And Finally, The Azores, Parts 5&6

It started as a rainy day, day 5 in Faja Grande, Flores. It was also our last full day on our beautiful island, being indoors wasn't an option. Emilie and I took a walk in the rain up to the cruz (the cross) which over looks Faja Grande. It was so wonderful to look down over our town, and see it from the cross. As I think about it, I saw it from the cross the entire time.
I saw how the sin, lies, shame, and hurt of my life had been redeemed.



Later in the day other relatives who had traveled with us from the Ca. to Azores arrived (they had been on a tour of some of the other islands in the Azores before joining us in Flores where they would all stay another week, with the exception of Emilie and I).

The rest of the day we enjoyed our little village and time with family

Emilie with my cousin Aaron
Top L to R- Rick,Anna, Steve Emilie, Toni, and Aunt Violet.
Me with my "Favorite Aunt Violet" (my dad's oldest sister).

In the evening we took another walk up to the Poco de Bacalau. My cousin Kennedy joined us.

Day 6, we prepared to leave our Isla de Flores by saying goodbyes to people and family we had met in Faja Grande. I am especially grateful to my cousin Victor who drove me first to the Pointe (the little town beside ours), and then up to a road overlooking Faja Grande. I stood there with a heart full of gratitude to God for giving me this wonderful heritage and family . I stood there in awe of the beauty of my home.

God is a mysterious God. I think of the scripture that says "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive what God has prepared for those who love him." I could have never fathomed he had all this, and I know that this is nothing compared to what he has in mind for me -and for you!
I think that this trip was so amazing because I went with my "heart wide open. "

(Muntu bonito means it is very pretty)

How I want to live a life everyday that sees things from the cross, that enters the mystery of God with my heart wide open.
That is my prayer for you (and for me).

Azores Part 4- A tour of the isla de Flores

On day 4 in Faja Grande my grandmother rented a van for the day to take us on a tour of the the island (or the isla de Flores).





All the lavender you see in this photograph is Hydrangeas. See how beautifully they climb the rock, the hillside, and frame the road around the isla de Flores.

The isla de Flores is about 30 miles around. It is lush with walls of hydrangeas, many waterfalls, caldedas (tops of volcanos, now filled with water and framed in hydrangeas). Farming and cattle land are divided by hydrangea or stone walls. The drive around the island was so beautiful that at many times I shouted at the driver to stop the car so I could jump out and take photos.
We stopped at a nursing home in one town to visit my grandfather's sister Tia Anna (we all refer to her as Tia Anina, Anina means little Anna). I met her 15yrs ago when she visited California. I was so fond of her then, as she was warm, friendly, and very pretty to me. She is the only one of my grandfather's siblings I have met. I was anxious to see her again. What a delight to find her to be just as I remembered her. Our visit was so quick. I sat close and hugged, and tried to soak up as much of her as I could. Tia Anina never married, and so she never had children, and before I left she said, "I never had a daughter, but if I had I'd want her to be you." Hmmmm- Belonging.

Next, stopped in the town of Santa Cruz, and had some pizza, did some shopping, and visited the beautiful jarden (garden pronounced jar deen). The jarden had animals, a park and a variety of beautiful flowers. At the jarden, we met a man named Moses who was visiting Flores from Oakdale Ca. As some of you know I am from Oakdale ("The Cowboy Capital of the World" and home of the Hershey factory- although my shpeel will soon have to change as the Hershey factory is moving to Mexico). It is crazy to be on the other side of the world and to meet people who are from your neck of the woods.


What a beautiful day. It was so generous of my grandmother to make this tour happen for us. She must have loved having 2 of her loves together at last, her isla de Flores and her grandaughters. Here grandma is with her sister Marianna at the Point of Mustarda.

Azores- Part 3

I have been away and unable to blog, email, or function because our computer crashed! Thankfully all was saved, and Mac Daddy was able to fix and improve our computer.

Now where was I...


Day 3, in Faja Grande Flores- We woke to sweet bread, cha (tea) and eggs (fresh from the chicken). We then took a walk with our grandmother around Faja Grande. We saw the 2 houses she and my grandfather lived in, and the homes where my dad and aunts were born. We saw the terras (lands) my grandparents owned and worked. We saw the creek where my grandmother would do laundry. I have to say I had always felt a bit sorry for her having to do laundry for a large family in a creek, but this creek was surrounded by hydrangeas, with a waterfall in front of it, and the Atlantic Ocean at it's left. I wish my laundry room was that kind of escape, my Kenmore from Sears could never compare.
The highlight of our walk was getting a tour of my grandfather's childhood home. I am so thankful to my cousin Leonardo for taking me into each room, telling me of it's history, naming relatives in photographs, telling me more about my Teodosio family. I would have loved to have seen the little boy my grandfather was living, laughing, and playing in his home.


We had lunch at the restaurant at the point (where we met another cousin). Here you can see the rock that is the most western most point of Europe.









After lunch, Toni, Steve, Emilie and I went down to the ocean for a swim. Now I have to tell you I do not like water, I especially do not like water where there are fish and other fishy things. I am often a person who will not do something because of fear (silly fear), and I will later kick myself for not doing it. So here I am standing at the edge of this beautiful, clear, fishy (they were medium sized- aahhhh) Atlantic Ocean. The same ocean my grandfather so often told me he use to dive into and swim. And I did it, I dove in! It was wonderful. I bravely ventured out a little further, and enjoyed being in the waters that once held my grandfather. I wonder if from heaven's window he saw and delighted in me.


In the evening we took a walk up to the Poco de Bacalau (The Pond of Bacalau- a type of fish). A hydrangea path ushered us up a shallow river, past an old mill, and to a pond that was being fed by a beautiful waterfall, with hydrangea walls along side it all. All you can do is sit and take it in. It was breathtaking. Emilie really enjoyed her new friend Marcia (pronounced mar see uh) who joined us for the walk. Emilie does not speak Portuguese and Marcia does not speak English, but the two of them played as if they were old friends.















What a wonder filled day. What a blessing to walk in the steps of my grandfather, to swim in his pool, to absorb the beauty of his home Faja Grande. To better understand the man who is my first love here on earth, and the only man worthy to be my father, the man who walked me to and from school when I was little, the man to pray at my bed side, the man who's face always lit up when I walked in the door, the man who delighted in me, the man to walk me down the isle on my wedding day, the man who was so pleased with my husband when he visited our home and saw how I was treasured, the man who looked at his great grandchildren with joy and tears, who made me stand a little taller because I knew he was proud. Alzheimers and age slowly took him away until God took him home. I miss him everyday, but I rejoice because he is now made new- walking, swimming, absorbing the beauty of God, and His "better than life love."

Azores Part 1

Our trip to the Azores was WONDERFUL! I have so much to share, but for now I will tell you it was a heart journey. I find myself homesick for old yet new family, hydrangea covered hills, waterfalls, cobblestone streets, and the embrace and kisses of the people of Faja Grand, Flores.
As I left, my relative Antonio Nasciemento (who I just met and absolutely love) said, " a tu via parte" which translated is, "are you going to part." I replied, "si." He said that, "parte" means- "part of you will die when you go." I didn't want to leave, and yes part of me died in the leaving, but such a big part of me came alive in being there. I look forward to sharing it with you over the next week.



Above-
#1. Hydrangeas and trees in Flores
#2. Ova (grandma) and I in Terceira.




#3. Emilie and Tia Everesta (Ova's sister)
#4. The church in Faja Grande, Flores- with the most western most point of Europe.

Less than a week till the Azores!

When I think about it, aahhhh! I can't believe I am going. Somebody pinch me!
So, if you have traveling experience...
What do I need to take?
What can I leave behind?
What will make a long flight more enjoyable?
Where should I get a calling card?
How should I exchange money?
What is a traveling mistake you have made that I can learn from?
What is a traveling must?

2 weeks till the Azores

In a previous blog I mentioned that I would be sharing about my g-parents, their story of how they came to the U.S.

My grandmother Josefina Greves was one of 17 children, and the second Josefina born to her parents (the other 1 had died as an infant). My grandfather Antonio Teodosio was one of 12 children (11 biological and 1 adopted sister). They lived on the westernmost point of Europe, on the Portuguese island of Flores. From my knowledge, a beautiful, but poor island.

My grandmother's father Jose (pronounced- ju zeh) Greves had come to the United States , lived, worked, and obtained citizenship in the early 1900's. When he returned to Flores, Azores he married and began a family. His wife Marie Amelia, had no desire to leave her home, and so they lived the rest of their years in Flores.
I wonder how an island so small could hold a man who had seen so much of the world. I am sure that he spoke of his adventures, which put a fire under his daughter Josefina for more.

My grandparent's story isn't a fairytale, they grew up along side each other, and married in 1947. They had 6 children; Violet, Marie, Victoria, Vera, Joe, and Hilda (These are their American names, changed when they moved here. Btw- with exception to Violet, all of my aunts first names are Marie). They continued living in Flores for some years, but my grandmother wanted more, and she made plans to move her family to the Unites States.

On March 19,1961 at the age of 35, my grandmother came to California, leaving her husband to care for their children (ages 12-5), as she established a home for them in the U.S. She found a home, and a dairy job for my grandfather. She borrowed money and sent for her family, who arrived 4 months later on July 31st (their anniversary).

I once asked my grandmother what it was like to go to the San Francisco airport to receive her husband and children. Unfortunately it was an unpleasant trip. My grandmother had been advised to fix herself up as the American women do. My grandfather was livid when he discovered his wife made up with lipstick , dress, and curls. After 4 months apart, he wouldn't speak to her (I think he may have been more upset that she left him with 6 children- aahhhh!).

Through the years my grandparents worked in fields, raised their six children, my grandmother also worked 25+ years for Hunts (yes, tomatoes and ketchup), my grandfather worked in dairies.
They also raised my sister and I (though we were only in there house a few years, theirs was the only consistent home, and the only consistent love we had known). Their family of 8 is now a family of 36, including spouses, 14 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.

In September of 2005 God took my grandfather home and made him new. As my Josie says, " Now Ova (grandpa in portugese) can run, and jump and turn around."

The name Josefina, comes from Joseph which means "May God add." God has certainly added so much to our lives because of my grandmother.

5 more weeks

In 5 weeks I will be going to the Flores, Azores. So here is a little Denise history- I was privileged to be raised by my grandparents, Antonio & Josefina Teodosio (Yes, my Josie is named after her great grandma, or "Vava" which we call her), from the age of 3-6. My mother realized she couldn't care for us, and decided that my dad's parents could provide a home for us. My Grandparents (and Dad) are from Flores, Azores ( an island in the Atlantic Ocean off of Portugal). Their story and how they made a home here is amazing, and I will share it over the next few weeks. Their constant love and care for me has shaped my life. God was generous in writing them into my life. But first I'll tell you that my grandmother is a talented crocheter and knitter, and that over the last 33 years she has crocheted and knitted into me the Portuguese language, foods, smells, festivities, and stories of Flores. I have seen many pictures of Flores, and imagined myself in every one. I have spoken to relatives with hopes of meeting them, I have dreamt of seeing the hot springs, hills covered in hydrangeas, the soccer field where my young grandfather played "futball," the cliffs he dove off of, the fields they worked, and so much more. We have had many discussions about "when we go," but because of circumstances have never had the opportunity to go, till now. I will be traveling with my grandmother, sister, brother-in-law, and my daughter Emilie. I am overwhelmed! Because in a way I am going home, to a place I have never been, but have always known. Is there any where you've been waiting to go? Is there anyone who has woven your heritage into your life?