When the Angels Sign Your Name

I know I've been changed x3
'Cause the angels in heaven

Gonna sign my name

You know that I've been changed 3x
Cause the angels in the heaven's
Gonna sign my name

I prayed all night and I prayed all day, too. 

'Cause the angels in heaven gonna sign my name.

And I'll keep on praying 'til I come through

'Cause the angels in heaven gonna sign my name.

I know I've been changed 3x
'Cause the angels in heaven gonna sign my name.

I prayed all night and I prayed all day too.

'Cause the angels in heaven gonna sign my name.

And I'll keep on praying 'til I come through

'Cause the angels in heaven gonna sign my name.

I know I've been changed - 3x
'Cause the angels in heaven gonna sign my name.

If you don't believe I've been redeemed

The angels in heaven gonna sign my name.
You need to follow me down to the x tree.

The angels in heaven gonna sign my name.

Mi'jos en La Muralla

Mis hijos en La Muralla - su último fin de semana juntos aquí.
My kids on the Roman Wall - their last weekend here together. Lovin' those sunshine shorts, Mark Farrell!
From Sara'a Instagram: I don't want this dude to leave. Stay with me forevvvvver! #broski #family#dontleave #hugs #skinnyasslegs #dog #astorga#sombra

Castrillo de los Polvazares

Dancing Mark's Graduation

Mark graduates today, in just a few hours. No matter which continent I might be on, I promised myself I'd be there for that moment. An unexpected visit, however, the flight to see Ryan off to Army Boot Camp four months earlier (wouldn't have missed that, either, for the world) and consequent work commitments upon my return kept me homebound.

Photo courtesy Lisa Montgomery

Photo courtesy 

Sometimes you move, you just move, because if you sit still and your mind dwells, you go crazy. So, you move, you breathe and you allow yourself during these minutes, when the longing is overwhelming, to embrace and stretch and feel the beat of your heart. Your and the troupe's hips and feet respond to the pulse of dance all around the class. Tribal dance practice tonight, new steps. I imagine you, son, can feel our movement and joy. Heavy rain clouds stretch across a full golden moon in anticipation. It's my boy's graduation night.

Of course, I'll be in bed asleep tonight when my sweet son crosses the field and receives his diploma. Nine hours difference makes his early California evening my middle of the Spanish night. I close my eyes and our first summer rain begins to beat a strong steady rhythm against the attic bedroom windows.

Mark, do you know we're dancing and celebrating you?  See you soon, son. Congratulations with every beat of my heart!

Photo courtesy Lisa Montgomery

Quoting favourite graduation read:
"You grew up — and I want to go back and I want to go with you, but I can’t do either.That’s a hard thing to sit with...

You have been given now. Romans 12:1. Seize the Day.

Just go do that: it’s never too late to love and there is always time to love and what else is a lifetime for?"

Spanish Elections Open Season

Friday at the strike of   marked the beginning of official campaigning in Astorga and many other Spanish cities elsewhere. The 15 day campaign begins with the hanging of political posters, called La Pegada de Carteles in the Plaza de San Bartolo.

"Ahora en las elecciones se pegan pasquines en cualquier sitio; superficies cilíndricas, onduladas . Si a ello le añades un punto de vista inusual, se obtienen transformers como estos." - Eloy Rubio

The posters seem quite realistic to me as the success of one party seems to rest on the tearing down of another, rather than showing the citizenry the benefit of that particular party's point of view and plans. Personal and political scars remain long after the posters are torn down and the new governmental seats are filled.

El Vergel

If you've ever traveled to Spain you know that you can safely say that it's all about the food. The day is planned by where you'll have your morning coffee, where you'll have the mid-day big meal, lunch, and finally, where you'll dine.
Si alguna vez has viajado a España ya sabes que con seguridad se puede decir que todo gira sobre la comida. El día está planeado por el lugar donde tendrás tu café de la mañana, dónde tendrás la comida de mediodía, el almuerzo, y por último, dónde cenar.

So, picking the finest restaurant, especially while vacationing is a great priority.
Por lo tanto, elegir el mejor restaurante, especialmente durante tus vacaciones es una gran prioridad.

Of course we knew about El Vergel, and I, being vegetarian, like to seek out new places for healthy cuisine whenever possible.
Por supuesto que sabíamos acerca de El Vergel, y yo, siendo vegetariana, me gusta buscar nuevos lugares de cocina saludable siempre que sea posible.

Once in Tarragona while asking for directions to El Vergel we were told by a young couple, who by the way weren't vegetarian, that El Vergel is the BEST restaurant in the city. They were right.
Una vez en Tarragona, mientras preguntábamos por la dirección a El Vergel una pareja joven, que por cierto no eran vegetarianos, nos dijo que El Vergel era el mejor restaurante de la ciudad. Tenían razón.

The atmosphere was calm and beautiful, shabby chic white with good taste exuding from every corner. The menu was complete, portions generous and tastes so exquisite that I wanted to make each bite of my meal last. Even the tea was extraordinary.
El ambiente era tranquilo y hermoso, blanco shabby chic con buen gusto que exuda de cada esquina. El menú era completo, porciones generosas y gusto tan exquisito que quería que cada bocado de mi comida no se acabara. Incluso el té era extraordinario.

Even Sombra had a wonderful time relaxing there before her meal.
Incluso Sombra tuvo un tiempo maravilloso relajante allí antes de su comida.

La Catedral

La Catedral de León, is the Cathedral I'm referring to, of course. Her splendour is unsurpassed when it comes to minimal stone and maximum light.