Peace

photos taken by Kiel in Ashland, Or

The comfort and sweetness of peace
after the clouds, the sunshine
after the winter,the spring
after the shower,the rainbow
for life is a changeable thing
after the night, the morning
bidding all darkness cease
after life's cares and sorrows
the comfort and sweetness Peace
Helen Steiner Rice

The Breakfast Club

Carol, Dorothy,Yolanda, Minnie, not pictured are Lori, Sharon, Deb
Linda,Barbara

This is only a few members of what we call the "Breakfast Club"
five more are missing.when I worked for curves I met these lovely ladies and we gather
together for breakfast when it is one our birthdays. The birthday girl this past Friday was
the lady in the dark yellow shirt her name is Minnie. and she turned 78 years old! she has survived a battle with breast cancer, and the loss of two husbands, but still has the strong heart, sharp mind, and energy of a teenager! I keep telling her I only hope to have the energy she does
when I am her age! These ladies are so much fun, they tell jokes, and keep you informed on
the happenings of our home town. they all moved over to the new gym, When I left curves
they said it was because it was not the same with out me and my partner Lori
we say they wanted to join to see the young men work out!! they will tell you
well it is good exercise for their eyes!!!

gotta love em

Still Pool

only the still pool reflects the stars


this Chinese proverb is one of many that I like
of course( I know that it means a still pool of water
from a stream,etc) but this was as close to a still
pool as I could get yesterday. I thought it was
good just to reflect my thoughts upon.
can't see any stars but it is a still pool!

Tia & Tio's (Aunt & Uncles)

this is a photo of my Unlce Joe, Aunt Terry, Uncle Vincent



The above photo was taken at The 1st Enriquez Family reunion
I managed to get my only remaining Aunt and Uncles of my mother's
family together for the picture. ( note: my other
remaining Aunt Dora is not in the photo)

I remember all of my Tia's & Tio's ( Hispanic term
for Aunt & Uncles)My Mom took care of most of
her siblings her brother's John, Manuel, Larry, Peter
(all have passed) my Uncle Vincent is the survivor and my
aunt Genieve is also passed, then my grandfather remarried and
had two more children my Uncle Joe, and Aunt Terry
My Aunt Dora was my grandfather's adopted child.

As many of you have read my Aunt Terry is battling
Pancreatic Cancer she just started her treatment and
has a positive outlook we pray for her everyday. I have hope
and faith that the miracle will happen and she will beat this
cancer.
this reunion is where I started to reconnect with my
aunts and uncles. as a kid I remember visiting them and
then once my mom passed we kind of drifted away I would only see
them at weddings and funerals.

the reunion brought us all together again not just
my aunts and uncles but cousins. this reconnection is great because I
love spending time with them because they are my mother's kin.
and when we are together they still talk with such love and respect of
my mother and the other's that have passed.

my Aunt Terry loves family gatherings and her husband says he married her because
he knew she was a good tamale maker!! at Christmas time she makes three
different kinds of tamales for her family mild, warm,very hot.
my sister's and I helped her plan the 2nd reunion we had.
Unlce Joe is a charmer! with a big heart, and Uncle Vince is a quiet one
but when you sit and talk to him he makes you feel very at ease.

when I spend time with my aunt and uncle's I get a warm
feeling and I know my mom would be pleased.

Taylor Swift & Me

Taylor Swift & me 6/07

I saw this young artist 3 times in a two month span
she was one of the opening acts when I saw Brad
Paisley in concert in May and then she performed
at a concert Kiel and I went to at the beginning of June,
Then Kaitlyn and her best friend Emily
convinced me they had
to see her perform in Fresno so:

I thought it only fair that I got to have my picture
taken with country singer Taylor Swift the same night
I took Kaitlyn and Emily. so now I posted it !

as stated before I had a blast taking the girls
to see this young lady. she is up and coming
and I hope this lady stays as sweet and down
to earth as she seems to be, I wish when I was
her age 17, I would have been musically inclined
and have the talent that she does! (well I am slowly
learning the guitar)
not only did I get my photo but I also got
her autograph.
Memories to keep in the scrapbook!!!

it was a thrill, I can say and have proof
that I have met to celebrities in my life time
Ms. Swift being one the other Tom Selleck!
(that is another Blog!!)

Jeanne

This is my sister Jeanne and
her husband Shoji and their sons
Brian and Steven, of course
since this photo their family
has grown she now has two daughter's
Brain and his wife Jennifer had a son
of their own in April, so Jeanne is
NANA and Steven and his wife Motoko
are expecting their little one in the
new year.

In a previous blog I stated that Jeanne's
flower to me is a wildflower, not just
cause of their beauty but because
wildflowers have a free spirit and
my sis Jeanne has always been that
and has shared that spirit with
all that come to know and love her.
It is one of many qualities that
I admire about her.

Jeff and I became close to Jeanne's
family while we were stationed in
Los Angeles. She was there every step
of the way to guide me when I was
expecting Kiel.

She is Kaitlyn's GODMOTHER and
has included Kiel in that capacity
as well, She is known as "Auntie Nina"
to them and they adore her so.

Jeanne is very artistically talented,
another quality I admire, she enjoys making
jewelery and is great on computers, and
she is an AWESOME painter, I recall a certain
pair of Levi's that Jeanne painted on
(era of the hippies and my sis was a special
kind of "beatnik" ) those Levis were there own
kind of "sisterhood of the traveling pants"
I unfortunately never got to give those Levis
a try, always wondered what became of the ol blue
pair.

Another admiration is Jeanne's Passion
she has a passion for her Life, for her family
a passion for her beliefs, is strong in her
convictions.

I love when we talk, I enjoy when we visit
I Love seeing how much her eyes light up
when she talks about her sons and grandson
I respect what a great Mother she is to her
sons,they are the most caring men I have ever
had the pleasure to know and their sense of family
comes from their Mom.

I want to Thank my Jeanne and her family
for being such an inspiration to my children

" The Spirit produces- Love, Joy, Peace
Patience, Kindness, Goodness,Faithfulness
and Self control"

When I think just of that I think
of my sister Jeanne.

Us

This is us taken for Kiel's 8th grade graduation
that was 4 years ago and this coming may of 2008
we will be taking another photo but it will be
his high school graduation how the years Fly!



This is us with Mom & Dad taken at my niece Erin's
wedding 2 years ago of course everyone
has gotten a little older and
wiser!

There is a little saying I like that when I look at
these photos I think of it is:

"To understand your parents love
bear your own children"

Jeff and I have learned that
from both of our parents and
of course with trail and error

and we have of a lot more to learn
as the years Fly by! but so far
we have done a good job

so what ever may come
I think we can handle it!