Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I still remember my first Thanksgiving celebration- it was in the Fall of 2002, I was invited to spend the holiday weekend with my roommate (Liz) and her family. I vividly remember waking up Thanksgiving morning (well actually it was already noon,lol) to the smell of onion,garlic,pumpkin spices, poultry baking etc etc.. Mr. and Mrs. D were both in the kitchen and invited me to taste the stuffing that had just come out the oven. I didn't likey likey, it looked like seasoned bread mixed with different spices and stuff....lol...A bit later family started showing up, Liz's Zia Nina, Uncle Phil and Cousin Nico, her brothers were home (except for Jon, the eldest brother).We all sat at the table and had a wonderful meal, everyone had wine except for me . That day was filled with laughter, conversation ,great company and good food ( everyone went back for seconds...and ofcourse I wasn't left out,lol)!What a great weekend that was...we ate A LOT,watched football and just hung out . I realized that it truly was a celebration of being in the company of your family and friends and enjoying every moment spent together- giving thanks.

But should Thanksgiving be the only day that we sit back,reflect and give thanks for all that we have/ don't have. I give thanks every day for both....why you ask? Well, I believe that I'm given just enough- only what I need. I give thanks for having loving family and friends that will be by my side no matter what and I also give thanks for the things I don't have because I realize that I am just as happy as I thought I would be if I were to have them. Even though we don't celebrate this holiday in my culture - I do miss my immediate family and wish I could have been with them on this day. I love you Whoody,Pops and Pig.

Reunion

This past weekend I got to reunite with one of my best friends (Indi Pindi) that lives in the Netherlands. We've known eachother ever since we were like 15 ( we met in high school). We became friends and before you knew it we were pretty much inseperable....well up until senior year of High School that is. I came to the States to continue my education and she and many of my friends went to the Netherlands. We've always kept in contact...we would see eachother sometimes during Christmas break, but mostly during summer time. However, since I started graduate school and now that am working, we've missed eachother what seems to be everytime we're back in Aruba. She'd go for summer and I'd be stuck here...I'd go home for Christmas and she'd be stuck in Holland...so we've managed to play that game of tag for 3 years ...the last time we spent a summer together was the summer of '05.

Unbelievable how time flies, yet we know everything that happens in eachother's lives. It's relationships like these that really make me realize that friendships are everlasting....Different continents and time zones doesn't matter...we always make ways to keep in contact (thanks to technology). It just shows that friendships are not based on always having to be around someone, it just means that near or far, seeing eachother or not, we are always connected and know everything that's going on in eachother's lives....without ever skipping a beat.

Ik houd van jouw In. Ik heb het heel erg leuk gehad. Het moet weer gebeuren...maar misschien wordt het tijd dat ik naar Holly ga!

Family Vacation

My family was in Miami on vacation....it was actually a double purpose visit....they were here for our wedding and also to spend time with us. It's been 6 months since I've last seen them but to me it felt like years. They spent two weeks with us- we had a WONDERFUL time together. It was like old times- we would wake up early and all have breakfast together, then hang around the house watching TV (more like figthing for power of the remote control)and chitchatting, then we'd hit the road for a couple hours have dinner as a family and just hang out. It was the best two weeks ever....well better said...it was two of the best weeks ever! I love my family and I guess you can call me biased when I say that I HAVE THE BEST PARENTS AND SISTER IN THE WORLD!!!!

Saturday July 12th we woke up and decided to head out to Orlando for the day to visit one of the theme parks....we ended up at Islands of Adventure. I felt like a little kid again; it's been years since we visited Orlando.Pig, Shaun and I took the park by storm...we went on lots of rides. We were soaked for the better part of the day ( didn't know that Islands of Adventure was full of water rides)and to boot we didn't even have a change of clothes for our ride back to Miami . Our dad was brave enough to join us for The Hulk Roller Coaster Ride.....he was a trooper...lol....my mom on the other hand was the photographer/purse holder (she cannot stomach any types of rides, so she would usually sit on one of the benches and wait for us to get back)...even Shaunie joined her on the bench every now and then, lol...

Two weeks vacation is never enough.....wish they could have stayed longer. It was fun coming home to a houseful everyday for two weeks....once Shaun and I got home after I dropped them off at the airport...we were both a little sad...the house was quiet..and it seemed as if there was nobody there at all....as if the family visit was just a dream. It's okay though...before we know it it'll be that time of year again and we'll have as much or maybe even more fun than we had this time around.

Mi stima boso cu tur mi curazon; Whoody, Daddy y Pig.

Our Wedding Day

July 3rd 2008

Today is THE BIG DAY- the day I marry my best friend. Every relationship has its ups and downs and ours was no different- we've been through it all; good times, bad times, laughter and tears...but through it all we've stuck by eachother. After today I'll officially be able to introduce Shaun as MY HUSBAND.

In attendance were my parents (Barbara & Carlos) and sister(Aisheline) who flew in from Aruba, my cousin Veronica, two of my college friends(Amorrell& Geanie ), Shaun's mom (Ingrid) and baby brother (Corey)and my friend from work (Merari) who might I add is the BEST PHOTOGRAPHER ever!!Besides remembering every single person in attendance- I don't really recall much about the actual ceremony. I do remember trying to hold back tears (to no avail) as soon as Shaun started saying his vows and I also remember seeing my daddy's eyes full of tears. If it wasn't for pictures and videos, this entire day would have been nothing but a blur to us. Thanks to my family and friends this day will be a day to remember forever!

With the power vested in me by the state of Florida I now pronounce you
Husband and Wife....you may HIGH FIVE your Bride!!





Family

25th Birthday Weekend

I'm 25 years and 3 days old....can't believe it! Growing up I'd always have a countdown to my birthday...but the past few years June 19th seems to have just crept up on me without me realizing. However, this year was different....I was excited for my 25th Birthday....I wasn't going to have a birthday party- I've stopped having birthday parties since I was 19...but this year was different....I wanted to celebrate the milestone; A QUARTER CENTURY- it's kind of a big deal! I wanted a fun celebration, a celebration I'd have with just my girlfriends...something like a girls' night out! So that was my plan..on my birthday (thursday)I sent out evites for the girls night out party on saturday.

Thursday June 19th, woke up earlier than usual....my cellphone rang, my parents were calling, as soon as I answered the phone I heard my mommy's voice and she and daddy sang Happy Birthday To ME :-D. After my morning serenade I hopped in the shower and as I was stepping out my Shaunie was there waiting for me and sang Happy Birthday, then he gave me the most beautiful card EVER! I cried...yeah I'm very emotional.... I got dressed and made it to work later than usual...said Bon Dia to everyone sitting at the front desk...when I got to my cubicle...it was decorated with a Happy Birthday Banner, a bouquet, and a card...I felt soo special!! The day was turning out to be wonderful ....I received phone calls, endless msn messages,email birthday cards and facebook messages... Roseline bought me lunch from Starbucks and as I was drinking my soup, she told me that smoke was coming out of the conference room.....I jumped up and was like...OMG that's crazy...as I got to the door and realized the door was closed I knew they were trying to surprise me (Melissa and Bianny) for our birthdays- yay for June babies!!! There were 3 cakes on the table and ofcourse mine was the Carvel Ice Cream Cake, they sang Happy Birthday To Us and then we got to cut our cakes :-D. I had to scoop Shaunie up from work today and when we left his job he took me to Bahama Breeze for dinner...he even made reservations....I still can't believe it! We had a fun dinner date.

Saturday June 21st- My Girls Night by the pool was scheduled for today...but the weather was not cooperating, so I had to move the celebration indoors...we had a wonderful time..if I must say so myself..but I think others will agree. We were about 15 girls hanging out, drinking martinis, socializing and eating. We also did karaoke....(Comcast has Karaoke OnDemand)...My last guests left around 2AM...Thanks to all that came out to make my Birthday Celebration memorable!