Wow, I haven't been here in a while...a long while. Some things have happened. In no particular order:

*My sweet son moved to Kaua'i. I miss him very much. We visited him there and had a wonderful time. Hopefully, I will post some fun photos.

*I embarked on a diet, lost weight and a couple jean sizes (hello size 6, ecstatic to meet you!). But as a consequence, I believe, exacerbated my hair loss. I am trying to remedy that. More on that later, maybe. On a positive note, this strictness for the six weeks of the diet, changed my eating habits/lifestyle. I made it through the holidays and haven't gained any back. All my lab results have substantially improved.

*There are continuing issues with my mother and her care at this stage in her life. There are six kids, you'd think this wouldn't be so hard with six to share. Ha!

*There are ongoing extended family issues, very stressful and hurtful. I guess one just can't escape them. Sometimes I just want to get on the next plane out, anywhere, {but Kaua'i would be first choice, :-) }

*I'm dealing with our empty nest. This is, after all, what we raise our children to do, but my son made me laugh every day, I loved him around. Again, I miss him. Sweet daughter is still here, PTL! She is a very comforting soul.

*I was just diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff. I guess it could be worse, but this pain is oftentimes excruciating. Yes, excruciating. 10 out of 10 (maybe 20?) I can't get sleep. I have to now decide what to do about it and when. Have surgery and recuperate in Kaua'i? Bring friend, Debi, to monitor? Sounds like a wonderful plan. We already have a place to stay...and I would see Sonner!!!! I see no downside to this plan.

*Professionally/work related, we just lost a very nice, well-respected, dear orthopedic surgeon. The night before he died, we talked at length about my rotator cuff situation. He could have done the surgery. Sadness abounds.

*I've been in the process of "cleaning out the house". This doctor's death just reinforced the fact that we will never know when Jesus will call us. I keep thinking that I don't want to leave my children with a house full of "stuff". Hence, the continuous clean out.

Water Aerobics

Just a short note extolling the virtues of water aerobics. A dear friend of mine gently talked me into trying out a water aerobics class. Well, guess what...I actually like it. I enjoy being in the water. It is a workout. You can make it as hard or as easy as you want. The heart rate goes up. There is resistance from the water and more with using floating dumbells and noodles. Our instructor is a fun person who also leads us through stretches (which feel so good).

The pool is outside so I have been getting some sun...something I have shunned for the past 30+ years (or more). I do like the tan (I do actually have lines on my body) but am still leery of too much sun.

All in all, water aerobics is a good thing!

Ireland

This past May, my friend, Debi and I went to Ireland. The round-trip airfare was exceptionally cheap and so off we went. We met Debi's daughter who is working on the Logos Hope evangelical ship, berthed in Dublin. The ship was our base for 5 days as we toured sites in Dublin. After the ship left for Wales, we took a 3-day tour of Southern Ireland and had a last day in Dublin before returning home.

Tahiti

Can you believe it?  We went on a 10 day cruise to the Tahitian Islands, known as French Polynesia.  It was a sort of spur of the moment thing.  What a difference in temperatures!   Hot, humid, sauna-like temperatures for the whole 10 days.  We got caught in a thundershower which was nice and not unpleasant.  Big, fat, luscious drops of water.  We were all soaked in minutes. Good thing we had been snorkeling so it didn't matter but it lasted over 30 minutes.  Well, that's the reason for all the glorious greenery.  Sunsets were awesome!  I bought some black pearl earrings and a pendant.  We visited Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Rangiroa, Raiatea, and Tahiti with a short boat trip to Tahaa to visit a pearl farm, one of the snorkeling trips and to swim with the Manta rays.  Mauru Uru (thank you very much) to the Polynesian people for their friendliness!

Bonjour, Nous Sommes de Retour!

Richard and I are back from France. It was a wonderful adventure. Richard had his experience with the Le Mans race (24 hours of Le Mans or 24 heures du Mans) and we both were able to see what I had planned out to see...places I've been wanting to visit for 30+ years!

Au Revoir, Mes Amis et Bonjour, France!

I am off to France in the morning.  Although I am excited, anxiety is creeping in...I know I'll be fine once I get past the security checkpoint.  Today I will be "refining" my clothing needs as I will only be taking carry-on luggage.  No more checking bags for me! After I land at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, my next challenge will be to get to Terminal 2 for the train station.  I will be taking the Train Grand Vitesse (TGV-high speed train) to Le Mans to meet my hubby, Richard.  He will have been in Le Mans for a week working with the race team he is with at the 24 hours of Le Mans race.  More later...

Au revoir!

Cecile

Blessings

“Jesus, draw me ever nearer as I labor through this storm

You have called me to this passage and I’ll follow though I’m worn.”

Good friends are precious and hard to find. I love my friends. They help me in so many ways whether they know it or not.

Years ago, one of these friends’ young daughter ended up in the hospital with a sudden and emergent, very life-threatening condition. It was such a shock to everyone. She had surgery and was hospitalized for just about 10 weeks. My friend was at her side every step of the way (as any parent would be).

“Jesus guide me through the tempest, keep my spirits staid and sure

When the midnight meets the morning, let me love you even more.”

Early on in the hospital stay, when the situation was dire with many unanswerable questions, I came to visit with them. On this occasion I was lucky enough to be there to pray with them. Oh, what a prayer! It was sweet and simple, full of trust, love and most of all, faith.

“LORD, we thank You for trusting us with this,” prayed my friend’s husband, a very sanguine, happy-go-lucky, jokester-kind-of-person.

“Let the treasures of the trial form within me as I go

And at the end of this long passage, let me leave them at Your throne.”

To say I was shocked is an understatement. I was so humbled and, yes, grateful that these people were my friends. The words drove straight into my heart and I have never forgotten them. I have carried this short but pure and simple prayer with me ever since that time. I have brought it to mind when I have been in small storms of my own. Those words have been a blessing to me!

“May this journey bring a blessing, may I rise on wings of faith

And at the end of my heart’s testing, with your likeness, let me wake.”

That was more than a decade ago and that young daughter has her own little girl, (my friend’s sweet granddaughter), and is doing wonderfully in every respect.

What a blessing!

Song: Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

Music by Keith Getty Lyrics by Margaret Becker

2Cor 4:16, 17

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Ah...weddings

I had a most wonderful and enjoyable weekend.  We were going to a family wedding.  The day started early (7am, to be exact) with my husband and me heading out to my sister's (#6, I have four sisters) salon in Newport Beach for some hair attention.  My sweet sister called me and asked if I wanted to get my hair done before the wedding.  It was my usual time for my every two months appointment but I thought she would be too busy and such as she was going to the wedding as well.  I jumped at the chance.  Now, my husband didn't think he was going to get the "treatment" but he sure did.   Afterwards we had lunch and then on to my other sister's (#5) home.  She just happens to live across from the Richard Nixon Library which was where the wedding reception was going to be held. So with a fresh hairdo, a handsome husband and a new dress (got that earlier),  it was on to the wedding.  

My cousin's daughter got married this weekend and what a party it was! The Bride is the daughter of the daughter (my cousin) of all our families' favorite Uncle & Aunt, my dad's elder brother.  My cousin is an only child so her two daughters are the apples of their granparent's eyes.  This little family has always been the nucleus of the whole family.  My Uncle is such a character and he and my Aunt were just personable that way.  So while my cousin was an only child, she grew up with all the other cousins around all the time.  Anyway, we were all looking forward to this event.  When I say we, I mean the whole clan...the remaining siblings (there were six) of the favorite Uncle, all their kids (they all had five or six-my other cousins), some of those kids' kids, and and lotsa friends.  I plan on writing it all down because I want to remember as many details as I can.  

What a beautiful bride!  Herself, the dress, everything.  They chose to have a Catholic Mass. (This is a Mexican/Irish family...so there you have it!) The priest knew her and the family from when she was a little girl.  It was so nice to have that personal touch.  She met her groom in grad school, USC, they are both attorneys.  The priest was very humorous, gave a nice homily about marriage, not too long and to the point.  Beautiful live music.  For once I didn't cry!  My cousin looked happy, proud, calm and beautiful as the mom of the bride and the dad was so handsome walking his beautiful little girl down the aisle.  The attendants wore beautiful, I'm sure-they-can-wear-again dresses in a burgundy color.  The Bride's sister was the Maid of Honor.  The "program" was printed on very nice cream card stock, embossed with the Bride's & Groom's initials (a nice touch) and tied with small burgundy-colored ribbon...party favor!!

The reception was at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA...a beautiful setting for a wedding reception.  Lovely grounds, large receiving areas (for the hors d'oeuvres...served by tuxedoed servers).  While there, one can look at all the displays lining the halls.

Wedding are so nice for families who live all over the country to catch up.  I was able to visit with out-of-state cousins and family who we don't get to see very often.  Of course, pacts were made to get together more often, but we'll see.  One of these cousins is moving to Laguna Beach next month, one of my favorite places!  I can hardly wait for the housewarming party.  Anyway, back to the wedding...

The dining room was beautiful with very tall, artfully draped windows (in gold, I think, after all this is a president's library), white hydrangea bunches with cymbidium orchids as the centerpieces, white tablecloth with gold table topper, white china, dark chocolate letters in clear bags tied with gold chiffon ribbon for party favors.  Each bag held the first letter of the bride's or groom's name.  They had a beautifully-done menu card on cream trimmed in gold (another party favor).  The menu was fabulous and beautifully presented... here goes:

Salade

Rice paper basket of mesclun greens with passion fruit vinaigrette

Entree

Braised boneless short ribs with cabernet sauce 

and

White fish with meuniere sauce and herbes de Provence

Garlic mashed potatoes and julienne vegetables

Dessert

Wedding cake with a strawberry dipped in Swiss Chocolate

The cake...beautiful and elegant in its simplicity, delicious, too, chocolate or a white cake. The strawberry had the perfect sweetness.  All accompanied by champagne or wine.  It was a lovely feast.

Ah...now to the party!  Live musicians, great music, great time dancing the night away and visiting!  If the hubbies wouldn't dance, we danced with each other.  Like I mentioned, there were all of us cousins and we love to dance.  Did I mention that my dad and his siblings had mostly GIRLS!!!!... and that we got a wonderful and fun sis-in-law from my brother?... and that my side of the family is the Mexican side?!?!  We had a BLAST!  Yes, our husbands did dance with us a time or two, but if they wanted to sit out a few, that didn't bother us.  My mother is a very good dancer as well (my dad and she used to really cut a rug) she danced with her sons-in-law a few times.  

It was so fun and a really great time to remember.  The Bride and Groom are going to Ireland for their honeymoon.

Afterward, sister #6, her hubby and my hubby & I crashed at sister #5's home.  We stayed up late talking and laughing, "discussing" things.  The next morning the coffee smelled so good and was enhanced by the addition of pure agave nectar for sweetness (thanks Jenner...I introduced it to the lot of them).  We made a wonderful, hearty breakfast which our husbands thoroughly enjoyed (after all, the way to a man's heart IS thru his stomach, men like their food...take note newlywedded ladies), visited some more and then home.  It was a fun and lovely weekend.

    

Josh Meets Surfboard Head On...And Sees Stars!

An early morning wave carried upside-down Tyler (riding Eric's surfboard) into the side of Joshua’s head. The impact was so forceful it not only caused Josh a concussion, loss of consciousness, hole in the head and an awful headache but also broke the tip of the surfboard! Here’s the scoop as told by me, Josh’s mom:

“I was at a friend's home early in the am for a garage sale when she told me that Josh called and said, “call me, its serious”. I guess I didn’t hear my phone. He had gone surfing EARLY. I called him and he said, “I need stitches.” To which I replied, “Wait! Let me sit down”. He told me what happened, said he lost consciousness a couple times and couldn’t open or close his mouth all the way, it hurt. Good thing he went with 3 friends who helped him. He told me, “All I thought about was ‘don’t let go of the board.’ “

“In the ER (they recognized me as I work at the hosp) when the nurse was triaging him and cleaning up the wound (painful) he had a vasovagal response (which he is prone to do) and I watched him start to fade away. I know this because I know Josh and his responses (he’s done it a few times with me). I said, “Josh. Josh!” He aroused a bit but he said “I can’t feel my legs...my arms and hands are tingly.” At that point, haste was made to put him on a gurney (he had been sitting) with a cervical collar and there was talk about transferring to a trauma unit. He could move everything but as he was lying there, he said he couldn’t breathe, that unless he thought about it, he didn’t breathe. Geeze.

“After taking a few deep breaths...and thinking instead of feeling...I pointed out to the nurse that Josh has a history of “vaso-vagaling” and that with the combo of head injury, shock and pain, this could be his response. She agreed. I hafta tell ya, I got a bit choked up at that point but kept it together for Josh’s sake. I mean, who really believes anything REALLY bad or life-changing is actually happening to you or yours?!?! (Susan {friend, ksf}, I know you can relate.) He got a bit emotional, as well, but I knew he wasn’t gonna show it. I just wiped a bit of a tear from his eyelash with the sheet and we both sucked it up, I guess.

He “came around” within a few minutes, numbness subsided, tingling abated and color majorly improved (its amazing how pale a tanned person can get), started to get irritable (naturally). His head was raised a bit and he breathed easier. Got CTs of his head and jaw which showed no fractures, no cervical spine injury. PTL. So a concussion. Got 6 staples in his head. Still has a headache. It’s not going to be a fun night because he’s going to want to sleep. Oh, and go to a friends grad party. Oh well. We'll see.

Vaso-Vagal Response

Intense pain, (such as what Josh felt), may cause a temporary, exaggerated vasovagal response by your autonomic nervous system. As a result, your heart rate and blood pressure drop, which reduces blood flow to your brain. This results in a feeling of warmth, lightheadedness, dimming of vision and hearing, and even fainting (vasovagal syncope).

Typical triggers for vasovagal syncope include:
prolonged standing or upright sitting
stress
any painful or unpleasant stimuli, such as giving blood, injuries, the sight of blood...

How I Met Mr. Wonderful

      My husband and I have been married for 25+ years.  More than a quarter of a century of wedded bliss.  Well, YOU know how it goes.  Anyway, here’s my story:

      A little background:  I was a registered nurse a couple years into my career working on a medical/surgical floor at my local hospital.  I was not “looking” for anyone and was not a party-all-night kind of girl.  More like young, naïve, a bit shy, and probably boring.  I liked to read.  Ha.  I had had a couple relationships in the past but nothing serious or at least they shouldn’t have been.  At this point in my life, having passed the dreaded state board exam (on the first attempt, mind you) I still had a lot to learn and I wanted to be the best nurse I could be.  I had (still do have) a large, strong family (I am the eldest of six, 5 girls and 1 boy) and a few good friends.  I was in my mid-twenties and living on my own making a very nice income.  I thought I was fine.  I would find Mr. Right when the time came.  I wasn’t worried.

      On this particular night in early January 1979, I was working the 3-11pm shift and I had “floated” to work on another floor as they needed another nurse. It was my turn to go.  After my shift was over I went back to my floor where my co-workers told me I was to go to the kitchen to talk to my Friend, (who was the assistant head nurse-that’s what that position was called in those days).  Okay, no big deal, so down the hall I went.  Well…. when I entered the little, tiny kitchen Friend was happily talking to two-not one, but TWO-very handsome, scrumptious-looking California Highway Patrol officers, in full uniform and looking so good!….mmm mmm! I tell ya, I am such a sucker for a man in uniform.  I stammered through our introductions thinking, “How do I get out of here!” when my friend said to Steve, (one of the officers), “Let’s leave so these two can talk,” and out she walked with Steve in tow.  Heaven help me!  That tiny kitchen managed to get even smaller.

      Let me just say here that Friend had a lot of CHP friends as she used to be married to one…but that is another story.

      Richard (that was his name) and I just looked at each other.  I know I was beet red and sweaty with embarrassment.  I muttered, “I’m gonna kill her!”  He said, “Yeah.”   Uncomfortable pause… silence.  Ugh!   He said, “Was this a set up?”  Oh my gosh, what was I supposed to say?!?!  I looked into those clear don't-miss-a-thing, hazel colored eyes and that strong, serious, excuse-me-ma’am-the-reason-I-pulled-you-over face, stammered some more and said, “I don’t know…uh, “they” said Friend wanted me in the kitchen. I didn’t know about this.”  Oh, I just wanted to disappear somehow!  I’m not afraid to meet people but this was just not a good time, too uncomfortable.  And as I later learned, Richard does not do well in this type of situation either.  

      Okay, well, we were finished with whatever that was (an introduction?!) and out of that kitchen we walked never to see each other again and that would be too soon for me.  That’s what I was feeling at the time.  We met, that was it!

To be continued…..maybe...

He's got Rhythm!

My 20 year-old son bought himself a (beautiful) drum set.

Need I say more?

photo taken: May 2, 2008

She "Saved" My Life

My 24 year-old daughter introduced me to yoga.  She came across free classes given by our local department of recreation.  In a very non-pressuring way she informed me that she was going to check out the classes and I was welcome to join her.  "No pressure," she assured me, "Just wanted to let you know if you thought you might be interested."  

Truth be told, I haven't been involved in any extra activitiy/exercise, vigorous or otherwise for a couple (or more) years and I knew that I needed to get back to doing SOMETHING for my health and well-being. I would love to  lose some weight and get off my blood pressure medication.  My sweet girl tells me often that she wants me to be around for a long time and, "Don't you want to be here for your grandchildren?"  Well, I, of course being the mother that I am, felt guilt that I wasn't inclined to go but I went.  How could I not?

The workout room is a very large cavernous space with mirrors on one wall and balance barres (yes, its a French word) on two walls, large windows above and a dancer's floor.  As soon as I stepped into this room, I found myself whispering, "She saved my life!" and proceeded to get all choked up.  I was overcome with a sense of tranquility and peace.  This feeling brought tears to my eyes and an overwhelming feeling of love and gratitude for my daughter and for God for giving me such a sweet and caring child.    I thought this (yoga), with its slow stretching movements and the deliberate breathing was something I could really benefit from.   I also like the graceful moving from one position to another.

We have been faithful in attendance going on 9 weeks now and, in fact, I have gone without her when she couldn't go a couple of times.  It has helped me in many ways.  One way is yard work.  I worked out in the yard after an absence of many months (going back to work sure takes up a  lot of time!) and found myself doing "downward facing dog" stretches.  I didn't feel thrashed as I had in the past after working outside for 3-hour stretches.  I do know that slow movements are better in the long run and that slow, deep, regular breathing will lower blood pressure over time.  In fact, my latest cardiology appointment showed a slight improvement.  Yippee!

 I wanted to write of my nascent experience with yoga and offer a tribute to a sweet, loving daughter with Thanks to my LORD for allowing me to be her mom. 

Just back from a cruise commemorating our 25th wedding anniversary.  My wonderful and very thoughtful husband booked us a penthouse suite.  Boy, am I ever spoiled from now on.  Since we are not in the habit of carousing all nite and up late in bars and such, the space in the suite was wonderful for us to lounge, read, watch a movie and just relax--which was the whole point of the trip.  We did get off the boat in Cabo San Lucas.  Hopped on a jetski and jetted out to the point, saw the arch, jumped in the ocean and had fun.  The water was wonderful as the weather was very, very hot.  I only splurged on a very nice pair of earrings.  

Overall, the cruise was nice, the food was terrific (no cooking for me!) and the relaxation accomplished.  It is back to the real world tomorrow.