PSSSSTTTTT.....Hey Gabriel, it's me again....Aunt Sherri....
You know I miss you right?? Those 2 weeks you were here, I felt like I was in heaven! There was nothing better than you sleeping right on top of me, feeling your breath on my neck, you are such a great cuddlier. I practically watched every breath you took.
Your little feet and hands are just perfect, I couldn't stop kissing and touching them. You laying in my arms was more than I could ask for....your dark eyes staring into my blue eyes nearly made me melt. we had lots of conversations, lots of stories were shared and I will never forget them. This is much harder than I thought to be this far away...I know, facetime is awesome and its almost as if I were there, just missing the actual touch. You are the cutest little guy, your mommy is so good about sending us pictures, helping us not to miss out on too much. Everywhere I go, every store I go into, things just jump out at me with your name all over it... There's nothing wrong with you being spoiled right? I have one of your receiving blankets that you left behind, I love the smell of it, reminds me of our many nights together:) I also have a lid to one of your bottles, anything of yours is good!
I think today is the day your daddy had to leave to go find you 3 a new place to live in El Paso, Texas. I know this is your life....(a spoiled army brat huh? no way!) Your daddy is my hero....and your mommy too....it's not an easy life to pick up and move every so often and to know your daddy will most likely be gone for another year. I will check with your mommy, but I am either going to drive to Colorado soon or I'll meet you in El Paso...I can't go much longer without seeing you.
This is not my first letter to you, but it has been alittle bit of time...but I have so much to say and want to share things with you. You're not quite just starting out in life, I mean after all you will be 3 months old in 1 more day....so be sure Mommy reads this letter to you....
Gabriel, you are only 3 months old and at this point in your life you can't read, much less understand what i'm going to tell you in this letter. But I have been thinking a lot about the life that you have ahead of you, about my life so far as I reflect on what I've learned, about my role as a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a daughter-in-law, an employee, a friend and an AUNTIE. In this letter, I thought I would try to prepare you for the trials that you will face in the coming years. You wont be able to understand this letter today, but someday, when you're ready, I hope you will find some wisdom and value in what I share with you. Some letters are silly, some we will sing songs, some we will just coo back and forth, but this one has some valuable thoughts and wisdom in it.
You are young ( a mere 3 months old), and life has yet to take its toll on you, to throw disappointments and heartaches and loneliness and struggles and pain into your path. You have not been worn down yet by long hours of thankless work, and by the challenges of everyday life.
You know, there will be people in your life who wont be very nice. They'll tease you because you are short or tall or cute and nice...you will find they will have no good reason. They may even try to bully or hurt you. There is not much you can do about these people except to learn to deal with them, and learn to choose friends who are kind to you, who actually care about you, who make you feel good about yourself. When you find friends like this, hold on to them, treasure them, spend time with them, be kind to them and love them. There will be times when you are met with disappointment instead of success. Life won't always turn out the way you want. This is just another thing you'll have to learn to deal with. But instead of letting these things get you down, push on, ( you know what push stands for? Pray Until Something Happens.) Accept disappointment and learn to go on, to pursue your dreams despite pitfalls. Learn to turn negatives into positivies, and you will do so well in life.
You will also face heartbreak and abandonment by those you love. I hope you don't have to face this too much, but it happens, ( your mommy knows all to well, what it feels to lose someone you love with all your heart and be absolutely heartbroken). Again, not much you can do but to heal, and to move on with your life, you never forget though. Let these pains become stepping stones to other things in life, and learn to use them to make you stronger.
But, Gabriel, be open to life anyway. Yes, you will find cruelty and suffering in your journey through life...but don't let that keep you from trying new things. Don't slow down in life, don't hide or wall yourself off. Always be open to new things, new experiences, and new people. You might get your heart broken 10 times, but find the most wonderful girl the 11th time. If you shut yourself off from love, you will miss out on that girl and the happiest times of your life. I know, its crazy to be talking about this stuff right now, but you will have this letter to read over and over, and that time will be here before we know it! Don't worry, not all letters will be this serious and in depth, we have lots of goofy silly things to talk about.
I told you a minute ago, how proud I am of your daddy, and how grateful I am....him fighting for our freedom. I know this is your life now...here, there and everywhere. You will meet so many people, you might get teased and bullied and hurt by people you meet....and then after meeting dozens of jerks, you will find a true friend. If you close yourself off to new people, and don't open your heart to them, you'll avoid pain....but also lose out on meeting some incredible people, who will be there during the toughest times of your life and create some of the best times of your life. You will fail many times but if you allow that to stop you from trying, you will miss out on the amazing feeling of success once you reach some of your accomplishments. Just remember if you don't fail at times, that means you're not trying, and failure is just a stepping stone to success.
You will probably hear more than once "secrets don't make friends"....but I'm gonna tell you a secret....life is not a competition. It's a journey. You will meet people who will try to out do you, in school, in college, at work. They will try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, and cooler toys. But they will be wasting their journey as they try to impress others or out do others. For you Gabriel, just enjoy your journey. Make it a journey of happiness, of constant learning or a journey of love. Don't worry about having a nicer car or house or anything material, none of that matters, and none of it will make you happier. It's ok to be satisfied with having enough, and doing the things you love. Find your passion and go after it and never give up. While I'm thinking about it...there are 3 phrases that absolutely mean the world to me and please don't ever use them lightly. I don't share them with many, but I want you to know and maybe someday they will be very important to you as they are me. The three words "I love you" don't ever say them if you don't mean them and don't use them ramdomly. The next words are "I promise". There's not a lot of things in life that mean as much as these 2 words. When you do say these 2 words, hold true to them, ok? and the last 2 words are "I'm sorry". Never be afraid to use these words if they are something that needs to be said. some people have a very hard time saying them, but don't be afraid to use them!
According to many, they live by the rule or success, others the rule of selfishness, others the rule of righteousness, but the best way to live is by the rule of love. Love God, love your spouse, your children, your parents, and your friends with all your heart. Give to them what they need, and show them love, open your soul to them. Besides just loving your family and friends, love your neighbors, your coworkers, strangers. Offer anyone you meet a smile, a kind word, a kind gesture and a helping hand. And Gabriel... most of all, love yourself. Learn not to be so hard on yourself, you will never be ugly or dumb, only handsome and smart, you are worthy of love, happiness and health.
never forget lots of kisses are in store for you!
never forget mommy says you can have a puppy, and never forget how much Mazy-Grace loves you!
finally know that I love you and always will. I will always be here for you, no matter what, no mater how many miles between us! We will always share that special bond....you are one special little guy....you have lots of people that are crazy in love with you, and yes, im one of them! I really don't like good-byes, instead, Until next time or I will see you soon! You are such a blessing and all
becuz of His Amazing Grace
Aunt Sherri
For this, be thankful. You are at such a wonderful stage of life. You have many wonderful stages of life still to come, but they are not without costs. I hope to help you along your path by sharing some of the best of what I've learned. As with any advise, take it with a grain of salt. What works for me might not work for you.
Gabriel, life can be cruel. There will be people in your life who won't be very nice. They will tease you for being this or that, and for no good reason. They might try to bully you or hurt you.
There's not much you can do about these people except to learn to deal with them and learn how to choose friends who are kind to you, who actually care about you, who make you feel good about yourself. Gabriel, when you find friends like this, hold onto them, treasure them, spend time with them, be kind to them and love them.
Gabriel, there will be times when you are met with disappointment instead of success. Life wont always turn out the way you want. This is just another thing to learn to deal with. but instead of letting these things get you down, push on. Accept disappointment and perservere, to pursue your dreams despite pitfalls. Learn to turn negatives into positivies, and life will be much better.
You will also face heartbreak and abandonment by those that you love. I hope you don't have to face this too much, but it happens ( take my word on this one). Again, not much you can do but to heal, and to move on with your life. Let those pains become stepping stones to better things in life and learn to use them to make you stronger.
her smile is so contagious and so sincere!
the first time you see someone smile!! priceless..
and they even smile after running a 5k...
things that make me smile....my nephew meeting his son for the very first time...
when I see my son Mike teaching his daughter Viana how to skip a rock, in the same lake he has thrown many a rocks in (in Missouri)
seeing my favorite flower blooming always brings a smile to my face:)
this beautiful girl, makes me smile, because she finally got her smile back! we each have a journey, some have more speed bumps, uphills and downhills than others...regardless a smile means so much and is so powerful.
all the memories, and all the love my brother and I shared. Him, part of his memorial garden, brings me peace and I cant help but smile.
a sunrise and a sunset makes me smile for days! and to find someone who enjoys sunsets like I do makes me smile even more!
and one of the most silliest and sweetest smiles ever made!
Miss Viana's smile just makes me beam!
