Hi everyone, this blog is from the heart and I hope you can join in and share with me. There were some beautiful ladies in Miami Shores and the surrounding communities that would organize a Christmas Coffee every year on the first week of December. They would have a couple of women talk about a life changing experience and how they had found God. When I first heard about it I was a little skeptical but that all changed when I attended my first one. The whole point of the coffee was to help you focus on the things that really matter, to help you realize the true meaning of Christmas, and to put things in perspective. Although they have not had a Christmas Coffee in a couple of years, I still sit down to reflect every year.
Right after Thanksgiving many of us start running like crazy making holiday gift lists, going to the mall, shopping on-line, getting our nails and hair done for holiday parties, buying holiday attire for those parties, getting lights, trees and decorations up, organizing parties of our own - IT'S MADDENING!!
This year was no different, except, as many of you know, my dad had been diagnosed with cancer 8 months before and he was having surgery on December 4th. The great news is that my dad is officially in Remission. What better Christmas gift than that could I have ever wished for?
My dad is not a very religious man, but everyone I know has been offering prayers for him. On the day of his first operation, he grabbed my hand before going into the O.R. and said - "Please pray for me". As I am writing this, I have tears in my eyes, because I had never heard my dad say that. I thank you all for the beautiful wishes, I thank you all for the prayers, and most of all, I thank God for giving me the best gift ever.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU......and have faith.......reflect on your good fortune.......reflect on what surrounds you......take the time to look around and realize how blessed we really are.
Thank you so much for sharing. I am glad your Dad is doing well and may God grant you many more years together in good health. Spoil you Dad!
Your positive thoughts have worked! I'm so happy for you and your Dad.
Now about those boys...what cuties! You are truly blessed, in more ways than one. I'm glad to see you appreciate what is important.
kk
Carole - I could not have asked for anything better - the three boys have huge dimples - people call them "dimple boys"
Kristal - I totally agree - you have to be positive and you have to have faith. And thanks for stopping by, it means a lot to me.
Melissa - 12 years cancer free! That is so awesome, I'll have my dad read this - thank you!
Virginia - miracles do happen every day, a lot of us don't notice them - we have to be generous to God an to the world.
Marti - those Christmas Coffee were so meaningful - and at the end, there was a lady that would sing with a heavenly voice that would give you goosebumps and leave you teary eyed. Definitely a great tradition. Maybe they will read this and start doing them again.
Dena - it's great to share the good news with friends.
Rick and I are preparing a special dinner tonight with champagne to celebrate.
"The Lovely Ines"
We both know that this goes deeper than 'wishful' thinking. This is a direct result of all the prayers that were lifted for you and your family.
Can I prove that? No. I don't have to. I am talking about God. I have faith and I know in my heart that God was listening when we all prayed for you. :)
This news made my day and reaffirms my belief that God does listen when we pray for others and ourselves. :)
Thank you for letting us know. It is always nice when God answers our prayers through someone else it reaffirms our belief that's there's more to life than wishful thinking. :)
TLW "The Lovely Wife"...Why. Yes. We All Got Together And Prayed For Ines And Her Father. ROAR!
Ines, I just could NOT let that picture hide in the shadows. I fixed it for you.
Let me know if you want me to send you the file.
Ok, first I fixed the picture... then I went back and ACTUALLY READ your blog. Then I teared up.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Me
Craig - thanks for the handy touch-up. I teared up too. And I eat quiche. In fact, the wife is fixing some as we speak!
Rich - your words mean so much to me - thanks so much for your phone call too and I will add you and your family to our prayers.
TLW- We have to believe, we have to have faith, and we have to recognize the power of both.
Craig - you are the bomb! I need to get me some Photoshop. I would love for you to e-mail me the new and improved picture with the "Craig" touch - Merry Christmas (my e-mail is Ines@YourPropertyPros.com)
Rich - you lost me - what does quiche have to do with tearing up? Is there something I should know?
Your support and kind words mean so much to me - I wish you all the best and a very Merry Christmas as good as mine.
Ines - this is just a beautiful piece of news to hear about your dad being in remission!! How very special for all of you - prayers answered and at this time of year as well.
Quiche & tearing up - REAL MEN!! ;-)
Craig - what a gift you gave with editing that wonderful picture!!! You rock!
Feliz Navidad, Ines
Ann
My prayers are with you and your Pops. He looks great by the way!
Noel
Ann - thanks so much - it really is a FELIZ NAVIDAD in the true meaning of it.
Noel - Noel, prayers is what the whole world is. I pray eveyday that people affected like my dad is, have the same outcome, we need to have FAITH. Thanks for stopping by and I really appreciate the prayers.
Ines.... I am not going to read all the comments, because I am pressed for time. But I am glad everything has worked out. I remember talking to you when you got the news... and then I heard from someone else a week later, that there was great news. That's awesome... and yes, what a great GIFT going into the holidays....
Yes, great kids... cuties...
Happy Holidays to you and your family.... and a Safe & Happy New Year..
Thank you Jeff - have an awesome holiday as well!
Ines
Gracias a Dios, Ines.
The power of prayer is astounding.
Feliz Navidad a usted y su familia
Brian - I had no idea you spoke Spanish!! Thank you so much for your good wishes and I totally agree. Feliz navidad para ti tambien.
I speak Spenglish, which is almost Spanglish, which is a far cry from Spanish..but I'm learning. Hopefully I'll be conversant by April, 2007. I just try to practice when I can.
Su Padre es bien. Un regalo de Dios!
Thanks for the wishes.
Have a Very Merry Christmas from my family to you and yours!
Peter, thanks so much for the nice wishes, our Christmas is already the BEST EVER!!!
May you and your family have an awesome Christmas as well.
Ines and Rich
What a wonderful story. And I am so glad your dad is okay. I know the feeling. Just to let you know, there is a saying that "real men don't eat quiche", which is why Rich Jacobson said his eyes were tearing and he does eat quiche. Since "real men don't cry" The point being that "Real men do both"
You have such an attractive family, count your blessings and believe in the power of prayer!
Karen, thanks so much for clearing that up. Although I've been in this country for over 25 years, there are some sayings that just go over my head like "real men don't eat quiche" - NOW I GET IT!!!
Thank you also for the good wishes - the power of prayer has no limits.
Ines, Rick, Gabriel, Diego & Rocco: Podran imaginarse la alegria que sentimos por tan fabulosa noticia. Hace unos minutos ientras abria tu blog, estaba Douglas hablando con Christian y nos dice que Pelusa estaba hablando con Pilar y recibiendo la buena nueva. Gracias a Dios!! siempre nos ayuda en los momentos dif'iciles y normalmente nos hace tantos milagros que debemos agradecerle mucho y entregar un poco a los que nos rodean. Se bien cuan felices deben estar todos. Nosotros tambien. Tenemos Ivor para rato!!... Y que suerte para la gente de New Orleans!!! Un besote para todos y un apurrunio para esos hijos tan bellos y felices.
Rosa and Douglas are dear friends of ours and live in Venezuela - to my huge surprise they were not afraid to comment on the good news about my dad - Gracias Rosa & Douglas - los quiero mucho!!
I had to edit this comment but did not want to delete it because it meant so much to us that they commented on this post.