I dreamt of Samuel last night

The dream started with Samuel and Manuel together. I can't quite remember what they were doing, but they were together in a room. I was also in the room. Samuel's hair was long like in the picture below. He was trying to grow it out to get braids, but we ended up cutting it.

I told Samuel to come over to me because I wanted to brush his hair. He sat down in front of me, I brushed his hair for a second then reached around to hug him. I was holding him so tight.....he was alive! I didn't want to let him go. Then I woke up.

The first few seconds of awakeness, I was happy. Samuel wasn't dead..it was all a bad dream. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. him being alive was the dream. I noticed my arms were wrapped around myself like I was still holding Samuel. I tried to go back to sleep, to bring him back to me, but I couldn't. I lay in bed, wiping away tears.

Sledding Raleigh Style

This is probably the only time the boys will ever get to sled. Of course Manuel was the biggest kid.

Manuel sledding - he was the fourth one coming down. You can't miss him, he's the biggest one.

Elijah sledding...

Ezekiel sledding - he is on the left side.

Tomorrow

Manuel, Ezekiel, Elijah

Well, tomorrow Manuel and Andrea will be here. I have so much I need to do today. I didn't get everything done at home this weekend like I should have, so tonight I will be rushing around trying to get everything done....so not looking forward to that! I always seem to wait until the last minute to get things done. We all are excited about everyone coming. I have no clue how we are going to entertain everyone for the week. I'm sure there will be some domino playing, spade playing and lots of eating. Other than that, no clue. I do know I will have tons of pictures, so be prepared.

Weekend Recap

Remnents of Ida blew through Raleigh all last week. It started raining Tuesday night and this is how it was Friday on my way home from work....just nasty.




Come Saturday morning you could see a break in the clouds and sunshine coming through. Unfortunately, Ida blew most of the leaves away.




Outside on the patio


Saturday, Elijah had basketball practice, so Fonzy and the boys went to practice, while I stayed home cleaning, getting ready for all the family we have coming next week. I'm sure the fish were glad we were having company. Their poor tank was horrible and Fonzy said they were fighting to stay alive. Once I cleaned the tank they looked much happier.


back home - not a whole lot of cleaning done - just fish tank and kitchen



Fonzy and I forgot that his aunt was going to be in town on business this weekend. Elijah and I were at the library when I got a text from Fonzy's aunt reminding us that she would be in town shortly and we had dinner plans. Oooops, totally forgot. Elijah and I rushed home so all of us could get ready.


On our way to dinner- nice sunset




We decided to go to Bahama Breeze - food was good as always.


After dinner we decided to take Fonzy's aunt and hubby on a tour of downtown Raleigh. They already had the holiday decorations up - very pretty. It made you want to take a stroll downtown. I plan on doing that when everyone get's here next week. Great picture opportunities.

Upcoming

~ Manuel and Andrea will be here on Wednesday of next week for 2wks. I can't wait. I haven't seen Manuel since Samuel's funeral and want to see how big Andrea has gotten. Of course I plan on taking tons of pictures. Manuel is use to all my picture taking, Andrea is not. I'm sure she'll get use to it.

~ Dad and Eva will be here I think on Saturday for the Thanksgiving holiday. This is the first time they've come to visit us. I can't wait because Eva is going to cook all the Spanish/Puerto Rican food I love and can't cook or mess up when I attempt to cook.....pasteles, tostones, plátanos, bacalao, etc. Of course I plan on taking pictures of all the great food and of me eating it! I might even do a Cooking with Mami and document the whole process. I haven't done that in a while.

~ For Christmas, we are heading to Texas. My great, beautiful, bestest friend, crazy mother-in-law got us the tickets. I can't thank her enough. I think she sort of knew I needed to be around family and friends. The boys are too excited about flying! Of course you know this will all be documented. I personally hate to fly, so no telling what this trip is going to be like. I tend to cry and freak out about every little thing on airplanes. This should be fun.

~ I may be giving up a kidney. My father-in-law has diabetes and is need of a kidney. Everyone in the immediate family has been tested and were not a match. I am. I still need to have tests done to make sure my kidneys are fine and if they are, then I will be giving one up. Of course, as everything else in my life, I will document that also.

So that's what upcoming in my little world. Now you know what to look forward to on my blog.

Boys Toys

Cowabunga!

.....don't make me angry.......you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
~Hebrews 11:1

This verse came to my mind this morning while driving to work and missing Samuel. I miss Samuel so much, but I know he is in Heaven. And this morning when a little bit of doubt crept in this verse popped into my head.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for - I hope with all my heart that Samuel is in Heaven with my Mom and other loved ones.
the evidence of things not seen - I can't see him there in Heaven, but I know he is there.

God was sending the comfort I needed this morning.