Author: Alvino Sanchez

Week four has been long, hard, and exhausting. I’m glad that it is finally over and that my life will be back to a regular routine. I am a creature of habit.

Taylor Stokes and I decided that we would help out some of our FDL family members by doing yard work and trimming trees for our service project. We survived each other and most importantly, we managed to get a few yards back in order and looking good. Poor Taylor, he’s never worked so hard in all his life. It was funny to see him so chipper on the first morning. He was laughing, giggling, and very upbeat for the first morning. The rest of the week was a different story. He did a great job and was great to work with for an entire week.

All in all, I have really enjoyed the time off from work. This sabbatical has been totally different from the first one. I made time to rest, relax, and enjoy family and friends. Thank you FDL for making this sabbatical possible for me and the rest of my coworkers. I am truly blessed to work for such a great company.

This post is a little late, but better late than never.

Week three has been dedicated to honey do’s.  Vera has asked me to get a few chores done around the house for some time now.  She was on vacation this week and together we accomplished and completed most of the projects on her list.  Notice I said her list not mine.   It’s amazing how much can be accomplished when you have someone helping (pushing) you!

Don’t think that my sabbatical has been all work and no rest. Napping for at least two hours daily has been wonderful.  I have made rest and relaxation priority Numero Uno!  Perhaps that is why waking up early everyday has not been an issue at all.  I can say with confidence that I have the rest part down to a tee!

The Book Love Does by Bob Goff is now in the history books.  It was a great and enjoyable read.  The author uses stories to make his points and connections to God.  Who doesn’t love stories?  He must be an expressive!  My kind of people!

The takeaway from this book is:  Always love people and use things.  Never in the reverse order.

The second week of my sabbatical was fast and furious,  I thought no more wedding….I was wrong.  It took Vera and me a few more days to sort, pack and deliver all of the wedding items.  No more weddings for me! The other two daughters will have to elope.

  Yard work is something that brings me a lot of joy. Working outside in my yard gives me a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, and is very therapeutic. It is hard work, but it is well worth it to see a good looking yard.  I have trimmed my trees, some friend’s trees, and a tree in the community garden. I have also mowed my yard along with three of my neighbor’s yards.  The neighborhood is looking good! There is more work that I want to accomplish in the area, I cannot wait to see what week three has in store.

Week one of my sabbatical was a complete blur.  It started out with the death of my beautiful niece Maelee Grace Sanchez.  She was born premature at twenty two weeks and was a fighter from day one. 

  She surprised the doctors and nurses with each passing day of her short life.  Sadly, she died on May 13^th 2017 from an infection.  Our family is heartbroken and completely devastated.  We take comfort in knowing that God will carry us through every storm in life. He will give us strength to make it.  We serve an awesome God.  Please continue to pray for my nephew Carlos, my niece Brandy, and all of our family.

The rest the week was consumed with wedding planning.  This was a first for Vera and me and let me tell you….it was crazy.  The wedding was beautiful and a huge success.  I am definitely glad that it is behind us now.  The three highs from the wedding are, escorting my beautiful daughter down the aisle, father-daughter dance, and we were truly amazed by all the people that helped make this event possible.  Vera and I will be forever grateful.