The Center of the Universe

I have discovered the center of the universe: I am THE CENTER and the world revolves around ME. This statement sounds "politically incorrect" coming from a mother; shouldn't my kids be the center of my universe? perhaps, my husband? As a good christian, I am told I need to be the last and the servant of all in order to be the first and that's exactly what I have been doing for most of my adult life but mainly during the past 11 months.... Unfortunately, I don't feel like I will ever come first and most of all, sometimes I feel I don't even exist. Somehow I get lost in the midst of the errands, chores and responsibilities and being the servant doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore. I was recently reminded by Paulo Coelho, Brazilian writer, that in order to help others, you have to help yourself and find balance. In one of his books, "The Witch of Portobello", Coelho tells us that in finding ourselves we need to locate our "center" and incidentally it is not our heart or the brain but the belly button. The belly button???? Who thinks of this humble body part, unless you are taking a shower and are making sure is getting cleaned properly? After I read that book, the mental picture of the belly button as my "center" stayed in my head...I couldn't make the connection at the time but then again, Coelho says you don't reach ANY level of self -realization without silence and I tell you, silence IS golden (for real) in my house, and like gold, also very rare!


In my constant search for balance and self-worth, I strive to have at least one moment of praying time during the day (or night) and establish that connection with a higher being but most of the time I am forced to find God in the ones I share my life with and this is more real than any rosaries I pray. I have, with the help of Mr. Coelho, discovered that the center of the universe is revealed to me by connecting me with my loved ones at light speed! In one split second, I can share their triumphs, their failures, their wishes, their hopes, their very souls. My kids came from my "center" and I came from someone else's and so life gets passed on through that hole in our middle....We are all connected with the Universe and the creator of it, through the miracle of life and the love that makes it possible. After this revealing moment in my life I can now stop feeling like the servant and more like the rock that keeps everyone grounded. Although at this time in my life, my own personal goals are "on hold", I feel like I am still growing and evolving and that I have found my center, with the help of those who I provide balance for: my family.

I AM the center of the Universe with God, Raci, and our kids; with all the good and the bad, the ordinary and the extraordinary, the spiritual and the mundane, we are one but also individuals...the center of our own universe.

Thank you, Paulo, for introducing me to a very important part of my body: my belly button!

Dumplings

My 2 year-old, Frankie, asked me for dumplings last night for dinner. It was the craziest thing considering he has a speech delay and we are battling an early diagnosis for Autism. The little guy wanted dumplings and he made it clear that was his choice. One thing is that he is told we are having dumplings at our favorite hang out, Fu Man Dumpling House, but another one is that he is asking for a favorite meal, spontaneously and with delight! You had to see his little face lit up with the anticipation of having his dumplings! He has never done something like this before and I was crushed to tell him I had no dumplings to give him. After much convincing I was able to talk him into eating a good plate of arroz con pollo (chicken & rice) that had been requested earlier for supper by Rebecca and Victor. After all, they are all respectable latino kids, born in Miami to Cuban/Nicaraguan parents....what's with the dumpling craving????? Like if I didn't have enough with Victor wanting to eat tofu all the time, now Frankie wants dumplings? Later on that night, I realized it was not a one time thing and that the dumplings are here to stay. Somewhere between sleep and awake, lying down on his bed and ready to pass out, Frankie asked for dumplings again!

P.S. I am going to have to order frozen dumplings from Fu Man and keep them handy for these kinds of "emergencies"... or perhaps....could I learn how to make dumplings from scratch??????

Farewell to the Summer

It has been warm, sunny and the past three nights had the most gorgeous full moon I have ever seen. I made sure to eat my moon cake to celebrate the solstice! Seattle is a beautiful place but in summer it's just glorious. I can't begin to describe how wonderful it is to enjoy a day outside with the sun shinning, the cool breeze and the beautiful sights. Even the nights are gorgeous and a full moon night has no comparision.

That's it for a quick morning post. Back to the kids and running around.

My Sister from Miami and her great ideas

My little sister, Gaby, the reason why I started using this blog as a journal would be hurt if I don't share her picture.  Here she is.  Isn't she cute?  Now, she is part of my story and she should since I had even forgotten I started this blog as a way to stay in touch with the family in Miami but then I discovered FACEBOOK.  Yes, it's easier to share pictures and "super pokes" than to sit down and write about the way you feel about things, your opinions and the details of the small stuff that makes up your day, weeks and months.  I really miss my family and yes, mostly my little sister, because she has all her life in front of her and I am so excited at what the future holds for her.  

By the way, she did introduce me to FACEBOOK too and to pretty much all the cool things in life :-) (ie, Guilmore Girls, Gray's Anatomy and so on)...I just can't get into Harry Potter yet, sister, sorry!