My goals for 2012

The last few weeks I have been deeply soul searching on what my goals should be for 2012.   Here is what I have come up with.  I am going to volunteer at Project Angel Heart and The Arapahoe House.  I want to use the special gifts that I have been blessed with from God, both of these charities allow me to do that.  I happen to be a great cook and why not share that gift to make meals for people who are very ill and make them a meal that makes them feel better.  The Arapahoe house  helps at risk young women overcome drug, alcohol, and mental health issues, and helping them become productive members of society.  So many of these girls lack good role models in their lives.  I know first hand, how important having a good role model is.  I had so many in my life that helped me stay away from drugs and alcohol which would have made my issues with Post Traumatic Stress worse than it has been. This is why I want to be a mentor to these girls. This is how I can serve God. My other goals are to get my health back on track, improving my grades, learning how to plant a garden, and canning what I grow.  I believe these goals will help to make 2012 an awesome year.

Colorado Christmas Blizzard

Today, I have received an early Christmas gift, snow.  I have been wanting a white Christmas and I will have one this year. This is the first blizzard, we've had so close to Christmas in many years.  We've had a foot of snow where I live in Denver and it's still snowing.  It's about 20 degrees right now and it will fall to 2 below zero.  I was brave enough to go outside and take a few pictures to share with all of you. 

Summer of 2011 Musings

 Colorado summer flowers 2011

It's hard to believe how fast this year is going, tomorrow we'll officially start September and Fall which is my favorite time of the year.  It's been a very hot August in Colorado, one that will break records.  Despite the hot weather, we've had some beautiful summer flowers.  My brother Tony, on the other hand, gets to travel to exciting places all over the world with his job.  Most recently to Greenland and Iceland and took the most amazing pictures of glaciers and icebergs that I have to share.  Tony goes to places with his job that I will never see so I get to live through his travels.  I have just started my first semester at the University of Colorado Denver and I love university life, much more than community college. Both of mt professors are named Sara and are new teachers and have such excitement about teaching that is infectious.  I love my classes that I am taking especially my first Public Health Class, Introduction to Population Studies.  What I love about this class, is that we are studying in depth how good and bad policies by governments can effect a population.  I am excited that after many years, I now know what I want to do in life, help people by educating them about health. I'm enjoying being a non-traditional student along with the kids that are just starting out in life.  We can learn from each other and support each other in our classes. 
                            Tony's amazing pictures of Glaciers and Icebergs in Greenland

My Trip to Colorado Springs

Yesterday, I made my first trip back to my hometown of Colorado Springs, Colorado after 18 years.  It was a beautiful day to go up and Colorado Springs it was so green because of all the summer rain Colorado has been having this summer.  My Aunt Lee, my godmother and the Aunt I am named after, was just been placed in an Assisted Living facility.  Aunt Lee is doing well despite her challenging health issues. I got to meet the wonderful staff who help take good care take care of her.  We had fun looking at some Zafereo family pictures old and new and talking about family memories.   I  also found a picture of my dad as a baby that I  have been looking for many years. I also got to see my cousin Marjorie after to 20 years.  Here are some pictures I took of family and the physical beauty of Colorado Springs.

                                           Pikes Peak Mountain Range in the Background

                                           Cheyenne Mountain Range in the background

                                           Aunt Lee and Marjorie

                                           Paul Aunt Lee and Marjorie

                                           Angie Aunt Lee and Marjorie

In Loving Memory of My Aunt Catherine on her 100th Birthday

                                         My favorite picture of Aunt Catherine and I when I was 16 yrs old

I dedicate this post to the memory of my late Aunt Catherine who would have turned 100 years old today.  Aunt Catherine was my favorite aunt and who I considered my other grandma.  Aunt Catherine died 11 years ago at the age of 89.  Aunt Catherine and Uncle Harry shared quite a love story that I am so honored to be a part of.  They were together for 61 years, 51 in marriage. They dated 10 years before getting married because they were both supporting their respective families during the Great Depression. Aunt Catherine would always say to me that she was grateful for World War II because it made it possible for her and Uncle Harry to finally marry. Aunt Catherine is a pioneer to women in the military because she was among the first WACS, which was women serving in the military during World War II.  Without my Aunt Catherine and her fellow WACS, women would have not been able to advance as well as they have in the military today.  She wrote a book about that experience called my war where she talked about facing discrimination among women and minorities, and how she managed it.  This book really serves as a love story to her marriage to my Uncle Harry who also served in the army during World War II. for she also shares some of the experiences Uncle Harry went through during the war. Aunt Catherine was an anchor in my life when I always needed it and I learned so many things from her like being independent, outspoken, and standing up for what you believe in. I;m proud to be her niece  She loved history, all kinds of history and it's where my love of history comes from.   My mom is named for Aunt Catherine who did not have any children of her own but she loved my mom like a daughter, and by extension my brother Tony and I as her grandchildren.  We would always have the most amazing talks about history, books and about family history.  Everyone should be as lucky and blessed as I was to have such an amazing women as my aunt. I love and miss you so much Aunt Catherine. Here are some of my favorite photos of Aunt Catherine.

Aunt Catherine's Book

                                         

                                          A favorite picture of Aunt Catherine and Uncle Harry