Thank You for the Beach!

Thank You for the beach

         the sun 

                  the breeze

The sounds of waves 

         and gulls 

                  and kids

To feel the sun      

         the sand, 

                  the sea.

 

I love to know that I 

         can come and walk

                  or run and play 

                           or sit and sun

 

But most of all I love to feel

         The Glory of Your Presence, near

To just get quiet and relax 

         and meditate on all that’s past.

                  And more… 

 

The beauty of the beach predicts 

         The blessings that Your Love will bring.

 

Now as I write this down 

         and think of you

I pray you know:  

         God's Ways are truth 

                  God's Joys abounding like the shore

I wish for us forevermore.

 

And at this Holy time 

         Let's meditate

                  And remember 

Christ’s birth, 

         His life, 

                  His death

 

We celebrate the Spirit now 

       And live in faith

No matter where we are, 

    In all we do

Let's join to share

God’s Kingdom Glory

Here on Earth.

    by Bea Skeens (adapted from 2004)

"Jesus Loves me," Just me?

After singing "Jesus loves me" before bed with my 5 year old granddaughter, she says, just me?  I say,  what?  She says,  "just me?  Does Jesus love just me?"  I say, "you mean, does Jesus love only you?"  I look at her scrambling for how to respond in the moment, and say,  " Yes, Jesus loves especially you and God also loves especially me and mommy and daddy and even your unicorn right here!"  Then she giggles and suddenly turns goes to sleep.

Wow! That was so cute, and also such an important moment...  Did I miss an opportunity?  Should I have said something about Jesus loving her so much that he died for her?   No, how thrilling for her to accept Jesus' love for her, purely and unconditionally?

I'm going to believe that she did that, by the smile on her face and her acceptance of that simple fact, Jesus is real.  God loves her without question or analysis like her not much older cousin who is already coming up with questions like, I thought Jesus is God? How can He be the son of God?

But that is another story!

2018 resolutions... same every year!!

Why do our resolutions seem the same every year?  To me it's not that I break them but that I'm not there yet.  So, I write the same things but put them at the end and write some new ones first.

This year I first made a list of the things that gave me joy in 2017 and there were many that I did on purpose.
Then I thought I should make a list of the things that let me down or made me negative but NO!  those times I offered up and prayed.  Those things just ARE... no control... can't dwell on them.
They are times of not being able to "do" anything to make it better.  But knowing God with me and in me and God with him and in him (Don) to give strength and comfort.

Choose a word - NURTURE
be kind
be help
be positive
be accepting
be inspiring
be giving
be loving
be present

Relaxing, healthy, happy

Shake off the negativism around me

Focus again on doing - new things for my Swimming

46 Years Married - So I wrote a poem!

 We got married September 4, 1971

YOU NEVER DID THAT BEFORE!

Our love is ever new.

Even after years with you,

There is always more to discover

And so much more joy

To give one another.

What can I do

To make our love grow?

It’s in the giving

That love really shows.

To feel so uncertain

And yet take the risk…

To be understood and needed

Is my only wish.

The comings and goings

In every direction

Hugging and kissing…

More I can’t mention.

We listen and wait

To share with each other

We put aside our busy-ness…

You’re never a bother.

Accepting the moods

Of silence and caring,

We try to make better

Each frustration together.

When you tell me your problem,

You allow me to be

Your healing and soothing, 

 A mystery to me.

When we feel all stressed out

And just want to scream

We take off together

Refreshing our dreams.

I want you to be happy

In each daily chore

And to feel so fulfilled

That you’ll want to do more.

When I wake up happy,

You don’t give me a frown.

When I share my schemes,

You don’t put me down.

You open my Spirit;

You stir up the Power;

God’s Love we can be…

Everywhere, every hour.

Thank You, God, Thank You

That we have each other.

Thank You for making us

To love one another.

Mami Is Gone to Heaven

My mami gave up the fight

We were at the same time glad and sad.
I miss her each and every day
wanting to share with her my joys and my cares.

 Liquidating her estate was not easy to do
Florida laws have so many rules and paperwork to follow through
There are six of us sisters who had to sign all the papers
The house had to sell and we split her many memories

The memorial service was a solace for all
Remembering her joy of life and family love

Many people came to show us they care 

They wanted to hug and kiss and share

Months later we came together again

Her ashes to the ocean with praises acclaim

A spiritual experience to remember her by

Her ashes to Cuba under the sky.

We cried and we loved 

each other better to be 

our Mom and Dad together

In heaven we'll see.

    OBITUARY OF MARIA LUISA S. GASTON

María Luisa Sánchez Gastón, passed away peacefully to New Life in God on June 27^th, 2016 at her home in North Lauderdale, Florida. We celebrate her 93 years of a life full of love and joy.

Born in Havana, Cuba, on December 5^th 1922, she was the daughter of Bernabé Sánchez Culmell of Camaguey, Cuba, a cattle rancher and Senator for the Republic, and Ana María Maciá Barraqué, well respected in Cuban society, who raised Maria Luisa and her 3 brothers. Maria Luisa married Melchor Gastón Segrera, manager of El Dolores sugar mill in Matanzas, Cuba, and with him raised 6 daughters, living in Havana, and during the milling months in the Sugar Mill, where she worked in church and in the clinic to care for the workers’ families. 

They left Cuba in 1960, and after 3 years in Miami settled in Milwaukee, where she lived committed to her family and to her church. In 1980 Melchor retired and they moved to North Lauderdale, Florida. In 1986 she lost her beloved husband Melchor with whom she had shared 44 years of married life. Maria Luisa became an active volunteer with the Senior Club, the Friends of the Library and at her parish, where she took communion to the sick and worked faithfully every Saturday at the Thrift Shop. She loved painting, gardening, and collecting shells, and was skilled at many arts and crafts, which she shared with daughters and grandchildren. Dancing and playing dominoes were other fun activities she enjoyed with family and friends.

  

In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her brothers Bernabé Sánchez Maciá (2011) and Fernando Sánchez Maciá (2016). She is survived by her youngest brother Federico Sánchez Maciá and Marta Baró, and by Raquel Hevia and Ana María (Anuka) Gamba, widows of brothers Bernabé and Fernando respectively. 

She is also survived by her six daughters: Ana María McKee, Cristina (Juan) Sollosso, María Luisa Gastón, Beatriz (Don) Skeens, Margarita (Kevin) Jenson, and Maria Teresa (John) Gastón-Witchger; her 15 grandchildren: Cristi-Mari, Brian, Alicia, Helen, Mel, Beth, Julia, Felipe, Angela, Kevin, Martín, Faith, Joshua, Luke, Abraham; and 25 great-grandchildren; many cousins, nieces and nephews, and loving friends. 

A Memorial Mass to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday July 16^th, at 11:30 am at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 1400 South State Road 7 (also called Route 441), North Lauderdale, Florida 33068. The Mass will be followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. We will share pictures, display some of her paintings and tell stories of her wonderful life. All are welcome.

Special thanks are due to friends of the Senior Center, staff of the Adult Day Care and of Catholic Hospice at home, and her helpful neighbors and home care aides (Karen, Sharon, Carmen, Lis, Maria del Carmen, María and Gladys) whose excellent help enabled us to keep Mom at home, as was her fervent wish, and together with her family, accompanied Mom in these last months of her life.

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to make a donation to honor her memory: Las Esclavas in Caibarién, Cuba, or the Families of Gaston’s “Dolores Sugar Mill”, or Caritas Cuba - Holguin. Please write the check to Maria Luisa Gaston, and in the “Memo” line, write your donation choice. We will collect and use appropriate channels to get the money to the right place. Address for donations: Maria Luisa Gaston, 7411 S.W. 11^th Court, North Lauderdale, Florida, 33068. 

Sanchez family Ancestry - by Maria Luisa Gaston y Sanchez

This page is dedicated to our Sanchez Family Reunion 2017 at the Beachcomber Resort and Villas.  The facebook page has pictures and family information.

Facebook page Sanchez Family Reunion 2017

This is the new  Sanchez Ancestry - written by Maria Luisa Gaston y Sanchez

The names and addresses of the family will be emailed individually to those that request it.

Mom's Fighting the Battle with Old Age - and losing

Mami, my Mommy

How sad it is to see you grow old.

I feel it beginning as my joints hurt and I can't do what I used to do.

I know that you are crying inside for what you used to be 

How hard it must be to know but not be able to do

To want to eat but have to spit out. To have no taste

To be thirsty but not be able to swallow

To feel pain that does not stop

To want to go the usual way but to have no control of it

To want to share yourself but cannot speak

But I am glad that you can still do this:

You can say my name

And you can smile

And you can love

My Mami has Dementia

My Mami has Dementia 

My mami has dementia

she’ll never be the same again

she’s happy when she’s having fun

and always wins at games

She lives in/for the present moment 

and is not aware of time

obsesses on what she wants to do

and always wants her way

She makes up stories and believes them

will not admit she’s wrong

never wants to say, I’m sorry

throws a tantrum to express her way

Possessive, she won’t share her things

not trusting, she won’t accept the new

forgets when she hurts others feelings

believes herself and not what others say

She wants to keep her independence

and won’t admit her needs

not want to bathe or brush her teeth

will wear the same clothes every day

She hides her stuff and then denies it

fears people will take her things

she is afraid that we will leave her

that one day she will lose her way

No matter how my mami is  

she’s loved me all my years

I'll always do my best for her

like she always did for me 

50 years ago!

I wrote this while spending a week taking care of my mother.  She's had dementia for some years but still lives in her own house.

Read this other post I wrote about how we took away her car at 90 years old!! http://filledwithretirement.blogspot.com/2013/05/90-and-with-dementia-means-no-more_8.html

2014 You won't believe what happened to me!

My year Reflection 2014

2014 has come and gone. 

It went so fast, and yet so slow

with three surgeries on my bones. 

The hip replacement was my choice because of all the pain

But both my wrists! I did not want, how silly that I fell. 

Some scary time recovery is, because there's no control.  

Tired, frustrated, and disabled, it's normalcy I miss. 

I read more books this year than ever, with so much time to spare.  

Some helped me grow in health and spirit 

and some were just to cheer me. 

Because I could not hold a book my audiobooks were many. 

 I'd fall asleep with earbuds on, the timer set for thirty. 

I tried to think no scary thoughts, I could not use my hands.  

And now I’m thankful and rejoice to brush my teeth, and use my pens.

The nurse and cook this year was Don, 

he missed his fishing with all the chores.  

Supporter and encourager, he helped me, loving me and more!

And now, I pray for health and fun, 

with blessings and graces as this year comes. 

No doctor’s visits please, for me or Don and all of mine. 

There's more to share and do and care, 

we thank you God for a year of prayer!

Saving Sand dollars and Horseshoe crabs

This Spring we spent some time at our condo on the beach at St. Simons Island.

We found one!

I took pictures of how to find sand dollars and olive shells buried under the sand so that you can find time the next time you go. 

This is the track the the olive shell leaves on the sand.  The olive is a very shinny shell and very beautiful!

 Here is the sand dollar track on the sand.  Always throw them back in!

washing the sand dollar enjoy it and then throw it back in!

digging the sand dollar

---------------------------
I thought this was 2 conchs in the sand, instead found a horseshoe crab buried in the sand.

That day was a treasure for discoveries!  We found 8 other horseshoe crabs on a sandbar and we thought they would die in the sun so we dug them up and carried them to the water.

We also found 1/4 of a leatherback turtle washed up on the sand that was obviously hit by a boat.  It was so sad.  We called the DNR and they came and took it for research.

Every time we go to St. Simons is a wonderful time!  

When we have good weather!

Does your child love going underwater?

We are all getting ready for a fun Summer and swimming is a big part of it.

I made this video last year about my grandchildren as we swam underwater together. 


I was a swimming teacher for so long - I guess a swimming teacher is always a swimming teacher.  I am so passionate that when I am in any pool, I try to teach any child that is around me.  Some parents let me, some give me dirty looks.  My daughters always ask those parents to forgive me because I can't help myself!

This weekend, my (just) 4 year old granddaughter in the video who has been going to the pool with me all winter and did fine yesterday, swallowed some water at her other grandparent's pool.  My daughter called me in a panic because now she won't even go back in the water.   Well, I'm not there and they said that they tried all the games that we've done before.  I even talked with her on facetime and she sadly looked at me and said "I don't know" when I asked her why she didn't want to swim.  It's hard when they swallow water.  

I remember my dad throwing me in the pool when I was 4...

What do you think???

It's not easy to do it yourself because you think that you might hurt your child or if you do it wrong your child will never like the water - but it's worth the risk! YOU can benefit from the wonderful experiences in the water and you are teaching your child a life skill.

Here is a more recent video of my newest grandson, 5 month Parker, learning to enjoy underwater.

What about the "doer" who is retired?

As I reflect on my goals and achievements being retired, I see that I can’t evaluate my life the in the same way.  Now my goals are not so much in the doing, but in the fun of living and being there for those I love.  It is in our health and our energy and desire to continue on this path.  What is this path?  It involves freedom and relaxation, but of a different kind.  Freedom always meant to me that I could do what I wanted, now I also want a freedom to do what others want of me, some of the time anyway.  I still need a freedom to be who and what I want to be and to become.  I see that I continue to change and become in ways that I never saw for me.  Well, that is not so different from what everyone else wants...

What about relaxation?  By this, I mean, relaxation from stress and conflict.  But, isn’t that also what most people want?  I used to embrace stress and used it to accomplish more.  Now, I hide from stress and get grouchy, when it interferes with my plans.  Before, I used to think of relaxation as the time that I would sit and do nothing - like on the beach or to read a book in the middle of the day.  Now, I want to do everything relaxed - not hurry - or with a deadline.  I used to like the pressure of having to do too much.  Now I’m finally learning that I can relax in my half-finished projects because I don’t have to put a deadline on them and can just let them sit there “para mañana."  But it's not easy; a part of me still craves to work on them and to be able to finish any one of them now!  I think Yoga has helped me with this because at these times I catch myself breathing deeply :) 

Now, living a RELAXED, STRESS-FREE LIFE does not mean I want to live a SLOW LIFE.  I want my days to be full and busy, I feel lost if I am not focused, or if I just wait to see what the day will bring.  I have always been a doer and want my life to flow.  Maybe I haven’t changed so much, only now that I am retired, I am able to do more, yet not everything - because I know that “everything" will never get done.  I don’t know if that is the same for everyone, it’s not something that people talk about.  Do others have these same conflicts?  

I never did write New Year's Resolutions for 2014…  because that was always just one more thing to plan for and do, so even in April, I say, NOT YET!

My new grandson and Baby Jesus

When I hold my new grandson, Parker, I think of baby Jesus and think they must have been very much alike.  
     Parker gets these intense looks; when he smiles with his eyes closed I just know he is having heavenly thoughts.  He doesn’t just smile with his mouth, even his skin gets soft. 
          Then suddenly, his whole face frowns, or he gets the lower lip and I think that he already knows that not all of life is going to be flowers and blue sky.  
                 When he opens his eyes and looks at me, it’s like he sees right through me, his face lights up and I feel love and love him right back.  

I wonder at his “specialness,” but aren’t all babies special?  I’m sure that Jesus had this same glow, or did he have more?  How special was baby Jesus?  I sure would love to know.

Bella's Fish - Dead or Alive?

I am so excited to share with you my new imovie!  Take one minute to laugh while you watch Bella playing with a dead fish on the beach!  Funny!    
Please share it with your friends...

Hilarious video of my one year old grandchild, Bella, playing with a fish in a tidal pool on St. Simons Island.  

She tries to pick it up and carry it, putting her finger in her mouth.  

My grandson caught the fish and we put it in the water.  I could not believe it when she tried to pick it up.  So glad that I had my ipad with me.  I took 25 minutes of video used the best of it.  I have an extended version.  Email me if you want the link to that one.

 Look for more videos at youtube.com/SwimWithMissBea  

Funny things happen on vacation?  

Be sure that you let me know how you like it!