Family, Friends, Parenting

Guilty Pleasures

I’m confessing that I may be a little bit addicted to travel. There has to be a travel anon group out here somewhere.

I try to convince myself that I am not that bad when it comes to travel, because I have not been to too many places, but I know a great deal when I see one! When that opportunity comes; you need to be ready, willing and able!

Pop open the Moscato, because I am about to be MIA! Notice the MIA on the bottle of Moscato! I can’t make this stuff up! Lol

I have not traveled since my last fiasco in September when I left the DR and I am a little sad I am going to miss the infamous Be Mine Punta Cana group trip next month! But…

Ironically, being an anxious introvert, I have been looking, researching, and comparing travel packages in Jamaica, Tulum, Puerto Rico and I have even considered going back to Santo Domingo. This time, it’s going to be a new experience.

Planning to travel can be very challenging, in my opinion. Some travelers would leave it up the travel agents. I am determined to figure this out and to stay knowledgeable on how and when to travel. I have shared a lot of my secrets here on my blog on all the great travel deals I run across. It looks as if I hit the jackpot again!

Skyscanner is my best friend! This app manages to find great travel deals with many of the major airline carriers, except Southwest. I don’t know how they do it; but most of the time their information is very accurate.

When I ran across this flight from HOU to MIA, I just couldn’t believe my eyes. I had to dig a little further for more details and to determine what was the catch. I’m sure this deal is not for everyone, just the BASIC travelers like myself!

United ran a deal from HOU to MIA during Valentine’s week! It does require you to embark on an evening flight departure, but on the upside it’s nonstop, (approximately 2h25m ~so no long flights here.

I didn’t want to travel solo and I didn’t know who to tell!

Hmmmm… now who can travel during a weekday, take time off from work, pack a carryon bag and be ready to travel 2-weeks out for a trip to Miami?

Is it you?

I have not fully worked out the logistics yet; I am still raising teenage boys! How do I tell them Momma is going on vacation again? These guilty pleasures I am experiencing. Is this self love or selfishness?

When I woke up today, I was led to sit upon this hill and meditate. I had originally planned to relax in bed all day, but I got up anyway and made my way to the park with my yoga mat and my mother’s crocheted Afghan.

There is a deal out there for you! When the opportunity comes, I hope you don’t feel guilty about booking yourself a vacation, even if it’s a staycation, do it for yourself, because if you don’t, who will?

Until next time…

Shalom

Raquél

#guiltypleasuresmia #travel #dream #boulonhotels #skyscanner #thanksUnitedAirlines #ihopeiamnotatraveladdict #GodisGoodallthetime

#grace #mercy #justgrateful

Can you save yourself?

Lately I’ve been seeking God’s will because I want to know what God’s will is for me. Although I have been taught, I wanted to know for myself what the word says and what is true.

I searched scriptures relating to God’s will. He knows the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you and to give you hope and a future. Well, that is promising. We should also give thanks in all circumstances. Not a few, but all circumstances. That’s like saying, Thank you Lord, all day everyday.

He wants us to come to a knowledge of the Truth. What is truth to you?

Be Joyful!

Be Joyful today. I know it’s hard sometimes because of what you’re going through or being exposed to others suffering. All we can do is try to be joyful.

I was catching up on the world news this past weekend and discovered that a man who was residing in Puerto Rico committed suicide. He had gone without a sufficient supply of food, clean water and electricity. The very next day after he passed away, the electricity was restored to his home.

Lord, when we are suffering from a lack of food, clean water and electricity, how long can we hold on?

FEB 20 2018, 3:26 PM ET

Suicide rates spike in Puerto Rico, five months after Maria

BY NICOLE ACEVEDO

Click here to read the full article

The March For Our Lives took place on our nation’s capital and other states around the world to bring attention to the gun laws to prevent mass school shootings. There were some pretty impressive speeches and some peculiar things happening on that stage. This one student threw up in the middle of her speech and stated, “I just threw up and it feels great!” I didn’t know if she was nervous about speaking publicly or had a hangover!

Click here to see how she bounced back from vomiting!

On a personal note, our Family Church Fast is finally over. I probably lost five pounds so now I need to eat like 10x to gain the weight I lost. Lol God gave me a small frame. I was not trying to lose any weight but I was led to fast and pray. I have some major decisions to make and I want the Holy Trinity to lead me into making these decisions. Thy will be done. YHWH

My oldest son should be graduating this year, but has been borderline with his academic success. As a parent, I take full responsibility for his failures. Being a single mother has its full responsibility and my plate is full. One day at a time, they try to ensure me that they will get the job done. They tell me I worry too much. Ok but when it’s time to graduate and you do not make it across that stage to get your high school diploma, then who is the one going to be worried now? Get it done, son!

I received a text from my long term, overseas friend, mi novio, now currently my fiancé asking me if we are getting married in April. I am thinking to myself, why did he ask me that? I paused for a long time because I did not know how to respond to him. Only God knows the plans he has for us. It is up to us to be close enough in communion with HIM to follow his lead. I am only trying to be obedient to the call.

This entire process of trying to marry someone from another country has been challenging. I am trying to learn the correct process in how to get things done.

1. Papers Apostilled

2. Papers Translated

3. Civil Ceremony

4. Visa/Passport

5. Airline Ticket

I may try to visit the Consulate of the Dominican Republic- Houston this week. I never knew they had an office here until yesterday. Even going through this challenging process, the Lord reveals things to me little by little and bit by bit. That is why I love the Lord so much because He teaches me to depend on the guidance of the Holy Trinity. Even in something as trivial as this, despite everyone else’s turmoil and suffering, God Is Still Omnipresent! Powerful and Superior. It is His will that everyone is saved and that no one shall perish.

Turn to the Lord and Be Joyful!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Shalom

Love, Quél

Holy Week

I have the privilege to partake in the presence of the Holy Spirit daily, but during certain times of the year, there’s a special time set aside for worship, adoration, giving thanks, repentance, protection, and praise. We get the opportunity to go around this room and write down our thoughts and we pour out what’s in our minds and what’s on our hearts; not only for ourselves, but for those who are suffering, persecuted and or lost. I do not take this time for granted. I’m very grateful. I’m humble. An awesome place to be. Thank you.

Travel creates Happiness

Life has changed since I was 17!

I attended college immediately after high school. That experience of being independent from my parents was a culture shock, but it was also rewarding meeting new friends. I learned to depend on my roommates, my college sweethearts, to get me through my independence, but most importantly I had to learn to depend on myself.

I had to hold myself accountable for getting to my 8:00 am Business class on the other side of the campus. I did not pass that class my first semester. Luckily, I had some great friends who chose to succeed in college and I wanted to do the same.

Life changed after I finished my second year of college. My father passed away right before the summer I was scheduled to return. I couldn’t go back to that college. I decided I wanted to start working. I remember my mother and our cousin Robin helped me get my first apartment. It was so cute. I had thrift furniture. I can remember it being so economical and simple. It was mine! It was my responsibility. It was my happiness.

After waiting 14 years to marry the man I wanted to marry, I had 3 gorgeous sons. Blessed to be with the man I chose to spend the rest of my life with; I was happy. The Lord loved me enough to allow that matrimony. Thank you, Lord.

Life changed after Marcel passed away. I miss him, but I am still here trying to create my own happiness.

I begin to travel overseas and I met some new friends. Traveling makes me happy.

As my life continues to change, sometimes I stop and try to wait for someone to bring me happiness, but why wait for that when I can create my own happiness.

My time is now.

PUSH THROUGH #HOUSTON

My city has been through catastrophic flooding over the past couple of days. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes. Our convention centers have 9,000 people that need pillows, blankets, new packages of underwear because people left their homes with only one bag and have not been able to return to their homes. This is my retention pond near my house.

Schools will be closed until after Labor Day and parents are not able to commute to their jobs because our entire city has been inundated with water.

Rivers are expected to crest by Thursday or Friday and reservoirs and levees are being released slowly into our cities and small surrounding areas. Not only that it continues to rain daily.

Sorry for cutting off the photo credits. These photos are from a CNN article.

News Reporters are asking residents to stay put for the next 24 hours, but to also help in your nearby communities.

My sons and I are safe and will be out volunteering today at my church.

This too shall pass but Harvey will be moving along the coast with heavy rains towards Louisiana. I’m praying for the safety of everyone and please pray that we work together as a community and we can get back to our normal lives.

Trust and Believe that you will have what you need to get through life’s challenges!

President Trump, please do not come to TX empty handed. Most restaurants are still not operable, and grocery store owners are trying to manage the crowd by having people stand in line to get inside to buy food.

Have Mercy! 🙏🏽⚠️🚨🚣☔️

Telling white lies when my nerves are bad


There’s a new exquisite wine bar that just opened ten minutes from my place.  I tried to tell my sons a little white lie that I was going to the grocery store. Well, HEB is right next door!  What do you do when they say, “I want to go to the store too, Mom!”

Ok come on. Just drop me off at the wine bar, get the groceries and come back by and pick me up.

My nerves bad!  Lol 😂 It’s almost July!

New book release coming soon and I haven’t even set a date yet!  They better not splurge on my card at that grocery store either!!!

Until next blog!

Travel and learn a new language!

This Life


Life can be short, but I’ve lived long enough to know you gotta enjoy life while you can. 

Tried to get my sons out of the house to take care of business, but they don’t like hanging out with me unless I am taking them shopping. My feelings were hurt. Therefore I came to swing on my neighbor’s porch and noticed the cutest handmade flower 🌺 pot holders!

#AprilFoolsDay2017 

#Neighborlylove 

Family; you gotta love them anyway

This poem is from my first self published book, The Most Comfortable Love of All – The Poetry Journal its called “Chaotically”

 As I am home alone, in my place a settled home, I often think of my family living chaotically. To me is what I call it,

Confusion, 

Hate, 

Abolishment

Is what I would feel around me.

Oh God! I used his name,

To kill the hurt and pain

I felt many times before.

Come deliver me, so I can love my 

family; yet living chaotically.

Families should build each other up; not tear each other down. What do you do when the family unit begins to break down?

 #family #pray #thepoetryjournal

Purchase The Poetry Journal here