Why a blog and Why Bonita en Fuego!!!

Bonitaaaaaaaa!!!! was a familiar greeting all through college. My friends Karin and Lisa and I had started calling each other Bonita when we saw each other. (for those of you who don't know, Bonita means beautiful) We wouldn't just say it with clipped syllables either, we had to drag it out so that the pronunciation of the word lasted closer to 30 seconds, than the 2 that it actually takes. It was fun to have that greeting between us. It was awesome to hear that you were beautiful to someone. As the years have gone by Karin and Lisa and I have drifted apart. I rarely see the two of them, but I know when we get together it will be just like old times with a Bonita or twelve thrown in!

Recently when I joined with a group of high school women to start a small group we were thinking of a name and I remembered Karin and Lisa and the Bonitas. I told the girls about that and from there we thought of Bonita en Fuego. It's become the name of our high school women's group and also the name of this blog. An exact translation is tough, but it literally means "beauty on fire" or less literally, "fiery beauty", either way I think it sums us up. We're beautiful and we are on fire! Our fire comes from a love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Like all fires, we can't always be contained, sometimes that's good and sometimes not so much. That's part of the journey and the purpose, to recognize the power of "Bonita en Fuego" and learn when to unleash it and when to keep in check.

I've decided to use the same name as the group for this blog. The purpose of the blog is to help me express my thoughts and feelings about the difficult topic of growing up without a father present and to give others who have/are experiencing the same thing a place to share. I welcome all comments that contribute to the greater good and I hope this can be a place where we can keep it real, find a shoulder when we need one and not just survive but thrive. It's a journey and I'd love it if you'd join me!

Peace and Blessings!!