it is celebrated in the United States and tomorrow's Day of the Dead as they celebrate it in Mexico.  Making the best of traditions and holidays is always FUN.

This year I am donating a shrine to  to Rebecca's Shrine Auction, which is raising funds for the Street Children of Oaxaca.  I'll share a few pictures of Disneyland's Day of the Dead exposition and a few pictures of my shrine for Rebecca''s auction tomorrow, November 1st.

Today, I just want to wish you all a fun and sweet day.

 

A little goodness everywhere.

I just noticed that I keep coming around a lot of good things everywhere, so I thought it would be a good idea to share. 

1) The fun theory.  I would soo choose the stairs, too.  Wouldn't you?  You gotta check out that link.  It will bring a smile to your face. Seriously.

2) A quote from Grey's Anatomy: "Today, if you become frightened, instead, become inspired."  There was a day last week when I literally wanted to have a clon of myself that I could send to work in my place.  I wish I had heard this quote then.  I guess I'll keep this handy to read it again next time I feel the need to have to clon myself.  In fact, I think I'll frame it and hang it somewhere near by. 

3) A new favorite song that I keep listening over and over: Tears of the Saints by Leeland. I first heard it about a month ago in my local church.  Talk about Godly inspiration.  Beautiful lyrics.

4) At work, I have had one of the busiest months in some time. And just when I thought I could breathe again, I come to realize that it is time to get ready for the next set of things to-do, the next frightening challenges, the next steps.  Life and work are always full of deadlines, expectations, responsibilities. Always FULL.  Always waiting for you to do something. To deliver. To create. To make things happen. You might as well arm yourself with the strongest, most powerful thing you can find. Whether it is your faith, your belief system, your inner peace; whatever it is, find it and use it daily. Use it wisely. Miracles and Godly things happen every day. Be ready for them. And be thankful.  

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I'll close with a picture of Greg Quirke, one of our church Pastors.  I snapped this while he was performing during a recent Sunday service.  Yes, Beth and I are probably the only two people in our church who take pictures all the time. Cannot miss those Godly chances for a good photo.  Even when we were sitting far in the back of the church, my trusty 28-250 did the trick.  Being that it was hand-held, there was a bit of grain on the picture, but I still really like it.  It reminds me of all the intense emotion that overpowers him when he sings.  I wish I had a link to share his music here.