la vita è preziosa Life is precious

This week I learned how precious life is.  Whether it  is a birth of a child such as Christ’s birthday, which we just celebrated, the life of a 90 year old which we have watched deteriorate at a very slow speed, to the people you see or talk to everyday, each one is precious.  There is so much to appreciate and enjoy in every person you meet. As we approach a new year with much anticipation it would be a good time to think back about the lives that we have touched or that have touched us. There is a lesson learned from each one.  The life of a child teaches us that there is a newness to every day, a new challenge, a new memory, a new beginning. As we watch the the life of the elderly deteriorate we learn strength, faith, and determination; we are shown that for some reason we are to be on this earth for a certain amount of days and no one knows that number but God; and just when the time is right his angels will come, and although we may want that time to end sooner, it is in his hands.  There are so many things that are special about life and life’s lessons. Think back to a special moment in your life, who you were with and how that person’s life made that moment special.  Never take for granted every minute of your life, and every life you touch, even if it is a brief hello in the line at the grocery store; that friendly smile and hello could impact a life for the good. You only have one life, one shot on this earth, so may you enjoy each and every day of the year to come. Smile, hug, uplift, and love till your heart is full. Store every smile and hug you receive, and when that day comes that you don’t understand life and you are wondering where you going, pull out all those warm loving feelings and know your life is precious to someone somewhere. Have a beautiful new year, may 2012 be celebrated with happiness and joy. 

God Bless

Ciao until 2012.

Buon Natale. Merry Christmas

This week has been a very busy week, the Christmas spirit has finally entered my heart. We finished our shopping (all in one day) and had a wonderful evening with my husband then as I baked dozens of cookies my husband wrapped all the packages. I was very relieved to hear that my son received all his packages, decorations and cookies that we sent him so he can feel a little bit of home.  My son, Nick and his girl Sarah came into town early and it’s amazing how the atmosphere of the house changed, the sound of your children in the house no matter what age is a wonderful thing. So now as we are at the eve of our Lord’s birth.  All the baking is done, gifts are purchased and wrapped, family is gathering and we are feeling a sense of peace.  I prep for our big dinner and I pray that today all the people that are alone this weekend can find somewhere to feel welcome.  I thank the people that have offered my son a place at their table and I ask each of you to set an extra place at your tables, invite that person that might be alone into your home or leave it empty and invite the Lord to sit down. May you all have a blessed weekend, a joyous Christmas be surrounded by friends and family and May all your Christmas wishes be granted.  God Bless and Merry Christmas.

Grazie Dio e Venerdi. questa settimana la sua umiltà e l'apprezzamento - Thank God it’s Friday. This week it’s Humility and Appreciation

 Okay last week I gave myself a pity party, Thank you all for attending, but it’s over.  I think my hormones were a little out of whack, You know that damn menopause sometimes takes over, but this week is better, as I looked back, I shake my head and say to myself, WAKE UP, IT’S CHRISTMAS, you have your health and your family and such wonderful friends, so every once in a while Life slaps you in the face, at the time I probably needed it. This week life taught me a little bit about Humility and Appreciation, being the outsider looking in.  I won’t go into all the details, but I have never felt like such an outcast.  It made me so angry but it opened my eyes to how other people must feel when they don’t feel included in anything, a family, a team, a group of friends, it’s a feeling I never what to feel again and it made me really appreciate the fact the I’m part of an amazing family, I have wonderful friends and my social networking peers have made me feel like I’m worth something. So this week if you see someone that may need someone to smile at them, or you can tell they need a hug or just looks like they are lost, please say hello, reach out your hand or just smile and say have a nice day, it won’t cost you anything and it may mean a world of difference to that person.  Enough preaching!

My new career venture is doing well.  I’m still filling my old brain with lots of information and I’m making lots of quotes. I am still waiting to book my first trip, (so if anyone has any firm plans, let me know).  I still have to tell myself to be patient it hasn’t even been 2 months and I’ve got a lot of people supporting me.  So I’m happy with the progress and I know with time, I will be successful. 

The Angel of Abundance is near, I can feel her and I’m ready to receive her gifts, also when she shows up I will send her to you. 

I have also started to prepare for Christmas, for those of you that don’t know the Italian’s special dinner is Christmas Eve, The Night of the Seven Fishes. Here is a link to learn more about the seven fishes. http://italiansrus.com/articles/7fishes.htm.  It’s my favorite meal of the year, to eat and prepare and this year I will be serving about 15 or so people.  A trip to Valente’s (an Italian Deli) made me a little more excited as I purchased by Smelts and Calamari and started getting the menu together.  I have also mailed my Christmas Cards and started shopping.  So that little voice that I spoke about last week is getting louder, not screaming yet, but getting louder. 

I hope that as you prepare for whatever Holiday traditions you have, that you feel the warmth of the season in your heart and that next week you won’t be so rushed that you can’t take time for yourself, take a step back, take a deep breath and enjoy each moment and know that I appreciate each and every one of you.  Oh, P.S.  I lost 3 more pounds, I’m back on track.

Love you, God Bless.

Where are you Christmas?

“Where are you Christmas, why can’t I find you.”  Yep that’s how I have felt this last week.As you can see the house is decorated, the tree is ready, but something is different.  The empty nest syndrome has hit me hard as Christmas approaches.  Christmas season has a whole new perspective when you don’t have children around.  Bert and I went to a Christmas party last night and as I watched all the children visiting Santa, I saw an excitement and anticipation in their eyes that you don’t see at any other time, but I also watched the parents and I could see that spark in their eyes, you could see their excitement as they watched their hopeful children ask for their Christmas wishes. I know that my son’s are grown adults; I know they are all out fulfilling their dreams.  I understand that my job duties as a mother have changed and I’m proud that I raised such independent boys, but somehow, I still feel something is missing. I think it’s the noise and commotion. The quiet in the house is deafening and lonely. I love my husband and I am glad that he is here with me, being together at least lessens the loneliness. I know the Christmas magic will find me, I know that as my baking starts, and as friends and family start to gather, I will get out of this fog and I can’t wait to hear that little whisper saying “MERRY CHRISTMAS” in my heart starts to yell in my head.  

Until that time, I have been trying to keeping busy, finished some more training, and learned all about guided land tours through Traflager,(if you are interested in a wonderful vacation, even here in the United States, let me know. There is some great information out there).  Also, I finished my newsletter, it was quite a challenge and I hope to keep it as informative as possible. I have also found some new exercises to try so that when the warm weather comes back I can feel good in summer clothes. 

So if you are experiencing loneliness this season or have a house that is too quiet, please know that you are not alone, I’m right there with you. I hope that you can feel my love come through this blog to each one of you, being able to write this and knowing that someone out there is reading this has been very cathartic for this lonely mom. 

Have a great weekend.  I hope you are all hearing MERRY CHRISTMAS yell in your head.

Buona sera e presto, Good night and see you soon.

Sono entusiasta, questa settimana è stato buono, I am excited, this week has been good.

 I finished 2 more courses this week, France Expert Agent and Royal Caribbean Expert Plus.  I didn’t realize everything there is to do in France, I went to Paris when I was 17, way too young to appreciate what I saw, but what I learned about the countryside over these last 3 weeks and all the little towns, just makes me want to get on a plane and spend a month walking through the villages and visiting the churches and museums and wineries.  I also learned about all the geographical ports around the world that Royal Caribbean stops in and all the wonderful excursions to do.  It made me realized that there is not enough time in one lifetime to see everything that this wonderful world has to offer.  I just hope that I will get to sample a small part of it with my husband over the next 30 years and then impart to my children and grandchildren, (if I ever have them), the desire to visit their dream destinations.  Everyone should start making a list when they are young, and if you’re not young start now, prioritize and then work hard and save.  I think the memories that you will create with your loved ones will be cherished forever.  

I started creating my newsletter, being publisher, editor and writer is a little overwhelming but I’m getting through it.  I hope to have it done next week so that I can start sending it out monthly, I’m trying to make it interesting and fun so it will be an email that you look forward to receiving.  I also learned this week about Corporate Branding.  So if you notice that my website hasn’t been up or my page and twitter names have changed that’s why.  So look for updated pages, website, social marketing tools and hopefully more consistent communications to come in the future, relative to my new career.  I would like to thank those of you that are keeping me busy looking up trip prices and destinations, It is really helping me grow as a travel consultant.

As far as my health, I went back to tracking every calorie, yes even those little tastes you take while cooking, everything counts, I have exercised every day this week and after getting a clean bill of health for my back I went back to lifting weights, I had to make a mental note to myself that I should only worry about things that are within my grasp to change.  As a parent you want to worry about everything your children do and it will make you sick.  You have to trust that you raised your children to the best of your ability, gave them all the tools they need and pray that God will guide them in the right direction.  At 52 years old I have learned that If I don’t like something, and I don’t have the power to change it then give it to God to worry about, but if I don’t like something and I DO have the power to change it, then get started, nothing good ever came from worry and complaining, success and happiness will only come from getting up off your butt, making a commitment and working hard. 

Have a nice weekend, please let me know your comments and don’t forget to follow me and share this blog with your friends. 

God Bless.