~Posted by: Roma
I
hope everyone reading this finds themselves well! Life has been very busy,
exciting, and full, and our calendar is filling up fast. Here is some of what
we’ve been up to…
Last
time we posted was around the New Year. Later at the end of January, we
celebrated our wonderful Mother’s birthday! (And I’m sure she would rather I
not mention how old she is now—I mean [clearing throat]—how young she is now.) J
We kids did the very special thing we’ve been doing for 9 years now—got up
while it was still dark, decorated the whole house with strings and balloons,
and made Mom breakfast in bed! She loved it, as she does every year. We went
through the whole day playing her favorite jazz CD’s, and later that evening she
opened her gifts. She wanted orange marmalade cake so we enjoyed that as well.
(Delicious!)
 |
Relaxing in the
living room, digging into the orange marmalade cake.
|
Early
in March, another special person needed to be celebrated: Josiah! He brings joy
and life and energy to this family—being the youngest—and was definitely a happy
gift to my parents from God! He asked for a day off of school just to relax,
play basketball and watch movies or play games, and he wanted Hot Fudge Sundae cake
this year! (Yummy choice.) For his birthday dinner, he requested grilled
garlic-lime chicken, our Mom’s wonderful garlic mashed potatoes, salad, and rolls.
Later
that week, all seven of us got into the car and went on a surprise birthday
trip! We ended up at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium! It was
really fun and educational. Afterward, we all enjoyed great food and service at
Carrabbas Italian Grill. When we lived in Texas, we usually ended up in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area on surprise birthday trips. Now that we live in a new
state, there are so many new places to explore and look at for future birthday
trips!
 |
Hot Fudge Sundae cake
for Josiah’s birthday.
|
 |
Opening gifts. He
loves his Star Wars glow-in-the-dark T-shirt!
|
 |
All of us kids pose
in front of the MD-80 donated by American Airlines, at the Tulsa Air and Space
Museum.
|
The
celebrating continued…a few days later, we went to the airport to pick up my
Mom’s parents—“Bio” and “Bia”—who flew in from Ohio to spend a week with us!!!
I put together a big ‘Welcome!’ banner to hold up at the airport, and after
they arrived, off to Panera bread we went, in the pouring rain. (We had a lot
of rain during their visit, but nice warm temperatures and a couple of sunny
days mixed in.) What a blessing to have them with us! They are amazing. When
Abuelo and Abuela were here, everyone enjoyed a spring break from school,
sleeping in, drinking Puerto Rican coffee, and spending time together as
familia. Later that week, Bianca’s man, Jessie J came for a couple of
days too.
 |
Josiah with Bio and
Bia. They brought gifts for him to open the first night. Then everyone wanted
to exchange spring break gifts to each other. Bia gave all of us clothes, and
we gave both Bio and Bia T-shirts with quotes on them: Bio’s T-shirt said
something he always says: “The best is
yet to come!” and Bia’s something she always says: “You make my heart sing.” They were tickled to get T-shirts with
their famous quotes on them.” J
|
 |
Spring break was a
time for rest and relaxation, family time, and reflection.
|
 |
Mom made so many
healthy nutritious meals for us that week, since everyone has been trying to
eat healthier. Some of us enjoyed lots of evening walks too.
|
 |
Then one day, after church,
we went unhealthy. J Jimmy’s Egg is good.
|
 |
Most of the time we
just stayed at home chilling. But one day we decided to go out to the movies
and watch “Risen.” What a powerful movie. A must see! From left to right:
Jessie, Bianca, Josiah, Bia (Abuela), Mom, Rubia, and Bio (Abuelo.) Ben and Dad
both had to work that day, and I’m taking the picture.
|
 |
Bio and Josiah play
basketball.
|
 |
Jessie and Bianca
walking, while I’m on chaperone duty taking pictures. J)
|
Saying
goodbye to all our guests we host in our home never gets easier. We are already
looking forward to the day they can come back. We thank the Lord for the
blessing of getting to be a blessing
to others by opening our new Oklahoma home to them! We had a wonderful spring
break!
