Tagged: laura

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For Enric, Forty Came Early

I started my planning while still in Australia. This was an occasion I wanted to be a part of. My first born, the child who made me a mother, was turning 40. This milestone called for a celebration and the element of surprise. I was hoping he thought enough fuss...

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Machetes, Salvation, and a Major Heart Attack

{Could be subtitled, “Our Vacation and What We Came Home To“} The content of this post and its title are not going to appear to match, that is, unless you read it all of the way to the end. Most of the content will be about a quick trip to...

Barb's Blog - Going Home 0

Going Home – Perth to Dulles

The title isn’t completely accurate. I have two homes. As confusing as it can be living in two countries, two continents even, one thing is clear – one of the homes is where I grew up, where I was raised by adoring parents, where my children live, and where my...

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Letchworth State Park Middle Falls

While we drove to Letchworth State Park and were admiring the upper falls, part of our family were attempting a 14 mile run, which they managed to run 7 miles straight, for a total of 15 miles hiking and running combined.

Laura at Rainbow Falls 0

Watkins Glen State Park and Its Waterfalls

Nothings says get out of bed early like the prospect of a day of waterfalls. That is how Laura and I started, but before we hit the waterfalls of Watkins Glen State Park, we decided to visit its town and search for coffee. We later learned that this town of...

Taughannock Falls 1

Taughannock Falls State Park

So after hours of travel, we were finally at our first destination, Taughannock Falls State Park. We parked at the visitor center and to my surprise, greeted with the Maryland state flower right here in New York! Taughannock Falls State Park’s namesake waterfall is one of the outstanding natural attractions...

church and town 0

Driving to New York and Taking Photos

Well Laura did the driving and I did the taking photos. (Or as John calls it, “Drive by Shooting.”) Laura asked me if I wanted to go with her one weekend to New York to see some waterfalls. I said YES! I didn’t have to think about it much, I...

Laura and Mama 0

If My Cell Phone Told the Story: Christmas Day

I am hosting Christmas Day and the dishwasher decided to break.   No time to bring out the Canon on Christmas, so I only got a few photos from my cell phone. And seriously? The dishwasher had to break then and leak water to Laura’s room below? As if hosting...

Crabs for Christmas 0

A Concise Glance at Our Family Christmas Eve

I love our family Christmas Eve – charged with Christmas spirit, love for one another, and anticipation for the surprises that are ahead. Christmas Eve at our house are sweet, and intimate (not that we haven’t opened our door to others on a few occasions), and one of our big...

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Anniversary: Castle Rock

The last visit we made on our wedding anniversary was a visit, or should I say, re-visit to Castle Rock beach. We first went to Castle Rock with Laura in 2010, and because she loved it so much there, it quickly became a favorite place of mine. We thought about...

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Ornaments

This was our first Christmas without mom. Determined to make her proud, Christmas went on as usual. When she lost dad, she continued to live for the rest of us. Following her example, she’s not here, but I still have loved ones to “Christmas” all over. Each task was done...

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Relay for Life with CVS

Right after Mom’s funeral, Miquel announced to us all that CVS would be honoring Mom with their contribution to Relay for Life. I was impressed and honored that they would do that.   Thank you CVS for this opportunity.

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Mother’s Day

And no mom. All those years I stressed what to get her for mother’s day, and this year there was no flower shop or nursery to go to hoping to find something to light up her face. All those years the yellow cake and vanilla icing in three tiers cake...

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Rubi’s Skating Party

Rubí turns 5 and wanted a skating party.   Naturally since Pop Pop couldn’t be there, he asked me to make a movie! He didn’t have to ask me twice. 🙂 Back at home… Rubí seemed to LOVE her birthday party. I know I sure did!  

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Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. 2015

The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. In their country, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short. ~Homaro Cantu Every time I...

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Miranda’s Birthday Party Day

It’s not yet her birthday. It’s easy to remember, Miranda’s birthday is the same as Tax Day, April 15th. But today is her birthday party day. It was decided. The family then watches the Lego Movie.  

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A Different Easter

We knew it was going to be a different kind of Easter. With Mom gone, the center of all holidays, we would have to cope with missing her and making new memories. Even though in some past Easters I have been in Australia, the internet and phone calls didn’t make...

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Kinder with the Kids

Laura and I planned this walk to Kinder Park, and quickly it became a family event. Laura and I walked around the park rather quickly, and soon enough could stop to watch the children at play. So we walked through the farm…

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Our Christmas Day 2014

Once again, the holiday air had a difference about it. I think mostly because Mom wasn’t able to handle the whole dinner like in years past. But everyone brought something and contributed.

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Thanks [Self] Giving

We had a different Thanksgiving this year. Enric and family were away. Petra was here. Mom wasn’t feeling well enough to travel. Poor Linda and George had to take their usual lovely and warm Thanksgiving and become severely and instantly MOBILE. Here at home, we had to quickly switch gears...

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Laura is 21

It didn’t seem possible. The little girl I rocked and danced to sleep singing Stones and Steve Miller band to, the little girl that did a turn around from my boys and read ME bedtime stories, the sweet precious that asked to see “dot coms” as she climbed up on...

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Castlerock 2014

Castlerock. We came here with Laura in 2010, and her enthusiasm for climbing over the rocks gave the place an automatic charm for me. It was later the chosen place for our wedding. So since we were staying so close, it was an absolute must on my list of thing...

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Family

It’s so good to get together with family. It was kind of a celebration of Mom’s recovery from her fall. It was kind of a celebration of all that binds us together. We sure missed those that couldn’t be there.  

Edgar Allen Poe 0

Westminster Hall and Burying Ground

My mom had a terrible falling accident and it sent her to Shock Trauma in University of Maryland Medical Center. I spent a lot of time there visiting and staying with her. On one occasion Laura took me in and we parked near a spot we had been wanting to...

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Nappy Birthday Miranda

John rejoined Facebook and on her birthday, told Miranda, “Nappy Birthday.” Not sure if that was a typo or a comment that she is having her birthday shortly after giving birth to Ezra.    

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Traveling to Perth

With Christmas and New Years done, we had to start thinking about going home to Perth.  I suppose most couples have obstacles in their marriage, ours is definitely all that it takes to BE together. The travel is not easy; the expense, the time…if nothing else, we are a testament...

john with rubi on christmas eve 0

Our Christmas Eve New Years Eve: Our Turn

The children already having opened their presents, now it was our turn.           It was another Christmas to treasure with my children and grandchildren. Even though we changed the day, it didn’t matter, it was as wonderful as always.

Thanksgiving at Linda's 0

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving as usual was at Linda and George’s house. This year was a little different, Enric and family were not in Wisconsin and could be with us, and George had commitments in Florida, so he and Linda were getting a little taste of what John and I suffer through too...

Dr Diane Harper 0

Gardasil The HPV Vaccine

I infuriate doctors. Not on purpose. Often simply because I’ve done my research and don’t buy everything they’re trying to sell me. Not all dislike me, many do like me for the same above reason. I go in there, I read, learn, and once we’re in agreement on what are...

Laura turns 20 0

Way To Turn 20

After us thanking the Lord for sparing Laura’s life in a car accident, Miranda said, “Way to turn 20!” Indeed. So the birthday began in a sweet way…   I am so thankful for these times with my family. I cherish them.  

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Laura is 20

My little girl is sliding out of the teen years today and turning 20. She has always amazed me, from the moment she was born and announced she was a “10” and all through her life, and even now, escaping death in a car accident. I know she is a...

Birthdays 0

Birthdays Missed

While in Australia, I missed three birthdays. (I might have been tempted to make it four, but Laura threatened me). I missed in order, Silas, Miquel’s, and Enric’s. So even in my jet lag stupor, it was up to me to make their promised dinner, Moroccan Lamb, which I learned...