New Years Eve!

There's something so exceptionally special about New Year's Eve. It is the time to be thankful for all the wonderful moments of the past year and it is a time to renew our hopes and dreams as we look forward to another year of blessed life.

As we get older we learn to value so much more than physical beauty.

Remember ..."life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!" author unkown to me.

Happy New Year to You all Enjoy your Ride!

What will you Give?

The month of December is a commercial fest as people scramble to buy the perfect gifts and attend the best parties.
But, it should really be a time to stop and reflect on our lives and enjoy the company of family and good friends.
Be grateful for all your blessings. I know I am.
I'm grateful to the man who walks next to me no matter what. Everyday I whisper a prayer of thanks for my three beautiful children, my parents, siblings and my blessed girlfriends who keep me laughing.

Walk with your Eyes to the Sky

Most children walk with their eyes to the ground.

Why?

They are focused on the small devices that they hold in their hands. Those electronic gizmos that have pulled them away from the parks, games of tag, community events and into their homes where they are held prisoners by technology.

Do they notice the sun burst across the horizon? Do they notice the array of colors in autumn or see the flock of Geese as they fly in a perfect V across the sky?

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls. Mother Teresa

Where else can we feel a connection to something greater than ourselves?

What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.”

Crawford

Bitter Sweet Memories

The cobble stone streets are quiet. The inhabitants of these homes are long gone, most of them buried in a small cemetery that sits on the main street leading into the town. When we were children this quaint village bustled with life. Farmers tended their flocks, the olive groves flourished, the fields were filled with sweet tomatoes, figs and so much more.

But time has no friends. It takes those we love, it replaces one life with another. But it can never take our memories; those sweet stories that fill our hearts with the warmth of yesterday.

As I meandered down the street with my daughter, mother, sister and nieces, I could hear the voices of days gone by and the tinging of my grandfather's tools as he fashioned a new pair of shoes for a fellow villager.

Here is a cenote that we stopped at on our way to Chitzen Itza It was unbelievable to look down into the sink hole and see people splashing in the water. The story goes that long ago this sink hole was used in a sacrificial ceremony. A virgin was given a heady drink, her body laden with heavy jewels, she was thrown into the sink hole. Of course drunk and weighed down by her ornaments she didn't stand a chance for survival. Her death brought rich crops and good health to her village. Breathtaking sight!

There are certain times in your life where your gaze falls upon something so indescribable that you know for certain that it is touched by the hand of God. The drive up the mountain ridge known of the Grand Sasso in Abruzzi is spectacular. The summit cannot be reached by car but Campo Imperatore offers a perfect spot to park your vehicle and from there you can take in the view. The warmth that you felt at the base of the mountains won't help stave off the cold up top; you need a warm coat.

The simplicity of life is marked by the timeless transhumant Sheppards who, as in days gone by, tend their flocks as they graze on the grass.

My daughter was more than happy to pose for these photos!