Working My Way Back

Its been nearly six years since I made my last blog post. Its been a long, interesting six years. 

I have overcome many things, gone through a hell of a lot and know there is a great deal to come in the future. 

The kids have grown since I was last here. The girls have moved on with themselves and the boys are nearly 10. Life is still a bit crazy time to time but I will save those moments for another time.  

I school the boys at home now so time isnt always what it use to be during the school year. We have chosen Connections Academy, public online school. It just seemed to be the best decision at the time and still is. No, it's not homeschool..... Its online public school that we do at home. Its takes a lot of committment and time. So dont expect me to be here every single day, ha!

So my last blog entry was just after I lost my Dad. Its been six years. I miss him and still get a bit emotional this time of year. Each year I handle better than the previous. Anyone who has lost a parent knows we heal in our own time but never forget. 

Anyhow, I am hoping to keep up with this thing several times a week. Working on spiffy up the place but I think Ill keep the same layout for now. Ill be cleaning up broken and old links and getting some fresh ones up to new places. I plan on sharing Pinterest hits and fails, new things Im into, opinions and reviews and everything else in between. Who knows what I will come up with. The mind is what it is. 

So I hope if you are reading this you will come back and check in now and again.

Thanks

Life is precious

Yes, life IS precious

Over the past few years I have had lives touch me in ways they never have before.

There was the early birth of my twins Ty and Cayden who spent 5 weeks in the NICU 4 hrs away from my home. We painstakingly made the trip up there for weekends at a time feeling the heartbreak every time we had to say good bye and drive back home again. Its hard to see our babies so helpless and hard to come home knowing there was an empty crib beside our bed waiting for them. My heartbreak was lifted some when my Mom came to visit and stayed with me so I could be there for more than 2 days at a time. I was grateful.

Yes, life is precious and they finally came home and have turned into healthy young boys who I love with all my heart.

The same year my boys were born, 5 months later, a close friend of our family was taken from us by an unnamed vile coward. This person just hit our friend in the head and left him there to die!
A piece of my heart was taken from me, he was someone I looked to for advice and support. He was one of my best friends who taught me a lot of things about myself and others.

Yes, life is precious because you never know when evil will strike and take someone away from you.

Then time had passed and a little girl was beaten by cancer. A precious, innocent, beautiful little girl who had a twin just as beautiful as her. She had Neuroblastoma and fought so hard. In the end cancer won like it does with so many who have this type.
It devasted her family and everyone who knew them. It broke my heart, but I cannot imagine the pain her family went and is still going through. I know Ive carried the pain for their loss and fear for my own children.

Yes, life is precious and Cancer SUCKS!
That little girl has touched the lives and hearts of many people.

More time went on and I would think about the family I left behind and the family that has left me behind. Sometimes fear would creep in and I would think what if? What if one of my parents were to pass away, or my grandmother. Even worse my husband or child.
There were days I was paralyzed with fear and would cry over something that hasnt happened. I never felt that way before, I never feared death because I believe in God and his purposes.
It made me yearn for my family and miss those who were not near even more.

Yes, life was precious to me.

Just this past week I was hit harder than I have been before.
My Father passed away, he was only 65.
He had pneumonia and other ongoing problems. His body just couldnt keep up with fighting the virus and his heart stopped.
Devastation!
My Dad was not perfect, he made lots of mistakes but he was also a good person too in his own ways. No matter what happened in the past the present I had learned was more important.
He had finally got to see his granddaughters again, met his grandsons and great granddaughters over the summer, two months ago!! Two months ago was the first time I saw him in 8 years and the last time I will ever see him again. The plans we made to see each other more often.....gone!
Now I sit here 2000 miles away trying to find my closure.
Only way I can is to go back home and remember what was and try not to think about what would have been. Somehow pull it out from deep inside of me and find peace. Take those who are still with me and hold them close and let them know I do really care even though I am so far away.

Life IS precious to me!


"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things will have passed away."
Revelation 21:4

Rio Grande Zoo

Our visit to the Rio Grande Zoo which is part of the Bio Park in Abq

I have to say right off I was disappointed in this zoo's set up and animal containment.

The flamingos are the first animal attraction we came too, the boys gave some ooos and ahhs

The ducks caught their attention too

Even though these are hard to see they were little orange colored birds hanging out with the flamingos and ducks.

After the flamingos we went into an enclosure that smelled really bad. There were some monkeys, fish and reptiles in there. We didnt get to see everything because the way things are set up it only gives space for so many people to look at things and some people wouldnt move on in a timely manner.
I dont mind waiting a turn I just call it as I see it and my boys have a hard time understanding they have to wait for certain things. Sad part was there were adults cutting off little kids. Not cool at all.

Finally back out in the open into the fresh air we came to the Capabaras

I wish I could have gotten a good picture of this guy but unfortunately his area was being cleaned at peak visiting hours.
Komodo Dragon

A quick pic of Mr Lizard

Baby Gila Monster

I dont remember what type of bird this was, took a couple times before I got a good picture, the fence kept taking over the foreground.

Giant Tortoise

When I went into this enclosure I was saddened by the way the alligators are kept. There is nothing to mimic their natural habitat, all they have is water and sand. They did have swamp coolers going to produce some humidity and it was warm for them.

I think these are howler monkeys and I recall that they were very quiet howler monkeys. Other zoos Ive visited had howlers and they were noisy buggers.

A proud American Eagle

A Golden Eagle

Ok I could be wrong, I forgot to check but I think this is a Buzzard, which type Im not sure.

I wish I could have gotten a better picture of the wolves but they only had 2 windows each about 3ft wide and there were people lingering. So I grabbed a quick shot and went on my way.

A Polar Bear in New Mexico, poor bear sleeping in the heat.

Emu
The boys like these birds for some reason, maybe it was their name because they said it over and over.

The Lion King and his mate sleeping

Kangaroos

Bobcat sleeping in his hammock
We were looking at him thinking about how comfy he was and how nice it be to be lounging in a hammock.

Osolot

Leopard

Black Panther
This guy was upset about something because he was pacing back and forth.
it could have been he was hungry because he kept walking to enclosure's door.

This mountain lion was one of my favorites, he/she was walking back and forth rubbing up against the cage. Seemed like he was wanting someone to give him a nice scratch behind the ears. But Im sure he would try and take a taste of anyone who tried.

Another mountain lion sleeping.

Upon arriving at the Bengal Tiger exhibit we found that they were caged so that their area could be tended to. I was very disappointed because I think tigers are very beautiful creatures.
So I gave the workers a yell, told them to smile and wave.
They waved and laughed but I did click the camera in time.

My very, very favorite of all the exhibits in the zoo!
The seals, I could watch these guys swim in their tank all day. They were so graceful and peaceful.
You stood in a cave and watched them glide by over and over.

The upper view of the seal tank. They have little shows with them but we didnt get to see them.

A peacock

The chimps during grooming time

Orangatangs

Baby orangatang, he was adorable.

This is a picture of the first O close up. Unfortunately I had to take it thru a smudgy window.

Another favorite animal at the zoo, the Gorillas.

This guy was leaning up against the window out like a light.....

Hmmm looks like he had a little Gorilla party, no wonder he was so sleepy.

This guy sleeps just like Ty does.
I have to say though by this time neither of the boys were interested in looking at anymore animals.

We didnt get to finish the zoo, it was hot and the boys were cranky, Telle was cranky and mom and dad were cranky so we called it a day and decided to head to the mall......

Up coming blog posts: The Mall, The Aquarium and Botanical Garden and more