National Nurse Week

May 6th-12th is 'National Nurse Week'.

Congratulations & Thank-you to all RN Labor Nurses.

Read a blog named: 'The life and times of a labor nurse'.
In the post she writes how the hospital celebrated 'National Nurse Week', by welcoming the nurses placing a banner above their work station heralding in their week..
There were T-shirts printed with 'Nurses call the shots'.
A free continental breakfast and a 'You are a valued Employee' cup.

She is a nurse from New England (our former home) bookmarked it in hopes to learn clinical terms. I wanted to be a nurse, but was not able (unforseen factors).
However, God blessed us, our daughter-in-love is a RN Labor Nurse.
Found two more sites: Mercy-Nurses and Kindred Spirit of Nursing, really good resources.

Next time you see a Nurse, remember, give her a thankful nod and smile, she will surely appreciate it, after caring for our loved ones.
Bless the hands that guide life into our world.

From Our 'Baby-loving' Front Porch to Yours...Ana & Andy

Credits: www.debwebonline.com/mercy
www.rebirthnurse.blogspot.com

*STAR*HOPE*ANGEL*

Psalm 78:4 "Tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of our Lord".

I've been saving this one for you, Sisters. Happy Mother's Day, Hope-Sweetheart. Thinking of you especially on this May Day.
Grandmothers, Mothers, Daughters & Sisters of the world unite.
Sunday is our day to be honored by our children.
Our daughter-in-love is a very special young lady. Precious in God's sight, she's grown more near and dear to our hearts every day.
You're a wonderful wife, an exceptionally good mother to your two growing sons, and we really do appreciate you for all your work and efforts.

Isaiah 54:13 "All your children will be instructed in the Lord; and great will be the peace of your children".

For being ever ready to lend a supportive & comforting hand, we thank you, Sweetheart. Always cheerful and willing to prepare for special days of joy and delights. We love you a lot, girl.
This poem is dedicated to Mothers everywhere:
"A PLACE FOR ME"...
There is a place in life, that needs my humble skill,
A certain job I'm meant to do, Nobody else can fill.
The hours are demanding, and the pay is not to good, And yet,
I wouldn't change it for a moment, if I could.
There is a special place in life, A goal I must attain,
A dream that I must follow for I won't be back again.
There's a mark that I must leave, however small it be,
A legacy of love for those Who follow after me.
There is a special place in life that only I may share,
A little path that bears my name, awaiting me somewhere.
There is a hand that I must hold, a word that I must say,
A smile that I must give, for there are tears to blot away.
There is a special place in life that I was meant to fill,
A sunny spot where flowers grow upon a windy hill.
There's always a tomorrow, And the best is yet to be,
And somewhere in this world I know, there is a place for me".

May the Lord richly bless both you and your children. Psalm 115:14
Each generation can make known your faithfulness to the next.Issiah 38:19

From Our 'Special Place' Front Porch to Yours...Ana & Andy.

Credit: Salessian Inspirational Booklet-Poem by Grace E. Easley

Happy Birthday !

Happy Birthday to our Brother in Christ Scott and his beautiful daughter C. Anne.

I hope you have a wonderful month of May, and all your wishful-prayers come true to you. You are both very precious to our family in Christ. We always enjoy spending time with you both.
Scott your a great dad, so strong and wise. Glad your always there to give good advice to your children.
C.Anne helped me by taking pictures of the horses in the Cinco de Mayo Parade, with a disposable camera, (remembering, how you showed her how to use it). At the parade there was a masked (kid) little-old man shaking everyone's hand, your boy hid behind momma, perhaps remembering the lesson, 'Avoid strangers'.

The best part of the day was being with your family, they always add so much joy to any event.
Our friend took a picture of the whole gang in front of the bank, hope you get to see it.
The parade was beautiful, C. Anne especially enjoyed the horses.

Hope & Pray God continues blessing you both with joy & health in the coming years...

Proverbs 9:11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life...

From Our 'Happy' Front Porch to Yours...Ana & Andy

Credit: Debbiemumm.com

Happy Mother's Day

Some people have a talent for doing just the right thing, for making others happy, for bringing special joy to children's lives...
Such is a Mother's genuine and sincere love, and you are much loved and appreciated because of it. You ladies, daughters; sisters; wives and mothers have been just that
and more to everyone you cared for through out the years.
'Madre Una' is a Spanish quote, because no one in the whole world would dare try to take her place.
M is for the Mucho things she gave me.
A is for the many time she Answered all my questions.
D is for her Daring way of protecting me.
R is for her Reasoning with an open-hearted wisdom.
E is for Everything she did to make life Easier for me.
Put them all together it spells 'Madre', sola 'Una Madre' para mi.
Translated the one and only mother for me.

I tell everyone Judge Judy reminds me of my mami, she looks and acts just like her. Sharp as a tack, my Mami's favorite saying was: "When your contemplating on doing something, I've been there, back and rested", Yikes!.
I read in 'Latina' magazine, all Spanish mother's say that to their daugthers.

She met my father during WWII, while he drilled in the Army in Puerto Rico. His way of meeting her, he asked for a cup of water through the window, how humble is that. They married raising her five siblings in Puerto Rico.
On to New York City, a new beginning for both, she worked in the garment industry as a seamstress. Many a times she came home with frozen feet and needle-nicked fingers. Talk about present your body a living sacrifice being a reasonable service. She taught me to sew; clean; be sharp-'Lista!'she'd say, and to be loyal to God, family and country.

At her eulogy, I read Proverbs 31, and her children arose and called her blessed ... and her husband is know at the city gates...(in Spanish) Y sus hijos se levantaron y la bendicieron, y su Esposo es conocido en las pueltas del pueblo.

To live such a precious and committed life is much to aspired.

Christ said: God puts his wings over us like a Mother's love.
Thank God for all Mother's precious care & unending love...

From Our 'Motherly' Front Porch to Yours....Ana & Andy

Credits: To God's beautiful creation-the flowers my mother loved...

Hi, Lady (ode to nice neighbors)

Yesterday, as I sat out on our sunny porch enjoying the breeze,I had two surprise guests. Yes, people do enjoy visiting 'Our Front Porch' on occasion. Like Joe & the boys, the UPS man, even my next-door neighbors have spoken to me from the foot of the steps about our apple-orchard.
Reminds me of many young ladies who shared their dreams, once upon a time, on our shared front porch.
I miss those days, when neighbors, although they moved a couple of streets away, would still return to catch-up on the latest happenings. One such wonderful neighbor was Paulette (my son would agree), she was 'relaxed & friendly', always willing to be open & to share about childcare and all sorts of girl talk. She showed me what it was like to love home, husband and her children; she was caring and funny at the same time, too. Whenever she went out, she'd phone and take me with her to surprising new places. And, if she bought something new or planned a coming event, she'd enthusiastically share that with me, too. She was a good example for a newcomer, such as myself.
I could tell you more, but I'll save it in my heart for future reference.

Being neighborly is always so much fun, don't you agree? Like the verse: 'Two are stronger than one because they'll lift each other up...'.

Anyway, back to my company: I had two little girls visit me. Don't you love good surprises? While reading a new book, Fiona, our little redheaded two-year old neighbor, pops out on to the back porch and says, " Hi, Lady!". And then, along strolls Blackie, our neighborhood 'girl' cat, meowing and showing her belly.
Afternoon delights of giggles of 'How do you do that?'. Questions like: 'What you doing?'...'I got book, too' (note- not a typo, actual toddler speech).
'My grass is green'; 'Where your boys?';
'This my dolly and friend'. as she's cuddling the baby-doll and the friend is hanging upside down. 'See my pretty?' (showing sparkling bracelet).
I talked her through blowing on a dandelion, oh so cute, it blew back onto her nose and she wrinkled it.
And Blackie, just hanging out, 'cautiously' eating her treat.
The sun was shining, a cool breeze, a good book and warm friendly conversation with a soft cat at your feet, who could ask for more?

Thank you, God, for blessing us with good neighbors (near and far).
Now, back to that phone call...

From Our 'friendly' Front Porch to Yours...Andy & Ana.

Credit: Art.com

Happy Birthday, Andy

HOW DO I LOVE THEE...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth
and height my soul can reach,
when feeling out of sight.
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet needs,
by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use in my old griefs,
and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose with my lost Saints--
I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears of all my life!--and,
if God choose, I shall love thee but better after death.

From: Our 'Loving' Front Porch...Love now & forever, Ana

Credit: Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)