Neither Mary nor I are getting any younger and, frankly sometimes it is just a bit hard to get the aging bodies going. That seems especially true when the pressures of the Christmas season close in and there just does not seem to be enough hours in the day to get all of the extra baking, decorating, shopping, and other “stuff” done. Sometimes one just needs a little, “pick-me-up” long about two or three o’clock in the afternoons.
Enter Sol!
Our nine year old neighbor and adopted daughter Sol and her fifteen year old sister (another adopted daughter), Luna drop by fairly regularly to visit or practise the piano and suddenly the burdens of the day are lifted by their overwhelming spirit and love of life.
Recently Sol has fallen in love with my guitar. She picked it up the other day and simply started playing! We posted a video to our Facebook page of Sol playing and singing a song. I will attach that video at the end of this post.
Yesterday Sol came by to practise the piano and filled the house with piano music of several Christmas songs she has been practising. Then she told me about a dance she is going to perform at her school’s Christmas program with some other girls. In true Sol fashion she not only told me about it she popped up and started singing and dancing.
I broke out the camera and worked to find the song on YouTube so that we could film her dance routine. While I was working to get the song playing, Sol experimented with my camera and took this picture of a bookcase in our front room where her shell painting of turtles sits amid other Christmas decorations.
She also got several other pictures of the floor and off kilter shots of me messing with the computer and speakers! (Thank goodness for digiatal cameras!) This one came out pretty good.
Finally I got the music ready and set up a chair in front of the Christmas tree so that I could record the dance. It was a low-budget two-person production and Sol had to hit the play button and then race into position in front of the tree.
After a few out-takes and lots of laughing, we finally got it right and Sol performed her dance.
Phew! It is hard not to be filled with the Christmas spirit after an afternoon with Luna and Sol!
For those of you who did not see it on Facebook, here is Sol playing the guitar with no lessons or training. Just natural talent and lots and lots of energy!
Today a friend dropped by to pick up some cookies and candy Mary has been preparing as a fund raising activity. While they were here Ramon (Luna and Sol’s father) came over and chased the two young boys all around the front yard growling like a bear! Nura (Luna and Sol’s mother) stops by regularly to just say hello and check on Mary.
One more week until Christmas Eve, but our home is already filled with Christmas joy thanks to Sol and the rest of the Garcia family who remind us daily that…
Life is good in Ecuador!
Adorable! That’s what the holidays are all about! Merry Christmas, John and Mary.
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Sol and Luna fill the void that we feel not having our own family close by. Their visits and love of life just make us happier and keep us grounded. We are so lucky. Merry Christmas!
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Even a Scrooge would smile while watching these videos! She seems very comfortable with the guitar and has a ‘stage presence’ – who knows, perhaps we’ll one day say, ‘We knew her when!’
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I am sure you noticed, but she even seemed to be looking to make sure she had her fingers right on the frets and she strummed gently making music even without fingering the chords. She does have some kind of natural ability that hopefully will develop as she grows and practises. The girls are both so much fun and our lives are enriched living right across the street from the Garcia family.
We hope you have a blessed and merry Christmas! JandM
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Heartwarming ❤️
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Thank you so much! Merry Christmas.
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She is adorable! Happy Holidays!
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Thank you. She is a joy to us and all who know her. Merry Christmas to you and yours! JandM
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She is so talented
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Yes, and she has so much energy that she is fun to be around!
Merry Christmas good friend!
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Glad you share it DF ..thanks
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