Wednesday, June 6

San Antonio - Woman: The Beauty Within


“If Mama ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy.”

I am a 33 year old Hispanic woman. I am a mother of four boys. I will be celebrating my twelfth anniversary in just three weeks. The youngest of six children, I will be the first one in my family to graduate from college. Yes, I am woman. Hear me roar!

The strength of a woman is found in the gift of having been created a woman. Unfortunately, the places she tries to find meaning in are sometimes not the right ones. Often times a woman looks to her mate to define her. We were created with emotions and intuitions that men many times can not even comprehend. A woman will sometimes seek her mother’s advice and follow in her footsteps. If this cookie cutter recipe worked, we would all still be stay-at-home moms, serving up hot meals and would not have a right to vote.

I live in a neighborhood with two of the kindest women I have ever met. Sadly for different reasons, our personal goals and dreams were pushed aside. Last summer during our daily walks around the neighborhood I began sharing my dream of returning to school. A flicker of hope sparked in their eyes that flared up in me the confidence to achieve my dreams. Since then one of them has also registered for school. I would love to meet and surround myself with women who are driven by a passion for life. There are many hidden treasures in the hearts of women like this.

A woman’s words and attitudes will usually be the setting for either a peaceful or disgruntled home. However, the challenge becomes finding the inner peace as a woman. We can buy the prettiest outfits, the most expensive jewelry, have our hair and nails done every week, but they are of no worth if we do not grasp the beauty within. Sometimes we just need a friend to help us find our way.

Monday, June 4

San Antonio: Once Upon A Time in Spain





I love a good fairy tale. My imagination can run rapidly wild with hopes and expectations. I tend to conceive aspiring stories quickly about locations, relationships and situations. Our group is one week away from traveling to a land far, far away from my home and my family.



From the moment I was told about this trip I was overwhelmed. My husband and I sat down for two days listing the pros and cons of me traveling to Spain for a summer course. My dream of traveling and studying far outweighed the extensive list of reasons why I should stay. With a home filled with four young boys, a full-time job and attending school full-time, taking a trip like this is not an easy arrangement. We began creating solutions that would make this trip possible.


Most of my family and friends supported my decision to go and the ones that did not, well, let’s just say they are not on the souvenir list. As I began sharing the news of my trip, I heard similar phrases of people who had traveled there before. “Spain is a magical place.” “Once you land you will feel like you are in a fantasy world.” I began to wonder if people were not confusing it with Disney World. I have researched the beautiful destinations full of history and rich in culture that we will be visiting. The Alhambra is a palace in Granada, Spain. I have stared at pictures in awe of the creativity and inspiration found at this place. I may have misconceived ideas of romance and grandeur but the mysticism of a castle and the enchantment of Europe overshadow rational thought. This trip for me began the moment I decided to make the journey to Spain. Perhaps I am most excited about visiting The Alhambra because it seems to tie in so well with my hope that dreams can come true when you just believe.