About Me

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I was motivated to start a blog by reading all the wonderful talented individual's who have blogs out there. So, I want to make this blog about everyone who reads it. My family and God always comes first in my life. I want to share my experiences and in turn, hope to get feedback and ideas from you. I love unique things, I adore anything that sparkles (not over the top though) I love decorating, cooking, gardening, photography and shopping. My number one passion is photography! To me it becomes more than a picture, it can become a piece of art, or a beautiful memory. Decorating, though I am not a professional, and don't claim to be, has been a part of my life since I was very young, and just love searching and shopping for new ideas and incorporate the old, such as Mid-Century Modern and Hollywood Regency with contemporary. Living close to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, and being of Hispanic heritage, I love cooking Mexican food, and love to share my authentic recipes. Though I live in Florida, my heart is in the desert southwest, and hope that my family and I will return there very soon…keep your fingers crossed that my prayers are answered SOON!!!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Why go to Church?

As many people have heard on the news, almost two weeks ago, two St. Petersburg, Florida Police Officers were shot and killed, just serving a warrant.  I happened to be off work that day, and followed every second of the news as this went on and on.  It was heartbreaking.  Though I do not live in St. Pete, I live very close, and just last June, we lost two more wonderful Tampa Police Officers.  I keep asking myself why, and how can this happen?  It's not for me to ask, I understand that, by it doesn't stop my heart for breaking for these people who put their lives on the line each and everyday to protect us.  To allow us, when we go to bed at night, keep us safe, in this not so safe world.  As our Governor of Florida was at the funeral of two other slain Officers in Miami, he got the word that two St. Pete police were shot and killed.  There is just something wrong when this happens over and over again throughout our country.  Not only do we have our brave soldiers fighting for our freedom and safety around the world, but we have this type of violence right here in our backyard.  I don't think I have cried so much as I have in the last two weeks for all this senseless violence and hatred towards others.


On more of a personal note, some know this, but many do not.  Both my parents abandoned me.  That is not a statement you hear much from an adult, but it being the truth.  My Father as a new born, and my Mother 15 years ago.  Though I reunited with my Father at the age of 16, and had a relationship with him up to five years ago when my brother passed away.  Both have stated that I wasn't wanted, and ruined their lives when they were so young.  I know that is their issue, not mine, but nonetheless, it hurts.  Both had remarried and have had other children. I admit sometimes feeling sorry for myself, as an adult woman, with a beautiful loving daughter of my own, why my parents chose to blame me for being born and want nothing to do with me, I cannot understand.  I know that it is their loss, and that their problems are not created because of me.  Their actions had a reverse effect on me, it has made me a strong, independent, caring, person and a loving Mother and wife, my family is everything to me.  For that, I wouldn't change anything.  My Grandparents raised me until I was three.  They were the most wonderful loving Christian people in the entire world, my angels.  They gave me my morals and compassion for mankind, and my love for God,  something no matter how bad the world can get around me, I won't change.  But, I also had numerous Aunts and Uncles, cousins, second and third cousins...a very large family.  Since I don't have this relationship with my Mother, one of her sisters, my Aunt has adopted me as her own daughter.  We are very close, and though she is 80, she sure doesn't look or act like it....she still drives, volunteers, travels, and is a "computer geek"...she is unreal.  When I get a little down, she is always there to pick me up, and make me realize how great of a life I have, a healthy and happy daughter, a wonderful loving husband, and so many things in my life, that so many others don't have, and remember my faith.  Well, today...I got this e-mail from her.  And, with all the sad news lately, and yes, I admit, I've been feeling a little sad about my parents as of late, I think because my birthday is coming up on the 9th of February. This e-mail from her, just really made me feel so much better.  Please take a few moments to read it, the very last paragraph is my favorite.  Very powerful!!! 


A Church goer wrote a  letter to the  editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no  sense to go to church every  Sunday... "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and  in that time I have heard something like 203,000 sermons. But  for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So,  I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs  by giving sermons at all."

This started a real  controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone  wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30  years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.  But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a  single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all  nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work.  If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for  nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are  DOWN to nothing... God is UP to something! Faith sees the  invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual  nourishment!

"When  Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could you  get that for me?"





7 comments:

  1. Joni,
    As I read this post I understand where you are coming from. I can relate in more ways than one. I know sometimes we don't understand things that happen in this life.

    Only God knows why. There use to be a song our choir sing. A verse in that song simply said, "Heaven holds all the answers that time will one day tell". This is what we must take ahold too, and remember that someday when we stand before God. He will reveal why...

    We truly are living in the last days on this earth, and thats why the world is so mean. It want be long and we will taken out of this world and be with God where don't have to be sad, or afraid.

    Thank you for posting the article I sure needed to read that. It made me have a better day.

    Lisa

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  2. Wow, the article your aunt sent you is amazing! Thanks for sharing.

    I'm so sorry your parents chose not to be a part of your life, but you know what? You are a better person because of it. Stronger. Kinder. More understanding. Don't look behind sweet friend, only look forward. With pride.

    Much love and big hugs,
    Kat

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  3. Touching and heartfelt!

    Hard to imagine where we would be because of a different turn in the road....but then...why even.

    HAPPY EARLY Birthday!! This is your month. Celebrate it!

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  4. Hi! Thanks for the lovely comments on my blog! The Omni Hotel is beautiful! My husband and I stayed there on New Years Eve and funny how one month ago yesterday we were back there again! HA! We cannot wait to go back and stay there in the summer and sit poolside and the SPA yes, it is beautiful!!! I love downtown FTW. Where do your relatives live in FTW? People are everywhere trying to get a glimpse of the football players, taking pics and just wanting to be part of the excitement. It is exciting!!! I will post pics of the stadium too!!! Have a great day!!!

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  5. O, wow, what a life you've had...and are having! In spite of rejection, you've turned it around! Keep the faith!

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  6. What a beautiful, thoughtful and compassionate post — I hear it in every single word.

    I also live near St. Pete and the death of our police officers, right on the heels of those from Miami, was a tragedy for us all.

    I agree with you wholeheartedly on the the senseless violence and the hatred towards others. I will never understand the hate that seems to surround us now and it makes me sad that I feel so helpless.

    Thank you for speaking out on this issue and for your comments on my rant about that darn piano. Sometimes I just want to run off to a deserted island and live out my days in peace.

    Your story intrigued me, for it takes a strong, confident person to come out of a dark place full of love for family and life. Kudos to you my friend!

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  7. Just want to write and thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all your sweet, kind and warm words. It's just so true that no matter how bad any part of your life was, you are the only one that can make a difference. I chose to work hard, love deeply, and not take blame for others actions. I chose to be successful and happy. The love of the rest of my family has made such a difference in the person I became, and I will always remember that. God has truly blessed me and I know that, and never take it for granted. It is just so nice to see so many wonderful woman on these blogs, though I've never met one of you, I feel as though I have through your posts. We live in a beautiful world, just have to over-look the ugly, and help those we can to improve their lives, when needed. So, again...thank you all so much.

    I fell the other day, over my Maltese, he's only 4 1/2 pounds, and just didn't see him, I hurt my hand, may be broke, will know next week. I have to laugh about it, but at least I didn't fall on him, he's "my little man", and is by at my side all the time. So, I have't been able to be on the computer much. Guess, I need to be a little more careful...

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