I went because it was important to him. He doesn't usually do stuff with me and the younger kids. But today he wanted to take us to Julian, California. Just for the day. Adam is 20 and his real life doesn't include a mother and siblings. This is why we made the extra effort to go with him. (that, and we took Eric's Mustang) Julian is a ...
Las Hermanitas Verdés
Because some of you were curious. Here is our "recently arrived from Cuba" picture. I can see that we obligingly smiled for the camera, but I can also see past the smiles to the pain and confusion we were experiencing. My sisters, from left to right: Miriam, Ofelia, Alina and Helen. That's me with the mop of curls clutching my ...
Easily entertained…
I know this is going to sound shallow, but I went to Disneyland last night to have dinner and see the decorations.... WITHOUT MY KIDS. I know. I know. I was raised Catholic and I don't know who did it, but I know someone declared this to be a Mortal Sin. (I can see myself writing: "I will not feel guilty" - 100 times on the ...
I won the lotto!
Well... if there had been a lotto for a million dollar husband... Eric is smart, funny, and hard-working. He knows me. And I can genuinely say, I feel cherished. He is intensely dedicated to God and to his family. He is a great and loyal friend. He is our greatest treasure. I might have lied a bit. I didn't actually win any ...
“If you teach a man to fish…”
We're often asked about our decision to homeschool our children. It's a complex answer. And it's not completely about education. It's more about our relationship with them. "It's a lifestyle of learning," is what we usually answer. Although explaining that would take volumes, too. I was sorting pictures ...
Because we can…
It's fall in Southern California and of course, you know what that means... Right. Wetsuits! While I'm thinking October and pumpkins and planning Halloween costumes, the weather here is in the 90's and Eric is taking the kids surfing. (notice his shirt says, Cuba Libre! =D) It's like living in some kind of parallel universe. Right now all the ...
“Are you making arroz con pollo?”
I'm picking up my mom for the weekend. Her presence here changes our routines in a variety of ways. For Jonathan, it means giving up his downstairs bedroom, because she has trouble getting up stairs (he's ok with that). For Eric, it means sharing my attention and practicing his college Spanish (which is really pretty great). Her visits ...
“Ju got some ‘splaining to do..”
Lucy's piano teacher is trying to keep her challenged. He has started her on Beethoven and I love to listen to her trying new things each Wednesday when he comes over for her lesson. Imagine my surprise when, after playing "Fur Elise," about 20 times, I hear the familiar opening notes of... THE CUBAN NATIONAL ANTHEM!! "What? How? ...
True Confessions
I have moments when I feel superior. It's true. I confess. I had one of those yesterday. Before I make my confession, I have to add this: it doesn't take much for me to feel superior. Now here's the caveat - I feel superior only to myself. (ha!) It takes very little for me to exceed my own expectations. I love the feeling. I then begin to ...
The Enabler.
Hello, my name is Marta, and I'm an Enabler. ("Hi, Marta.") I would have denied it, but the proof is overwhelming. Oh, I come by it honestly. My family is quite extensive and full of enablers. I am surrounded by people who do things because of my personal influence. And possibly they resent it, but I'm not ...
