The Closer

There is a certain excitement in the air when a father shows up on the scene.  I have witnessed this anticipation in my own life.   In the 9^th grade I had decided to join the track team.  My dad lived about 400 miles away and was experiencing some financial difficulties which made it hard for him to see me.  One day he called and said he was coming to town.  I was elated.  On the day he was to arrive, I had a track meet.  I remember looking up in the stands  to see if he had arrived yet.  I had to get ready to run the hundred yard dash.  I remember feeling a confidence that I hadn’t felt in prior months.  I hadn’t won any races.  Stepping into the blocks that day, I remember hearing his voice.  Some words of encouragement that I don’t remember, but the mere sound of his voice gave me an unbelievable focus.  When the gun fired, I was off.  I remember him yelling my name.  I ran like I never ran before and won the race.  I think I placed in most of my events that day.  I remember Coach telling my Dad that he had never seen me run like that before.   After that day, I won even more races.  I had gained a certain confidence.

I see the same thing in my husband.  Whenever he shows up to a school event or soccer game the atmosphere seems to change.  It is beautiful to watch.  That same elation hovers over our kids.  They all seem to perk up when he arrives home from a long days work.  Sometimes chanting Daddy over and over again.  Our youngest leads the pack, usually getting to the door first.  I know that gets to his heart to see the littlest cutie face and then more cutie faces smiling back at him after a grueling days work.  It’s as if in his smile he’s saying “it is all worth it”.  Thanks to all the wonderful Dads who keep showing up.  We know you work hard.  Thank you for all you do!  Have a wonderful day! 

(The title of this today's post is not related to the TV series "The Closer" or the TNT Network)

About Women

Yes, yes, I'm back.  Can't get rid of me that easily.   Can I say that I SO miss the melody of tapping on computer keys!  I know it's been a long while since my last post.  What more is there to say?  Life is full.  I know we are into June.  The Papas will get there acknowledgements, I promise.  There just have been a few post that have been brewing for sometime and they have bubbled out.  

As you know, I started working a regular job to support my habit of natural body product endeavors (tee-hee!).  I was so blessed to be a stay-at-home mom with my kiddos since 2004.  Upon returning to the workforce, outside of my business, I found that we women are a trip and I'm not talking about to the Bahamas either.  I remember when I decided to start Salve'.  There were the people who asked me if I was bored, with phrases like..."Taking up a hobby, eh?"  It was almost like I was being pitied or something.  Oh you poor dear, some would say.  There were others who gave unsolicited advice on motherhood, those who absolutely loathed the word mom and it seemed to them as if I were an alien from another planet.  Why would I want to mess up my life with kids...REALLY!?!  Then there were the people who thought I stayed home and ate bonbons all day and couldn't identify with real work.  Upon getting a job, there were still more people to put up with...The mom shamers.  Questions like, What about the children or how are you going to handle that?  The list goes on and on.

What I found most interesting is in my experience of both being at home and working outside the home, there was not much encouragement either way.  People always had something to say.  I wondered why there was so little encouragement and so much criticism.  This past year has really taught me to empathize with others; especial with women.  Society has put us at war with one another.  It's like we're slamming into each other to prove something to the world...What that consists of, I'm not sure.  What I can say for both positions, inside or outside of the home, is that I have been utterly rip, worn tired.  In these moments I've thought to myself  will the work ever be done, what am I doing, is it worth it, and maybe they were right (darn naysayers!).  I remember all the negativity and sometimes panic sets in, but as I lay there in exhaustion the words of those who had encouraged me along the way rose to the surface like water from the ground in the morning.  It's not over.  God has made women resilient.  From our bodies stretching lengths during pregnancy and birth, to daily problem solving and multi-tasking.  Out of us flows life and without us life would be dull.  Have a wonderful day!

Ninja Warrior

A few months ago, I was doing the laundry and out popped a ninja warrior.  It was one of those cheap plastic toys that children get when they cash in their tickets at a game room.  I think hellos in some situations are like that.  They are the ones that are available at the last minute.  That nervous moment when you ask yourself, "are you going to do this or not" and then close your eyes, jump right in, and hope you land on your feet.  we've all shared those moments when we're in a situation that seems over our heads.  It's that deep breath before you make THAT call, or the pause before knocking on the door.  Hellos require courage. 

Google defines courage as the ability to do something that frightens one and strength in the face of pain or grief.  Because I LOVE words so much I had to include some cool synonyms of this word:  pluck, pluckiness, valor, intrepidity, audacity, boldness, grit, gallantry, guts, spunk, and moxie.  Whatever circumstances you might be facing this week, YOU CAN DO IT!  Have a wonderful day!

Pic is courtesy of karatemart.com (LOL...the original pic my kiddos took got deleted from my phone :(   It was cute too!)

All About Love

The month of LUV!  There's nothing like seeing two people in love.  Unless of course you've had a bitter breakup or something...awkward pause...No worries, even for those of you who have been heartbroken, this hello is sure to warm your heart and give you hope.  All you single ladies and gents out there listen up!  Love is not dead!  It it truly like fine wine.  Ms. Jeje and Mr. Mike as their students lovingly call them have been married for 36 years.  Together, they run All About Learning Center a preschool in Montbello, a suburb of Denver, Colorado.  There marriage is really amazing granted our drive-thru culture these days.  True love is work.  Through ups and downs, twists and turns, love is the hardest and greatest thing there is.  When I see couples like these it makes my heart swell.  Does hope disappoint?  I think not.

These two lovebirds met when they were kids through family.  Later when they were teenagers Mike knew Jeje was the one for him.  It was an ideal setting, she was a cheerleader and he a football player. Jeje however wouldn't give him the time of day but that didn't stop his pursuits. Although she thought he was handsome and had nice qualities, she kept him guessing.  Mike recalls, there was a Sadie Hawkins dance where the girl invites the guy to the dance.  He asked, "so are you going to ask me?" His now bride declined with a flat no.  He gave her his phone number and the rest was history...after she called of course.  Jeje says of her husband that he was persistent without being disrespectful.

Mike says what he loves about his wife the most is her passion about life, people, and everything she does.  Her passion makes him more passionate about the same things as well.  Jeje says what she loves about Mike the most is that he is committed to her and their family whatever the circumstances. "He takes care of everything and he is a man of God."

They both agree that their best moment together was on their 26th wedding anniversary.  They got married all over again.  Jeje says of her 2nd wedding to her hubbie that it was," awesome their kids were there to witness their marriage."

A golden nugget they both can offer us rookies, is to realize your differences, "but both people need to be on the same page" says, Jeje.  Her husband says it's important to embrace fun, joy, and laughter because life is short.  True indeed.  Upon meeting these two for the first time, it was amazing to witness.  After 36 years of marriage their love for each other is still electric.  It's in the atmosphere, and you can tell by looking at the sheer happiness of the children they serve everyday.  Such a breath of fresh air.  Have a wonderful day!

Riding the Wave

Hello there.  I know it has been a long while since I've posted.  In all honesty I've been wondering how to go about confronting the silence.  So, I decided just to be honest.  I have been busy.  That probably sounds bad, but, it is true.  Salve is a small business, but the bills still need to get paid.  I took a job at a school in administration.  As you know, we have quite the family (in more marvelous ways than one), but I am referring to the size of our brood.  We are a family of seven.  Salve is in transition, a shift of hellos, so to speak.  Though this is not a farewell post, I have been thinking a lot about the wonderful people who buy our products, the beautiful people who I have blogged about, and the many unique experiences of this awesome journey.  All of it has restored a confidence in me that had been lost for some time.  With the coming new year, changes are bound to appear.  I have many ideas for the future but would love to be able at some time to use the 100% of sales to help others in some way.  You might ask, why is she saying all of this and she's not even making enough in sales?  That is a valid point, but somehow I like to leave a door open to see what God wants and can  do.  He is the one who gave me the idea to start this thing in the first place.  Prayerfully, until that happens, we will continue serving the customers we do have with joy and satisfaction.  Everyday the sun rises it is a special greeting   So is the same with Salve.  We'll see where the wave takes us.  Have a wonderful day!

Cold Turkey

It's November.  The year is ending and the holidays are just warming up.  Usually at this time of the year I am rather burned out.  Thinking about mustering any energy for cooking large amounts of food and having large amounts of people over is draining at first.  I literally have to talk myself into taking up the mantle to get things done.  During the whole process there's a motivational speech in my brain on auto repeat.  Once the food is cooked, and family and friends start arriving for the day's festivities I'm fine and very grateful.  This year I am purposely setting the whining and complaining in my head aside.

From the inspiration of a dear neighbor I received last year, I've decided to have a go at purposely thinking about what I am thankful for everyday this month. This life we live is only lived once and I am quite tired of finishing the year with no gas.  When a fire is smoldering it's time to add more heat to make it roar.  This is not the typical post to anticipate the coming days but it is a real one!  For anyone who finds that they feel the same during this time of year let's get back to basics and commemorate life...one day at a time.  With all of its complexities and nuisances, this life we have been given is rich.    As I type this I can hear the chattering of my kiddos, the tapping of my fingernails on the computer, and a plane going by outside.  I am thankful for the life I have been given.  It has been a wild ride...spectacular indeed!  YOUR life is like NO other!  Happy Monday, have a wonderful day!

Presence

As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far away country. 
                                                                                        -Proverbs 25:25

Hellos require presence.  It is not merely a showing up but a being present in the moment at hand. Recently, our family had the rare pleasure of enjoying a soccer game together.  The Colorado Rapids versus the Montreal Impact was a game we were anticipating for at least two months.  On any occasion I would welcome the chance to route for my home team but this time, that, would have to wait.  The Montreal Impact are also apart of Major League Soccer.  I was watching a documentary piece about the change that came to their team earlier this year.  His name is Diedier Drogba.  A 37 year old soccer veteran who was Chelsea league's major weapon for many years is now on North American soil.  The deal was sealed earlier this year.

I knew nothing about Drogba until I married an Ivorian.  I remember my husband would talk about him constantly.  Not just the typical convo about his technique in football, (I'm sorry, it IS the real title of the sport.) but a major list of his accomplishments from uniting the country of Cote d'Ivoire to building five hospitals there.  With one foot step onto the field the Ivory Coast scored twice in the 2014 World Cup.  The teams' confidence level rose to the occasion to try again.  I had the chance to witness this same dynamism this past Saturday.  He had a free kick and punched it into the goal the 15 minutes into the first half. There was no other score for the day but an energy that remained in the stadium.  After the game, a group of Ivorians and fellow Americans clustered to the bottom of their section waving and cheering this amazing man. Some wore the colors of their home country; others waved the Ivorian flag, still others wanted their soccer balls signed.  He walked over, waved, hopped the fence, and climbed to where they were.  He shook many hands and took pictures, and returned to the locker room without his jersey.  He had given it to a fan.

My husband, and kiddos were absolutely beaming.  My youngest son who had played that day still dressed in his uniform informed me that it had been the best day ever.  I couldn't help thinking about the impact of a simple kind word or gesture...five letters in lower case...h-e-l-l-o.  Your hello carries presence.  It can cause a squashed soul to feel uplifted.  It can turn away an angry word,  It can cause a change wherever you go.  Hello Monday!  Have a wonderful day!