Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Posted by
Sille Bliss
Two years since I last published a blog here! At one point I decided to try something new and I did/am. But this is where it all started yeah? Well even though my last blog was in 2018 it was only one blog, and before that it was another one in 2016. All I can say is during that time, there has been a lot of travelling around England and a few new countries too. It has been a blast. Thank God during this time we have all been healthy and He has been watching over us.
2019 was a bit of a stand still for us. I did take up swimming back in early 2018 at our leisure center. I love it and do it as much as possible. Unfortunately right now I'm not swimming at all because everything has been closed since the beginning of this year, so I'm missing it a lot. I applied for my ILR which was the next and last step after my two visas, it was a slow process. When applying, you have to mail in your passport and with that goes all the travelling. So we waited, we waited for almost the whole year. Even though we couldn't travel and I feel like we didn't go anywhere, we actually did. We just did it all in our own country. There was a lot of beach and park visits, touring castles and state houses.
Towards the end of the year, I received my approved ILR and passport back from the Home Office. This was a huge deal. Having been approved for my ILR meant that I was done and could stay in the country indefinitely (as long as I wasn't out of the country for no longer than a certain amount of time). I no longer had to keep applying every 2 years. This was all great, but we were just more excited and focused on getting my passport back so we could book a much needed holiday somewhere out of the country before the year's end. We loved Morocco the last time we went, so we decided to come back to more glorious sun for the winter. 💓 December 2019.
It was a worrying and scary time, but we had to stay positive and have faith that we would all overcome this. It was hard being away from my family more than ever (still is). Not only because everything was so horrible out there, but it has also been the longest I have gone without seeing them. October 2018 was my last visit and I am feeling the separation. But all I can do is try to stay positive. That was and still is number one right now. As sad and horrible as 2020 was for the world, it was honestly one of the best years of our family's lives. God has been great and IS our saviour. I constantly thank God for his blessings and I pray for all the people in the world who have lost so much during this time.
So we had our 1st lockdown from April thru June, and it was long. But because of that, coronavirus cases were extremely low. This meant we were able to spend the summer months and early autumn free! We could get out and do things. We still had to be careful and social distance of course. We were able to celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary at our favourite restaurant on it's actual day! We were able to relax in the garden of our fav pub and eat on the harbour. We spent time at the beach and rode Poole ferry - this one was a first for me and long over due.
Oh did I forget to mention the afternoon tea?! Come on, you know we can never go too long without one. 😛 Now my highlight from it all was us deciding to do the double decker sightseeing bus tour in our town. It was so fun and amazing learning more of our history. I felt like a tourist on holiday! 😊
Spending time out there was a little nerve wrecking at times, but we almost felt normal. There was still that little voice in the back of your mind, telling you not to forget to sanitize and not get too close to people. Even with all that, we really needed this; everyone did. But as always and even more so now, all good things can't last forever and as fast as we were let out, we were back inside for our 2nd lockdown from November to the first week of December.
2021 today is even a better day, for not only my family but also the world. We have a vaccine! Things should hopefully get better out there. We've been in our 3rd lockdown since January and still here. I am trying to make the best of it but after 11 weeks not being able to do anything, it's getting really old. Now beginning next week people are no longer required to stay home legally but everything stays closed until the 12th of April. So for me, that is the day my lockdown is over. So there are 3 more weeks till we can feel somewhat normal again.
So, the positives and why today is a better day - My family is healthy. We are all getting through our vaccine jabs. Most importantly, I am closer to God now than I have ever been in my life. I've always had God in my life for as long as I can remember. I have all my sacraments, I went to Sunday school and church every Sunday. My siblings and I all went to Catholic school. So He has always been with me, but I seem to have lost myself somewhere along the way for a long time now. Praying every night has always been my constant throughout the years from a little girl until now, that never stopped. But for me, that was no longer enough. God is my EVERYTHING and deserves more time in my life than just a prayer every night. I still struggle every day and pray to be a better person. It's hard, I've been me for a very long time. But I know with Jesus within my hear every day, I will be a better me.
So with all this extra time I've been doing a ton of baking. I'm in my learning phase but I enjoy it, especially my husband and FIL. 😛 I've done a few online courses to keep my sanity and I might start another. I also have a sewing machine and have actually made a couple of things, no clothes yet and probably not anytime soon. 😉
My biggest accomplishment is that I have finally become a British citizen. Soon after receiving my ILR during lockdown, I decided to apply. This would mean I could live here like I lived in America - with no worries or evening thinking about things I needed to do or couldn't do while just living. You don't think about these things in America because you don't have to. You just live. So after 7 long years, lots of paperwork, money and being stressed out during each application process - we've finally completed the journey. I am a British citizen and can "just live". It's a huge load off our shoulders. No lingering thoughts about it in the back of my mind; I'm just as much a citizen here in the United Kingdom as I am in the USA. It's a great feeling. It's done! I'm finished! I'm so relieved. I can breathe. I'm a British Mexican-American now! 😂
Let's just all thank God for all He has done for us - big or small during this time and keep pushing forward to more better days and positivity in our lives and in the world. We always need more of it. x,s
And I think I'll go ahead and leave this here...... 😛
Posted by
Sille Bliss
For the past 5 years I've always loved and looked forward to the English summers... jotting down a list of outside activities, places to visit, parks and pubs to sit out at with a nice cold pint of cider. Feeling that hot sun on my face with the perfect breeze just enough to cool me down, I could sit in the sun all day in England. But then, this year happened. It was freaking HOT; I mean like Houston-hot, a-holiday-abroad hot, and not exaggerating hot, it was hell HOT. And it lasted months, not a couple of weeks which I probably could of managed, probably... probably not. But still, a good 2 months hot. And it would of been all fine and dandy if it was Houston because I could of hid inside the house with my blasting AC. If I needed to go somewhere, well you know how we do - we go from house AC to car AC to store/shop AC, and we're good! Summer? What summer?! But here in England, there was nowhere to hide.
Check out this photo of Dorset last year vs Dorset this year during the heatwave and no rain. You can see how serious this actually was.
As I said in the past, a lot of places in England do not have AC; and our home, like 99% of the homes in Britain do not have AC either. What for? We only have a mild 2-3 months of summer, a standing fan does the job just fine. But nope, not THIS summer, our fan was crap! It was like that time all the electricity went out in Houston for a couple of days because of Hurricane Rita and all we had to cool us off were old album covers that we used as hand fans. OK, it might have not been that bad because there is no humidity here, but at the time it sure did feel like it.
So instead of my little list of outdoor activities, I was online searching for shops where I could order another standing fan to put in the bedroom because the one we already had was worthless. Obviously everyone was feeling the same as we were because no stores ANYWHERE had any more fans in stock. The ones I did end up finding were sold for stupid prices that I refuse to spend money on, same for the air conditioning. So my hard-headed ass chose to suffer and wait out the horrible uncomfortable gross nights.
Now don't get me wrong, the days were OK. It's OK if you are outside, it's actually quite lovely. The beaches were packed with sunbathers, the quay was full of holiday makers, parks full as well. But if you had to be inside - forget it. The double glazed windows do not help the situation either. So we did manage to get out a few days and they were always nice - windows down, AC on, that's how I do. I must say I did and for now still do enjoy going swimming and not have to worry about blow drying my hair after because it's too cold and I might get sick. That has really been nice and something I was really looking forward to this summer (hashtag thelittlethings). Wearing flip flops, tank tops and shorts, having ice cream cones on the quay... some things you just have to do and will always love. It's especially really cool seeing all the excited tourist enjoying themselves, knowing they chose to spend their summer holiday in the town where you live. Sorta makes you feel blessed and proud.
Poole Quay
One of the biggest highlights of the summer and maybe the only highlight was that Steve and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. Yes! Five years, just like that! Where did all that time go? I have no idea. I've been a married woman in love for 5 whole years! Still pretty damn happy, still feeling like newlyweds... honestly, who said married life was hard? I'm not even being funny about that question. Steve and I talk about it all the time and don't get how people say marriage is hard work. What??? How?? *shrugs* Who knows, who cares. I'm just so happy and pray that we have another amazing, healthy 5 years and more together.
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| 5 Years of Sille Bliss! <3 |
Because it is such a special anniversary - the big 5 - we decided to celebrate all year long (because we're silly like that). We started off with the first month we met - April. We planned a very romantic and relaxing holiday on the island of Zante in Greece and what a memorable holiday that was.
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| Zante Greece 2018 |
For our official day of marriage in July, we celebrated with a romantic weekend out on the town doing what we love - afternoon tea (of course), the cinema and food. We also spent one evening on a cruise from the quay to Wareham which was so fun. We've done cruises around Poole harbour before but this was territory we've never been by boat which made it all the more exciting.
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| A romantic movie for the most romantic day - The First Purge |
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| We can't have any celebration without an afternoon tea! |
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| Poole to Wareham cruise |
And the year is not over yet, we still have November to celebrate the month we were married in church. That will be another destination celebration! Location TBD.
So all in all, yes I've complained a lot about this summer's heatwave, and if you know me well, you know I do love a good rant. But the fact is, if you ignore all the sweaty hard to sleep nights, I really did love it just as much as everyone else did. It was much needed after our coldest snow winter ever back in March, which I must add, was pretty freaking amazing in itself as well... and with that and everything else that has gone on, not only has the summer been pretty unique but so far it's really been an amazing year and I'm just ready for more! x,s
Posted by
Sille Bliss
I have zero regrets when it comes to my Love. It is not a fact when someone says, "You'll always have regrets when someone dies." Statements like this are opinions, usually from a person who is guilty of treating someone like shit and is trying to find some way to make themselves feel better about it. It is possible to go through life treating your parent with respect or grandparent with love, (especially as an adult who should know better) and have no regrets after they are gone from this world. It's not like you're trying to swallow boiling water.
Before my Love passed, I was always there for her - when it mattered, when it didn't. I never treated her bad, ignored her, disrespected her, leave her in a room alone while she's still talking because I didn't like who she was talking about. I didn't only visit her on her birthday, or when I needed something, or once every couple of months; especially when she needed us most during the last couple years of her being in and out of the hospital. I always had her back and hated on anyone who gossipped about her or when her 2-faced sisters would never invite her to their family gatherings/parties.
When I did visit her, I always helped her with anything, asked her if she needed something, always offering because common sense will tell you a person is not always going to tell you what they need or would like. You don't have to hold a college degree to figure out what a person you care for and love needs to feel comfortable or stay healthy. For example, you wouldn't buy a person with diabetes a basket of sweets, chocolate bars or pan dulce, would you? You would get them a fruit basket if they like sweets or make them a sugar free cake if you must. Everything is sugar free now-a-days.
We love her, it's natural to do things for the people you love. I thought doing things like that came naturally from a person, like blinking your eyes, feeling hungry, breathing.... maybe it doesn't for all. But you also think to yourself and remember, they are elderly, they have their pride, they will never ask for help or things, but being a daughter and even a granddaughter, you just know and you just do.
When she first got sick, never did I care or even think about asking her to sign papers so when the day did come when she died, I would get her rings she promised me. How could I ask of such a thing from my dying grandmother, much less if she was my mother!? That is pretty heartbreaking. But I guess when you do not care for the parent and it is only you and them in the room, and you think no one else is listening, it doesn't matter anyway right? It's an amazingly shocking thing how low people go and selfish they become when someone dies.
But even after naming not even half of the horrible things I didn't do, I am still able to write a never ending list of all the wonderful loving things that I did do, and that feels amazing inside! And the thing is, I do not need to list anything that my mom and I did for my Love and my grandfather during those rough times and any other time in their lives. My Momo knew and my Popo knows...
Over the years I've learned a lot about how the people that we grew up calling family can be. I learned that they were not true family but only relatives by blood who use the word 'family' as an excuse for you to put up with, deal with, and forgive them for things you wouldn't normally do for anyone else. My family are the people who love me and care for me unconditionally, as I do them - be it blood relatives or friends. I don't go years without speaking with them, talk about them to each other behind their backs or pretend to 'like' them, what would be the point then?
I'll say it once and I'll say it a million times, I'm so grateful and blessed in the true meaning of the word to have a mother like mine. I can never say enough of how strong and independent she had made me to be. How to respect people when they should be respected. She's taught me how to play the game when it needs to be played. When not to put up with a person's bullshit, how to ignore the ones who really do not matter in life - the jealous people who envy you and hate you because you don't care and because you aren't afraid to speak the truth.
Yes she pisses me off and we get on each others nerves at times, but I can never see myself ever not talking to her for even a week, much less months at a time because I'm mad or because I do not want to be bothered. That isn't only because I love her but she raised me and taught me that isn't how a daughter should treat her mother - to never hold a petty grudge with your own mother and go months without speaking with her, cause that will guarantee you the 'regrets' that these heartless selfish people speak of.
My Love was so lucky to have a daughter like my Mom. My mom may not realize this, but she was my Love's real life angel. I know my Momo is looking down in agreement :) and my Popo feels the same way. Not many people get the opportunity in life to have that in someone but my Love did. Just as my mom does in me and always will, especially when she needs me the most...
Posted by
Sille Bliss
Ever since I was a little girl, my grandma would say to me, "Mija when I die, I'm going to let you have my wedding rings." It's not so bad hearing that when the person telling you is healthy enough to know they got a long way to go; and even then you really don't hear the death part of it and just think about how beautiful the rings are. But then when the time comes near, it really isn't something you wanna accept or even hear. You stop thinking about how beautiful the rings are and more about the death part becoming a reality.
Up to her last stay in the hospital when I called to speak with her and while with her the day before her passing, she was still wanting to make sure I was going to "get her rings." I don't think it set in even then because my first feeling was to laugh and think she was so silly for even bringing it up.
The day my Popo came to my mom's house, I thought it was only to tell Steve and I goodbye cause we were leaving back to England the next day, but he also had my Love's wedding rings.
Before she passed I knew my grandpa would give them to me eventually, maybe when we came back to visit again. I don't know, it wasn't something I was really thinking about, even with my grandma constantly talking about it.
But there they were, safe in a little box with my name written on it; and I felt so sad. The day was here when I no longer had my Love and all that I had left were her wedding rings she always talked about me having. And all I could think was that I wanted my Love back.
I know I have so many amazing memories with my Love; so many fun times. I am lucky we even got to live with them on and off throughout my childhood and teenage years, and to have always lived less than 5 minutes away from her, even as close as just across the street for the past 15 years till now was pretty awesome too; but I still can't help wishing if I could of only had her a little longer. Once she left, all those years suddenly felt like they flew right by, in the blink of an eye.
I haven't got the rings fitted so I can wear them yet. Just looking at them in the box gets me upset. I feel like once I start wearing them I will cry even more throughout the days then I do already. I don't know.
What I do know is that I miss my Love and it really sucks that I'll never be able to see her, hug her and kiss her again for the rest of my life.
Posted by
Sille Bliss
...and not a lot to say.
The past 11 days of the new year have been a big chill fest. It's winter and I am a wimp when it comes to the cold weather. I am healthy and still have not caught a cold or flu (yet), and prefer to stay cozy and warm in the house as much as possible. Enough said.
I have so many resolutions, big and small this year, I really want to complete them all, or at least 90% of them. I've started some and haven't even bothered with the others. I've downloaded a few apps to my phone that keep me organized and will help me with them. I love it, though they are kind of annoying at time - telling me when to drink water or when I need to take a walk cause I've been inactive for awhile. "Leave me the fuck alone" I yell to it often, but I refuse to remove them from my phone. It's a love/hate relationship.
On an exciting note, I did figure out the Whatsapp on my phone. I kept messing with it forever and for some reason it wasn't finding my brother's phone number in my contacts. I had no idea why at first but now I'm thinking it was the way I had his phone number entered in contacts cause suddenly he showed up. I also usually use the FB messenger app for just messages back and forth to my fam/friends, but today I decided to try out the little phone icon off to the side and it worked! I called Mari and we were able to talk for awhile on a pretty good connection too. Not as great as when I can directly from skype but still good. I also called my cousin and she called me back on it with no problems. Love it! When it comes to calling people back and forth, the Messenger is so much better than Skype.
One thing I do want to do is blog more. I already blog about what we do when we are out but I want to blog more about nothing - more daily things that are going on, stuff that I am thinking, things that I find online or hear about on the news, current events, etc... just things so I can read back on and reminisce.
A FB friend of mine posted this the other day. I had to steal it. I love the fuck out of my family and close friends back home. We aren't a large group but I'm much more happier with it being small and drama free - the way a family should be <3
The past 11 days of the new year have been a big chill fest. It's winter and I am a wimp when it comes to the cold weather. I am healthy and still have not caught a cold or flu (yet), and prefer to stay cozy and warm in the house as much as possible. Enough said.
I have so many resolutions, big and small this year, I really want to complete them all, or at least 90% of them. I've started some and haven't even bothered with the others. I've downloaded a few apps to my phone that keep me organized and will help me with them. I love it, though they are kind of annoying at time - telling me when to drink water or when I need to take a walk cause I've been inactive for awhile. "Leave me the fuck alone" I yell to it often, but I refuse to remove them from my phone. It's a love/hate relationship.
On an exciting note, I did figure out the Whatsapp on my phone. I kept messing with it forever and for some reason it wasn't finding my brother's phone number in my contacts. I had no idea why at first but now I'm thinking it was the way I had his phone number entered in contacts cause suddenly he showed up. I also usually use the FB messenger app for just messages back and forth to my fam/friends, but today I decided to try out the little phone icon off to the side and it worked! I called Mari and we were able to talk for awhile on a pretty good connection too. Not as great as when I can directly from skype but still good. I also called my cousin and she called me back on it with no problems. Love it! When it comes to calling people back and forth, the Messenger is so much better than Skype.
One thing I do want to do is blog more. I already blog about what we do when we are out but I want to blog more about nothing - more daily things that are going on, stuff that I am thinking, things that I find online or hear about on the news, current events, etc... just things so I can read back on and reminisce.
A FB friend of mine posted this the other day. I had to steal it. I love the fuck out of my family and close friends back home. We aren't a large group but I'm much more happier with it being small and drama free - the way a family should be <3
Posted by
Sille Bliss
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| click photo to enlarge and view each individual photo via smilebox |
We should of ended the year back in Houston with my familia, but things do not always go as planned (story of my life) and we ended up spending Christmas and New Year's Eve here in England again. I can't complain, it's England! But I really would of loved us all to be together.
I miss my family like crazy, especially my baby boys - Abel, David, Pickle and my Smokey. Just thinking about them makes me a little emotional. It's so weird because when I think back of the smallest things when I was back in Houston - watching reality TV with my Mama, cartoons with my pickle, acting a fool with David, chilling with Abel, and picking on my Dad.... you really just take all that for granted. It's just daily bullshit that doesn't mean much of anything. Until you leave and are away from them, those smallest things are what you end up thinking about most and end up being what you miss. But that is OK, that is life sometimes. *pep talking myself* The new year is ahead with new plans to see my family very soon! :-)
So Steve was on vacation the last two weeks of December. Yay! It feels like we have been on vacation all month, it has been kinda slow just because of the holidays approaching. I'm kinda missing our little outings now. I'm ready to get back on the road and go back to work next year! :P We've done a lot of nothing. Literally! We've been very idle, pealing ourselves from the bed only to go somewhere if we have to but still making time to celebrate the holidays one way or another.
Christmas Eve we did our traditional visit to the German Market in Bournemouth Square. We did this last year and it's just so festive and a nice way to get into the Christmas spirit.
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| Bournemouth Square |
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| Bournemouth Balloon |
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| Bournemouth Lower Gardens |
We did some walking around, eating and enjoying the vibe. So many different types of people, even a few elderly people I saw alone - either walking with their little walkers or in their mobile scooters. One little old man was in the park (with people everywhere of course) off to the side on his scooter, checking something on his 'smart phone'. :P I found that pretty cute, I wondered if he had any family.
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| Merry Christmas Eve 2014! |
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| click photo to enlarge and view each individual photo via smilebox |
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| Christmas Market Stalls |
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| Bournemouth Square |
My family and I have always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve together with food, music, fun. Which is why it was so weird for me to see so many people out. Usually Christmas day is the day we would just open gifts and lay around doing nothing. If we did leave to be with friends or went out, that was usually the day we did that. Oh well, everyone is different.
So Christmas Day was spent at home. I planned to make a traditional English Christmas dinner for Steve and Papa Ellis. I was a mad woman in the kitchen, cooking all day! I cooked like I was cooking for 10 people! Haha! Hey, it's Christmas! I was just so tired and so glad that I choose not to bake desserts on my own at the last minute. We ended up buying already made tiramisu and trifle from the store (thank god) and we didn't even eat any of it cause we were so full. Needless to say we had leftovers for the next three nights. But the food was amazing! I gave myself a few pats on the back for it and my husband LOVED it all! :)
Between New Year's Eve and Christmas it felt like we went back to laying around and doing nothing but we were actually out every day. Even if it was for a quick trip to the shop, we were out. We decided to get our Christmas gifts to each other on Boxing Day. This is a day in England (after Christmas) when they have all their after Christmas sales.
I have been wanting a cell phone since I've moved here (a year and a half now!) and this was the perfect time to get it as my gift. So we headed out to Curry's to get my awesome new Note. I was excited to get something with a huge screen cause I am not a fan of the small iphone screen. Also very excited for the pen that comes with the note. Even more excited to try out the camera on this thing! Woot! Merry Christmas to meee! Now to figure out how to use it and give my number out.
I was determined for my Babz to get something almost the same but he was so indecisive about it. We looked all around the store, I gave a million ideas, nothing. In the end, my sweet man ordered a shitload of books on Amazon and he was just as excited for this as I was for my phone. And below are only a few of the books that came in, there are still lots more we are waiting for.
Books are the perfect gift for him. He reads them every night and can read one book in 3 days usually. He reads them so fast! So even though he already has a million books, he has read them all once and even twice, so now he has a whole new batch of books to read.
So the Monday before new year's eve we decided to go out and test out this bad boy (camera phone). I was well impressed and very satisfied with the results with no filters!
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| White Mill - Sturminster Marshall, Wimborne Dorset England |
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| The River Stour and sunset. Sturminster Marshall, Wimborne Dorset England. |
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| White Mill Bridge - Sturminster Marshall, Wimborne Dorset England. The Oldest bridge in Dorset. |
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| River Stour. The view downstream towards Corfe Mullen and Wimborne. |
This year for New Year's Eve I didn't make the mistake of drowning myself in wine. I actually didn't drink much at all but a glass at midnight. I was not going to go through the 3 day hangover like I did last year - no way! It was still fun and we just chilled like any other night together and watched the London fireworks on the tele. Thankful to have had another year together with wonderful family and friends in England and the USA. Looking forward to what 2015 has to offer!
More photos here <Sturminster Marshall. Wimborne, Dorset England>
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