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Tia Gloria

There are those special people you meet in life that just make you smile. My Tia Gloria was one of kind. From the moment I first met her, her genuine kindness and infectious smile just tugged at my heart. She was always ready for a good time and always there to encourage you.

At our wedding, she just danced and danced…and made sure everyone else was doing the same. Last year, she did the same at our son’s wedding.

Dancing at Ruben's wedding

Tio Pete and Tia Gloria had a home that was always open and welcome. I’m pretty sure there was not a soul who ever walked into their home who wasn’t made to feel like you were part of their family. Theirs was a love of a lifetime and the results of that love filtered out to anyone who was in their presence.

Over the past 23 years, I have had the privilege of being accepted into the Rubio family. Although we live in two different states, we often laugh when telling others about the Rubio’s…they’re loud, fun and most of all, about the most loving, accepting people you’ll ever meet! And that, I am sure, comes from Tia Gloria and Tio Pete.

Tia Gloria went home to be with the Lord this week. I’m still in shock, having a hard time believing it’s real. It just doesn’t seem possible, and yet…

I can’t help but remember the last time we saw each other in person; almost a year ago. I have reflected on our conversation many times over the past year; it made that much of an impact on me. I was traveling to pick up Bboo from a missionary trip to Canada. On a whim, I called my cousin and told her where I was and asked how close was I to her. Turns out I was within minutes, so before I knew it, I was at her house. She immediately called her parents, Tia Gloria and Tio Pete, and let hem know I was there. They came right over and we all had breakfast together. I was so very touched that they had all just dropped what they were doing just to spend time with me.

As Tia and I were sitting together, we were just talking. I don’t know how she knew my heart so well, I hadn’t said anything, but she looked me in the eye and said to me, “Mija, don’t ever worry about what others think of you. Don’t worry about them judging you or not understanding you. You just keep on being yourself and and loving Jesus and know that I love you.”

I have played that over and over in my head so much. I left there so very grateful for the love that she has always shown; the acceptance that she has always given. Most of all, knowing that I was important enough for them to just drop everything to spend time with me.

I believe that was her legacy. She just had a way of making sure everyone knew how much they were loved. Tia Gloria, beautiful inside and out; deeply missed, but thankful to have had her in my life.

I love you, Tio, Renee, Monica, Peter, and Anthony. I am so very sorry.

"How many times do we have to pose, Monica?"

 

Always willing to pose for yet another photo opportunity...

 

Guess Who’s 21 Today!

21 years ago today, he blessed us with his presence…very early, and very scary, the first few weeks were tough. He’s always ready with a smile on his face, often jumps in without thinking, and wants to experience so much! He has blessed us with his music and his amazing personality. I couldn’t be prouder of the young man he has become.

Happy Birthday, son!

Moving On

The Drama Queen was in tears this morning because her cousins are moving to another state. She wanted to know why they couldn’t stay here like we do and why they always have to move.

It’s had me thinking a lot this week, actually. When I was younger, we moved a bit. By the time I was 13, I’d lived in 7 states; 8 cities, and just as many homes. I always made friends easy, so it never seemed to big a deal. It was hard to leave, but my parents made it exciting to be going someplace new and I have many warm memories of our adventures all over!

My husband’s dad was in the Airforce, so he moved, too. Only he had the opportunity of living in different countries, as well! He being another social butterfly, he adjusted well to new adventure, too.

I’ve been living in the same city now for 22 years! I never dreamed I’d ever live someplace this long! Hubby and I met, married, had our children and are raising our family here.

Friends have moved on; and yet we stay.

Family has moved on; and yet we stay.

My children celebrate birthdays each year with friends they have known since…well, always!

They go to the same church they were dedicated in. Pastors have come and gone, but the church family remains. They have been with us through many the good and many the bad times.

My younger kids attend the same school that their older brother attended and visit the same parks that carry many childhood memories.

There are plenty of adults who are there for them in a heart beat because they’ve known them since before they were born.

I’m sure if God willed it, I’d move to wherever He decided to take us. But in the meantime, I’m glad that my children have been able to experience lifelong friends and memories.

The Drama Queen has stopped crying now. She’s home from church and playing with a friend. I smile and wonder what these two will be like as teenagers together; just like we smiled when B-boo turned 16 a few weeks ago and celebrated with friends from her toddler years.

We’ll miss our family as we wish them well in their new adventures. One by one, they have plans to move away. We understand, but as long as we remain, it sure is nice to have others that have been here just as long,

The Case of the Missing Hamster

Hamsterbar(rev 0)

I haven't blogged in 3 weeks! Unbelievable..but I've taken lots of pictures and had wonderful family moments.

So, because my wonderful friend shared a rodent story with me (Karen…DID you catch that rat???)…I thought it would be fun to re-post one of our funniest moments!

Enjoy!

 

Monday, November 6, 2006

What a weekend!! Middle son’s hamster showed up missing on Sunday morning. He’d cleaned the cage on Saturday evening and forgot to lock it. The little booger knows how to push the door open, which is why he has to keep it locked!

So we searched and searched and finally went to bed, telling our son the hamster was bound to show up in the middle of the night by running across someone's feet. Not so.

At 4 am, I was awakened by scratching noises. They'd gone on for a few moments I think, as I was between the land of gone and come back. As I drifted back to consciousness, I realized the sound was coming from the wooden TV table. About a second later, I realized it must be the hamster! I leaped up, turned on the vanity light so as to not awaken my slumbering husband….but the little critter had vanished. Bummer. I decided to go back to bed and pray and try and get some sleep, all the while wondering how that little hamster got up all of those stairs and made it to the farthest room in the house! A bit later, I heard the scratching again. I crawled out of bed again, turned on the light, and …….don't hold your breath….nothing. I crawled back into bed, prayed some more, tried to doze. About 5:12 am, I heard it again…this time going through plastic…and I immediately freaked. You see, we have a poster of our oldest daughter that I still had not framed, wrapped in heavy plastic beside hubby's desk in the room. I envisioned this hamster shredding away that poster; the very last poster of her competing in gymnastics….this was war! I jumped up onto the bed and pounced over hubby while yelling at him

"WAKE UP! The hamster is in our room!"….made it to the light in a flash…and caught the little booger, standing up on his hind legs on the carpet at the end of our bed as if to say, “Oh Lord…she's caught me and she doesn’t look happy!”

Hubby quickly shoved the door close so she wouldn't escape! Then he went on one side and I on the other. He is now wide awake and yelling at me to catch the hamster….yeah right! The dern little critter was way to fast for me! As she scampered between my legs and headed off to my closet, I grabbed my cell phone and called the hamster owner who was downstairs in his bed dreaming the night away. I heard a groggy, "Hello?" to which I screamed into the phone, "GET UP HERE NOW!!!" 1/10 of a second later he appeared in our room. (I didn't know the boy could move that fast!) I yelled at him that his hamster was in our closet and he needed to get her out of there please. She was so wound up every time he caught her she'd jump out of his hands, so I ran downstairs and grabbed her ball, ran back upstairs, handed it to him and she jumped right in. He promptly took her back downstairs, put her in her cage and locked the door. He said the poor little thing was just guzzling down that water! I gotta tell you; I asked the boy…what were you thinking when you ran upstairs? He said, he thought something horribly awful must have happened and he'd better get up there now. Poor kid…he's probably traumatized for life. I still crack up every time I remember his look of sleep and surprise; I’ve been laughing ever since!