My life on a daily basis is crazy and unusual at best...... Eclectic has always been a word on My "List 5 words that describe You" answers to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Get to Know You questionnaire!!! (Yes, delusional would be another one on that list ~ in a parallel universe My twin was a DCC in Her younger days!!! ROFL!) In My next post I will spend My words telling You a little about Myself and the CRAZY world I manage on a daily basis! Hence the title ~ Oy Vaaaaay! Just Don't Cover It!
For This My First Blog post ever ~ I am going to use My words and Dedicate it to a Woman I will treasure Always and All Ways ~ And share the Open Letter of Thanks For the past 2 Weeks I penned......
An Open Letter of Thanks
So….First I would like to take a moment to say
Thank You to Everyone who was thinking and Praying for All of Us during the
last 2 weeks. Monica and I made it to Texas and back safely and appreciate each
and every prayer that went up for Us and Our Entire Family.
I am sorry I was unable to send updates more
frequently. There was a 2 fold reason for that.
1) no internet access and 2) a
request from one of My Sisters in Law to not post about our “situation” on
Facebook. While Everyone from Her own Daughter in Law to many others in the
Family have gone ahead and posted already, I decided that I would wait until I
was home and could write a proper Thank You to Y’all for Your part in what was
11 of the longest days of My life. One of
the things about going to Texas involves being on the Amalla Farm. A wonderful
place but technologically void. Kinda like a big technology black hole. Not
only do I have no G’s to be able to hotspot but have to live on old fashioned
bars only signal thanks to Plateau Cellular.
UGH!
For those just checking in ~ on September 9th
at 2:58 am following a 37 hour drive to Texas with Monica sharing the driving
duties (Yes Monica ~ driving half way
across the country and back 2 weeks after completing Drivers Ed) and 2 long
days at the UMC Hospital in Lubbock, TX We said “Be Seeing You” to one of the
Finest Woman I have had the pleasure for the last 19 years of calling My Mother
in Law. Thank You Lord for giving the
World such a Wonderful Woman and Thank You Cecil Amalla Sr. for finding and
marrying Her!! She Is, Was and ALWAYS will be a Real Treasure!
It is hard to believe that it has been only 13
days since I got the call from My Sister Out Law Teresa with the news of
Minnie’s condition. Yet at the same time it felt like 11 of the longest and
hardest days I have faced in My life. I
Thank You more than mere words can express Teresa for always being the one to
call Us. You and Edward can always be counted on to include us in what goes on
in Texas.
Thank You to the Nursing Staff at UMC ~
Lubbock! Y’all faced A LOT of challenges with this Family and You each and every
one of You rose to the challenges and didn’t miss a beat. With 50 + members of
the immediate Family converging on Minnie’s room 24 hrs a day, well You did great
navigating the Family Hierarchy like True Professionals! Your kindness and
compassion will always be remembered and appreciated by My Husband, Daughter,
and Myself.
A HUGE Thank You to My Brother in Law Edward
for standing Your ground for Monica and
I, the 37 brutal at best hours on the road to get there took on a new urgency
but We got to Texas safe and sound and I know Minnie knew We were there…..
Thank You BIG TIME to My Brother in Law Bill
for all the Grilling He did through everything to keep 50+ people fed at all
times. Your last couple of years, let alone months have been more than anyone
should have to go through. You are an amazing man Bill. Thank You for always
putting up with me, being there when I need You, quick to share Your
experience, and genuine in Your intentions! :D Your Big O Texas sized heart is
appreciated and reciprocated! :D
Thank You to My Sister in Law Margaret for
always including Monica and I in the process! We greatly appreciated it. We Love
and Miss You and Dick very much and look forward to seeing You again soon! Take
some time for Yourself Sister. It was a long journey You have been on and You
deserve to just take a break, put Your feet Up and relax for a spell! Well at
least until all Your Critters need caring for! Your Home is always a favorite
place to be!!! Filled with Warmth and
Love!!!
Thank you to Melissa and John for being
champions for Minnie and helping to keep Us all together and functioning during
the past few weeks. You were Both so helpful when Monica and I first arrived,
Melissa giving a full accounting in a
compassionate way as only a true Caregiver can, and John You were AMAZING with
My Grandchildren giving Cecil and I as well as Matt and Dora the chance to be
with Us at the hospital, to getting the Kids to school so Dora could work and
rest. Thank You Melissa and John for the
hours You selflessly gave of Yourself to be there during the long days and
nights.
Thank You BIG TIME goes out to My
Beautiful Niece Gina Amalla. WOW!!! You are A*M*A*Z*I*N*G Gina! Thank You for ALL
of the cleaning You did to prepare the house for the arrival of the Family. Not
to mention the awesome meals You helped with. Uncle Cecil asked Me if I got to see You round
up Your Kiddos and I said You bet I did!!! Quite impressive to watch You in
action but considering what you do for a living I am not surprised at the
organization and ease with which You manage Your 6 beautiful Children. You have a great future in front of You and I
am so thankful that We had a chance to spend time together through all of this!
You are an asset to the Family and I look forward to seeing You again soon!
Love and Hugs to ALL of You!
A HUGE Thank You goes out to Cousin Kristine Trinidad-Langehennig. You are an AMAZING Teacher
. You are the kind of teaching spirit
that Monica thrives from. I wish She could have You as a tutor full time. You
quickly got Her up to speed with the responsibilities She accepted for the Mass
and stood by Her side through a very emotional time in Her young life. I cannot
be more grateful to You for being there for Monica
Thank You GiGi, Mandi, and Sarah! I love
You All and couldn’t have gotten through the last 11 days without the
unconditional Love You have always shared with Monica and I! Y’all crack Us up
and are always in Our thoughts and Prayers. I Pray that You Girls get all the
Peace and Goodness the World has to offer. Sarah ~ Graduation is right around
the corner for You….Mandi ~ A new Bambina on the way!!!! So excited to
celebrate with You! GiGi ~ You have My Rocks anytime You need them! ;-) I got
Your Back Sister! You deserve a PURE TRUE and Peace filled life from here
forward! I send You Love and Light on Your journey!
To Tammy, Ray, Tim, Eli, and Johnny Ray
~ We have know each other for such a short time but from the first moment We
collided for Momma and Daddy’s 50th You have made Me feel like a
part of Your Family as well as a part of the Amalla Family! You have all faced so
many challenges of Your own these past few years and I am grateful that the
Lord Blessed Us to be able to be there for each other as the daily challenges
have presented themselves. We look forward to seeing You All again soon!
Thanksgiving is good for Us! Hope it is for Your entire Crew as well!
To the rest of the Family and Extended
Family that came together for Cecil Sr. ~ I know that Your presence gave Him
comfort as He faced this time in His life. Cecil Sr. and Minnie were a Great
Team and have left Us All a Fine example to follow and a legacy to build upon.
May We ALL go forward from here and live Our lives in ways that will Honor the
Loving Memories We shared with Minerva “Minnie” Marie Carrasco Amalla! She gave
Us All Roots and Wings! <3 Let’s ALL of Us use them wisely!
Lastly and MOST IMPORTANTLY
To My Immediate Family, Cecil, Monica
and Mom, Matthew, Dora, Jasmine, Xavier, Isaiah, and Mathias ~ this has been a tough journey for All of Us.
This entire year has presented more health issues involving both Minnie and
LaLa than We would have wanted. As a Family We face these challenges together
and continue to grow stronger in Our Faith and convictions each day.
We definitely do not do things in the
traditional ways but somehow We manage to get from point to point. I Thank each
one of You for being there through the past 2 weeks. Mom, You helped Me to
understand what was happening no matter what time of day it was, or what was
happening. You have always been a
Blessing to the Medical Community and to Your Family! Monica Thank You for
quite an adventure! Can’t wait to do it again in the future!!! And Thanks Cecil for finding and marrying Me
and giving Me the B*E*S*T Mother in Law I could have EVER hoped for! We had a
Great Ride!!! And We will always have
Ruidoso!!! :D
Matt and Dora ~ Anything WORTH having is
WORTH working on EVERYDAY! Dad and I are always here for You!!! We Love and
Miss You All every minute of every day! We look forward to Thanksgiving and the
start of the Holiday Season with the chill that fills the air these days! While
there will be an emptiness this year, We have SO SO SO many great memories and
the Holidays were always Minnie’s time to shine! She will be with Us in Our
Hearts so She will ALWAYS BE WITH US!!!! :D
Going to take some time to heal now!
Thank You again EVERYONE! And Minnie……See Ya in Heaven!! Save Me a seat please!
:D
