Throwback Thursday

Hey there Hey,

Hope all is well. I haven't been able to comply with my daily meditations and so I have been a little off track and gloomy although it's sunny over here on my side of the Empire. This Monday 8/26/2013, my husbands uncle lost his battle to cancer as he peacefully slipped away in sleep. I can't say I was very close to him like some but I knew the influence and impact he had on the lives of the ones I love and care deeply for. Each encounter with him was a pleasant one filled with great conversation as he gave you advice and insight to life's true success. HE LOVED HIS FAMILY. He lived through his children and build a life through them and for them. I have such high morals and beliefs about family myself that I admire him greatly for this example. He took my husband and his younger brother in when they were children as if they were his own. He was considered the "Rock" that his children could cling to at any given moment or time. I pray that all the good we can take and keep from him with us, we do. It's tough to accept when someone you loved and looked up too so much is now gone. You are never prepared. You are never ready.

I have had a couple experiences with great loss and times like this can sometimes resurface feelings. I just continue to ask the Lord to give me the strength and let me get to that point where I am profoundly at peace with physical death, spite all the human emotions. So that my heart and soul could rest at ease knowing in a true forever.



Today I dedicate Throwback Thursday to Eduardo Piedra Rafael.

The Earth is very sad place today as the Heavens are rejoicing with open arms. Bittersweet emotions as the goodbyes were said. We can only hope on faith and thrive on LOVE as we each hold a piece of him close and dear to our hearts. May his spirit forever live through the lives of his children, their children and the next...
His legacy and his code of loyalty and honor to his family will never ever be forgotten! R.I.P. ED "ROCK" RAFAEL.

A loved Son, Brother, Father, Uncle, Friend, Man.

With Chumbi

With Son Michael

With his kids Tiffanie, Eddy, Michael, Andy, Diana, Danny. Brother Leo, & Nephews Shaun, Bobby and Leo Jr. 

With his kids Tiffanie, Diana, Danny. Grandson Sergio Jr, Nephew Leo Jr. 

Out celebrating with The Gang! 

With his eldest daughter Tiffanie

With his eldest daughter Tiffanie and 3 grandchildren Sergio Jr., Giovanni and Gabriella 

With eldest grandson Sergio Jr. 

With his littlest Princess Gaby

With his 3 grandchildren Sergio Jr., Giovanni and Gabriella 

With his only and little brother Leo

With his youngest son Danny

With his right and left hand men. His sons Eddy and Michael

Big Dam Store for a Big Dam Man! LOL 

Her "ROCK"

With his grandchildren Sergio Jr., Giovanni, Gabriella and Isabella. Grand Nieces and  Nephew Britney, Bridget, Brenden 

Keeping the generations of the Rafael going....

With Son Michael and Nani 

With Brother Leo and Nephew Bobby 

2 generations 

xoxo

Friday Affirmations

Hey there Hey!

Hope everyone is having a blessed Friday so far. It's a sunny yet cloudy day on my side of the Empire but that's OK. Without the rain there is no shine! We need the cloudy days to see and appreciate the real beauty in sunny days. It's just like with ourselves. We need to get to know the bad so that we can over come it with our good! I don't know about you but I constantly pray and ask for all the negativity and all that's not a part of what's meant for me or who I truly am, to be taken away and ripped out of my life and make room for what is suppose to uplift and make me whole. Sometimes as humans we can't see past the storm. Past the adversity, past all the negative that is going on in our lives. Or could it just be our own perspective on things. It can be very difficult to accept that the goals or dreams we have set for us isn't at all aiming towards our purpose.  

Sometimes we have no idea that what's being taken away from us or what's giving us trouble in our life is really a life lesson or a life favor to us in disguise. For instance there are certain circumstances I am not happy to find myself in at the current moment, however, I have chosen to accept that maybe all this chaos going on is just part of the process of cleaning out all the dirt and negativity in my life. To finally put me in the proper alignment and make room for what is suppose to be! My Purpose! Which is what I have been asking for all this time. It's about perspective and the right timing. Do you see the glass half empty or half full. How about the fact that there is even a glass and it has something in it to begin with...?!?! I believe we go through everything we do in life to be ready. I am not sure for what, where, who, when and why? But HEY, as soon as it all becomes clear I will be READY!  Today I Affirm....

Life supports Me in my purpose!

I AM 100% Self Approved! 

I give away my gifts in service to others!  

xoxo

Throwback Thursday!

Hey there Hey,

Hope all is well! Because of all the back to school madness going on, today I will be doing Throwback Thursday on a Friday. Why? Because I can! LOL Anyhoot, I will make it quick as I am in between picking my kiddos up from school. We are getting ready to get Brit Brit now. Yeah, I am really looking forward to starting the weekend!!!

This Throwback Thursday I want to share images of some of the work that inspired me to pursue my dream in photography! These pictures were taken about 4-5 years ago. Some more  recent. I was teaching myself how to edit and coming up with ideas for my logo. I have come along way and am very proud to share what I started off with! Here's to SeLaRom in the making!!! I couldn't feel more blessed and truly grateful.....

Cousin Michael & Giselle's Wedding!

Cousin Michael and Giselle's Wedding! 

xoxo

PS. Stay tuned for Friday's Affirmation's! 

"We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends"

Hey there Hey,

Hope all is well! It's a pretty pumped up day for me! It's been very rainy and gloomy but my spirits are from that today! It's all sunshine on my side of the Empire today just cause I say so. Isn't that great?!? After dropping off the kids at school and feeling a roller coaster of emotions, I pumped myself up with some Crossfit action! I must say I pushed myself today and did what I had too and on time. I have the rips in my hands to prove it! LOL I have been on a roll since. All I can say is that I am grateful for my GOD and my family. In days like today, yeah it's easy, but on days that are not so chipper, it's them that keep me inspired at heart!

Today's post I want to dedicate to my Mother of Pearl, better known as SimplyyMayra from Ponder Wonders. If you haven't checked out her blog you must STOP what you are doing immediately and check it out for a quick fix! Her blog offers so much beneficial information not only to ones mind but to ones soul. Through her life struggles she managed to find her way and now she shares her wisdom with the world. It's actually pretty cool because I have her to my access whenever I want. Anyhoot, lately I have noticed that she hasn't been posting often on her blog. Being that I KNOW she has a gazillion and one drafts she's been dying to share, this could only mean a few things and well I don't know if that's too good... (sighs)

Sometimes we hit slumps, speed bumps, walls, dark streets, etc... But that doesn't really matter. What's important is how we react when we hit the slump or when we're down and what we do to get ourselves back up! A lot of times when I experience the feeling of the above mentioned I try to take deep breathes and bring myself back to my center. But, because we are HUMAN and a lot of the times it's easier said than done it's nice to have a support system or buddy! Like the Beatles song says: "We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends"! Nothing more true. We weren't created to be alone so having someone to help keep the inspiration is so important to have and well I am grateful I can be that for Mother Of Pearl today!!! "Ain't No Mountain High, Ain't No Valley Low!!!" (LOL, I just carrack myself up, ahahahahaaa Hey, I was already quoting songs)

Below I am sharing some images in hopes to inspire! To remind you Perlita of that "Happy Place" you were in that kept you inspired and gave you hope. Remember how you taught me "Monkey Bars". I know if I miss you and your post, the blogosphere world must SHO NUFF too! I know you have so much to worry about Mom. You do have 3 daughters that are adults with their own lives and well being a mother myself I completely throw the white flag up with ya! Take a deep breathe and come back to your center. God is in charge of the rest. You have a lot that counts on you! It is your calling and your gift to touch people lives from all around the world. It's like you say all the time that when you are doing your true calling it's when you are most alive. So looks like you have some catching up to do... I look forward to reading some more about Siela!!! (Potos)

xoxo