Christmas time

Christmas time is the most beautiful early memories of my life and I have been doing my best to give my child the same beautiful memories. It is to believe in santa.

Joseph with Santa

Joseph is 10 years old now. He stills believes in Santa and Elf.  I remember when Joe was very young and not yes, how to write a letter to Santa, he used to draws the pictures of what he wanted to get and always tries to catch Santa. Even though time has passed, he still tries to catch Santa on Christmas night.

On December 1, Elf comes into our house until Santa comes and then Elf goes with him. There are 25 days that I have to move Elf and write back Joseph all the letter he writes to Elf. I have to make sure that he sleeps before I move Elf. Sometimes it takes a long time to for Joseph to fall asleep because he tries to catch Elf moving around the house. It is really fun and I enjoy that beautiful innocent part of him.

This year my job became more difficult because some of Joseph's classmates told him that Elf does not exist; that it is your parents who move Elf .

When Joseph came home, he asked me just like this, "Mom tell me the truth. Tell me the truth. Do Santa and Elf really exist?". I was not expecting this question.  So I asked him back, "Why are you asking me that question? You know that mom believes in Santa and Elf. And mom also believes in Jesus and God! There are some people who do not believe in anything.  Do you believe in Jesus?  Do you believe in God? Do you believe mom or in your friend who told you that Santa does not exist? You know that your dad doesn't believe that Jesus is God's son?"

Joseph said, "Yes mom, I believe in Jesus, God, Santa, Elf, and you mom."

That was my luck, because he knows that his dad's religion does not believe in many things that we believe. Just like the little boy in his class does not believe in Santa and Elf like we do.

But since then, Joseph has been trying to catch Santa and Elf. He started comparing my hand writing with the Elf's. Now I have to ask some one else to write the letter instead of me but I still have a lot of fun. Sometimes it will take him a long time to find Elf and he asks me to help him look.

One time Joseph asked me why he's never seen God, how can he know that God exists. Why has he never caught Santa or Elf, he asked. I told him to pick a cup with water and put some sugar in. After,  I asked Joseph if he could see the sugar in the water. Joseph said that he did not see the sugar in the water. I asked if he believed that there is sugar there. He said, "Yes, I am the one who put the sugar there." So I said, "God is here with us, but we can't see him just like we can't see the sugar that you put in the water. God give a Santa and Elf some of the power at Christmas so the children can have beautiful magic moments.

I don't know how much longer he will believe in Santa. I know that he is growing up and soon he will know the truth. But the memories we've made will stay with him for the rest of his life. And hopefully, he will continue our tradition with his children many years from now.

 Joseph was getting his first bible

Love You Joseph

My dad and I

I always love you dad!

My dad was a hardworking man who had lived his life in the simplest way. I always remember him as an older man with his white hair and sweet smiles, because that was the only way I had ever seen him. I miss my dad so much. My dad wasn't educated man, but he was one of the most clever men I have ever know. His ability of solve poblems, his command and love over us, my sisters, my brothers, and me. His words were more valuable than a man's signature. I will never forgot the way he used to deal with us. He was a wonderful father to all 18 of us. 

Me

My dad

My dad was 34 years older than my mom. I never saw him as a young man, so I keep in mind the      way I had always seen my lovely father. His attitude, his mood, his nature. My dad was a man of great character. He never gave up on anything he wanted. He used to get up very early in the morning, work all day, talking with all his friends, and enjoying his life with all of us.

My dad was the only one who could tell the difference between my sister Lirane and me over the phone. Lirane and I have the same type of voice, and if we talk on the phone with someone, the person can never tell which of us is calling. But my Father knew his children.

My father's health began to deteriorate with many diseases. He was diagnosed with diabetes, a heart problem, and a kidney problem. I remember one time, my dad stayed at hospital in intensive care for 21 days, after he had a heart surgery. I was young, but I remember how afraid we were of losing him. He surprised us by recovering and came back home. After this, his diabetes and kidneys got worse, it was necessary to remove one of his kidneys, and the one he was left with, only had 5% function.  My dad was in hemodialysis 3 days a week. His blood was removed, then filtered and returned to his body. My dad's courage was the most beautiful quality he had.

My dad!

My dad is no longer alive, his passed away at the age of 86, after battling for his life for a long time. 

One of the thins that made my dad so sad was having to be in the big city near the hospital after living his life on a small farm.  His dialysis was performed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. So every Friday afternoon,  he was discharged from the hospital, he traveled three hours back to our small town where he stayed until Sunday afternoon.  He spend this time with his friends and family.

 That was my father. a man with determination. He was honest, faithful, and devoted. I will always remember my dad's last smiles, our last hung, and our last conversation on the phone. I didn't get to say goodbye (adieu) to my father, because I was in the U.S.A. and at the time I was not legal in the country so I couldn't leave the U.S.A. because I was afraid of being banned when I flew back. It was very painful for me. I was crying, I just wanted had the opportunity to said goodbye ( adeus ) to my dad,  I wanted to kiss him, I wanted to cry on his body. I could not. Three years later, I was able to go into my native country and finally said ADEUS to my dad.

dad, you will be in my heart forever. I love you my father.

love you forever

Joseph

The people who influence made the difference in my life.

My life has been  influenced by people who have supported me in different ways. My mom, my best friend Fabio, the staff of the Valley Regional Adult Education, my husband, and my son.

Joseph, my boy



Fabio, Joseph, & our dog Chanel.

My Mom & Joseph!

My mom who I love so deeply has been one of the biggest influences in my life. She has been supporting me during my whole life. She always has been with me since I was born. My mother was the  one who taught me how to be a good person. Honesty, bravery, and loveliness were some of personalities a good person should always have, my mother said all the time.  She is  always  with me in my bad and good moments.

 She also taught me the importance of forgiveness. She is a lovely person and I am thankful to be her daughter. I will love my mom forever.

 

Joseph & me

   Fabio is my best friend since I came to the U.S.A.  He is a wonderful person with a good personality  and has been helping me always.  Our friendship is so strong that no distance or hurricane could end our friendship. 
  A Hurricane in this place means a big problem. We both are from the same country, Brazil, but from different states ,we have never met before we were in the USA. Fabio and I  are alike in many ways, and he has been  supporting me in such important  decisions in my life, such as when I got married, got pregnant, and  went back to school. Fabio is like my brother to me.  My husband  used to be against our friendship but after he began to know  Fabio, they both  became best  friends too. Fabio also is our son's Godfather. My husband and I agree that we had made a good choice by choosing Fabio to be our child's Godfather because Fabio loves Joseph and  Joseph loves Fabio.

 

Joseph my life!
Joseph you mean the world to me. I love you from the bottom of my heart.                                                            

The staff of the Valley Regional Adult Education have been the biggest support in my life since I moved to the State of Connecticut. I came here to learn English, and it was there that I had spent 6 years of my life. First English class and then my GED, it was from there that I got my GED diploma. I love all the time I had spent there. The teacher and all the Staff are really wonderful people. I appreciated all the help I got from the teachers in this long period of time. I am always going to be thankful to all.

Marge my wonderful GED teacher.







Linda wonderful teacher that helped me too,





The Valley Regional Adult Education  was like home for me.

The Director, Reina.
She is a wonderful person.
Thank you to all your support.

Lee Wolf & Johnna

 

 My husband had a wonderful participation in this progress in my life. Thanks to my husband who has sent me to school, so I could  learn English. He also sent me to driving school, so I could drive and continue getting education. My husband is one of the biggest supporters  in my life since we began  our relationship.  I love to add his picture in my blog, but I know, he didn't like to share his  picture. I  Love him in the deep of my heart.

 

My wonderful child.
My sunshine!

 

My Light!

 

 

My moom!

 

My life!



Joseph & Father Luis.

 

Joseph are the best gift God gave me.

 

Joseph is my little boy who has been  helping me a lot by correcting my English pronunciation. He is an amazing boy and always ready to help me when I need it.

I am always very grateful to all who had or have participated in my life with different mean, but all with the same positive mean. 

There is a lot more to be said, but it is locked in my world. 



The best decision I have ever made.

When I was 24 years old I got the best opportunity in my life. It was the opportunity to come to the USA. That was the biggest decision I had to make in my life. I left my family, friends, love in my Native country Brazil to a better life.

 

It was Dec. 4,1994 when I got my visa as a tourist. I stayed with my family until the day I travelled so I could be with them on of my birthday Dec. 14 and Christmas Day.  I left Brazil on Dec.30,96, and  arrived in New York on Dec. 31,96. It was a new beginning of a new year, a new country, and new   hopes.  
        

        I saw snow for the first time in my life and I was fascinated with it.

    

 

                                                           The Christmas decorations in Manhattan, New York City was the most beautiful and amazing that I had seen before. I love the way they decorate around the Holiday and I am going every year just to see this.  

                                                                                                                                                        I first worked as a babysitter and when I was feeling home sick for my native country, the children I was engaged to care for helped me keep going. They were lovely children and I stayed babysitting them until I got married and moved to state of Connecticut. 

                                                                                My marriage came with a new beginning and a big  chance for me. I went into school to learn English at  the Valley Regional Adult Education in Shelton, CT.  Later I decided to get my American  GED diploma. It was not easy for me, it took me long, but finally I got it, and I was so happy.


                             One of the best things that happened to me was when I got pregnant and blessed with a little boy who became everything to me. My sun, my moon, my air, my earth and my life. My son is the most beautiful gift God gave to me.  

                             
 Coming to the USA was the right thing To do. My life changed in a positive way, I was able to help my mother with some cash, learn English, and got my GED diploma. That means a lot to me. I  got my American Citizenship from my marriage, and was blessed with an wonderful child who mean the world to me. His name is Joseph.  I still have a long way to go, but coming to the USA  was my best choice, I love this country that did welcome me and  gave me many opportunities to improve myself in a positive way.