On rides, rain, family, red wine and pizza

 

 

Yesterday turned out to be a good day.

It was one of those days that I would never bother dreaming up, but, would rather try to avoid at all cost. I stepped out of my selfish “I would rather be home reading, writing and sipping coffee” kind of a day and stepped into a “whatever you want to do today, boys” kind of day.

Once a year, Six Flags Over Texas closes its gates to the "general population", and for a generously reduced price opens it back up to entertain a fine and elite group of folks called Homeschoolers (please read my sarcasm between the lines).  My nieces have homeschooled their entire lives, and as a family member and friend I am able to cash in on this insider information and totally take advantage of the honor system therein. This is the one day a year that I allow my children to play hooky, impersonate being a Homeschooler to join in on this privileged day.

The reason I am forced to step out of my comfort zone to attend such an event is twofold. One, I hate crowds, two, I am not an amusement park kind of a gal. I once was but after stepping foot on the most traumatic ride of my life at a Six Flags Park 22 years ago, I decided then and there I would NEVER step foot on another. Please don’t ask me to recount what happened or what ride it was. If I tell you I will have to kill you.

I put on my best smile, my very best attitude, and stepped out of the house (although ready to step right back in) prepared to have fun watching my kids, my nieces and their friends have fun too.

 

 

 

No sooner had we arrived at Six Flags the light rain began to come. It was one of those this isn’t so bad, just stay this way and don’t soak us kind of rains, so on in we went. It didn’t stay that way. Three hours and only two rides and a bad case of a good hair day gone bad (real bad) later, rain-checks in hand, we were walking right back out. 

After heading back home my sister-in-laws and I decided we weren’t prepared to throw in the towel on such a dud of a day.

So what can make any bad day a great day? Four things that no one should ever live without.

A flat iron, family, red wine and pizza.

It was a lovely evening! Unfortunately, I was enjoying myself so much with the family (and the wine) that I totally forgot to take a picture of the joyous occasion in which husbands and grandparents joined in, that I forgot to take a picture :(

But as a random, tantalizing consolation prize, I did take a picture of this COLLOSSAL Cinnamon Roll(s) that I made Sunday for dinner.

It isn’t illegal to make and eat cinnamon rolls for dinner, right? Well, it must not be, because I got in a heap of trouble for not inviting everyone over to partake with us. Oops!

 

Stay hungry my friends.   

This time I laughed

Mike and I were laying in bed last night, me complaining about how fat I am and he trying his best to tell me how lovely and beautiful I am, and how much he loves me! I said: "Mike, I'm stuffed, and I just looked in the mirror and I look like I'm 8 or 9 months pregnant!"
Mike answers: "Nah, I'd say no more than 5"

Her children arise and call her blessed

I have a really bad long term memory. So, when this photo was sent to me a few months ago I was thrilled, thrilled to have one more reminder of what a peaceful and happy childhood I had.

1975.
My parents had been appointed missionaries in 1967ish to go serve the Lord in Chile. I was born there in Concepcion. Two years after I was born the people of Chile elected a Socialist President. The political situation was very difficult and began to get quite dangerous, therefore my parents, along with many other missionaries, left the country believing they would never return again. By the time they left I was 3 (or close to it) and spoke mostly Spanish. We moved to Memphis, TN. my mother's home town. I attended Kindergarten there and all I remember is dressing up as an Indian and my milk spilling all over the floor because my Thermos lid was not on correctly. Oh yea, and getting stung by a bee.

As the Lord would have it, things changed drastically in Chile (military Coup, bla, bla, bla) and my parents were then re-appointed to Chile, only this time we would be living in the fabulous city of Vina del Mar (Vineyard of the Sea) You can check it out HERE. It would have had to have been late 1974 or early 1975. At any rate, I was 5, and in March of 1975 I would be starting 1st Grade. Because missionaries leave the country of service every 3-4 years to come to the States on furlough for 7-12 months (we always came every 3 years for 6-7 months) they thought that somewhere along the way I may have to be held back, so they put me in 1st Grade as a 5 year old.




So here I am, a "Chilena" that doesn't remember a lick of Spanish after being in the States for a year and a half and headed to a brand new school, hasn't met a soul and doesn't know what she is getting into. This photo was taken, however, that first day of school.
Tell me, what foreign little 5 year old looks like THAT on the first day of school? The lady holding my hand is Ms. Margaret, the Headmaster of Saint Paul's School. The beautiful lady on the right of the photo is my mother. I give all the credit to her. This is a woman full of confidence, joy and reassurance that her precious daughter is in the hands of God and in the hands of these loving committed teachers. As I look onto this picture I just can't help but smile and rejoice at the wonderful life and the wonderful parents that he gave me.
If you never had a chance to, I wish you could have met my mother. Anyone who has met her can tell you that she was the most beautiful, person, inside and out. Here are a few quotes from friends and coligues:

"I'm not the only one who loved her cooking and remembered her beautiful kindness" (S.D.A)

"She was such a strong core of that loving family." (B.P.M)

"Every time I would see you mom she reminded me of Grace Kelly. She was so pretty, her voice was so soft, and she always smelt like roses." (G.B)

"I remember spending the night at your house and waking up early so she could take us somewhere special and she would turn on the bathroom heater for us so we wouldn't get cold." (K.R.T)

"It's impossible to forget her beautiful and permanent smile, her kindness, her calmness and her soft voice. (P.P)

"In her eyes all you could see was love and tenderness." (A.H)

As you can tell, not only her children, but ALL arise and call her blessed.

Where was I?

I mentioned in my profile that I grew up in South America. In a lovely City called Vineyard of the Sea. Well, recently my sisters and brother went back to visit and took quite a few pictures. I selected a few to share with you.

This first one is the Home I grew up in 1974-1987




That is my sister Linda standing in front.





This is my dad's sketch of our home that is in the cookbook.
As you can see, that great big building next to our neighbors house wasn't there when we were there.

There are hills and hills everywhere as you will see.





This picture was taken from the school that we attended. You can see a little of it there to the bottom right. And in front is one of the many Catholic churches in the city.




This is a typical panoramic view of the city.




And another...










And when we wanted to get away, we would grab some friends, a picnic and drive to this lovely place about an hour and a half away. Zapallar.
I loved this place, it smelled so good, it had eucalyptus trees all over the place!!!





This is me (on the left) in 5th grade with my buddy Karina. We are right next to her house. Yes her house was built into the dunes. Whenever I spent the night with her I could hear the waves crashing at night and instead of enjoying them, I was always so afraid. I would imagine that I was going to be swallowed up in a tidal wave!


So, as you can see, this is where I was. Please no need to feel sorry for me living on the mission field all of my life.
I had a great life, with loving, God fearing parents. Great friends, a great school and a great semi sheltered life. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Maybe some day, if I ever get a scanner, I would be happy to share a tour down memory lane.

A family treasure

I did it!!! I did it!!!

This is my original copy of the Geiger Family Cookbook!




My dad hides a bible verse in every one of his paintings.



These are the first pages with the hand written note from my mom.

OK, so this is unbelievably fun. More on this to come. MUST NOT NEGLECT FAMILY!

I want to be like Mark

I have the most wonderful brother-in-law. His name is Mark. He has many great qualities that I greatly admire, but today I want to touch on one of them. One that inspires me to be a better, inviting person.

Don't you find yourself feeling differently in the presence of some people than you do in the presence of others? Us women are especially in tune to this, I think because we are so insecure and we tend to compare ourselves to each other and it can become a very intimidating game. So stupid, I know, but I do it all the time, so I'm going to assume that you do it too. I find however that there are some people that are more "safe" than others. When I am in the presence of some people I am automatically intimidated, I feel little, young, insecure, and inferior. I just feel like asking this person "What is wrong with me?" "why don't you like me (when they may actually like me) who knows, because they just don't seem to project it.

Now there are other people like Mark. I pick on him because one, I love him dearly, also because to me he is the epitome of what I'm talking about and what I aspire to be. When you are in the presence of a Mark you are safe. This kind of person makes you feel like you are very important to them and that everything you have to say is very important too. (for real, not salesperson kind of "I'm interested in you") When I am in the presence of this person I feel relaxed, like I can be myself, I'm beautiful, I'm worthy and mostly I'm safe. It's OK to be myself and I will be heard and understood. The great thing is, that this person makes everybody feel this way. Everybody is important, everybody has something to say, everybody is beautiful, everybody can be safe.

Don't you want to be that kind of a person? The kind that people like to be around,the kind that is pleasant, funny, and inviting. I want to put people at ease with themselves, with who they are, with who God has created them to be. I want people to be relaxed and safe around me.

In that way, I want to be like Mark.