Welcome Baby Vera

I purchased my airplane tickets back in December to leave on January sixth and stay till the sixteenth.  I would leave after teaching my calculus class Friday morning and arrive the day before baby’s due date on the seventh.  The following week was a four day week to give the students a four day weekendContinue reading “Welcome Baby Vera”

Memory Eternal Ed

Ed promised me a call on my birthday.  He remembered that it was coming up a few weeks ago.  I thought I’d see him in person during the Thursday liturgy, but my cousin Ari had the opportunity to come to Albuquerque for a healing conference and decided to come a day early to spend myContinue reading “Memory Eternal Ed”

Xenia

Xenia had a birthday, and fifteen looks good on her!  She stands at five feet three inches and weighs in at one hundred pounds of pure muscle.  Xenia is taking driving classes and should have her permit by the end of the month.  The same weekend she started traffic safety, she competed in her firstContinue reading “Xenia”

Influenza-A crushed Christmas

Did Christmas happen this year?  I missed it!  I remember getting ready.  We started our Advent fast forty days before Christmas.  I sent out Christmas cards.  We put up the Christmas tree after Thanksgiving.  The kids weren’t into it, and it took a lot of cajoling and calendar syncing before the young adults could helpContinue reading “Influenza-A crushed Christmas”

Christmas Letter 2025

Our annual tradition of group Christmas letter writing. The kids have all been instructed to say something about themselves and something about each of their siblings. My letter comes first though. Dear friends and family, Merry Christmas! Syra’s Scribbles VI is out on Amazon!l  Check out syrasscribbles.com  Ι play cello and teach Calculus.  Ι doContinue reading “Christmas Letter 2025”

Loved and Interesting

When I started at Felida Elementary after my parents divorced and Mom moved my younger sister and me out to the family property, I could have tried to fit in with the popular girls.  The most popular girl took me in hand and pointed out all the cool kids, but I never strove to beContinue reading “Loved and Interesting”

It’s a…

Misha saw his first cat at a bookstore a month or so ago.  He was so excited, he learned to say, “Kitty!”  Esther video called me so that he could show off his cuteness and his new word. So I went on Amazon and bought him a stuffed cat to commemorate the day, and AmazonContinue reading “It’s a…”

Alone

I’ve been thinking about how often I am alone. I’ve immersed myself in the days of diaper changes and clinging toddlers as I finished Syra’s Scribbles VI and started reworking Syra’s Scribbles II.  Back in the day, I wanted nothing more than the chance to go to the bathroom alone, and a solo trip toContinue reading “Alone”

Next Book Back Cover

I’m gearing up to publish Syra’s Sribbles VI. Here’s what I have so far for the back cover. In the sixth book of the Syra’s Scribbles series, Syra finally has the big family she’s always wanted, but life is harder than she expected.  Syra shares her most vulnerable moments of despair as well as herContinue reading “Next Book Back Cover”

Forward to Syra’s Scribbles VI, by Esther

Syra’s Scribbles VI will be out around Thanksgiving. Here’s a little something to tide you over till you can read it! I’m so thankful for Esther’s work on this book in the series. My mother is a smart lady and usually writes her own forewords. However, she thought that this volume of her memoirs inContinue reading “Forward to Syra’s Scribbles VI, by Esther”