Anna M. Aquino

            A few days ago a dear friend of mine sent me an email because she knew someone who thought they saw me in Florida last weekend and she wanted to know if we were returning to FL.  Obviously it was a misunderstanding.  Jokingly but true, I do have a doppelganger who my sister has once met and I’ve ran into several who have known her over the years.  Her name is Annie and I’ve been joking that’s who was in FL last weekend.             Funny mishap as it may be, the whole thing got me thinking if I would ever return to Florida.  Even though it feels we have had a bit of a slow and bumpy start in Ohio, things are moving forward.  We know this is where God wants us to be at this time in our lives.  We’re members now at our church.  I’m enjoying living in a land with little to no humidity.  My skin and hair are thanking me for ...

As a country tomorrow, we will set back and enjoy our: turkey, stuffing and apple pie. We will stand in lines in the early hours on Friday to kick off the official start to the holiday season and get a good buy on a new gadget we cannot live without. I love the holidays. I love any excuse getting to visit my family and my Northern roots. I love the smell of snow in the air, and Christmas lights. I love spicy scented candles that linger in a firelight room. I love the smell of pine in wooden churches. I love celebrating Jesus’ birthday. I love the time of reflection and renewal. It is easy at the holidays to start to take stock of your life and reflect upon choices one has made. I can understand why people get the most depressed over the holidays. It is hard when you do not live around family, and your holiday meals are laden with memories of days gone by. The choices you have made or have not made are in direct reflection of where you are today. I made a commitment years ...