In 2015, the hubby and I finished our South America trip at Rio de Janeiro. It was our last solo trip before T unexpectedly came into our lives.
I revisited this special city last night when Madonna completed her Celebration Tour on Copacabana Beach to a record 2 million people.
We watched her show in January after Ma passed. It was cathartic, as motherhood was a central theme – opening with the never-performed “Nothing Really Matters,” a song about being a mother, and the show beautifully included her four youngest kids.
The most memorable moment during our visit to Rio was seeing Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain.
It was raining hard. Half the tour group stayed in dry shelter and we ventured up.
At first, all we saw was fog. Then He emerged and the rain stopped. It was surreal and magical, a moment that reminds me about having faith.
Last summer, M had a near-death medical scare. She could’ve cancelled her tour but, after a 3-month delay, she set off to complete an 81-show tour that’s among my Top 3 of her tours.
When I think about the heavy rain that falls, I can stay in shelter or keep venturing to my destination.
Either approaches, to be clear, are ok.
There have been several moments during the last while when all I could do was stay in bed.
But there’s also something affirming about staying the course and having faith that things will work out, even if it’s not quite – and often rarely is – how you expect it to.
My Life With T 
What an amazing trip, Rio de Janeiro!!! The fog clearing and ‘Christ the Redeemer’ appearing sound pretty symbolic and quite profound 😊 Always keep that faith, I really believe that sometime our state of mind/energy can shape how things turn out.
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Thanks Cherryl. It was an amazing trip and from an era without kids. I miss those kind of trips! 😆 And look forward to a day when I can enjoy these kind of adventures with an older kid.
And I agree, mindset is everything!
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The fog around Christ the Redeemer looks pretty cool. Sounds like it was well worth venturing out in the rain to see. You can’t control the weather (or life), but it always helps to have faith, stay positive, and hope for the best!
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Thanks Linda. It really was an amazing experience and one we wouldn’t have had if we stayed in shelter.
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This sounds like such an incredible experience, Ab. I, especially, love the photo of you! You have such a kind and sincere face! (Handsome, of course, too!)
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Thanks Stacy! That’s a very kind comment. 😊
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I would so love to experience this wonderful place. More wonderful memories ❤️
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It’s a beautiful part of the world for sure! 🙏 So many memories to be made.
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I loved her video and I wish I could see everything you have seen! Spending about 5 vacations on my custom kitchen. Contractor is starting Saturday and I am so excited. Our kitchen will be gutted and cooking will be slow cooker, air fryer and grill.
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Thanks Diane. I’m a huge fan for sure. 😆
Your kitchen renovation plan sounds amazing. Please do share with us the progress. I can only imagine how exciting it must be for you to build the kitchen of your dreams!
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I can’t show pictures as it is in progress because I am surprising my family. I don’t want them to see it until it is completely finished. I will definitely show pictures once they see it .
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This post comes at the right time for me. “When I think about the heavy rain that falls, I can stay in shelter or keep venturing to my destination.” Since my mom’s passing, this is one of the things that have kept my mind busy.
“But there’s also something affirming about staying the course and having faith that things will work out, even if it’s not quite – and often rarely is – how you expect it to.” Thank you for writing this, Ab. There are too many things in my head recently, but your words remind me that it’s also OK not to decide anything too drastic at the moment.
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Thanks Bama. Grief is a hard process and it will be unique to everyone and it sounds like you are approaching it with sound reason. I’m sorry. I know it’s hard. Take it easy and I hope you take the time and reach out through your process. 🤗
It’s Mothers Day this Sunday and the first one for me without my mom. I know it’ll be hard but will take comfort in knowing that she is no longer in pain.
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Sending out hugs to you for the upcoming Mothers Day, Ab! We celebrate it in late December here in Indonesia.
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Amazing pictures, and a great reminder that things always seem to unfold as they’re meant to as long as we keep our faith and keep taking stop after another. I’m so glad you got to experience this!
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Thanks Erin! I know you know this too through the rainfall that you experience and are continuing to experience. We all got this! 🙏💪
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Amen! 💜
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What great shots, love your post too Ab. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks Brian! 🙏
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Oh my. I’ve got tears in my eyes imagining your approach to the Redeemer in the rain and fog, and then the reveal. I love how you’ve kept that moment with you – related to pushing forward through the losses and pain that life serves up. So many beautiful mom, Ma, Madonna heartstrings pulled by your post. Xo! ❤️
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Thanks Vicki! It was a very surreal moment and one that’s stuck with me all of these years later. 😊
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It must’ve been. I felt like that when I went to the Western wall for the first time I guess I should say the only time
Feeling thankful for both of us that we got to see such amazing things
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Thank you for the beautiful message and the photo of you in Rio- a great way to start my day!!!!
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Thanks Vickie. It was a wonderful memory and I enjoyed reliving it this weekend. 😊
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I’ve never been to Brazil. Thank you for sharing your experience pared with a beautiful message. Having faith things will work out – even when it often isn’t how you imagined. So good! Hope you had a great weekend, Ab!
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Thanks Wynne. It is worth a visit, perhaps with the kids when they are older. Having faith is so important, whether religious or not, and I know you know this!
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I love the picture of Christ the Redeemer, but not just because it’s a good picture of a wonderful moment. I like it because everything but you is foggy. Everyone has ponchos and look a bit miserable or looking at their phones, but you are beaming at the camera looking comfortable in your shorts and T shirt. Carpe diem style.
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Margie, I read your message this morning during breakfast and it made me smile so much. You saw something I had not even considered before and that makes me happy. As someone who is often trying to capture the moment in a photo on my phone, it’s nice to see me be, as you said, carpe diem. 😊🙏
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I am so glad this made you smile!
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Terrific picture of Christ the Redeemer in Rio. We were there several years ago as well, and had a similar experience of the cloud lifting off the statue as we stood there (no rain, just a cloud at that height). As you say, it was absolutely magical. I wasn’t expecting that experience or the reaction I had to it. The entire setting is beyond stunning, and the statue can’t really be described in words.
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That’s very cool that you had the same experience, Jane. I can imagine at that altitude that cloud and fog are fairly common occurrence and yes, the setting and statue are truly stunning. I’m thankful to have seen it cuz these kind of vacations, with a child, are out of reach for the next while! 😊
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LOL. You’re right, Ab, not all travel destinations can work when kids are young. But other destinations can. And you’ll be surprised how quickly those young years fly by!
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