Tag: God

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 154

Today is very special for my family and I. My oldest girl Elena graduates from Home School! I asked her to write a final essay and share her home schooling experience and she allowed me to post it on my blog. last night her dad and I presented her with a ring and as we toasted her I felt a knot in my throat. I thought, ‘This is it! We did it!” I also thanked her dad because he is part of the reason I have been able to stay home to educate our four kids. He works hard to keep things going so I can do what I do. We are quite the team 🙂 So without further ado I present you the first graduate of Brincat Academy Class of 2012! I am wiping away tears as I type this..it’s all good! 

The First Twelve Years

Education has always been a key factor in success. And an even bigger key is home education, where you learn the essence of life. Because of this, many people have become historical successes; historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington. God put every one of us on this earth for a specific reason, giving us a purpose. Once you merge God’s purpose for you, with education, you begin to see things in a clear light, making your future bright. I’ve heard all this over the years. Therefore my purpose, is to go out and do the things I was made for. Thanks to my education, my  journey will be easier.

 

I can’t recollect when I first “started” school, or when my “first” day was. I never remembered, because I was born learning; making the adage true that : We are all born learners, non of us are stupid, making stupidity an excuse for ignorance. All throughout my first 17 years of learning, I’ve learned how to respect others, and to follow the golden rule. Because  I learned this virtue, and used it, then it continues to help me; with my encounters with others in both the professional world, and personal world. Another virtue I gained, was learning how to properly take care of and clean a house;making a house a home and learning to appreciate my blessings. Both my parents  instilled in me a good work ethic, that will take me far, wherever I go, in my career.

Growing up, I  always loved playing dress up, and make-believe, and this is something I continue to love and enjoy. I think this should have been the first tell tale sign, that I wanted to be an actor. So as time went on,over the years I always knew what I wanted to be. I  watched movies, and enjoyed acting  out scenes from the movie  afterwards. Even then, I was self discovering. Family has always been an influential ingredient in my success, for either the good or bad. All my life, my mom has always been there, encouraging, and enlightening me and my dreams.  She always pushed me to do my best, and to follow my dreams. She always encouraged me to want more.

As part of my upbringing, I was taught and learned to not grow up fast, and to enjoy my childhood. Later on however, I realized I had to. So I did. I guess subconsciously, I realized that I would need to someday down the road. I appreciated it. I thank my mom, for teaching me to never settle for less when my heart is crying out for more . Through this, I figured out how to pick the things I want in life, and to take my time doing so. Listening to God’s Spirit has helped me to become in tune with who I am . because of Him, I now know and understand more of who I am, and I thank Him for the strength He’s given me.

Looking back, I see where I have come, and I see who I have become. Homeschooling has helped me to accept me, and my flaws. Loving myself , with a healthy amount of respectful love. When in doubt, don’t look back, keep moving forward. Be who you want to be, love who you want to love, and have no regrets about it. Mom and Dad: I just hope I’ve served you well, making you proud, despite my flaws. I accept myself completely, so I thank you, and God, for helping me.

 

 

                                                       Elena Brincat 2012

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 153

Have you ever made a mountain out of a mole hill? Yeah right! Like I’m the only one who goes there ? 😉 Today I spent a couple of hours working on my edits with my daughter Esther.  I’m  including her writing in my new book due out soon; SALSA! The Taste of Life.  She writes beautifully and I wanted to share her talent with the world. So we make a great team because even though I posses pretty good computer skills, she’s quicker with it. She can copy and paste at tremendous speed while my slow fingers go click-click; when Esther types, you don’t even hear the click because she’s quicker than lightning. Ok, I’ve stopped chuckling already.

When I first received my manuscript I was a bit overwhelmed. Even though the revisions are minor , it’ll still take time and I do have to meet my dead line of June 15. As I work on it I realize the best thing to do is work on it one chunk at a time and it’ll be done. I just finished 2 hours on edits and I can tell you I’ve done more than I thought! So I decided to take a break and tell you all about it 🙂

So next time you have a seemingly insurmountable  task at hand just think: Take it chunk by chunk; throw out all that useless worrying ’cause it’s really old,   junk! Remember too, mountains are not climbed in one huge step; climbers get up there step by little, careful step. I hope this helps some one..just know I enjoyed writing it for you! Chao for now 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 152

Well I can now say I am excited about the progress of my next book: SALSA! The Taste of Life. I just received my manuscript back from the editor today and she said she thoroughly enjoyed reading my work. Right now I’m working on first edits and I’m happy to inform you that the changes I have to make are minor. 

You see, when I wrote and self-published my first book: AS CLEAR AS CLAIRE GETS, A CONVERSATION WITH THE PAST, I did it all on my own and I couldn’t afford to pay an editor to work on my book. So when Tate Publishing agreed to publish my second book, I cringed at the thought of working with an editor because I didn’t know if my writing would stand the careful scrutiny of a professional editor.  Today I cast all that fear aside when I heard back from my editor and she informed me that she was well pleased with what I wrote. I am doing the Snoopy Dance right now!

In the upcoming months I will share with you as SALSA! begins to take a life of its own. Once the book is released I plan to have fun trivia contests here on my blog so that you’ll have a chance to win a free, signed copy of my book. SALSA! is coming out soon!

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 146

No I did not fall off the planet 🙂 My two girls are going to their  home school prom tonight and so for the past few days we have been busy preparing; buying dresses, shoes accessories and whatever else goes into making their night fabulous. So I had to put blogging aside for a few days.

This morning my 17-year-old home school grad made me laugh so hard, it helped me let go of all the tension I’d been feeling lately. So to start off your week-end I’ll share the laughs and tell you it’s all going to work out fine. No matter what you’re going through if you can have a good laugh,it lightens your load. I love my readers!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 141

I am posting the picture I took of the Lunar Eclipse..now, I couldn’t get  pictures of  the eclipse itself but I took what I could on my camera phone. I turned around and shot this silhouette of me at the back of my house. Seeing this kind of lighting amazed me. Some people go for the obvious..I like to notice the little details in the grand scheme of things! I hope everyone had a great week-end 🙂

 

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 138

Yay! It’s Pinterest Thursday..yeah right, it’s I got nothing but these pics for you if truth be told 🙂 It’s 100 degrees out here in the grand Mojave Desert and folks, we’re just in pre-heat! Back into my cave I go ’til this goes away end of September or so! Aye, todo lo que  converso me sale en verso…that was the Spanish version of, I’m a poet and I know it 🙂 Enjoy these quotes!

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 136

FORCED to FIND MY FAMILY…

I was certain I would never know the love of a mother for myself. God has a wonderful way of completing us when we least expect it and with the most unlikely people. I have been friends with Margaret for 20 years. We met back in Atlanta at a time when I would not allow myself to peek into my damaged,trauma filled past. Margaret came into my life back then with arms opened.

She would look at me with such warmth,enough to begin the process of melting the glacier that was taking over my heart in those days. She knew what I needed emotionally and freely gave it;for the first time in my early 20’s I experienced a mother’s unconditional love and I craved for more.Much like a new-born in dire need at feeding time.

My heart broke when a few years after meeting her our lives changed,sending both of us in different directions temporarily. Like everything else in my life,I embraced the new changes ,still clinging to Margaret even from afar.

A few years ago I reconnected with her and I felt great to have been able to become re-acquainted with another member of my family. Ever since then I have chosen to call her Mamacita because she  embodies  everything I have ever imagined about having my mother.

Have you been ostracized by your own blood relatives as I have been? We all have choices to make. We can stay bitter in our isolation or the alternative is to open our hearts to the people who God sends into our lives to give us the family we need. I chose to forgive and stay open to what God has for me. People get blessed with good looks,good genes,talents wealth and strong family ties. I was not one of the fortunate who comes from a loving family;this set
me on a course that forced me to search out and find a family of my own. And I have,through my friends.

Fear will hold some of us bound ,keeping us from opening our hearts to those who offer to love us.We all come into this world in dire need of love;yet few of us are brave enough to admit our need to ourselves and to others.

Mamacita,thank you for offering me your cup! It was you who offered a drink from your over flowing vessel;to this dusty,weary,thirsty traveler. Cheers to you and I will forever be thankful that you did! Had you not offered, I would not have had the courage to ask you for a drink!
Te amo…tu hija

-Eva Santiago copyright 2012

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 135

In this new place there is no room for bitterness. Bitterness is a dead man’s grave-clothes. I have cast off all my grave-clothes  for good. The last vestiges, which hung on to me by a thread, have fallen at my feet and bitterness is eradicated once and for all. From here on out I see ahead only as far as the lamp I carry allows me to. I have caught glimpses of my future. I carry with me postcards , snap shots of it and when I look at those, I smile because I know I’m headed there for sure. Perhaps that is my only certainty in this new place; my assurance of a better future than the current present and that is enough to comfort me and keep me on this path that is taking me there. Every sunset I see differently now. Sunsets now mean that I have overcome another day. This day has passed into tomorrow. The sun setting on today can only mean one thing: That my future draws closer and that is exciting.

Who awaits me in my future?

Eva Santiago © 2012

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 132

I lost my mother when I was 2 months old and I have missed her for 42 years. There are times when I just wish she was around/ For instance when I’m having a bad menstrual cycle I say,” These are the times when a grown woman needs her mother.” Seriously though, I still ache for her and I’m posting this poem I wrote to honor her on Mother’s Day. This is an excerpt from my new book, Salsa! The Taste of Life, which is in the publishing process now. ” Feliz dia de las madres !” to all of my Spanish-speaking readers and “Happy Mother’s Day!! ” To all the moms who read me!

 

You Are With Me

I thought for sure
I’d never get to know you,
all my fears concerning you-
have long since vanished.
As I change my point of view.

 

I see you in the eyes of my Elena.
I hear you in Esther’s girlish giggles.
I sense you in Joseph’s thoughtfulness.
Your love reaches out to touch me,
through Raquel’s gentleness.

 

That I never had you,
is losing its importance.
For you’ve been here beside me all along.

 

When Esther hugs me,
I feel your tenderness.
Through Joseph’s eyes,
you reveal yourself to me.

 

In my girl’s beauty and poise,
I learn of your loving kindness.
When they twirl effortlessly,
I sense your free-spirited ways.

 

Raquel, well you know, she bears your name;
She helped me feel you once more
When you came to help me have her
You gave birth to me again.

Eva Santiago © 2012

 

365 Snap Shots of Life: Day 131

We are having a funky day  in the desert today. A sand storm is blowing our way from Arizona and it makes for ugly skies and super dry skin. I miss the sound of rain 🙂

It’s gritty, it’s dry and it sucks.
It gets in your eyes,
and in your hair it flies.
Don’t open your mouth,
here comes all that damn sand from the south.

Eva Santiago © 2012