Another Garibay Adventure… A possible life change

I never thought I’d leave Sacramento. It’s where we planted our seed, it’s where we became we. Our son was born there, my mom was there. It’s where my sister and brother were, it’s where my nephew and niece were. But we left. We made a decision one day, packed our bags and off we went. We left our life behind, our seed, our families, but we kept our we.

We found a happy place, a place that was our’s. A place that we could see ourselves living forever and ever. A place that I pictured my kids growing up. A place where we could always be we…. our happy place.

An opportunity has come up that Gino and I are having a hard time passing up. An opportunity that would steal us away from our happy place, and I grow more and more excited with every passing day!

We are currently on vacation in Colorado. We drove and have soaked up in the beauty that we have seen right before our eyes. With every turn on the freeway we gasp in awe. Of course Oregon is gorgeous, there’s nothing more peaceful to me than the Oregon Coast, but is that enough to keep me there?

At the end of the day it’s just Gino, the kids and me. Can’t we be happy anywhere? I want my kids to grow up with cousins, here in Colorado they’d have that. I want to be able to own my home, and here in Colorado we’d have that. I don’t want to decide where we’ll spend the rest our lives before we’re 30, and moving to Colorado gives us another option.

I think we’re going to be moving to Colorado and I am scared, giddy, excited, feel like I’m going to Disneyland and emotional all at the same time. I mean, come on ~ I’m moving out of the Pacific Time zone…. that’s huge!

There’s a family that lives here that I love to death. My aunt Rayna and I are extremely close. I lived with her for a while as a child. She has 2 teenage daughters that are just special, precious girls, she has a son that’s 2 years older than Jayden and a son that’s 6 weeks older than Ella. She has a husband who shares some of the same interests as Gino does. We have a 4 bedroom, brick, old fashioned home waiting for us. Why wouldn’t we do this? What is keeping us in Oregon?

Tomorrow we will venture to Pueblo where our future home awaits us. We will walk in and vision our future and imagine the possibilities in front of us. We will picture what colors we want the walls, where our furniture will fit, and I will walk into my office/craft room with a smile in my heart…. it will be my dream come true.

I think a huge change is coming to the Garibays and I believe with all of my heart that this change will be good. Please keep us in your prayers as we pray ourselves to ensure that this is what will be best for our family. With how I feel already, I think it’s it. I think this is where we belong.

I will take pictures of our home tomorrow ~ from my understanding it’s an adorable, vintage home, but needs some work…. all the better ~ we will can put our own sweat and love into it and make it ours ~ because we will be bringing our “we” into it.

Just a Motivating Monday – Nurturing Heart


I LOVE inspiration ~ I’m sure you’ve heard me say that a million times, but I thrive on it in my life. I hope that through Garibay Soup I have inspired at least one soul. I can definitely, without a doubt say that I have been inspired by so many people through their blogs… that is why I have started this carnival.

If you’re just joining us:

-Write a blog post about ANYTHING at all that inspires you, or something you feel will inspire others.

-Please link back to Garibay Soup

-Please snag my Just a Motivating button on your post.

-I hope that we can all go and visit each other’s blogs and read what everyone has linked up ~ I hope that this carnival can bring more traffic for you 🙂 So, spread the comment love!

This was originally posted October 5, 2008, but I love it so much I wanted to bring it back for Just a Motivating Monday!

“Each of us must direct our own lives, chart our own course and make our own decisions, and what is best for me is probably constraining for you. We too often forget the fact that what most of us need is to be nurtured, not improved. An emphasis on improvement confirms our inadequacies, while nurturing affirms who we really are and who really loves us. Too often we try to help others by seeking solutions to their problems, or giving them our plan for personal improvement when what they need is love, understanding and acceptance.

Let us remember these two things: that personal joy comes from appreciating the present and that the greatest gift we give to others is a nurturing heart.”

~Author Unknown


I think that if we all lived by what is said above that we would all be much more joyous and happier in our own personal lives.

The Kid is a CRACK UP!


One thing Mr. Jadakiss (as I call my Jayden)is good for is to MAKE YOU LAUGH! This kid says the most hilarious things!! Things that he’s usually 110% serious about and things that make you go… hmmmm… where the heck did he learn that from?!?! Here’s a few of my favorites, if you follow me on {Twitter}, you just may have heard some of these before:

Situation: Gino and Jayden in the car and conversation comes up about the neighbor lady. Jayden says to Gino, “Dad, she’s married don’t try to sex her.” WHAT????? How does he even know the word sex???? New inside joke between Gino and I is.. “Don’t try to sex her/him/me LOL!”

Situation: We’re in the bank drive through and there’s a car next to our’s. I guess the girl in the said car was staring at me…I failed to notice. We take off and Jayden says, “Mom, that girl was staring about you.” and I said, “Why do you think she was staring at me, Jayden? Do you think she likes our car?” and he says, “No, she was staring at you because you’re so great.” That boy melts my heart!

Situation: We’re just randomly in our house and Jayden needs something to drink… “Mom, we should get a butler, and we can name him Alfred.” He was completely serious… what does he think my 16 year old sister is for 3 hours/day??? He can call her Alfred if he wants to… Alyssa, if you’re reading this you can laugh with me it’s okay HAHA

Situation: In Kindergarten I went to pick up my little man and he came walking out holding hands with a girl. My heart just about collapsed, but he was pretty convinced that it was love. Don’t they all at that age? He came home and told his dad, “Dad, I need to get a new dress shirt for my hot date.” OH boy… my heart broke in half at that moment.

Situation: Oh girl talked about above broke up with Jayden and he told my sister that the reason why is because she took him in the girl’s bathroom and kissed his cheek and he told people. So, he needs to find a new girlfriend to marry so he can have his baby when he’s 16… she corrected him w/um, Jayden that doesn’t happen until you’re 25.

Situation: Jayden is 3 and is watching cartoons while I took a shower. He’s the type of kid that will not move if placed in front of a TV. Should I have left him there, probably not… but that 4 years ago and I’m pretty sure I was not as responsible as I am now LOL ~ anyways…. I get out of the shower and notice that Jayden is still planted right in front of the TV yet our Beagle, Baxter, is missing. I look around… nope, no Baxter. So, I ask Jayden… his reply, “Oh, he wanted to go to the store to buy a pie so I let him out.” Great… we’ve never seen Baxter again.

Situation: We’re at church and this is right when we first started going. Gino’s friend/co-worker was there as well, and Jayden looks at him and says, “Do you like hot chicks? My dad likes hot chicks.” O.M.G…. did my son really just say that in church???? Of course my husband only likes THIS HOT CHICK!

I saved the best for last……..

Situation: at my mom’s house where my sister is hanging out with her friends. One friend of her named Tyler walks in and he’s a pretty big boy. Jayden walks up to him, taps him on his belly and says, “Did you eat all the foods?” I WAS MORTIFIED.

Okay, that’s it for tonight ~ as I remember more of Jayden says I’ll write them down and do another post. There’s so many things that have sent us laughing our butts off, but my mind is now coming to a blank as I approach 11:30pm ~ happens to the best of us.

**Picture was taken today at my Grandpa’s dining house called Jailhouse in Ely, NV. It has ALWAYS been my favorite steak house. As a little girl it was always a treat to get to go there, and even now it’s the one thing I always look forward to when coming back to Ely. Sorry about picture quality ~ it was w/my camera phone.

The People Along Life’s Path

We finally escaped from our house and got on the road late last night. By the time we arrived at our first hotel at 1am I thought I was going to die of exhaustion. Have you ever gotten to the point when driving late at night where you think, if I just close my eyes and wake up in a hospital bed, at least I’ll be sleeping…. I know, terrible but that’s how I felt. The kids and husband in the car with me are what kept my eyes pried open.

Today we arrived at our first destination. Miserable, loney Ely, Nevada. If you’ve ever been to Ely you know exactly what I’m talking about. Anytime that I come to this town I get this sick feeling in my gut and just want to turn the car around and not look back. It just has the icky feeling to it.

Today was different. Right when we pulled into town I pulled in front of a sports bar that my mom’s ex from when I was a little girl owns. Seeing him did something to me I think. He came out and got to meet my family and had a smile on his face that made my soul feel like it was smiling. I miss him. I miss him and my mom together. When they were together we were a family. I was happy.

I think on this trip this is going to happen a lot to me. I’m backtracking and going to places that are from my past and I’m going to see people and places from my past that will bring back memories and feelings… feelings I really didn’t realize I had in me.

How is it possible for people to come in and out of your life? There are so many moments that happen in our life, relationships that we form, and as we grow apart, move apart, lose contact we forget. We forget how much these people mean to us. I think it is dreadfully sad, and I want to make it a goal to stay in contact with the people that have meant something to me. Not just the current people in my life, but with everyone that has had an impact in my life.

I didn’t have the privilege of having a father growing up. My dad as I’ve talked about many time on this blog has never been my dad. But because of this I have had the privilege of having some wonderful father figures in my life. 1 of them met my children tonight. The other will be meeting them in Salt Lake next weekend. Dustin in Salt Lake was never a step-dad of mine, but he holds the place in my heart that a Dad holds in a girl. He is such a wonderful person and did so much to help me out through my teenage years, and I disappointed him. I just want him to know now and always that I appreciate him, and I am so happy that he has such a wonderful family ~ and I’m happy he continues to help troubled teens. I only hope that they realize what a wonderful guy they have there for them…. Dustin rocks and I CANNOT wait to see him next weekend and have him meet my husband, my children and to see that I didn’t turn out too bad.

I want to remember the people that have impacted my life. I want to make contact with them all and let them know how they helped to make me who I am today, because that’s what happens…. the people in our path of life help to make us who we are.