Family History and Genealogy

 I am sorry, is anyone following?

It's been so long since I wrote a post, almost years.

What is going on?

Well, I am getting my bachelors in Family History and Genealogy from BYU Idaho, it's been a bumpy ride.

I want to invite you to do your genealogy and, look me up if you get stuck,

Love ya'll

Maureen

Emergency Preparedness. Are you Prepared for an Emergency?

     Good Morning bloggers.

      Today's news talk about North Korea preparing for US Attack. North Korean UN Ambassador, speaks about nuclear war, and my household is not ready for it. Is it yours? 

Don't quote me on this one my sources are word of a mouth.

       As I wake up today first news from the NY Post is, North Korea prepares to attack, As per North Korean vice president of foreign affairs told ABC, North Korea is ready to attack "IF"Provoked that doesn't sound too friendly. 
As well as North Korean Kim In Ryong UN Deputy Ambassador informs that a Nuclear War might start at any minute

     I was told by someone that Pence stood at the North Korean border just staring at the abyss, (That to me is provocation) 

     As things heat up between North Korea and USA, many countries prepare for the war, with only minutes to spare to seek shelter. 

     
     So, my question is Are You Prepared? I surely not. Things are looking a bit uncertain, so having a way to be at our own defense wouldn't hurt. Getting a first aid Kit, and some survival skill would be a good idea, as well as a "72 HOUR EMERGENCY KIT" do you know how to make one? 



     The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, teach us, among so many things, "Self Reliance". Although that's a very broad subject one of the points they touch is to be prepare for a case of an emergency either be short term or long term, "BE PREPARE" the 72 hours kit would have all your essentials to help you as you wait to be rescued, including money and your scriptures. But how about long term preparedness?

      Church teach us to have a 3, 6 or 1 year supply of food and essentials such as water and paper toilet, monetary savings, and propane gas among other things. Each household determine what's essential to survive any emergency event. 
     Preparing for any long term event is as easy as buying few extra cans of beans, corn or whatever you household eats in a regular basis. I invite you to add few more cans of tomatoes next time you go shopping, you'll see how it adds up. 

     Things are unclear nowadays, preparing for a disaster wouldn't hurt. Just in case.

Luv y'all

Good Friday?

     I woke up today thinking about "Semana Santa" or holy week. But the first thing I saw today in the news was the "Mother of all Bombs" was dropped in Afghanistan.. Really?

      About the first, in Costa Rica, this is a whole celebration. Schools close by Tuesday afternoon and Churches put on these plays to represent the torture and death of Jesus Christ.  

     The person who represents Jesus Christ is picked since the year before, he's trained and closely watched by the local church for worthiness to represent the son of God. I don't remember what's done between Wednesday and Thursday, but by early Friday, streets are closed and people are out with the rosaries in their hands ready to have a long day of prayer.

     Then it begins. The stations that is. This means for each account in the bible the "procession" will stop at a local home or business to named and pray for forgiveness for causing the death of Jesus Christ. This will go all the way until Crucifixion, often done at the church's door.

     Then the mass, the admonition then we all go home. We'll be back Sunday Morning at church to hear about the resurrection and atonement of Christ. Now where the colorful eggs and cute looking bunny came from, has nothing to do with religion. That's a story for another day.
     About the "Mother of all Bombs" sounds very scary. I am glad that every where I read people are foreseen WWIII... (Maybe "glad" is not the right word, I feel like I'm not alone on this thought) 

     According to Times, a GBU-43B was dropped on Afghanistan where roads and tunnels believed to be used by ISSIS fighters were. There's no much info about the bombing just yet. What makes me sad is, that a country that you hardly hear in the news was attacked. . . Having known few people from that country in my life time, I can tell you, they don't deserve to be involved in such attack.

      Now North Korea is preparing to strike back against USA if Trump takes a "reckless" military action against them. Trump decided to involve China in this, saying that if the Chinese government doesn't do anything against North Korea he will, China is been caught in the middle, saying "You better knock it off! Don't make me turn this car around, because I will!!"

     And this is Friday Morning for ya'll, from Rocky Mount, North Carolina... It's gonna be  aloooooooong weekend, brace yourself.  

Times have changed

      I saw a man wearing an American flag as a shirt, hitting (closed fist) a Hispanic woman, because her opinion contradicts his.

     I saw an innocent black man get arrested because He fit the profiled. I saw his mouth get silenced, his opinion being ignored, because he is black.

    I saw a man roll his eyes at me, because I was gonna take the empty sit next to him. I felt the tension emanating from his skin, and my fear grow with every breath.

    I saw a white man shoot a black boy, from his open garage, because the boy walked on his front yard, and because he was loud.

    I saw a white woman, lunch her whole body to this Mexican worker, because he was breathing her air.

     I saw a man accusing another of carrying a bomb wrapped around his body. Because he was Islamic.

     I saw a group of people insult a foreigner field worker, because he was tired and wanted to have lunch, at the same cafe.

     I saw a woman ignore the question of an Hispanic woman. Don't know why.

    I saw a white man, talk down a young Mexican woman, because she was thought to respect others.

     Times had change. ... Have you noticed?
Did your way of living had regressed 100 years or more?
Have you noticed how acceptable hurting, or mistreating others had become?
Have you noticed yourself?
Have you changed?

     In 25 living in this country, until Now I'm worry about who I am, and how people see me.

Times have changed.....
Beware. 

Moving to the South

      This move has been very hard, beside driving over 600 miles with all you own and care in your car, on your own, moving your mind to the south has not been easy either.

     Stopping in Maryland on our way here, I realized the reality of the move, and I broke in tears, perhaps I try to hold my feelings in, but the though of leaving behind all I ever known hit deeply in my heart.

     Getting settled was relaxing and kept my mind occupied, but going out was very extressful, anxiety kicked in in overdrive, and the fear or being around people was overwhelmingly frustrating. Yeah this change hasn't been any easy, things are easier now, as long as I don't go to strange places on my own.

     You might say "Seek a doctor, lady" .... well I did, but, today, my fears are from a different source (maybe when I feel a bit more chatty I'll write about them)

       So as you see, moving this far away was not easy. And perhaps I might eventually write more about it. But for now just know that I'm trying... Hard, very hard to get used to it; but my level of comfort has not reach the point where I can smile and say, I'm truly enjoying the south.

Going Back to the Roots

Good Morning:

      If that applies 😄 ... A lot has happen since my very last entry. For starters I'm not longer in Connecticut, (as today I don't miss it) 12 inches of snow can run anyone away from the Constitution state, drove over 600 miles to North Carolina, and it's starting to grow on me. 

     Steven is Living in New York... (Not too happy about it) He graduated from school with a Computer technology degree, and his butt still not working (See? why I'm not to happy about it?) He used to call me every day, now not so much 🤔 (I wonder)

     Samantha is in 7th grade and wishes she was in CT. She's doing well. I like how the standards and ratings of the schools over here are greater than her old schools. (including the magnet school) Most of these schools are preparing the kids for college, and many high schoolers are already taking college courses as soon as in 10th grade. (mind blowing) 

     Me? well .... I'm not working... I'm working out 2 hours a day 5 days a week... But not really working.  .... ... It's driving me crazy. I'm keeping myself entertained with small projects and full blown meals.. . But not work.

     Got to go for now... Will be entering some other thoughts as I come upon them 

     BYE!!

I promise I'll try

I've been meaning to write something for my girl friends and I just haven't had the time to do it.

I really want to and I promise before the week'd end I will be posting something... 

Would you be at my Funeral?

      Have you ever given a thought of all the people you meet throughout your life?

      Do you remember your best friend in kindergarten? How about the kid you liked in preschool, that you happen to punch?........ Remember the principal you had to face after the incident?

      How about first grade teacher? ... ... ... ... ....  Hey do you remember the person who made you laugh throughout the whole time you were at the ER after that bad accident?

      I remember many of my childhood friends... .... ... So sad can't remember their names, but I remember the ones who told me the scary stories behind the noises I used to hear during quiet nights.  .  . 

      Also the ones I thought I was crazy in love with..... (still no names).... 

      As I grew up I made a note to learn more about the people I met, beside their names; I try to maintain contact as much as I can... But let me tell you a story:

      When I was about 12 or 13 I had this friend, after a long period of illness she passed away, it was my first wake. Seeing her on her coffin so alone and serious made me think.... "I don't think I ever learned her name?"

      Many things I recall from the time period, many things like her wake I can't void from my mind.

      My point?.... well there were not that many people at her wake, I didn't go to the funeral.... I didn't have anything to say about her. Since then a question had linger in my mind; 

      If I died tonight; Who will come to my funeral? 

      Do you think that my fourth grade teacher, Jorge, will see my obituary and say, "that girl drove me crazy on my days; I think I will see her one more time"
      How about the classmates I had in high school? do you think they will remember the one who use to skip mass, and couldn't dance for beans?

     How about the guys I liked, will they give me a moment of thought, after the knowledge of my passing? ... ... ...

     As a grown up, and in the later days, I came to be in some funerals, But as I sat through them this question lingered in my mind... If the deceased could see who is at his/her's funeral, would they be happy to see the ones he thought forgot him?? .... 

      Every day and as the days pass, I try to strengthen friendships, but as I talk to friends the question is in the back of my mind... If I died tonight, would you be at my funeral? 

       If you were to pass away tonight you'll be miss by me, I probably will regret that I was not a better friend to you, I will close my eyes and remember something about you, and smile... Would you do that for me?

     Would you look at the sky and try to remember where we met? ... ... Would you try to think about the time we ____________ (fill the blank) Would you try to place me on your memory bank?

       You can be assured I will do this things for you...

Non, Rien de Rien

Non, Rien de rienNon, Je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien qu'on m'a faitNi le mal tout ça m'est bien égal
     It is funny how children recognize songs in the radio from movies they have seen; when for us the memory comes a bit different . . . 
     Saturday we were watching "Madagascar 3" when the French "animal control lady" started singing "non, je ne regrette rien" probably for you this will be new, my goodness!! it was news for my mom and she is 74 years old.
     Non, je ne regrette rien, is a beautiful song from the 1956 which Édith Piaf made famous in 1960 soon before she died, ironic. . . . No regrets.
     How do I know this? 
     In 2007 I came across "La Vie en Rose" where Marion Cotillard brought to life the story of Édith Piaf, I saw the movie then and her story took a piece of my heart. Édith Piaf is a forgotten artist but not for many. I'm proud to say I have her music in my I-pod. 
     I'm overwhelmed about her music, her story, her life; about this beautiful song that tells me "no for nothing, but I have no regrets" and about her last words, "every stupid thing we do in life, we pay for it". I feel sad that I didn't get to meet her, but I'm happy to think that I got to know her.
Enjoy this video, I hope it gives you that love that only Édith Pian can give in her songs. 

    
 

Blogging For Everyone!!

       It's been some time since my last post, as I drive to and from work everyday I think of something interesting to give my opinion or just blog about, but as I sit in front of my husband's laptop, just because mine is broken, I end up without opinion to give. I guess that's a good thing we don't need more people with opinions in this world. LOL . BUT since I like to exercise my freedom of opinion, here it goes:

"BLOGGING FOR EVERYONE"

     Everyday it's something new, everyday someone gets offended about something: someone that we grew up watching to, dies; or an outrageous thing happens that turns our eyes to the sky asking why? those are the things I would like to blog about... (see?... my opinion) 

     With one hand in the steering wheel and the other one in the shifter I formulate a great conjunction of words to post in my blog, but as I reach my destination the great creation that I had in my mind totally vanish, I guess it takes great dedication to blog about life everyday, like in "Julie and Julia", or like the Roman Mission that posts things about their service. Or my favorite that "SMART" guy who is traveling the world without a penny on his name, yet he's been closer to the Dali Lama that we can ever imagine.  

     I guess blogging is not for everyone then, it requires you to dedicate your time and means to write something that very few will read, if you're lucky, requires you to be interesting, so you can have some followers, but the most important thing is that requires to "mean" something to you so you can continue doing it.

    I guess lately my blog has been calling me to come back and get to wringing again... or it could be that I read somewhere that "If you don't use it, you'll loose it" (the blog not your intelligence) lol so I'm here with faith that it won't be two years before I post something again.

     There's no promise to the reader that has reach this line so far down my post, that will encourage you to come back at other time to read what's on my mind for the day. I guess I'm the one who needs the encouragement of the reader to inspire me to write again... Or I just shouldn't be lazy and give my opinion anyway. . . We'll see.

Story of a Nose and a Lego. A TRUE STORY

Let me tell you the story of a itty bitty witty Lego and a little boy who we will call Steven.

Steven was a mischievous child perhaps a bit more than others, who one day (or night) decided to put a Lego up his nose.

The Lego wondered up his nostril and decided to stay right at the entrance of his sinus... (the one by his cheek). Meanwhile mommy and daddy didn't know of the mischief little Steven had committed, continued to live a normal life.

But a time came, that mommy decided to bring little Steven to the ear, nose and throat doctor, just for a check up and to say hi! to a friend from her country. Little that she knew that the visit will became an in office surgery.

After almost 2 and 1/2 hours of sucking, pulling, and yanking, little boy Steven was free of the malignant Lego that was calcified and had created and stinking smell.

Now little Steven is Lego Free, and the foreign object is in the bottom of an alcohol glass displayed in his room for mommy to laugh about it and have a nice story to tell her grandchildren one day.

The End.

Testimonials Monday

Every first Sunday of the month, I have that little puff that wants me to give my testimony, but it seems that my heavy body needs something like a tornado to actually get up and give it.

Well since last Testimonial Sunday, I decided that if I just can gather the courage to do it on "THAT" Sunday, I will post it in my blog Monday morning and I will call it "Testimonials Monday" why not? can I do that?

Anyway, I have the KNOWLEDGE of truthfulness of the church, I believe that my faith went from a believer to a "knower" of the gospel; the Summer I went to Palmyra and received a personal, Very Real, revelation of the things I had never seen but I deeply believed. I can't say it enough that the church is true, and the teachings within it, without reviving the moment I realized it myself.

I don't expect you to believe me, I expect you to question it; to look at my faith with skepticism; to challenge my believes, and to criticize what I do and don't do, "BUT" I would like you to open your mind and your heart while you do it, and perhaps to give a prayer before your journey across my faith.

If you pray to have an open mind and heart, a sense of peace and understanding might fill you in, and your questions would be answer. I say it might because all depends on your prayer.

I was introduced to the church at a younger age and thought the basics, soon after I moved on and the church was not longer in my life. Many years later I returned to the church, and I was happy but as I learned more about it, my questions, challenges and skepticism grew. I was there where you are right now, it only took a sincere prayer, and open mind and a contrite spirit to received the revelation I was looking for.

I didn't see God or Jesus Christ, through the Spirit of revelation I saw what I needed to see, felt what it was there to feel, and learned what it was there for me to learn.

Now I have the knowledge that I'm here for a purpose, perhaps I haven't figure it out yet but I'm working on it. I know that the church is true, the teachings are there to guide us to our Heavenly Father, I know of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and I'm grateful for it, because it will allow me, and my family to return to our Father in Heaven as a Forever Family.

I leave my Testimony in the name of Jesus Christ

Amen.

Blogging Vs Posting

Well I came to the conclusion that Blogging is better that posting.

Hear me out for a moment.

To have a blog you need time to register, design and perhaps think what are you going to post. Most of the time your thoughts come from deep inside, your life, your mind, your heart.

You use pictures to illustrate your point.

Most of you audience are friends, family or people who are REALLY interested in reading you.

Blogging shows the real deep inside of you. The real you...

Posting: . . .

Take you few seconds to register, and you are stuck with the same generic page than the other 4 million people have.

Anyone, and everyone can read your posts.

you have 400 "friends" in your list and perhaps you really know 5 and are acquainted with 7 more. the rest of your "friends" are just gamers that as you, they need someone else to advance in their game.

Your daily... yeah DAILY!!! post mean rubbish; they reflect what you are doing but not what you really are. It might be that you only have 500 characters to express yourself, and to really know someone you would need more than 500 characters.

Blogging. . . Posting . . .

Posting gives your readers the annoying feeling that a bullet in your splint, will feel better than reading about your eggs and spam, and how much you hate the ticket you got. Blogging gives the reader the warm fuzzy feeling you had when you were writing your piece.

YEAH!!!!!

EPIPHANY!!! Posting is just a thought, Blogging is Art.

case close

School Time Almost here.

I've been enjoying Summer pretty much, not having to wake up at 5:30 am to get Steven ready is been nice, but all throughout Summer vacation I've been up at 6:am.... (not much of a difference)

All of the sudden now in August with only 18 days to school start I'm up at 9 or 10.... (what a life!!!) NOT GOOD, next year Steven have to be at school at 7:AM which means he has to be up at 5:am to be pick up by the bus around 6:15 or so, men being men the kid takes ALL the time possible to get ready and set to go.

With seminary right around the corner Steven has more responsibilities to take care of.

ANY-WHO.... Life is good as it is right now, getting up late to a hot day of house shores is been .... .... .... (what's the word I'm looking for?) .... ... ... Relaxing? accommodating? Da-Bomb? ... not really.

The reality is that I'm looking forward to school days, that is the time I have for me, when the house is clean from 8-3 and noisy and dirty from 3 to the next day, that's the time I can go out and do my things, do some reading, some studding, and some work.

So yes I'm looking forward to a house of peace and quietness....

Almost Fall

Summer is about to end, ..... Alright we still have time , funny thing is School starts in one month and according to my clock when I start looking for uniforms is when summer ends...... (does that make sense to you? it surely make sense in my head lol)

Steven will be going to High School this September, and Samantha will be starting first grade, I can't wait to have the house all for my self.

With new "school Year" new things will come. I'm trying to get back to my things and that includes the book club, I had a long book, (that now that I think of would have been a good choice for summer reading), anyway instead of the long book, I have a book that was recommended to me few years ago it is call "Horns and wrinkles" by Joseph Helgerson it is a fun book good for all ages.

Hope you all like it read more about it here: http://myfriendbookclub.blogspot.com/

I Need You Today

I'm in need of words of inspiration, I feel like the spirit don't want to deal with me....

Don't get me wrong I'm not doing anything wrong I just don't feel doing what I'm supposed to...

It's complicated but I know we all been there.

I had it with the Census

A week before I received the census form, they send me a letter telling me that in a week I was going to receive the form. A week after I receive it I get a postcard asking me to fill and send back the form they sent me the week before.

Now I get a phone call from the superintendent of schools telling me that I need to fill the census form and send it back.

what's the deal?

way to spend my money!!!

Fixing the Van!!

aturday was a nice and cold day, with a 5 pages paper and a

quiz to study for, I grab my gloves and went to work with Walter....

Oh Yeah! I worked!! ;) LOL

If you don't know, Walter is a certified Mechanic. he went to school so he can work on his own cars but never worked as a mechanic.

Anyway he had done work on BMWs and everything else from there, and last Saturday it was my Town & Country's turn.

I've been complaining of tugging and lack of power so beside the fart smell that the van was producing (which I was blamed for plenty of times) Walt suspected that perhaps a failure on the caliber converter would be the issue.

So the work needs a welder or some kind of tool that I'm surprised Walter doesn't have.

Until Kaynor Tech can check out the Van; I need to be mobile so Walter decided to check the spark plugs.

We discovered that 3 spark plugs were situated in the from of the van and the other 3 behind the intake manifold, which we had to remove, along with a whole load of cables and plugs, including the air filter tingly... (I can't know everything)

Anyway after hours of unscrewing, removing and braking things, we found out that I was driving (for who knows how long) with two broken spark plugs, that actually look like the originals from the factory.

We replaced the spark plugs and the cables because it come to be that 4 out of 6 were not getting any power, 3 were originals, and I really mean originals from Chrysler. And fix the brittle cables that we broke (and when I say we I mean Walter broke them).

AND fixed two gas leakages I was having (not me the van). So the paper had to wait until Monday because Sunday I van not able to do much, and quiz was completed Tuesday.

Moral of the story: I can get dirty if I want to.. :D LOL

Little notes

Thanks Evelyn. I got this a while ago I decided to open a window in my blog to post them but until I get a chance to work in the code I just going to blog it.

Love the little note.

2010 CENSUS

Did you get your letter?

I just did, but what was the deal with the letter I received last week saying this week I was going to receive my census letter?

Was that really necessary?... anyway over $400 million need to be allocated, if they need somewhere to put them I can lend them my basement.

But if they need someone to spend them I can gather few of my girls and we can help them out.