The Family Mom Built

Mom never stops
being your mother

As we leave the old and begin the new, please, let's remember what's important. Little things. Like when the family’s basic pattern started with breakfast?

Mom set breakfast on the table for her children. She smiled as happy faces spooned cereal and grabbed the jelly to spread on their toast.

She’d remind  her “chicks” to come straight home from school. “Don’t talk to strangers,” she’d repeat like she did so many other times. Some mom's might add, "don't spit on the sidewalk, don't smoke , don't drink, be polite and above all "always love each other." That’s a simple snapshot of morning in an all America home.

Mom’s kitchen moves at a more hustle-bustle pace these days. The family may or may not share the breakfast table at all. It often feels as if every pair of feet in the kitchen hurry in a different direction.

Little Johnny has a half eaten piece of toasted bread hanging out of the side of his mouth.  Susie looks for her paper bag lunch.  The baby sits in his highchair with a happy face smeared with breakfast. No one realizes that they are all living a "happy family memory" that will stay with them until the day they die. Don't ever forget what makes living life good and safe.

Tim's Christmas Card 2024

This was one of the best Christmas surprises ever. My wonderful son, Tim, gifted us with my favorite scented candle. We got oh so delicious coffee beans, (He already gifted us with a coffee grinder,) Puppy got yummy puppy treats tat he loves, and we got the best gift of all. Love.

Then, surprise surprise, in the snail mail comes a Merry Christmas card with the same doggie theme design that we used to wrap his gift. His words made me teary. He's such a good son. I love him so much. 

 

Love Food: Grandma's Cheese Enchilada Recipe

Talk about good, scrumptious and utterly delicious, here is our family's cheese enchilada recipe. It's an enchilada recipe that is a family favorite with my three kids and their kids, too. It's magic on a dinner plate today.

I don't believe any cheese enchiladas that I have ever ordered and eaten at a Mexican food restaurant rises to the taste level of our very own enchiladas. This is a recipe handed down from my grandma.

Blessing Breakfast: Mom's Egg and Hash Brown Casserole

"Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen."

 

Here's a delicious quick-fix egg and hash brown casserole recipe. It came about because last night my honey came home a little late. It was too late for our regular dinner, but not too late and he was still hungry.

What I call "a little meal" was in order. I don't like to eat a heavy meat and potato dinner after 7pm.

Dad's Wisdom: God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

“Celebrate God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Our family has been Catholic for more than five generations. It’s history that connects us to our ancestors.

I don’t like the current Pope, but I am not so shallow as to walk away from the church of my family because I don’t like a priest or Pope or the homily.

My dad never said so, but I believe he was a devout Catholic. He taught me to love God and follow the teachings of the Catholic bible. He sent me to Catholic school. The nuns wore “Penguin” dresses back then. They were so nice, no polite to us kids, and so very thoughtful. In hindsight, I probably got complete education during my years listening and learning from those Nuns. They were very knowledgeable, informed and eager to teach. I remember Sister Rosario as so nice and kind. I bless her with great thanks.

Home Business: Picture It

Your goal setting is a picture — not necessarily a sales forecast. “See” your business the way you expect it to be — in a year — after you have done the work to set it up correctly. Once you see it in your mind… write it down.

Every person in the world devotes countless hours to thinking of their future and their present situation in life. Almost everyone wishes that there was something that they could change in their life.

Blessing Breakfast: Strawberry-Orange Smoothie with Vitamin

"Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen."xx xxxx

Frozen organic strawberries, creamy yogurt, touch of honey and orange juice whip up into tasty smoothie, a good source of Vitamin D.

Good Source of Vitamin D
One of the 13 essential vitamins needed for the body to function. You can find Vitamin D in Fish (fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and orange roughy), Fish liver oils (cod's liver oil), Fortified cereals, Fortified milk and dairy products (cheese, yogurt, butter and cream).

Strawberry-Orange Smoothie
Serves 2

2 cups Yoplait® Fat Free plain or Yoplait® 99% Fat Free creamy vanilla yogurt
1 bag (10 oz) Cascadian Farm® frozen organic strawberries
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon honey

Have You Changed Your Mind Lately -- Why Not

Mom never stops
being your mother

There is a story told about Albert Einstein. He was teaching at Princeton University in the early 50s. It just may be relevant today.

It goes like this: Einstein had just administered an exam to an advanced class of physics students.  He was on his way back to his office. His teaching assistant was walking with him, carrying the exam papers.

The teaching assistant asked, "Dr. Einstein, excuse me for asking, but wasn't this the same exam that you gave to this same class last year?"

Love Food: Pop's Pork Tamales

Every Christmas growing up, my Grama made tamales. It was the highlight of the holiday.

I must have devoured a dozen each year (not all at once). I watched her make them and when I was old enough, I helped.

Dad's Wisdom: The Key to Happiness

“Happy, successful people have no time or desire to fight, swear, bicker, protest or riot.”

My Dad taught me many things, but the one that seems important right now is the difference between givers and takers.

Those who work hard and give back; and those who cut corners, make excuses, claim to know better than anyone else, and simply don’t care about anyone except themselves.   

Could it be obvious to include those who spend time causing trouble, snooping, gossiping, twisting the truth, embellishing, exaggerating, harming innocent people, being judgemental, or intimidating others who disagree with them?

Tim at Ballpark in Arlington Texas

"We played at the Ballpark in Arlington. The old Texas Rangers stadium.  It was awesome. So many memories from all the games I've been too."

 

Blessing Breakfast- Burritos that Melt in Your Mouth

"Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Breakfast Burritos that Melt in Your Mouth

My dad used to make breakfast burritos all the time. I devoured them then and I still do.

The inspiration for this burrito beauty recipe came from those served at the Santa Fe Farmers Market in New Mexico.

Dad's Wisdom: Who Are Your Frends?

“You are only as good as the people you allow to be around you.”

My Dad loved people, and people loved him.

His family really loved him and loved being around him. I loved him so much with every fiber of my being. He never lectured me. He was just a good example. He gave me his time, and he answered my questions. That's just a peak at who my Dad was.

He showed me that even through my Dad was maliciously persecuted, simply because he was a Mexican American man living the America Dream, he never wavered.

Dad's Wisdom: Know Who Your Mother Is

“Every child should know who their mother is.”

Many “think” they know, but have they inquired? All most sons and daughters have is what they experience. What they see and hear. What they guess. Yup! Guess. Too often, they jump to conclusions. Assume. Some, innocently. Some have self interest. Some, to their own detriment, just don't care.

You see, first and foremost, you are a child of God. God gave you LIFE. Your “body” grew inside a woman's body. You were nurtured, kept safe and lived month after month before you were born.

Dad's Wisdom: What Do You Believe?

“Life is short, even when it’s long.“

Do you believe today happens once every hundred years?  That would be history. Do you believe in miracles?  Angels?  Dreams do come true?  What do you believe?

When I was a girl, my father asked me to believe. I never thought much about it, then.  

Later, after he died, I remembered what he said to me that day years earlier -- and the hundreds of days before and after that. It was only after he died that I really heard his words. Believe.

Dads and Step Dads Day

Father's Day is one of the days when I honor my dad. Even though he’s been in heaven for decades now, I still think about him because I still love him so much.

When I was growing up, my dad made sure I knew he loved me. He did that best by spending time with me. He did more than just sit me down in front of the TV. He was constantly teaching me life lessons I still rely on today.

Of course, I am saddened that my dad passed too soon. I thank him because he left me with a clear sense of what's important in life. I listened and learned. I never argued or brushed him off. I could never do something so thoughtless. He spent his life loving me. It was my turn to show my love for him.

I was 4 or 5 when my daddy would lounge on the couch in front of the TV, and I'd comb his black wavy hair like little girls do. I might have put in a few of my pink doll curlers.

My dad always had a smile for me. He was kind, caring and considerate. He was helpful, humorous, fun and serious, too. I was a good daughter, too.

I made sure, that there was no doubt in his mind, that I loved him beyond words. I did.I do.

When I was young, I was polite to him with my words like “please and thank you.” I was obedient, although he didn’t order me around. He was polite to me, too. An easy example to follow.

Dad was all about being a dad. A good dad. The best dad.He had this big laugh out loud. I loved it.

My dad didn't use foul language. He never said a bad word about anything or anyone. He was generous. He loved to cook. His food was so good. No one he knew ever went hungry.

When I was older, I’d help out at his restaurants. I took orders, served food to customers, washed dishes and whatever else I saw that I could do. My dad never asked me to do anything. I just helped, cause I wanted to help. It was the right thing to do for my dad.


By the time I had kids, my dad had a habit of dropping off these big huge chunks of meat for me and the kids. I’ve never know anyone to do that in my life. I always had something for him, too.

My dad gave me his time. I never had to wonder when I was going to see him again. I invited my dad to our Elm Street home all the time. He couldn’t alway come, but that was okay. He didn’t have to prove his love by visiting. I already knew how much he loved me and the kids.

I usually offered my help so he wouldn’t have to ask. I thought that was what a good daughter did.

Dad excelled with integrity and compassion. My dad was a good human being. He was my hero. There's no doubt in my mind that my dad was a fisherman. He had a big heart. Good instincts.

Dad gave me many gifts. Good values. Rules to live by. But the greatest gift he gave me was the time he shared with me. He gave me his time.

My honey reminds me of my dad. He has my dad’s qualities. His unconditional love, faith, common sense and kindness. My Honey is incredibly helpful and thoughtful. People say daughters often marry men like their fathers. That couldn’t be more true. I did just that.

On this Father's Day, I thank God for giving me the greatest dad a girl could have, and a kind and thoughtful Honey who makes me feel good about myself everyday.

My honey has been a loyal step-dad, too, who welcomed three children as his own. He’s given them his time, support and loving kindness for 35 years.  Step-dads deserve to be recognized, respected and honored for their contribution to the family.

Dad's Wisdom: Think of Others

“Treat people the way YOU want to be treated.”

My dad stuck to his belief about how to treat other people as long as I can remember. It was like steel melted to steel. Solid.

This is one of the best homemade wisdoms he taught me. It’ll make your day. Make you smile.  Remember this and God will surely bless you.

People are a vital part of life.

DF Soft Boiled Eggs for Diabetics

Here are my eggs for diabetics. It's how I cook soft boiled eggs and plan a meal around the eggs that I like to eat right up like a kid in a candy store.

Being a diabetic, I know that I need protein. I can get protein from eggs, which is great because I love eggs. I thought I couldn't eat eggs anymore, but I can eat 1 to 3 eggs a week to get the good food protein benefits.

I didn't have high blood cholesterol, but not paying attention as I should have put me with a cholesterol problem plus high blood pressure. I pay attention now.

Dad's Wisdom: The Rubber Band

"Life is a rubber band. What you do and say bounces right back on you."

Dad’s Rubber Band Wisdom is like glue. It may be sticky like gum stuck on the bottom of your shoe. But it certainly is one of the most destructive of the “Don’t do it” lessons.

Even writing this, I find myself taking a deep breath. Wow! Do I know the pain of being the recipient of an unfair attack.

Blessing Breakfast- Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chilaquiles

"Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen."

This is a Mexican meal that could be made like a casserole to serve a crowd. My dad used to make Chilaquiles every Thanksgiving and Christmas.

When I'm making it, the good-food smell makes me feel like I am six years old standing next to my dad in the kitchen waiting to put a spoonful of this concoction in my mouth.