FELIZ NAVIDAD 2012
from the Rodriguez/Dominguez Familia
¡Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo! Que el amor y la paz de Jesús esté contigo y tu familia en esta temporada, por todo el año y toda la eternidad.
Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May the love and peace of Christ be with you and your family this Season, all year and for eternity.
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May whatever path brings you to these Holy Days be paved with empathy, care, and forgiveness for others – and self… May you find joy in this Season of Celebration… May you be wowed by the Spirit of Goodness in our collective embrace and individual gratitude… May we wake up to the beautiful symphony of the seekers seeking, dancers dancing, and singers singing…
We are happy to have seen you around – virtually and really – during the past year. And we look forward to staying connected via community and family conversations and dialogues, FaceBook, Twitter, Skype, Google +, texting, telephone, postcards, and yes: at weddings, funerals, and celebrations…
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For our familia, 2012 was a momentous year. Rather than a long letter, we thought we'd do just the headlines:
[] Reemberto’s mother passed away after a long battle with various physical conditions. (We were blessed to be able to have her spend some time with us in Maryland at the beginning of the year.)
[] Geraldina’s father moved to Atlanta (from Moultrie, GA). He is still smoking his cigars - though only one a week now (on Saturdays.)
[] After leading the Washington Nationals into the playoffs for the first time since 1933, Rembe Jr decided to take his talents elsewhere and changed jobs - and he got engaged!
He proposed to Dana before they ran - and finished! - a half marathon in Orlando, FL.Therefore: Party (pig!) time!
[] As for Iggy, he graduated from Swarthmore and moved back with us. {So did Rembe, Jr. - So much for empty nesting!}
[] Geraldina and Reemberto went to Ethiopia as part of our County's Sister Cities Program.
[] Geraldina visited the Ancient Mother Land (Africa) a few more times.
[] We all continued partaking of all that Silver Spring has to offer.
[] And, Benny went blind... But he is still our lovable, fiesty, fat, mean Chihuahua.
That’s about it. (Stay tune for more info on the upcoming wedding of Rembe & Dana... And, pics from our upcoming Key West Excellent Adventure with the Snights.)
c/u in 2013 & beyond (since/if the Mayans are/were wrong.)
In the meantime: enJoy loving life; living love; and loving living loud.
p.s.: Our extended familia continues to make us proud! - especially 'the next generation': 1 nephew stayed w/us for the summer working in our community; 2 other nephews got married (not to each other - to wonderfull new 'neices'); 2 nieces graduated (one from Harvard; the other from Loyola in L.A.); 1 baby was born to another niece - and two more are on the way to another niece and a nephew (well, to his wife.)
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A GIFT OF COMMUNITY for ALL SEASONS
The following prayer / meditation is adapted from the Litany used at the
NeighborWorks America Community Leadership Institutes multi-denominational services:
From our neighborhoods, our homes and work,
we come this hour to honor the sacred.
We celebrate the many faiths that now enrich our life together.
The infinite, the divine, the creator
is much too large for our eyes and our words to comprehend.
Thus we welcome all ways which journey toward that which is sacred.
May we be refreshed and renewed in spirit
and find within our own traditions strength, compassion, and love.
In this Season may we lay down that which is burdensome;
May we receive those blessings that lead us to our higher good…
May we celebrate and affirm the divine purpose of all those that celebrate.
May our hearts and minds be open to the divinity of others;
may we see it in ourselves,
and may we demonstrate it while at work, rest, or play.
May you be blessed in your comings and your goings,
During this Season and throughout the year;
In your waking and your sleep…
May your steps be divinely ordered;
and may you always walk fearlessly toward that which has been purposed just for you.
FELIZ NAVIDAD
Our Ethiopia trip - with Montgomery County's Sister Cities Program - was truly amazing... We felt like we finally met our 'cousins from another grandmother'!... What a wonderful experience!...
< Click the picture or HERE for much more pixs and videos.
Iggy's graduation was truly momentous... Click his picture for the link to pixs & more.
There WAS more to 2012 than these personal highlights. For example, we are so glad that Iggy now has insurance under our policy until he turns 26; and, many of our friends and family can now marry the love of their life - at least in Maryland... And, of course: Dreamers can now have the reality of a fair-priced college education (again, at least in Maryland.)
WEDDING
BELLS!
CLICK PICTURE FOR LINK TO MORE!
CLICK PICTURE
FOR LINK TO MORE!
CLICK PICTURE FOR LINK TO MORE!
Oh, the extent to which we'll go to promote local shopping!
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