"Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow." 

  ~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

I am thankful to be the person that I am today and for  the opportunity to better myself tomorrow.

 

 

It's the moment when you recognize that you are more than the moment. You are bigger and stronger than any challenge that life could ever throw at you.  Today I am thankful for challenges that make me stronger.  Things have definitely been challenging for us lately and I have to remind myself that it's those times when things are uncomfortable or hurt that we are about to grow.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
                                      from the Guinto's

When you count your blessings it adds up to thankfulness.

 

Today was one of my favorite days of the year.  Every year I serve Thanksgiving dinner to Las Vegas homeless Vets at the Elk's Lodge.  It's truly remarkable to see how appreciative and thankful  the Vets are for our food and service.  All the while, we should be the one's thanking them.  It humbles me to see that they have so little or nothing yet are so grateful.

Lessons to be learned from today:  the little things and the little moments...aren't so little. Less really can be more.  Too often we struggle with the complexities in life and avoid the simplicities.  Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

Thank you Las Vegas Vets for your gratitude and to the Elk's lodge for allowing me to participate every year. 

Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires. 

~ Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching 

 

Today I am thankful that Kadence's hair is starting to grow

                          I can't wait to put it up in pigtails!

Things we can learn from a dog

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face be pure ecstasy.

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps and stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something your not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when  a simple growl will do.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you are scolded, don't give into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

..............................................................

I am thankful for the two greatest dogs on earth that help make our house feel like a home.

Riley Jo 7yrs, chocolate Lab and Lexie Rae 5yrs, yellow Lab

Let me introduce you to the joy in our life.....

Kadence Shiree....Thank you for making us smile.  You bring such joy and laughter to our lives.  You make us better people, parents.

We Love You!!!!

"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness." ~Seneca

Thank you to the random lady in front of us in the Starbucks drive thru who bought our coffee this morning!! 



 

Well...

We did four days of Potty training and have decided to hang the potty up for a while.  Kadence learned a lot and so did I.  She knows what she needs to do but just doesn't want to do it.  And, why would she do it herself when it's so easy to have mommy and daddy do it for her?  I am thankful Kady had  no mess too messy for me to clean!   Stay tuned for round two.

Next month...

HAPPY VETERANS DAY 

to my hero....

My Husband!

Dominic Guinto USMC

Marlon, Tom, Dominic

I love you and am proud of all your accomplishments!

Thank you for all you do...your dedication, love and support for our family.

Out of Darkness

A girlfriend and I participated in the Out of Darkness charity walk for suicide prevention and awareness Sunday.  It was a very emotional and touching day for me.  My brother lost his best friend two years ago to suicide and one of my dearest friends lost her brother this past March to suicide.  It seemed fitting that I help support this cause.  So we walked in honor of my brother's best friend Jeremy and my best friend's brother Ramon.  May they both Rest in Peace.

The opportunity and ability to  participate in events such as this, to help make a difference in a persons life is a privilege not a duty and for that I am thankful.  

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver." ~Maya Angelou

While there, one mother shared a very disturbing story with us about her daughter Suzy who had committed suicide 6yrs ago in college at the tender age of nineteen.  

Long story short.....

Suzy had turned to an online suicide group disguised as a chat room which helped her end her life not save it.  This one predator in particular befriended Suzy, became a surrogate father to her in a way and told her the only way out of her depression was to kill herself.  He then proceeded to teach her how to write and send a suicide note so it wouldn't be received too promptly therefore avoiding any interruption of her ending her life.  He also told her how to obtain cyanide and what the lethal dose would be...this is how her life ended.  You'll be amazed to know that Suzy's predator has had 32 "success" stories, a 17yr old child at the time of Suzy's death and will not pay for anything he has done because he is protected by "freedom of speech."  

Suzy's parents are now trying to pass Suzy's Law H.R. 853 making it a crime to use the internet to assist people in committing suicide.   To read more on the life of Suzy and join the thousands helping make this bill a law please visit:    

www.suzyslaw.com

My favorite part of the day is....

when Kadence and I first wake up in the morning. We spend an hour laying in bed snuggling, hugging and kissing.  I am thankful for the gift of time and this time that I get to spend with her.

I love my bug!!

As I sit here messing around with my blog trying to figure out how exactly to work this site making a more creative and pretty looking blog page, I am overcome with an extreme sense of gratitude. Watching Kadence play in the living room, feeling Zoe kick away inside my tummy, waiting for my honey to come home and listening to the two best dogs in the world snore at my feet are just a few of the reasons why I am so grateful. I feel blessed that Dominic has been able to provide for us in a way that allows me to stay home with our daughter. I could NEVER thank him enough. Sometimes it's easy to get distracted with doing other things. An adult can only sing their ABC's, watch Elmo or play with baby dolls so much in a day. It's my promise to my husband, myself and our daughter's not to take for granted what I've been given or this opportunity to spend every waking hour of the day with them. Thank you God for this wonderful life you have given me!!

Now...I could only be more grateful if I could figure out what to make for dinner!

Fall is my all time favorite time of year.  I love every thing about it.  Breathing the crisp air, watching the leaves change color, lighting a warm fire, smelling the lit candles, snuggling under a warm blanket, spending time with friends and family, eating Turkey, putting up the Christmas tree, giving gifts, the fact that I don't have to worry about swimsuit season for another 6 months!  The list could go on and on.  This time of year always seems incomplete for me without taking a moment of reflection or several.  This month I'd like to share all aspects of my life that I am thankful for as I blog for there are many of them.

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!"  ~Amanda Bradley

Halloween was a blast!! The weekend started off with Dom's 40th very merry un-birthday party Friday night. It was a mad hatter themed party and every one dressed up in Alice in Wonderland costumes. Of course he was the Mad Hatter himself and I, the Queen of Hearts. We sure had a lot of fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOMINIC

Saturday night we took Kadence out trick or treating for the first time. Getting out of the house was a little bit challenging but once we were out, we had a blast. Her exact words for "trick or treat" were "tricky B" She is still saying it today...too cute.

Fall Fun

We did a lot this past weekend...Took Kadence to the Farm to pick out pumpkins, we checked out the historic site at Thule Springs and did the Springs Preserve Haunted Harvest all in one day. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy...

Kady Update

Tomorrow we have a follow up with Kady's G.I Doctor.  We go every month for a follow up but tomorrow we should be getting results of a second opinion.  I'm not sure if I shared with you all already, but her doctor sent biopsies from her colonoscopy and endoscopy off to Cincinnati Children's Hospital.  Apparently they are the leading Hospital for research of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in the country.  I'm anxious to see if they have found anything different.  Always hoping for an easy find, easy fix.

I'm going to take Kadence to the circus this afternoon.  Dad's out of town, so it'll be a girls day out.  I personally have a fear of clowns and therefore am NOT a fan of the circus, but I'm going to brave it anyway.  A couple of my girlfriends will be joining us and my friend and her daughter as well.  I'm excited to see how Kady will react to it all which will be worth all the torturous clown hell I'm about to put myself through.  I think she's going to dig it!

Dominic and I have officially decided on a name for our daughter to be =o)

Coming this February, Zoe Joelyn Guinto will become an official part of the family.

I can't wait to meet her!

This kid sure knows how to put a smile on your face.  

My nephew Riley 3yrs.

It's a Girl!

...and now for a name.

Skimming through a friend's blog, I realized just how much I've neglected ours. I guess I never put too much time or effort into it to begin with. I'm hoping that's going to change. I really do think it's a neat idea on a much more personal level. You'll have to be patient with me as I update and try to remember how to navigate through it.

I'll be back soon.

Today you would have been 1....

Happy Birthday Ethan!

THE BIG NEWS.....

Dominic and I are expecting baby #2 February 27, 2010.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Pictures by Sarah Graczyk

We have been doing a ton of traveling this summer.  I love to travel and enjoy the experiences with friends and family. It seems that no matter where you go or what happens to you when your there, your travels give you a story tell.  I hope that some day our travels will take us over seas.

"A travel adventure has no substitute. It is the ultimate experience, your one big opportunity for flair."~Rosalind Massow

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism ~~

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

 

Picture of the day

Seaside, Oregon

Congratulations Lance and Nicole.
Making memories that will last a lifetime!! 

6/26/09

Let's see....
 
The past couple of months have been a little bit crazy to say the least. We just got back from a 3 week excursion. First stop, was Boise, ID. Dom's company (Sunset Racing Events) put on the Boise 70.3, a half Ironman distance triathlon. The following weekend we were an hour north of Boise in Garden Valley, ID where his company again put on another HUGE event. This would be a weekend long event (3days) called the PRE which stands for the Payette River Experience. It started on Friday and ended Sunday. There were kayaking and rafting races, bungee surfing, running and Mtn. biking race also trap shooting and fly fishing competitions. They also had a huge expo set up with different vendors, massages, wine tastings etc. My parents were able to make it down and my dad and I entered the fly fishing competition. Neither one of use caught a fish...Grr! It was fun anyways. We had a blast with Dom's nephew Alexander who came out for the week to work with Dom. The 3 of us spent a day white water Kayaking...what a BLAST!!! We talked about how much fun we had for 2 days straight. After the PRE, we began our two day drive through Oregon to the coast for my brother Lance's wedding. That also was a ton of fun! Kady loved the beach and the carousel (kind of) and it was great to spend so much time with all of my family. We then drove home through California spending the first night with my Uncle in Redding and the 2nd night camping in Yosemite National Park. We are planning another camping trip in Yosemite since we didn't get to see any of the cool stuff we wanted. Besides it's breathtakingly beautiful. Our last day was spent driving through Death Valley @ 120*...Ouch! It also was beautiful in a baron, desolate kind of way. I'd love to drive back through again in the Spring when the flowers are in bloom. Kadence was a CHAMP!! We drove multiple 7 hour days and she couldn't have been better or more patient (wherever she got that from *wink*). So, that brings us to the night we arrived home and...well, I can't share the rest just yet but I'll keep you posted =o) As for now, it's back to laundry and more packing. We are off to spend the week in Myrtle Beach with Dom's parents. Can't wait!!!

Much Love <3