2024 Journal Pages 🌻

August 6, 2024

Hello Tuesday! ❤️

Hi everyone!!! It’s been almost 3 months since I last shared anything here… the last 2+ months have felt like 2 years climbing the Everest, yes, really, and even thought I don’t believe (or agree mainly), with the common phrase that things, and life situations showing up in our lives are here to “teach” us something, I do believe that our character, our beliefs, the way we view life, and our inner strength can help carry us through it all.

Being earnest with our actions, our words, and our thoughts make a huge difference in the way we embrace life’s challenges.

For me, prayer, early morning, or evening walks, conversations with friends that are also not afraid to showcase their vulnerability, time in the kitchen cooking, and loads of freshly brewed coffee, are the magic touches for my soul that has needed a lot of TLC from time to time, and double doses of that love and care on some occasions.

Nurturing ourselves during difficult times so we can show up for those we love, is key to a joy filled life.

May we always be aware of the importance to walk gently through life every single day… for ourselves, and for those who we might not know their story. Sometimes, our interaction with others (based on how we decide to go about it), can either lift someone up, or brake them even more during their challenging moments.

Choose love, choose kindness, choose to make someone smile every single day, I think it’s basic practices for our earthly existence! If you can help someone in the interim, even better! ❤️

Have the loveliest of days, hope to see you here in less than three months. 😉

May 21, 2024

Happy Wednesday! ❤️

It’s a beautiful, gorgeous day in my neck of the woods, it’s 65 and sunny right now, and it’s supposed to go up to 80 degrees!

I grew up in very hot weather, and I could never handle it well, since a very young age. I remember passing out once from heat stroke and having to be taken to the doctor immediately for that, it was a very scare experience. My ideal weather is high 60’s, low to mid 70’s, but I can definitely tolerate low 80’s, anything above 85 makes me a little squeamish, unless I’m at the beach holding a yummy drink, with a side of guacamole! 😎

This month has been a memorable month for our family so far, and there are still a few days left in the year, May 2024 will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Our oldest daughter moved out, our youngest daughter graduated from College, my husband and I are empty nesters (for now 😅) after almost 27 years, and I marvel with gratitude at all these accomplishments that took place, and continue to evolve with grace, and so much love, and especially gratitude.

The last four years since the covid pandemic started were very tough years for us, we had a lot of loss, a great deal of loss, in so many areas of our lives, and it wasn’t easy all the time, in fact it was excruciating at times, but hope was always at the center of our difficult days, at least for me as a mom. I have never prayed harder, I continue to do it, sometimes I wonder if God was keeping score of all the “points” I had to use for all these prayers of mine, and if I’d run out at some point because the need was so big, and so deep… of course, there is no expiration, and no such thing as “points”, but in my darkest moments, I always felt protected, and safe. Safe by my faith, safe by the prayers of my amazing, and loving mother, and safe by all the love of the people that carried me, and continue to carry me through this journey of life.

Seeing our daughter graduate from College was more than attending a Graduation, oh boy, could I develop this subject… seeing our oldest daughter move out to be independent in every shape, and form and be on her own was incredible, and boy oh boy, could I develop this subject also… neither one of these two accomplishments came easy, not at all, but suddenly there we were, our little family of four, with big hearts, and BIGGEST dreams and love for each other, looking at each other’s eyes, amazed at the story that was unraveling, in awe, with so much hope for the further, and at the same time inspired by each other.

How did I start talking about the weather and my first cup of coffee, and now I’m crying??? Welcome to Maria’s blog I guess! 😂

The house feels quiet right now, but it’s a good kind of quiet. My mama heart is bursting with joy, pride, and excitement, but what I am the proudest about is the essence of our girls, and the wonderful human beings they are, and growing into.

No new apartments, or degrees, or anything else in the world, will ever give me the pride, and joy I feel as the conversations we have when I get to experience their hearts, and minds, and all that they are. They are pretty cool humans, and I give thanks for them every day.

Circling back to the weather and coffee… 😉, I took advantage of this gorgeous weather and went out for a long walk, I listed to some of my favorite songs from Broadway musicals, and came back to make myself a yummy breakfast, and now it’s back to the duties and responsibilities of my every day, which I also love very much!

May you experience glimpses of joy, and gratitude today, and encounter kindness along the way. ❤️

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Monday, May 14, 2024

Long gone are the days of daily journal entries, not because I don’t enjoy doing it anymore, in fact, I have never stopped writing daily for myself, but sharing, and publishing have taken on a different kind of effort for various reasons.

I’m drinking my morning coffee out of my birthday hat coffee mug, and no, it’s not my birthday today, or this month, I already celebrated plenty for that, but these smiling faces, with happy hats on spoke to me out of the kitchen cabinet this morning, and it was the “chosen” one for today, plus, we have lots to celebrate, and be thankful for!

Yesterday was a beautiful day in every way! The weather could not have been more PERFECT, yes, it was perfect! Sunny enough, warm enough, not a cloud in the sky, the perfect level of breeze, it was magic.

Stan, Michelle and I celebrated Mother’s Day with an early dinner at DOCK’S Bar and Grill in Wauconda (my choice), and it was lovely. Except, I’ve never seen that place as crowded as it was yesterday, thankfully, we had reservations, kindness of Stan, the man.

Stan and Michelle went out of their way yesterday to give me a day of relaxation centered around me, and I appreciated that.

Bella is still out of state, but sent me the most beautiful message that brought me to tears. I made the “mistake” of opening Michelle’s card at the restaurant, and well, it took me a while to recover from that.

Motherhood is not always easy, it has ups, and it has downs, it has happy days, and it also has some very challenging days, but it is always rewarding. We all have our own story of becoming, and being a mother, and also, our own story about the way we were mothered, and influenced by mother figures in our lives. There are no carbon copies of our personal journeys. Each story is unique, and each story has come with heavy loads of sacrifices, and LOVE.

I don’t think I’ve met a mom in my circle of friends, and family that has not cried for their child more than once, and also has celebrated every single accomplishment in their lives. That is love.

My journey of becoming a mother, and being a mother to two unique, and incredible now young women, has had all the colors of the rainbow, and everyday I give thanks for being their mom.

Yesterday was lovely, and well needed. This year has been a rollercoaster of emotions, challenges, celebrations, and big changes for all of us at home… and it’s only May. 😅

SO incredibly proud of both of our girls, thankful for all the laughs with Stan, and excited for the future ahead.

When we experience a moment, and even take a picture of that moment, we are creating memories that will last a lifetime.

I have so much to share about my trip to Mexico to visit my mom after her injury, and surgery, and also Bella’s College Graduation, hopefully one of these days I will have some down time to put it all together… for now take joy in this cute coffee cup of happy hats, and smiley faces, and rejoice in the now.

Make someone smile today, you might even change the course of their day by sharing a little bit of joy. ❤️