tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41102468282217480922024-03-13T09:38:15.321-07:00The Bell FamilyCreating daily, and enjoying our new life in the PNW!CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-46345856524672440482023-12-14T10:43:00.000-08:002023-12-14T10:43:12.625-08:00Lost Time Is Never Found Again<p>If I could use one word to define the last year of our life, it would be <b>time</b>.</p><p><b>Time</b> is something so valuable, that is often taken for granted. <b>Time</b> passes irrevocably. Once it's gone, you're not getting it back. So the way we choose to spend our <b>time</b> is important. It needs to be intentional. This has been my focus this year, for myself, and for our family. We've now been in Portland officially longer than we were in the Bay Area. We have made it through that transition and 2.5 years of a global pandemic, all while navigating life with teenagers and all the emotional work that comes with that territory. Portland is our home now, and we made a solid effort to embed ourselves into our community this year, and focus our <b>time</b> on things that did just that. </p><p>After I wrote my annual post last year, we had a wonderful Christmas at home with family.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbUgmjowOZHuF3dIHonWvYlgKixyIf1552d-jlvoN0d1ZbcQOgY2Zsb37FHnI6MpW3aYzXQ1hWsyr71JW11_upTpMlC4keFjo-BkIsFycuHCfSMKRww0rtqr1wzn-y-G_Yvmv9J7QOM_t1qVdyCkzP-cvp-eiMqwbtTpInc23U2I3SkU4SeQ9TTrOp_8/s3321/xmas2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3321" data-original-width="2457" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbUgmjowOZHuF3dIHonWvYlgKixyIf1552d-jlvoN0d1ZbcQOgY2Zsb37FHnI6MpW3aYzXQ1hWsyr71JW11_upTpMlC4keFjo-BkIsFycuHCfSMKRww0rtqr1wzn-y-G_Yvmv9J7QOM_t1qVdyCkzP-cvp-eiMqwbtTpInc23U2I3SkU4SeQ9TTrOp_8/s320/xmas2022.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><p>Two days later, my amazing, beautiful grandma, (lovingly called Mama Mimi by my brother and me) passed away at the age of 99. She was so much more than a grandma, she was definitely one of my very best friends, she was my sorority sister, and she is the one who I looked forward to talking to on the phone the most. I miss her and our conversations so much, but I am grateful to know that she is reunited in Heaven with my dad (her son), her husband (my Papa Ray), her sister Eleanor, and her parents. She is responsible for a good portion of what makes me, me. I am so grateful for the <b>time</b> I got with her, all the way up until the end. This is a picture that I took of her when Paloma was a baby, and my sister-in-law Larel was hosting a wine tasting party. Mama Mimi was enjoying herself thoroughly with our friends, and said to me, "Candida, take a picture of me like this. This is how I want to be remembered." You got it, Grandma. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0NaKRPcAo7SfeFxYqT4o4infjzo0DDOhLWM2-3YyDIz2V6nYwYxq_IQPjVHue5w5AAs0JNlSPZSeoJomeTrxDOBR3bIzzGOBmMaVv08ShH1bRn-FwFSvkH5p9BWvwlA-nr2GIjbhcqeRCPFf_v1LiBVbfpIpW5QV2SjVS7ZxubPJvVANPvqx-8IwnXY/s1458/MamaMimi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0NaKRPcAo7SfeFxYqT4o4infjzo0DDOhLWM2-3YyDIz2V6nYwYxq_IQPjVHue5w5AAs0JNlSPZSeoJomeTrxDOBR3bIzzGOBmMaVv08ShH1bRn-FwFSvkH5p9BWvwlA-nr2GIjbhcqeRCPFf_v1LiBVbfpIpW5QV2SjVS7ZxubPJvVANPvqx-8IwnXY/s320/MamaMimi.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Miriam Elizabeth White Jacobs 7/9/1923-12/27/2022</div><p>Here's a recap of our family's adventures over the last year:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>JANUARY</b></p><p>The new year started with Paloma’s 12th birthday and 6th grade basketball season in full swing. As a family, we were able to travel to New Orleans to celebrate Papa Meredith’s 80th Birthday. All 12 of us stayed in a beautiful house in the Bywater neighborhood, and I became quickly infatuated with the oil lamps that we had on our front porch, and that I saw on all the houses nearby. A highlight of our trip was a swamp tour where we learned so much about native and invasive species in the area, and we even got to see a couple small gators! Solon and I were able to reconnect with our friend Albert, who we met on our first trip to NOLA in 2015. It was wonderful catching up with him and touring his business that he built from the ground up over the last 8 years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvWiZfcD6N3rtcENiis_AmV7VHysXkQEVPOtXeipIDHD3b3i2TEvFKaVKmlqcKOUuiP8R3ekpUjjwrpKqqsG6zB3Febr13uYgFOOpwP_WdFWPWMSoyjPnsuCk1_ckxej9aMhxjshYlaAswrtC_FtmylYBYUxs43zfu8tQ8hqdD8OnsYkvDN3cpDzK6Sw/s2592/January%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvWiZfcD6N3rtcENiis_AmV7VHysXkQEVPOtXeipIDHD3b3i2TEvFKaVKmlqcKOUuiP8R3ekpUjjwrpKqqsG6zB3Febr13uYgFOOpwP_WdFWPWMSoyjPnsuCk1_ckxej9aMhxjshYlaAswrtC_FtmylYBYUxs43zfu8tQ8hqdD8OnsYkvDN3cpDzK6Sw/s320/January%201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As usual, we prioritized the flavors of the area, and enjoyed king cake, gumbo, gator bites, and our share of delicious cocktails. We spent an amazing and educational day at the National World War II Museum, and could have easily spent three days learning more. New Orleans is a city with so much music, culture and history - we always have a great time when we go there.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLfE7m_MBYgKbj7twEluhXtLTmnkUcPhj0K3eiK6XLVQ6LEgiW9GLw9D4KJ0L687i1Rr4phPaaGmVluiOHcZ3qUEjKoIZJH4wgIYk7fUQCmvZ2TVi4hkvdlawvXOLmf3Vn9JiEf8D59AK9tVk8BqhyphenhyphenTMh4Sh1rTmoc1U-RkfFpn8gv97xKSuB0r25B_E/s2592/January%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLfE7m_MBYgKbj7twEluhXtLTmnkUcPhj0K3eiK6XLVQ6LEgiW9GLw9D4KJ0L687i1Rr4phPaaGmVluiOHcZ3qUEjKoIZJH4wgIYk7fUQCmvZ2TVi4hkvdlawvXOLmf3Vn9JiEf8D59AK9tVk8BqhyphenhyphenTMh4Sh1rTmoc1U-RkfFpn8gv97xKSuB0r25B_E/s320/January%202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>FEBRUARY</b></p><p>I was the event chair for the middle school’s Bernstein Bash - the annual fundraiser for the <a href="https://www.jacksonpta.org/bash/" target="_blank">Artful Learning Program</a> at Jackson MS. This was the first event post-pandemic, and luckily the previous person in charge kept amazing notes, and helped ensure its success. Our goal of $30K was raised by the end of the night, and I was thrilled that we pulled it off! We spent a few nights a week cheering on Paloma’s basketball team (the Pickles), and even had a special guest come to support the girls at their home game, and get them hyped up. When I thanked the Portland Pickles Baseball Team for sending Dillon over, their response brought a smile to my face: “Of course! Pickles support Pickles!” </p><p style="text-align: center;">(Dillon T. Pickle pictured below)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXi0bVqWxevCJccd8-5mSUKTsN3SGXN4uknb6k9f3ekbUmGxbLXHTMS3DwaTxPciR1ID0n0KmTSRd6NYIa2fQ4sSLds8__HIs0wnNqRsfFI9k1tgjVc2MHAeZe-aRvd3bI5JfvnhXXP2d4SEAJWqBGcOiUZ2rHy1H2mXiR1X4Ni36C-V9Ku1XywAmHOg/s2614/February.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2614" data-original-width="2575" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXi0bVqWxevCJccd8-5mSUKTsN3SGXN4uknb6k9f3ekbUmGxbLXHTMS3DwaTxPciR1ID0n0KmTSRd6NYIa2fQ4sSLds8__HIs0wnNqRsfFI9k1tgjVc2MHAeZe-aRvd3bI5JfvnhXXP2d4SEAJWqBGcOiUZ2rHy1H2mXiR1X4Ni36C-V9Ku1XywAmHOg/s320/February.JPG" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had some snowfall this month </div><div style="text-align: center;">and I loved the view from our upstairs window.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEhm-847-vyzluAg377FhERfIolSDAyA4POTigCy27EXLvi3T30CEulxo8qWJuTm7FbkdhrUJ9EXkxdTrqdGE2hMAUUr2wHiVPoa8ch8tP3ywh8jMUUQ46fqJziQ5vXaiyN2vt_PlYH0wTyY0tFBgOpQ12WKamK-diTLc1a5O7WhLXHenKwBcl4hBt6Y/s4032/IMG_1891.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEhm-847-vyzluAg377FhERfIolSDAyA4POTigCy27EXLvi3T30CEulxo8qWJuTm7FbkdhrUJ9EXkxdTrqdGE2hMAUUr2wHiVPoa8ch8tP3ywh8jMUUQ46fqJziQ5vXaiyN2vt_PlYH0wTyY0tFBgOpQ12WKamK-diTLc1a5O7WhLXHenKwBcl4hBt6Y/s320/IMG_1891.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>MARCH</b></p><p>We drove up to Issaquah/Seattle for Alynsia’s Birthday. While we were up there, I took the kids on a self-guided "10 Things I Hate About You" tour, since the kids had just discovered the movie (one of my favorites from that late 90s), and the movie was filmed in the Tacoma/Seattle area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vy6zxtnBkPUvgaIT8Uj24OdS7hQGMMoBz5-PZO1XB_IsxWbvpqxSv8h4hyphenhyphenmVFKgllc3bjwCfMoi3LkNXgM7WZ3KJpcHl36bE6sAlObYo8Du5FJNPyInFsQvT6sbw4QQvUCOcU_s4O03BbvdYYhshvFx_LSC2IS4uzEvy_FeKpwFSttTHF0WzlbMsAUU/s1008/Resized_20230325_123005.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vy6zxtnBkPUvgaIT8Uj24OdS7hQGMMoBz5-PZO1XB_IsxWbvpqxSv8h4hyphenhyphenmVFKgllc3bjwCfMoi3LkNXgM7WZ3KJpcHl36bE6sAlObYo8Du5FJNPyInFsQvT6sbw4QQvUCOcU_s4O03BbvdYYhshvFx_LSC2IS4uzEvy_FeKpwFSttTHF0WzlbMsAUU/s320/Resized_20230325_123005.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Fremont Troll in Seattle, "Padua" High School which is really Stadium HS in Tacoma, Gas Works Park in Seattle (paintball scene), and we found the "book store" from the film, but it's now this really cute gift shop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eyP_DAtxmMXqxaII3v5qylxiYEPHCWYZfgBk5z9oKLOIuLKFf0jwRq6YnUNRN7pCviodvEQuyRObUT6rjD4O4gfcVjxlraZWSiRc9DhBsf0rE-zWKQv4HzokbayD1FAnRzWtu5Dim85Rc7jB2PSsftVYN_rH5QtB_whgLREpPKDJtuuLZCJfYRDo1b8/s2592/IMG_6686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eyP_DAtxmMXqxaII3v5qylxiYEPHCWYZfgBk5z9oKLOIuLKFf0jwRq6YnUNRN7pCviodvEQuyRObUT6rjD4O4gfcVjxlraZWSiRc9DhBsf0rE-zWKQv4HzokbayD1FAnRzWtu5Dim85Rc7jB2PSsftVYN_rH5QtB_whgLREpPKDJtuuLZCJfYRDo1b8/s320/IMG_6686.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>APRIL</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">My mom flew out for her birthday this month, and we went straight to lunch at a fantastic restaurant - La Cocina. The cuisine is from Puebla, Mexico, which is where my mom was born. She absolutely loved it. We enjoyed a few days just being together, seeing some local sites, and eating good food (of course).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrq3YTfL-9TJHyBVU7haLdsB-b2pCRVkbF67-cPGDSALZdyvFKdxlF1GrIR9-kPgNvoxhmArUeyEAb0tcXvN2BWG2sJjYjxDGglbIeQfzRfyF88PmjIH1krfRvXyf-0JxEenKyORwzs0isN5Zbfdbz7ivtHFFu_S6eKehTAYvZbmJGMqj_dY97cv0pEs/s2592/April%20Mom.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrq3YTfL-9TJHyBVU7haLdsB-b2pCRVkbF67-cPGDSALZdyvFKdxlF1GrIR9-kPgNvoxhmArUeyEAb0tcXvN2BWG2sJjYjxDGglbIeQfzRfyF88PmjIH1krfRvXyf-0JxEenKyORwzs0isN5Zbfdbz7ivtHFFu_S6eKehTAYvZbmJGMqj_dY97cv0pEs/s320/April%20Mom.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The very next weekend, Holly and Makena came to spend a few days with us to celebrate both of their birthdays. We hit up a dairy farm and had the best fried cheese curds I've ever tasted, and took Holly to Farmhouse Thai Kitchen for a truly delicious and eclectic experience. It's getting harder and harder to see our AZ besties, but we treasure whatever <b>time</b> we can get with them. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ0N1STMnwKK2GdTvc4ISngw-nxgbvdEUNIp_sZI927Q0P4UTDgii1j7F_byeADHYCVXcvQX3nTYdsLl9a-TvSD_qShY5jiEG9dsZFu6XgC7oByxWZx2vcVkRB5gsbjI8act_OasoXn9VwxFkiB8CtLhQrwqTXAjolSLyDmCLfViwo9YuMSYsZqnRapE/s2592/AprilHolly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJ0N1STMnwKK2GdTvc4ISngw-nxgbvdEUNIp_sZI927Q0P4UTDgii1j7F_byeADHYCVXcvQX3nTYdsLl9a-TvSD_qShY5jiEG9dsZFu6XgC7oByxWZx2vcVkRB5gsbjI8act_OasoXn9VwxFkiB8CtLhQrwqTXAjolSLyDmCLfViwo9YuMSYsZqnRapE/s320/AprilHolly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Paloma and I explored the Portland Night Market, filled with food trucks, amazingly talented artists and creative vendors, and BABY GOATS. We got to snuggle with them for 15 minutes, and we were in heaven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_roWwMRInwaLQpmy66Uwm_7iKMiQFA_VDwIrYQmKHqMr39QQjkIUQICQNwz2kEF7pXWxEwIU5cZBGkoOHaDRHvuY_Aw1yYdBKlD6qaJeqGh8mRDfPT1R_LYOjqTpHG1Hu5t82MSdIgAisL52kIOc-S33txMTtkhUxtH_U0Bj2uUCSB8FN7lrnqRaUtlM/s2592/AprilNightMarket.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_roWwMRInwaLQpmy66Uwm_7iKMiQFA_VDwIrYQmKHqMr39QQjkIUQICQNwz2kEF7pXWxEwIU5cZBGkoOHaDRHvuY_Aw1yYdBKlD6qaJeqGh8mRDfPT1R_LYOjqTpHG1Hu5t82MSdIgAisL52kIOc-S33txMTtkhUxtH_U0Bj2uUCSB8FN7lrnqRaUtlM/s320/AprilNightMarket.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of the month was filled with track and field meets, and Quincy got to play trumpet in the annual St. John's Parade. The sun started to come out a bit more, so Sunny was happy.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdu8m1fJv6Rsm1zAv0Z-Nj0ErWb8rM_6fz_ee01LiiM-B1VNkKHrrOAD6GcC1KRNeigmUr99kfIn8li8JCwB-P7KxuPo3ARGGx_lkv5fc4ucmqLDW8Eo2edWGLEcBXg-mv6nVJ8pf3snvKoldQiTFXfIyErXRRwHLrBsCtYTejfoMU3ITEiyIJlvq84A/s2592/AprilTrack.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdu8m1fJv6Rsm1zAv0Z-Nj0ErWb8rM_6fz_ee01LiiM-B1VNkKHrrOAD6GcC1KRNeigmUr99kfIn8li8JCwB-P7KxuPo3ARGGx_lkv5fc4ucmqLDW8Eo2edWGLEcBXg-mv6nVJ8pf3snvKoldQiTFXfIyErXRRwHLrBsCtYTejfoMU3ITEiyIJlvq84A/s320/AprilTrack.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>MAY</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">After several years of best intentions, Solon and I were finally able to visit my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bill at their new home in Charleston, SC. They had been enjoying retirement there for a few years, and we were so excited to explore their new home. My aunt taught me how to be a foodie years ago, and boy did Charleston's food scene not disappoint! From the oysters on the half shell, to fried green tomatoes, to squid ink pasta, we did not have one bad meal. There was so much to explore, and I just couldn't stop taking pictures of the colorful houses. The blue one below was my favorite, with 2 covered patios, and rocking chairs on the porch. I also loved the flower boxes on all the windows.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9p3TqKLsLsXpL3N60PUREF25TPkVHYN7ZSyZW5ZvkgWPOJicePZbP3evJU6dw85vhtI5r31hap0YuU_u8jlfFOTebZHdEAHN2kqTnFhjDvSB7EhQIB0KJfD3gAohIndYvx8xRmMdVqgv-sEzXHwp2DpTHR69ubMI3LnHL1Tf9GYV6U2DeP4aGjUmY2M/s2592/Chucktown1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9p3TqKLsLsXpL3N60PUREF25TPkVHYN7ZSyZW5ZvkgWPOJicePZbP3evJU6dw85vhtI5r31hap0YuU_u8jlfFOTebZHdEAHN2kqTnFhjDvSB7EhQIB0KJfD3gAohIndYvx8xRmMdVqgv-sEzXHwp2DpTHR69ubMI3LnHL1Tf9GYV6U2DeP4aGjUmY2M/s320/Chucktown1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1SxYKGLs1fvgf2QMkcSdUwfYlML3_kmtteKamYVZFK8QVuh97eoHVPaWnX075XFXnukEk1WLjuykBXex4cgMFGyXcXJ6kas3H8X3l_Zu50of2-cXSY1nrf-qDwqPoH2JY96Q1SSHtbbSEiyNrvRoFM-O9WJkgQ7dfq5TiDKLHdzamCOI1PohL14gnMY/s2592/Chucktown2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1SxYKGLs1fvgf2QMkcSdUwfYlML3_kmtteKamYVZFK8QVuh97eoHVPaWnX075XFXnukEk1WLjuykBXex4cgMFGyXcXJ6kas3H8X3l_Zu50of2-cXSY1nrf-qDwqPoH2JY96Q1SSHtbbSEiyNrvRoFM-O9WJkgQ7dfq5TiDKLHdzamCOI1PohL14gnMY/s320/Chucktown2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Chucktown" has some very dark history (as the former slave trade capital of North America), and I really appreciated the way the city is trying to educate others, and not hide from it. Since my aunt and uncle live so close to Charleston Harbor, they were invited to a preview of the new <a href="https://iaamuseum.org/" target="_blank">International African American Museum</a> which was built on the site where ships brought enslaved Africans just over 150 years ago. We were able to attend with them, and the exhibit was chilling, and should be required viewing for all who live in the US. So many of our "American" traditions come from African people, and most of us have no idea - from music, to dancing, to bringing food to a pot luck, it all has African roots. Here's a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/in-charleston-black-history-is-being-told-through-a-new-lens#:~:text=Between%20the%20early%20days%20of,America%20passed%20through%20Charleston's%20harbor." target="_blank">link</a> that explains a bit about what the city has done over the last few years to reckon with its past. We can't wait to go back to visit again, and take the kids to see this beautiful, historic town.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKupE0WWKdEjtB4FOLKHl7JU_xi7UoOMyk_gIxkKWThoHT3zaq7SxCl5izBRtf2VON891ed1o3LkXbw-YGGjMBGSwPj-ifMBb9YlvouBvtmKwsOqCD6Nda4T_Ctqd0L1gxxnhGdQL7eSegnOM9g-C-Q6im0GRfd7TYt7qHYNRoquD9CDna78SvwVKhMBA/s2592/Chucktown3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKupE0WWKdEjtB4FOLKHl7JU_xi7UoOMyk_gIxkKWThoHT3zaq7SxCl5izBRtf2VON891ed1o3LkXbw-YGGjMBGSwPj-ifMBb9YlvouBvtmKwsOqCD6Nda4T_Ctqd0L1gxxnhGdQL7eSegnOM9g-C-Q6im0GRfd7TYt7qHYNRoquD9CDna78SvwVKhMBA/s320/Chucktown3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The month finished off with Paloma's first middle school dance, and Quincy had quite a musical month, with trumpet solos in Jazz band, and singing solos at his choir concert. We are so proud to see our kiddos up on stage!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgNSxkBvp1DoQ8VvW5LqvChlVMAkyL0o7krWJq8YSZqemBdwmgQyIG9WOlgFv7gSoWS82zsgbi_SDfOu2jK9K8QYcBcga0-PoTHOj8CTVqkW_y-SYJ0FwgzGiNEldSlcf-w99_bK2cHpFexFgAtRXuzcZC4H70zBCRGx2r61KrgyrmCONK9I6DxUpFQ4/s2592/MayKids.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgNSxkBvp1DoQ8VvW5LqvChlVMAkyL0o7krWJq8YSZqemBdwmgQyIG9WOlgFv7gSoWS82zsgbi_SDfOu2jK9K8QYcBcga0-PoTHOj8CTVqkW_y-SYJ0FwgzGiNEldSlcf-w99_bK2cHpFexFgAtRXuzcZC4H70zBCRGx2r61KrgyrmCONK9I6DxUpFQ4/s320/MayKids.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This month, my Tía Yolanda passed away at the age of 89. Out of all my mom's sisters, I would say I was closest with her. She was an incredible, kind, and loving woman. She lived in Cancun, and would always open her home up to us when we came. She was ready with one of her famous margaritas, and I loved the way she would dance around the kitchen. I will miss her so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B3xuFRjBOyjqQvR1sEE1XSP70RpZArpQNXMpGm9EXFI-Xq0DsZRSKAHTGDBmRhJHMvvc2C5oka9hKi8eZznryyloY1PnXXcxdnDuRpedDaVA7dnMVn_iWB1czfXESMLeBgDIuzfusH7SfAr-_6mE1r3U5Bp9Bt8Y8VRro0uwApRloZT_IL1CEwJFi1Y/s1170/IMG_6722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1170" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0B3xuFRjBOyjqQvR1sEE1XSP70RpZArpQNXMpGm9EXFI-Xq0DsZRSKAHTGDBmRhJHMvvc2C5oka9hKi8eZznryyloY1PnXXcxdnDuRpedDaVA7dnMVn_iWB1czfXESMLeBgDIuzfusH7SfAr-_6mE1r3U5Bp9Bt8Y8VRro0uwApRloZT_IL1CEwJFi1Y/s320/IMG_6722.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Tía Yolanda Nieto Alonso 11/22/1933-5/13/2023</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>JUNE</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">June brought the end of middle school for Quincy, and the start of summer. Paloma and I went to watch West Side Story on the big screen with the Oregon Symphony playing all the music in person. It was such a cool experience, and we both loved it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DfO-oX8YVWMIRu1mpgg-xfUHI8qraq6KKMrR7i7Zwo67-pyu81WTBvSmf7pGLa_iRyPmBczroMcxTqOAYXcHPGiGrRgfK4GyMvyZsQ0ry5D035AD8cVlUzhfe7NsnJ9KBpf0azZg9tanxxsLZd0WdEWEJFrZoivOSj1r15wxLUC_h_JpVD9DTl0mPWc/s2592/June1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DfO-oX8YVWMIRu1mpgg-xfUHI8qraq6KKMrR7i7Zwo67-pyu81WTBvSmf7pGLa_iRyPmBczroMcxTqOAYXcHPGiGrRgfK4GyMvyZsQ0ry5D035AD8cVlUzhfe7NsnJ9KBpf0azZg9tanxxsLZd0WdEWEJFrZoivOSj1r15wxLUC_h_JpVD9DTl0mPWc/s320/June1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Father's Day weekend we spent in Castella, CA near Mount Shasta with the Shrieve family who drove up from Piedmont, CA to meet us. We stayed in an AirBnB cabin together and enjoyed some quality <b>time</b>. Paloma drive back with Violet and family to spend a few days back in our old neighborhood, and we got ready for Quincy's best bud, Daniel, who was flying in from Colorado for a visit.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkGdRtGX26Rcc4JEiIXy2ZQRg9xeA5PmSFAEl6I2eH6N0ng8nd4Qd_7Gi0GpxHqpE0O6XkDABRc2_Z9H5OgAbXHxbDon_TP66lGuv7q4a1v9VHTJp5FSpgacBZwFq8MaQAywLifNe1U7lDYrlDFeKPCjLfNt-bNmCoZ4Em3cz_WYltRNNKZdmkjRmlRc/s2592/June2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkGdRtGX26Rcc4JEiIXy2ZQRg9xeA5PmSFAEl6I2eH6N0ng8nd4Qd_7Gi0GpxHqpE0O6XkDABRc2_Z9H5OgAbXHxbDon_TP66lGuv7q4a1v9VHTJp5FSpgacBZwFq8MaQAywLifNe1U7lDYrlDFeKPCjLfNt-bNmCoZ4Em3cz_WYltRNNKZdmkjRmlRc/s320/June2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wedding season began for me at the end of June, Quincy spend 5 days with his buddy, and our co-ed softball season kicked off the same weekend. It was the first <b>time</b> Solon and I had played in 4 years, and it felt so great to be a part of a team again!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-kXRFMccskedKES0Mw8LGvCwPlNacR7gppiIcBnXoZVZVGcLEqUFacEVe8F9KKU6kW2GKPtRaxuxNcKYaNiGk17wLQIGXWGxzwtOn3ua3GvD_1b0ctrVcJBjvq28yjKsWzc1NvgM8XP91Y_vWTd5QkxPQmBNANspSVVcIjO0lSyHOaczvdRZFOWcS-g/s2592/June3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-kXRFMccskedKES0Mw8LGvCwPlNacR7gppiIcBnXoZVZVGcLEqUFacEVe8F9KKU6kW2GKPtRaxuxNcKYaNiGk17wLQIGXWGxzwtOn3ua3GvD_1b0ctrVcJBjvq28yjKsWzc1NvgM8XP91Y_vWTd5QkxPQmBNANspSVVcIjO0lSyHOaczvdRZFOWcS-g/s320/June3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>JULY</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">We took a much needed trip to Solon's hometown of Cedar Rapids, IA - it had been 5 years since our last visit and it was so great to see so many family and friends as we did. It was a lot of catching up, and family gatherings, and it was so fun to see everyone's facial expression when our 6' son walked into the room. Highlights included attending the Cedar Rapids Kernels baseball game with Papa Allen and his wife's children, having lunch at the NewBo market, and going back to church to hear Uncle Dicky preach, and hear Papa Allen and Papa Leroy sing. It was a wonderful visit, and we couldn't leave without paying a visit to Grandma Nellie, Gaga and Grandpa at the cemetery. I also got to see the corn stalks up close, and that made me happy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTfh7viUpRGOTmHZ4cyzsDQ8vsZd_6axK-qwifhohrEHo9t74o3SDo5h_0k15dXH0fK1JFpqpWoVOvuE6VzrxVuTLdV9e4WpICBxtSUePrpvlJVwsALd2aMrs282IIMuQfCjB7nND0AEppf7oYD9gfKK2P9QXGSMQ19LlFv4ZlkZIhLRwtZJXALf-tqk/s2592/July1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTfh7viUpRGOTmHZ4cyzsDQ8vsZd_6axK-qwifhohrEHo9t74o3SDo5h_0k15dXH0fK1JFpqpWoVOvuE6VzrxVuTLdV9e4WpICBxtSUePrpvlJVwsALd2aMrs282IIMuQfCjB7nND0AEppf7oYD9gfKK2P9QXGSMQ19LlFv4ZlkZIhLRwtZJXALf-tqk/s320/July1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytBxAPAUQtOd71F9jXHkAZfdVDI7-xtf4mFB371Gdp9hcYF82wCNbwaN1T2tRK8mWX8U1i-MprURE9i_Yf6zi60V4DkYWmb9HuyC2BKlnMmS1Dra-85120eyw1UzPp1g3TJlUkdiFl2BLsxfzhPdYF0f9I6UFFhECe7s24wW46nFo-Jy8MtyDcqIbd9Q/s2592/July2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytBxAPAUQtOd71F9jXHkAZfdVDI7-xtf4mFB371Gdp9hcYF82wCNbwaN1T2tRK8mWX8U1i-MprURE9i_Yf6zi60V4DkYWmb9HuyC2BKlnMmS1Dra-85120eyw1UzPp1g3TJlUkdiFl2BLsxfzhPdYF0f9I6UFFhECe7s24wW46nFo-Jy8MtyDcqIbd9Q/s320/July2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4i1g3RuWPW29M-f6PU-IlcpLIjjr2XLB7GIjdcOo-H_QZGqp1ybQGdj0w-jEKAD4eo73EBVdSAhg36MCsAwBTojxfeMVh8y4drpfPuPa9RCBxSgD1msT9FLAlDBtRZNHlivR2xFt_xJ28l898rbc_8QyhKKQQz38vEXz4AVAaxATM8FFHjKUfMVnhC0/s2592/July3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4i1g3RuWPW29M-f6PU-IlcpLIjjr2XLB7GIjdcOo-H_QZGqp1ybQGdj0w-jEKAD4eo73EBVdSAhg36MCsAwBTojxfeMVh8y4drpfPuPa9RCBxSgD1msT9FLAlDBtRZNHlivR2xFt_xJ28l898rbc_8QyhKKQQz38vEXz4AVAaxATM8FFHjKUfMVnhC0/s320/July3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzHdd_lX5Oa392sPZePfAVxkDeRomHssfcy7DwtW2jia9PBxHioNlXRdScZyK-ecBovI0WxcxooWhnXizIlaLQAZlpr6VvhbOxTou9oXqA_rCch_UuvkaPXGljRSdcW1gd4ihVnHhd_RtL5uRWuwxAhPMiIeeHh8Ba43dgvmJdnzjRy2nwy-jTTN_ayI/s2592/July4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzHdd_lX5Oa392sPZePfAVxkDeRomHssfcy7DwtW2jia9PBxHioNlXRdScZyK-ecBovI0WxcxooWhnXizIlaLQAZlpr6VvhbOxTou9oXqA_rCch_UuvkaPXGljRSdcW1gd4ihVnHhd_RtL5uRWuwxAhPMiIeeHh8Ba43dgvmJdnzjRy2nwy-jTTN_ayI/s320/July4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV91hDTAxqNc8gzbRgpr70N2voHlhsgiDA1jbmdJ7FbgOnadzAJjlT2fVWBsUEg-TDQZue8NITZytVj0JBBJx1zlLRLFocgTE5H_GS5BwfCjXvXIKDMqhnWsw9wQUYkkOEYF11j_xLGrk4veM76vAHxPnuq8gEW6-3qyOBPIxrVk3X4k7CFBCofeiGRk/s2592/July5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV91hDTAxqNc8gzbRgpr70N2voHlhsgiDA1jbmdJ7FbgOnadzAJjlT2fVWBsUEg-TDQZue8NITZytVj0JBBJx1zlLRLFocgTE5H_GS5BwfCjXvXIKDMqhnWsw9wQUYkkOEYF11j_xLGrk4veM76vAHxPnuq8gEW6-3qyOBPIxrVk3X4k7CFBCofeiGRk/s320/July5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>August</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">My mom and godmother came to visit us for five days - it was my mom's first time experiencing a PNW summer, and they were both grateful to be away from the AZ summer heat for a bit. We had spectacular weather the whole time, and visited Multnomah Falls, and a dahlia farm that was in full bloom. On August 8, the anniversary of my dad's passing, we went to a local Mexican restaurant called Sandoval's where the owner is a tequila connoisseur and he shared a sip of some of his very best with us in Dad's memory.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys4bp7rJJuq-3JUmKgqwlay43Ii4QW7AaX6bbg6IVVsCiUSF-MeaVrCiIceSrcIfLkOvLBKbBl_TW_8n6Sd5I9xBWNhZYEAPwkp-BuFTqRL0Kftys9QND9XA6hPcO2xOOQoBp5tkYTxWAyo3_pkzWE849VQmbWH64eOLG5t7mGnO5np3ZK3wny6joSPg/s2592/August%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgys4bp7rJJuq-3JUmKgqwlay43Ii4QW7AaX6bbg6IVVsCiUSF-MeaVrCiIceSrcIfLkOvLBKbBl_TW_8n6Sd5I9xBWNhZYEAPwkp-BuFTqRL0Kftys9QND9XA6hPcO2xOOQoBp5tkYTxWAyo3_pkzWE849VQmbWH64eOLG5t7mGnO5np3ZK3wny6joSPg/s320/August%201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh6DTuqmEcSa3btIvCsFLCaoEvA2Se5zvFxgFSJA8Ijxe8d7wxNHWg798wI3iur99UjY0JVgVaAjByfthAR23venGy-YGpp5H_7vfOf5T40OTna6fd1iw09iIGlRyYQWs6c-MzLixIPdJ71zDgpXS2T1S6ERrYkRHPvDx1XS41ffpptVjlQBVsUK-0fk/s2592/August2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh6DTuqmEcSa3btIvCsFLCaoEvA2Se5zvFxgFSJA8Ijxe8d7wxNHWg798wI3iur99UjY0JVgVaAjByfthAR23venGy-YGpp5H_7vfOf5T40OTna6fd1iw09iIGlRyYQWs6c-MzLixIPdJ71zDgpXS2T1S6ERrYkRHPvDx1XS41ffpptVjlQBVsUK-0fk/s320/August2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We took a day trip to Seaside to close out the summer, Quincy got a few shifts in at the local cat rescue where he helps socialize the cats, and we attended our first Timbers (pro soccer) game on my birthday and Solon and I LOVED it. So much action! School started a few days later, and Paloma tried out for the volleyball team, and made it! I spent the first week of school crying every day, realizing that we had a high school freshman, and a 7th grader, and therefore only had 3-4 more summers with Quincy, and 5-6 more with Paloma, and it honestly made me so sad that the <b>time</b> had gone SO fast. We made the decision that week to just be all in, cherish every fleeting moment we have with them, and enjoy it while it lasts.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp-Na7eGwOVR_FMQGS5E8cpXL1SXHNXt9234vfq_lbxq-vHRerqCci9B2pqlxlCMICWiUvVV_Eb8qI46HzDfVSyt25r-G_z_KuGrbmYAW7nI0V-iWmItMRSy5Rd50FxY2SpF3G4x9No8PGbADoeLuEKT51X0NQRBkF8gRWiNhA2RLCgmvDPhyqh2R8nY/s2592/August3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp-Na7eGwOVR_FMQGS5E8cpXL1SXHNXt9234vfq_lbxq-vHRerqCci9B2pqlxlCMICWiUvVV_Eb8qI46HzDfVSyt25r-G_z_KuGrbmYAW7nI0V-iWmItMRSy5Rd50FxY2SpF3G4x9No8PGbADoeLuEKT51X0NQRBkF8gRWiNhA2RLCgmvDPhyqh2R8nY/s320/August3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>SEPTEMBER</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Wedding season started to wind down for me, and as I look back on my 3rd season with Bridal Bliss, I am really grateful for the relationships I started to build with vendors and venues this year. We also had such a great batch of assistants, including our next door neighbor (not pictured), who just graduated from high school, and worked a few events with me before heading off to college. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG_uPZtLOpsRLjgN7dbPPjOA63d111HbVd6Mf2j8xyz90ygLsoZ7jltLUZXX8S0fgsjnMeJlDPypjDfP8xEts-lv3ZSEipwxt7xD7p1QmfyDNQHMZz4xcAuEUfl6hwiTh0HkLPJl3XnTwNyOwKhG2KyA03MDbQJjVG6YjlgJoQBp5P0m6FHxjhZ0HRcM/s2592/September1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG_uPZtLOpsRLjgN7dbPPjOA63d111HbVd6Mf2j8xyz90ygLsoZ7jltLUZXX8S0fgsjnMeJlDPypjDfP8xEts-lv3ZSEipwxt7xD7p1QmfyDNQHMZz4xcAuEUfl6hwiTh0HkLPJl3XnTwNyOwKhG2KyA03MDbQJjVG6YjlgJoQBp5P0m6FHxjhZ0HRcM/s320/September1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;">We drove up to Issaquah at the end of the month to spend time with the Willams family who were visiting from Iowa (lifelong friends of Solon's parents), and we left the weekend with our hearts so full of love and gratitude for the <b>time</b> together, and the bonds that were strengthened in just a few days. Quincy attended his first Homecoming dance at the high school, and came back sweaty and elated. He got in the dance circle "17 times!!!" and had an absolute blast with his friends.</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07eVniI5NSkNwU9Ublone3HaqYbquxOShtktl2v0uGJv-E-BbymQpHw1VIXyjSLAhA42N2tb-h_1lZHeD-JHVHus3Q2YspV1hEoDeIhCjOxemcy5-lWbyV0mis7kD1m_dmumTWTZWmQ48mSiKDJ2bvI01hIez45xgzSTfLIGm6nam_ps5ueiQLe-WJTE/s2592/September2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07eVniI5NSkNwU9Ublone3HaqYbquxOShtktl2v0uGJv-E-BbymQpHw1VIXyjSLAhA42N2tb-h_1lZHeD-JHVHus3Q2YspV1hEoDeIhCjOxemcy5-lWbyV0mis7kD1m_dmumTWTZWmQ48mSiKDJ2bvI01hIez45xgzSTfLIGm6nam_ps5ueiQLe-WJTE/s320/September2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>OCTOBER</b></p><p>We spent a lot of time watching volleyball games, and outside enjoying the amazing fall weather. We closed out the month with a trip to a local Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival, where we got to see first hand how fresh pressed apple cider is made (YUM!), and it was great to spend some <b>time</b> with friends who have become like family over the last year. Solon and I drove up to Seattle to attend the Arizona State University VS University of Washington football (Homecoming) game with Charissa and Eric. We proudly sported our Sun Devils gear and hit up the local college town beforehand. There were a couple dozen ASU fans at the first bar we went into, and we were greeted with a hearty "A-S-U! A-S-U! A-S-U!" so we knew we were in a good spot. It had been a while since the Bells and Stromskis had a double date, and we had such a blast together. Halloween wrapped up the month, with Paloma dressing up as (Tik Tok famous) Omar the Ref, for which she won the costume contest at school. Quincy dressed as Michael Myers from the movie "Halloween" and proceeded to scare the crap out of me every time he came around the corner. Solon and I opted for Bonnie and Clyde and walked the neighborhood with friends while the kids tick-or-treated. It was a great night!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGpledEcjHcXgYGWBxRun9e223A6tp9Q_kT3GSyDDvqrD2qoNFCO2kncEUhu2BWARyTSETiePn5u9JBUml4THgDNvJzNXPPUO8almtPd7fNZtHjLPnyIPr_fLQvyoc76pMWaoGsc6lcqWD0BYcsJbC2IqdAc89SKCM3FeZw5Ya3xbNVW1457uVqgM4U8/s2592/October1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGpledEcjHcXgYGWBxRun9e223A6tp9Q_kT3GSyDDvqrD2qoNFCO2kncEUhu2BWARyTSETiePn5u9JBUml4THgDNvJzNXPPUO8almtPd7fNZtHjLPnyIPr_fLQvyoc76pMWaoGsc6lcqWD0BYcsJbC2IqdAc89SKCM3FeZw5Ya3xbNVW1457uVqgM4U8/s320/October1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Tt1_A1WsGLE0zhDGpdhhK23DrrM8-SHrpFuG-4e7J6Wv9xa6tuuP1ks2zrzHXsWiMA7LFlWdCYlcEW9GJ71yEXM44eJpV99cuP-JrSdWq8Ihgdadr4ugCY-MK9TnAhnYk1mZDri4kuw7DA40GXh1bEGcW4CfZV5O7KH7C_mJuB8ztvIRn-SypsEFyJA/s2592/October.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Tt1_A1WsGLE0zhDGpdhhK23DrrM8-SHrpFuG-4e7J6Wv9xa6tuuP1ks2zrzHXsWiMA7LFlWdCYlcEW9GJ71yEXM44eJpV99cuP-JrSdWq8Ihgdadr4ugCY-MK9TnAhnYk1mZDri4kuw7DA40GXh1bEGcW4CfZV5O7KH7C_mJuB8ztvIRn-SypsEFyJA/s320/October.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>NOVEMBER</b></p><p>The term "No-School-November" got a whole new meaning this year when the Teachers Union (<b>P</b>ortland <b>A</b>ssociation of <b>T</b>eachers) went on strike against the <b>P</b>ortland <b>P</b>ublic <b>S</b>chool District. The PAT and PPS had been in negotiations since JANUARY (!), and the teachers' union told the district they were going to strike November 1st if the district couldn't get a decent package together. Our students already had two Fridays scheduled off for End of Quarter grading, and Veteran's Day, plus the whole week of Thanksgiving. The kids missed a total of 11 days of instruction, before the district FINALLY made a deal the teachers could be satisfied with, and the kids returned to school the Monday after Thanksgiving. The kids and I supported the teachers on the picket lines several times in the cold mornings, and came with coffee and hot cocoa to lift their spirits. They would have MUCH RATHER been teaching - they missed their students terribly, but they were striking for better working conditions, services for the students, and better pay, among so many other things. We were happy to show our support - our teachers do SO MUCH for the community and they needed to know that their community was behind them. Paloma tried out for a club volleyball team, and crushed her goal, and then attended a B'Nai Mitzvah for her classmates (twins) a couple weeks later. She had a blast on the dance floor, and came home ecstatic that a former teacher of hers (whom she adored) was at the event.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1coO7hRd5ycdiixJzwLuMj2r6JPcIKZVCAEi-ky3BqDLFPj3WTIgdWFmzbduxbdFdyTJhu23dCuYLDbCX1supUEpdvklfVnLHQTGSnH9oL6MqOVTEezECTe3gn9VCydaqt_Zel41i5pfs2Fl_sXxp66Z16MilwSm8inuGCaNwzoIiHiHeB28UvSm1oI/s2592/November1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1coO7hRd5ycdiixJzwLuMj2r6JPcIKZVCAEi-ky3BqDLFPj3WTIgdWFmzbduxbdFdyTJhu23dCuYLDbCX1supUEpdvklfVnLHQTGSnH9oL6MqOVTEezECTe3gn9VCydaqt_Zel41i5pfs2Fl_sXxp66Z16MilwSm8inuGCaNwzoIiHiHeB28UvSm1oI/s320/November1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We hosted Thanksgiving at our house, and Lisa and Alynsia came down from Issaquah to be with us. We also invited our friends, the Shanks family, over to join us, and it was a delicious day! We are thankful for so much. I used my grandparents' wedding china and crystal for our table, and it kept my grandma close to my heart all day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZQGgBDy7ef0rMAGJGkOumFOqZZAWLEfro-7oWa8_JjJTxjgyLLo4Jb_-xVR2BqSTGYFtol40D0eDFeI5yrwVOhn9b1_Qfl0TX8vfn4Sv8pvwttBY4cY68CK52TIQwzrQ-bhs-2GM6uAlKMAO9zDTbAtlwoZ5iUVa92pf3fzNR1ECiytslIxcOOlIAqY/s2592/November2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZQGgBDy7ef0rMAGJGkOumFOqZZAWLEfro-7oWa8_JjJTxjgyLLo4Jb_-xVR2BqSTGYFtol40D0eDFeI5yrwVOhn9b1_Qfl0TX8vfn4Sv8pvwttBY4cY68CK52TIQwzrQ-bhs-2GM6uAlKMAO9zDTbAtlwoZ5iUVa92pf3fzNR1ECiytslIxcOOlIAqY/s320/November2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lo1hGOBkQscl7es7qsft-6no8PbRN1cSRnw9foyqEgaAAWT7wmXgUM4Oy2ROAtK3qdmqmQjymRTsBUaVsicKnfO_fQK4wCjBJCSGPnX9bev9SaadNd2vC3RQyG-RTW432sLLZWmB9cWupNXRE7SfFGhQFPDxm8STs52Ne_1bSOLZvemmnqhfGStGF2g/s2592/November3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lo1hGOBkQscl7es7qsft-6no8PbRN1cSRnw9foyqEgaAAWT7wmXgUM4Oy2ROAtK3qdmqmQjymRTsBUaVsicKnfO_fQK4wCjBJCSGPnX9bev9SaadNd2vC3RQyG-RTW432sLLZWmB9cWupNXRE7SfFGhQFPDxm8STs52Ne_1bSOLZvemmnqhfGStGF2g/s320/November3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, my mom had to say goodbye to another sister this year. Tía Olga passed away one week after her 90th birthday in Huatulco, Mexico, just 6 months after her twin, my Tía Yolanda. I'm sad to say I only had the opportunity to spend a couple visits with her in my lifetime, and I didn't know her very well. It's hard when we live so far apart from each other. What I do know is that she was a lovely, and beautiful woman, and my mom loved her very much. Because of her, I have beautiful cousins who I love dearly. Olga was a very active member of her community, and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w3qGFYG-Cq9C1GfqXKwXb5maGrwySzA2tUNl2UvesRCVyNMT5FrlqGRyWX4yGbxV_VirgZLRppL_u6H2or-9mDe8OHHpbLdiqKYO731o8SkD3SGBXA4SAxq4hB3yXUpG_Q0Hhnzz_3mWvWtYeElSv2L4upD7U1d4OP7zM2wprH24A9ca69Yv-bv6TUY/s1024/OlgaNovember.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w3qGFYG-Cq9C1GfqXKwXb5maGrwySzA2tUNl2UvesRCVyNMT5FrlqGRyWX4yGbxV_VirgZLRppL_u6H2or-9mDe8OHHpbLdiqKYO731o8SkD3SGBXA4SAxq4hB3yXUpG_Q0Hhnzz_3mWvWtYeElSv2L4upD7U1d4OP7zM2wprH24A9ca69Yv-bv6TUY/s320/OlgaNovember.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tía Olga Nieto 11/22/1933-11/29/2023</div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>DECEMBER</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">We've started to wind down 2023 this month with a tamale-making party, an impromptu visit with friends who were in town, and a Winter Wonderland Fun Night at the middle school. Quincy turned 15 this month; it was an epic weekend of axe-throwing with friends, and a viewing of the new Godzilla movie (which was AWESOME!). Paloma had a choir concert, and Quincy had his first high school band concert, and they both looked so grown up in their attire. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj464LdCSKoUWB2xrTlzbpewahvPR8l-Sjyqgd5iToccx1bibUGBOVcPR7Jx7_H36B3az7uK5chKcK0bfaJ3PuipwW4SebmQm1yyEOLrsEzCR9vSuzvYazFNZ3YjC6EycGgxSiQS5EpAOwO1qK8D2xfBQkl56mexvzfSTFJcaJEs8oDeSP8c_UBrjyys/s2592/December1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinj464LdCSKoUWB2xrTlzbpewahvPR8l-Sjyqgd5iToccx1bibUGBOVcPR7Jx7_H36B3az7uK5chKcK0bfaJ3PuipwW4SebmQm1yyEOLrsEzCR9vSuzvYazFNZ3YjC6EycGgxSiQS5EpAOwO1qK8D2xfBQkl56mexvzfSTFJcaJEs8oDeSP8c_UBrjyys/s320/December1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcF0jBTtv7jW8zxjsItOseUTwWZR2tN7bIaVm8mt6rKn-XD51fwrEVq_Ak31nliF_4dDnbsmh0GiKSSTMxzl3HmbkXsELUlDQ5ozH2CwP2jaYOs_OZlYUCS2PL8c7l0SeGc_k04KdVtkuASQ99XEtlCNAQ0ss0hooUja4OgwQ1wajWXMofSYUahcYVAe8/s2592/December2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcF0jBTtv7jW8zxjsItOseUTwWZR2tN7bIaVm8mt6rKn-XD51fwrEVq_Ak31nliF_4dDnbsmh0GiKSSTMxzl3HmbkXsELUlDQ5ozH2CwP2jaYOs_OZlYUCS2PL8c7l0SeGc_k04KdVtkuASQ99XEtlCNAQ0ss0hooUja4OgwQ1wajWXMofSYUahcYVAe8/s320/December2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-PV_4S-LyYOIwh6bYbid3dz-tF_8Hxh6TSEJH2_N2mnhz0eduVTMznBj3HzUe4Ok1j4zdg3-7IWu9L34OreC92vAUw7OTR4OwOY3TB1VbTObD0keI3lieF8XYqfrYsW8xz9Ngbb4bEXoPo-C8fPfukYGHpsVlE16-6_-2yO9wc5YGLlmOdh564Ri8EY/s2592/DecemberConcerts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-PV_4S-LyYOIwh6bYbid3dz-tF_8Hxh6TSEJH2_N2mnhz0eduVTMznBj3HzUe4Ok1j4zdg3-7IWu9L34OreC92vAUw7OTR4OwOY3TB1VbTObD0keI3lieF8XYqfrYsW8xz9Ngbb4bEXoPo-C8fPfukYGHpsVlE16-6_-2yO9wc5YGLlmOdh564Ri8EY/s320/DecemberConcerts.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Phew! What a year! We have worked really hard to create and treasure the moments of joy we get with our family and friends, knowing that the <b>time</b> we get on this earth is a gift, and knowing there is so much suffering and sadness in the world right now. Lost time is never found again, so we will continue to be intentional with ours, and we will savor every moment. We continue to pray for peace, and we hope that you are surrounded with people you love this holiday season. To you, our family and friends, near and far, we are sending you our love and best wishes for a fantastic 2024! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuSljJwgOHIdGHz9LwUoeTTtXTtpyp9BEkvLys3-xh-ckS6ZYq28erFVmJJbn1LAY8loy6UbLetO_v23gLaWUA27BsOzFj7x4NRLopz0FLkNfAo_Z-UQZpxF44eOQccoz1XOpKZmBorEcdQR8QE0lqpURsyQKByCX-NLE8MI-hJZCy6wU6PVa1HHXldQ/s184/BloggerSignature.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="184" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuSljJwgOHIdGHz9LwUoeTTtXTtpyp9BEkvLys3-xh-ckS6ZYq28erFVmJJbn1LAY8loy6UbLetO_v23gLaWUA27BsOzFj7x4NRLopz0FLkNfAo_Z-UQZpxF44eOQccoz1XOpKZmBorEcdQR8QE0lqpURsyQKByCX-NLE8MI-hJZCy6wU6PVa1HHXldQ/s1600/BloggerSignature.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-58927689009529432092022-12-20T08:38:00.003-08:002022-12-23T13:02:02.938-08:00Productive, Despite All Odds<p>Apparently, I'm an annual blogger now. Life happens so fast, and with such force that the once-a-quarter blog posts of the past are no longer a possibility. I do love looking back though, on all that has happened in our lives over the course of 12 months, so I'll continue to do that... even if it takes sending out our Christmas cards to light the fire under me.</p><p>Here's our 2022 in monthly recap form:</p><p><b>January</b></p><p>With the beginning of each new year, we celebrate another trip around the sun for Paloma, who turned 11 this year. I finally got hit with Covid, but luckily tested negative just in time to spend a weekend with two of my best friends in Southern California. I was able to show my cousin Kerry a copy of her beautiful artwork in hardcover form, and we got excited knowing we were that much closer to the book project being done.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7OYqJGjbg4o31iieZFctasEAqDzuUI2SvmSAW1tbpDRSUO4r8Nb3hGtPSbJbQsSZDZMLTYVq5eyJWhLa3amnDPDebK7GCR-z92wkSupYwYbgD_ESGNjoWcolLV_xm7DGEVyGhjGl5CNReBEwmjJURMpgfiNPVT_W70bQMuZW18oph5EGTlS45RmW/s4032/IMG_5839.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7OYqJGjbg4o31iieZFctasEAqDzuUI2SvmSAW1tbpDRSUO4r8Nb3hGtPSbJbQsSZDZMLTYVq5eyJWhLa3amnDPDebK7GCR-z92wkSupYwYbgD_ESGNjoWcolLV_xm7DGEVyGhjGl5CNReBEwmjJURMpgfiNPVT_W70bQMuZW18oph5EGTlS45RmW/w214-h285/IMG_5839.jpeg" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2ZbWqzNs0mwC6dEbYAfCG4AVmFzz1m80Id3FtHSs7muC8b4DJ0EUBT6TxBYEBw_ceCg4ll2akocSVL0nafLghFYwmoccRiTeIXACnYvQW5MSpU9jrNncnj0TmTwotTB2gC_MzcJP1HTTmrX1kwt-gcj6zrgz_LDfEscTgQNDARz3wSNsqY_42WLx/s4032/IMG_8060.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2ZbWqzNs0mwC6dEbYAfCG4AVmFzz1m80Id3FtHSs7muC8b4DJ0EUBT6TxBYEBw_ceCg4ll2akocSVL0nafLghFYwmoccRiTeIXACnYvQW5MSpU9jrNncnj0TmTwotTB2gC_MzcJP1HTTmrX1kwt-gcj6zrgz_LDfEscTgQNDARz3wSNsqY_42WLx/w213-h284/IMG_8060.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div></div><p><b>February</b></p><p>We had a fun visit from the Giovannetti family who came down from Seattle for a Blazers game. Paloma's basketball season started up again, this time with some familiar faces from her 3rd grade/pre-covid season. The girls had to play with masks on still, but at least they got to play!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhDTx9OVHXJzxKXyKeF8bYi8j_xuSGp_5sdmVpxEMmSpxc1zD2MCLLCwIyncw5pj5BTI1Qo2sEoBSg9kz4KONjr-36zqn_EApdpLupv3UDP2az0aU6EwP-W2xJ3gQlbLGtxBROhpWlDG9HEkRrUloVP9UX1WD801tee-3p2P2oP-Jw_IYa_8G6wlU/s2993/IMG_5955.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2202" data-original-width="2993" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhDTx9OVHXJzxKXyKeF8bYi8j_xuSGp_5sdmVpxEMmSpxc1zD2MCLLCwIyncw5pj5BTI1Qo2sEoBSg9kz4KONjr-36zqn_EApdpLupv3UDP2az0aU6EwP-W2xJ3gQlbLGtxBROhpWlDG9HEkRrUloVP9UX1WD801tee-3p2P2oP-Jw_IYa_8G6wlU/s320/IMG_5955.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>March</b></p><p>Paloma participated in her elementary school's production of Hansel and Gretel. She played the Grandma, and was adorable in her costume (with matching mask). The day after this performance, the mask mandate was finally lifted in Multnomah County, and we were all very thankful. I participated in a team photoshoot with Bridal Bliss, which got me really excited for my 2nd season with the company. Solon and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary with an AMAZING Italian dinner from a restaurant in our 'hood, and we spent a few days of our kids' Spring Break back in Piedmont, visiting with some of our favorite people there. March was a very full and fun month.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnWJTzBA6vBXaVVyk-5AO8qULo1HiGhgIbEi2Q3ebCcAI0F0lIFCHrLpTO8m6saaLWqgTLVRskRzb2Mmu5Oy-7w4MgqUww6ZzDU-P_L1xsKu4U0BrZtO7tJKiiMOfY52v_M3cD-mhFg80fMGJTs3K0PuSbrQos7GEs7s8_RdHdpaSMUeO9ZKowcR1/s1604/Missoula.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1604" data-original-width="1170" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnWJTzBA6vBXaVVyk-5AO8qULo1HiGhgIbEi2Q3ebCcAI0F0lIFCHrLpTO8m6saaLWqgTLVRskRzb2Mmu5Oy-7w4MgqUww6ZzDU-P_L1xsKu4U0BrZtO7tJKiiMOfY52v_M3cD-mhFg80fMGJTs3K0PuSbrQos7GEs7s8_RdHdpaSMUeO9ZKowcR1/w231-h315/Missoula.jpg" width="231" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk42MnCj9M6tTnyUxwadi-9VMxGgLljUnKJNxoy3E07DFi7IVfFpF0oz4mteuAZdOGco41Er0ClGOQAtOryWjyRfm6d2SwfrGeXP3ebUefH6MQivTyqsdfmq4uVpmQcgTrtszX-ELEsgvqAKss7nOChf2RWUyeMYGnoRDzhStAsOa7CdhnrR58YlJp/s6490/bridalblissak-0958.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6490" data-original-width="3889" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk42MnCj9M6tTnyUxwadi-9VMxGgLljUnKJNxoy3E07DFi7IVfFpF0oz4mteuAZdOGco41Er0ClGOQAtOryWjyRfm6d2SwfrGeXP3ebUefH6MQivTyqsdfmq4uVpmQcgTrtszX-ELEsgvqAKss7nOChf2RWUyeMYGnoRDzhStAsOa7CdhnrR58YlJp/w189-h315/bridalblissak-0958.JPG" width="189" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqStdKMJI3I3Hn-wtQUsvG-Mek3dGjH5HgkLKGVHZgGu_DiJOpiMJZ9s3rygmgggz9qYC2RshPXwxu80SNApIy8bNFGTBaKIaeRUWefM7jG0FzN8c5tskgYT_WD8ZTxXU1mfEsrsZqFgPH2spHovDkpPn4cdhZJ-BMBvdlvbzL7zbzM4CO5mcEfTXW/s2806/Anniv3192022.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2806" data-original-width="2520" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqStdKMJI3I3Hn-wtQUsvG-Mek3dGjH5HgkLKGVHZgGu_DiJOpiMJZ9s3rygmgggz9qYC2RshPXwxu80SNApIy8bNFGTBaKIaeRUWefM7jG0FzN8c5tskgYT_WD8ZTxXU1mfEsrsZqFgPH2spHovDkpPn4cdhZJ-BMBvdlvbzL7zbzM4CO5mcEfTXW/w243-h271/Anniv3192022.jpeg" width="243" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4z6abzGLjlWBBsxvKDu0lIqKkaJZhAxE5Y7mLzygJ1TLJKWmajSg_ILNOCqPJxwLC1VDWGMyTnrTO6VWI9DSycqgBdX4laMNIgxGOhQKoyNZ8JgkTqcsMxDdSPVmElTwPshAC9FOmCJcIQ8W92civqp_ihxHZcAH2_qUJTXrKOiEC0bDKFTQsjkp/s3088/IMG_6566.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4z6abzGLjlWBBsxvKDu0lIqKkaJZhAxE5Y7mLzygJ1TLJKWmajSg_ILNOCqPJxwLC1VDWGMyTnrTO6VWI9DSycqgBdX4laMNIgxGOhQKoyNZ8JgkTqcsMxDdSPVmElTwPshAC9FOmCJcIQ8W92civqp_ihxHZcAH2_qUJTXrKOiEC0bDKFTQsjkp/w204-h272/IMG_6566.JPG" width="204" /></a><br /></div><p><b>April</b></p><p>Grandma Chacha came in town to celebrate her "Jubilee" birthday (75), right in time for everything to be in bloom in Portland. We had a wonderful few days together exploring nearby gardens and farms, and treated her to a fancy birthday dinner with views of the city. We love it when she comes to visit! After she left, I got word that the 300+ copies of my very first children's book were being printed, and on their way to me. I was so excited that I had come this far with the project.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEX67k5hofF0fr8zTbAmD_uaCgZoDxddtJxzudff8Abkl7XXpKhAvH0Kzu2rEY_fkocLINs_6aFE6K_ru_TPawrvNZKaCFbh9tTYHW9xwcaAJtAyIZlQXEQcUTsNK6nwITGFqEjgi5Kl9CIotYxAd84-hqvrt-nFWNJSESy-qafrP2GdMYoD4SfaQO/s3264/IMG_6796.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="3264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEX67k5hofF0fr8zTbAmD_uaCgZoDxddtJxzudff8Abkl7XXpKhAvH0Kzu2rEY_fkocLINs_6aFE6K_ru_TPawrvNZKaCFbh9tTYHW9xwcaAJtAyIZlQXEQcUTsNK6nwITGFqEjgi5Kl9CIotYxAd84-hqvrt-nFWNJSESy-qafrP2GdMYoD4SfaQO/s320/IMG_6796.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/WhereShallWeGoPapaonAmazon" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="3264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhmh4p9PB7ICbDSp6r-BbTOYH3vith7Pax6r_Twy_LJpJTKK88viETbFuVGFnPGgWRoP6RirkCi1kmlHWgqJz3e9F38U9UX9nSrcG2EcmqQtSiqW-ENCazO3v4PKDM3l7JroMNfm5t_O5eFffBmA6r_jDzOtYO-fJAnYAcZnmdA9ay3Y5HxnEEoPi/s320/IMG_6852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>May</b></p><p>The kids wrote me Mother's Day raps and I had some fun comparing old pictures of Solon and me to our kids' school pictures. People always say that Solon and Quincy are twins, and Paloma and I are twins, but I think Quincy looks more like me at this age, and Paloma looks more like Solon. See for yourself! By the end of May, copies of my book had landed in over 18 states across the USA, and the print-on-demand company that I used already had it listed on <a href="https://tinyurl.com/WhereShallWeGoPapaonAmazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a>! The most amazing feeling was seeing my book in the hands of children in all the pictures that were sent to me by my friends and supporters.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_91Y6kGoxU2_cdd3KNFDMlSMQ0B11lHwUSw6vac2wqGOt2fQqXOG-CVsf8XGVDYh6uHYJERbUEGlABPQdPvh9wGBKbna1qiYByAgv0Hi4hwI11XHHSDh2Ym6YrzjSvjHSy_Tq7ukh6AeVo_UylcLZxdqxdZho3-4y164uB-FYUI2L02W8d5Z1Izm/s3264/IMG_7046.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="3264" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_91Y6kGoxU2_cdd3KNFDMlSMQ0B11lHwUSw6vac2wqGOt2fQqXOG-CVsf8XGVDYh6uHYJERbUEGlABPQdPvh9wGBKbna1qiYByAgv0Hi4hwI11XHHSDh2Ym6YrzjSvjHSy_Tq7ukh6AeVo_UylcLZxdqxdZho3-4y164uB-FYUI2L02W8d5Z1Izm/w288-h288/IMG_7046.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFhgsrQkD3tHBq-v7TailClRQBAbHKqHo7m3An7bjnCFNyoSoLDGhrzJKvFs_FSHQlrmRS6cEQeW6L4H5-gIvz1fE5wfxYoidO5FeasguHVESU-Yf_rrodlZjQJoD7DAOo7qtUsNUCnsDc9gHakzERBsFktPtdzYpqd7mRQiTTgRZRQ_MK-bVKRss/s4032/IMG_3557.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFhgsrQkD3tHBq-v7TailClRQBAbHKqHo7m3An7bjnCFNyoSoLDGhrzJKvFs_FSHQlrmRS6cEQeW6L4H5-gIvz1fE5wfxYoidO5FeasguHVESU-Yf_rrodlZjQJoD7DAOo7qtUsNUCnsDc9gHakzERBsFktPtdzYpqd7mRQiTTgRZRQ_MK-bVKRss/w286-h214/IMG_3557.jpeg" width="286" /></a></div><p><b>June</b></p><p>Paloma performed in her school's talent show, and then was "promoted" to middle school the following week. Our days as elementary school parents officially ended. 😳 "Summer of Fun" had officially begun, and we were ready for a couple months full of adventure, starting off with two of Paloma's besties coming to visit. We had a blast with Holly and Makena, eating our way through the PDX area and exploring Astoria, Oregon on our self guided <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089218/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Goonies</a> Tour. By the end of June, I had already coordinated three weddings, and Violet from Piedmont flew on a plane by herself to come see us for a few days. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23E5cV9RQLza0t_qbSvytuGBQ-jGSqwDgYIusHhV7aMBphX1F1NVK5_0ojeuYr7ZkSis6i-7pkXpTf5NTi2MeUUSyK-ugVsn0qe-CYPxfshbxcvUsED5d1PQO1AYPlehkLOOinXmh-zemeMNQD-Meuj7Ztr-P4fUEgBBWc6AddWh1fStn2bMwExf7/s4032/IMG_7784.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23E5cV9RQLza0t_qbSvytuGBQ-jGSqwDgYIusHhV7aMBphX1F1NVK5_0ojeuYr7ZkSis6i-7pkXpTf5NTi2MeUUSyK-ugVsn0qe-CYPxfshbxcvUsED5d1PQO1AYPlehkLOOinXmh-zemeMNQD-Meuj7Ztr-P4fUEgBBWc6AddWh1fStn2bMwExf7/s320/IMG_7784.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH07KsjMf-0VTPvklRXiSZSn8bRZmV0L5vOwjEf1kFQ8HgCewVIGY5IX0w3nAikY0CVq_7ApVBIc6I32gmZzE56aLS_3P8tUdaYNXmmfA2nJFlbm4S2Qfw9BUJ4c2Yp2oDCMfJS1tPyJbIm_dk9nlVSuR3nh9xX8gCqBPPJr5otHwmyrPUNfq98mQ/s1147/HollyMakena.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH07KsjMf-0VTPvklRXiSZSn8bRZmV0L5vOwjEf1kFQ8HgCewVIGY5IX0w3nAikY0CVq_7ApVBIc6I32gmZzE56aLS_3P8tUdaYNXmmfA2nJFlbm4S2Qfw9BUJ4c2Yp2oDCMfJS1tPyJbIm_dk9nlVSuR3nh9xX8gCqBPPJr5otHwmyrPUNfq98mQ/s320/HollyMakena.jpeg" width="319" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr6Pmg5Sg479KYpk7ipINZ9nez6hho3N6T91TIMlLdK62dX0SH2CKoVOlVoszsu33sIN3oaBFBQRzcVMF_Pao8Tx6HIql-olMCSwvvGAb6PKYDOCUIynluTQPgaHhWfdiHV1RZ1HNmUdiPGUPER9-8D9T1x2MqxQPcf4QP9PR7-LMQ7zKCd9oalqD/s1139/IMG_65351109DD30-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1138" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr6Pmg5Sg479KYpk7ipINZ9nez6hho3N6T91TIMlLdK62dX0SH2CKoVOlVoszsu33sIN3oaBFBQRzcVMF_Pao8Tx6HIql-olMCSwvvGAb6PKYDOCUIynluTQPgaHhWfdiHV1RZ1HNmUdiPGUPER9-8D9T1x2MqxQPcf4QP9PR7-LMQ7zKCd9oalqD/w270-h270/IMG_65351109DD30-1.jpeg" width="270" /></a></div><p><b>July</b></p><p>Now it was Quincy's turn to have some quality friend time with his best buddy, Daniel, who lives in Colorado. Quincy took his first unaccompanied flight, and this was the longest he had ever been away from us. Five days later, we picked him up from the airport with a big smile on his face, and an experience that he will never forget. LilyKate (who's like a niece to me) came to the PNW for a swim meet one weekend, which gave us a whole day to show her around our area before she had to return to AZ. We hit up Multnomah Falls, the food carts, the Rose Garden, and went thrifting all in one afternoon! It was great to spend some time with her and learn about the awesome young human she has become. At the end of the month, I coordinated a gorgeous wedding on the hottest day of the summer (High of 103), and the next night, Paloma and I went to the Crystal Ballroom to hear Calum Scott perform live, and he was AMAZING.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_3rt2p52b_q6Wc7vYMcmwepGmRu_cTBWwsrCmnlZh58puL9VSKBSx_Mr2e6sJcg7nkUVGt3a_AA_-MD_f0AZEPGeSmNTdO020kahpMidzj0u-63pW9b_0QSOmowgubusU20SCsat9mz9kjJ7Yfl25ZoMXXQ6kfO6TuzbiEqVrNBJ0G7ZHEWZxTtN/s1156/IMG_E22B3AF7D217-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1151" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_3rt2p52b_q6Wc7vYMcmwepGmRu_cTBWwsrCmnlZh58puL9VSKBSx_Mr2e6sJcg7nkUVGt3a_AA_-MD_f0AZEPGeSmNTdO020kahpMidzj0u-63pW9b_0QSOmowgubusU20SCsat9mz9kjJ7Yfl25ZoMXXQ6kfO6TuzbiEqVrNBJ0G7ZHEWZxTtN/s320/IMG_E22B3AF7D217-1.jpeg" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq_FSP0goG4A8BmoszGHogNPqYA5Sr_sXzyRvwY27klPWJIsvSP80AvVG7ybwribQ21qdCTbPv0mBkYszXzKcSWD2r-3DC8TCmU1FVZOsYeDmCQFUJ-vaeynIFqZQPjASBT7Mm-9-v-hN4CG9bMkWFUNnbYJb0ExJdbApPc1mKvxCS0dJ_fyvV1iT/s1150/IMG_20D6F710D883-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1150" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq_FSP0goG4A8BmoszGHogNPqYA5Sr_sXzyRvwY27klPWJIsvSP80AvVG7ybwribQ21qdCTbPv0mBkYszXzKcSWD2r-3DC8TCmU1FVZOsYeDmCQFUJ-vaeynIFqZQPjASBT7Mm-9-v-hN4CG9bMkWFUNnbYJb0ExJdbApPc1mKvxCS0dJ_fyvV1iT/s320/IMG_20D6F710D883-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyvZumowGeET0WfjUc51KhlnqxwNcT9rpOoRWpeupYyMdDksO7x4EC2hbk2DdsMUrpMkcntp1zuNyBCaQhLYpRL5FakcH4NF8ceb5zmzNpTfOvdnQLDXJUweANmSS5axl2tigCwCZSMgypuC_kHgiJKVGH_Nt6gBlzXcds1AESmePX2CxLunZYEmL/s1150/IMG_DCC17F8128A2-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1145" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyvZumowGeET0WfjUc51KhlnqxwNcT9rpOoRWpeupYyMdDksO7x4EC2hbk2DdsMUrpMkcntp1zuNyBCaQhLYpRL5FakcH4NF8ceb5zmzNpTfOvdnQLDXJUweANmSS5axl2tigCwCZSMgypuC_kHgiJKVGH_Nt6gBlzXcds1AESmePX2CxLunZYEmL/s320/IMG_DCC17F8128A2-1.jpeg" width="319" /></a></div><p><b>August</b></p><p>We enjoyed a quick visit from Mimi and Grandpa Meredith, and I took them to view the beautiful gardens at Lewis and Clark College where I would be coordinating a wedding later in the month. Solon and I took the kids and Sunny for a day trip to the Washougal River, just NE of Portland across the Washington state border. It really is amazing how many beautiful areas there are within an hour's drive from our house. I spent the 7th anniversary of my dad's passing up in Olympia, WA with Charissa, taking time to get caught up on life and see something beautiful (which he would have liked). I coordinated two of the most beautiful weddings this month, and then the week of my birthday, the 4 of us (plus Sunny) headed to the Oregon coast for a few days of family time in Seaside. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkpxokyh1D8ahH05EItSVM551cSJXui4cmp6jheN7QHKOJsJeTTvN3OwmtjQ0v9voiQ9itx1XN7ftRbZQDQuNF0SPLEzTVBRtrdp9Rl-2NZHUEyB-ysurPTGkALGO0M0ZcbO3ryiFE7CCoVt-jcM7YIolr18oNk03pTAOuqk5WeKpxCISzHoy-ggm/s1157/IMG_BA2BDF2AA3F6-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1157" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkpxokyh1D8ahH05EItSVM551cSJXui4cmp6jheN7QHKOJsJeTTvN3OwmtjQ0v9voiQ9itx1XN7ftRbZQDQuNF0SPLEzTVBRtrdp9Rl-2NZHUEyB-ysurPTGkALGO0M0ZcbO3ryiFE7CCoVt-jcM7YIolr18oNk03pTAOuqk5WeKpxCISzHoy-ggm/s320/IMG_BA2BDF2AA3F6-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiGffCFdgMNFk-77xxJVY0Qa-npzf9o9Vj1M4diM0bWeehBhBpnfv7sTANi2FxXI9_20POdaD09r6Eb45w1pZgAQalRAxe5HPyBNZMFd0bfgs6rjsE2E6mk80KqI3DzOmkcuxeMZ7WumI5ji5Q3Yqj7_HKG7zME05Ou_lgZa5UWJ7zSFT1g48r6Mc/s1141/IMG_F85C0C073339-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1140" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiGffCFdgMNFk-77xxJVY0Qa-npzf9o9Vj1M4diM0bWeehBhBpnfv7sTANi2FxXI9_20POdaD09r6Eb45w1pZgAQalRAxe5HPyBNZMFd0bfgs6rjsE2E6mk80KqI3DzOmkcuxeMZ7WumI5ji5Q3Yqj7_HKG7zME05Ou_lgZa5UWJ7zSFT1g48r6Mc/s320/IMG_F85C0C073339-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>September</b></p><p>The kids started school, and then a couple days later we headed up to Issaquah to spend the Labor Day weekend and celebrate birthdays with Lisa, Tony, and Alynsia. I had another two weddings this month, one at the Portland Art Museum, and the other in Yamhill County/Wine Country. Paloma and I drove down to Eugene to see Hamilton performed LIVE, and I continue to be amazed by that show and the absolutely brilliantly talented performers it recruits for its various tours and performances.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2oMSm8AQboqkjCORkUvuwlV8e6gfbhOIMWPBUPN8K7J6me6-yn5rWeQw0kMM_nBGG6mjk3vyGleXmpQ8XQN8xm-Fj5OPKei2K1B6Ev8FlPS-BXQcCnRLgB62EmljsScD5Z1FOOUEQBV_ET_DNhgGJrIkBlSpNwkQxPLH05sHX2R10o_JcwW_tash/s1143/IMG_EDC1FB4DA851-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2oMSm8AQboqkjCORkUvuwlV8e6gfbhOIMWPBUPN8K7J6me6-yn5rWeQw0kMM_nBGG6mjk3vyGleXmpQ8XQN8xm-Fj5OPKei2K1B6Ev8FlPS-BXQcCnRLgB62EmljsScD5Z1FOOUEQBV_ET_DNhgGJrIkBlSpNwkQxPLH05sHX2R10o_JcwW_tash/s320/IMG_EDC1FB4DA851-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>October</b></p><p>This month featured a quick weekend in Las Vegas to spend some QT with Christina who I hadn't seen since Summer 2021. It was soul-filling and so much fun - it always is when we are together. Paloma went away with the 6th grade to "Outdoor School" (camp), a long-standing tradition in the Portland Public School District. She was away from us for five days, and the house was eerily quiet without her there. I took Quincy to the first concert of his choice - Alec Benjamin - who I really wasn't familiar with, but was thoroughly impressed with, by the end of the night. Paloma returned from camp slightly more independent, and grateful for my cooking. Soon after, she had her first choir concert at school. We had some fun for Halloween - dressing up as various things; Quincy as the Punisher, Paloma as a Barbie, Solon as a rapper, and I went as Julia Child. Bon appetite!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDfhdBE-mEJiHlSiCMLU4Y5QWS53OQSVJjS6s-ng3iA_R3IZCqPIc_h1mJe148knrmWc6ZgfcL5J8X6b3qezk1lRuH5LLWWAks3zA1-LZSz0z0RdBiPdRBOwaDAlamKcmh9b_yDr1Mz04_Ta7pkB1NxGWrpB8UnOCUAT_dbA98UgDnC9e1QrYUwVv/s1175/IMG_9368A92937F1-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDfhdBE-mEJiHlSiCMLU4Y5QWS53OQSVJjS6s-ng3iA_R3IZCqPIc_h1mJe148knrmWc6ZgfcL5J8X6b3qezk1lRuH5LLWWAks3zA1-LZSz0z0RdBiPdRBOwaDAlamKcmh9b_yDr1Mz04_Ta7pkB1NxGWrpB8UnOCUAT_dbA98UgDnC9e1QrYUwVv/s320/IMG_9368A92937F1-1.jpeg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Wyxp94cQpDv2PRwqSMon9TtCIXVv9jTc7rR-o12HUTr5eHbUrp2UARQ6KuDpuRFyeplFKfil_YWxVNDxULiDYVX3VEFe0qpoon6IJRyYif-7NRRgRdPu3jNEg7k7iHoH6-OhOPL_kzdDoOkElc8EhsC_WkbezCbDsxglpLxKPzze87zOv9ssvDSS/s1145/IMG_0FAB5E417B39-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1145" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Wyxp94cQpDv2PRwqSMon9TtCIXVv9jTc7rR-o12HUTr5eHbUrp2UARQ6KuDpuRFyeplFKfil_YWxVNDxULiDYVX3VEFe0qpoon6IJRyYif-7NRRgRdPu3jNEg7k7iHoH6-OhOPL_kzdDoOkElc8EhsC_WkbezCbDsxglpLxKPzze87zOv9ssvDSS/s320/IMG_0FAB5E417B39-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>November</b></p><p>Quincy and the members of the Symphonic Band at school had the honor of playing in the first Veteran's Day Parade in Portland in 3 years. They marched and played, over and over, for an hour. Paloma and I watched from the sidewalk and followed them the last 1/4 of the route until the end. It was honestly so impressive how professional they looked and sounded. They have an amazing band director, and Quincy seemed to be pretty pleased with the whole experience. Solon and I enjoyed a bit of the local college's football game, and Sunny got her haircut right before the temps dropped, so we got her a puffer vest (which we're not sure she loves). It had been over a year since we'd been back to AZ for a visit, so we went back the week of Thanksgiving since our kids had the whole week off. It's always impossible to see everyone we'd like to see when we go back - having lived there 36 years of my life, and 15 years with Solon, we know a lot of people from different phases in our life that mean so much to us! But this visit was really important to connect with family, and so we did just that. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fx8KadZkUE6G9-rB2S4gUFAKze_3NOiOPJ3pN7vu3NFg39Y7zIZiPgZ2va8_3NZbHkioVWJNzqVbnEjeZxbiQKygBZyCDcJcMOYhmLNKTUbudalYmCgv_nYklNocbUt1V7SKUoLtV8XSrchW9iU7MYYn5u1--MMCKRI_17LQ1TtHcLI8F3uD_VFO/s1158/IMG_008083CB8698-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1158" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fx8KadZkUE6G9-rB2S4gUFAKze_3NOiOPJ3pN7vu3NFg39Y7zIZiPgZ2va8_3NZbHkioVWJNzqVbnEjeZxbiQKygBZyCDcJcMOYhmLNKTUbudalYmCgv_nYklNocbUt1V7SKUoLtV8XSrchW9iU7MYYn5u1--MMCKRI_17LQ1TtHcLI8F3uD_VFO/s320/IMG_008083CB8698-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrxQhLkp24AS7dQpgDlIAzRMkfbLxux4HY_-vF6fQ-MlTif9_Hy6tM34jkAjSEtS8jLFKQx2cGX8mYnD65yG9ygtLt1LYktBlkvPtgaqACLYZVM349v4XHrQoLsc3IXraEvCHIjnLtveC9gmhUE47va2nK6QZV3i7ygkbojXe0wOGDq6UHQ06y71E/s1170/IMG_4443425191AA-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1170" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrxQhLkp24AS7dQpgDlIAzRMkfbLxux4HY_-vF6fQ-MlTif9_Hy6tM34jkAjSEtS8jLFKQx2cGX8mYnD65yG9ygtLt1LYktBlkvPtgaqACLYZVM349v4XHrQoLsc3IXraEvCHIjnLtveC9gmhUE47va2nK6QZV3i7ygkbojXe0wOGDq6UHQ06y71E/s320/IMG_4443425191AA-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnf7xF9SSU4SvfE7hAc6l7kzS_juPh7b73i_xHKtVEAUG_2f-i34as3PTPuR0O6QrqMZqK1wBES6TLtJ2ap3cO4J13uSxCfzNJg7zzdpQ8Q6d-r_vr8woTxOSa4MmaTYQlGwzRzV7EbP-uOt--pJPDR1vIJ2vNVYrgxF0IuAl8LR8Vhp9slUFDIih/s1140/IMG_D725E8FB7272-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1136" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnf7xF9SSU4SvfE7hAc6l7kzS_juPh7b73i_xHKtVEAUG_2f-i34as3PTPuR0O6QrqMZqK1wBES6TLtJ2ap3cO4J13uSxCfzNJg7zzdpQ8Q6d-r_vr8woTxOSa4MmaTYQlGwzRzV7EbP-uOt--pJPDR1vIJ2vNVYrgxF0IuAl8LR8Vhp9slUFDIih/s320/IMG_D725E8FB7272-1.jpeg" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOWvjvvE2Zlz_7p4i5WibmaYI0Ix9Q6T-SBAZ_xHmLkkLOCjREN7MtfPAQ9U5JUrPOKz6xBQzUHutMl828a-KCQ0d4w0L5Zkfec4V93S9-23G_gfoPSu56ni-S-KZOEBtEZIooo3nMAaxrEf5ruzMHbWU2fTj1K7Zz4JmFQPTogEHIkyB3R_1-e86/s1170/IMG_203F10AA1446-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1170" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOWvjvvE2Zlz_7p4i5WibmaYI0Ix9Q6T-SBAZ_xHmLkkLOCjREN7MtfPAQ9U5JUrPOKz6xBQzUHutMl828a-KCQ0d4w0L5Zkfec4V93S9-23G_gfoPSu56ni-S-KZOEBtEZIooo3nMAaxrEf5ruzMHbWU2fTj1K7Zz4JmFQPTogEHIkyB3R_1-e86/s320/IMG_203F10AA1446-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0Zruw-G-vszrQOi8omoPSQeWB7Soae2hmmWcUTuAOJJIOiFmIDBBUVztGvSdNabLDuJDe-Op-AqYHIlmLxWm5Sv9X5sfOFjqFGJI4R_hBYBcum5hJGy63lL_0vGiblC0xHpLcRydqumqlgX9nOSx4xfTRCP9djXnj6-VXXT2e_nlpJo_SqdvHGm2/s2048/IMG_0543%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0Zruw-G-vszrQOi8omoPSQeWB7Soae2hmmWcUTuAOJJIOiFmIDBBUVztGvSdNabLDuJDe-Op-AqYHIlmLxWm5Sv9X5sfOFjqFGJI4R_hBYBcum5hJGy63lL_0vGiblC0xHpLcRydqumqlgX9nOSx4xfTRCP9djXnj6-VXXT2e_nlpJo_SqdvHGm2/s320/IMG_0543%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>December</b></p><p>And just like that, we have a 14-year-old. We spent the eve of Quincy's birthday looking through the digital hard drive, and showing the kids home videos taken the night before Quincy's arrival. The memories were so beautiful, and revisiting them is something we need to do more often. The kids really loved it, and I think they are now at an age where they can actually start to grasp all that parents do for their kids. We took the birthday boy and a handful of his buddies bowling, and he had a great time. Paloma's middle school basketball season got off to a great start with 3 wins in a row; we're looking forward to watching her play into the Spring. I closed out wedding season with my 13th (!) wedding of the year, and it was such a fun and beautiful night in Downtown Portland. Solon went all "Clark Griswold" on the outside of the house, and I went all "Buddy the Elf" on the inside of the house, preparing for our Christmas visitors (Lisa, Tony, Alynsia), who will be driving down from Seattle, and bringing Royce who is flying in from AZ for the holiday. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMAtCPa58V86A5wTpTNX5sCAbyQSQzxiHEBCWf3BAioSAsyuEeYrkwXHd61adyM5TcKXkbwKzXf3ZsLTvhQqM9bSwiet3cVhrV7oJZCVEpMfLy_ol0ox6IoQBYJ372JiXxygcvPjemd2J0ekOxJcEhvqBMrvvPTRfk3j4mhoUORW-en_EONZ3odLv/s1170/IMG_6947A6819D08-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1170" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMAtCPa58V86A5wTpTNX5sCAbyQSQzxiHEBCWf3BAioSAsyuEeYrkwXHd61adyM5TcKXkbwKzXf3ZsLTvhQqM9bSwiet3cVhrV7oJZCVEpMfLy_ol0ox6IoQBYJ372JiXxygcvPjemd2J0ekOxJcEhvqBMrvvPTRfk3j4mhoUORW-en_EONZ3odLv/s320/IMG_6947A6819D08-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>These last few years have really thrown everyone curve ball after curve ball, and these last few weeks have really shown us how truly short life is, and how fast it all happens. We think its important to lead with love, check in on your friends and family, and be intentional with your time and your words. Let us all live our lives in a way that make our children and grandchildren proud, and as my mom says "leave the place better than you found it". Let's never waste an opportunity to tell people just how much they mean to us; you never know who needs to hear exactly that. </p><p>If you're reading this, you have meant something special to us. Thank you for your love and for caring about our family. We wish you a beautiful holiday season, and hope the new year brings you good health and new adventures.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqhbNNPEyJIF_iTYMEIyKN-RCnsowZEjZONlDUrUk6x8kcKA-wWlhIWC0YvNAQbtH1MUGnMtMwpL_eSGQ6RGrJoaj0JUR-u2PUL0IY9jc7Wlz5tA-QXgOFWQDDexHP14xhn8T0gkxCUhL6STCU9oEaNL3k1lH3D9Rjv9AT8yRp3nY7vZVtBEDAeUy/s184/BloggerSignature.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="184" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqhbNNPEyJIF_iTYMEIyKN-RCnsowZEjZONlDUrUk6x8kcKA-wWlhIWC0YvNAQbtH1MUGnMtMwpL_eSGQ6RGrJoaj0JUR-u2PUL0IY9jc7Wlz5tA-QXgOFWQDDexHP14xhn8T0gkxCUhL6STCU9oEaNL3k1lH3D9Rjv9AT8yRp3nY7vZVtBEDAeUy/w200-h51/BloggerSignature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-11601994164535620612021-12-15T16:12:00.002-08:002021-12-15T21:44:59.374-08:00A Long Blurry Year<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been 372 days since I've blogged. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is the first day that Solon has gone into the office all year. The kids are at school and the house is quiet. My Christmas cards have been prepped to send, and all the presents are wrapped. I'm ignoring the 4 baskets of clean clothes that are up in my room, needing to be put away. This is first time in the longest time that my house has been this still. I am sitting in the chair by the window, one cup of coffee in my system, with Sunny asleep in the chair across from me, and all I hear is the gentle hum from the leaf blower outside. It's nice. I'm reflecting on what an absolutely insane year (2 years?) this has been. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYHCdlhDGrOhsTsOuNqqZRfuMd7HleNtARn2-q6ovjSZPIJRSq_TdqKd1JdIJKKTjHGBp22sp7Wcpj4UtOSEmtVXor5cWrioIkDD_JOTKmfQhLUOlt5nWrhnN4x8RHbyEwlwZdK5j8ZVPo6Ly0VpThdxN6o9Eajx2r43OiAFxfZnMdizvKjjHIC0xH=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYHCdlhDGrOhsTsOuNqqZRfuMd7HleNtARn2-q6ovjSZPIJRSq_TdqKd1JdIJKKTjHGBp22sp7Wcpj4UtOSEmtVXor5cWrioIkDD_JOTKmfQhLUOlt5nWrhnN4x8RHbyEwlwZdK5j8ZVPo6Ly0VpThdxN6o9Eajx2r43OiAFxfZnMdizvKjjHIC0xH=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's our 2021 in monthly recap form:</span></i></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">January </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paloma turned 10. The Hamilton Soundtrack was still playing non-stop in our house. We watched a Presidential Inauguration and I shed tears of joy at the sight of our first female VP in the 245 years of our country's existence. We had our first snowfall of the year at our house, and ate it like a snow cone with flavored syrup. I got my picture taken for the <a href="https://www.bridalbliss.com/" target="_blank">Bridal Bliss</a> website, and officially started with the company.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk2jjm6WEAT5R28a54Ry1rBsXoC3ONeVfX5Z3fGHl6CklP5w9rzMIylJj0ceaIkYFSQcQ457x_44JFUesq_j3N1VDMkWVgEDlp0m0m5K6KbDODjkXj9m7rSIyf4u2x5LPff_mM67m9parWMmRuTjOgGlaFzjy-B2rENCmNBD_1nYdkVwGK3syRIOz7=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjk2jjm6WEAT5R28a54Ry1rBsXoC3ONeVfX5Z3fGHl6CklP5w9rzMIylJj0ceaIkYFSQcQ457x_44JFUesq_j3N1VDMkWVgEDlp0m0m5K6KbDODjkXj9m7rSIyf4u2x5LPff_mM67m9parWMmRuTjOgGlaFzjy-B2rENCmNBD_1nYdkVwGK3syRIOz7=w150-h200" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe0EKMw_MhTHn7pFSc3wRbO_vUnYbW_6NlWVfwNaYQCC64cRPZQrOXwbgrh-y5hogZEwovPBw48jQ02Iaz4yw750hRXK20lpdQS8o_R8uQsifBjLqwINTS0iQGh_D44vIJV3ORiwqXuV_geQKXd19bNoVBb65L73UPCCphsYOcUSEdgKuIM_0FvBFw=s3024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe0EKMw_MhTHn7pFSc3wRbO_vUnYbW_6NlWVfwNaYQCC64cRPZQrOXwbgrh-y5hogZEwovPBw48jQ02Iaz4yw750hRXK20lpdQS8o_R8uQsifBjLqwINTS0iQGh_D44vIJV3ORiwqXuV_geQKXd19bNoVBb65L73UPCCphsYOcUSEdgKuIM_0FvBFw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">February</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">More snow, that in fact turned to ice. Winter Storm 2021. We lost power on Valentine's Weekend, and used the battery pack to ignite the gas fire place and keep warm. Became extra grateful for our gas stove, and cooked by candlelight. Frozen ice on our roof got trapped, sprouted a leak, and we had to deal with that for a bit, but it could have been much worse. Took Solon to enjoy some teppanyaki for his birthday - it was our first time eating indoors in a long while.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUI8Qz7riOwDeRglI5i4u2UYqPsXiBNyMevMV66HPRMGZL0IdQIkG7DJguPFULNOpzbWzicJukAKGUPNEHx6vdHLKxumhR3VO0eTZwt3uRq0FypVz0I0uhEU18vjg8XWgBzpg5HwZGPpS7JllUvihJhva1f7Q7VjWLvzVjCtlArxUrE7jtutChiJbY=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUI8Qz7riOwDeRglI5i4u2UYqPsXiBNyMevMV66HPRMGZL0IdQIkG7DJguPFULNOpzbWzicJukAKGUPNEHx6vdHLKxumhR3VO0eTZwt3uRq0FypVz0I0uhEU18vjg8XWgBzpg5HwZGPpS7JllUvihJhva1f7Q7VjWLvzVjCtlArxUrE7jtutChiJbY=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9syBnrsw-I5oFIGBNkUzqJxlTDdtJRqMv_dOoP3jPIO1nUqDD0_L1OKQkp4t3EMgslS6vBnMUCXFl3-iMN71pbMoqKxAeztcnmESqVAaQ65T8sSgF-Frn0HYnpgMyQ2lZhD6oJdIv7ZXm3AEQuPXwPShrJYD_DBcnnzWDH2Y9V7U--e62BiH_D8tE=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9syBnrsw-I5oFIGBNkUzqJxlTDdtJRqMv_dOoP3jPIO1nUqDD0_L1OKQkp4t3EMgslS6vBnMUCXFl3-iMN71pbMoqKxAeztcnmESqVAaQ65T8sSgF-Frn0HYnpgMyQ2lZhD6oJdIv7ZXm3AEQuPXwPShrJYD_DBcnnzWDH2Y9V7U--e62BiH_D8tE=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM9g2dyDUIrt_bACXi5Y6W_vWezdUSHIKUVX_-ZePAbufnBXvpcm9QelyqFNPAuBI5e2eGSu3kBQMmKV_sRZw-CIuN_lv-yD_21II85nzjchk18RSvtKtUx1GdCv4gTQARZtDnvAGPj7ElJvgOm2n0rymVDELagFUKEF_8d6CKLMdwqlgUwrEJ_0_1=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhM9g2dyDUIrt_bACXi5Y6W_vWezdUSHIKUVX_-ZePAbufnBXvpcm9QelyqFNPAuBI5e2eGSu3kBQMmKV_sRZw-CIuN_lv-yD_21II85nzjchk18RSvtKtUx1GdCv4gTQARZtDnvAGPj7ElJvgOm2n0rymVDELagFUKEF_8d6CKLMdwqlgUwrEJ_0_1=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGZw-Dz3ghzScTGyIphBsL72jT9xrJ47uJn28QhKNYe7p-yGh7M4djNjHGUvz-jSQ03rwGUKqAWQDPU2DzDcLMGlcM91vOxzid_3zM8XoU-29mWR_OOHI8gMzvQV8w-bn5NlsTh6UCxpofjrpNjdp189D3FIKXzuUsTSv0UGOMb8vgo35s2jd40ufD=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGZw-Dz3ghzScTGyIphBsL72jT9xrJ47uJn28QhKNYe7p-yGh7M4djNjHGUvz-jSQ03rwGUKqAWQDPU2DzDcLMGlcM91vOxzid_3zM8XoU-29mWR_OOHI8gMzvQV8w-bn5NlsTh6UCxpofjrpNjdp189D3FIKXzuUsTSv0UGOMb8vgo35s2jd40ufD=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><br /></div></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">March</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Solon and I had a little 48-hour getaway to downtown Seattle to celebrate our 16th Anniversary. We stuffed our faces with seafood, and went to an Irish Pub. It simultaneously felt slightly normal, and yet didn't quite feel normal. The new normal, I guess.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGlSgXcZnvc7MPyOSSSEtwRH9-5qzQg6A-fibiu0MT01rbEA47TZt4VMkbQyS5JcL0KnfhnIZu60m4IytRqjsLqZu1TKaeM0rGwM2R8RT1iKEeZFWVMSP5CqHVR0zGnNiszAcGrLRUVNrKb2f-r5_molK4qXNfw2rJ9EvHZhkor8zpks6RVoBOX2_E=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGlSgXcZnvc7MPyOSSSEtwRH9-5qzQg6A-fibiu0MT01rbEA47TZt4VMkbQyS5JcL0KnfhnIZu60m4IytRqjsLqZu1TKaeM0rGwM2R8RT1iKEeZFWVMSP5CqHVR0zGnNiszAcGrLRUVNrKb2f-r5_molK4qXNfw2rJ9EvHZhkor8zpks6RVoBOX2_E=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxANUocNUeQegbM3gbp96n50BioPDr6y6bsAhzuzGdKsL0GIDZ9FAxAn8jCy1t_rid1e1T03QN5sodN8GdegsDaiGIXgHHmBneAzftEPYM8CRHTDsKk0Wg5Eq_nFTB1y59FN2w5yS-b52o6VHy9xSbKeYCi4KuI1PxNY9AdQ1DTc57c1_9u-aStDQS=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxANUocNUeQegbM3gbp96n50BioPDr6y6bsAhzuzGdKsL0GIDZ9FAxAn8jCy1t_rid1e1T03QN5sodN8GdegsDaiGIXgHHmBneAzftEPYM8CRHTDsKk0Wg5Eq_nFTB1y59FN2w5yS-b52o6VHy9xSbKeYCi4KuI1PxNY9AdQ1DTc57c1_9u-aStDQS=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><br /><br /></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">April</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Praise the Lord, the kids got to go back to school in person. Granted, it was only for a few hours a day, a few days a week, with the rest still online, but it was SOMETHING. So extremely grateful for the teachers and staff at our kids' schools for getting their vaccinations, and doing everything they could to make things good for the kids. We flew my mom in to celebrate her birthday with us, and we enjoyed every minute together. We took her to the Tulip Festival in Woodburn, on what turned out to be a beautiful day. Solon and I got our first Pfizer shot, and I actually teared up (shocker). Verlinda came to see us at the end of the month, and I had a blast showing her around Portland. We enjoyed all the nature and togetherness we could.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGxyS85Zj9VhUPLUCd4Z3D3kl1CpV04C5pYA_8j_CicYVnxOC3JjE0d1L8K8RtpQnDiR9nzZq-HQA4croum6lyDBOhAHuVOL9tg3jrZPkElH_T-fIXBp7XlFTAKlLaqGurKzZFwY-zq5KiKxyZG0oAGdhfkpfGDVdBUOU9Gdn8Fs87HHWixjdaXVDb=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGxyS85Zj9VhUPLUCd4Z3D3kl1CpV04C5pYA_8j_CicYVnxOC3JjE0d1L8K8RtpQnDiR9nzZq-HQA4croum6lyDBOhAHuVOL9tg3jrZPkElH_T-fIXBp7XlFTAKlLaqGurKzZFwY-zq5KiKxyZG0oAGdhfkpfGDVdBUOU9Gdn8Fs87HHWixjdaXVDb=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2ortn3UF5ZoAQSNRGgjE80svAYop6CANadWgpG4ch8qeJ8NPaicxqWesxYMV-WTL4sbq3seLXaTRYBBYauUxb7ASzx8w27Qh7oX0Sq0c6xtKkcDmCW14JDi0b_DEevwGCN9CzpbNDG0gNCM32t4C7ZmC3dRafBPW3VEPuvaYw_LynzJ7o9-fkRQhi=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2ortn3UF5ZoAQSNRGgjE80svAYop6CANadWgpG4ch8qeJ8NPaicxqWesxYMV-WTL4sbq3seLXaTRYBBYauUxb7ASzx8w27Qh7oX0Sq0c6xtKkcDmCW14JDi0b_DEevwGCN9CzpbNDG0gNCM32t4C7ZmC3dRafBPW3VEPuvaYw_LynzJ7o9-fkRQhi=w200-h150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju7NtB0rSFzswDf5-AemfmBzWN8N1vIcpnDV15M0JSOfsA50qpcpkoXa__n1dIx0mlWKIKl9i-P8xZWff67mmmZRvM42eWOtwufkRCpuUYNmK3BS0dT9s3oYI24bufFPylCBGdvXolv9VG868XcYDiaDMdQ4xL69YhhEvPzWL4Mzp0qUX_Xx1-hX7M=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju7NtB0rSFzswDf5-AemfmBzWN8N1vIcpnDV15M0JSOfsA50qpcpkoXa__n1dIx0mlWKIKl9i-P8xZWff67mmmZRvM42eWOtwufkRCpuUYNmK3BS0dT9s3oYI24bufFPylCBGdvXolv9VG868XcYDiaDMdQ4xL69YhhEvPzWL4Mzp0qUX_Xx1-hX7M=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">May</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I really started jumping in to part 2 of my book process. I had already written the story, and my cousin Kerry had been working since the beginning of the year on all the illustrations. I sent her minor edits, and she sent back the revisions. In my research, I learned about everything from ISBNs (International Standard Book Number) and applying for copyrights, to page spec dimensions and how to format an eBook. It was overwhelming to say the very least, but I just had to do things ONE AT A TIME. Quincy got his first Pfizer shot, and was so proud to do his part. Paloma started basketball again, and things were starting to pick up the pace in our world. We did another quick trip up to Seattle to visit with Alynsia, since Papa Allen and Danita came to visit for a few days.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJS-VOSsTVhtfC0JbB1F5Vy5n40dX-eumfQ5RIEFLPlsYpFtDQc_m1GJiGmzQMfKfRzsax48FkHgfvQDMaOXPU-Hs3PmdjnUjX4KVxHaPHxkMaFxJRNbvzzNimzIjFvaH3_qNihLoFbI7m1n2osCC34Dz1fzHKfqEkyDxdMsRSwk4i7ifzYw_uj4pB=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="640" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJS-VOSsTVhtfC0JbB1F5Vy5n40dX-eumfQ5RIEFLPlsYpFtDQc_m1GJiGmzQMfKfRzsax48FkHgfvQDMaOXPU-Hs3PmdjnUjX4KVxHaPHxkMaFxJRNbvzzNimzIjFvaH3_qNihLoFbI7m1n2osCC34Dz1fzHKfqEkyDxdMsRSwk4i7ifzYw_uj4pB=w200-h199" width="200" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl9LGa9auMFT3qOHX69s9N4q9CbJ2M9iRsX_SefT_kdx1xyepOcIU2RTBHB06nV2GHuPZxHGBTVN4q57hwY4rLXv_bBVxPzVd3Xr4HRZHkhLwNaTevCFwrYF4fMolnUBwbjomNsWgdFqXoAPhel4ggRWpWMpBWLvrsyKh1G4Xr1n-6X90itNr8Nwu1=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl9LGa9auMFT3qOHX69s9N4q9CbJ2M9iRsX_SefT_kdx1xyepOcIU2RTBHB06nV2GHuPZxHGBTVN4q57hwY4rLXv_bBVxPzVd3Xr4HRZHkhLwNaTevCFwrYF4fMolnUBwbjomNsWgdFqXoAPhel4ggRWpWMpBWLvrsyKh1G4Xr1n-6X90itNr8Nwu1=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmlsY3wzTV7A9ybTcuIbyHmA6z7iAiLZ4mAjyD09gOGGRN07ssVM6SDq_U4QsdWnnKi3uhNqzNZykIOVEpv9Nj6hfQEIkxaHbL4YjWh76S2Edbptl29OfxX1RyMobTknexiDWDLKZTowYoq3OAf6vbtLrYr60yMkMP9Q1_v_vdFNNKsQJ09VD2vW9q=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmlsY3wzTV7A9ybTcuIbyHmA6z7iAiLZ4mAjyD09gOGGRN07ssVM6SDq_U4QsdWnnKi3uhNqzNZykIOVEpv9Nj6hfQEIkxaHbL4YjWh76S2Edbptl29OfxX1RyMobTknexiDWDLKZTowYoq3OAf6vbtLrYr60yMkMP9Q1_v_vdFNNKsQJ09VD2vW9q=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">June (the next 2 months are a little crazy)</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paloma participated in a program called Girls on the Run, which was a combination of life coaching and running. It encouraged communication skills between peers, and taught the girls how to vocalize worries/fears, while pushing through physical goals as well. Very cool program! School ended for the kids, and we kicked off the "Summer of Fun" with a week-long visit from Quincy's best buddy Daniel, who flew in from Colorado by himself. The boys had a blast bowling, jumping on the trampoline, nerf battling, paintballing, and working on stop motions together. A week later, Holly and Makena came for a much needed visit. We ate well all week, went for runs through our neighborhood, visited the Oregon Coast, and all the beauty along the Columbia River. Oh, and we also sang lots of karaoke. The month ended with a quick soul-filling dinner and overnight visit from our Piedmont, CA neighbors. We made a lot of memories this month!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoqTfapdP6lR3ukfpGEQkrSPlYVogpLTWGr2FJluY3VTukw0yirfPcfqdA-wc4pZGZWuz-ocBX2gdOvjstswleqh-tEWup3sIubprsoIC49uf43K6yd5qKFFSrX2zIgGpf0fb0-WH67zVI4OaLc5R-_lmnA8PtlhVWoO6S86yPnUp9rzyWdsNfeAh8=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoqTfapdP6lR3ukfpGEQkrSPlYVogpLTWGr2FJluY3VTukw0yirfPcfqdA-wc4pZGZWuz-ocBX2gdOvjstswleqh-tEWup3sIubprsoIC49uf43K6yd5qKFFSrX2zIgGpf0fb0-WH67zVI4OaLc5R-_lmnA8PtlhVWoO6S86yPnUp9rzyWdsNfeAh8=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkouj0vQK8FGabaotGPecJR3MZf9k_a8Yps_iajADF1LsE6BOyXFeKH8vscv2lI9S1lz2yu_iNta2HbhUoGvzDNsr-1uQyzn1uRdJLBSnz5wCpd9JKoDxPljqkSJxtTXyfFTgGoVECXD5txb8752A2FpYe2FaIqGbTXRQRTjBy90I-tsYzozDYfsGV=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkouj0vQK8FGabaotGPecJR3MZf9k_a8Yps_iajADF1LsE6BOyXFeKH8vscv2lI9S1lz2yu_iNta2HbhUoGvzDNsr-1uQyzn1uRdJLBSnz5wCpd9JKoDxPljqkSJxtTXyfFTgGoVECXD5txb8752A2FpYe2FaIqGbTXRQRTjBy90I-tsYzozDYfsGV=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf8wb8UrdO6dfYcl4ysUp80J8LfeSmqFW0lxLZrWKfDsIbWVg-0rg5SnnuZvhMizSUOS6AwI56J0q4ElRByLX-VUFaCjkULt5-3r0RmDfOtp1U3Ly7B8hWhfzO8sNw3zMuWsL6zPMByW3gD23KF-C5V6wlUGMWayq1WXv9GRcJqzPzMn3pIlmBov4W=s1136" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf8wb8UrdO6dfYcl4ysUp80J8LfeSmqFW0lxLZrWKfDsIbWVg-0rg5SnnuZvhMizSUOS6AwI56J0q4ElRByLX-VUFaCjkULt5-3r0RmDfOtp1U3Ly7B8hWhfzO8sNw3zMuWsL6zPMByW3gD23KF-C5V6wlUGMWayq1WXv9GRcJqzPzMn3pIlmBov4W=w113-h200" width="113" /></a><br /></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">July</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">We spent July 4th with the Stromski family, and had a wonderful visit. The kids shucked corn, and Paloma baked a cake, and it was just a great summer weekend. A few days later, we were on a plane headed to Nassau, Bahamas to join Christina on her family vacation. We stayed at the Royal Atlantis and enjoyed it very much. The covid protocols were put in place throughout the island, and we felt very safe since the youngest members of our group weren't able to be vaccinated yet. We learned so much about the people and the culture, ate amazing food, and spent quality time with friends who have been like family to me for 25 years. It was a truly relaxing and fulfilling vacation. We had a wonderful visit from the Shrieve family this month, and then Paloma drove back with them to Piedmont, where she stayed for a week, and then she flew home BY HERSELF! Big girl status for sure. I had my first wedding event at the end of the month, where I shadowed my friend Katy on a wedding she had planned, just so I felt prepared before I was on my own in August.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje0JXbowUT7sHAbtmOdXlfv7KssMlOLAy1gxSSgG_2EFV0UqRkLSQ6AZlNGwoRPEP_EqYeakUkjK4-ho1zmQTlR4W5D3prswJJrMtLWLWiZY5VNh3BBhigzszHZpAthlKlcvER-0vWBatjoracO3-krk_hiDUwk79kCqzRwFBeZTHF90cW98lNzfY6=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje0JXbowUT7sHAbtmOdXlfv7KssMlOLAy1gxSSgG_2EFV0UqRkLSQ6AZlNGwoRPEP_EqYeakUkjK4-ho1zmQTlR4W5D3prswJJrMtLWLWiZY5VNh3BBhigzszHZpAthlKlcvER-0vWBatjoracO3-krk_hiDUwk79kCqzRwFBeZTHF90cW98lNzfY6=w200-h150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZj36vanzucZgX-zjiS1fkroizSEj3BrbLGSwUXmQjDDlEZV0O0tlsxUs04anPCCv0PAXZxLh__nKXnLgPpfHNnsP7rzxt9YLa07cFJ-tzeZD0MNVYgYAUYqa3qPpq0Y4EYIbx9NQe8bp3tNi7Y1SmWRWqoPukNApq4Hr_1-0CdZ9CCGWUSLhKTQoz=s2827" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2827" data-original-width="2316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZj36vanzucZgX-zjiS1fkroizSEj3BrbLGSwUXmQjDDlEZV0O0tlsxUs04anPCCv0PAXZxLh__nKXnLgPpfHNnsP7rzxt9YLa07cFJ-tzeZD0MNVYgYAUYqa3qPpq0Y4EYIbx9NQe8bp3tNi7Y1SmWRWqoPukNApq4Hr_1-0CdZ9CCGWUSLhKTQoz=w164-h200" width="164" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9sSPta1FT3JjCtCK0Zb3fDZHogmiH_zqoUnUVLcfaUuGiU6389Pyt5XgyRIltgeLnSrnDV33nju-ZuScEXIqZS4P276Xt1770Q2MJBWPmxMa5OXOGTx4CvIOliiwJ6U-tbdzXMkB8QQ_ToQ7SvqvvEBFFy8zzVjzlW4dr9KiSPGhE4vcSPOTgoZD-=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9sSPta1FT3JjCtCK0Zb3fDZHogmiH_zqoUnUVLcfaUuGiU6389Pyt5XgyRIltgeLnSrnDV33nju-ZuScEXIqZS4P276Xt1770Q2MJBWPmxMa5OXOGTx4CvIOliiwJ6U-tbdzXMkB8QQ_ToQ7SvqvvEBFFy8zzVjzlW4dr9KiSPGhE4vcSPOTgoZD-=w200-h150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2FUf_FCr1blRWRgSTq3HJiUU91kI_97pStcH9E7hY3qG4LtNS0HOxIsgvd36OLq2_A19sxtzmrx_j6s96w_h0gMLuJTyvseugiU_f9FgLzA-bBhGH27w_QqbhrpM2dzZpkd2Jd7a6gtH958dxPH_lZxjKt5lnVxIQc7NTdz5dpxen-7y1nkkMB3Qu=s3456" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="3456" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2FUf_FCr1blRWRgSTq3HJiUU91kI_97pStcH9E7hY3qG4LtNS0HOxIsgvd36OLq2_A19sxtzmrx_j6s96w_h0gMLuJTyvseugiU_f9FgLzA-bBhGH27w_QqbhrpM2dzZpkd2Jd7a6gtH958dxPH_lZxjKt5lnVxIQc7NTdz5dpxen-7y1nkkMB3Qu=w200-h146" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK_83v2YL93Pn-aM-NpK8mtEnW2JQk2y_6gxEHfwwfczBbAZZsv_4r0GiADW-vpucPLzBqxPphchq9WHSg6E33iXcjZrmIRQ5idpVQrGVtUb2O50H7cM3icaieTIqRNyXPs7SXfgM3f83U-2eGKXdZvu7nDGzvPXi3eg_Wb-D-EF8XHd31s1zwAm6F=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK_83v2YL93Pn-aM-NpK8mtEnW2JQk2y_6gxEHfwwfczBbAZZsv_4r0GiADW-vpucPLzBqxPphchq9WHSg6E33iXcjZrmIRQ5idpVQrGVtUb2O50H7cM3icaieTIqRNyXPs7SXfgM3f83U-2eGKXdZvu7nDGzvPXi3eg_Wb-D-EF8XHd31s1zwAm6F=w200-h150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxBQXXWwljY5mVppqzqBYHHMra3AQTNHDuEGHvwtZemtA64sKX-c6mBjWDss3-b5EbixcvcMWGIXE3FhgR1AAb7C4ejNXrRR-d0LZGnb6VH8axhxerxRSmhyChiS8baf_GzFUT-3ljoRMz3Rpm2rRZ-uQFFSJM2oVMgy-J-rpfpXMAR3dchSXEbIwt=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxBQXXWwljY5mVppqzqBYHHMra3AQTNHDuEGHvwtZemtA64sKX-c6mBjWDss3-b5EbixcvcMWGIXE3FhgR1AAb7C4ejNXrRR-d0LZGnb6VH8axhxerxRSmhyChiS8baf_GzFUT-3ljoRMz3Rpm2rRZ-uQFFSJM2oVMgy-J-rpfpXMAR3dchSXEbIwt=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">August</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">We started the month with a quick visit from some more Piedmont friends. Kim and the boys came to stay for a couple nights as they road tripped through Oregon. Hunter was one of Quincy's very first friends in Piedmont, and it was fun to see how much they each had changed in 5 years. We had an impromptu visit from Lisa and Alynsia, as Solon's grandparents were visiting from AZ, and they all drove down so we could be together. This marked our last official visit for the summer, as the next 3 weekends, I had weddings and special events for work. I learned a lot from my first month of events in Portland, and really enjoyed myself. I absolutely love meeting new people and seeing two families come together to celebrate a new union. Being a part of making their day special is so awesome. I turned 42 this month and treated myself with tickets to the Counting Crows concert. It was everything I wanted it to be. During the month of August, I launched my <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/whereshallwegopapa/my-childrens-book-where-shall-we-go-papa" target="_blank">Kickstarter campaign</a> to help me raise the funds I needed in order to print my book, and pay my illustrator/cousin what I thought she deserved for helping me bring my project to life. I had 30 days to fulfill my goal, and thanks to all our amazing family and friends, we smashed the goal in less than 3 weeks!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfNDRLmbEgM_1oxq0trpeougqIAnOARUDOgK6YEMl5hoc_qfRBaFzPHsAXuG0daPsFN9n8DIEPQe5Hkj13QI8bHV2xFv-eKA7l8A5fS-vlw0_Ie2iNVMq3Ot5quc3qDwnlnTOe_S3G9K9lNhhguZXRGR13eXio4nZiRP2Hq5Kf9Ko11H77T4ZQmqHz=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfNDRLmbEgM_1oxq0trpeougqIAnOARUDOgK6YEMl5hoc_qfRBaFzPHsAXuG0daPsFN9n8DIEPQe5Hkj13QI8bHV2xFv-eKA7l8A5fS-vlw0_Ie2iNVMq3Ot5quc3qDwnlnTOe_S3G9K9lNhhguZXRGR13eXio4nZiRP2Hq5Kf9Ko11H77T4ZQmqHz=w200-h150" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8sMSc9SCcZ6e29hmA1llcV29LkcJF56xoxCRPCnyDaKtFSA0A7y7PVa8g6_L_1rhuv0sxoK-Bs1qMYpM7hJnn5ovfmLb_ABU5e8KnI-fYKEHJbDpoGjvJzowYgkxtgN9BpMRm-wXQpeEHmTQjVZ7mL8PTBrlfxLK1E17Zv5B3dKva-Xue8DMUs4la=s3525" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3525" data-original-width="2851" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8sMSc9SCcZ6e29hmA1llcV29LkcJF56xoxCRPCnyDaKtFSA0A7y7PVa8g6_L_1rhuv0sxoK-Bs1qMYpM7hJnn5ovfmLb_ABU5e8KnI-fYKEHJbDpoGjvJzowYgkxtgN9BpMRm-wXQpeEHmTQjVZ7mL8PTBrlfxLK1E17Zv5B3dKva-Xue8DMUs4la=w162-h200" width="162" /></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaSNmmiD2lZ491DMM2RjwnwNPL-qgKTrEd9fEO5ELCPOrF2s_qOaVtAgflXbMP98fnP7uG4Fb_7LuUvYZV8r_xaJcxK-qz5jlSbkRa9nbCePE6LRBLQkT8qLQHgMfQ0bekLKYTOiaUGKRPbGCTx1NPnPsZQJWYTnMBX1pgZtge0RKTSSz4KawWm5n9=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaSNmmiD2lZ491DMM2RjwnwNPL-qgKTrEd9fEO5ELCPOrF2s_qOaVtAgflXbMP98fnP7uG4Fb_7LuUvYZV8r_xaJcxK-qz5jlSbkRa9nbCePE6LRBLQkT8qLQHgMfQ0bekLKYTOiaUGKRPbGCTx1NPnPsZQJWYTnMBX1pgZtge0RKTSSz4KawWm5n9=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWkLYSCue1F61_881jzWgUHat-1YCy-VVmaSeCsJ6i7MqHUIoMMECG5_Cb7jgwX4PWdJHcZ8Zo41si9Uz9gZ85xTf0vvnDRFyK03ynM2hmJQN8yo-Iouu3MCQcnhyR6mafAiSiAPHPGhloEpSjAzPiZJ4E-0_2xZ9DMZsrBAaoR3x_jOEra0If65sH=s1627" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1627" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWkLYSCue1F61_881jzWgUHat-1YCy-VVmaSeCsJ6i7MqHUIoMMECG5_Cb7jgwX4PWdJHcZ8Zo41si9Uz9gZ85xTf0vvnDRFyK03ynM2hmJQN8yo-Iouu3MCQcnhyR6mafAiSiAPHPGhloEpSjAzPiZJ4E-0_2xZ9DMZsrBAaoR3x_jOEra0If65sH=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">September</span></b><p></p>The kids started school on the 1st, and a few days later we were on a plane to Hawaii to celebrate Lisa's big birthday with family. We spent almost every day at the beach, and soaked up as much sun as possible because we knew it was only a matter of time before rainy season started in the PNW. Our days were filled with swim time, good food (always), birthday surprises for Sasa, an adventurous boat tour of the Nā Pali coast, crystal shop discoveries, and the most gorgeous scenery for miles. The rest of September was filled with more basketball, school, one more wedding for me to close out the season, and formatting/finalizing files for my book project. <p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC-l7161sD9P7Ga2tRH1j0wld8vCQhw9YticDMliczm294KmcDUxBqbOaPjjgtdo1GN4UU7pHwlHi-GtqjQf6Q0ma_-161W3LsmtZXtWJi8nl7Hsq3-js2ZUciK9tAAxmZkxUX11jad0WUIdzkB1KR2eAgbL2oUt2mxU6pXJRQSZoxpZWBCbQW21jn=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC-l7161sD9P7Ga2tRH1j0wld8vCQhw9YticDMliczm294KmcDUxBqbOaPjjgtdo1GN4UU7pHwlHi-GtqjQf6Q0ma_-161W3LsmtZXtWJi8nl7Hsq3-js2ZUciK9tAAxmZkxUX11jad0WUIdzkB1KR2eAgbL2oUt2mxU6pXJRQSZoxpZWBCbQW21jn=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0OzIXc82wDgwqcg7CA1mKxSLzbkwNSn1Eo_ud_5XAkBxdDQDChQ6oygbv6m2kiJypwdIqzEcBDzbaypI1BzTzgBAe8bvyAXA0tkfLkPx6KvQW1Nj_8qgt-CkX0T7ACwiSO3jr1zqxPuKmVbwAc7BwmYc8wLhNQnSlU4HqIEQ4kvikloRh6n4Ashsp=s960" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0OzIXc82wDgwqcg7CA1mKxSLzbkwNSn1Eo_ud_5XAkBxdDQDChQ6oygbv6m2kiJypwdIqzEcBDzbaypI1BzTzgBAe8bvyAXA0tkfLkPx6KvQW1Nj_8qgt-CkX0T7ACwiSO3jr1zqxPuKmVbwAc7BwmYc8wLhNQnSlU4HqIEQ4kvikloRh6n4Ashsp=w200-h150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEig92MJjyGLzeSmcDORqW9r7TfnBNgPZD3SYiJkjy06WWPVPc6KjiPqd0VOQ6J8PL_2FUhC25ipdfnkKsGWOulbGoEuCF1KRzLCFNMlJ9P-kFxcWDZmI8C909ziHxgyZw16CmJlYZXj4jIE4A7g_SsQmyuCKhNWDSV6GK9j5kj_QnfBPbGrx0NfCKe5=s2846" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2846" data-original-width="2171" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEig92MJjyGLzeSmcDORqW9r7TfnBNgPZD3SYiJkjy06WWPVPc6KjiPqd0VOQ6J8PL_2FUhC25ipdfnkKsGWOulbGoEuCF1KRzLCFNMlJ9P-kFxcWDZmI8C909ziHxgyZw16CmJlYZXj4jIE4A7g_SsQmyuCKhNWDSV6GK9j5kj_QnfBPbGrx0NfCKe5=w153-h200" width="153" /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>October </b><br /><br />My brother's family came for their first visit since we moved here in 2019. We gave them the full Bell Family PDX experience: Voodoo Doughnuts, Portland Saturday Market, Friday night karaoke (every Friday night since the pandemic started), Pumpkin Patch, and a hike along the scenic Columbia River. We fit in visits with 2 of Natan's old friends that live out here - Kieran (from college) and Robbie (from high school)- and thoroughly enjoyed catching up after almost 20(!) years. Paloma's basketball season came to an end, and 2 weeks later, we were in AZ for a very quick weekend to see my 98-year-old grandma (for the first time in a year), and help my mom out since Tía Billie moved in with her the prior month. While we enjoyed being back, and seeing the family we could, it was definitely weird being there since Arizona had treated the pandemic so differently than Oregon. And even though 3 of us were vaccinated, we brought home the covid souvenir after being exposed to someone who tested positive while we were there. I will spare you all the details but Paloma thought she was going to die, had to be quarantined for a total of 17 days (she tested positive on Day 9 of her quarantine - and was asymptomatic the whole time), and yeah, it was just an all around super-inconvenient and crummy experience. But Solon was back to 100% in the matter of 4-5 days and has had no lasting effects, and Quincy and I remained healthy and continuously tested negative throughout the duration - which is proof that vaccines are in-fact effective. So yay, Science! And now, thankfully, everyone in our family is vaccinated and some of us are even boosted, so there is a light at the end of this awful tunnel. <p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4arYQ5VQ60WVTqjzVIoC7KK-ADVSu2DKWErBcd9T4lEIKB_JDmVBwrYvAFS93TUGiZ9Ts8o3Bmm49bVxgPPpoEIWQkZwlzRMByax3y_ryh6quDFBELaL-v4mAH5x4Lv3igiGolCqRJiOk_11U1oAWj_I9Mu5FHARATZzUxDV8sSnuQV65aU25PKNb=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4arYQ5VQ60WVTqjzVIoC7KK-ADVSu2DKWErBcd9T4lEIKB_JDmVBwrYvAFS93TUGiZ9Ts8o3Bmm49bVxgPPpoEIWQkZwlzRMByax3y_ryh6quDFBELaL-v4mAH5x4Lv3igiGolCqRJiOk_11U1oAWj_I9Mu5FHARATZzUxDV8sSnuQV65aU25PKNb=w200-h150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjLRWZWcyW21aG69O4ZNU7HSDVTu_j46EZ68_AdCwAlU9kJ9wH0r0Yd-4qTNfkCPuTDpJwrcbV7CP1ov_m7Pnp_7SoUaZjeDmyvVD6BcZGCWX8ie1jy2DcHVPw1VD-uUIbnoMyrEO_7gR75nRQlGh19cWHmG_XGpHqRx2XI--70TIqKj6voGUe8J4R=s4032" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjLRWZWcyW21aG69O4ZNU7HSDVTu_j46EZ68_AdCwAlU9kJ9wH0r0Yd-4qTNfkCPuTDpJwrcbV7CP1ov_m7Pnp_7SoUaZjeDmyvVD6BcZGCWX8ie1jy2DcHVPw1VD-uUIbnoMyrEO_7gR75nRQlGh19cWHmG_XGpHqRx2XI--70TIqKj6voGUe8J4R=w200-h150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3FRjVjhyv3jZZJn56xytDJj4VOe1cGflo-ADnDfqJ4MbiAlAWhFnW2o63Skdw8ocQTvfTt_MWQHp7rbqybdvS6xmFPWA3vmXrQMt9wnOsVxJ7md-z32cVAkTl5dJa0PEALfVLoUJO9R2Wue2DAd1OYLJNi2cL2ohkA_sF4OYrzf06da--nobNxYK3=s3088" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3FRjVjhyv3jZZJn56xytDJj4VOe1cGflo-ADnDfqJ4MbiAlAWhFnW2o63Skdw8ocQTvfTt_MWQHp7rbqybdvS6xmFPWA3vmXrQMt9wnOsVxJ7md-z32cVAkTl5dJa0PEALfVLoUJO9R2Wue2DAd1OYLJNi2cL2ohkA_sF4OYrzf06da--nobNxYK3=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8GpDmMnRdmA6_m-RPVtnCcZT0ZsE0aGtKyElBByjJl82Xc4BRHyuldGQL8yUzrSM3KF9_1eV4KQPrD3X4Hc9dxR5gL4UlrMtmgwKQ8j9ng7HQV0lX-PRln6mYW8xWs1BdA838weic9zZu2d_wVNODBX2Ni_0NDJKDyeFRyvocmPPcTe9swh86gxqp=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8GpDmMnRdmA6_m-RPVtnCcZT0ZsE0aGtKyElBByjJl82Xc4BRHyuldGQL8yUzrSM3KF9_1eV4KQPrD3X4Hc9dxR5gL4UlrMtmgwKQ8j9ng7HQV0lX-PRln6mYW8xWs1BdA838weic9zZu2d_wVNODBX2Ni_0NDJKDyeFRyvocmPPcTe9swh86gxqp=w200-h150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5plNQh-qIshAmHJ5hE2-kVs_EEIXF4beXOay6E8MkT9Rq9iJSBwheFRFH1yxNVjbd74v1T54OeTkU2HQSUl3gFTBZVdBYES7susCNbGtfSQqCRC-mX8I6NE6ljQF8Ev_euMNf_dWUf2lYDylm8tToaj6uCGni8w1Qh_zYvp7uP0lbbVPN6Zqc0tgM=s4032" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5plNQh-qIshAmHJ5hE2-kVs_EEIXF4beXOay6E8MkT9Rq9iJSBwheFRFH1yxNVjbd74v1T54OeTkU2HQSUl3gFTBZVdBYES7susCNbGtfSQqCRC-mX8I6NE6ljQF8Ev_euMNf_dWUf2lYDylm8tToaj6uCGni8w1Qh_zYvp7uP0lbbVPN6Zqc0tgM=w200-h150" width="200" /></a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>November</b></span></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent this month waiting for an update from the printer about when I could expect the hard cover proofs of my book. Due to shortages (workers, supplies, etc), printing was expected to take 25 business days (!!!) rather than the usual 15 business days. I had initially hoped that I would have all the books in house, and ready to send out to all 134 of our backers by Christmas, but I learned very quickly that this was not likely, and there was nothing I could do about it. (SIGH) Meanwhile, Paloma was finally able to go back to school halfway through the month, and was terribly nervous about how she would be received after being gone so long. Luckily, she has an amazing teacher who provided her with online work that corresponded with what her class was doing, so she didn't fall behind at all, and on her first day back, she was received with open arms. She had been missed greatly. We had a wonderful (SO DELICIOUS) Thanksgiving holiday up in Seattle at Lisa and Tony's house, and got to connect with the Stromski family and have a night out to listen to live music, provided by <a href="https://www.jamescarrmusic.com/" target="_blank">Tony's band</a>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw6EcYAS-QNJaykNql4z-VI7deHdJoqbqhkybah5S2wiko7TJNI_UN926nkeZRU_fruoNHZbi5xrjUL7AXA2c6cs-C7HKMqa5fkmE5mMqVy_XRaO9zyB2Uc6foMoaIQl3xT4dgN8F2gEDzMxgp_fiqpU9jcf7ZW0TPzbx2DYRJYw0JqSGxQUfe43uD=s626" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="626" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw6EcYAS-QNJaykNql4z-VI7deHdJoqbqhkybah5S2wiko7TJNI_UN926nkeZRU_fruoNHZbi5xrjUL7AXA2c6cs-C7HKMqa5fkmE5mMqVy_XRaO9zyB2Uc6foMoaIQl3xT4dgN8F2gEDzMxgp_fiqpU9jcf7ZW0TPzbx2DYRJYw0JqSGxQUfe43uD=w200-h169" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsTqf49yEsFxzhH7XW3fVPULmC1Q2Ip8fWT7DRqPCzrvmhfp3ULvlF3-4fFyq5EMNtWqt6wMXk-6BVhXfufhGmKNMCez4xRlp-UF-KxAyJKlWaKjZHT37kZA__U2jRO4hbnuyLzot5L8Bv1IsctT6S3nwaKesBYg3DoKrHS_wPEsABi1609SXl0Sdx=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsTqf49yEsFxzhH7XW3fVPULmC1Q2Ip8fWT7DRqPCzrvmhfp3ULvlF3-4fFyq5EMNtWqt6wMXk-6BVhXfufhGmKNMCez4xRlp-UF-KxAyJKlWaKjZHT37kZA__U2jRO4hbnuyLzot5L8Bv1IsctT6S3nwaKesBYg3DoKrHS_wPEsABi1609SXl0Sdx=w200-h150" width="200" /></a></div></div><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>December</b></span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Here were are exactly halfway through the last month of the year, and we officially have a TEENAGER in the Bell household. Quincy turned 13 on the 10th, and it really is just all happening so fast. Paloma has been battling some anxiety ever since our AZ trip and we are working through that. Young girls start to deal with insecurities at this age, and do it now (post-pandemic) with the weight of the world on their shoulders. We are trying to teach her to control what's controllable, believe in herself, and fight though her fears. It's really a lesson for all of us.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil5S96Gae7NEsGhvku32OzMtTzLZ6vtsC2WyRm4UHE8b-bFxICnOTx9I8-mJaog87ZWWdLsldPrpmPZabSDgfe4Rt5dAerOtN88i3FCefsHfKMkR6IAWHeA7RpTzQQ7OLa45EC4fxo52R0Zm2AXAr6VxGoII1EbBq-Dzs72qh2HUv-w-hUj4q9ft8F=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil5S96Gae7NEsGhvku32OzMtTzLZ6vtsC2WyRm4UHE8b-bFxICnOTx9I8-mJaog87ZWWdLsldPrpmPZabSDgfe4Rt5dAerOtN88i3FCefsHfKMkR6IAWHeA7RpTzQQ7OLa45EC4fxo52R0Zm2AXAr6VxGoII1EbBq-Dzs72qh2HUv-w-hUj4q9ft8F=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are grateful to have Papa Allen here with us for 10 days for some pre-Christmas togetherness, with Alynsia joining us this weekend. We are all looking forward to the memories we will make together.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May the Christmas season be warm and merry for you all, and may you have good health and happiness in the new year!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtRi7uj5mtceaYg7pQk8jeKuxIKOeW2NiedwDE4QwIPYy600FO90xmwq3A6MHIdCayR0DfbxISwvSWWGU5tIdtV1QpWQvXD5q57IPIAmNEhtmSA9FryXO1sYPkwaVwUt0ztQM332JgIt8YTF2EBjBcmrxN5dS6bvnPKx6A-umb38b-tbailVXzQ0il=s184" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="184" height="47" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtRi7uj5mtceaYg7pQk8jeKuxIKOeW2NiedwDE4QwIPYy600FO90xmwq3A6MHIdCayR0DfbxISwvSWWGU5tIdtV1QpWQvXD5q57IPIAmNEhtmSA9FryXO1sYPkwaVwUt0ztQM332JgIt8YTF2EBjBcmrxN5dS6bvnPKx6A-umb38b-tbailVXzQ0il" width="184" /></a></div><br />CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-7191275136483344872020-12-08T14:59:00.001-08:002020-12-08T15:01:38.927-08:00What A Year It Has Been - 2020<p> I think it's safe to say that 2020 for most of us, in general, has been a bust. Kids have been "distance learning" since March. Solon has been remote since March. Mommy hasn't had a minute to herself since March. Hahaha.</p><p>We all have been dealing with changes in mental health with each day that passes without in-person interactions and hugs that don't require masks. Our hands are SO DRY from the continuous washing. We miss going to movies, and social functions, and SCHOOL, without the fear of contracting a crazy virus, or not knowing if we're the ones who are sick and asymptomatically infecting someone else.</p><p>I've known people who have lost loved ones. I know people who have gotten sick, and are fine. I know people who got it months ago, and now have lingering effects that they can't seem to shake. I know that some people say, "It's just like the flu, it's not a big deal." I know others who have experienced it much more intensely and beg to differ. I know that small businesses and some of our favorite restaurants are suffering, some closing... but I also know businesses that have said, "Lives are more important than my storefront." I know people who are grateful for the family togetherness that has doubled for them since the spring, but I also know people who are isolated from their families, or who live alone, and who feel like this pandemic is doing long-term damage to their psyche. It's a mess. Typing all of this hurts my heart, but considering I haven't really had access to my own laptop since my last post in May, I just needed to release it.</p><p>I wanted to "write it out" so that one day we can look back on this year, and remember what our family learned from it. I want to remember that our little family has been careful with our health, and the health of others. That we have acted as responsibly as possible, while also honoring our mental stability. I want to remember that there was some good that came out of all of this. Like the massive SLOWING DOWN of our lives, and the creative ways we have learned to connect during the Covid-19 pandemic. I'm not going to focus on the things we missed out on (for me personally, coaching Paloma's softball team this year), but rather remember the friendships we made at the start of the year, the way our kids learned to lean on each other a little more when they couldn't see friends, the extra time Solon had at home, even if he was working in the next room. I'm going to remember all the "Marco Polo" videos that I sent back and forth with friends, checking in on each other, venting about EVERYTHING, or making <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fplaylist%2F1HjbednlucaHqZGWXIsSzS%3Fsi%3DD5DLj8xdTF2DAvRdtea_Fg%26fbclid%3DIwAR3h-4nkvgZZp4YWVRugEBo06X3JA4TuJPYfXJds1974tdSIVuVNyLjH0Is&h=AT0EkujRNGV5tRG_dmmvdwh59l-drsSGbBcOvjnuNc9nXxSyNPWnDBdSMMnkVirS9kjwpdPRKxSb5KxrjvdarzLEOVLcU6h5rAfyMasahwwW_juqIMWW9W0a8IVI4_4aGGJPeF0&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0xJScf4bV1cFfCS341XFYF_TDCpSLPsAeOCEAeJhtWbbHoeu9X57ANC6GJHUo9fr9A5-CcZmr8JVd0lEc_OIP9sCDTtuDwYLUVIGol3u1vlal4ELgqwWoFqJykBTtlVt-gGEo0yDlODZt3gBiVRq9awIwfmnhEJ6TnmSKJftzJrPogOjL0hKnB8XfskkJDkI0984L10fTbP2OGv0pTO-k3IsFj_sSXPg" target="_blank">Top 20 KZON song lists</a>, which brought back SO MANY MEMORIES from my radio days. I'm going to remember, since my kids and husband were taking over all the space indoors, that Sunny and I were outdoors in the yard, playing fetch, and working on my deck's potted garden. </p><p>After growing up in the AZ desert, I never really had much success with growing anything without the help of an irrigation system. I got busy and would forget to water things. But in Oregon, I have been able to build my confidence, growing plants from seeds (!), nurturing them daily, and reaping the rewards in due time. I didn't succeed right away. I killed three basil plants with overwatering before I figured out how much was enough. And my cherry tomato babies couldn't flourish until I found a YouTube video that taught me how to properly prune my plant. After that - so many beautiful and delicious tomato babies! Cultivating this little garden of mine was good for my mental health. I loved being out in that garden, listening to music, and learning - and growing alongside my plants!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnqO-DpgZLfr9QZcg8Iqcm_aK7EyUEfZnzBQ9qDl1UrSJA6KXkuI8cqXLaqzy92ZBGaWV1c6o3iRMt2c7luE7aIYpUdoUtDPc0ZJdUauNZSbUc1jIcR3fD_8jtltt4nbRc8TlgWF7VU0/s2048/Herbs.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnqO-DpgZLfr9QZcg8Iqcm_aK7EyUEfZnzBQ9qDl1UrSJA6KXkuI8cqXLaqzy92ZBGaWV1c6o3iRMt2c7luE7aIYpUdoUtDPc0ZJdUauNZSbUc1jIcR3fD_8jtltt4nbRc8TlgWF7VU0/w320-h240/Herbs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmc9jhNxz0dw4dxpYW3BIrJ4arCkdkM8cyqoKn5B5JMIgwn-_mDVv-SmC2M7fgdZoaoi5UjvpYpO8eUF10K12p7vJCvssaQQcZMHYAnuG2X-V51tTzsM2JHVjTomrUxrU-yr04aqx3Qk/s2048/Strawberries.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmc9jhNxz0dw4dxpYW3BIrJ4arCkdkM8cyqoKn5B5JMIgwn-_mDVv-SmC2M7fgdZoaoi5UjvpYpO8eUF10K12p7vJCvssaQQcZMHYAnuG2X-V51tTzsM2JHVjTomrUxrU-yr04aqx3Qk/w150-h200/Strawberries.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKLGGPOWxRdWbhWU2GZuzlG9paANQsLsQfAap_k4-JIhbu2n7RIDpIVgDiKzQlaUaMfnge7RYwYVFAkKHCdOWayYZV3sh_g4wnDyiVxyq1yuqtw5idVbsMQ34jDGzRlS8RXPF2oho7lM/s2048/Tomato+babies+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKLGGPOWxRdWbhWU2GZuzlG9paANQsLsQfAap_k4-JIhbu2n7RIDpIVgDiKzQlaUaMfnge7RYwYVFAkKHCdOWayYZV3sh_g4wnDyiVxyq1yuqtw5idVbsMQ34jDGzRlS8RXPF2oho7lM/w150-h200/Tomato+babies+2.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXRPmtwwuau1JPTTCgyQAACe4wF_lW97p8ODsZt2tanVCJQlMiwQCzqE3c5L5CQmXkosUmEP2MvHyfl71qFVXKeHwa5oUjju_S23Wei2NacOX6NFroUJBLoACulVILStwWEVrSQJxq7k/s2048/Tomato+babies.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXRPmtwwuau1JPTTCgyQAACe4wF_lW97p8ODsZt2tanVCJQlMiwQCzqE3c5L5CQmXkosUmEP2MvHyfl71qFVXKeHwa5oUjju_S23Wei2NacOX6NFroUJBLoACulVILStwWEVrSQJxq7k/w150-h200/Tomato+babies.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will remember that:</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We were fortunate to see some family safely between periods of quarantine, which was imperative for our well-being, and we are so grateful for the time we had together. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipVtvHz9WIkSk_oW8xK76F8Mjrh0IClLSmb6pS7Xevm4JEZf-yASway64OpE5IsQNTNw2HXmWtNIUlNbTogcPLqbAHnNdNVoJZRbjXPx6d3uiXDCxo_4PoibT9-QRJwDA-9DpQf0iRyQ/s2048/family+collage.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipVtvHz9WIkSk_oW8xK76F8Mjrh0IClLSmb6pS7Xevm4JEZf-yASway64OpE5IsQNTNw2HXmWtNIUlNbTogcPLqbAHnNdNVoJZRbjXPx6d3uiXDCxo_4PoibT9-QRJwDA-9DpQf0iRyQ/w200-h200/family+collage.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We experienced our first Oregon wildfires, which was definitely a bit too close for comfort, and were able to escape to Washington for a few days to get some fresh air (something we'll never again take for granted). <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmLlhINOKpUpSa3BDlsQ1cgFnGxY9GWk9g8tnvdI1KUkYoFrRtTp-3DGHUnqLsNIj6kCCCTRCyNX_LQ2sVfzW0lHVyxScwIINMfozSd-4_Z_zXmXJlMFQB_lRvO_9ghxkOLyBpMqpwmY/s2048/Fire.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmLlhINOKpUpSa3BDlsQ1cgFnGxY9GWk9g8tnvdI1KUkYoFrRtTp-3DGHUnqLsNIj6kCCCTRCyNX_LQ2sVfzW0lHVyxScwIINMfozSd-4_Z_zXmXJlMFQB_lRvO_9ghxkOLyBpMqpwmY/w160-h200/Fire.JPG" width="160" /></a></div></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We took Sunny to the dog beach several times, and got out of the house as often as we could to do something in the nature. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQp6D8Fsoo5PLIcGO-YWgm_45N6i1hc7KjpZgMJQMTbJVQdPsQZyOqSq7-6xYBOzM1Y8jn45lJaFzm2YJwIztiecqJGvm490M5O9Tsq2sNs52mPLX3p-mQPxFloudZ8PSIeHkERzf8Gy0/s660/Nature.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx3mX1J6XFIdD3hDSnWKLXE7L-0enSxI5o88KNb0jBqVZDH5o-xgPTGDE1PW56h9u4O7y9pStwlYMkyV7s8CXO6Xg6Lv2h99FYHZ8m_Y5_tkNgM4SOnz6tRZwFUuea2397TrE9dupuzs/s640/BLM+Protest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="640" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx3mX1J6XFIdD3hDSnWKLXE7L-0enSxI5o88KNb0jBqVZDH5o-xgPTGDE1PW56h9u4O7y9pStwlYMkyV7s8CXO6Xg6Lv2h99FYHZ8m_Y5_tkNgM4SOnz6tRZwFUuea2397TrE9dupuzs/w200-h188/BLM+Protest.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We actively participated in the democratic process this election year, and educated Quincy and Paloma about the importance along the way. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRypRfAope_TOpi-chGUSoNIOmJKgZ521HpiZCSoZ53gaQ0-O83sLFKE8LLZADU87Uv0djXmkX416IUCPBw6Jhg8-1Jj6Kf8OzugKgioIL-ynDdJu9mOSu5X6RypOnCVzPGSbrmGDoHds/s2048/SolonBallot.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRypRfAope_TOpi-chGUSoNIOmJKgZ521HpiZCSoZ53gaQ0-O83sLFKE8LLZADU87Uv0djXmkX416IUCPBw6Jhg8-1Jj6Kf8OzugKgioIL-ynDdJu9mOSu5X6RypOnCVzPGSbrmGDoHds/w150-h200/SolonBallot.JPG" width="150" /></a></div></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I cooked A LOT - even more than normal, and discovered I do NOT have the patience to make my own sourdough starter. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Solon got his indoor sound system just how he wants it, and we've turned part of our garage into a workout space.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Quincy has been having an awesome time creating more Stop Motion animation videos for our family's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BellFamily" target="_blank">YouTube Channel</a>.<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9O5AGlxOO8Y" width="560"></iframe></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Paloma has been making earrings and selling them on an <a href="www.etsy.com/shop/PalomasPeace" target="_blank">Etsy Marketplace shop</a>, donating $1 from each pair to either St. Jude's Children's Cancer Research Center or the Wildlife Conservation Society. (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PalomasPeace">www.etsy.com/shop/PalomasPeace</a>) <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3sEPO_v8fNIdbdMejxP2BZY-n1MwZNphwc6nuuek7TqYmZvgJrUovLLTAWVeRtRGv4R0ULsB0LEacN1ImKHw6X_LbHxYGTLTOrawtIo0mMK_t95WvA8vchyphenhyphen64mIgUR2pMwD0kn9TXMY/s2048/EtsyCollage.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3sEPO_v8fNIdbdMejxP2BZY-n1MwZNphwc6nuuek7TqYmZvgJrUovLLTAWVeRtRGv4R0ULsB0LEacN1ImKHw6X_LbHxYGTLTOrawtIo0mMK_t95WvA8vchyphenhyphen64mIgUR2pMwD0kn9TXMY/w200-h200/EtsyCollage.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I wrote my first children's book which will be illustrated by my amazingly talented cousin Kerry, that I'm looking to self-publish in 2021.</li></ul><p></p><p>So there's been some good, and I want to remember that. </p><p>I also want to acknowledge all the bad. The ravaging fires; the lives of 280,000+ lost that could have been prevented if we had better leadership, and a little more decency and regard for others as a nation; the lives of people we looked up to, our kids looked up to, who died too soon; and others who, due to a highly flawed criminal justice system, are no longer with us - their deaths another hashtag. I want to acknowledge it so that I can make sure we're doing our part to do better. All of us. </p><p>I'm hoping that you have been able to make beautiful memories despite the chaos and craziness, and that you are healthy and feeling well. I'm praying that every member of our society chooses to do the work to bring peace to our communities, cities, states, and our nation. That we teach our children, by example, and learn to truly love our neighbors. That we bring people into our lives, and our inner circles that don't look like us, or believe in the same exact ways. My dream is that people start actively communicating with one another, really listening to and absorbing the stories and experiences of others, not just engaging so they can make their own points. It's only then that things will get better. It's only then that can truly reflect what America was intended to be. It's my prayer EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.</p><p>I know this year's holiday season will look different for every household. We are sending you love from Portland, and hoping that there is Christmas magic in the air around you, and a multitude of blessings on the way to all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTwZCIX_gU0Hd-Ti6rKWYpogFuOLtUiyNEPCXchxMfOhPWT6-1xXziuGczRNxvtvatUDyphIK6AJCAmdLvzL3pZEChyZdQddJJAj_gcs0V9fWOkqpktmdKCDytLeEHm9jECEeYr82_WE/s184/BloggerSignature.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="47" data-original-width="184" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTwZCIX_gU0Hd-Ti6rKWYpogFuOLtUiyNEPCXchxMfOhPWT6-1xXziuGczRNxvtvatUDyphIK6AJCAmdLvzL3pZEChyZdQddJJAj_gcs0V9fWOkqpktmdKCDytLeEHm9jECEeYr82_WE/w200-h51/BloggerSignature.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-87254902160229589832020-05-24T08:33:00.000-07:002020-05-25T06:12:48.524-07:00Quarantine Life <span style="font-family: "times"; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our first winter in Portland wasn't as miserable as our California friends had warned us. 😂Yes, it was very wet, and I quickly learned that the one Eddie Bauer peacoat I had worn maybe a dozen times in the 20+ years I owned it, just wasn't going to cut it when it's 33 degrees at the dog park at 8am. We learned a lot this winter - layers and a really warm/water-wicking jacket are your friend; your boots need to keep your feet dry AND warm; Sunny wants to be outside no matter what the weather so be prepared; there is not a lot of sun in the winter, and when it does pop out, you will see everyone step outside and press their face to the sky for some fresh vitamin D (daily vitamin D supplements do help); there is such a thing as <b>S</b>easonal <b>A</b>ffect <b>D</b>isorder (<b>SAD</b>), and it can affect people in different ways (for Solon and Quincy, they were super sleepy all the time; Paloma and I got subtle headaches that could make us a little dizzy, and last for several days); if you buy yourself a "Happy Light" to simulate the sun, and keep yourself busy until Spring, (or the end of March, whichever comes first), you will be just fine; the more rain in winter, the more beautiful the Spring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> After spending the winter holidays in our new home, we were looking forward to all that 2020 had to bring. For Solon, it was coaching Quincy's basketball team, and really hitting a stride and fortifying relationships in his new position. For me, it was starting to nourish new friendships in our community, and get ready to coach Paloma's softball team (the thing I looked most forward to since moving here). For the kids, it was upcoming visits from friends and family, the 2nd semester field trips, end-of-the-year talent show, play dates, and going back to the Bay Area to visit our Piedmont peeps over Spring Break. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Basketball season for Paloma was full of positive moments and surprises. Paloma and her team (the Bananas) had two awesome coaches that created a fun environment for these girls who were mostly first-year players. They were able to see the girls strengths after just a few practices, and gave them some pointers to really step into their skills. We only won a single game all season (of which Paloma had her <b>BEST</b> game, scoring 1/3 of the total points, and our dear friends - the Shrieve family - were here from Piedmont to witness it), and even though the win felt good for the parents and the coaches, the girls felt like winners after practically every game. The girls had so much individual growth, and their commitment to each other grew steadily after every game and practice. I saw a side of my daughter that I hadn't up until this point. I had seen her determination before with gymnastics and tumbling, but when face-to-face with opponents who were playing dirty and aggressive (yes, some of the coaches we played against thought that was okay for 8/9-year-olds), Paloma used the tools her coaches gave her, and pulled something out from deep within to persevere. A fire was lit inside of her, and it was <b>AMAZING</b> to see it come to life. She really wanted to do her part for her team, and grew frustrated when she thought she hadn't done enough. After a hard game where the girls guarding her were flagrantly fouling her (when she didn't even have possession of the ball!), and the referee wasn't paying attention or listening to our coach's complaints from the sidelines (because she didn't have the ball), she learned the hard way that she needed to speak up and advocate for herself. At one point, the Mama bear in me hollered, "HEY!!" towards the little girl who was literally making red marks on Paloma's arms while guarding her, and the girl looked right at me, stopping momentarily. I didn't want to be that parent, but as a mom in the bleachers, that was hard to watch. Paloma was in tears after that particular game. It wasn't fun at all. The referee and the guy running the scoreboard (who ironically makes the girls recite a sportsmanship pledge before every game) heard a mouthful from me after that was over. Paloma needed me to advocate for her, because she was too bruised (literally and figuratively) after that to do it. That day, she learned that you're not always going to get a good referee, that some games are just not fair, but that it's important to know when and how to speak up for yourself, and in the end, you have to put that game behind you, and focus on the next one. This season was a major growth period for her, and the bonus of it all was we met some wonderful families in the process. She developed a deep love for the game of basketball and can't wait until next season!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Basketball season for Quincy and Solon was a little different. Having coached Quincy's team before, Solon was really looking forward to it. Quincy was looking forward to some extra time with his new school friends. Solon and his assistant coach Bryan were ready for practices with drills and plays to teach the 5th grade boys. Unfortunately, many of the players on the team didn't really have the heart for the game. Only 2-3 players were really competitive. Some of them were filled with self-doubt knowing that they never really played together on a team before, and some just didn't even want to be there, so there were some deficits in the respect department. Solon (who loves to coach and motivate kids) would come home deflated after each practice. On the nights that I would go help, I would see first hand what he was describing - it was frustrating to say the least. It was just really hard getting these kids to gel on the court. And the games were pretty brutal, because we were playing teams who had obviously played for a couple seasons together - they were basically running plays themselves. And then there were our players, who couldn't even remember the one play that we went over and over with 3 nights before. About halfway through the season, Solon and Bryan decided to focus on very specific tasks for each player. The ones that paid attention really showed improvement. One kid in particular, who at the very first practice said out loud, "I'm not very good at this game, so I'm probably not going to contribute much," did a complete 180, and was easily the kid I enjoyed watching most on the court. All it took for him was just a a shift of focus, and some specific tasks to put into play. Once he did it, and it paid off for his team, his confidence grew exponentially. This happened with a few other players towards the end of the season, and that made all the challenges worth it for Solon. It wasn't enough to get us a win, but we did get much closer by the end of the season. Quincy had a slow start, but gradually learned throughout the season that he needed to figure out how he could contribute to his team, during both practices and games. While our competitiveness hasn't exactly rubbed off on him, he really did want to prove to us that he was coachable and focused on the task at hand. He took his role on the team seriously and by the end of the season, he was one of the better players on the team, scoring at least 1-2 baskets each game! He was bummed when it was all over. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> A week after basketball season was over, Holly and Makena came for a much-anticipated visit, at the end of their Spring Break. Since we didn't go back to Arizona for Christmas, this was the first time the girls had seen each other in 8 months. They were so excited for this time together, they could hardly sleep the nights leading up to it. We spent 3 days just being together, seeing a few local sights, and enjoying some good food. We even had a Snow Day while they were here, which was pretty magical. The day before they arrived, we had started hearing about this "coronavirus," and that it was kind of like a flu virus, but Holly felt prepared to travel with medical grade wipes for the plane, and antibacterial gel in her purse. I kept Paloma home from school that Friday, so the girls could have as much time together as possible. The news seemed to escalate over night, and by Friday afternoon, we learned that Portland schools were closing for an extended Spring Break, one week early, to allow for a complete disinfecting of the schools before students returned. Holly got an email that Makena's school was going to remained closed for a few extra days after their Spring Break for the same reason. Then on Saturday, while we stayed in our pajamas and drank coffee well into the afternoon, watching the snow fall outside, the news of this coronavirus got worse. We were so grateful to have had that time together, but we were kind of starting to freak out a little. We monitored how California was responding to it, and I even reached out to our friends who we were supposed to visit there in 10 days, asking "Would it be irresponsible for us to still come?" The friends who were going to host us over our Spring Break said, it was up to us, but we were still welcome. When I asked our former neighbors who were originally <b>REALLY EXCITED</b> to see us, their reply was "Yes, it would be irresponsible." When they said, "Stay home, don't come," I knew the outlook was grim. Schools there had already been closed, and events and gatherings of 50 or more were canceled. (Two days later, that number was reduced to gatherings of 10 or more.) Luckily, Holly and Makena returned to Phoenix totally fine, and prepared to hunker down at home when they returned. By that Monday, the term "shelter in place" was something everyone was saying, and beginning to put into practice.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5YarA2a0sxLOX7U4WUdEJIEXDyGPGqxf5_Xsj-_sEQklfMN_eubqRGF0nCNPfy1AbuiEUJzHXzBWibLKdlEv7KCdJ5w4KIkozDY8JyedTYZUzBChGqtimpOLSMZ0bh1rpUx49tERB0o/s1600/EE592F32-EC8C-4DA5-8AE9-53BD36AF4D6B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5YarA2a0sxLOX7U4WUdEJIEXDyGPGqxf5_Xsj-_sEQklfMN_eubqRGF0nCNPfy1AbuiEUJzHXzBWibLKdlEv7KCdJ5w4KIkozDY8JyedTYZUzBChGqtimpOLSMZ0bh1rpUx49tERB0o/s320/EE592F32-EC8C-4DA5-8AE9-53BD36AF4D6B.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Sheltering in place for the most part has been pretty positive. We love our new house, so we are grateful to have some time to enjoy it, figuring out what each of our favorite or most-used spaces are. For me, obviously, it's the kitchen. From 8:30am until about 9pm, it's where I spent about 75% of my time. Whether it's making breakfast while Paloma is on her video call with her 3rd grade class, then proxying her math and reading assignments, making lunch while Quincy is on his video call with his 5th grade class, then science experiments with both of them, cleaning up from all of that, then prepping for dinner while listening to a Facebook live performance from one of my favorite musicians, then a family game while we clean up, and segue into bedtime. In between these moments, I enjoy watching Sunny observe the squirrels in our front and backyards - she is desperate to catch one, or play with them - I'm not sure what might happen if they weren't able to outrun her. Letting her at least attempt to catch one, has me outside a lot throughout the day. I find myself out there, rain or shine, pruning things, pulling weeds, getting to know the various birds that make their nests in our trees and bushes - it brings me peace and calm - especially during these days of uncertainty when anxiety can surface. While she stands post at the various trees in our backyard, scouring them for any signs of squirrel activity, I water my flowers, and the herbs on my deck that I planted at the end of March, around week 2 of this whole Covid-19 situation. We've had some great days of sunshine, and plenty of rain, so they are growing wonderfully. Since my <a href="https://lechonpdx.com/" target="_blank">favorite Portland restaurant</a> is closed right now due to state-mandated closures, I've planted the herbs I need to make my own version of their amazing <a href="https://www.cookingclassy.com/chimichurri" target="_blank">chimichurri sauce</a>, and have since made three batches. We've been grilling a lot, so none of it is going to waste.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk8qZnxAylIRMuwkiVX5AN6Ew5RARZcKym00JnwYz6-C17Qdh6sfp03RazpfCW7mIZlfd9kzqVqVqvqOaFGFOLzlRdBdfDGOrsaoFQBOdL27R1xUj1pcTX5EaLB59p7nb1FjdZqV0XbI/s1600/3E8E414C-55C7-4A48-BC5C-C6D70A510A9B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk8qZnxAylIRMuwkiVX5AN6Ew5RARZcKym00JnwYz6-C17Qdh6sfp03RazpfCW7mIZlfd9kzqVqVqvqOaFGFOLzlRdBdfDGOrsaoFQBOdL27R1xUj1pcTX5EaLB59p7nb1FjdZqV0XbI/s320/3E8E414C-55C7-4A48-BC5C-C6D70A510A9B.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Solon spends 90% of his day in the home office. He is on video calls from 8:30am-3:30pm pretty much every day. A couple of those video calls are 15 minute yoga classes, and various team-building sessions, so it's not just <b>ALL WORK</b>, and for the calls that don't require a computer screen, he can take Sunny for a walk to get some fresh air and stretch his legs while he listens in. On the weekends, he has worked on house projects like putting up café lights on our back deck, getting our speaker system set up, and helping me get our house ready for future visits from family and friends. We are definitely grateful to have him here with us so much more than usual. I remember back to our first year in California, he traveled so much that people in our school community thought I was a single mom - they just never saw him - and the kids and I were used to him always being gone. We like it so much better this way. Sunny loves it too - she is in absolute heaven having all 4 of us around <b>ALL THE TIME</b>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMc2gJnwpWhvC1Jo8sz9X4DRMki94aN9Jsg2stt-82iRABZL3DwlhvOfOqg7dU2eiYx8AJVR80BkRlyj9pXKg0ldLJXTFrpw79n4Y-sMrDRHx2tkap_qa050KZuMkddVOuBoFPhOo4gU/s1600/8AA518F1-2B32-408D-9410-46F9AFA41ED0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMc2gJnwpWhvC1Jo8sz9X4DRMki94aN9Jsg2stt-82iRABZL3DwlhvOfOqg7dU2eiYx8AJVR80BkRlyj9pXKg0ldLJXTFrpw79n4Y-sMrDRHx2tkap_qa050KZuMkddVOuBoFPhOo4gU/s320/8AA518F1-2B32-408D-9410-46F9AFA41ED0.JPG" width="316" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> At the beginning of shelter-in-place, Solon and I organized the garage and turned the 3rd stall into a workout space. Some weeks, Solon and I are in there 3-4 times in the mornings before the kids wake up, getting a workout in together, which really gets our days started on the right foot. Every third week or so, however, the fatigue of this quarantine lifestyle gets to us, and we do what can, maybe only working out one morning, but taking a long family walk in the afternoons, or doing a spontaneous workout in the afternoon when we have more energy. We're trying to avoid the "<i>Covid-19-lb weight gain"</i>, and so far are definitely on the right track, but since life is all about balance, we've also definitely caught up on many Netflix shows, and I have been reading more when I can. We have done a lot of baking - I even tried making my own sourdough starter (which failed miserably somehow, but we've used the discard for some <a href="https://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/sourdough-pancakes/" target="_blank">delicious pancakes</a>), and we've had several kitchen sink science experiments that have been fun to observe. At this point, we have hit a stride with the home-based online learning (just a couple weeks left!). The kids know what is expected of them, and for the most part, they are doing their work with minimal frustrations. They are contributing more to the chores of the house, and they both help me in the kitchen, which is fun for me - I love teaching them life skills. There have been good days and bad days, several highs and a few lows, but the truth is, the bulk of the week feels like Groundhog Day for all of us. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvHYdJf5wjsd_j2W6zHwR3onnlS_14c8_-EGSZ0D4LJWJ-67TL3_05ckVkRZEuG8cGgmmvrwyaIWzpdyNhWZ8p8Go3wo-mv-1Rd0Tw7qGE5sN8ZncXTF6Zeh2gD2VN9ro4Iw0EuIE8cg/s1600/3AF43EBF-F646-49E5-A069-67B431064C8A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvHYdJf5wjsd_j2W6zHwR3onnlS_14c8_-EGSZ0D4LJWJ-67TL3_05ckVkRZEuG8cGgmmvrwyaIWzpdyNhWZ8p8Go3wo-mv-1Rd0Tw7qGE5sN8ZncXTF6Zeh2gD2VN9ro4Iw0EuIE8cg/s320/3AF43EBF-F646-49E5-A069-67B431064C8A.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some pictures since my last post:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our first Thanksgiving in Oregon!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsNDLjYl2YTvd-12uIzqFqiQ2E-AYynOOiwDJSN1TTPxOaSAutSSmeIwQvTVSjsKraR1ck8cx8_W3X481H0rkBZG9tJQIOSIwUNs2g3scvdJsDe0ZbeNS5DZFj1bwwdO7qXk_XORpivM/s1600/thanksgiving2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsNDLjYl2YTvd-12uIzqFqiQ2E-AYynOOiwDJSN1TTPxOaSAutSSmeIwQvTVSjsKraR1ck8cx8_W3X481H0rkBZG9tJQIOSIwUNs2g3scvdJsDe0ZbeNS5DZFj1bwwdO7qXk_XORpivM/s320/thanksgiving2019.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Getting our Christmas Tree!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-kisK630rlDrvtory0ekEXZM1OVO8OYpx1ArbUnmyvw2pZ99egrQVm4A0NHtZJ7SgNKGh8Eif7JfK6J_kE6W2Z6U2M7TTMzCTMke_WOKgc2CDYEEuSTi6LwpFgnAmo1cIQjVm4OFu0g/s1600/christmastree.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="640" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-kisK630rlDrvtory0ekEXZM1OVO8OYpx1ArbUnmyvw2pZ99egrQVm4A0NHtZJ7SgNKGh8Eif7JfK6J_kE6W2Z6U2M7TTMzCTMke_WOKgc2CDYEEuSTi6LwpFgnAmo1cIQjVm4OFu0g/s320/christmastree.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Quincy's 11th Birthday and Christmastime</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaK_VUxPfJVqQCg7xOJDYKEhYrHl5YAAMmcc67g-VejzlUPti86MUpSFkO_kzqH2jYXaah2Hw4N5E0VpDa295FqD8V_RV8ofPtc3vX39qiGJWMUJroRWZo1SOcrBjZNUm6XFLnWe7XtA/s1600/78844105_10158318924274903_2350447133640884224_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaK_VUxPfJVqQCg7xOJDYKEhYrHl5YAAMmcc67g-VejzlUPti86MUpSFkO_kzqH2jYXaah2Hw4N5E0VpDa295FqD8V_RV8ofPtc3vX39qiGJWMUJroRWZo1SOcrBjZNUm6XFLnWe7XtA/s320/78844105_10158318924274903_2350447133640884224_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ringing in the New Year with friends</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQBmp0YGKnFrPBVQvjD6WvPBdEDRNLw7_tUcgGhCXCJBtCrl94MimeWCYUkkV1oVn6AOhbYuh-Jboa3epEkMDVKNpkl8ttqSpMk6yQuXLJc_cwtoPFXtXlDVRnZR3G-ALwDbDRBKLCnQ/s1600/81019996_10158404859534903_2815019727275950080_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQBmp0YGKnFrPBVQvjD6WvPBdEDRNLw7_tUcgGhCXCJBtCrl94MimeWCYUkkV1oVn6AOhbYuh-Jboa3epEkMDVKNpkl8ttqSpMk6yQuXLJc_cwtoPFXtXlDVRnZR3G-ALwDbDRBKLCnQ/s320/81019996_10158404859534903_2815019727275950080_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paloma's 9th Birthday </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwLgT1ZPHUecPLXyVIIxgbJSNiZ8_0OLToJFd1__Ev5ceZvarS33qutj7BuVZ4hdpup1Myp5bbgjEP8LthMpVPxjg8CJiv8SWzQCCQn5ki5qy6KUe5ifrXxG-48i24LWanN4ANu4uJHo/s1600/82043558_10158442341959903_1399149733418631168_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwLgT1ZPHUecPLXyVIIxgbJSNiZ8_0OLToJFd1__Ev5ceZvarS33qutj7BuVZ4hdpup1Myp5bbgjEP8LthMpVPxjg8CJiv8SWzQCCQn5ki5qy6KUe5ifrXxG-48i24LWanN4ANu4uJHo/s320/82043558_10158442341959903_1399149733418631168_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sledding at Mount Hood </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(the "<b>best day</b>" of their life) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXnbWMESR1v4uwq9k_8BcjIi_l8niXexp9919-oyNHTqPAUnKaAPJpApponURPsc-mPWaRMcNqu2UBIMUFN4XzRZHcFpFXH36CO4yrNmp4Wb1fY2nKTZ7W8TEXtoJU78NSrYG-GlX-Ko/s1600/mount+hood+collage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXnbWMESR1v4uwq9k_8BcjIi_l8niXexp9919-oyNHTqPAUnKaAPJpApponURPsc-mPWaRMcNqu2UBIMUFN4XzRZHcFpFXH36CO4yrNmp4Wb1fY2nKTZ7W8TEXtoJU78NSrYG-GlX-Ko/s320/mount+hood+collage.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A visit from one of our favorite Piedmont families</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkohb9udoONA-g5rw_WbxWtGgkusVPegW8sN-NM0WYPTyJOXjtnq1bBQ6iYzAPkxSIKtRrkFe_A53H5RJOlJCgFFmr1Xq3tFEw5ZzWPZQdbuAJu_75agllS5ZXKcx9uQxkvuhEeiask4/s1600/shrievevisit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkohb9udoONA-g5rw_WbxWtGgkusVPegW8sN-NM0WYPTyJOXjtnq1bBQ6iYzAPkxSIKtRrkFe_A53H5RJOlJCgFFmr1Xq3tFEw5ZzWPZQdbuAJu_75agllS5ZXKcx9uQxkvuhEeiask4/s320/shrievevisit.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Celebrating Solon’s birthday with family</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbbqkCEv16C1PSYWIbgy8VFKCenrhZUxC8EFIRqVRtt6oPWHrPBeKEb2b4FQdJTWWdTC25xSqebSc63ADcDqnZJM0p_0hftIq1CPGZMdtWNPtxkhaeIoq5WLYIAo6wMd08OJeLsg4Hkw/s1600/75D06776-96AC-446C-B19F-F502973D746E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="640" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbbqkCEv16C1PSYWIbgy8VFKCenrhZUxC8EFIRqVRtt6oPWHrPBeKEb2b4FQdJTWWdTC25xSqebSc63ADcDqnZJM0p_0hftIq1CPGZMdtWNPtxkhaeIoq5WLYIAo6wMd08OJeLsg4Hkw/s320/75D06776-96AC-446C-B19F-F502973D746E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Time with our besties</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBEyMiksfrWYVVl5wUHg6JYFMfyUWiIe0oDmoat2SXfSfkQCSFJogFh7VgTALoieQcqfsirbTqTdFNOkhdsRUEfkdNYkGPMBc4DrsdvYclYnOX4rvzPiFGLqrJwRpyi_SAufo6jZHAJ4/s1600/E3884ABE-DF74-437B-9A27-240A1B2A085B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBEyMiksfrWYVVl5wUHg6JYFMfyUWiIe0oDmoat2SXfSfkQCSFJogFh7VgTALoieQcqfsirbTqTdFNOkhdsRUEfkdNYkGPMBc4DrsdvYclYnOX4rvzPiFGLqrJwRpyi_SAufo6jZHAJ4/s320/E3884ABE-DF74-437B-9A27-240A1B2A085B.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Day in the life of unplugged learning</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3xwqCwx4RqbYLQox5nY32X4VumAeaMOB8HAl_3vmrrMmYveL04k69ubmzy2y-231VoTFSs6Wu-D8K0PN6J4eM-l7G1SyT1-9CFf0pcpdCEH0xuuZQkUpZR3eSznjOIOpFgkwFmIsRYo/s1600/28054A32-1B2F-46F0-A493-5578BF237327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3xwqCwx4RqbYLQox5nY32X4VumAeaMOB8HAl_3vmrrMmYveL04k69ubmzy2y-231VoTFSs6Wu-D8K0PN6J4eM-l7G1SyT1-9CFf0pcpdCEH0xuuZQkUpZR3eSznjOIOpFgkwFmIsRYo/s320/28054A32-1B2F-46F0-A493-5578BF237327.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter Sunday</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Discovering Portland's finest treats</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday family hikes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Soaking in all the nature</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Demonstrating how to maintain a proper "social distance"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And wearing masks whenever we are out in public </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">and in close proximity to others</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I hope this recap finds you and yours healthy and safe. I hope that your work, your livelihood, and your mental health haven't been affected too negatively by this pandemic. I hope that this time of isolation has allowed you to connect on a deeper level to yourself, your partner, your family. I hope you haven't hesitated to pick up the phone and call someone you haven't talked to in a while. I hope that you have been able to dance around your living room, play copious amounts of board games, binge watch Netflix, read several books, try those recipes you've been collecting, look through family photos as you snuggle with your kids/pets/what have you. I hope you have ordered take-out from your favorite local restaurants, so they stay afloat during this time. I hope you write down every person you want to see, every thing you want to do, and every place you want to go (near or far), for when things get back to normal. I hope you are taking extra precautions for the health and safety of those around you, especially as states are starting to open back up. I hope that when you look back 5-10 years from now, you will be grateful for the blessings and lessons learned during this peculiar and uncertain period in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are all in this together.</span></div>
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CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-53120920795766062772019-11-20T11:31:00.003-08:002019-11-20T11:33:57.583-08:00TransitionsIt's been three months since we left California.<br />
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This summer was an 8-week whirlwind filled with some of the greatest memories we've made in a long time. It was filled with many highs and a few lows, and now that we're here in Oregon, and the dust has settled a bit, I've had some time to reflect on it all.<br />
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Our summer started off with a trip back to AZ to visit our people. Moving away from our home state makes the return hard for me, because I want to see everyone, yet I feel so disconnected to the daily norms that exist there with our family and friends. It doesn't feel like vacation (because it was home), and it just seems like there is never enough time to see everyone I want to see, and really make it quality time. I knew this was going to be our last time driving to Arizona for a while, because what was a 12-hour drive made over 2 days, will now be a 21-hour drive. Things will be different going forward. And change is hard, so I was pretty emotional that week. I remember getting there and realizing how much had changed in the lives of several people I love dearly, and combining that with what the million balls I had in the air with our impending move, I was overwhelmed and my already emotional barriers had completely overflowed.<br />
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The drive back always seems to ground me, and I just knew we had to keep plugging away, one day at a time.<br />
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Solon's sabbatical began at the end of June, and we embarked on an epic 12-day trip in a 30-foot-long Cruise America RV. It is something I HIGHLY recommend. We had a wonderful time just being together, experiencing nature and new surroundings. We saw Mount Shasta, Crater Lake, a little of the Oregon Coast, we spent time with family and friends in Seattle, we drove the kids around the Portland area, we fished in Oregon in the morning, and enjoyed our fresh catch on the grill in the California Redwood Forest later that same day. It was amazing.<br />
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The kids LOVED the RV (above); </div>
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the area around Mount Shasta was gorgeous (below)</div>
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Crater Lake was the most magical place. </div>
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I can't wait to go back and spend more time there.</div>
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There was SNOW in July!</div>
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Loving the nature all around us</div>
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Enjoying fresh seafood and campfires on the Oregon Coast</div>
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Visiting old friends in Washington</div>
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Fourth of July with FAMILY!</div>
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Visiting the Stromski family in their new home</div>
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Oregon's landscape is gorgeous</div>
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Loving that camp life</div>
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Getting our FISH on!!! Yummy Rainbow Trout</div>
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Redwood Forest, California</div>
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The following week, we flew to Portland for our house hunting trip, and after 2 months of viewing listings on the internet, we were able to have our fabulous realtor, Debbie, show us a dozen houses, of which we found one that made all 4 of us (and Sunny) super happy. Our offer was accepted by the end of the weekend. Now that we had an address of where we were going to be living, I could determine what school my kids would be going to, so now there were a few less balls in the air.<br />
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Check out that yard!</div>
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The end of July brought our 2nd epic "Sabbatical" trip of the summer, spending a couple days in New Orleans, before embarking on a 7-day Carnival Cruise with the kids, our moms, and Alynsia. The motto of this week was to be fearless, in the cuisine that we ate, and the activities that we experienced. We battled our fear of heights as we zip lined through the Jamaican jungle; the kids tried so many new foods they would normally have never even thought to try (frog's legs, jerk chicken, escargot, braised ox tongue) and actually enjoyed them; we snorkeled the barrier reef in the Cayman Islands (my favorite - can't wait to do that again); we shared a meal with my mom's side of the family in Mexico; we sang karaoke almost every night; we met the most wonderful people from all over the world. It was such an amazing trip, and my heart was so full, I had almost forgotten how quickly the hardest part of the summer was approaching.<br />
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Exploring New Orleans, LA<br />
before getting on the cruise ship (above); </div>
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Getting to know the Carnival Glory (below</div>
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Montego Bay, Jamaica</div>
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Grand Cayman Island</div>
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Cozumel/Playa del Carmen, Mexico<br />
with Mom's side of the family</div>
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Fancy Chef's dinner for my birthday = AMAZING; </div>
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Alynsia won the Friends' Trivia Contest</div>
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Saying goodbye to Piedmont was rough. Who would've thought that we would have loved it so much? I certainly wasn't sure 4 years ago when we moved there. But over our short time there, in that little community, we built an extended family that we will cherish forever. We miss our neighbors, we miss our friends, but we are so grateful for the mark our time in the Bay left on our hearts. It was a gift that I never knew I always wanted.<br />
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Our Annual end of summer culdesac dinner (above); </div>
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saying our "see-you-laters" to so many lovely people (below)</div>
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Last days in Piedmont</div>
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Fast forward a couple months, and we are in our new house and fully settled. Almost everything has a place, and almost all the paintings are on the wall. We have already had several visitors that have helped make our new space feel like home. We have met a few of our neighbors and they are great. Solon is enjoying his new position in his company's satellite office here in Portland, and after a very full, very busy summer and early fall, we are so excited to enjoy the holiday season in Oregon, creating some of our first memories in our new home.<br />
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Life has truly been an adventure over the last several months, and we are excited to see what the future holds. We hope to continue to build community in our new surroundings, and we look forward to the visits with family and friends that are to come...<br />
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Every day seems to be a reminder to me how short life is, and how important connections are, and how vital it is to nourish those connections. A month ago, October 17, my cousin Mauricio passed away at the young age of 54. He was in a really good place. He had finally found a career path that he was really excited about. He had paid his debts off. He fostered senior dogs, and worked his butt off to take care of them, and his mom. He played soccer on the weekends and did Tae Kwon Do a few times a week. He was healthy, by all means, except for the undetected clog in one of his arteries. Life is short. We have to live each day to the fullest. Surround ourselves with lovely people. Put some money aside for the unexpected. Use the fancy dishes and the crystal stemware mid-week sometimes. We need to call that family member or friend that we haven't talked to in a while. Check in with our people. And when we check in, even if it seems a little awkward with the timing, we should tell them how much they mean to us. It's those moments that matter. We may not be given tomorrow.<br />
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So my dear cousin Mauricio, here's what I know:<br />
I know that my Dad wanted kids because of how cool he thought you were.<br />
I know that my Mom thought of you as more of a son than a nephew.<br />
I know that you took Natan and me to the San Diego Zoo and the beach when we were about the same age that Quincy and Paloma are now.<br />
I know that you opened your home to us when we were older and wanted to get away for a weekend in the summer.<br />
I know that a few summers later, you let me get drunk for the first time at your house with my friend, so we could be safe and you could keep an eye on us. "Don't tell your mom," you said. "She's going to kill me."<br />
I know that when you lived in Minnesota, those were the happiest years of your life.<br />
I know how much loved spicy food, even though it made you sweat profusely.<br />
I know you loved art, and you worked on your paintings as often as you could.<br />
I know you always made room in your heart and home, for another dog that was in need.<br />
I know you tried feverishly to discover something you were passionate about for a career, and it didn't always work out, but you kept trying.<br />
I know I admired the way you would stick up for your family on one hand, and call us on our shit on the other.<br />
I know you loved your mother more than anything in this world.<br />
I know that I loved you very much cousin, and my husband and my kids did too.<br />
You will be missed dear Mauri, by all who knew you.<br />
May you rest in peace.<br />
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Mauricio Gonzalez Camarena Nieto</div>
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7/27/1965-10/17/2019</div>
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<br />CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-83506377405757041292019-06-07T07:16:00.001-07:002019-06-07T07:44:34.071-07:00Grateful, Hopeful<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">I just realized that this is my 100th post since I started sharing our life in the blogosphere 11 years ago. I think it's quite fitting that it starts off with a display of gratitude.</span><span style="font-family: "times roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">We are three months shy of our 4-year mark here in the Bay Area. Moving here took a major leap of faith, as I had lived in Arizona my whole life (36 years at that point) and we had just begun to build a community around us in Phoenix when Quincy was in Kindergarten. My dad dying only four days after we arrived in our new home threw me off my square in a major way, and it took me six months to a year before I (honestly) even made an effort to rebuild for our family. One thing at a time, brick by brick you could say, I started to slowly open myself up, and with each new activity or new friend, we started to make our little space in this lovely Piedmont community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">The various activities available to my kids refueled my many passions, and allowed me to reconnect with them, while simultaneously working with elementary-aged kids (so much fun!). Directing Quincy's 1st grade class in Beach Revue was the first thing that made me fall in love with the school, and it's community; dozens of creative and devoted parents investing every weekend for three months to bring this show to life. Coaching Paloma's softball team reinvigorated my love and passion for the game, as did playing co-ed Summer softball with Solon on the Beach Bums (2018 PRD Champions!). While teaching Lunchtime Art and After School Enrichment (<i>Art Explorations</i>), I was able to use the example my Dad had set for me at a young age, when he was an “Art Guide” at our grade school. Teaching <i>Moves and Grooves </i>after school, and even a few Zumba routines at the Berkeley YMCA, helped me remember how much I LOVE to dance, and that you can do it well, and have fun, no matter what your size or shape or ability is. Ultimately, all these things allowed me to <b>FIND JOY </b>after the loss of my father (and two years later, our dog, Forrest), and the people and connections I made throughout it all were the cherries on top!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">It’s hard to make friends as an adult. Having kids and bringing them into a school community makes it a little easier, and, as I said, it took me a while to put myself out there (not normal for me). But the beauty of Piedmont isn’t necessarily the place itself – it’s the people that live here – people who fully encompass the definition of a good neighbor. The people who made us feel welcome immediately, who received us with open arms, are still some of my favorite people that we have met in our time here. From the first dinner a neighbor made us when we came back from my Dad’s memorial service, to the many baked goods and Instant Pot soups that have been shared across our culdesac and with my dearest friend here, to the way our neighbors and nearby community celebrated my Mexican heritage on Cinco de Mayo. That party in particular is a perfect example of the growth we have had in this community. What started as an impromptu Happy Hour (with our seven sets of neighbors) in our driveway (with chips/salsa/margaritas) three years ago, turned into an 80+ people pot luck fiesta this year, where we closed off the street to through traffic, and had a fully-stocked piñata on either side of the street!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia";">I'm familiar with the saying, “You get out what you put in,” but here in Piedmont, everyone puts in so much that you feel like you (figuratively) won the lottery by living here. The school community is so tight-knit, filled with parents who give so much of their time and talents despite (mostly) everyone working a full-time job. The teachers are seriously all so wonderful, that my kids can’t pick their favorite – they love them all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, in a nutshell, here’s what I want to say:<br /><br />Dear Piedmont, CA and our Beach School Community,<br /><br />Thank you for welcoming us with open arms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you for helping us grow our village, filled with support, love, laughter, trust, carpools, and lots of food.<br /><br />Thank you for loving our kids.<br /><br />Thank you for loving our dogs, past and present.<br /><br />Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my joy and my many passions with your kids. <br /><br />Thank you for having a co-ed softball league, so Solon and I could relive our High School days, and showcase our competitiveness to our kids. (hahaha)<br /><br />Thank you for being filled with creative, compassionate, civic-minded people, who inspire me daily.<br /><br />Thank you for everything else I have forgotten to say here.<br /><br />You have made a mark on our hearts in a way that I’m not sure I can fully express. We are so grateful to have found this magical place, we will never forget this experience, and we look forward to the next time our paths cross again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, with all that said, it’s time for our family to embrace our next adventure, in Portland, Oregon!<br /><br />Solon was personally recruited for a new position that is truly a fantastic opportunity for his career, and our family. He officially signed the offer earlier this week.<br /><br />We will move to Portland at the end of the summer. After he enjoys a 6-week sabbatical in which we have two epic family trips planned, as well as some summer softball games in between.</span><br />
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Here's what I know about Portland so far - it is known for: <br /><br /> 1. FOOD - Portland is a town for people who really love to eat. Not only does it have access to the amazing Northwest seafood, but the (sustainable) farm-to-table movement is so prevalent in almost all the cuisines available, and <a href="https://www.travelportland.com/article/food-cart-pods/">food cart "pods"</a> are a thing, in every corner of the city where you can get literally any kind of food you want, from crepes, fresh vegetable bowls, to fish and chips, tacos to vegan BBQ. </span><br />
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2. THE GREAT OUTDOORS - Portland is one of the most lush, green places I have ever seen. Just 20 minutes from the city provides access to over 100 hiking trails, tons of beautiful waterfalls, and breathtaking scenery. One hour to the west is the Oregon coast, and there are vineyards, flower farms, lakes, rivers all around, not to mention the Columbia River Gorge.</span><br />
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3. COFFEE - It's an essential part of the city's character, and attracts visitors from all over the world. Portland's coffee is known for being one of the country's best (behind Seattle of course). There is an entire website devoted to guiding you to what's brewing in and around the city. <a href="http://www.caffeinatedpdx.com/">www.caffeinatedpdx.com</a> <br /><br />4. GROWN-UP BEVERAGES - Breweries. Distilleries. Urban wineries. Enough said. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnbBIhIpiNa-Ij2qObcAXNFfqCy9k0AeomTxCK6F5V1t_cY99tZNHYr6VEJzQznGsK2yEJGTTcR1xFbn9ayEQx4WaeFjRTf3O7inSwKBEz4SxEY11v7Ei5zTP4Gp_LvUbcmh3dwc9_rQ/s1600/04-urban-wineries-in-portland.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnbBIhIpiNa-Ij2qObcAXNFfqCy9k0AeomTxCK6F5V1t_cY99tZNHYr6VEJzQznGsK2yEJGTTcR1xFbn9ayEQx4WaeFjRTf3O7inSwKBEz4SxEY11v7Ei5zTP4Gp_LvUbcmh3dwc9_rQ/s320/04-urban-wineries-in-portland.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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It will be a new adventure for sure, and we are ready to find our way in our new space, as soon as we figure out exactly where that is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are some things that have brought us joy since my last post:<br /><br />Not only has Paloma advanced to Level 3 in gymnastics, she also got to try the trapeze for the first time, and nailed it LIKE A BOSS! My heart practically stopped while watching it, yet I had tears of pride in my eyes at the same time!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pDxAJFEGBOk" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Quincy has made approximately 100+ Stop Motion videos, and you can see them all on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbRZcava90jTCORsup9hyrA">YouTube Channel</a>. He just recently learned how to add effects and sound.<br /><br />Star Wars Stop Motion (with Quincy playing the piano)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pUtAPxJlVNM" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Superhero Battle (voiceover by Quincy)<br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QLpXhvlDlsk" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Sunny has been living her best life, and her favorite place in the world (besides home with all of us) is the dog park where she is a social butterfly (like her mama). She is always exhausted afterwards!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Quincy got to participate in California Living History Day at school, which gave the kids an idea of what it was like to live here pre-Gold Rush. They made candles, ground Nixtamel corn kernels to make their own tortillas, pounded holes in leather to make a satchel, and more. It was a really cool experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">We enjoyed a visit from the Belanger family </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">over our Spring Break</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We celebrated Easter with Lisa and Tony</span></div>
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Tommy and Geena spend a whole weekend with us!</div>
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Paloma has discovered a love of baking, and made me </div>
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a delicious marble cake from scratch for Mother's Day</div>
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* * * * * </div>
Our summer will be filled with many adventures. We will be GRATEFUL for all the remaining experiences to be had with our Bay Area friends and family before we leave at the end of summer, and we are HOPEFUL to find the the same kind of community when we get settled in Portland this August. <br /><br />Wish us luck!</span></div>
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CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-12340660992939884112019-03-26T13:44:00.000-07:002019-03-26T13:44:07.227-07:00Connections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I went to the Kona Club with 20 other second grade moms on Saturday night. It was the first "girls' night" I had attended in a while, and I needed it. As much as we do for our children in the day-to-day, it's important that we, as moms, get a chance to connect and bond over drinks and stories of the constant struggle we feel. For the career-moms, the struggle to be the best mom, but also provide financially for their family - feeling like they wish they could do more. And the stay-at-home moms, who (especially here in Piedmont,) are few and far between - we get maximum exposure to our kids through volunteering at school, coaching sports, etc, and we're grateful for the extra time we get with our children, but we feel the guilt of not contributing more financially. Both types of moms often feel like it's not enough. These moms are amazing and talented, and really down-to-earth, and down for their kids. And we often forget to do something just for us (because of the mom guilt), but sometimes it's nice to take a few hours to recharge among your village. So that's what we did.</div>
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Some of us talked about how we met our husbands, others discussed current projects at work, some of us got deep and talked about corners of our history that aren't always out in the open, but help explain us a little better. And I was able to talk about my big insecurity - going back to work. Trying to figure out your place in the workforce after not having a career for 10+ years can be extremely daunting. The thought of putting together a resume that is all over the place is overwhelming, because you're not sure how it will appear to a potential employer. Then comes the part of knowing you're worth. When I left my full-time job in Phoenix radio, I learned I was paid HALF of my male replacement, all because he had a degree, and most likely, because he was a man. Even though (I was told after the fact), I did a much better job than he. So then I got the degree, and then some part-time event planning before having kids, and then fast forward 10 years... how does one figure out their worth? And then the thing that makes me most hesitant: How do I find something that brings in the extra money we need to live here (because we LOVE living here), but also allows me some flexibility to be available to my kids when they need me (maybe working 9am-3pm?), and allows me to participate in their school lives the way I have been? Is it possible? So, this is what I am working on now... updating my resume and adding in the skills that I have used as a mom in the various volunteer positions I have held which are actually a lot! Event coordinating, writing social media content, website management, managing multiple groups, customer relations, etc. I've got mad skills. Now, I just need to figure out how to use them to also help my family.<br />
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Life continues to surprise me. The way our kids are growing; the little humans they are becoming. Each with a unique personality, that resembles characteristics of our various family members all rolled into one. Our house has a new energy since Sunny's arrival. She is definitely my dog. She is by my side as I type this, and she always wants to be near me in some capacity. When I leave the house, she sits in the Bay window and just watches out until I return. But she has a particular connection with each of us. Solon has found his new nap buddy, and the way she greets him when he wakes up is pure love. She will stretch out over his body, pressing her paws on either side of his face, as she showers him with licks all over. Then there's the kids. Sunny walks them to school every day, and upon drop off, immediately starts to do this slight howl/whimper sound, as if she's never going to see them again. And after a trip to the dog park, she waits for them patiently at home, until it's time to pick them up from school. Quincy is her full-size chew toy. She loves messing with him. Probably because he gives her the least attention of all of us, and she's begging him for it. Paloma is Sunny's second mommy. She cuddles her and cares for her when I'm doing various things around the house and Sunny just wants to chill. Sunny loves to sleep beside (or right on top of) Paloma, and is never too far from her when she's at home. Her love has helped us heal, as she has found her place in our family.<br />
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Spring softball has started, and it literally is the activity that makes me happiest. It makes me think of my Dad at least twice a week. He is with me the minute I have a softball in my hand. When I am on the field with these 7 and 8-year-olds, I'm hearing his words come out of my mouth as I teach them the correct batting stance, "Feet parallel, knees bent, front elbow down, back elbow up". I heard that so many times growing up, it is engrained in me. I chuckle sometimes, because I am such a stickler for proper form in this game. It's how he taught me, and now I'm sharing that. And on the weekends, there's nowhere I'd rather be than in the sunshine surrounded by kids who are learning and playing the game. Their energy, their growth, their small victories - it all brings me such joy. The highlight of course, is sharing this with Paloma, the way my dad shared it with me. To see her charge the ball with confidence, to see her pitching like her mama, to see her reach her goal of getting a hit every game, it is everything. I love it so much.<br />
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Here are the things that have brought us joy since my last post:<br />
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Quincy's 10th Birthday</div>
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Meeting Santa</div>
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Road Trip to AZ for Christmas </div>
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Women's March San Jose with Lisa</div>
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Paloma's 8th Birthday</div>
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Quincy's Basketball Season</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp2FbBznpdo6_kmRupiwwVQcokfcbTSCcpNcGIJ_TGBEEQyUOGwoX6jK6r86qDz-5xtqgv5q35BbHGD4QmovnJ2vrvwJC5HXmkFeTVlPKHOGNaXzq1v-j52Mf-jHmrg-i4I6OpZ40YFY/s1600/59561C0E-A54A-4B77-A4B2-01D1F0B13B3B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp2FbBznpdo6_kmRupiwwVQcokfcbTSCcpNcGIJ_TGBEEQyUOGwoX6jK6r86qDz-5xtqgv5q35BbHGD4QmovnJ2vrvwJC5HXmkFeTVlPKHOGNaXzq1v-j52Mf-jHmrg-i4I6OpZ40YFY/s320/59561C0E-A54A-4B77-A4B2-01D1F0B13B3B.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kick off of Spring Softball - GO PANTHERS!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVzpgXXKoz0vhnajfLttmWKXFz-TuLbffkPK7PNmxJzVpsj-vgwX8Z2C1TO-BPghhy2gT0Vp2WBMm-NXLCr7ld9n6Smh_gW-bfZvVcrwTty1fRHfoML8d316CtBdq3gX2Q2uqWl9scpQ/s1600/1E92ECC4-A865-4353-98E8-2C0F84B4474B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVzpgXXKoz0vhnajfLttmWKXFz-TuLbffkPK7PNmxJzVpsj-vgwX8Z2C1TO-BPghhy2gT0Vp2WBMm-NXLCr7ld9n6Smh_gW-bfZvVcrwTty1fRHfoML8d316CtBdq3gX2Q2uqWl9scpQ/s320/1E92ECC4-A865-4353-98E8-2C0F84B4474B.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And of course - SUNNY </div>
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Grateful for our many connections (family, friends, community), the sunshine, the promise of new life every Spring, the highs and lows, and all the excitement and adventures that lie ahead!</div>
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<br />CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-87091678360889640832018-11-28T13:38:00.002-08:002018-12-14T22:27:23.133-08:00New Beginnings<span style="color: #ffd966;">The past several months, I have been on this quest - for our family to suck the nectar out of life, and truly make the most out of every day. When your heart is broken, but there is so much life to be lived, that's what you do. You make plans, you have adventures, laugh a lot, eat yummy things, say YES more, live life with curiosity, etc.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">So we've been doing that.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">During the week, Solon's been working his butt off at the office, and I've been teaching a couple after school classes, doing Lunchtime Art twice a week at 2 different schools in our district, and I coached Fall softball. Quincy and Paloma are preparing for their piano and voice recital after the new year, both played Fall Ball, and Paloma recently moved up to Level 2 in gymnastics, and Quincy starts basketball this week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Here's a brief photo recap on the last 4 months:</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">My friends included me on their Wine Country "Girls Trip"</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicltnehKxTLghC_pkQRsqN7KDutoa-bll8ARxyQEy706ry8clUMJf1rSEUEkIdbsgooFNQPKObHC6WOebzv8k923hiNzbvzyEJoIBEUNiZcORJeQPJ84UvieT6L_H4IIKv7DPHQJTg874/s1600/IMG_2909.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicltnehKxTLghC_pkQRsqN7KDutoa-bll8ARxyQEy706ry8clUMJf1rSEUEkIdbsgooFNQPKObHC6WOebzv8k923hiNzbvzyEJoIBEUNiZcORJeQPJ84UvieT6L_H4IIKv7DPHQJTg874/s320/IMG_2909.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">Dog-sitting 2 Great Dane's: Zeus and Zoey</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0KfHRV09cX7WBZwFZ_L7tTIHEeRLD3F7L-7hqqAI_a5iIQv4gjc7vTVRQL8-nqTon-uYCXlC2ckGTz_eOnlmsut4XT5t5n29eUSLQMyy_QM1QV-qpndTIsjQAKHyMCKnJQ0ncY1021U/s1600/IMG_3005.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0KfHRV09cX7WBZwFZ_L7tTIHEeRLD3F7L-7hqqAI_a5iIQv4gjc7vTVRQL8-nqTon-uYCXlC2ckGTz_eOnlmsut4XT5t5n29eUSLQMyy_QM1QV-qpndTIsjQAKHyMCKnJQ0ncY1021U/s320/IMG_3005.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">A visit from Holly and Makena</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoKUXLlQDG0bbkx0cU8DXIH3ReMmgiosx_8xOVQYPOWb8E3kAH5av-RigvLa0cEgK-LNXEF2tr90FjLKAzDqXQ4WGj0v9SbSu1YG-nvm7AGsBVd_CRrBB5v4FM47IPLpUjKY4cLH3xjo/s1600/IMG_3098.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2z4QZIg8UgR-b55H6wZF20ePnvjk3DAaurA1M5P8sOHIBXvFO-5jGUUXI8_ryDhLvz2C51k7YENNLX9bqXttksenuF09_2UEPxtgzW1FXt5okQJe7iUdyO_tLcL43dwNXiX2tKfdssw/s1600/IMG_3144.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2z4QZIg8UgR-b55H6wZF20ePnvjk3DAaurA1M5P8sOHIBXvFO-5jGUUXI8_ryDhLvz2C51k7YENNLX9bqXttksenuF09_2UEPxtgzW1FXt5okQJe7iUdyO_tLcL43dwNXiX2tKfdssw/s320/IMG_3144.JPG" width="240" /></a></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoKUXLlQDG0bbkx0cU8DXIH3ReMmgiosx_8xOVQYPOWb8E3kAH5av-RigvLa0cEgK-LNXEF2tr90FjLKAzDqXQ4WGj0v9SbSu1YG-nvm7AGsBVd_CRrBB5v4FM47IPLpUjKY4cLH3xjo/s1600/IMG_3098.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoKUXLlQDG0bbkx0cU8DXIH3ReMmgiosx_8xOVQYPOWb8E3kAH5av-RigvLa0cEgK-LNXEF2tr90FjLKAzDqXQ4WGj0v9SbSu1YG-nvm7AGsBVd_CRrBB5v4FM47IPLpUjKY4cLH3xjo/s320/IMG_3098.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">Our co-ed softball team - Beach Bums - winning the Championship!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5aXWIy7gsGEb4WUl-Uvjfm7DDdY9H7VFOv2gX9Tx40OWZzNlPTRlMyA7Ofk4XLq71b87b7-mhGR5F_K-sktb1EhTVRkKCeCeh7AcZ8PCw3HxScw5d8dyblw37td1kGuOXiF7zPq8HIU/s1600/IMG_3341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5aXWIy7gsGEb4WUl-Uvjfm7DDdY9H7VFOv2gX9Tx40OWZzNlPTRlMyA7Ofk4XLq71b87b7-mhGR5F_K-sktb1EhTVRkKCeCeh7AcZ8PCw3HxScw5d8dyblw37td1kGuOXiF7zPq8HIU/s320/IMG_3341.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">A new school year begins - 2nd and 4th grade</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhkuidnAzT-vKSwBXI7ZuAWFUxNmL4lAS0JNUHRjQHTaBcKbzZtwBt8SlZzCB8-4kJ0Da39DUzP8ZNOSjGtcLITx6l3w_47-LfQ2aFyiTwTMV9vzVWeWxKjBBILSuFwXNL8gaY0sV2Vo/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhkuidnAzT-vKSwBXI7ZuAWFUxNmL4lAS0JNUHRjQHTaBcKbzZtwBt8SlZzCB8-4kJ0Da39DUzP8ZNOSjGtcLITx6l3w_47-LfQ2aFyiTwTMV9vzVWeWxKjBBILSuFwXNL8gaY0sV2Vo/s320/IMG_3402.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">Labor Day weekend exploring Carlin Falls and Hetch Hetchy outside Yosemite</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lLdIRBqOCQUcsZJVV_atmlU7ShDLpzqGEdPPXd3ApGJ07vvFU5v7azFXUkS6IAsCJ8Ec7pJsgeoUzFYTzDfK60keT6IK-BgG6hEZUIFn2kzAzfA9CjwyLKqWLoajLWubDr4ICYoqEd8/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lLdIRBqOCQUcsZJVV_atmlU7ShDLpzqGEdPPXd3ApGJ07vvFU5v7azFXUkS6IAsCJ8Ec7pJsgeoUzFYTzDfK60keT6IK-BgG6hEZUIFn2kzAzfA9CjwyLKqWLoajLWubDr4ICYoqEd8/s320/IMG_3820.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IpbkZvr4qK-KCBIM9OKyesUWO8sPVkHdwLm39UE1AHpTXaz-WwAEHWeOullsHScgelYlOmRhJoxzN1DU3ZeaihYH8ckvM8MDz6dyedpHouYIjpjI-LRdAOvFT9dj-uQc1I-WueXQOaw/s1600/IMG_3845.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IpbkZvr4qK-KCBIM9OKyesUWO8sPVkHdwLm39UE1AHpTXaz-WwAEHWeOullsHScgelYlOmRhJoxzN1DU3ZeaihYH8ckvM8MDz6dyedpHouYIjpjI-LRdAOvFT9dj-uQc1I-WueXQOaw/s320/IMG_3845.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJMoL2PGcLoTwJtNBVo3HVoiSO4BKnSIFg6wUDTx5Ey8-MHNh-3-x_5ivPITBYzC6snsDGJ8MPxaco6DNdK1k6F-QHTbFQRMGhH5fDXpUNrS4rqD21q2gue5cGbuTnJ2Wrn-eEvV6-6U/s1600/IMG_3853.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJMoL2PGcLoTwJtNBVo3HVoiSO4BKnSIFg6wUDTx5Ey8-MHNh-3-x_5ivPITBYzC6snsDGJ8MPxaco6DNdK1k6F-QHTbFQRMGhH5fDXpUNrS4rqD21q2gue5cGbuTnJ2Wrn-eEvV6-6U/s320/IMG_3853.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">Paloma had her first try at pitching during Fall Softball</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71RVe-rblcwaDI1pppmmauVy5HphWUMHIcEDzShZXGvju1tgqQStsHneJv2cQ-EQKj_4DN5BjGCoqlOuSCvXh_uy3nUdQ83wjzPCmMEKvLclhFXS-6yjPi03WBpYcxH0O32INS51mFaU/s1600/0905B92D-B6E0-48DA-9AA6-4F1C66D85ADC.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71RVe-rblcwaDI1pppmmauVy5HphWUMHIcEDzShZXGvju1tgqQStsHneJv2cQ-EQKj_4DN5BjGCoqlOuSCvXh_uy3nUdQ83wjzPCmMEKvLclhFXS-6yjPi03WBpYcxH0O32INS51mFaU/s320/0905B92D-B6E0-48DA-9AA6-4F1C66D85ADC.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">Lisa and I went grape-stomping in Napa</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWuiXScZ6L9-d6xLRtAeGWTVaEeM3dFl_tCHqneMwaaYbl_OPhliFTQL5iQugpaEm_yG_OVimyYq0AKinoz70pvrDZWPD_kyTyOJlukhU6LAnKrFiPJkkA_0uhD-PagDCtqm4RDg2UNI/s1600/IMG_4405.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWuiXScZ6L9-d6xLRtAeGWTVaEeM3dFl_tCHqneMwaaYbl_OPhliFTQL5iQugpaEm_yG_OVimyYq0AKinoz70pvrDZWPD_kyTyOJlukhU6LAnKrFiPJkkA_0uhD-PagDCtqm4RDg2UNI/s200/IMG_4405.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH45wypYhT_V9v3-YOYH4qK73e9d8sDvVuruoFHPlzprMs3HIFgknQzwxMz3zIv8OC-Zgu4Mhl4OhAU3Z6AAr_AqyFN3kf2akMDRP5RlfEa0fzU0ohgCRQXzOOlB7SyAcsJlZsQOdQE7M/s1600/IMG_4443.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH45wypYhT_V9v3-YOYH4qK73e9d8sDvVuruoFHPlzprMs3HIFgknQzwxMz3zIv8OC-Zgu4Mhl4OhAU3Z6AAr_AqyFN3kf2akMDRP5RlfEa0fzU0ohgCRQXzOOlB7SyAcsJlZsQOdQE7M/s200/IMG_4443.JPG" width="150" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuZLe1X4ntlZ8G9SIR2DKvA3h2e1-LYb8C9ZGlNbfP9veKY77oQv0GbqZ9DFzpU4nl_80JcA17dpOe6bxl1OO6rDvFjJX1nSVRsR4wG2PkhP3LkZrydrOG8OjfGczjvp5LWPNMf9Qbvk/s1600/IMG_4450.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuZLe1X4ntlZ8G9SIR2DKvA3h2e1-LYb8C9ZGlNbfP9veKY77oQv0GbqZ9DFzpU4nl_80JcA17dpOe6bxl1OO6rDvFjJX1nSVRsR4wG2PkhP3LkZrydrOG8OjfGczjvp5LWPNMf9Qbvk/s320/IMG_4450.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">Halloween Time at Disneyland</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYK7-4fFHD3CaQEUczYk1ID0jI6yNkH04PO0GxLg1Q6qfVgMLwu9Fijs8EaB2dgvNGOQ19Fc3JVGedmMfhTvw7YLdKuWS4rGanBavWEfCxe7OBjayQJj-C4Inj5mxg0cn9In8MxBD5TM/s1600/E9540EBE-6CE1-4032-A3C1-B54E1944504B.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYK7-4fFHD3CaQEUczYk1ID0jI6yNkH04PO0GxLg1Q6qfVgMLwu9Fijs8EaB2dgvNGOQ19Fc3JVGedmMfhTvw7YLdKuWS4rGanBavWEfCxe7OBjayQJj-C4Inj5mxg0cn9In8MxBD5TM/s320/E9540EBE-6CE1-4032-A3C1-B54E1944504B.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">HALLOWEEN!!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Quincy as The Punisher</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP6MMDy7Vehgfe_Gcv5hQo75-Z-zc4E3kp1Y675ZndoAGGpkIf6ASfJb7nSclHztPa4Cje2aiOahFWnTYUmCVp1ec1dD8drLw34SyX0mTom1cP_lyT-S7-XpaLUb-G1qTI4AF7j3Rldc/s1600/IMG_5064.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYP6MMDy7Vehgfe_Gcv5hQo75-Z-zc4E3kp1Y675ZndoAGGpkIf6ASfJb7nSclHztPa4Cje2aiOahFWnTYUmCVp1ec1dD8drLw34SyX0mTom1cP_lyT-S7-XpaLUb-G1qTI4AF7j3Rldc/s320/IMG_5064.jpg" width="201" /></a></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-0_q0SfTQGbNDrwU6vL3G5oiqEfQJ79ISHVNAoIs8_6z39UKUxpI2tgBPn0-7lujHGWpYjx1MYLvhAneRdWka8D2Rn4v-WEOig4NOVe4ngCHvpq_NmCeh68wm3C7IqC8uAcSHwWQW3Y/s1600/9D94543B-5829-4DC3-A960-1002A4327C58.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-0_q0SfTQGbNDrwU6vL3G5oiqEfQJ79ISHVNAoIs8_6z39UKUxpI2tgBPn0-7lujHGWpYjx1MYLvhAneRdWka8D2Rn4v-WEOig4NOVe4ngCHvpq_NmCeh68wm3C7IqC8uAcSHwWQW3Y/s320/9D94543B-5829-4DC3-A960-1002A4327C58.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;">We dressed up with friends to recreate characters from </span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">The Greatest Showman</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Paloma as Lettie Lutz, the Bearded Lady</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Violet as Anne Wheeler - trapeze artist</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Chiaty as one Albino twin - dancer</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Solon as Mr. Bennett, the theatre critic who calls the show a circus</span><br />
<span style="color: orange;">And yours truly, as PT Barnum, the Greatest Showman</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGGM6xqbjuNvl8-K91D0sz8OW3ySHlzWvZ9aUFvjSNS3MkB9_dFd2JxENyadBjjVshk474PW_r78AF_-7eCh62LOdwu0OAO91cXDbWoZSoblmP9mI4G5UjdxEL5suTXxp6Q-HqpzkO-Q/s1600/IMG_5207.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGGM6xqbjuNvl8-K91D0sz8OW3ySHlzWvZ9aUFvjSNS3MkB9_dFd2JxENyadBjjVshk474PW_r78AF_-7eCh62LOdwu0OAO91cXDbWoZSoblmP9mI4G5UjdxEL5suTXxp6Q-HqpzkO-Q/s320/IMG_5207.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;">"Mr. Bennett, I am blushing!"</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ1Dhm9GIQFii6jfakfEKVQU0u2wWpKU54a6phi96ab9I-FcfAGWx4w-xeNciXHcPKT_kiZfTM0gb4-swKJ_-dKA6jVVCzycgGlVIma_PG1zceiKmsiToN92kmwpN1zxP65EsjVI2Fus/s1600/IMG_5153.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZ1Dhm9GIQFii6jfakfEKVQU0u2wWpKU54a6phi96ab9I-FcfAGWx4w-xeNciXHcPKT_kiZfTM0gb4-swKJ_-dKA6jVVCzycgGlVIma_PG1zceiKmsiToN92kmwpN1zxP65EsjVI2Fus/s320/IMG_5153.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">Marsielle came to visit for his birthday!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLSSlRAb62gs0gwyaiZmNUq1G6aUtk_R6QIEg2eILYZwZmewmMsroNbrX_mXrsubGP0ALXPHIAWX1btwMwFQbmOsrq_kWB-mTSo1UsUJJaXlajazoTD2rvoNvuuLFmRReC3c5L46fLaU/s1600/E2EFA87A-7ADC-4AEF-B896-456D6E6407C3.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLSSlRAb62gs0gwyaiZmNUq1G6aUtk_R6QIEg2eILYZwZmewmMsroNbrX_mXrsubGP0ALXPHIAWX1btwMwFQbmOsrq_kWB-mTSo1UsUJJaXlajazoTD2rvoNvuuLFmRReC3c5L46fLaU/s320/E2EFA87A-7ADC-4AEF-B896-456D6E6407C3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">My mom flew in for a pre-Thanksgiving treat</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9smFboQAm5BpCy72yj1T1jg1PipaVifavn9ds80HpgjADQgh1B-qWuL7X673vX-6lGWfmI2i3CM_moZs-gCxJsixtrRX5Vha2h-Yx7bLVidxzS68l7OyY_KW_A7hBHNS1s5f1DUVCMmQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-11-28+at+12.30.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9smFboQAm5BpCy72yj1T1jg1PipaVifavn9ds80HpgjADQgh1B-qWuL7X673vX-6lGWfmI2i3CM_moZs-gCxJsixtrRX5Vha2h-Yx7bLVidxzS68l7OyY_KW_A7hBHNS1s5f1DUVCMmQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-11-28+at+12.30.47+PM.png" width="252" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: orange;">We ate our weight in food on Thanksgiving</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxk25mpO5vSYu8FhySTaRxUWtMBvSBn20i9ydXqYgAo8vwV2_t4xSzdOsbnkDBAhABxBeyvFNc_EdwD3qlKUZ_vnhMQf4kAHVU-fee-ZO_lWaWY4t0Xd9OdpKJg5PkixD4qNqzAHANyc/s1600/B8084B86-D010-4527-8C3D-E676F282BB3F.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: orange;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxk25mpO5vSYu8FhySTaRxUWtMBvSBn20i9ydXqYgAo8vwV2_t4xSzdOsbnkDBAhABxBeyvFNc_EdwD3qlKUZ_vnhMQf4kAHVU-fee-ZO_lWaWY4t0Xd9OdpKJg5PkixD4qNqzAHANyc/s320/B8084B86-D010-4527-8C3D-E676F282BB3F.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;">And then, last Friday night, I saw a picture that gave me the butterflies.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNMPQz7NognZ5iwMyLn3dAEq9suSKy4xXeDiXkU4Yy32tumrw-AdzdBSihcojshTOGoFCar7Tk-e6Qu7rZJP-1H1wgk46z3R-4_RAb98sKwLz8WinteMCZgFuxBwNJ-ZTLMLEBdMENkY/s1600/IMG_5647.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNMPQz7NognZ5iwMyLn3dAEq9suSKy4xXeDiXkU4Yy32tumrw-AdzdBSihcojshTOGoFCar7Tk-e6Qu7rZJP-1H1wgk46z3R-4_RAb98sKwLz8WinteMCZgFuxBwNJ-ZTLMLEBdMENkY/s320/IMG_5647.jpg" width="194" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">The kids have been ready for a puppy for a little while now. The house has been empty since we lost Forrest - it's been almost a year. The truth is, I haven't been ready. My heart has been so broken. Getting another dog too quickly seemed like we'd be trying to "replace" him, it just didn't feel right. And while I had been giving love to all the dogs that pass my way, and randomly searching dog rescue sites online, I just didn't have it in me to think of moving on. And then, the day before Thanksgiving, our piano teacher Paul (who loved Forrest very much) said to me, "You know, you have so much love in your heart to give, the best way you can honor Forrest is to share that love with another creature who needs a good home." People had been telling me some version of this for a few months, but for whatever reason, I really HEARD it this time. It was as if my heart was opened again once I heard those words - open to the opportunity of loving again.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">And then, two nights later, as I was casually scrolling through Facebook, I see this post in my newsfeed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="color: #ffd966;">A female puppy had been abandoned - tied to a light post, pregnant - in Tilden Park. When realizing the owner wasn't coming back, a woman working there took the dog to the vet, where it was confirmed she had a whole litter in there. The day after Labor Day, 8 beautiful puppies were born. The mom is a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, and the dad (it's suspected) is a Labradoodle Mix.</span></i><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">I showed Solon, and he looked at me the same way he looked at me 13 years ago when Lisa called us from the Pumpkin Patch about Forrest. He told me to post a comment and see what happens.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">I commented on the post, and interacted a couple times with the guy who posted the original message. The last I heard, he said he would have time that weekend for us to come meet the puppies that were left. Then I waited to hear back for confirmation - three WHOLE days, before I thought, "let me just try again". Paloma had been asking every day, "Has the guy written you back Mommy?" She wanted that puppy so desperately. I kept saying, "If it's meant to be, it will be. If not, we'll look again after Christmas." She was so sad that we hadn't heard back that I asked my neighbor if we could borrow her dog for an hour of cuddle time - seriously! On Monday afternoon, I sent a private message to a friend of the person who posted the original message, and asked if she knew if there were any puppies left. I plugged my phone in to charge and left it in the kitchen. I had been checking my phone every hour for 3 days, and I was tired of looking at it. We popped in a movie, and ate dinner as a family in front of the TV. Out of the blue, Solon asks me to go check it. I tell him "No, I'm tired of getting my hopes up." He asks me to check it one more time - he says, "Last time I'll ask..."</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">So he followed me into the kitchen, and in that moment, it all came together. Shannon put me in touch with her step-mom Suzy who had been taking care of the puppies, and when I called and heard that the little girl from the picture was the last one available, I literally burst into projectile tears. Solon looked at me like, "What is happening to you right now?" I still don't know how my kids didn't hear me absolutely hysterical in the next room. But Suzy heard my tears, and my story about losing Forrest, and about how my stomach flipped when I saw that little girl dog's face, and she said, "Oh honey, she's meant to be yours! She's been waiting for you!"</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">I arranged to pick her up the next day, and Solon and I decided to keep it a surprise until the kids came home from school.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">It was love at first sight.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQTo_NzHlWi50_Y_-Xh62LMbakXvblMlZsrJuoTtgcGeq6HnxTi8WK0RpPnQtDs08TaTMUtj56L9X1Uj7LnK1jDUZU_g9pbagCd1HIYQhNk8qbwsZaWSX4WcNA9bK5qvKJuqHllq59bk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-11-28+at+1.25.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQTo_NzHlWi50_Y_-Xh62LMbakXvblMlZsrJuoTtgcGeq6HnxTi8WK0RpPnQtDs08TaTMUtj56L9X1Uj7LnK1jDUZU_g9pbagCd1HIYQhNk8qbwsZaWSX4WcNA9bK5qvKJuqHllq59bk/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-11-28+at+1.25.24+PM.png" width="275" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYiGtBMJxKOt3sOGyq-rc6Mo52g2TfjXFdMabodHG2RBiBfdYnZlMmSDIkp9sSXkt-_0tUFlkjYppildCEeJmFadPdBHmoqnr5wbNwYSKQF5VWLmBy3xmrVbf-d37o1f5orhRT68RgBc/s1600/IMG_6092.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYiGtBMJxKOt3sOGyq-rc6Mo52g2TfjXFdMabodHG2RBiBfdYnZlMmSDIkp9sSXkt-_0tUFlkjYppildCEeJmFadPdBHmoqnr5wbNwYSKQF5VWLmBy3xmrVbf-d37o1f5orhRT68RgBc/s320/IMG_6092.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHmJmUb9RePWl7pipyCk4gHJru0DHXaRF_e2gYiubCNFqQza6CkOKIDYKHjx-e8i7rnN8ALEDvB0AoAKVUbcdtNn3-fvZW2bUUQ4JgmCtfjMYRL0RH7yM3wkdIZE6_IXjRwRHdK8EXjE/s1600/IMG_5663.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHmJmUb9RePWl7pipyCk4gHJru0DHXaRF_e2gYiubCNFqQza6CkOKIDYKHjx-e8i7rnN8ALEDvB0AoAKVUbcdtNn3-fvZW2bUUQ4JgmCtfjMYRL0RH7yM3wkdIZE6_IXjRwRHdK8EXjE/s320/IMG_5663.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD3vp9_kUeStu5_r3FKMfVdUkJaJOB1u3Hsmq3jncfxBOblttkiCLglbmOt2v3qIiS6PqjIzc5t-dBBT0QrMyoLNiZ3CDbogZwia9ucwJswE4jn3phlt9SL2x-s2cW0liqLz4KBaRo9Y/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-11-28+at+1.26.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD3vp9_kUeStu5_r3FKMfVdUkJaJOB1u3Hsmq3jncfxBOblttkiCLglbmOt2v3qIiS6PqjIzc5t-dBBT0QrMyoLNiZ3CDbogZwia9ucwJswE4jn3phlt9SL2x-s2cW0liqLz4KBaRo9Y/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-11-28+at+1.26.50+PM.png" width="240" /></a></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01DE_PvT6p7u6vliR5olZG9wtJ1CFgd5XM-yZMiv9aaaDznegtU0FiaJLqExbii2mbLO3zqXOrsOV2wYeGKPvLiGj0I4GXfWzW89p7qFiz5o2caH9hyphenhyphen-CNqnHfXTzVjVKd1a-hKT1WQA/s1600/IMG_5669.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: #ffd966;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01DE_PvT6p7u6vliR5olZG9wtJ1CFgd5XM-yZMiv9aaaDznegtU0FiaJLqExbii2mbLO3zqXOrsOV2wYeGKPvLiGj0I4GXfWzW89p7qFiz5o2caH9hyphenhyphen-CNqnHfXTzVjVKd1a-hKT1WQA/s320/IMG_5669.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;">Here's the song I heard in my head the very first time I saw her:</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_y2PvMNrnRU" width="560"></iframe>
</span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">This is SUNNY (formerly known as "Ginger"), with Forrest looking over her in the background</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCE1H2DjTe_DEWl5vWd260XQHOyHilyvLX3mH9yULDZqc_ADbF5UtNu8jpKQdPvFTphmg5n1lghyphenhyphenm0hshkxcupKJ-omEba-bRq5DCtL7OagpKDbVyi0Vt6MdLvPiwAYUwnogHOZw7Z7c/s1600/IMG_5700.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCE1H2DjTe_DEWl5vWd260XQHOyHilyvLX3mH9yULDZqc_ADbF5UtNu8jpKQdPvFTphmg5n1lghyphenhyphenm0hshkxcupKJ-omEba-bRq5DCtL7OagpKDbVyi0Vt6MdLvPiwAYUwnogHOZw7Z7c/s320/IMG_5700.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;">She is laying right beside me as I type this</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYv5nfhwAUoRA_QpKGkDuzBxMHDKuECamwF-KdcRZaJJ_yjawtXNQFNPSuEbjGrWXLayP5kHwyKDdo2IxLm_i68S-ODj9MZjGM_m5pSdAgUdze_lwDqeCYvmYbP-fdzMrzx898b6Yb-6M/s1600/IMG_5716.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYv5nfhwAUoRA_QpKGkDuzBxMHDKuECamwF-KdcRZaJJ_yjawtXNQFNPSuEbjGrWXLayP5kHwyKDdo2IxLm_i68S-ODj9MZjGM_m5pSdAgUdze_lwDqeCYvmYbP-fdzMrzx898b6Yb-6M/s320/IMG_5716.JPG" width="240" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">So here's to new beginnings with our newest family member. She is so loving, and sweet, and fits in wonderfully to our daily rhythms. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966;">We look forward to the joy she will bring us.</span><br />
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<br />CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-61259757323319407142018-07-18T15:03:00.001-07:002018-07-23T12:50:21.130-07:00Family is Everything<div style="text-align: left;">
Road trips are so therapeutic for me. Even with the kids (which I realize may sound crazy to some people). In two weeks, it will mark 3 years since moving to Northern California, and in that 3 years time, the kids and I have made the 12-hour drive between the Bay Area and Phoenix, AZ at least 7-8 times. We've had the routine down, every time - it's all about the destination - meaning, when we stop at the halfway point to spend the night, it's usually at a hotel right off the highway. We stop, eat, sleep, and hit the road the next day. No extras. But this year, we did it a little differently - with new intentions. More on that later...</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The therapy part of the road trip comes in waves. When the kids and I start driving, I take song requests from the kids, and I sing along with them as their (now) 9 and 7-year-old personalities come out in the funniest ways. While I still think my kids are "so cute", I learn in these moments of togetherness how "cool" they are, too. They are kind to one another in the beginning of the road trip. Considerate of one another's space, song choices, sharing of the breakfast I brought for them to eat on the go. It's very sweet to see their love for one another displayed in the simplest ways. Of course by hour 4.5 we go through a period where I swear their brains have been beamed by the dudes from Men In Black, and they have forgotten everything we have taught them on kindness and respect towards your sibling, but it's usually something a little truck stop snack can fix in a jiffy. The final 2-hours of the drive are my favorite. The kids are either asleep or listening to the playlists I created for them on our old iPods. Quincy's in the back listening to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" on repeat, Paloma's listening to "The Greatest Showman" soundtrack, while I have on the Indigo Girls, or Counting Crows, or Gin Blossoms, or Joshua Radin - music that I don't have to skip around on, I can just let it play while I watch the landscape change slightly, as I reflect on the last 6 months of our life.</div>
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Since March, I have felt a sense of connection to my community and a purpose within it, in a major way. This Spring, I have said to myself repeatedly, "My cup runneth over", because of the joy I was receiving in my heart each time I was interacting with my kids and their friends through our various activities.</div>
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First, their performances in the 50th Annual Beach Revue this year were just so amazing to be a part of. I seriously <b>LIVE FOR</b> the Beach Revue. As someone who grew up on the stage (first my parents' living room, then an actual stage from grade school through high school), my heart bursts with excitement each time this event rolls around. To help guide these kids on stage, teaching them how to have stage presence at an early age, gives them <b>SO MUCH CONFIDENCE</b> - they will carry it forever. To show them how their dedication to each other, and the hard work they put in each weekend at rehearsal, pays off in the end - well frankly, it leaves me giddy for at least a week post-performance. Sure, I'm usually sick and run-ragged by the end of it, but it is a natural-high that I don't think I can adequately describe to someone who's not a fan of the stage.</div>
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<span style="color: orange;">Here is Paloma performing <b><i>"Rock and Roll All Night"</i> </b>by<b> </b>KISS with her fellow 1st graders (she is 4th from the left) (they appear after the brief skit by the 5th graders):</span><br />
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<span style="color: lime;">Here is Quincy performing <b><i>"U Can't Touch This"</i></b> by Oakland's own MC Hammer </span><span style="color: lime;">with his fellow 3rd graders </span><br />
<span style="color: lime;">(they appear after the brief skit by the 5th graders)</span><span style="color: lime;">:</span><br />
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Just as Beach Revue was coming to an end, baseball and softball season was starting for both kids. I was coaching Paloma's 6U Mermaids team this year, and Quincy went up to the Mustang Division (3rd/4th graders) where it was his first year of kid-pitch. The kids are bigger and stronger than the previous division (those 4th graders<b> </b>look <b>HUGE</b>!) so I was only slightly terrified that he would get hit in the face with the ball. Luckily, he only got hurt once, catching a line-drive at 2nd base with his arm instead of his glove, but after an inning on the bench, and a <i><b>WIN</b></i> by his team (the Panthers), he was fine. Coaching Paloma's team this season was so fulfilling for me. My love of the game was truly reinvigorated through these Kindergarteners and 1st graders - they were so committed to learning the game, and crushing the ball! I was super-fortunate to have an amazing assistant coach and parent roster as well. It takes way more than two people to run a team, and these parents pitched in even if they didn't know the game. They were willing to learn alongside their kids, and I guarantee those will be memories they each cherish down the road.<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;">Paloma excited for her end-of-season Mermaid cupcake, and Quincy's team receiving their 2nd place medal after the Championship game</span></div>
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This elementary age is SO FUN for me as a mom. Watching these kiddos learn new things about the world, and forming their own opinions is fascinating. Seeing how much they grow from month-to-month just blows my mind.<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">Example: Quincy's comic-book-style drawings</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Example: Paloma and her gymnastics
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Encouraging them to face their fears is something I need to lead by example, and so being a mom at this stage is teaching me how to put myself into situations of growth, and trying new things. In the past few months, I have gone on thrill rides, done a zipline and ropes course, and kayaked for the first time, all in an effort to face my fears (heights, the immensity of the ocean, etc), in hopes that they will see me not die or get hurt, and they will feel brave enough to try something. It's working for one child more than the other. 😂<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">This photo reflects that sentiment perfectly</span></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">Me attempting to zipline, and holding on too tight, which caused me to go SO SLOW that I thought I was going to get stuck, and then I finally loosened my grip at the end and experienced what it was really supposed to feel like</span>😂😂</div>
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<span style="color: orange;">This is what it's SUPPOSED to look like:</span></div>
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Since the end of April, we have spent at least two weekends per month with family of some sort, which has been absolutely wonderful.<br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">Lake Merritt with Grandpa Meredith and Mimi</span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(128, 0, 128); text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Taylor Swift Concert with Alynsia and Lisa</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">My Mommy came to see us!</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Our first trip back to Iowa as a family in four years!</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">We had a blast connecting with family, and friends from Solon's childhood and college days</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;"> Uncle Tom</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">And Tatyana</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Louie and 2/3 of his kids</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">The Prince Family</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Aunt Sandy</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">I love this moment between Quincy </span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">and his great-grandpa Leroy</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Cousin Kelly</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">The kids with "Pap"</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Uncle Dicky and Aunt Sandy</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Family Time</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Marcus aka Man!</span></div>
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<span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: yellow;">Michael and Kathy</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Fishing with Papa Allen at Lake MacBride</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCexm0iMzDYzW1_ySoJSH5fNwefup5PBWC1fHy-MOHFuKRVFs6rhqq-s6yLqSPMlRqBpJ2fyMC-Movixgxt-zkNbqnt5hUJ7yXf6QK4rATKNVfm6nkZ6i_NAoDRslgKtQLJoIdoXjIS0/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: yellow;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCexm0iMzDYzW1_ySoJSH5fNwefup5PBWC1fHy-MOHFuKRVFs6rhqq-s6yLqSPMlRqBpJ2fyMC-Movixgxt-zkNbqnt5hUJ7yXf6QK4rATKNVfm6nkZ6i_NAoDRslgKtQLJoIdoXjIS0/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;"> <span style="text-align: center;">We even fulfilled a life-long dream of mine to visit </span></span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="text-align: center;">the Field of Dreams in Dyersville</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjqYaxoKHDace7HqsSPMAWluBaIvcVGPM4mM8UIKKsImxYI7fVWryfz7FRJC_aisXrbPOp-64wv4xZYCTcEIvWEs6KT-NxEmJQPXEEmvHyCa69vlF8XVpTPVDzs7lj-3V9pmz8qnPIU4/s1600/IMG_3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjqYaxoKHDace7HqsSPMAWluBaIvcVGPM4mM8UIKKsImxYI7fVWryfz7FRJC_aisXrbPOp-64wv4xZYCTcEIvWEs6KT-NxEmJQPXEEmvHyCa69vlF8XVpTPVDzs7lj-3V9pmz8qnPIU4/s320/IMG_3453.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkDM41MaknG_mhMO4f1I_WM96ePENpBKP7MWlkYBfNs8CZwGu2nr8vOXERLtfYaTNwhWWvey4wA-pLVZutmYpdzwKWTghbQDr6KQ7ytwZEqwZH5o5sLiXw-hBq9wqk65oAtrD7JRu6ok/s1600/99823F1C-B2A2-4F71-B6CB-46F85841061A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkDM41MaknG_mhMO4f1I_WM96ePENpBKP7MWlkYBfNs8CZwGu2nr8vOXERLtfYaTNwhWWvey4wA-pLVZutmYpdzwKWTghbQDr6KQ7ytwZEqwZH5o5sLiXw-hBq9wqk65oAtrD7JRu6ok/s320/99823F1C-B2A2-4F71-B6CB-46F85841061A.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">For some, this place may have just been a stop off the side of the road, but for me, this lived up to the hype and provided me with the nostalgia I needed to feel in my heart. </span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">The Field of Dreams movie was about your dreams coming true. Spending one more day with my Daddy is a dream I will always have, and for a moment, I was able to talk with him and feel him beside me as I reminisced about the dozens of times we saw the movie together as a family, and how much he loved the game of baseball. </span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">We laughed, and I also couldn't stop crying, as we made this beautiful memory as a family.</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;"> On our way to the airport we made a couple last stops... </span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">to see Romeo and "Biggie"</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">and to pay our respects to our family members </span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow;">who have passed, </span><span style="color: yellow;">especially Gaga who we lost this year</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime;">After we returned from Iowa, </span></div>
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<span style="color: lime;">the Stromski family stopped in the Bay Area </span><span style="color: lime;">for a visit on the way to their new home in Washington state!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuiPaaYn9wvvy_n8VFqIJk10ccIs8L3RDMPItl07gv8jxkDlIyFRu55MelP4FbFtTb_WpKuC7rT2LVR2VsedXKseXQGFSnqqOVa4Fae3Y8iNrIzT4ONfkcwdWOlkJu-9yACwajTL9mps/s1600/IMG_2035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuiPaaYn9wvvy_n8VFqIJk10ccIs8L3RDMPItl07gv8jxkDlIyFRu55MelP4FbFtTb_WpKuC7rT2LVR2VsedXKseXQGFSnqqOVa4Fae3Y8iNrIzT4ONfkcwdWOlkJu-9yACwajTL9mps/s320/IMG_2035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">For Father's Day we went sport fishing </span></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;">in the San Francisco Bay</span></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;"> Paloma made the first catch of the day!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">The Castro Family came to visit us, </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">and experience all that San Francisco has to offer</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">A visit from my Colorado cousins kicked off July</span> </div>
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<span style="color: red;">We spent the 4th of July with Sasa & Tony, </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">and a surprise visit from Mimi and Grandpa Meredith</span></div>
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The next day, the kids and I hit the road for AZ, stopping in Los Angeles for the day to visit a museum, and have dinner. Earlier I mentioned new intentions on our long road trips. I really wanted to take advantage of leaving earlier than normal with a plan of attending a museum with the kids (to help break up the drive), and since we were in LA, I wanted to reconnect with friends and family that I haven't seen in a long time. We were lucky to have a chance to reconnect with my cousin Charbelle, who lived with my parents in AZ while I was in the dorms at ASU (almost 20 years ago), and whom I haven't seen since our wedding 13 years ago! It was so wonderful to catch up and hear about her life since the last time we saw each other. </div>
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<span style="color: lime;">The kids were so happy to meet another cousin! </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">The purpose of this summer's trip back to Phoenix was mainly to be with family. There were 17 of us who came from out of town, to join our AZ family in celebrating my grandma, Mama Mimi, on her 95th birthday. It was wonderful to be with so many of them for three days in a row.</span></div>
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<span style="color: lime;">Our drive home included a stop in Gardena, CA to see my cousin Kerry's new house, just down the street from her husband's job at SpaceX</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">And a stop in Monterey for the night, where Solon was finishing a work meeting</span><br />
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The summer road trip allowed me time to reflect on the blessings of family, and how grateful I am that we have such a big, beautiful family, full of various personalities and interests, and how much we love each other. I thought about the friends we have, whom we think of as our chosen family, who also add so much to our lives, even if we only get to see each other once or twice a year. I spent many hours of the drive reflecting on how I choose to raise my kids, and how grateful I am to my parents for the examples they gave and lessons they taught me along the way. I thought about how much has changed in the almost three years since my Dad passed. I listened to John Denver's Greatest Hits and remembered day trips through Arizona with my parents and my brother. I thought about how my place in the family is changing, as my little cousins (whom I still see as babies) are marrying and making new career choices, Solon's little cousins are heading to college, and our babies are growing bigger every day. The cycle of life is an amazing, and bewildering thing. Solon and I are trying to grab life by the horns, and set an example of adventure and kindness and positivity and love for our kids. Cherishing life, in the moment, as often as we can.</div>
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With one month left of summer, there are still more adventures to be had, before the kids are off to 4th and 2nd grade. Until then...</div>
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CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-43114358513502863702018-03-16T23:07:00.000-07:002018-03-19T08:57:48.689-07:00Carrying OnFor the last 3 months, I have woken up every day with an emptiness that won't fade. Maybe with time, but at this point, it still feels like a big gaping hole in my heart.
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I make myself coffee, and start my day, and fill each moment with things I love - cooking, dancing, coaching, creating - so that I don't think so much about the things I have lost. But at the end of the day, when the house is quiet, and I'm turning off all the lights, the vacancy on my red couch is a stark reminder that our life has changed. And we're all sad about it.
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Filling the void with another dog is not currently an option, although it has been suggested to us by many people. It's him that we want. It's Forrest that I want to be snuggling on the couch with right now, on this cold rainy East Bay day. I want to smell his Frito feet, and stroke my fingers through his lion's mane. I want to trace the markings of fur on the top of his head in a circular motion, while he fades in and out of sleep. No other dog cuddles with me like he did. He just fit our life so well, that sometimes I wonder if we'll ever find that again, or if we even want to try.
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It's been 3 months since we surrounded him in our living room, told him how much we loved him, petted him as he drifted into a deep sleep, draped ourselves over him after he took his final breath, carried him into the nurse's car, and then watched him through the waterfalls of our eyes as he literally rode off into the sunset.
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Since then, we've celebrated Christmas in Arizona. We've celebrated Paloma's 7th birthday. We've celebrated Solon's 40th birthday. We've been rehearsing for the kids' annual musical revue at school every weekend. We've started Spring baseball and softball - life has continued to move along. Amidst the pain, there is great joy and love, fellowship and laughter. And then on March 3rd, we lost Gaga, Solon's great-grandmother Alice (Quincy and Paloma's great-great-grandmother), just a few months before her 95th birthday. It saddened us and shocked us when her health started to decline, because she was still driving herself around on Christmas - she had always been so strong.
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There's nothing like the death of a loved one to remind you of all the others that came before, and the pain that resides with their absence, while simultaneously celebrating and cherishing every moment you had with them. That is the paradox of our life for the past 2 1/2 years.
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There will come a time when this all won't hurt so much, or maybe it still will, but what I am trying to teach our kids is that life is about living with the beauty and the sorrow. Where there is light, there must be dark, where there is day, there must be night - and it's impossible to just live within one part of it. We have to navigate through it all. And sure, I may feel things more than the average person may want to admit for themselves, but I have a feeling my kids will take after me in that regard, and I need to set the example for them on how to process it all in the most authentic, truthful way I can. It is a life lesson that I want to make sure I get right.
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We spent 5 days over President's weekend in San Antonio, Texas with family to celebrate Solon's 40th Birthday. I found us a great ranch house property on VRBO that could sleep 22 people comfortably. It had a huge covered patio, basketball court, volleyball net, bonfire pit, and a small lake with a pier that you could fish off of. It was located about 25 minutes south of downtown San Antonio, and it met all our basic needs. It was so great to spend time with each other in a way that we hadn't all done together before. It was an adventure filled with copious pots of coffee, meals around the giant kitchen table, too many Scrabble games to count, hearty laughs, sweet Tres Leches cake, and some gourmet Texas BBQ prepared by our resident chefs, Chad and Holly. I found a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/timlaielliphotography/">photographer through Facebook</a> 6 months before our trip who I hired to take some family photos of our group, and by the time we met in person, I felt like he was an old friend already! He took some spectacular pictures that we will treasure. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/timlaielliphotography/">Thank you Tim</a>!
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The weekend involved exploring San Antonio's Riverwalk, visiting the Alamo and the Natural Bridge Caverns, fishing and watching Black Panther! <br />
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We toasted Solon, showered him with verbal affections and I had this slideshow prepared for him:
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It was a memorable weekend and I can't wait to rent that house again in the near future with another large group!
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For the remainder of the Spring, I am looking forward to the many weekends of baseball/softball that lie ahead, the kids' 50th Annual Beach Revue performance next weekend, and celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary. These events turn into beautiful memories that continue to carry us on...
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In Loving Memory of our "Gaga", Alice
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<span style="text-align: start;">June 26, 1923 - March 3, 2018</span></div>
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Her smile was contagious and she adored her great-great-grandkids. Gaga was the pillar of strength- she mowed her own grass and cleaned her own eaves “spouts” (gutters) until she was practically 90 years old! Solon loved her strong and honest nature and how she “didn’t suffer fools”. Quincy and Paloma said their favorite thing about Gaga was how nice she always was to them - they could truly feel her love. She could play the penny slots at the casino for hours, and I enjoyed the long conversations we had the couple times I was able to accompany her there. We take comfort in knowing that she is reunited with Grandpa Jim, but she will be dearly missed.
CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-61301936982299449832017-11-29T18:00:00.000-08:002019-11-20T15:11:09.414-08:00Only at Christmas Time<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zwKXvXyospU" width="560"></iframe>
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There's something about the day I decide to put up our Christmas decorations each year. I get excited initially - I LOVE how our house looks when it's festive - cozy, colorful, magical, even. But the process to get it like that, has become a cathartic release for me, and I don't know if I block it out after-the-fact or what (<a href="http://http//bellfamilytree.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-star-up-there.html">see last year's blog post on the exact same day</a>)... but yesterday was that day for me. I put on my "Holiday Hipster" Pandora radio station, and started taking the plastic bins off our garage shelves. I decided to not get EVERYTHING out this year. The garlands, the table-top decor, and the tree, of course, but not all the little knick-knacky stuff. All of a sudden I felt this insane pressure to get it all done before the kids got home. I wanted them to experience the magic the second they walked in the door. I felt bad for the mood I was in before school. I was tired, hormonal, un-caffeinated, and all of a sudden unsatisfied with their level of productivity around the house - not practicing piano every day, not reading extra books, not keeping the playroom clean, etc. I took away Monday-Thursday iPad privileges, and told them we were going to revamp the chore list that they CLEARLY do not read on a daily basis. Not my finest hour, but the truth (which I told them after school) was that Mommy is a little overwhelmed emotionally, and I unleashed on them - so I apologized for it.
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It's that time of year, sure - I miss my Dad of course, but the pain on my heart this Christmas is due to the fact that this will be Forrest's last Christmas season here on Earth. His prostate cancer has started to take it's toll. His back legs barely work. He hasn't walked with us to school in the morning for about two weeks now - he just can't keep up at the pace we need him to, and he doesn't have much desire to even hike up the hill that leads out of our street. He wears a makeshift "ninja belt" - a cut-up T-shirt with a maxi pad because he is a bit incontinent. His bodily functions are a chore, and there are some days when he's laying on his bed and just looks like he is "over it." But then there are the moments, like the cuddle sessions on the couch, or when we lift him up to sleep in our bed at night with us, that it feels like nothing's wrong. He still loves to eat, he just has a smaller appetite. And when the kids' piano teacher Paul comes over, you would never know that anything is wrong, he gets so excited. Solon and I both know we are holding on to those moments to justify keeping him around longer. But I realized this past weekend that that's not fair to him. So I got the decorations up, listening to Christmas music that all of a sudden just felt so depressing, as Forrest slept on his bed behind me. Forrest loves the Christmas tree - I have pictures throughout the years of him sitting on our (HIS) red couch, admiring the tree - and I want him to enjoy one last tree. I made some salt-dough ornaments and pressed his paw print into them, which he did NOT enjoy, but he has been such an integral part of our life for 12 years - I had to do something. I FaceTimed with my Mom, and we had a good cry. This is a hard time of year for her. Christmas was Dad's favorite. And it makes her sad to see her daughter sad, so we let it all out...
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When Solon got home, we looked at our very full December calendar. How do you pick a day to say good-bye? Between the after-school classes I'm teaching, piano lessons and gymnastics, Quincy's birthday, and Christmas? This weekend? No way. Too soon. I'm not ready. Next week? Right before Quincy's birthday - wouldn't that be cruel? Is two weeks too long? Will Forrest be really hurting by then? So many reasons to consider... We decided on a date, but took the night to sleep on it. After everyone went to bed, I sat on Forrest's red couch with his head in my lap. The only light in the room, came from the mix of old twinkle lights and new LED's on my tree, and a single strand that hung on our fireplace. I stroked his ears as we sat there, and told him that I was going to make the next couple weeks special for him. Lots of snuggles, lots of treats, sushi for lunch on his last day. So now we have to tell the kids. They have known this was coming since June, but back then, it felt so far away. I decided to tell them on the walk home from school today. I had been crying all day, and I needed some fresh air. I picked the kids up, feeling a little embarrassed with myself as I passed the front of the school, where earlier this morning I had burst into tears TWICE when talking with friends who are both dog owners. (Sorry Phil and Chiaty)
<br />
<br />
Quincy asked me how my day was, and I replied, "Oh, it was okay..."
<br />
<br />
"What do you mean, 'Just okay'?" Quincy asked me curiously.
<br />
<br />
I thought to myself that now was just as good a time as any, so I answered, "I'm sad because I made an appointment for Forrest's last day."
<br />
<br />
"What do you mean, Forrest's last day, Mom?" Paloma wanted to know, but was cut off by Quincy, who simply asked, "When Mom? What day?"
<br />
<br />
I answered completely, "A nurse will come to our house on Saturday, December 16th at 3pm. She will stay with us for a little while until we are ready to let him go. She said she would put a blanket over him so we wouldn't see the needle. The first medicine will put him in a deep sleep. The second medicine will rapidly turn his body off. It will just look like he's sleeping when he takes his last breath. He won't feel anything but peace," I assured them.
<br />
<br />
Quincy looked at me and said, "I'm glad I'll still be able to snuggle with Forrest on my birthday, Mom." And then, Paloma burst into tears and sobbed (LOUDLY) for 2 blocks. It was rough. But I told her it was okay to cry. I had been crying all day, and when our minds and bodies need to cry, it's best to get all the tears out.
<br />
<br />
Since writing is my therapy, I sat down to get this all out of my system. This is another one of those moments that one day we'll look back on to see how we powered through, but I've got to say, I don't know which pain is worse. The pain that results from an unexpected death, or the agony of counting down the days until someone takes their last breath? It's <b>BRUTAL</b>. Forrest has been with us 12 years - since the beginning of our marriage. If you still don't understand just how much we love this dog, I'll share this: When I was pregnant with Quincy, a large percentage of people we know told us that once the baby arrives, we wouldn't be able to dote on Forrest as we had pre-kids. "You won't have as much time for him. You'll see," they said. Nine years later, Forrest is still the first one fed every day, my co-pilot on long car rides, Solon's weekend nap-buddy, and the last one to get my affection at night. He is our son. And we will miss him immensely.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * * * * *
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some joy from the last few months
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Camping fun with our AWESOME neighbors
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Just delivered cookies and cards to the<br />
Piedmont First Responders </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who helped out with the Sonoma County fires
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Halloween Fun - WonderWoman, (Kid) Deadpool, Frankenstein and his Bride
</div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanksgiving with family down in Campbell
</div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
THE BEST DOG IN THE WHOLE WORLD</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Forrest a.k.a. Daddy Boy a.k.a. Old Man Gully
</div>
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<br />
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers on December 16th. We will need all the strength we can get.
<br />
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CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-31780190486581381522017-09-23T22:32:00.001-07:002017-09-23T22:56:43.872-07:00The Shift<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
I've noticed a major shift in life as I
approach the end of my 30s. In my late teens I completed high
school, went off to college and embarked on the beginning of adulthood. In my early-mid 20s, I met and fell in love with Solon. The year before and the year after Solon and I got married, we attended about a dozen weddings, and a few years after that, most every couple we knew (us included) were starting to grow our families. My early 30s were filled with new beginnings with our kids and
the experiences that they added to our life. But as I started to move
through my 30s, I became acutely aware just how
short life is, as I (and the people around me) started to experience the
loss of loved ones.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
When I first created this blog in 2008, it was because I was expecting
the birth of Quincy any day, and I wanted to create a record of our life
to share with friends and family who didn't live near us, or who we
didn't get to see a lot of. And I also created it to preserve our
memories in digital form, for our kids to look back on the beginning of
their life - a digital scrapbook of sorts. The first 6 or 7 years
of my entries featured a majority of celebrations, holidays, vacations, and happy
adventurous memories, but there has been a definite shift in our life
in the last two years, and I know my most recent posts reflect it. As much as I would love to keep this digital
scrapbook a happy place - a record of just the good times - I would be
doing my children a disservice if we did not mention the struggles and
the painful moments as well. Because we will all face them, eventually. And we all fear the idea of not being able to get through them. I want to show my kids that we can, and that we did.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
In
the last two years, our family has suffered profound loss. It started
with losing my dad in August 2015. <b>THE MOST HEARTBREAKING MOMENT OF MY LIFE SO FAR</b>. Since then, we lost our Great Uncle Ralph (11/15), my mom's
dog Che (who I had to put down) (4/16), my Great Aunt Eleanor (7/16), young Makenzie Rae (10/16), and this summer, our dear family friend Larry Vipond (7/17),
and while I was back in AZ, we said goodbye to my Aunt
Georgina - the first of my mom's siblings (8/17). Peppered in between these personal family losses, were
the shocking deaths of many musicians and others who had influenced our lives. It
has seemed, that as common as weddings were to us in the years
2004-2006, and babies in the years 2008-2012, that 2015-present day seems to be where our family is experiencing profound loss. The
next big loss will come when we have to say goodbye to our Forrest, who
is slowing down at a rapid pace. I cannot imagine what our life will be
like without him, and believe me when I say that we are cherishing EVERY SINGLE MOMENT that we have with him.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br />
I understand that this is all a part of the "Circle of Life". I get it. And I wouldn't change the amount of people (or creatures) I love, or the deepness that I love them, for fear of the heartbreak I will experience when their moment is gone. (And we're only here but for a moment, aren't we?) But that doesn't make it any easier. My children have been exposed to more death (or "real life") by 6 and 8 years old, than my brother and I had experienced by the time we were teenagers. In some ways, I guess I'm grateful for their maturity and understanding of death, because I was terrified of it until I was much older. These sad occurrences are what drives me to fill their lives with joyful moments, new discoveries, fearless (okay, semi-fearless), sometimes spontaneous, adventures. I have to. This is probably the most bittersweet part of all of it. LIFE GOES ON. Whether we are ready or not. We have to allow ourselves to grieve the losses, cherish the memories, and keep moving forward. WE OWE IT TO OUR BELOVED ONES TO DO JUST THAT. We keep living, one day at a time, with their memory in our hearts.<br />
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In my iPhone, I have a few voicemails saved from the last three years. Two are joyous messages. Two are painful. They are a constant reminder to me about the preciousness of life. I listen to them when I need perspective on what is important. They remind me to continue to love fiercely, and unconditionally. They remind me to live each day to the fullest. They remind me that I MATTER to someone, even if I haven't physically seen them (or hugged them) in years. And one of them is just an everyday message from my Grandma, that I save because I love hearing her voice, and at 94-years-old, she continues to live her life with class, and grace, and she never leaves the house without lipstick.<br />
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While there is always heartache hidden in the corners of life, there is most definitely love and happiness bursting through the seams. If I give love, I will receive it. If I choose to be happy and radiate positive energy, it will come back to me tenfold. I hope I convey that in the day to day, even through the moments I pause to grieve. And if you are someone reading this right now, who has gone through a bunch of shit (for lack of a better word), and you are suffering alone, or having a hard time seeing through it to the good that awaits, please trust that you ARE NOT alone, and that GOODNESS awaits, and that YOU MATTER TO ME, and to others. If you are reading this, you matter to me. Reach out to someone if you need to talk. And if you're someone on the flip side of everything I've just mentioned, check-in with people in your life who have just been through something heavy. Chances are... they will need to release something. You don't have to have any answers, you just need to offer an ear. Life can be HEAVY, sometimes. Having someone there... or BEING that someone, is a gift we all need. Let us be gifts to one another.<br />
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Here are some of the bright moments since my last post... it was a very full summer:<br />
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Snuggles with Forrest</div>
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A visit from Aunt Shelley </div>
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Dog-sitting Miss Maisy Mayflower </div>
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Much-needed Mommy's weekend off </div>
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with Christina in Las Vegas </div>
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Impromptu visit to the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento</div>
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The four of us visiting Sean in Benicia</div>
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Post-game beers with our co-ed softball team "Beach Bums"</div>
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Henna tattoos at the company picnic</div>
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Human bowling at the company picnic</div>
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A visit to Lucy & Bob's in Sonoma</div>
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Seeing Paloma's prize-winning drawing at Zachary's Pizza in Oakland</div>
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Dinner with our cousins in Huntington Beach</div>
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Visiting with Morgan</div>
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Lunch at Grandma Chacha's</div>
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Dinner with AZ family</div>
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Much needed pool time</div>
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Getting my Frida fix!!</div>
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Paper Flowers at The Heard Museum - Phoenix</div>
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Dinner with Gaga</div>
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Snuggles with Aunt Shelley</div>
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Bunny & Breezy! Big H.S. Seniors!</div>
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AZ Family</div>
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Much-needed Scrabble Night!</div>
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Our godsons have girlfriends now!!!</div>
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Friends since the womb</div>
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My "big brother" bookends!</div>
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Extended family</div>
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Cousin love</div>
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Cousin Diego! The new architect in the family!</div>
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One last hug from my Grandma, Mama Mimi </div>
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Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bill</div>
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I want to be like her when I am 94</div>
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Saying goodbye to my Mom is always hard - </div>
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<b>I LOVE AND MISS HER SO MUCH</b></div>
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These pictures were filled with smiles, despite the loss that hit Tío Raul, my Mom and her siblings that week we were in Arizona. We maximized time with family, so we could be there for each other, sharing many memories, laughter, and tears.<br />
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In loving memory of my Tía Georgina...</div>
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Cancer may have taken you from our presence, </div>
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but we will always carry you with us in our hearts.</div>
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CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-21504669490932914442017-06-09T12:00:00.000-07:002017-06-11T23:27:10.587-07:00The Importance of Filling Our SoulsThere are some mornings when you wake up and just know that it's going to be a good day. Where a bunch of simple joys are revealed consecutively, and you can feel your soul filling up a little at a time.<br />
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This morning, my day started with Paloma asking me to give her "Unicorn Hair" - a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4drrF9zzfA" target="_blank">YouTube tutorial</a> given by an animated Barbie and her little sister Chelsea. Seeing my daughter's desire to be creative within moments of her eyes opening to a new day warmed my heart. That is an energy that I want to encourage for sure.<br />
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Moments after said Unicorn Hair was complete (and then collapsed, and then stabilizing changes were made), I opened my Facebook memories to see <a href="http://bellfamilytree.blogspot.com/2014/06/fulfilling-dream-in-city-that-never.html" target="_blank">my blog post</a> from three years ago this day, when I wrote about my trip to New York City. To relive those memories through pictures and words, made me feel like I was still on high from that spectacular trip. It was easily one of the Top 3 favorite weekends of my life, behind getting married to Solon, and something else that right now I can't think of because I have only had one cup of coffee.<br />
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After making my way downstairs, and getting my morning coffee brewing, (still on Facebook) I see a video of one of my FAVORITE singers, India.Arie, posted by an old high school friend who shares thoughtful, inspirational posts, and encourages the people in his life. The performance of this song was so simplistic, and so beautiful - I had to listen twice - before ultimately sharing it on my page.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OL-gxfx2QtY?list=PLgFDPTHQ0-fPVgvN0ubVRFSrIbSHTFoNw" width="560"></iframe> <br />
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Then, as I am sampling the awesome granola that I made yesterday (using a modified version of my friend Kristine's recipe), I scroll through my newsfeed to discover my FAVORITE writer Anne Lamott has just posted her recent TED Talk. Happy Friday to me! Just when I think my soul is filled enough, I sit down with my delicious dark roast, vanilla-coconut-milk-infused cup of coffee in my favorite mug (Thank You Jenni), and I listen to my favorite writer talk about the <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/anne_lamott_12_truths_i_learned_from_life_and_writing#t-942246" target="_blank">12 truths she has learned from life and writing</a>. I am laughing out loud, smiling, and simultaneously getting the urge to write. All before 9:30am.<br />
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At this point, I should add that Wednesday and Thursday were recovery days, from what I have dubbed the "Almost Complete Summer of Soul-Filling Tour". It started 3 weeks ago with a 4-day visit from Larel (my sis-in-law) and my nephews, continued with an almost 2-hour conversation with Charissa, continued with a 3-day visit from Becky and her family, and then continued with a 5-day visit from Holly and Makena. And it's not over yet, because this weekend, my amazing Mom-in-law is taking the kids and Solon and I will head up to Healdsburg (one of my favorite NorCal towns) to help my friend Allison G. celebrate her 40th birthday. And next month, I am having a one-on-one trip to Vegas with Christina, all before coming back to AZ at the end of the summer for a family visit. See what I mean by the "Almost Complete Summer of Soul-Filling Tour"? It shaping up to be a full summer.<br />
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In her <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/anne_lamott_12_truths_i_learned_from_life_and_writing#t-942246" target="_blank">TED Talk</a>, Anne Lamott said several things that resonated with me. One of which she says is the secret to life - "go outside and LOOK UP. The happiest person on earth is the one who learns from nature, the lessons of worship." The kids and I have been spending a lot of time in nature these last few weeks. Soaking in the essence of the Eucalyptus and Redwood trees that surround us. Feeling the gentle mist of the Pacific sea breeze, with the sand beneath our toes. It's free to experience, and it does WONDERS for my breathing and my sanity. You also realize how small you are in the grand scheme of things, which prompts me to not worry so much about what is out of my control, but rather focus my energies on the people and things that are really important to me.<br />
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She also says "that when the people we love the most in our lives die, we will never get over these losses, and despite what society says, we're not supposed to. The person will live on fully in our hearts if we don't seal them off." She says the people we lose to death, will also make us laugh at the most inopportune/random times. This happened to me yesterday in Wendy's when I took the kids for an impromptu lunch before our first summer visit to the Public Library. Quincy was sitting down, with his "Son of Baconator" in his hands - and for a brief few moments, I saw my Dad. The way Quincy held the burger perfectly symmetrically, the weight of the 2 small patties and 4 strips of bacon supported equally by his 8-year-old hands, as he raised it to his mouth, took a BIG bite, smiling simultaneously as his eyes somewhat rolled to the back of his head. It was as if that bite was the most decadent morsel he had EVER tasted. It was as if I was watching my Dad, and I literally LOL'd. Even telling the story to my mom late last night, we laughed and cried, because even though we are a state away, she could picture it perfectly.<br />
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One of the "truths" that Anne speaks about is our perceptions of each other. She says, "Everyone is screwed up, broken, clingy and scared. Even the people who seem to have it most together." I want us all to remember that - it's so important. In this day and age of Social Media, where there are literally dozens of photo-editing apps, and we have the ability to post and edit the things we say until they're perfect, I try to remember that the only thing I can control is how true I stay to myself. Anne says "we should not compare who others are on the outside to who we are on the inside." That is a major disservice to yourself. <u>I am</u> HAPPY 95% of the time - it's a choice that I consciously make every day - and you will see my joy and zest for life in the things I share. I'm a silver-linings, glass is half-full, spread the love and the positive kind of person. But that doesn't mean that the 5% doesn't hurt. It hurts immensely. And thus, I choose to share that too. Because it's real. And some days, and some moments, hurt more than others. But the release of it all into the universe helps me heal. In her talk, Anne says that "every single thing that happens to you is YOURS, and you get to tell it. You're going to feel like hell, if you wake up some day and you never wrote the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart. Your truth, in your own voice." That is all we really have to offer. This is part of my self-care, which coincidentally is another point that she spoke about.<br />
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Emotional self-care is something I have down pat. I write, I paint, I cook, I bake, I take long walks with Forrest, and I have deep and meaningful conversations with my husband and my best friends. Physical self-care is something I could definitely put a little more effort into. I certainly love how I feel after working out, and exerting myself, but it is challenging for me to make it a top priority. This is something that I pledge to myself to improve on. I am excited to start playing softball again, this time in a community co-ed league that begins next week. Solon and I need this, and I think it will be great for our kids to watch us play, as I have the fondest memories of watching my Dad in his Pop's League all those years ago. It will fill our souls, revive our spirit - which is so important(!) - and create memories for all involved. <br />
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Highlights from the last few months include:</div>
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BEACH REVUE</div>
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2nd Grade - Surfin' USA (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jkltlqcfdc#action=share" target="_blank">watch video here</a>)</div>
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Kindergarten - This Land Is Your Land (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFVDufOc42o#action=share" target="_blank">watch video here</a>)</div>
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A's Baseball</div>
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Mermaids Softball </div>
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Saying "See You Later" to our friends Emi and Yaari </div>
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who are moving away </div>
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Visit from Larel and the nephews/cousins </div>
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Visit from Becky, Scott, Noah and Gracyn</div>
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Saying "See you later" to Maksim and Dominik (not pictured)<br />
at the park (this was the only picture sent via text before my phone </div>
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fell out of my pocket, and then got stolen)</div>
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A visit from Holly and Makena</div>
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It has certainly been a full couple months! Somewhere in the middle of these last few visitors, the kids finished 2nd Grade and Kindergarten, and summer is now in full swing. We are grateful for the time spent with family and friends, the adventures we took, and the memories we made. I'm looking forward to experiencing whatever else this summer may bring, and in August, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MY MOM!!<br />
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Until next time...<br />
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<br />CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-80274583797680675712017-03-13T11:28:00.001-07:002017-03-13T21:08:31.486-07:00Childhood Memories to Live OnWhen I was a child in elementary school, my dad stayed home to raise my brother and me, while my mom was out pursuing her American Dream. I remember having one car for the four of us, and driving mom to work downtown Phoenix at the Arizona Bank (later known as Security Pacific Bank, now known as Bank of America). Natan and I would pile in the car to pick her up around what I am assuming was 5 o'clock in the evening. My dad would pull the brick red Toyota Corolla up to the curb in front of the tallest building my young eyes had ever stood beneath. (Natan and I used to freak out that the building would fall over and crush us. It was big.) I loved that car. I remember the beige leather (pleather, maybe?) seats in the back that had decorative holes that looked like someone pushed a fork through a hundred times to make the pattern. Those seats got <b>so hot</b> in the Arizona summers. I remember that, too. The car was a manual transmission with a stick shift gear that was shiny and round like an 8-ball that you use when you shoot a game of pool. I wanted that to be my car when I turned 16. It got wrecked in a car accident when I was 12, I think. My dad was driving by himself, on the way home and stopped at a stoplight, when a woman lost control of her vehicle and her car somehow crashed into ours. It's funny the things you remember from your childhood.<br />
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I have started writing down my childhood memories, the ones that are so ingrained in my memory bank, because I am realizing almost daily how much they shape me, and who I am today. More of them are coming up when I catch myself doing things that I remember my parents doing. When I am in the kitchen, preparing (with time and love) a delicious meal to share with our neighbors or friends... I am my mom. Watching her from the kitchen table all those years as a young girl has paid off in the kitchen. I love to cook. It brings me peace, and joy. To see my guests close their eyes when they taste a bite of what is the result of one of the many lessons my mom has given me, it warms me from the inside out. I feel her next to me, even though she is a whole state away.<br />
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Now, as an elementary school mom, I am channeling my father, who volunteered as an Art Guide when I was in grade school. He (and a few other moms) would rotate teaching lessons in our Art class about famous artists, and then we would try to create in their style. Since November, I have been teaching Lunchtime Art at the kids' school on Mondays and Fridays outside on sunny days. I bring materials, and directions, and watch the kids create. There's not a lot of time during their lunch break - 20 to 30 minutes at most - but it's enough to teach them a little, and as long as they are creating and I am encouraging them to try new things, my job is complete. I feel so connected to my daddy when I am there - in the nature (which he loved), teaching/mentoring children (his life's work), appreciating art (one of his many passions). The hardest part still, a year and a half after his passing, is that I can't call him to tell him about it. I can only imagine him watching over me, as he hovers near by in his new hummingbird armor. (Don't think I haven't noticed you, Daddy - the kids have stopped their work to admire you in the adjacent tree from time to time.)<br />
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And this past weekend, as Quincy and Paloma had their Opening Weekend of Baseball and Softball, I was immediately transported back to the afternoons at the ballpark, watching Dad play on the Arizona Bank team, and later in his men's league. Those afternoons led to our love of the game - Natan and I couldn't get enough of it - it was in our blood. To know that my brother is my nephew's Little League Head Coach in Arizona <b>AND</b> assisting the baseball team at his old high school, brings me so much joy, because he is carrying on the lessons that my dad taught us; the lessons that our Papa Ray taught our Dad. I am assisting Paloma's softball team, and my love for the game has been reignited. The memories are resurfacing gradually, as my heart is filling up. And to see Solon helping Quincy's team, and to see the look of pride on both their faces, I can't help but feel my dad there. Life seems to only get busier with two very active kids, but it's moments like these where we are able to reconnect with such a <b>HUGE</b> part of our past that has been buried for so long. I hope we are all making him proud.<br />
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Quincy - A's 2017</div>
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Paloma - Mermaids 2017 </div>
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Daddy and me - Wild Things 1991 </div>
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Last month, the kids had a week off of school, and we took a family trip to Cancún, Mexico. Solon and I hadn't been there since our honeymoon 12 years ago, and I felt our kids were the perfect age to "go international". I have so much family there, including 2 of my mom's sisters, and I have been <b>needing</b> to see them. We were able to use all those Southwest points that Solon has been piling on for work to fly my mom out there to meet us. I wanted my kids exposed to the culture that I love so much, and I wanted my mom to be able to share her love of her culture and birth country with her grand-kids. We were able to spend time with our family, and share stories and memories, and my heart was literally so full I thought it was going to burst! Quincy and Paloma LOVED Mexico. They were exposed to beautiful oceans, kind and wonderful people, and so much family.<br />
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Our beautiful view of the breathtaking water</div>
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Mom and my grandma, Mama Lilia (painted by my grandpa, Papa Gustavo Cándido Nieto)</div>
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Mayan ruins at Xcaret Archeological Park</div>
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Quincy and Paloma between el diablo y la muñeca</div>
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Much needed time with our Mexico family!!</div>
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Paloma and Quincy meeting their great-aunt China (my mom's sister) and great-uncle Emilio </div>
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My cousin Penny (in white), her daughter Ashanti (far left), </div>
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my cousin Sally (next to Solon), and her daughter Roxanna (far right) </div>
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Prima sandwich!</div>
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With my Tío Luis, Tía Yolanda, and their son-in-law, my cousin Raymundo</div>
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Brother and sister, my cousins Luisito and Yolandita</div>
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Ashanti and her husband Carlos (I still see her as a 2-year-old running around in diapers)</div>
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In the middle (next to my mom), my cousin Olgita, and her daughter (my little cousin) Maria </div>
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My Tía Yoli is FAMOUS for her margaritas and her big heart!</div>
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Solon enjoying something he has waited 12 years for!</div>
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With my cousin Cecilia and her husband, surrounded by her amazing artwork! </div>
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I am so happy I got to hug an kiss all these beautiful people! </div>
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Late-night visit from my cousin Alejandra - the perfect way to end our trip </div>
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My heart is refueled - I am so grateful to have been able to take this trip as a family. It was an adventure, and I learned a lot about traveling internationally with kids, and how it's almost impossible to have family visit you at an all-inclusive hotel (so many rules). So next time, we know what to do, and what NOT to do. My hope is to start taking the kids for a couple weeks in the summers to stay with family, and learn the language through immersion and practice. It was fun to practice my Spanish, and communicate with the locals. I can't wait to do it again.</div>
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More adventures await, so many childhood memories to help my kids make...</div>
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CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-16230559229724030542016-11-29T10:47:00.001-08:002017-11-29T09:11:03.747-08:00The Star Up ThereI have always been a firm believer in the one holiday at a time rule. I don't particularly like seeing Christmas decorations and gift wrap in the stores when I am out searching for the perfect pieces to our family's Halloween costumes. One holiday at a time. I always wait to put the Christmas decorations up at least a couple days after Thanksgiving. I don't even like to hear Christmas music on the store radios until the day after Thanksgiving - it kind of really bugs me. And I don't get bugged easily. Now don't get me wrong, once Thanksgiving is over, and we've enjoyed turkey leftovers for a few days, I am ready to listen to Christmas music 24/7 and start getting into the Christmas spirit.<br />
<br />
Christmas has always been a magical time for me. My favorite time as a kid for sure. My mom always had the most beautiful decorations around our 1200 square foot house. Garlands on the walls, adorned with lights and Mexican wicker ornaments, a natural straw color with red trim, alongside wooden nutcrackers with the string down the middle that raises the arms and legs when you pull down. Those were later replaced with shiny tin ornaments that we began to collect over the years, but I still remember how they looked. Thanks to my mom, the house always smelled of mulled cider, or posole, and tamales... so many tamales. Natan and I would have our Christmas Lists on the refrigerator by the first day of December, usually no more than a handful of things. As we go older, we added the word "MONEY" to the bottom of the list. I wonder when my kids will start doing that. I don't remember my parents ever doing any "Black Friday" shopping. Mom would purchase a special outfit or two for us, and Dad would be carefully shopping for all of us throughout the year - for a new book, and that one perfect gift. We usually got a couple small things, and one big present. It's all we needed. To be honest, I was more excited about the little things in the stockings than what was under the tree. Some Christmases were more plentiful than others, but never extravagant. The house was filled with the sounds of "A Music Box Christmas" - one of my favorite of daddy's purchases from Tower Records.<br />
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Last Christmas was the first without Dad. I don't remember much of it, to be honest. It was something we just needed to get through, I wanted to be strong for my mom, and luckily I had my kids to help me keep the magic of Christmas in me. I had a hard time even turning the Christmas music on this year. I just wasn't ready to face another one without him. The music fills me with great joy, yet so much sadness at the same time. All it takes is one freakin' song to set the tears free.<br />
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This one does it every time:<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tuTWA6SBupY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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"The lake is frozen over<br />
<div class="lyrics-body">
<div class="js-lyric-text invalid-selection" id="lyrics-body-text">
<div class="verse">
The trees are white with snow<br />
<b>And all around reminders of you<br />
Are everywhere I go</b></div>
<div class="verse">
It's late and morning's in no hurry<br />
But sleep won't set me free<br />
I lie awake and try to recall<br />
How your body felt beside me<br />
When silence gets too hard to handle<br />
And the night too long</div>
<div class="verse">
This is how I see you<br />
In the snow on Christmas morning<br />
Love and happiness surround you<br />
As you throw your arms up to the sky<br />
I keep this moment by and by<br />
<b>Oh I miss you now</b>, my love<br />
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas<br />
Merry Christmas, my love</div>
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<b>Sense of joy fills the air<br />
And I daydream and I stare<br />
Up at the tree and I see<br />
Your star up there</b></div>
<div class="verse">
This is how I see you<br />
In the snow on Christmas morning<br />
Love and happiness surround you<br />
As you throw your arms up to the sky<br />
I keep this moment by and by"</div>
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<div class="verse">
This was my "go-to-for-a-good-cry" Christmas Song, I discovered, when my Papa Ray had died in 2008. I was extra pregnant with Quincy, therefore fully-hormonal, and setting up the tree a week before Quincy was born. The song came on, right after Joni Mitchell's "The River", and I was a mess. Losing my grandpa was the first real loss I had as an adult. No one in my family had died since I was 12 before that, and when you're 12, it's sad, but the connection is definitely stronger the more years you put into it. So, every year from 2008 until 2015, the Christmas Blues were a reflection of my love for my grandfather, and they were an icy turquoise blue. Now, add the layer of sadness that is my dad's passing onto that, and my Christmas Blues are a deep midnight blue. But I cry because I loved. And I cry because it's my therapy. With every ornament I put on the tree, with every memory that is attached, I think of how they brought me joy, how much they added to my life, and how their love carries me. I will keep them alive by sharing those memories with my kids, while we create new memories as a family, as we learn how to celebrate in our new normal. But man, oh man, what I wouldn't give to feel my daddy's warm, soft bear hug just one more time.<br />
That's my Christmas wish.</div>
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*******************</div>
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Here's some happiness...<br />
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HALLOWEEN 2016</div>
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<b>The Superhero</b></div>
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<i>(Batman)</i></div>
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<b>The Villians</b></div>
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<i>(Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Two Face) </i></div>
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We had a blast...</div>
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and scored a lot of candy!</div>
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THANKSGIVING IN THE BAY 2016<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegPanAKRsKJk8YMREX119L7IAMNz3MBCNRZF-9ohP9lLpSpEvG9kzJIZ8vBEX7qfKpZZwNA7nHlrqbg9LRN3Xb6PZMhSKFhhGE_WvPW4X5av4o-n61VngqfTv_2R0EAKQyBNRFdqsnpc/s1600/IMG_8290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegPanAKRsKJk8YMREX119L7IAMNz3MBCNRZF-9ohP9lLpSpEvG9kzJIZ8vBEX7qfKpZZwNA7nHlrqbg9LRN3Xb6PZMhSKFhhGE_WvPW4X5av4o-n61VngqfTv_2R0EAKQyBNRFdqsnpc/s320/IMG_8290.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Thankful for family... </div>
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Wishing you and yours a very happy and healthy holiday season, filled with peace, love, joy, and all the wonderful memories that came before.<br />
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CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-89494864707966485152016-10-11T10:48:00.001-07:002016-10-11T11:06:53.997-07:00Round HereThe past 8 weeks have left me in a whirl. Most of it has been good, but I would be lying if I said it was all good.
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I have been using inspiration from my all-time favorite band (Counting Crows) since my last post, in an effort to really reconnect with myself. To use my memories to heal me, and to remind myself of the important things in my life.
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<b>"Gonna get back to basics
I guess I'll start it up again"</b>
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I have been thinking about what I really want to accomplish in life. There is so much that I want, and sometimes life seems so fragmented that it's hard to get all my ideas out of my head on onto paper, so I can track them - making tangible goals out of them. I want to write every day. About motherhood, about childhood, about cooking, about travel, about this freaking election, about loving, and growing, and moving on through all the stuff that life throws at you. But I bottle the thoughts up one by one, until I have more time to devote to them, and before I know it, my bottle is so full, nearing explosion, and I can't articulate ANYTHING the way I want to. I need to work on that. <i>First goal: Keep a journal - write things down right after they happen.</i>
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<b>"We only stay in orbit for a moment of time </b><br />
<b>And you're everybody's satellite
I wish that you were mine"</b>
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Death seems to be a common theme in my life for the past 14 months. It seems like every few months, I am having to sit my children down and explain to them that someone we know has died, or is going to die soon. It's a conversation that I never really had with my parents until I was like 12. So the fact that I have had this conversation with my 5 and 7-year-old SO MANY times in a little over a year... I mean I don't even know how to explain it. From my dad, to my great-uncle, to my mom's dog, to my great-aunt... and most recently to my best friend's 3-year-old daughter... I feel like seeing their mom sad is the current norm in our house. Through the moments of grief, I am working my butt off to remind them of, and expose them to THE GOOD in our lives, and in the world. We talk about the lessons we learned from the example of our lost loved-one. We do things that we enjoy, that makes us happy. We have adventures, we learn things together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEOgZmYiyLVdO1FFb9mxr9XtAdMkzgjU1_oMZJPuKMVGnlTOOE6AReFUtEd6H1nic3LObNqSMPgJ8SrAbsGGSlTPeU9hvBrS5HmI_trsSQuCxDbDEW25igZPVTmJe-2xS1WZmnof-B-A/s1600/MuirWoodsSept2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEOgZmYiyLVdO1FFb9mxr9XtAdMkzgjU1_oMZJPuKMVGnlTOOE6AReFUtEd6H1nic3LObNqSMPgJ8SrAbsGGSlTPeU9hvBrS5HmI_trsSQuCxDbDEW25igZPVTmJe-2xS1WZmnof-B-A/s320/MuirWoodsSept2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>"Where we make a lifetime commitment to recovering the satellites"</b> I am not going to shield them from the pain, because I do think kids need the honesty of what we have been going through, but I have to find a delicate balance because I don't want them to be hardened, or numb. I don't know if they need to be as emotional as I am, but I don't think it's a bad thing either. My emotion comes from the way I love so deeply. Especially when it comes to my given family, and my chosen family.
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<b>"She sees shooting stars and comet tails<br />
She's got Heaven in her eyes"</b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasSEjDpW4XecKmOW5PhiCc2YkrUzfIWtT1GQ_EAF5pz2cijAf1dch3aHydtem6EC3PlT-8HfvnCHuK8ej7_Vw-BINAegVemCExe6nwmlZ1dt3BMz97nFQOK_ox1RtXHHQ5NOV_xGKJpc/s1600/MakenzieRaeAug2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasSEjDpW4XecKmOW5PhiCc2YkrUzfIWtT1GQ_EAF5pz2cijAf1dch3aHydtem6EC3PlT-8HfvnCHuK8ej7_Vw-BINAegVemCExe6nwmlZ1dt3BMz97nFQOK_ox1RtXHHQ5NOV_xGKJpc/s320/MakenzieRaeAug2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I will forever be grateful that I got to see this little angel in August before she left this Earth for the Heavens. Her story is not mine to tell, but I will say this: This little girl had more personality and fight in her pinky finger than most adults walking this planet. She has taught me to not be afraid. She has reminded me to ALWAYS dance in the rain, and to BE AMAZED by the little joys that life brings - to NEVER take them for granted. Her parents have shown me how important it is to follow your gut, and who cares what others think of your choices where your children are concerned - you have to do what works for you. Their family has shown me that LOVING HARD does so much GOOD in your life, even when it's difficult to breathe, even when the end comes sooner than expected. Love hard and deep, and find the GIFT in what makes you different.My promise to Makenzie Rae is that her light will always fuel my heart. I will live life to the fullest, continuing to love fearlessly, and conquer challenges that lie ahead, with her smile and laughter in the back of my mind. <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption" data-gt="{"timeline_og_unit_click":"1","app_id":"124024574287414","action_type_id":"282366618453208","object_type":"instapp:photo","unit_id":"447280888645770","og_ref":"ogexp","is_intentional":"1"}">One
of my favorite aspects of sharing this journey of motherhood with my
very best friends is the relationships that I get to have with their
children. I am especially grateful for this one.</span></span><br />
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*****</div>
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Here are some of the good moments in photos to bring us to current:<br />
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Huntington Beach
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Phoenix
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjrDe1G1U2CaCGtFqX-nFgO0H5Qx1wFUh2CWB5vAaKBwErARvmJnr7hnxP-68BmHNdMS6LU3uBItL9aDXlsyuLzIMbYAV2nKRUxdvbifd0GjyeJRJv6wg9Pb9rqHg_PjjeML7e5_SXHw/s1600/IMG_9521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjrDe1G1U2CaCGtFqX-nFgO0H5Qx1wFUh2CWB5vAaKBwErARvmJnr7hnxP-68BmHNdMS6LU3uBItL9aDXlsyuLzIMbYAV2nKRUxdvbifd0GjyeJRJv6wg9Pb9rqHg_PjjeML7e5_SXHw/s320/IMG_9521.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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Tucson
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School starts
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Final Ultrasound (2 years later, ALL CLEAR)
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My godfather Chuck came to visit!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3MwGpH5I1ANES8-TypQePWw2e78rsvJIpLxJi5iqueLqTcVUy6m9s6yf7PRHVx7FRCEps9I97U4nOeOxngGk4M15uM_6gwOaTcOLJCFat8F8Do9BKvahpcMny6T_ujfrXyC63UygP4Q/s1600/IMG_9818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3MwGpH5I1ANES8-TypQePWw2e78rsvJIpLxJi5iqueLqTcVUy6m9s6yf7PRHVx7FRCEps9I97U4nOeOxngGk4M15uM_6gwOaTcOLJCFat8F8Do9BKvahpcMny6T_ujfrXyC63UygP4Q/s320/IMG_9818.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I welcomed in 37 with a birthday lunch at Chez Panisse in Berkeley </div>
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(crossed off the Bucket List!)
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Girls weekend to see Counting Crows and Rob Thomas!
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AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING </div>
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I participated in a commercial shoot for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=women+voter+project">Women Voter Project</a> </div>
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(representing propositions on the CA ballot)
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1OKp82TF49k" width="560"></iframe></div>
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Community Fun
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Reconnecting with childhood friends in Petaluma
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Fun with my mother-in-law!
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Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate our friends, Maksim and Dominik
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Fall fun with old friends near Sacramento
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Live fully, love hard, and enjoy the Fall!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/RMCR7yI_z74C0mj6S-ly-ahtn4ssFBPawCPcB/s1600/BloggerSignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/RMCR7yI_z74C0mj6S-ly-ahtn4ssFBPawCPcB/s320/BloggerSignature.jpg" width="320" height="82" /></a></div>CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-34359191856617319292016-08-01T23:39:00.000-07:002016-08-01T23:50:14.560-07:00One Year Down... My Lifetime to GoOn August 8th, it will be one year. One year since my life changed in multiple ways. One year since my Dad left this earth. One year since I laid my head on his chest and hugged him for the last time. One year since I held my hand in his. I can still feel it. I just can't believe it's been a year. <BR><BR>
I miss him for a myriad of reasons.<BR><BR>
I miss him for my kids, who still talk about him all the time, ending each statement with, "But he's in Heaven now".<BR><BR>
I miss him for Solon, who's Friday nights get a little lonely, longing for the impromptu get-togethers. He usually calls my mom to check in when he's missing Dad.<BR><BR>
I miss him for my nephews, who are so freaking cool right now. They just get funnier and smarter every day.<BR><BR>
I miss him for my brother - my dad would have loved to watch him help coach Kellan's little league team, as well as the Camelback HS baseball team.<BR><BR>
I miss him for my aunt, my uncle, and my little cousins who would have loved to have him there as his niece said, "I do."<BR><BR>
I miss him for me, because we would be talking EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. about the election right now. He would have understood my deep respect and admiration for Bernie Sanders; he would've been "Feeling the Bern". And while I channel my political passions through Facebook most of the time, educate my children about it a little, and talk Solon's ear off the second he gets home, it's not the same as talking politics with Dad. (Solon is pretty apolitical and most of the women in my family have a deep love for Hillary Clinton, and have been waiting for me to feel the same.) <BR><BR>
I miss him for my grandma, who has lost her son, her brother-in-law, and her sister all within the same year.<BR><BR>
I miss him for my mom - all she ever wanted was to grow old with him.<BR><BR>
There's a verse from a song that says,<BR>
<b>"Sometimes those memories<BR>
Can be hard to take<BR>
We all remember the times<BR>
Before you ever felt your heart break<BR>
You never were the same"</b><BR><BR>
This is true for all of us who loved my dad. It's hard to remember what it felt like before my heart was broken like this. My dear friend Aaron says it doesn't get easier, and I think when you lose a parent who still deserves so many more years to live - to see their children age a little, to watch their grandkids grow up - it's terribly hard, and certainly doesn't feel fair.<BR><BR>
This year has been filled with highs and lows, for my family (nuclear and extended), and for some of my very best friends. And it's in those moments that you receive clarity, and very quickly, the "who" and "what" that is most important in your life shines through, being revealed, fighting with you to help you move through the hard moments, and into your new space in life. I am grateful for all those bright lights in my life that fought for me, and with me, because one year later I am still standing. And for my friends who are also experiencing the hardest year of their life up to this point, for whatever the reason, know that when you hurt, I hurt, and I will fight for you when you feel like you can no longer stand. <BR><BR>
*** *** *** *** ***<BR><BR>
Since my last post, our summer has been filled with activities (basketball camp, KinderCamp, swim lessons), reading, music, dancing, teaching the kids new responsibilities (how to do chores, etc), a little bit of travel, and visits from friends and family.<BR><BR>
After a wonderful day in Wine Country on Memorial Day Weekend, Lucy and Bob took us to visit Uncle Ralph's space at the Veteran's Memorial Garden in Sonoma.<BR>
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Paloma completed preschool<BR>
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Quincy completed 1st grade and filled my heart with a year's worth of beautiful artwork<BR>
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These were my favorites...<BR>
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We were able to see my little cousin Kerry get married to her James in Pittsburgh, PA. Delicious meals were consumed, wonderful memories were made.<BR>
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My mom visited for Independence Day Weekend<BR>
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We finally tried Tommy's in honor of my dad<BR>
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Best tequila selection I have ever seen. Dad would have loved it.
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The kids (and Mom) participated in the Annual Piedmont Community Parade<BR>
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Mom made the front page of the local paper!<BR>
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We had an unforgettable 48 hours with the Reese family!<BR>
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The Phillips family included us on their visit from London - and I'm grateful the distance of the Atlantic Ocean has only made our friendship stronger!<BR>
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A LONG-OVERDUE trip to Seattle to see Grandma Sasa, Alynsia, and Tony!<BR>
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Celebrated Bastille Day!<BR>
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Took in a Mariners game at beautiful Safeco Field<BR>
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Love!<BR>
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Solon returned to Iowa for his 20-year High School Reunion<BR>
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I can't believe we are just weeks away from the beginning of the new school year. It seems like I was just wondering to myself how I was going to keep these kids of ours occupied for the entire summer... and somehow, we managed to make it happen, learning new things, seeing familiar faces, and finding the magic and <b>JOY</b> along the way. <BR><BR>
This week we will be celebrating my Daddy, and toasting his memory. One year down... my lifetime to go...<BR><BR>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/RMCR7yI_z74C0mj6S-ly-ahtn4ssFBPawCPcB/s1600/BloggerSignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/RMCR7yI_z74C0mj6S-ly-ahtn4ssFBPawCPcB/s200/BloggerSignature.jpg" width="200" height="51" /></a></div>CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-31067309656525832272016-05-23T16:09:00.001-07:002016-05-23T16:24:01.029-07:00A Break in Thought, This SpringLast month was the second official trip back to Arizona since Dad died.<BR><BR>
I didn't really know how it was going to affect me, but returning "home" a few times a year is something that I vowed to do when we made the decision to move. My kids need it, I need it. It's good for all of us to see our many family members that live there, and it's important for us to connect with our dearest friends when we return.<BR><BR>
That doesn't mean it's easy yet. Maybe one day, but not yet.<BR><BR>
The drive was easy. Forrest is my ace, my co-pilot. The kids (despite the inevitable fighting that ensues in close quarters for long periods of time) are actually road trip rockstars. We have the 11.5 hour trip down - streamlined. Break it up over 2 days - stay at a nice pet-friendly hotel - everyone is happy. Totally manageable. If I had a baby, it would look very different. But the kids are currently at great ages to be helpful and understand Mommy's process with the whole thing, and it's good. The kids get to watch movies, and play games in the back seat after the first stop, but until then, it's sibling togetherness while they look out the window and play with whatever toys they INSISTED on bringing with them. I get to listen to my beloved iTouch, and sing along to whatever the heck I want to, all while Forrest is sleeping on the makeshift bed I have made for him in the front seat.
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We pack some healthy snacks, and find a Subway in an attempt to eat semi-healthy on the road. But what's a road trip without a junk food binge for one stretch of the drive? Quincy chooses Cheese Puffs, Paloma wants a Ring Pop, and I grab some (2 packs of) Mamba fruit chews (WAY better than Starburst) and share with the kids. On your next road trip, I highly encourage you to spread all of the individually wrapped fruit chews on your dash to warm up (soften) for 30 minutes while you drive. When you finally can't take it anymore, enjoy them one at a time, alternating flavors or mixing them up two at a time, and your road trips will forever be changed. TRUST ME.<BR><BR>
Driving for me is therapy. But only when I am in the driver seat, listening to my jams (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5GCdYsc1tY">jam #1</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCSUfGJjwVY">jam #2</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAndF_7mucc">jam #3</a> - random sample) and the backseat is happy and calm. (If I am in the passenger seat, I am sleeping.) So at least 1/3-1/2 of each drive is therapeutic. But that's pretty good - I'll take what I can get!<BR>
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It's a really weird feeling going back to a place I called home for 36 years, and not really having a place that is ours. I mean, my parents' house will always feel a little like home, but it hasn't been "mine" for over 15 years. I know my way around, sure, and we still refer to the first bedroom as "my room", but it's different. I still feel my dad everywhere in that house. Like his embrace is still there. My mom has pictures of him up everywhere, which I love, because I see him as I enter every room. But it's also funny, because my Dad (for whatever reason) never wanted family pictures up in the house. Only art. Not a lot has changed in the house since his passing, but Mom finally has family pictures up, randomly spread throughout the house, scattered between the art.<BR><BR>
This trip back, it was important to accomplish a few things:<BR><BR>
*Quincy wanted to see big cousin Kellan AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (this included a couple sleep-overs, and 3 little league baseball games)= ACCOMPLISHED<BR>
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*Paloma wanted to see her BFF Makena AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (including a sleepover the night before her bestie's birthday, and a fabulous party complete with a snow cone truck on a rainy day, unicorns, and rainbow-inspired painting)= ACCOMPLISHED
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*See my sweet friend Erin marry the love of her life, AJ = ACCOMPLISHED<BR>
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*Spend one on one time with my Mom and celebrate her 69th birthday with the family = ACCOMPLISHED<BR>
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*See Mimi, Papa Meredith & Gaga = ACCOMPLISHED<BR>
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*Have dinner with my Mama Mimi & lunch with my Aunt Eleanor and cousin Lucy = ACCOMPLISHED<BR>
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*Visit Shadow Rock Preschool so Paloma could be an honorary Unicorn for the day, and see her old friends, and so Quincy could read a book to the kids in his old classroom = ACCOMPLISHED<BR>
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*Squeeze in a hug, a meal, or some playtime with some of our favorite people = ACCOMPLISHED<BR>
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Needless to say, we tried to fit in as much as we could into the short time that we were there. I am grateful for the extra time I got to spend with Natan, Larel and my nephews - we are trying to maximize each visit until we see each other again - and I know the kids had a blast being reunited again. Going back to AZ is essential for filling my heart, and fueling my soul, but on the drive back I realized just how excited I was to get back to my life here in the East Bay. It felt good to have that epiphany - it assured me that I am truly enjoying this beautiful new place that we call home. <BR><BR>
**********<BR><BR>
Since our return in May, I have been busy engaging my kids in the political process, educating them on the importance of this year and how elections work. Quincy learns a little about it at school as well, but since Paloma is only in school 3 days a week, she got to be Mommy's sidekick while I volunteered with the Bernie Sanders campaign to register voters at UC Berkeley's campus. <BR>
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One of my greatest passions (which both my parents instilled in me) is the love of political activism and service. I truly feel invigorated when I am participating in the political process and having (open-minded, respectful) discussions with others on their views, and what is important to them. The Bay Area has such a diverse population that the political spectrum is so much wider than I am used to, and I find it fascinating. This woman I was speaking to was like the female version of my dad.
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She was smart, fierce, and her passion was palpable. I told her she and my dad were like kindred spirits, and I was happy to have met her. As Paloma and I walked back to the car, I told her that Papa would have been proud of us, and she said, "But Mama, he was watching the whole time." She is a perceptive one, my Palomita.<BR><BR>
A week later, Paloma and I drove to Stockton for the Sanders Rally - it was exhilarating to be surrounded by thousands of peaceful and passionate people coming together to listen to Bernie's ideas.<BR>
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<BR>
Sasa came in town for a quick visit, and we enjoyed every second!<BR>
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<BR>
Solon continues to work hard in his new position. I am so proud of him for the work he is doing, and the life it is providing for us. His courage and desire to take this chance, has opened up a world of opportunities for each of us - to learn and try new things - and ultimately, to grow. We have enjoyed a couple date nights over the last month, and have discovered some absolutely delectable restaurants within a mile of our house.
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<BR>
Life is good.
<BR><BR>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/BF-Ovv9FCG0aJJMOv1fCzt29ucx4JLN3gCKgB/s1600/BloggerSignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/BF-Ovv9FCG0aJJMOv1fCzt29ucx4JLN3gCKgB/s200/BloggerSignature.jpg" /></a></div>CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-14682953050919760412016-04-04T00:10:00.000-07:002016-04-04T17:15:37.015-07:00Eleven YearsI have so much on my mind these days...
<BR><BR>
I registered Paloma for Kindergarten(!) a couple weeks ago, and as we were driving home I heard this song for the first time.<BR><BR>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jErJimwom94" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><BR><BR>
Songs with timelines like this make me super-reflective. They make me take a deep breath, a pause, because they remind me just how fast time flies. They make me think about what I have done in my life up to this point, and of course as the years progress, I get emotional... that's just me.<BR><BR>
<b>"Once I was seven years old, my mama told me<BR>
Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely<BR>
Once I was seven years old"</b><BR><BR>
In the last few weeks I have finally felt like I am getting my footing here. I feel like I am slowly carving my way into this amazing little community of Piedmont. I have finally put myself out there, interacting with the parents who have been available to me since the first few weeks of school, but I just wasn't ready then. It took me some time. I am still sad about my Dad often, but it's not preventing me (anymore) from starting to think about the near future.<BR><BR>
<b>"I always had that dream like my daddy before me<BR>
So I started writing songs, I started writing stories<BR>
Something about that glory, just always seemed to bore me<BR>
Cause only those I really love will ever really know me"</b><BR><BR>
I have been writing more in the new year than I have in a long time, but not as consistently as I would like to. I find myself having so much to say, and it sounds so inspired in my mind, and then when I get it out on paper (or the computer), it is not the same, or I wonder who would even read it? And is writing anything more for me than just a release? Is it something I can do for "a living"? I am surrounded by so many talented people out here that it has me wondering whether or not I could keep up, considering I have been out of the game so long. I am a woman of many interests and passions, but what the heck am I going to do when it is time for me to go back to work (outside the home)? I have started thinking about it, and maybe I am over-thinking it, but the most important thing to me is that I can do something that does the following: 1) fulfills me creatively, 2) brings home some bacon, and (most importantly) 3) allows me to continue to be the mom and wife I want to be. <BR><BR>
That is so important to me...
<BR><BR>
<b>"Soon I'll be 60 years old, will I think the world is cold<BR>
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?'<BR>
'Soon I'll be 60 years old, my daddy got 61<BR>
Remember life and then your life becomes a better one"</b> <BR><BR>
One commonality of all the songs I hear with timelines of these artists' lives, is how important the first 18-20 years are. I want to be present to help shape my kids' childhood into the best foundation possible for the rest of their lives. I want to teach them how to revel in every moment. But I also want to continue to work on me, and my contributions to the world (aside from my children). But what will those contributions be? My cupcakes and sweet treats? Another song? Public service? A children's book (top priority)? I guess that question doesn't need to be answered today, but hopefully someday soon, I will have some clarity on what it will be. One thing I do know is that I want to continue living life to it's fullest. I am trying to take full advantage of all there is where we are living. I want to learn and grow, alongside my children. I want to have tiny adventures daily, and big adventures spontaneously. <BR><BR>
Now that my children are getting bigger, I am trying to revisit all the things that inspire me - all the things that get put on hold when you have babies (when your main focus is making sure they thrive the first 5+ years). <BR><BR>
When I feel like I am forgetting to take care of ME a little (which happens from time to time), I will try to incorporate the things that nourish my soul, and include my kids in them, instead of just putting them off until I have a moment to myself. Paloma and I paint on the front steps, watching Quincy shoot hoops with the neighbor kids, while Forrest wanders from yard to yard, and we wait for Solon to come home. We have been visiting all the local library branches here and checking out 30 books at a time, just like my Dad used to do with my brother and me. I am reconnecting with nature - which is abundant out here - and I've encountered so many wonderful parks surrounding us where I can unplug and just be with my kids, while the fresh air envelopes me, and discoveries await. <BR><BR>
I use to wake up to music. I used to listen to music while getting ready for the day; while cooking; while cleaning; while writing - I am starting to do that again. I don't remember when I stopped the consistency of it, but I am sure it had something to do with my children hearing a catchy pop song on the radio, and then that's all we could listen to, over and over and over. I am revisiting the music that makes me, me: Counting Crows, Simon & Garfunkel, the Beatles, Indigo Girls, Whitney Houston (the early years), John Denver, Eva Cassidy, Tracy Chapman, Gavin DeGraw, Train, India.Arie, and basically all my favorite 90's Alt Rock (thank you Pandora) and Oldies that my Dad loved.<BR><BR>
Solon and I just celebrated our 11th Wedding Anniversary. Solon woke me up that Saturday, the way he has the last 10 anniversaries - by playing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc3Sz72ZXd0">Tony! Toni! Tone!'s "Anniversary"</a>. We talked about all that has happened throughout the last 11 years of our marriage, the ups and the downs, the trips and the adventures, the stresses and the joys, the personal challenges that either we or the people we love had endured, the love, so much LOVE, and the losses, which we will feel for days and years to come. It's all part of life, and marriage, and I thank God every day that I have him as my partner through it all.<BR><BR>
****<BR><BR>
Now, some pictures (I haven't posted any since before Christmas, so here's a semi-quick recap):<BR><BR>
In December, we had a weekend of fun celebrating Natan and Larel's birthday when they all came to visit. The cousins were <b>OVERJOYED</b> to be reunited again!<BR>
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Then Quincy turned SEVEN(!) and my MOMMY(!!!) came in town<BR>
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Quincy's "Jurassic World" Birthday Party<BR>
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The following weekend we were back in Arizona for the Holiday Break, and we kicked it off with a playdate for Paloma with her preschool friends<BR>
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Christmas Party at Holly & Chad's<BR>
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Christmas Eve with my family<BR>
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Christmas Night with Solon's family<BR>
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Dinner (and tequila) with some of our nearest and dearest<BR>
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The kids reunited with Eve while she was visiting from London<BR>
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In January, Paloma turned 5(!) and got her ears pierced (by this girl)<BR>
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Paloma's Birthday "Art" Party<BR>
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In February, we celebrated Solon's 38th Birthday in a memorable way. <i>I made reservations for a "fine dining" establishment overlooking Lake Merritt in Oakland, that was known for it's exquisite LIVE jazz, and marble dance floor. The restaurant turned out to be housed in a Senior Living Residence Building. We didn't realize it until our dinner arrived! We all got a good laugh, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.</i><BR>
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Return to Napa Valley for Tony's 50th Birthday - the kids are pros in Wine Country by now, and had their first ride in a <b>LIMO</b>!<BR>
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In March, Papa Allen and Danita came to visit from Iowa!! It rained the first three days they were here (BOO!), but we still were able to have lots of fun, including an adventure into the city when the sun came out, and a trip into the beautiful regional parks.<BR>
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Quincy and members of his 1st grade class performed in the "Annual Beach Revue". Five performances in one week - I am so proud of him and all of his buddies! It was a <b>BIG</b> commitment and he had an absolute blast! And <b>BONUS</b>: now he likes The Beatles!!! (WooHoo!)<BR>
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Check out his moves in the performance below:<BR>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e7ASSPURSOU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><BR><BR>
We have been filling our afternoons with art, sunshine, and Tae Kwon Do<BR>
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And finally, a snap from Easter with the Meltzer family in Fairfield!<BR>
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Up next, SPRING BREAK - Can't wait!!<BR><BR>
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<BR><BR>CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-89654854919512003642016-02-22T10:57:00.000-08:002016-02-22T10:58:19.316-08:00Looking Back On All The Good... TODAY Of All DaysIn life, some things we do because we love them. Some things we do out of obligation. And then there are things that we are moved to do, even if (at the time) we don't FULLY understand the significance or the lasting impact.
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A little over two years ago, Natan and I were talking about our parents' upcoming anniversary. Solon overheard us say "40 years" and he said, "Oh, we've gotta do something big for them. Forty years is a huge milestone." Natan, Larel, and I agreed - and so a family lunch was planned. The location that made the most sense for an occasion like this, was the place that my parents had their first date, and where they celebrated their wedding anniversary each year - Monti's La Casa Vieja in Tempe.
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It was a wonderful lunch, with as many of our local family that could make it. I was able to put a slideshow together for the occasion, and felt compelled to get it JUST RIGHT - even if it meant staying up way past my bedtime, several nights in a row. The music I included was paramount to the beginning of their relationship. Hey, I have a lot of my dad in me that way. And the look on their faces was priceless. My dad was rarely moved to tears, but he was clearly overcome with emotion looking back on 40 years of their love. He couldn't speak when it was over, for a moment, and then I heard him say quietly, "I didn't think I would make it this long. I am so glad I did."
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What we didn't know at the time of the party, was that Monti's was going to close it's doors for good nine months later (November 2014), or that my daddy would only live to see one more anniversary with my mom. Call it fate, destiny, a higher power, or pure luck - but I am eternally grateful that we celebrated their 40 years of love in a major way.
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Mamita, I know this day is going to be hard for you. But I want you to know this always... You and Daddy gave us the most amazing example of LOVE, TRUE LOVE. You stayed TRUE to your vows to each other - through ups and downs, successes and failures, sickness and health, LOVE and loss. Your example and your words will be embedded in Natan and me forever - "We don't have much, but we are RICH in LOVE." Think of that richness as you look back on your beautiful life together, TODAY of all days...
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C8LIk-Ms2rU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<BR><BR>
I love you both, today on what would be your 42nd Anniversary, and always.
<BR><BR>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/Z9IiMh-4dP0/s1600/BloggerSignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/Z9IiMh-4dP0/s200/BloggerSignature.jpg" /></a></div>
<BR><BR>
<BR><BR>
Songs:
Chacha Linda - Hermanos Martinez Gil<BR>
For My Lady - Moody Blues<BR>
New Horizons - Moody Blues
CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-71604609400542013622016-02-08T22:47:00.001-08:002016-02-09T16:28:44.395-08:00Six monthsDear Daddy,<BR>
<BR>
This morning I woke up, after not really sleeping well last night. I had a dream about Quincy that spooked me - it felt so real, and I just couldn't seem to get back to sleep soundly after it.<BR><BR>
All morning I felt a full 10 minutes behind, like a force was pressing against me, causing me to lose focus - not exactly accomplishing everything I wanted to on a Monday morning. It put me in a funk that I couldn't shake, and I couldn't figure out why.<BR><BR>
In the afternoon, I sat down on the couch to have Quincy read to me, as he does every day after school. He read me a 41-page book on Meerkats, and decided that Meerkats are pretty gross little creatures. I chuckled at his "out-loud" discoveries of their worm and scorpion diets, and how they enjoy picking bugs off each other - and really just sat in awe at how much he has grown over the last year. I turned on my pre-recorded CBS This Morning, so I could catch up on the news of the day, and that's when I realized... <BR><BR>
It's been exactly 6 months since you died. Six freakin' months. Some days it feels like longer. Some days it feels like yesterday. But I realized what that pressure was that kept holding me back today. It was my mind, imagining your embrace. I miss your hugs so much I can't stand it. You would just hold me, resting your chin atop my head, and our hearts would beat at the same time. <BR><BR>
No one hugged like you do. It was a very special bear hug. I miss it. We all miss it. <BR><BR>
I bought a special tequila at Costco last week. It's really smooth. You would have enjoyed it.<BR><BR>
You would have enjoyed Beyonce's booty shaking at last night's Super Bowl Halftime Show. And the hot wings I made. <BR><BR>
I miss hearing your voice. I would love more than anything to call you after every political debate, and just pick everything apart like we used to. You loved election season. So do I. It gets me so excited, and I wish you were here to talk to about it.<BR><BR>
Paloma reminded me of you today. Her hair is out of control and totally awesome, and she made a face that you would make when you were really happy. And Quincy has your competitiveness down - he wants to win every game, and pouts a bit if he doesn't. He wants to perfect everything before he does it, just like you.<BR><BR>
Friday nights are the hardest for Solon. Those were your nights. He said to tell you he loves and misses you, and can't wait to see you again. <BR><BR>
We are still figuring out how to live in a world without you in it. I've been writing a lot. I don't cry every day anymore. I get on fine for several weeks, enjoying life and all the beauty that surrounds me here. And then there will be days like today, when I am laying on Paloma's bed, waiting for her to fall asleep, and the quiet night releases the tears that have been collecting since the last time. It's going to be like that for a while, I guess.<BR><BR>
I don't really know how to end this letter to you, because I don't want it to end. So just know that I love you so much. All day. Every day.<BR><BR>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/Z9IiMh-4dP0/s1600/BloggerSignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/Z9IiMh-4dP0/s200/BloggerSignature.jpg" /></a></div>
CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-89147463883627602072015-12-01T10:47:00.000-08:002015-12-02T15:29:08.106-08:00Beautiful DistractionsThe last two months have been filled with the most wonderful, needed, beautiful distractions.
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Things like...
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Birthday/Costume Parties
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk4T3zaG5hoklS4cPz-0HSYOf2nIJfcXoXKhnncTNqALldOYbWQ3Km5Wpp1DVXzmjSneF9nJlkx8baA6lvL1zhyphenhyphenJrs3O9okw14-8Or2NZDT6aonul1F1iyn4gcS3__-aqJRqAZ_XMY4w/s1600/2015-10-17+15.40.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk4T3zaG5hoklS4cPz-0HSYOf2nIJfcXoXKhnncTNqALldOYbWQ3Km5Wpp1DVXzmjSneF9nJlkx8baA6lvL1zhyphenhyphenJrs3O9okw14-8Or2NZDT6aonul1F1iyn4gcS3__-aqJRqAZ_XMY4w/s320/2015-10-17+15.40.16.jpg" /></a></div>
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Family adventure to Bob's Pumpkin Farm at Half Moon Bay
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG8ZIqFhVxP9hrahbwWdQ1OA7LemucvdAq27MdYXzECgQF0JVELIe4-qSJEhn5FyfeG3nl2wWj_EPFmHhGJy7pl3bGLvZcsCNGLNGwWLaQWA-YoZYEQ4WH4AeqKpjEEG7DjlOMwBjh48/s1600/2015-10-25+16.41.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTG8ZIqFhVxP9hrahbwWdQ1OA7LemucvdAq27MdYXzECgQF0JVELIe4-qSJEhn5FyfeG3nl2wWj_EPFmHhGJy7pl3bGLvZcsCNGLNGwWLaQWA-YoZYEQ4WH4AeqKpjEEG7DjlOMwBjh48/s320/2015-10-25+16.41.35.jpg" /></a></div><BR><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlLJ30Cumgbz_2SWjud0skhwyjphbvL1j72InCsky8QFlWscrpA3TWusp6rOb6wgUql2tzPo8sZCmVmqYMpJ5UvAp3oadAuimd6bJhzJxkdZlXMS5AOiUXWBFuBLPAIWWMYEgHuQGdFE/s1600/2015-10-25+17.00.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlLJ30Cumgbz_2SWjud0skhwyjphbvL1j72InCsky8QFlWscrpA3TWusp6rOb6wgUql2tzPo8sZCmVmqYMpJ5UvAp3oadAuimd6bJhzJxkdZlXMS5AOiUXWBFuBLPAIWWMYEgHuQGdFE/s320/2015-10-25+17.00.46.jpg" /></a></div><BR><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AfCsbJEr_YrYOCXuOh2WTHpuItm_Syfk-w88vW_Q4Q7k-2sL1cXa5OXkGfU6WnDCNK1bBbFxcny-2UDicCn_hkEoNAPzaqZ2omF1aWJ41QDxmOva-riVGO-7gEMIxtHLjuQ0eRAbLxE/s1600/2015-10-25+17.13.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AfCsbJEr_YrYOCXuOh2WTHpuItm_Syfk-w88vW_Q4Q7k-2sL1cXa5OXkGfU6WnDCNK1bBbFxcny-2UDicCn_hkEoNAPzaqZ2omF1aWJ41QDxmOva-riVGO-7gEMIxtHLjuQ0eRAbLxE/s320/2015-10-25+17.13.56.jpg" /></a></div>
<BR><BR>
Halloween
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The kids as Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and Jurassic World's Indominus Rex
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_o5XabSommPekBE4YxoguoC8BpOPj9YeN8gaw_hpZeY-Zbxsviqk_QTstA5D-HN1DZTzTblfC9EiNFpPTzGRjF4HzfIxXojlDUXavrJBShc8r7l7I5iLfwezFj0S4PpWzjeffU6r0KwM/s1600/2015-10-31+17.32.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_o5XabSommPekBE4YxoguoC8BpOPj9YeN8gaw_hpZeY-Zbxsviqk_QTstA5D-HN1DZTzTblfC9EiNFpPTzGRjF4HzfIxXojlDUXavrJBShc8r7l7I5iLfwezFj0S4PpWzjeffU6r0KwM/s320/2015-10-31+17.32.48.jpg" /></a></div>
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Solon and I as Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrKeLp51tThRMYN5exVKYEBy5QZgUpYVwFWB6xKt4aJ9xIKEp1EM_PBgqAvU58wXSOCwMTW07vhz6SZG7KYB_YZBDfW_l3SjK-DjYf1TAGNRWcSQq1Txv4hwdUgtQE0yf4wwgM1ifSOk/s1600/2015-10-31+17.35.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrKeLp51tThRMYN5exVKYEBy5QZgUpYVwFWB6xKt4aJ9xIKEp1EM_PBgqAvU58wXSOCwMTW07vhz6SZG7KYB_YZBDfW_l3SjK-DjYf1TAGNRWcSQq1Txv4hwdUgtQE0yf4wwgM1ifSOk/s320/2015-10-31+17.35.58.jpg" /></a></div>
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A day trip to Sonoma to visit Lucy, Bob, and Uncle Ralph
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TadBUp7x-b_OTrXjZeoXd3MeUnSJgyBHIlTni8zMsWKkbDh0IouU7q99Kz2uJWfxd2rOVCqNghQq1doghJVF8Wqi0lnqOmRe3DjWKP-JeHQmW0rygPZzf-YKQpxxH6ZHJ5nUtGD8h68/s1600/2015-11-01+15.17.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TadBUp7x-b_OTrXjZeoXd3MeUnSJgyBHIlTni8zMsWKkbDh0IouU7q99Kz2uJWfxd2rOVCqNghQq1doghJVF8Wqi0lnqOmRe3DjWKP-JeHQmW0rygPZzf-YKQpxxH6ZHJ5nUtGD8h68/s320/2015-11-01+15.17.00.jpg" /></a></div>
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Visits from 3 of our best friends
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Holly (and Makena)<BR>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_uLGv7EDuYx3nq7LfxpQS-eW0yB-yrlma-DTGCch4FSK1FyfwyH9iBDpnm612SsWGfCoyKdmx2v800nHo_eSxiNuBKNqLM3i8loDE4n4Z_49lMamE4Sv9BR8s1O-KUr3W_vzpsK1M40/s1600/HollyMakena2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_uLGv7EDuYx3nq7LfxpQS-eW0yB-yrlma-DTGCch4FSK1FyfwyH9iBDpnm612SsWGfCoyKdmx2v800nHo_eSxiNuBKNqLM3i8loDE4n4Z_49lMamE4Sv9BR8s1O-KUr3W_vzpsK1M40/s320/HollyMakena2015.jpg" /></a></div><BR><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmf_tWLC_ZxLhBTE8Uk6JNlKUAaKl3XzSIBAyugSBw0wTSVen03s6J1bVxoisFHY9F390ZIVTku4PWAWZkeCWM8itM9lqw5VVdIMqpHO-JuZtNu_ttLp82bBUXKUgRS9C8O-tGsfp0yk/s1600/HollyMakena2015kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmf_tWLC_ZxLhBTE8Uk6JNlKUAaKl3XzSIBAyugSBw0wTSVen03s6J1bVxoisFHY9F390ZIVTku4PWAWZkeCWM8itM9lqw5VVdIMqpHO-JuZtNu_ttLp82bBUXKUgRS9C8O-tGsfp0yk/s320/HollyMakena2015kids.jpg" /></a></div>
<BR><BR>
Marsielle (a.k.a. Uncle Bone)
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29peaP2uGpQ_fl3NKbT5RwbdmPTgiZjBR-j-0X5Yu0GhSgz3_dW4VWumqEyrG61UZgif6S_6u1eSCU3ZVkKhFuZMwd5q6plPEZpTaLlRTApMyVLNWTkngVncXuemDWgEpbRC3UCDAAgw/s1600/2015-11-05+15.22.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29peaP2uGpQ_fl3NKbT5RwbdmPTgiZjBR-j-0X5Yu0GhSgz3_dW4VWumqEyrG61UZgif6S_6u1eSCU3ZVkKhFuZMwd5q6plPEZpTaLlRTApMyVLNWTkngVncXuemDWgEpbRC3UCDAAgw/s320/2015-11-05+15.22.05.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7lF6gmpyKyo34uiDwvJewH_eLCoyjLO2SBd-FMZ1zKiGCPHyeJOgPlE2BVOtlhRwg16KUQsStud5M8aodagWOXxd2GQ5sNlwMFAlsI4F2C_tqkfkXiAbsp-0IfGmytKLDqcGYnQsDhw/s1600/2015-11-08+10.43.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7lF6gmpyKyo34uiDwvJewH_eLCoyjLO2SBd-FMZ1zKiGCPHyeJOgPlE2BVOtlhRwg16KUQsStud5M8aodagWOXxd2GQ5sNlwMFAlsI4F2C_tqkfkXiAbsp-0IfGmytKLDqcGYnQsDhw/s320/2015-11-08+10.43.33.png" /></a></div>
<BR><BR>
Becky (and Gracyn)
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4X7b9xCWKq-4RVYemziZAHAvIV2KIQszVnnz36ua4jvXLxu42D0lf67iMZxDmpvTJ4E5Wrtx5lj-MfyJr2kG-WC50DyddBfbEdz86ZvvtiUmMjBmbjEij-xMSCVO-K4bI7LIYXmRVOE/s1600/2015-11-14+13.29.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4X7b9xCWKq-4RVYemziZAHAvIV2KIQszVnnz36ua4jvXLxu42D0lf67iMZxDmpvTJ4E5Wrtx5lj-MfyJr2kG-WC50DyddBfbEdz86ZvvtiUmMjBmbjEij-xMSCVO-K4bI7LIYXmRVOE/s320/2015-11-14+13.29.34.jpg" /></a></div>
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<BR><BR>
Family Photos taken by Liz!
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8suXK6CNJQsL1xmiXuWTKBnMGgDbuxGOTmCv6k9eBKdxc_eMamHa0SMZ9R8hs0NFGhAAqtcDARAoTaQ3kAiiSPBBXl9bmoUAr22Ea08dA8QEJckDxxhvVhYvQ1RR3aixVY9ZrIB3aC8/s1600/2015-11-08+12.38.14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8suXK6CNJQsL1xmiXuWTKBnMGgDbuxGOTmCv6k9eBKdxc_eMamHa0SMZ9R8hs0NFGhAAqtcDARAoTaQ3kAiiSPBBXl9bmoUAr22Ea08dA8QEJckDxxhvVhYvQ1RR3aixVY9ZrIB3aC8/s320/2015-11-08+12.38.14.png" /></a></div>
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And a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend spent in our new home with Grandma Sasa & Tony, and Aunt Alynsia
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGshnP-7KjHs9b4fXVRUlSsxm9qAV-HNAoQ42kw2EQ1HBgEZi9XGEBJEy92nw1gbRPJgLFB2dAbPJABFIQSK7c-efn-BTpFqW0XfyWB0peBs5bVJJHocAMMA8-esbNFok5mG3-g7ZtQo/s1600/IMG_6596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGshnP-7KjHs9b4fXVRUlSsxm9qAV-HNAoQ42kw2EQ1HBgEZi9XGEBJEy92nw1gbRPJgLFB2dAbPJABFIQSK7c-efn-BTpFqW0XfyWB0peBs5bVJJHocAMMA8-esbNFok5mG3-g7ZtQo/s320/IMG_6596.JPG" /></a></div><BR>
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We have loved having QUALITY TIME with family and friends!
<BR><BR>
These visits have been much-needed, soul-filling distractions that have gotten me through week to week, despite my ever-so-broken heart. I have consistent happiness for most of the week, and then I will be driving down the CA-24 and Bridge Over Troubled Water (one of my Dad's favorites) will come on the radio, and I will be a sobbing mess. Or after a grocery run that is done in under 2 hours, I will be feeling like I just accomplished the impossible (if you live in California, you know what I mean), and <a href="http://artists.letssingit.com/charlie-puth-lyrics-see-you-again-no-rap-94x1459#axzz3t1BzZjOG">Charlie Puth's song</a> comes on the radio, and I am stuck at the longest red light, a sobbing mess.
<BR><BR>
"Why'd you have to leave so soon, yeah,<BR>
Why'd you have to go,<BR>
Why'd you have to leave me when I needed you the most,<BR>
'Cause I don't really know how to tell ya that I'm feeling much worse,<BR>
I know you're in a better place but it's always going to hurt,<BR>
Carry on,<BR>
Give me all the strength I need to carry on.
<BR><BR>
So let the light guide your way, yeah,<BR>
Hold every memory as you go,<BR>
And every road you take will always lead you home, home<BR>
<BR>
It's been a long day without you my friend,<BR>
And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again<BR>
We've come a long way from where we began,<BR>
Oh I'll tell you all about it when I see you again, when I see you again."
<BR><BR>
*****
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If you want me to really have a good cry, put on Luther Vandross' Dance With My Father, while I am assembling Christmas Cards. Yes, that happened. Not familiar with this beautiful song? You can watch the video below:<BR><BR>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wmDxJrggie8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><BR><BR>
"If I could steal one final glance, one final step<BR>
One final dance with him<BR>
I'd play a song that would never ever end<BR>
'Cause I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again
<BR><BR>
Sometimes I'd listen outside her door<BR>
And I'd hear how my mother cried for him<BR>
I pray for her even more than me<BR>
I pray for her even more than me<BR>
<BR>
I know I'm praying for much too much<BR>
But could you send back the only man she loved?<BR>
I know you don't do it usually<BR>
But dear Lord she's dying to dance with my father again<BR>
<BR>
Every night I fall asleep and this is all I ever dream"<BR><BR>
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And it's true... every night I fall asleep wishing for the same dream.
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Last week, Forrest and I were taking a walk, and I had a quiet 20 minutes to myself to clear my head, and think. Sometimes 20 minutes is all I have each day for that. But it is in those 20 minutes that my thoughts immediately turn to my dad. I think of all the things I would tell him about if we could talk again. I try to hear his voice. I try to feel his hugs. I feel like its all I have been able to think/talk about for the past three months, but at the same time, it doesn't feel like I have released enough.
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I have gone through all the stages of grief (I think), and some of the stages seem to circle back a few times.
<BR><BR>
<b>Denial and Isolation<i></i></b> - Yeah, living in a new place is kind of like living in a bubble so it can make it feel like the death never happened. Like I know it's real, but there are times when I call my parents' number and just expect my dad to answer. So I get the denial part. And isolation... for someone like me who everyone knows is a social butterfly... I have isolated myself in ways. Maybe because it's so hard for me to not give all of myself to others, and when meeting new people, that beginning can be so superficial until you invest the time and energy to really get to know someone. But I haven't had that energy (see Depression/Sadness), and I don't want to start off the conversation with, "Sorry if I get randomly sad on our play-date, but my dad died 5 days after we moved to this beautiful place, and the tiniest thing can set me off."
<BR><BR>
<b>Anger<i></i></b> - You bet I have been angry. I feel robbed. For myself, for my kids, for my brother, for my nephews, for my mom. For my dad. I am angry that we didn't get more time with him. I am angry that his heart was so weak, that he suffered internally so much. I am angry that he was so stubborn and didn't like doctors therefore had zero medical history by the time he actually got diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (back in 2002), therefore it had already escalated inside him, therefore it shortened his life by 20 years. I am angry about that. And I am angry about being angry about that.
<BR><BR>
<b>Bargaining<i></i></b> - The "If only..." stage - enough said.
<BR><BR>
<b>Depression/Sadness<i></i></b> - I am in and out of this stage most of the time. I cry at the drop of a hat. I am still my usual positive/friendly self, but when something triggers the tears, they flow instantly, and freely. Like I have two personal levees that are about to break. See above RE: songs on the radio.
<BR><BR>
<b>Acceptance<i></i></b> - This Christmas break (when we are in AZ for 10 days) will force the beginning of this phase for me. When we go to my parents' house, I won't see a full glass of fresh-brewed Lipton Tea sitting on the kitchen table as I walk in the door. Walking into the living room, I will see Dad's chair, but the dogs won't be at his feet while he sits in it, wearing one of the many graphic tees he received from us as gifts. It's inevitable that I am going to have to face this stage very soon, and I guess I will approach it the same way I have, every day since August 8. One day at a time.
<BR><BR>
In the meantime, I am preparing for two family visits before we head back to AZ for the holidays - my brother's family this weekend (I can't wait to celebrate Natan and Larel's birthdays, and hug and kiss my nephews who I miss so much), and my mom next weekend. Aside from FaceTime, I haven't seen my mom in person or hugged her in over 2.5 months, which is the longest we have ever gone. It will be so wonderful to finally show her our home, where we live, and just be... with her. I am so excited I can hardly stand it!
<BR><BR>
I continue to be so grateful for my family, and this beautiful place we live in. I never tire of seeing the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge, or driving over the many suspension bridges in the Bay Area. We have been to Wine Country three times already, and have seen magnificent redwood and eucalyptus forests, and the sparkle of the ocean all in the same day. We are getting some good use of our jackets, and umbrellas, and I just stocked up on mittens! Such a crazy accessory for this AZ girl. But we are not taking one second for granted.
<BR><BR>
Please take some time to slow down and enjoy your family and friends this holiday season. Don't waste a chance to hug someone you love dearly, or better yet, tell them individually what they mean to you (look them in the eyes), and how much you love them.
<BR><BR>
We love and appreciate each of our family and friends (SO MUCH!), and wish you bountiful blessings this holiday season and for the New Year.
<BR><BR>
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/Z9IiMh-4dP0/s1600/BloggerSignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVXa9z6-tFc/TdRQj56fOSI/AAAAAAAAF14/Z9IiMh-4dP0/s320/BloggerSignature.jpg" /></a></div>CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-82690154388627932962015-09-21T22:25:00.000-07:002015-09-22T10:15:15.519-07:00Piedmont, CaliforniaThis is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piedmont,_California">Piedmont, CA</a>.
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It is a great neighborhood to live in. The community is very much like the one we left behind in Phoenix. I feel like we lucked out in finding this gem. Quincy and Paloma look forward to playing in the cul-de-sac with the neighborhood kids every evening after dinner. Paloma loves all the beautiful flowers that line the sidewalks around us.<BR>
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Our neighbors are awesome. They have brought us dinner, taken me to coffee, kept an eye on my kids when Solon was out of town and I had a meeting at preschool, they have shared their treats with us, and even hired me to bake cupcakes for their son's birthday. We are getting to know them, and are already so grateful to be in the middle of a great group of neighbors.<BR>
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The schools are fabulous. Forrest, Paloma, and I walk Quincy to school every day. And when we pick him up in the afternoon, he tells me how today was even better than the day before. In first grade he is only in school until 1:45pm, and instead of 5 days a week, Paloma's preschool only offers 3 days a week, which is a bit challenging for me, because I was so used to a fuller schedule for both kids. But we are working on it, and will soon be in a groove with that.<BR>
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We are close to everything (15 minutes to the airport, 25 minutes into San Francisco, 10 minutes to Berkeley, 20 minutes to Costco, less than 30 minute drive to National parks, etc). And we are about a 30 minute drive from my dear friend Liz who (along with her husband Sean) helped us out TREMENDOUSLY during those first couple horrible weeks of this transition. Coming home to a house that was more than half unpacked (thanks to them) was seriously such a blessing. (Thank you Meltzers!!!)<BR>
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I have been inspired to cook even more out here. With so many unique ingredients readily available, and so many specialty stores to choose from, my love of reading cookbooks, and watching Food Network has been reignited, and we have been eating well. And wine... the wine selection alone in California is enough to make you want to move here! <BR>
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Honestly, now that we have had a month to really get settled in the house, I can say with certainty that I do like it here, very much. The only thing that would make it even more awesome is if the rest of our family was here too. =)<BR>
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I have good days, and bad days. I miss my mom like crazy. I thought FaceTime would make the distance easier, but honestly, it makes it harder, because I can see her face, but I can't hug her. And she can see the kids, but I can't drop them off at her house for weekend sleepovers. And Quincy misses his Grandpa. He doesn't understand that Grandpa can't come back. He woke up the other morning asking me if it was just a dream, or was Grandpa really gone? He asked me who we could ask to help us bring my dad back. Were there "Heaven Helpers" that could retrieve him for us? I asked him if he dreamed that, and he said yes, and that he dreamed about Grandpa every night. In his dreams, they were mostly sitting together watching Godzilla movies, but also, sitting at the table eating pancakes, and going for long walks around the block (clearly, Quincy's fondest memories of times spent with my dad). <BR>
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It still doesn't feel real to me. It all happened so fast. But it still doesn't feel fair. My quiet thinker, tender-hearted Quincy reminds me every day how unfair it is (if Grandpa REALLY CAN'T come back). And we've been talking a lot about death lately. A lot. We are just taking it one day at a time.<BR>
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We are looking forward to Fall in California. Apple-picking, Pumpkin Patches, Harvest Festivals, exploring the surrounding nature, and the Bay's cooler temperatures. I am taking time out each day to ask God to continue to carry me through this time as I experience the many stages of the grieving process, all while trying to be my authentic, happy self, every day, and doing my absolute best to take care of my husband and children as well through this new change in our life. I am looking forward to this weekend when (my wonderful mother-in-law) Lisa and Tony come to town - it will really start to feel like home when I can entertain. =) So visitors are welcome!!<BR>
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It already feels like home to Forrest.<BR>
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P.S. Thank you to all our family and friends who have continued to show us support and love through this transition, and with the loss of my dad. I wish I could thank each of you individually (and I hope to eventually), but please know that your cards, calls, emails, poems, etc have truly helped us through every day. Thank you for loving us so much. Seriously. You rock. And we love you.CandidaBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03305833655756587315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110246828221748092.post-89453927746546842832015-08-22T18:11:00.001-07:002015-08-22T19:43:42.308-07:00This Wasn't How It Was Supposed To BeThe plan was: we move to California, we get the house ready, and then we open our doors to family and friends for visits. Simple. Easy. That was the plan.
<BR><BR>
The plan wasn't supposed to be: Pack up your life, your kids, your dog, and lose your father. But that is what happened.
<BR><BR>
Two weeks before we were set to leave for the Bay Area, my dad's heart started acting up again. Having had Congestive Heart Failure for 13 years now, I didn't think much of it. "This is just routine," I thought to myself. He had to get an ablation every few years. Yes, it was an uncomfortable surgery for him, but he always bounced back in a few days following the procedure. This time was different. One of the many needles he had poked in his arms, caused a blood clot, so huge that it started at his elbow and went all the way to his heart. A blood clot on top of a blood clot, which required more surgery to remove. Then there was an aneurysm near the entry site of the ablation surgery. One thing after another, after another. TWELVE days later, my daddy got to go home.<BR>
<BR>
That next morning, the kids and I went to go check on him again, and help him acclimate back to home life. I helped him organize his pills that he had to take. So many pills. He hated it. He didn't want to die, but he said, "This is no way to live." I could see the frustration on his face. My daddy loved life, and all the people in his world, and he wanted to live for all of us. His mind wished he was more physically able than his body actually allowed him to be. <BR>
<BR>
I am so grateful that, the Sunday before we left, my brother and sister-in-law opened their home for us to say our "see-you-laters" to my side of the family. My dad didn't have much energy, but he came. He felt pretty miserable, and I reminded him what his doctor said. For every day he was in the hospital, it was going to take 5 days to recover. That's 60 days. He was on Day 4 at this point, and had a long way to go.<BR>
<BR>
I sat with him, and held my hand in his. I was immediately transported back to being a little girl. I always felt so safe in my daddy's hands - so big, soft, warm. They provided such comfort to me. Something in me pushed me to tell him everything that was in my heart that night. I looked him in the eyes, and told him how much I loved him. How much I was going to miss him. I told him to take it easy, and take his time to recover, so that he could come visit us in California. We had plans to drop him off at City Lights Bookstore in the city all day, and then once he had his fill of a world of books, we would drive to Carmel for the weekend. That's what he wanted, and that's what he was to be working/resting for. I told him that my kids WORSHIPPED him. That they absolutely adored him. I told him that he was my husband's best friend. That we couldn't wait to see him again. He rallied a bit that night. Long enough for me to snap a few pictures, and hug him so tight several times.<BR>
<BR>
The kids, the dog, and I arrived Tuesday to our new home in Piedmont. Our moving crew showed up Thursday with the boxes. Late Thursday night I got the call that my dad had collapsed. Friday morning I was an anxious mess catching a flight back to Phoenix.<BR>
<BR>
This wasn't how it was supposed to be.<BR>
<BR>
Our biggest fear had come true. That we would leave, and something bad would happen. I know we couldn't control it. But it was absolutely the worst feeling I had ever experienced.<BR>
<BR>
I knew as he lay in "critical condition" that his soul had already left this place. I knew it the second I walked in the ICU. But how do you let your daddy go? How do comfort your mother as she weeps uncontrollably because the love of her life isn't coming home with her this time? How do you have strength for your brother who is always the strong one and is unable to hold it in anymore? What do you say to your 92-year-old grandma who is shaking her head in disbelief, that she was there when he took his first breath, and now his last? How could I comfort my husband who loved my dad so dearly, but was a whole state away? We were in pieces. <BR>
<BR>
In my moment of absolutely ugly, wailing, pleading sobbing, I placed my hand in his again. His warmth comforted me and in my heart, I knew he suffered no more. <BR>
<BR>
He died at 12:15pm on a Saturday, surrounded by family. It was the worst 36 hours of my life. <BR>
<BR>
Just when I thought it couldn't get any harder, I realized I had to tell my children. What was I going to say to my kids? Would they understand what it meant? Of course they wouldn't. Maybe in time. They knew he had a sick heart. They had visited him many times in the hospital. Paloma said, "He's with Papa Ray now, and Jesus." Tears came to Quincy's eyes as he said, "You mean he's not coming back? I won't get to see him again? Why can't he come back? Who's going to watch Godzilla movies with me?" My heart was breaking all over again.<BR><BR>
The next few days were an absolute blur. We got through by the grace of God, and with the love that surrounded us by family and friends from all around. (Thank you for your messages, meals, hugs, tears, flowers, etc - it all meant more to my mom and our family than you could ever know.) <BR>
<BR>
His "Celebration of Life" brought people together from all corners of his life, many that I hadn't seen in years. We (my mom, brother, Grandma, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Bill and I) planned it in 2 days. We didn't know who would be able to come with that short notice. But to see those faces in that beautiful church overlooking the mountains... Old and current neighbors, old and new friends, fellow movie-lovers, Natan's and my friends (their spouses, kids, and parents, too), kids my dad coached in little league, and family members who loved my dad so much. There were at least a dozen people there who had never even met my dad, but care for my brother or me so much that they just wanted to be there to support us and learn more about the man who helped mold their friend into the person they are today. It was incredible. <BR><BR>
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His Obituary:<BR>
Thomas Henry Jacobs, 67, of Phoenix, AZ, passed away Saturday, August 8, 2015. <BR><BR>
"He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad." (From Scaramouche, by Rafael Sabatini)<BR><BR>
Tom was born January 6, 1948, in Lakewood, Ohio, to Ray and Miriam (White) Jacobs. He attended DePauw University in Indiana, and graduated from Michigan State University in 1969. In his youth, baseball was his greatest passion. During school, he was a writer and an actor. His travels to Europe after graduation left him with some of his fondest memories, shaping his love for the arts and history. Shortly after moving to Phoenix in 1973, he met the love of his life. Tom and Alicia Nieto were married in Mexico City in 1974 and shared 41 wonderful years together.<BR><BR>
Tom was a poet, journalist, actor, an avid collector of music and books, and a world traveler. He loved raising his children and being surrounded by family, his wolf-huskies, watching movies, harvesting chili peppers, and exploring nature. <BR><BR>
Tom is survived by his mother, Miriam, wife, Alicia, son, Natan Jacobs and his wife Larel, daughter Candida Bell and her husband Solon; his sister Nancy Shaffner and her husband Bill of Pittsburgh, PA, four adoring grandchildren, two nieces, and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Ray, in 2008. <BR><BR>
A celebration of life will be held promptly at 4 p.m. Tuesday, August 11, at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ, 12861 N. 8th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85029. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in his honor to the Wolf Conservation Center, the National Park Service, or the Heard Museum. - The guest book will be online until 9/10/2015 - please feel free to leave a message or favorite memory of my dad by <a href="http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/azcentral/thomas-henry-jacobs-condolences/175475936?cid=full">clicking here</a>. <BR><BR>
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Every day I am reminded of him. The beautiful thunderstorm the night after his service, the dozen of original poems I found in a box at the bottom of my old closet that he had written and never told us about, the random Coca-Cola bottle I grabbed for Solon at the airport that said "Share a Coke with Tommy," the hummingbirds that seem to follow me everywhere I go, the daddy-long-leg spiders that watch over me in the highest corners of the rooms in my new house, the earthquake that jolted me out of bed the morning after I came back to California (very funny, Daddy), the first friend that Quincy met at his new school named Thomas - my dad is everywhere.<BR><BR>
And I miss him every day. Every single second of every single day. And I will love him always, and forever.<BR><BR>
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