Frijoles literally mean "black beans" in Spanish. They are a very important staple in any Hispanic diet. Many nutritious dishes are made with black beans, prepared in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and several other nations in Latin America.
Black beans are high in foliate (256 mcg), iron (3.61 mg), magnesium (120 mg), and phosphorus (241 mg); they are also a source of zinc (1.92 mg), niacin (2 mg), and thiamine (.42 mg) - based on 1 cup portion size.
With that technicality out of the way. Let me tell you a little about the name of this blog and why now after so many years (blog started in 3/2008) how it has an even greater meaning. I started this blog because I wanted to become part of the social Internet norm and I named my blog "Frijoles on the Side" because I love to eat frijoles with everything. If I don't ask for a side of black beans then i must not be feeling great that day.
I regularly say that when I plan, God looks down from the Heavens at me and laughs. Through my spiritual growth I have come to understand that I need not plan because I am that extra "frijoles on the side". I'm the side of black beans that gets ordered by God to be served with trials, tribulations, joyous occasions and sometimes in the most awkward of moments. These past few years have been some of my best for reflection and growth. Let me recap a bit.
TIMELINE
February 2010
I had my daughter Makaila - the best present from God ever, after my husband.
February 2011
Celebrated Makaila's first birthday - It was awesome filled with all our friends and family. We also celebrated our birthdays (Michael and I) with our new bundle of joy.
March 2011
My father had surgery for the removal of a tumor in his stomach - his diagnosis was stomach cancer - now in remission and Cancer free.
May 2011
My father fell and broke his arm - his arm is fully healed.
September 2011
My father was in a terrible car accident and broke his neck and punctured his spleen - he is now fully recuperated and doing well.
December 2011
Michael gets into a car accident and our minivan was totalled - he came out unscathed.
We purchased a new car almost all cash with the money from the insurance and a little help from dad.
February 2012
Celebrated Makaila's 2nd birthday YoGabbaGabba style - It was phenomenal!!!
Michael got promoted at work to Assistant Manager
July 2012
Stared my own business
Passion Parties by Connie - going great!!
September 2012
I got kidney stones and doctors found something weird in my kidneys
October 2012
Got my kidneys check was told nothing to worry about but more tests needed to be run.
November 2012
Won a contest for a month's worth of personal training and meals to help me lose weight, contest sponsored by
The Health Joint!
Got diagnosed with worrisome tumors with prognosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma.
Quit my job to focus on myself and my life.
December 2012
Start a new job
Was told surgery scheduled January 8th 2013 to remove a tumor from my right kidney and a future surgery in March for the entire removal of my left kidney.
Wow - was that a great recap or what. Just by reading you will find that the only constant in this list was change - but if you were to read my heart the only constant there was GOD. Throughout all of these events both fun and trying, I never forgot once to PRAISE GOD and to run to him when I was on the verge of breaking and on the days I had no strength to get out of bed because I was so exhausted. The good thing in all of this is that the more I asked for his presence the more I got it. And the reason this "frijole" is so significant is because of the symbol it would come to represent.... ME
The tumors were found in my kidneys and as you may already know kidneys are frijole shaped and very similar to what my logo looks like. Little did I know that in 2008 my frijole would become such a great symbol of who I would become in 2012. In the near future I will be the lucky survivor of kidney tumors with a very special KIDNEY that God prepared for me because he gave me 2 (curious fact - not everyone is born with 2 kidneys). I will live a really long life valuing the little things that God gives me because He will never give me more than I can handle. I will live to appreciate all the plates I (this frijole), am served with simply because of the opportunity to be the "Frijoles on the Side" that makes life taste so much better. Not sure why God chose me to be the special serving but I do know I will do my best to complement all the plates I am served with in order to better serve Him. I will forever be grateful to God for his grace, mercy and unconditional love. I'm proud to be his princess and I am especially proud to be a very special serving of "Frijoles on the Side" that we will use for the Glory of his Kingdom.
Throughout this blog you will get to learn more of who I am, what I stand for and why MY life is so precious along with other fun stuff like couponing, saving money and learning about some great companies. Keep your head up! Know that there is nothing better than the Present.... and remember...
"Everything tastes better with Frijoles on the Side!"
