Lost Person

I woke up Sunday morning and expected it to be like any other Sunday. I would slowly get my kids ready for church and try and make sure we were prepared to leave on time. I happened to have picked up my phone to flip through Facebook while the kids were still asleep. I happened to notice a message on my phone from a name I didn't know. I was a bit surprised and as soon as I opened up the message I knew something very big was about to unfold. I grabbed my husband and had him sit down with me before I read anything because I knew he was going to want to know and I wanted him to be there with me. My first clue was a photo of me as a small child and the first line indicated that I wouldn't know who the author of the message was. Her name was Randi, and I would never have guessed we would hit if off so well from the get go.

Randi is my cousin from my biological dad's side. I have no memory of this man because he has been absent from my life since I was 2 or 3 years old. Due to circumstances I don't care to share here, my mom left with me and we began a new life and she would later remarry. I have had no contact with any side of this family and figured that they never thought about me. From Randi's email, I found a very different story.

In that moment I found out that I was someone's "lost person." I have heard about these kind of stories my whole life and witnessed a reunion between my mom and her missing sister of over 50 years just 2 years ago. I never imagined that someone might be out there looking for me. It is mind blowing at times.

Randi related how I have grandparents who have always wanted to see me. She told of how loving and sweet they are and how 4 generations of my family know about me and long to see me! The outpouring of love and support over the last 48 hours from these people has melted my heart. (I can feel myself tearing up again). How can people who have never met me show that kind of love?

I tried calling my mom immediately to make sure she knew what was going on, because I owed that to her. My story is her story. After she was genuinely encouraging of me pursuing this, Randi and I began a messaging marathon. It's crazy how much I feel we are alike! She's exactly my age and has 4 kids (3 girls & 1 boy). It's CRAZY!!! It feels like I've known her all my life. She sounds like a sister to me, and yet my rational self starts to want to hold back. Am I falling to hard and too fast for these people? Can it be a good as it sounds? Part of me wants to run hop on a plane this minute, but I don't want to sound to eager.

I brought over a trusted friend last night to tell her what was going on and she said some really important things. She told me that I was going to find my place and that this was going to fill a side of me that I never knew was missing. I'm going to find my tribe! I look at these people and I feel an automatic connection with them. These people are my blood, and the best part is that they are good Christian people. People I would want to be with. I feel like the Lord has put these people in my life at this moment for a purpose. Perhaps I'm finally ready, or perhaps there is a greater purpose that I'm unaware of. I just feel grateful and particularly grateful for Randi for having the courage to reach out to me and take a risk.

I just pray that everything I've been told is true. I hope I find my place. I will have grandparents all my own and I hope and pray I will be everything they are hoping I am.

Happy 2016!!!!

Oh New Year's Eve. We had some low moments that were eventually made into highs. Miguel was sick that evening, and I mean really sick, so at around 8:00 he passed out in the bed and Max went along with him. Because Miguel was so sick, and I am still recovering, we ended up not going out. I had originally thought about going to the big party at the Rec center, but that didn't end up happening. At around 9:00, the girls were invited over by the neighbors to hang out with them. I figured they might have more fun over there, so I let them go and found myself alone on New Year's Eve. I got sad, I'm not gonna' lie. This was the one of many less than exciting holidays I had experienced this year and I was feeling low. I made a resolution to take charge of our holidays and not let other people dictate how well we celebrate and the memories we make. The Lord must have been aware of me that night, because my little girlie angels came back home to be with me all on their own. At around 10:45 they showed up and said they would rather be home and doing our own thing, so we pulled out CLUE at 11:20 and we tried to solve it in time for the countdown. We had already gathered our suitcases, grapes, and sparkling cider. Luckily Gabriela solved the mystery at about ten till. We all ran to get ready in our snow boots, jackets, and backpacks. In all of the rushing, we forgot about having a countdown and Julianne later reminded me that she was super disappointed. There we were, the girls club, celebrating together as we rang in 2016. We all ate our 12 grapes at 12:00 and then we were off running in the snow around the duplex next door. We weren't taking any chances on our Mexico trip this coming year! At about the half way point I realized I was running. That was dumb. I had gotten caught up in the moment and the girls were going full speed ahead and I wanted to keep up. Luckily, I don't think any major damage was done. We stopped out by the street to take in the fireworks going off at the Rec center. We then came in frozen and broke open our bottle of Martinelli's. We kept two glasses on the table in honor of our boys who were missing out, but we created some good little memories that night by ourselves. That's why God gave us families!

Christmas (part2)

After our lovely time at the ballet, we headed over to Shelley's for our family party. We ate the most heavenly meal prepared by Grandma. Her posole is like a warm hug from the inside that fills your soul. It's almost ritualistic as you grind your oregano in your hands and sprinkle it in, and add in each additional topping. It's beautifully delightful. 

After dinner we watched a couple of nativity videos on lds.org and talked about the gifts Christ gave each of us. We then proceeded to exchange gifts with each other. The big joke was when Sam received a gift card to Kohl's and Miguel suggested he should buy underwear. Sam whittingly agreed  because Ben kept wearing his underwear. Oh, we all laughed at that! Then it was Ben's turn and he too got his own gift card to Kohl's "to buy his own underwear!" The best part was when Carlos actually did get underwear as his present from Grandma! It was great comedic timing. 

After gifting, we decided to sit around the living room and sing hymns. That's what Annabelle and Gabriela are doing in this picture. Afterwards Miguel took the reigns and we played a few minute to win it games. The kids loved that!

And then came Christmas morning. Max awoke to a brand new BOY's bicycle! Hooray!!! No more riding pink bikes for him. He also received a box of big boy Legos. He's been riding that bike throughout the house since it snowed Christmas Eve. He might be doing that a while since it seems like it will not ever clear up and defrost around here. 

 Gabriela got some long awaited materials for sewing.

 And the hot item this year that everyone received was Lego Friends and Elves.

 Don't let Julianne fool you, she was delighted, but wanted to difficult when it came to picture taking.

 Here is our Winter wonderland. It was beautiful and peaceful that Christmas morning.

 And these were the hot items this Christmas. My kids call them hamster balls! They played all day with these. Between my surgery and him being sick, this is about as close as we've been in two weeks! We told the girls they would have to wear these when they went on dates. Gives a whole new meaning to" stay out of my bubble!"