Cassie's Shoe

Click on photo to enlargeCassie was bored in Spanish class on Friday & drew a picture of her shoe, pretty cool!

Easter Picture

Click on photo to enlarge

Here is a Picture of Cassie, Lexie & Michelle,

My Chinese Northern Ca Daughter- She calls herself a "Chexican"!

with the Easter Bunny. They're such good sports!

Road Trip

This week, the girls, Roscoe & I accompanied Luis on a work related "Road Trip". We drove to Nevada & spent some time with my brother Adam & his family (videos of them to come later!). After Nevada we headed to Oregon where we saw deer crossing right in front of us! From Oregon we went to Boise Idaho, it was beautiful!

Our hotel was in "downtown", there we found great food (including a Chocolate Factory!) local Native American & Mexican Art and awesome state parks & museums. We did this all in 3 short days, road warriors! Here are some pictures & video clips of our little trip...

This is a web-site with information about Parks & recreational activities throughout the state of Idaho: http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/

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Sacagawea

Cassie was in such a state of peace & tranquility when we came upon this bronze statue of Sacagawea in front of the Idaho Museum of History. The area is well known for its role in history of the Lewis and Clark expedition of the transcontinental crossing of North America.

Sacagawea, best known as the essential guide and interpreter during the journey, is derived from the Hidatsa language, tsakáka wía, meaning "bird woman. She was born into an Agaidika ("Salmon Eater") tribe of Lemhi Shoshone, between Kenney Creek and Agency Creek about twenty minutes away from Hayden and Bear Trail Creeks in the city of Salmon in Lemhi County, Idaho.

She has spoken to a deep part of Cassie since she first learned of her early during her elementary school years, as a model of stregth, determination, beauty and a connection to the suffrage of the Indigenous peoples and women across the Americas.

It was an honor, as a Mother & Woman, to watch my daughter's expression & emotions as she stood gazing at the statue of this remarkable woman. She said she could almost feel her soul looking down upon her. For Cassie, Sacagawea holds the place of women, children and the struggles of our earth close at heart next to her bosom as a symbol for us all.

Put in the Big Rocks First

One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "No!" the class shouted.

Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "That's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all." What are the 'big rocks' in your life? Your children; Your loved ones; Your education; Your dreams; A worthy cause; Teaching or mentoring others; Doing things that you love; Time for yourself; Your health; Your significant other?

Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you worry about that don't really matter, and you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks). So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first."

Posted by Stephen C. Ehrmann to the POD listserv, August 21, 2000, Ehrmann@tltgroup.org

Living Well Emotionally

In his latest book, Montel Williams who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, writes about ways in which we have the power to "Live Well Emotionally". Key points & research he speaks about during his interview pertain to how we perceive & as a result feel about ourselves and the world around us *(See You Tube clip)

Multiple Sclerosis is an extremely painful disease, some days it can feel as though there will never be an end to the pain and it is easy to slip one's focus to the inabilities or short comings in life. Some term it as depression, however I've found when my body falls hard my mind & spirit are literally fighting, at war to rescue what belongs to the whole self-

The challenge is learning to find & grasp onto a continuum in the positive and what IS available, the abilities....Topics covered during the interview are valuable & useful to anyone who may struggle with finding the good in a moment, a day or a lifetime, regardless of one's physical or mental state of being:

Happiness

• 40% of happiness is found in what you DO & what you THINK
• 10% is based off of one's circumstances
• 50% is genetics

5 Tips to Happiness

1. Have GRATITUDE in your ATTITUDE
2. Practice Kindness
3. Savor the Beauty in Small Things & Moments
4. Nurture Your Spiritual Self
5. Learn to Let Go & How to FORGIVE

Finally, remember that each individual is responsible & retains the ownership to the definition of who they are.

Life is a journey for a reason, isn't it beautiful that we don't know it all? We're not perfect? How exciting to know that each day is a new opportunity for living, learning & ultimately to grow as a person....Here's to growth, happiness & internal peace (and all the ABILITIES within!)

Our Florida Family

The couple who started it all...Miguel & Julia

When we are truly blessed, we figure out all the "meant to be's" people, places, events and memories that cross our paths and truly appreciate them along the way, in the now, rather than waiting until time has passed and memories have faded.


This is us on my couch in Ca.

Although my body wasn't feeling 100%

I was VERY happy in spirit that day!

Me & LizSo Liz is the "Baby" sister to Jeanette. Liz is married, since 1992, to Julio and together they have two beautiful children, Julio & Elizabeth. Luis & I were engaged on the very same night she & Julio were married. Her first son Julio was born 3 weeks before Cassie was and her daughter, Elizabeth Marie was born less than a day before Lexie!

Luis & Julio all dressed up

Is it just me, or do they actually look related?

Julio singing in Miami!

Julio & Cassie

Aren't they GORGEOUS together?

Lexie & Elizabeth Marie in Ca

Carlos & Jeanette
Jeanette is married to Carlos and together they have 3 beautiful children, Denise, Deanna & Carlito. Denise & Cassie are inseperable, even with this great distance between South Florida & Northern California. I imagine the two of them will be in one another's weddings one day.

Denise & Cassie Toledo Family in Cali

Carlos & Julio at our house in Ca , every night's a party! Deanna ToledoCarlito Toledo

Silly Kids in FL 2007

This is a picture of Denise & Cassie in what is deemed "THEIR TREE" which stood as a base in our back yard. Hurricane Wilma tried to take the tree along its path, but the tree stands with Denise & Cassie's names carved into it!
Me & Denise @ my favorite place
Deerfield Beach Fl

This picture was taken in our new Lincoln Ca home & was definately missing Julio & Carlos! In January 2007, when I was first so very sick, Miguel & Julia came to be with us in California. During that very scarey time, Julia (as always) was my rock. She cared & watched over me like a Mama Bear & took care of my family and my household. Luis & Miguel doing what the guys did every Friday night

Poker Night In FL

Dominos Mang!
Pool!

Miami Men & their Coconut!

In Florida, Coconut Trees are everywhere.

We had one to the right of our front door!

Julio, Liz' husband, has a sister Jessica who is also part of a larger extended family whom we love & care for very much. This is her first daughter Marianna & me, together at Julia's house. Julia & Miguel care for Marianna & her baby sister while their Mommy Jessica & Daddy Kevin work.

Jessica & Marianna
Photos of Kevin & Baby Jessica to come...

Grandpa Julio

Me & Loli (Julia's Sister)
Titi Loli to Liz & Jeanette