Jemma's Tales

Greetings From Puerto Rico

May 09, 2018
Greetings family, friends and dear readers. I have been traveling a bit this past week to the island of Puerto Rico. My time was well spent with my family in this tropical paradise and it has been very precious and beautiful to me. It has been one of those trips that will help to sustain me through the decades of my life.



When Amanda, Preston and the children moved to Puerto Rico in December of 2016 my heart nearly broke. They moved from their darling home in Sacramento, California (1,723 miles away) to Dorado, Puerto Rico (2,156) Even though the distance is not significantly greater, somehow it seems so. The vastness of the sea which separates us plays tricks on my mind. If I think about it all too much I get a big pit in the middle of my stomach.



Colorful small towns, food trucks and various vendors dot the coastlines from shore to shore. So no matter what coastline we traveled to (Atlantic or Caribbean side) a medley of colors painted the turquoise waters and matching blue skies.

Puerto Rico has a rich history and even to this day the island fights for it's rights as an unincorporated territory of the U.S. The Puerto Rican government has a 45 % poverty rate and is in a debt-crisis.

I am reminded how blessed I am not only by family, but by having a home that is safe and secure, so much of the island is till reeling from hurricane Maria. From the air, sights of missing roofs covered in blue tarps sprinkle the tropical landscape.



As the seasons of life ebb and flow I have began to cherish these brief moments even more. I have become a collector of memories and moments in the later decades of my life. Oh, this may sound depressing to many of you but it is not. It is complete and total freedom to carve out the way I wish to spend my moments, hours and days...to live my life.



Hiking has always been a passion of mine whether in the Rocky Mountains or in Puerto Rico. There are wonderful hiking trails all around the Island, some close to the sea and others in the mountains.



The Golden seashore of Domes Beach is world renown for it's surfing competitions with waves reaching up to 25 feet. We spent one weekend in Rincon and played in the ocean for two days. I paddled out to sea with the rest of the family and joined in on snorkeling. We saw a beautiful sea turtle, barracuda and glorious seashells too.



I love the time I spent with my daughter and her sweet family. I enjoy her companionship so much. (Avery had just had enough of everything, even though pizza was on the way!)



Thank you for a wonderful visit dear Daughter, Preston and family and beautiful Puerto Rico!




I am sharing links to Amanda's and Preston's Sacramento Home Transformation.

They Call It Home Part One

They Call It Home Part Two

They Call It Home Part Three

They Call It Home Part Four


Thank you For joining me today!


Jemma

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Comments

  1. You all look so relaxed (and tan!) and I can tell this visit was good for your soul. I think you picked a perfect time of year to go too Jemma! Such lovely photos :).

    xxx

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  2. What a blessing to be able to visit your sweet daughter and family. The photos are great. You look so refreshed.
    Time away is always good for the soul. Enjoy. Xo

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  3. Good morning friend. This looks like such a wonderful trip! You and Amanda are so tanned and beautiful! The beaches really do look like paradise. :)

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  4. It looks like you are having a great time and such a beautiful family you have.

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  5. What a great visit to see your daughter and grand kids and SIL. You look great in the pic with your daughter so tan and beautiful. I have always wanted to visit Puerto Rico. Happy Wednesday Jemma.
    xoox
    Kris

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  6. What a wonderful experience they are having living in Puerto Rico, even if it's just a short time. The grandchildren are precious, and I bet they have the best time on those sparkly beaches playing in the water and finding the perfect sea shells. The sea turtle must have been a pleasant surprise for you. I'm glad you got to spend time with your daughter and family, Jemma. Amanda has the most beautiful smile, she really does........and I can see where she gets it from. ; )

    love, ~Sheri

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  7. You and your daughter are the spittin image of each other! No one can mistake who she belongs too. Y'all look so happy. Seems like a beautiful place to visit.

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  8. Good morning Jemma,
    I loved all of your photos of your Puerto Rico trip on IG! The water is a gorgeous shade of turquoise! I've never been there but hope to some day! It looks like you all had a wonderful visit! I understand that feeling of being separated by water. My middle daughter lives on an island and though it is only about a 3 hr drive and a 45 min ferry ride away, (short trip compared to yours) I have times when I am very uncomfortable with it. (like when they close the ferry during hurricanes, nor'easters--knowing she couldn't get off the island and I couldn't get to the island if needed, it's a weird feeling.) I do love visiting there though and spending a few days. Always hard to leave!

    You have a beautiful family Jemma! It is obvious that they love spending time with you as much as you love spending time with them, ......here's to creating lots of wonderful memories to cherish! Enjoy the rest of the week!!! Sending love and hugs, Linda

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  9. So glad you had so much fun. I know exactly what you mean by enjoying the days and moments of life and cherishing what is important Jemma. It takes a little age on us I think to truly make us appreciate the God-given moments of this earthly life. Oh it looks like you had so much fun. Your family is beautiful. You look so refreshed lady. I love it. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
    P.S. Happy Mother's Day

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  10. Oh! Gemma you are a beaultifull family😍

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  11. So glad you got to enjoy your beautiful family in such a beautiful place!

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  12. Enjoy that fabulous blue water and all those sweet happy faces surrounding you!

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  13. Jemma,
    What a wonderful time with your daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. All of you look like you were having fun (except the last photo with Avery 😉.) The photos are beautiful, and I understand the feeling of capturing moments in time.

    Judith

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  14. What a wonderful trip to see your daughter! We had planned to go to PR over Thanksgiving, but had to cancel due to the hurricane. We were so disappointed!

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  15. So glad you made such special memories. I know you treasure your kid/grandkid time! 😊

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  16. Though my circumstances are quite different I am separated from my kids/grandson too. Our son was over 2000 miles away in Oregon- got him back over this way to PA and then my daughter moved to LA! I admire you for traveling over there and joining them. I am not much for flying these days. Looks like you had a great time and I’m sure the grandkids loved seeing you. I hope their stay there won’t be too much longer. Best wishes to you for a lovely Mother’s Day.

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  17. Oh, how wonderful, sweet friend! I am so thankful you had this precious time with your dear family! You are so beautiful, inside and out. May Jesus continue to bless you in every way!

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  18. Dearest Jemma, hello! Or rather, HOLA!

    As always, I'm behind in blogging but nonetheless happy to continue visiting my friends, like you. My husband's parents are from P.R. and have many fond memories of island living. What a BEACH!!!!!! Will your daughter and her family continue to live there or is it just a temporary situation due to jobs? Either way, you are so fortunate that you can take frequent trips to visit them.

    Blessings to you dear Jemma!

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  19. How nice to have family in such a beautiful place to visit!

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  20. […] Dear friends and thank you for the cheery welcome home wishes from Puerto Rico. I arrived home on Tuesday and traveled to another daughter’s home on Saturday. Traveling to […]

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  21. It looks and sounds like wonderful memories were made on your recent visit. I'm sure your daughter and family hated to so you leave.

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  22. […] Welcome to our May Garden Party and thank you for joining us today! We loved your April gardens and we can’t wait to see what you are growing in your May gardens. My goodness what a difference a month makes in nearly everyone’s gardens except if you live in the tropics. In the tropics gardening is year around and 24/7. In fact it almost seems as though the plants grow overnight! Today I am sharing some highlights of the gardens I visited in Puerto Rico. […]

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