beautiful life

A Tribute To Whitney

2012-02-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

It took me a some time to think about what I wanted to say about this beautiful Icon, Whitney Houston. She will forever be a legend in my mind. My heart is so sad for her family this morning.

There were countless after school memories of singing to her music in front of the mirror with a curling iron for a microphone.
I'll never forget going to see the Bodyguard and being so enamored with the lifestyle of a pop singer.

My all time favorite work of hers, would have to be the Preachers wife.
That time in her life, that role that she played opposite Denzel Washington, where she sang of what was really in her heart, is what I will choose to remember her by.
The music from that movie is some of my favorite songs that she sang, because you could tell she sang with passion to her creator.

The scene when she saying goodnight to her boy and she sings these words;

"Who made the mountains
Who made the trees
Who made the rivers that flow out to the seas
And who hung the moon in the starry, starry, starry sky"

That's the moment that will comfort me as I think of her daughter mourning.
I pray she remembers the truths that Whitney taught her about her creator.
Despite what her life ended like, I pray her daughter remembers where it began.
I pray peace and comfort for her this morning.

I remember that My mom used to love Dionne Warwicks music, and would remind me that it was in Whitney's family to sing, like it was in my own.
There will never be another voice like hers.
I will forever be a fan.
My hope and prayer for her family this morning is that as the details of her death are revealed that they can forgive her. More than that, I pray they can forgive themselves.

Hers was a troubled soul.
Her song, Where do broken hearts go, asks the question, Where do broken hearts go?

I know in my heart, that her broken heart is with her creator and she will get the chance now to sing for all eternity the truest song of her heart.

Jesus does, and will continue to have mercy in this, a lost life.

The Secret to Happiness

2012-02-12T18:29:00.000-08:00

There is a picture that hangs in my kitchen.
It was a card that someone gave me at some point, and I loved it so much I framed it.
Now there is an idea for pinterest... framing cards... but I digress.

Anyway it is a picture of a woman that Mary Englebreit drew, and she is vacuming, dusting, and cleaning her house.
She has a flower in her mouth and a big smile on her face.

I love all things Mary Englebreit btw, in case you were wondering.
Her work reminds me of some very lovely ladies in my life who love her works even more than I do, and I think that is why I love her stuff so much.
But my love for all things M.E. is not the reason I framed this card.

I framed it for what it says.

Yes, you know, and I know I am a words person.

Chances are if there is an art piece that is on it's very own merit amazing,
I won't like it as much until I know what it's title or given name is.

It's like this;

I just think words bring everything together, like the thread you need to sow.
You need the fabric for the very essence of what you are making.
You need the scissors and needle, or the tool to make it.
But would it come together as well without the thread?
Would it stay together without the thread?
Sure you could use fabric glue, but it's just not the same as seeing a stitch.
The same is true with words.
If you forget to include words with your action, it could be taken the wrong way or your point might be lost all together.
Words are the threads in life to me.
They bring everything together for me.

Flowers need a note.
Art needs a title.
Jewelry needs inscription.

Are you tracking what I am laying down?

Well, back to my picture.
I love the card for the words that are on it.
Here is the quote that has made me smile for countless years, of cleaning house.

"To Be Happy,

Don't do whatever you Like.

Like whatever you Do."

There are no better choice of words to describe perspective.

Perspective- the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship.

It's all about your perspective.

And as I gear up for cleaning a very messy house tomorrow, I will be thinking of this quote.
I will also be thinking how grateful I am that I have a mess to clean because it means there are people in my life tracking in messes. Lots and Lots of messes.

That's the perspective that I am going to shoot for on my Monday morning, and
I hope this will help make yours a little better too.

Valentine Cupid Elf Gone Awry

2012-02-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

Today I set out to be the best Valentine Cupid Elf known to the face of the earth.
I am fighting some kind of bleh funky funk, so I haven't felt so great.
Plus it was raining. (Big Surprise I know)
Normally I don't mind the rain but we recently had several days of sun, and
I was kinda getting used to that idea.

When I got to the post office with my packages all tied up in string
(not really but couldn't resist the Sound of Music quote)
I realized I forgot my address book at home.

Can you say DAM MIT!
Well, I did!

But there I was with my handy dandy new upgraded I Phone... (thank you Baby Jesus and hard working Giant), and so I started texting away for addresses.

All wasn't lost.
I was able to mail off some Valentines Day goodies.
And then I came home and read this.

“There were people who went to sleep last night,
poor and rich and white and black,
but they will never wake again.

And those dead folks would give anything at all
for just five minutes of this weather
or ten minutes of plowing.

So you watch yourself about complaining.

What you're supposed to do
when you don't like a thing is change it.
If you can't change it,
change the way you think about it.”
― Maya Angelou

And I thought, well thank you Maya

Question

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

This morning the song Hotel California came on while dropping my kids off at the bus stop. They all know the song from Guitar Hero, but it got me thinking how I really love this song, and at the same time it kinda creeps me out.

Then it got me thinking, I wonder if anyone else feels this way?

Do you like the song Hotel California or not?

Sometimes it makes me want to put a flower in my mouth, and slide across the kitchen floor.

Happy Thursday everyone!

U2 song- Whoa The Sweetest Things

2012-02-08T13:59:00.000-08:00

It's not our anniversary, but it is the month of LOVE.
And so I feel compelled to tell you this LOVE story.
It's the story of when a blue eyed boy met a brown eyed girl.
Or the story of how a brown eyed girl stalked a blue eyed boy.
Either way, it's my LOVE story.
I wish that each and everyone of you had a blog where I could read your LOVE stories, because to me LOVE stories truly are "The Sweetest Things"
This Love story well it happened kinda something like this.

Well, about over 20 years ago.

I don't regret going to my friend Jen's youth group that night because not only was it a night that I would meet some treasured people that would forever be in my life, but it was the first time I laid eyes on him. (Enter the "At Last My LOVE has come along" song here)

Jen's Youth pastors at the time were a couple named Louie and Joni Locke.They were newlyweds. They were nice, but they were quickly forgotten once Moses walked through the front door.

(Can't believe I am actually going to use this reference, and I am sure my teenage daughter will never forgive me for ruining her favorite love story, but here goes nothing)

Enter Twilight scene where Bella first lays eyes on Edward as he walks through the door to the cafeteria at school. To those of you who haven't watched Twilight, I'm sorry. To those of you who have it really was pretty much something like that, only Moses wasn't a vampire and I am not named Bella. I quickly asked my friend Jen who that tall guy with Heather G was? She filled me in as best she could and then the stalking began.

I was 15 years old. He was 17. I was going to into the 10th grade he would be a Senior. CRAP I AM OLD!!

I thought he was already in college because he looked so much older, imagine my surprise when I found out I would be going to school with him the next year.
A few more details you should know about this story is that although he wasn't a murderous vampire, he wasn't a Christ follower at the time. I was trying to follow Christ's teaching a little closer than I had in my non-following Christ years, and so this posed a problem. Our lives were on different roads. He was listening to Nine Inch Nails, I was listening to Amy Grant. LOL. That is just a pretty damn funny sentence right there. And also a pretty good way of putting our past into a nut shell(Help, I'm in a nut shell!)

This is where my prophetic youth pastor enters the story. I had told no one, and I do mean no one about this high school girl crush. Although, those that were close to me I am sure had an idea or two. But, I certainly didn't tell anyone near or remotely close to my youth pastor. So there is no way he could have known what he knew. And basically, without leaving all you non-church goers in the dust here he did what the world would call a psychic reading on my ass, and it scared the crap out of me!!

So, due to my recent "Fear of THE LORD" I let all those high school girly crush dreams go and I forgot about the man-child! I did really forget about him until my Senior year in high school. Long after he had moved out of Carson City. Long after I had that amazing first impression of him. I forgot him. But then one day, there he was almost a year and half later.

This time it was no longer a crush, it was a reality. And by reality I mean he actually talked to me this time.
He came up asked me some questions and then disappeared again.
I forgot him again. (Fear of THE LORD thingy!)
Until a year later.
I looked him up.
He was looking for me.
We talked on the phone.
I invited him to church.
He came.

WE said I DO!

(For those of you new blog followers there is a very lengthy story of us under the tag monosco if you have an hour or two, JK, but really you will need at least a half and hour)

1 week away

2012-02-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

Today marks the official "go day" for me.
Are you wondering what I am ready to get up and go do?

Well a few years back I declared February the LOVE month. Does anyone remember this? That first year I sent out a love note every single day to tell the people in my life that I love them. It was a lot of fun to hand write each person a love letter. It was also a big challenge for me because those of you who know me well, know that going to the post office is a big deal for me. I am the chronic late Christmas, Birthday, really anything giver! Seriously, I don't know why the people in my life just don't fire me when it comes to all that, but I guess, well ya'll must really love me. And I am grateful.

Last year I did a more private love month where I challenged myself to love on myself. Sometimes that can be the harder person to show love to, yourself. It is for me at least. Am I alone in this? I had days of guilty pleasures, that normally I would feel extremely guilty for, but last year I made myself be guilt free. Don't ask me how I made the guilt go away, cause I'm not really sure it did go away. So if you ask me about it I might realize that, that was an epic fail in the love department.

Moving on...

So This year I started again privately in my heart to change some things, but today...

Well, I am ready for 7 days of telling, showing, writing, singing, and quoting all things LOVE.

Maybe it will contain me getting up early and making my family a super great breakfast on a school day.
Maybe it will mean, I call a friend I haven't talked to in a while and tell them that they have made my life better.
I might give a stranger standing on the road of life a really big smile and 20 bucks.

Or maybe it will mean I will love myself, (and buy a gym membership...prolly not) so I can love others.

Either way, in my heart for the next week, I am looking for extraordinary ways to express my love.

Today, I woke up NOT feeling all lovey-dovey. To be quite honest I woke feeling really crappy. Sometimes the best thing to do when you feel crappy is to think about others. Sometimes the best thing to do when you wake up feeling like shit is just to go crawl back in bed, but that doesn't jive with this post so stick with me here. Anyways, I decided to go mail off some love packages, and I felt like a little cupid elf. Is there such a thing as a cupid elf? Dunno, but if there is, I was one today.

I hope if you are reading this that you know you are loved, valued, appreciated, treasured, special, and not just to me.

You are loved by the Creator of LOVE.

The Lover of your soul.

Happy LOVE WEEK !

Dear Barley Bambino Boo..Boo

2012-02-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Barley,

When you were adopted we couldn't decide on a name so the whole family voted. We all chose our favorite B names and then we had a diplomatic process of picking the name that would forever be yours.

We even let Chloe's friend Amy in on the fun. My name that I wanted for you was Bambino like the baseball player "The Great Bambino". No one really shared my enthusiasm on that one, except Isaiah, and so it wasn't chosen. Although, I still think you would make a great Bambino so I kept it as your middle name.

There were names like Beamer, Bentley, Booger(Guess who chose that one?) And then of course there was your name Barley.

Did you know it was actually not even someone from our family that chose your name? Yep, it was Chloes' friend Amy who had written down Barley and that is the name that got the most votes.

Your dad of course liked it for Barley is something that produces a drink that he loves.
And the kids liked it because it sounded like Marley who was another yellow lab, in a movie that we will not speak of, because it... well it just doesn't need to be mentioned.

You are the greatest dog on planet earth. Please don't tell Bella but you're my favorite! I know I am not supposed to say such things, but it's really true. Although, on any given day she might be my favorite, so don't go getting a big head.

Also you should know that there was only one other dog in my life that I have loved as much as you, and his name was Buddy. I guess B names are, well they seem to be good Dog names for me and mine.

I only have one bone to pick with you, and I know I shouldn't mention the word bone without giving you one, but here we go. You bark when people, any person walks through the front door. Even when it's your people you bark. Why is this? Could you please help me to understand why you do this?

Ok, yes we can go play with that nasty soccer ball you love so much, but don't forget to answer my questions.

Sincerely,
Your Master

Winner Announced

2012-02-03T08:47:00.001-08:00

The name I chose to use for my pretty Green Knife is:

Drum Roll Please...

SLICEARONI-

It's Italian.
It's fun to say.
It fits my pretty boy, SLICEARONI.
WE are going to have many SLICES together.

So the winner of my Knife Naming Contest is one N.Rose, the gift cards in the mail :)

Thanks for playing everyone.

There is A Bridge

2012-02-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

There is A Bridge we have to cross under

And No it isn't the Troll Bridge.

And There isn't a troll. I mean He's not a troll, except when he farts.
Which, I'm not sure if he does, because we have yet to hear him fart.
He must be a private farter.

My Giants cousin Derek is the Bridge we cross under everyday and night.

Derek Bridges.

He lives in our loft.
We have to cross under him every morning and night.
He doesn't ask for a toll.
Even if he did, we would gladly pay.
We are happy that he's here.

Name My Knife

2012-02-02T07:44:00.000-08:00

There is a new star in our home.

He is unlike this old star that has been in our home for almost 17 years now.

We call this guy The Crackin... which of course is a tribute to Pirates, but also because he gets a crackin on my dinner yo! I'm a goof ball I know, but you love me.

Back to my new knife,

He gets along really well with other cast members that match in other colors.

I like him a lot. He needs a name. I like naming things. Remember when I asked for names for my GPS- aka, Gloria Paige Smith? Well, I like naming things. Inadament objects are my favorite things to name. Like my old faithful "The Crackin", above. My cars of course have names. Beastie Boy is the Ford's name. Victoria is our bus name. But naming a knife who ever heard of such a silly thing? Well, me. And now, you!

Help me name him. If I end up using your name, you will win a $20 Target gift card so can go get a pretty Green knife at Target.

Tasha's Challenge

2012-02-01T10:43:00.000-08:00

For the month of January I wore a hat everyday. Why, you ask? For Tasha's Fashion challenge of course. If you haven't heard of these before well then check out some of the others that I have done by following the label "tasha challenge" on the bottom of this blog, or to your right.

You have here the proof of 31 days of hats. The two slide shows exhibit my month of 30 hats. And the final photo on the bottom is my all time favorite hat. Not for how it looks, but for what it says, and for who gave it to me(Thanks Bean).

The above pic is of a really old hat that my Aunt Joan gave me and I Love it. I wanted to incorporate it with a really snazzy dress, but I have so many hats that I am embarrassed to say, some didn't even make it in this month. That beautiful antique was one that didn't make it in.

What can I say, some like shoes, others purses, for me it's all about the hat.

Slideshow design generated with Smilebox

Like I said before, not much of a challenge for me this time, because I love hats!
Still, to consciously wear one everyday for 31 days was I guess, somewhat of a challenge.
And one of the "3 cups of Awesome", pointed out that I might have actually lost some hair from it, so I should get extra points for that(BIG SMILE)

Another free slideshow design by Smilebox

It was really fun, and it forced me to get out of the rut of just wearing my favorite "go to" hats. It made me realize that I wear a lot of hats! You can take that literally and figuratively.

Thanks Tasha for making my life richer, fuller, and infinitely cooler :)

Hope you all enjoy this and remember no matter how many hats one might have to wear in life, there is only one YOU! Don't forget to show up as the original, one and only, star of your show :)

* Stay tuned for the other entries to this challenge.

A Favorite Poem

2012-01-31T08:02:00.000-08:00

“When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say. "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow.”
― Maya Angelou

Mondays

2012-01-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

As the Professional CEO of this home, or aka The Stay-At-Home-Mom that I have been for many moons now, I have realized a few things that are crucial to my survival and happiness with my current employment.

Some other moms may not agree with my methods, but they are tried, and true to me, and they have failed me NOT. And well, this is my story and I am sticking to it.

On the weekends, when everyone else is officially OFF, I have declared that I am too.
That means I don't do laundry.
I don't do dishes unless I want to.
We eat pizza or leftovers.
I don't sweep.
I don't mop.
I am OFF work.

Well, this method is tried and true, and it works quite well that is, until Monday morning rolls around.

On Monday mornings I wake up knowing what lies ahead.
I know full well what happens when I have left the mess of 2 days work for this One Day.
"Looks like someone's got a case of The Mondays", at least no one says that to me while I quietly go about my business. Most Mondays, I don't mind the mess. I am happy for the time OFF and happy to get back to work, But...

This particular Monday morning, while texting some of my girlfriends, who will be referred to as "My 3 Cups of Awesome", from here on out,(they know who they are) I was be-moaning my Monday morning mess.

I said, "I feel it's abusive the disastrous state in which my family leaves this house for me to clean on Monday mornings. I also feel that with such abuse there should be like a CPS number that MOMS could call when they want to report and abusive family."

Think of the things you could call this number for?

I can think of so many reasons to call a support line like that.

Like, how about when you have just done the laundry, folded it all nicely, and asked that your boys put it away in their drawers. Only to find the very same clean clothes back in the dirty clothes hamper a few days later... unworn... ABUSE.

Or what about when you have swept and mopped the floor, your back is hurting from the bending over to make a floor so spotless you could eat off of it, only to have muddy rain boots walk across the whole house before they realize they didn't concede to the "Shoes Off" policy posted on the door.... ABUSE.

How about you just cleaned the fridge. Top to bottom you spent a good portion of your day in the muck and mire that is your fridge. It was cold and tedious. It was not fun, but it's beautiful now. Sparkling white. But wait, Red Juice just got spilled, no tipped over, all down the sides, the selves, the bottom..... ABUSE.

So what number could we call?

Well, if your mom is still alive I would suggest this number;

1-800-MOM-I-LOVE-YOU-THANK-YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND HAVE DONE!!

Or...

1-800-PEDICURE-TIME!

What are some reasons you would call The Mom Abuse hot line?
What number would you call?

Father Time

2012-01-30T07:50:00.000-08:00

"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." C. S. Lewis

**I will come back to that quote so stay tuned.

At the beginning of every new year I do this funny thing where I think in just a few short months it will be my children's birthdays,
and then the beginning of another school year,
and then another Christmas,
and then another year.
And just like that BLAM, I am caught up in the nasty, sticky web that is Father Time.

It is a weird thing, this thing that I do.
I don't know if I get this from my mom?
You know, it's where even though my child just turned 7, I start saying they are almost 8. I remember my mom doing this thing where I would think maybe she just doesn't really know how old I am so she says I'm older. But then she would do it to her own age, so that would confuse my notion that she had just forgotten how old I was. And then now I see, she was just preparing for what lies ahead.

If you think ahead, it prepares you for when you finally get there.
Do you know what I mean?
If I start to think ahead, the blow won't be so hard when I am standing there taking pictures of Emma in her cap and gown graduating from High School.
I mentally prepare for these moments as much as I can, long before those moments ever arrive.
I start to grasp how fast the time is going, and by advancing forward at least in my brain, I somehow protect my heart.

Well this year I got a postcard in the mail welcoming me as a parent of a High Schooler.

Sigh.

Wait, what? I hadn't even done that thing that I do yet!

How could you be so cruel, RHS?

This year I didn't have to do that funny thing that I do, where I advance forward to September 2012 even though it's only just January 2012. I didn't have to do it because, the High School here took care of that for me, by sending me this nice little note that made the reality of having a soon to be High Schooler, that much more real.

And then of course pictures like these don't help.
What is happening here is that I am convinced Father Time has sped up the clock.
He has messed with the dials.
He has put in super amped up batteries that work to make the clock go faster, and faster.
And again I say,
Damn You Father Time!
Stop it!

At least give me time to do that thing that I do.

** The above quote makes me giggle. And at the same time it makes me angry. I mean why can't I have little eggs flying around? I imagine little cute flying eggs, and it makes me smile, and feel good, and safe, and comfortable. And then there will be no words like breaking, and hatching, and flying.

But also, it makes me think of how silly it is that I would want to keep my children as eggs instead of letting them become birds that fly. Trust me, I am tempted. Little flying eggs... think about it. They could be cute... No, No I know they need to hatch.
I know Em needs to go on to bigger and better things.
I know Chloe needs to dance all over the world.
I know Solomon needs to create, invent, and stun more people than just his mom.
I know Isaiah needs an audience larger than 1.

I know they all need to fly.
Emma reminds me every day, how much she wants to fly.
She is stretching out the wings that God has given her and they are beautiful.
And when it comes time I know she will jump with full force out of this nest,
and she will fly and soar so beautifully that I ... well ... I will ... stop...

And I will remember this moment.
I will think this is good.
I will know this is right.
I will be thankful.

Psh... Who am I kidding?

I will be a mess like I was on her first day of school.
And I will call my mom, and
she will remind me that I still have
Chloe, Solomon, and Isaiah
and that Emma will call me someday like I am calling her
and I will take deep breaths, and start counting the days until
the next hatched egg,
because God forbid I create any bad eggs.

Hippie Wanna Be

2012-01-27T14:43:00.000-08:00

I am somewhat of a Hippie.

Not the kind that smokes pot and doesn't wear deodorant.
Or the kind that wouldn't be caught dead in designer jeans.
Not really the kind that drinks goats milk.
Or the kind that has hemp for anything at all.

I am somewhat of a Hippie.

Not the kind that has dreads in her hair.
Or the kind that goes around flashing the peace sign to everyone.
Not really the kind that only shops at local farmers markets.
Or the kind that is avid tye-dye wearer.

I am somewhat of a Hippie.

Not the kind that makes their own clothes.
Or the kind that never wears makeup.
Not the kind that listens to The Grateful Dead.
Or the kind that refers to this place, as Mother Earth.

Well, Ok... I see your point... I guess I am a wanna-be Hippie.

Why do I wanna-be a Hippie, you ask?

Besides the fact that Hippie's are cool, there are so many reasons I can appreciate this group of people. Here are just a few of those reasons;

They were "GREEN" before it was trendy.

They are for Peace, Love, and The Pursuit of Happiness at all times.

I believe they are some of the most creative people on planet earth because they are not afraid to use their imaginations.

Easy like Sunday Morning, could be their theme song.

The phrase "No Worries" which is one of my all time favorite phrases, rolls off their lips like butta!

And the number one reason I wanna be a Hippie... drum roll please...

It has to do with a little German Car that was made for the people many years ago.

It's a must for every Hippie to have driven or currently BE driving a VW.

My Friend Allie

2012-01-26T09:07:00.000-08:00

Do you ever come across someone who is so larger than life in personality that you just want to be their friend so you can ride along on their "coat tails" of life so to speak?
Ya know, just so you can be a part of the adventure?

Well, that's how I feel about my friend Allie.

Let me take you back to the first day we met.

A very long, long time ago... I would say around 23 years to be exact(I am SO old) I met my treasured friend Allie. I started going to a church in Carson City called the Vineyard. I'm not exactly sure how I ended up going there, but there I was. At a new church. No friends. No familiar faces. And We were meeting in this warehouse, office type building(which was a step up from the tents we soon would be meeting in) and it was also quite the change from my Catholic days of big, beautiful church buildings, where no one spoke to each other, before or afterward. You got in. You got out.
Very anti-social. Church was not about meeting friends. It was a much more reverent event back in those days.

Honestly, that's not entirely true. But it sounds good doesn't it? And don't forget my theme word here on my blog is hyperbole.

So there I was standing in the back of this new church talking to this lady named Judy, who was so friendly it was almost frightening, but not, because she was just so fun to listen to and she asked so many questions. She was talking about this girl named Allie that I should meet and in walked this shorter than me, bigger hair than me, naturally curlier hair than me(I was a tad jealous of that since I used to pay the big bucks for my curls)little bit of thing with a great big smile.

We became kindred spirits right from the start for many, many, many reasons.

It's funny how a friendship starts. There are of course many books, quotes, and poems about friendship, but this is one I think best describes ours at that moment in time;

"Friendship is born at the moment when 1 person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one" C.S. Lewis

We had so much common ground to walk upon, and that is where it all began. We learned that,
We both loved babies and children. I would call what we had a baby romance for sure. But that wasn't all that caused our instant friendship. We both talked really loud. Laughed really loud. She burped really loud. We kind of both Lived Out Loud. Her laugh of course was louder, and world re-noun... she was after all nick-named Gunner Allie for a reason. We blamed this loud tone on the fact that our parents came from the east coast, but really I don't think we can blame either Vinnie, or Ellen for our loud factor. She at the time played the Saxophone, and I sang. She could talk like she was from the east coast,(for that we can give the credit to Vinnie and Ellen) and so could I. She was so funny. She burped really loud. She loved Jesus, so did I. Instant friendship. Did, I mention she burped really loud?

We were like:
Laverne and Shirley.
Lucille Ball and Ethel.
Thelma and Louise.

There are so many memories that I could share about my friendship with Allie, so many in fact that I think I am going to start a series called, My Adventures with Allie.
I do this, if for nothing else, but to lure her back to reading my blog, and also hopefully to inspire her to write as well. That girl has got some stories she needs to share with the world.

So this is my intro, to Allie, stay-tuned for more Adventures with Allie.

P.S. The picture above from Left to Right, Judy(who I mentioned in the story)Allie, Sista Jen, Jentry, and Me. This is my beloved Birthday Club. More stories to come about all of these girls.

Love Letter #3

2012-01-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Lover of My Soul,

I haven't written to you for a while so I thought I would make up for it by making this letter rather long. I hope you don't mind. I just wanted to take a moment and tell you how much I love you, and why. There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe to you how deep my love for you is, but I want to try to tell you the things that come to mind when I think about why I love you so much.
I love how patient you are with me. Despite my selfishness, and continual bad habits you have been patient. In fact, more than being patient you have been kind when I have been rotten to you. So kind it makes me want to cry for how I have treated you in the past. You never envy me when my life is going so great. When I am happy you are happy with me. In fact when I have taken credit where it should have been given to you for a job that I was only able to accomplish because of you, You didn't envy me. You didn't go boast to your friends, "Hey I did that!" You weren't proud about how when you first met me, I was such a mess. So gross. So tainted even at the young age of 13, you had to pull me out from all that. But never, ever in all the years that I have known you, you have never been proud about what you did for me. You don't hold it over my head. You have let me forget what I used to be. You loved me then. You love me now. You have never been rude to me. There are so many times that I have been So rude, disrespectful, maybe even acted out in a temper tantrum of hate, toward you. But I wasn't met with rudeness, or a cold shoulder. You never seem to care that I do these things, but I know you do. I know I have hurt you, but you have never been self-seeking in revenge. It seems as though you never get angry, or at least you are not easily angered by my behavior. Thank you for never bringing up my past mistakes. You have kept no record of my bratty behavior. When I am being a hater or evil in my thoughts, actions, words, you are quiet. And when you are quiet I know you are not happy or rejoicing in these evils, but when I happy with myself, being kind, loving others, nice to strangers, or getting it right so to speak, living out truth... well that's when I really know you are so happy. I see you quietly shouting, "Yes, Yes!" "Way to Go Noel!" "That's my brown eyed girl" I see you rejoicing in that truth, your truth, that is now my truth, truth.
Thank you for always protecting me. I sleep sweet at night because of this. Your protection is like no other strong man I know. It's like a bubble. Funny, but true, I feel like I walk in a bubble of your protection all the time.
Thank you for trusting me with this life of love and devotion to you. Your trust in me baffles me. I can't ever imagine why in a million years you would trust me of all people with your love. I am not worthy.
The hope you have in me, for my future, well it's truly what gets me out of bed in the morning.
Your perseverance in our relationship is astounding. I would have given up on us a long time ago, but you... you always persevere.
You have never, and THIS I KNOW... you will never fail me.

For all of this, and so much more I love you, with a love that doesn't even come close to the love you have shown me.

You are truly the LOVER OF MY SOUL.

I love you,
Noel

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

New Favorite Quote

2012-01-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

“A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”
Maya Angelou

Thank you Momma Maya :)

More Snow Pics

2012-01-24T15:48:00.000-08:00

You didn't believe when I said, we were snowed in, did you?

Ok, well our doors were not actually closed shut due to snow, but we did have snow up to our shins at least.

Well, maybe not My Giants shin level, but surely mine and the Fab 4's.

Yeah, we had snow boarders actually up the hill. I was going to start charging a fee and calling it Scofield's Heavenly Ski Resort. It could have worked. The coffee snow ice cream alone would have beckoned them inside.

They were hardcore these snow boarders. Not that I know what a hardcore snow boarder looks like, but these two, they looked the part. I think they would have appreciated our snow ice cream. We should have had like a snow ice cream/hot cocoa stand out there. Next time.

The problem with the Scofield Ski Resort though is that it's not really resort-ish material this here lil cabin. I mean, I love it. But would if they did want to stay up the hill? Ya know, where would I have put them all?

Course, Barley was busy building igloos. That might have worked. Where there's a will there's a way.

Isaiah was not busy building igloos. He was busy saying..."I've fallen and I can't get up!"

See do you believe me now?
SNOW.
In PNW.
Crazy Talk!

I am now convinced that the Washingtonians who say, "Oh no it never snows here!" Are really just Californians who have wishful thinking.

There's Always Tomorrow

2012-01-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

“The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow. Today I am blessed.”
― Maya Angelou

Oh how I love this quote.

It is the epitome of an optimistic soul.
To maintain an attitude of gratitude is not an easy thing, (Can I get a witness?)

In this economy, around every corner, if you are paying attention, there are things that should be bringing us all to our knees, but this quote... this quote...
This reminds us that as long as their is breath in our lungs we can give thanks, even for that alone.

The part I love best about it is that, even though some days we might not be able to get out of our funk, "If I insist on being pessimistic" we can say tomorrow is a new day.
As Anne of Green Gables would say, "Fresh with NO mistakes in it"

A few days ago, I had one of those days.
I had been in this house, and way too inside my head for, far, far too long.
I had given in to the FUNK!
I was ready to get OUT!
I had a reason to get OUT!
I was dressed up to get OUT!
Only to have my hopes dashed when The Giant got stuck in the muck of the snow and mud that was our street.
I tried to not to give in to the "depths of despair", but I failed.
I went to bed early.

"There is always Tomorrow"

Then the next morning I got up, the snow was melting.
My drive way was clearing, the snow plows had come to save the day, and I was able to enter the human race again.
And boy howdy did it ever feel so good!!

I went to the grocery store that has a Starbucks inside(they all do here)SO, I should say, I went to the closest grocery store, to be quick as wink!
I wanted to be in society asap.
I walked in with a big Shit Eating Grin on my face like, I just had won the lottery, and
I said to the lovely Barista, "What drink do you suggest for the woman who has been in her house for 7 days with 4 kids, 2 dogs, and lots of snow?"
She looked at me and smiled really big and said, "Better make it a good one with lots of caffeine."

Ah, how I love people.

In the midst of my captivity, I continually gave thanks for you.
Yes YOU, my readers!
For this other outside world.
I prayed like no other that our electricity wouldn't go out.
And it didn't.

"Today, I am blessed"

Happy Birthday to My Giant

2012-01-23T06:15:00.000-08:00

Just in case you were wondering;

He is My Giant for everyday purposes.
Mr. Big when he does something really BIG like plan a date.
The Moses to Louie Locke.
Mosey to his mom Nashelle and Auntie E.
Dad to our Fab 4, or P Diddy to Em, but he doesn't like that one.

Uncle to nieces Kaylanne, Isabella, Savanah, and Sophia(no nephews yet)

Babe when I need something from him.
Brother to only one, Hillary. To many a man. (none by blood but a lot by choice)

Russell Moses Scofield when he's in trouble.
Meisha when he is pretending to be Russian.

Genius and Hero when he fixes things.
Noah if YOU forgot his name.
Noses if you blend our names together.

And... Birthday Boy on the 23rd.

Happy 39th Birthday My Giant.

My New Favorite Word

2012-01-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

I have found the word.
The word that best describes what I do here on a daily basis.
The word that may very well be a theme for my life.
The word that I come by genetically, yes Mom this could be your word too( and Dad maybe even a word that would describe you) yes, it is in my DNA this word.

Do you want to know what that word is?
Have I peeked your interest?
Are you just bubbling over with curiosity?
Would you pay a million dollars to know what it is?

I should make this into a guessing game and give out prizes for the winner... but I can only play one blog game a month or I might go broke!

Ok here it is defined by good ole Wikiepdia.

Hyperbole

Hyperbole-It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally.

Hyperboles are exaggerations to create emphasis or effect. As a literary device, hyperbole is often used in poetry, and is frequently encountered in casual speech. An example of hyperbole is: "The bag weighed a ton."[2] Hyperbole helps to make the point that the bag was very heavy, although it is not probable that it would actually weigh a ton.

And no blog would be complete on here without an example.

My life is forever changed because of this word.
I have found a slot.
I have found a home.
**Micheal W. Smith song played here....those that know this song sing along in the comment section.
"I was looking for a reason,
roaming through the night to find
my place in this world,
my place in this world"

My place in this world, It's name is Hyperbole!

A Boy and His Dog

2012-01-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

A boy, and his dog.
One of life's precious treasures.
They run and they play,
One learns to read the other to stay.

A boy, and his dog.
Nothing could be more real.
The love that is shared between them
Is beyond the ideal.

A boy, and his dog.
Dark cold winter days, go faster.
One is called Buddy,
the other is Master.

A boy, and his dog.
Reminds us of what is good.
To be kinder, laugh louder,
Do what you know you should.

A boy, and his dog.
Together they swiftly go.
Running, and Jumping
Competing toe to toe.

A boy, and his dog.
Know not of pain and sorrow.
Their only care is when they
start all over tomorrow.

Is It Baseball Season Yet?

2012-01-17T18:26:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know me and have been reading my blog for a while, know that I am a huge baseball fan. I think this enthusiasm for b-ball started way back when, I am sure I was just a little sprite, when I was a wee bit of a thing, when I was younger. I would notice as a young girl that my Dad, would get very, very excited around a certain time of year. Having no real idea why that was I began to take a closer look at why he was hooting and hollering at the television screen. And then one summer in LA we went to I believe it was the Dodger stadium for a real pro-ball game and I was hooked!

I had so much fun with my cousins and my family and it was warm and sunny, and there was popcorn, and I am sure peanuts, and all was just so right with the world. And so my love for this game began.
Now, what you must understand is that I am a girly girl beyond measure. I wear more jewelry with each passing year that, if you were to weigh me over half my weight would be from sterling silver and not meat and bones. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Don't mock me!

I also love makeup really a lot. In fact one of these days I am going to do a makeup blog. The only reason why I haven't yet is because then you would really know how much time I have on my hands, and I don't want to scare you all off. So I love jewelry, makeup, perfume, shoes... don't even get me started on shoes, basically accessories.. and well, you get the idea. Girly Girl.
At this point you must be wondering how or why does baseball fit into all of this.
Well I am going to tell you, because that's what you are here for. Or wait, is it what I am HERE for?

Noel's Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Baseball

5. The game itself well, It is easy to understand. I love Easy and what's easier than, A,B,C, easy as 1..2..3 (sing along) BASEBALL?

4. I like the number 3, 3 bases, 3 strikes, it just makes sense.

3. I like how the teams play each other more than once. It's a series kind of thing. Those of you who enjoy a sport that doesn't involve a series of events, well... I just feel sorry for you.
2. I like, no I LOVE wearing baseball hats. They work perfectly for my hairstyle which is usually non-existent.

And the number 1 reason... Drum Roll Please....

1. I like (and this is where it gets crazy because I never even played the sport) the smell of baseball gloves. GO ahead, find a glove, smell it, report back here!

Sidenote-And of course, I love the Boston Red Sox baseball team... greatest ball club EVER, END OF STORY, NO DISPUTE, NO COMPARISON, DON'T EVEN TRY TO DEFEND YOUR OTHER MEASLY TEAMS BECAUSE I WON'T HEAR OF IT!! I love Fenway Park. The history that is there, well it's almost tangible.

Well now here is where this part of my story for the love of the game gets tricky.
For so long I have loved The #1 Baseball Club Known to Man, aka BO-Sox and that was that.
Here is where my dilemma comes in.

I now live in Seattle.
We have a Pro Ball Club.
You might of heard of them... Probably NOT!!
The Mariners.
They are unequivocally THE WORST Baseball Team in the US of A!
Sorry but it's true.

They are the underdog of baseball teams.
They have more fans for the opposing teams, ALWAYS, that it's just so very sad.
It makes one want to root for them.
It makes one remember the little guy when they were little, and hope that one day they grow up to be a big strapping man that the BO SOX are someday.

Are you catching what I am laying down here people.
I remember being a fan of the Bo Sox before they won.
I remember the 80 year long stretch.
I remember when the dream team was formed in the inner womb of baseball and so began the story that changed baseball forever.

The underdog became THE DOG!

Well, don't hurt me Bo Sox Nation but I want that for the Mariners.
I really do.
Only of course when they are not playing against you Bo Sox.
Pshh.... Don't you ever doubt my love and devotion to you Boston, BUT... I have to break it to ya,

I do live in Seattle now.

And now for a real Top Ten From Big Man Dave...Hope you enjoy this Dad! This is high tech for my little blog here:

Snow

2012-01-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we experienced the first snow of the winter season here in Washington. It was reported that it was going to start snowing on Sunday, and well... it came a day early. The news media made it sound as though this would be the Snow to End all Snow, as another friend called it "The Snow Apocalypse". We probably got about 5 inches here in Redmond. There is supposed to be another storm today, but meanwhile I can't get out of my driveway, mostly because of the mud, not the snow. And so I sit here with you, and blog.

It started out weak and I laughed in it's face. It then got angry. Big flakes began to fall.
And now, here I sit with snow all around. Trapped inside. We live at the top of a hill. The cool thing about that is that everyone comes up here to go sledding. The not so cool thing about that is that cars like to go sledding too. Even as I am typing this there is a cute little Honda that bless it's owners heart keeps slipping and sliding down my street trying to make it's way to the top. "I think I can, I think I can, Whoa... Slide..."I maybe think I might, I really want to"

Needless to say, we have cabin fever. To entertain ourselves, the Fab 4 and I, we have made countless bowls of snow ice cream, and Solomon just decided to get a little fancy and add coffee to his snow... and we were like this is the greatest thing ever! "Do you think we could sell this?" says, my lil 10 year old inventor. Giggle. His sisters then got involved in this great invention and I think the last recipe involved maple syrup, coffee, and peppermint syrup. This ain't no poor kids snow ice cream! And not to worry I made sure the snow was being collected from the tops of tables, we do have 2 dogs after all! But this does go to show how bored we have become. Variations of Snow Ice Cream, who ever heard of such a thing?

We have made a total of 3 Snowmen, Countless snow balls for snow ball fights, And we are pondering building an igloo.
I told we were going crazy up in here!
We are running out of milk, creamer for my coffee, cereal, and butter. If the olives start getting low, I will be walking to the store. What would you be willing to walk to the grocery store for in a snow storm? I want to know.

Barley is out of control in the cold white stuff. The first time we let him out in it, he ran back and forth all over the property like he was a wild cheetah just let loose from it's pen at the zoo. Which, if you could see how big this doggy is now, in comparison to how small our lil cabin is... this could just be his normal behavior. Hmm.. maybe I just hadn't noticed ? Truly it was the greatest sight to behold. I only wish I had it on video because he was OUT OF CONTROL! So, now we know, Barley loves snow.

The Boy who won't be photographed, in the midst of all the excitement of the snow, has also lost another tooth. It can't be seen in the above photograph, but because he was so excited about his invention of coffee ice cream, I managed to capture it here.

Emma made these beauties. Peanut Butter Cookies. My favorite. Did I mention I have been off sugar? Well, I am off sugar. Except Stevia in my coffee. It wasn't a new years thing... it was a I hate exercise, I am grossly overweight, my pants are way too snug and I refuse to shop at the Lane Bryant store, kind of thing. In support of my decision, my family in the past few weeks has decided to make homemade cake pops, my favorite cookies, buy cake vodka, and well, I just can't get over how supportive they all are. No really, I am not bitter about my decision.

This is how Bella has been spending her snow days.

Curled up to her Teddy Bear Barley, or

Laying near the fire place, like a frog. Oh the life of a dog. I envy them.
And now for a little fun. Here is a game of where's Waldo, I mean Isaiah?

Congratulations!

2012-01-16T19:15:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Debi, Gina, and Jess.

The winners of the first game played here.

Don't worry, don't fret, there will be more to come... especially if you all help me get my blogging job :)

Facebook and My Growing Disdain for it

2012-01-16T10:47:00.000-08:00

A friend on facebook posted this the other day and it catapulted me to write this post here. Here you have some things I have wanted to say about Facebook for a long time, but didn't quite know how. After seeing the above pic, it really did make me LOL, and I thought of how it's funny because you know it's true.(Corky Romano quote)
Or at least you know it's true that is, IF you are on facebook. If you are not on Facebook then first let me say to you congratulations... you have succeeded in REAL LIFE!! Also I commend you, I want to be like you, you are my heroes, and don't do it! Don't EVER do it!

Now, if you are on facebook well, then this post should make complete sense to you. Feel free to add a category that I may have left out. And dont' get all butt-hurt if you feel you fall into one or all of these categories, because so does the author of this post.

Whether you are on facebook or you are not on facebook, let me break it down for you(Hammer Time)Why this pic is so damn funny!!

If I were to break up into categories the kinds of people who are on facebook,(and maybe we could extend this to in life in general, but that might be a stretch) and also the kinds of *(status updates) one might find on FB, then this is my bullet point version of that.

* Status Update- Is a little box at the top of your page on facebook where you tell the world your status. I'm Hungry, It's Snowing, I am at a really cool concert wish you were here... that kind of thing. Just keeping you non-FB-ers in the know!

Here are just a few off the top of my head:

1. There are Those who should be on Twitter instead of FB

2. Braggers

C. The Shock and Awe(attention getters)
(I would put the breast cancer awareness ladies in this catergory, if you aren't on FB and don't understand what I mean by this then consider yourself one of the lucky ones in life)

D. Those who don't really care about FB, they are just on there because everyone else is, and they didn't want to be the only ones who weren't.

5. Those who use FB to promote either themselves, their business, or something of that sort.

Those who should be on Twitter instead of FB

These are of the group that want to tell you what they are doing at all times. Who they are with, what they are eating, where they are at, etc. These people of course share everything, and are the reason the phrase TMI(Too Much Information) was established. Really, the problem I have with these people is that there is another website that was created for them, and they have either not caught on to that site, or they just refuse to move along. Move along TMI-ers, Move Along!

These would not be the people that the above pic would apply to because like I said, they tell you everything. The good, the bad, and the butt ugly!!

This is the reason why these people should get on twitter because not only will it teach them to keep their updates down to only 140 letters, but then they can freely tell everyone that they are going to the bathroom now without grossly misusing the social network they are on.

Braggers

But then we will enter the braggers. These are the ones that I would say the above pic applies to whole heartedly. I understand that there are times you just want to brag. Heck, I even have a word for it on here, I call it blaggin, but I at least give you the reader for-warning that the post ahead will have some serious braggin going on, but the beauty about a blog is that you hear about my bad days as well.

People only share the very best things on facebook that they want you to know because primarily the status update bar doesn't leave much room to tell your whole life story. Can anyone's whole life's story fit in a status bar? And, I am pretty sure that the status bar is not intended for your whole life story, but I digress.

At this point I would like to say that is probably why Facebook is the best place known to man, and woman, then if you are a natural bragger. Boy do you ever see the people who have it in their DNA to brag. They seem to go quiet for days, weeks, even until they are ready to brag again.

The Shock and Awe

And then moving on there are of course the shock and awe status updates. We all know what these consist of. The cursing, the updates that don't make sense because they are meant to reel you in, the things people might be thinking but just shouldn't say.
These kind of updates I like to call the drive by shooters of Facebook. They are only on there to stir the pot, get you all excited, and then go away again. They leave you wondering, are they really going to blow something up today? Should I call the police, therapist, or priest??

Here is my most favorite shock and awe quote that I have seen;

"Happy Mutha Fu(&$n' NewYear bitches"

(Those of you who are on FB,
comment HERE on my blog spot,
and know who posted this, get a prize!
For real a $10 gift card to Barnes and Noble.
SO you can keep reading :)
The first 3 comments to get it right win.)

D. Those Who Don't Really Care about FB, but go on there and quietly stalk everyone else so they can feel better about their own superiority. You know they are on there even though there is no activity on their pages, because when you see them in person they tell you something that they read on FB or that they found out on FB and had no way of knowing otherwise. These little sneaky, sneaks can be of the worst kind. Go big or Go home, is what I would like to say to them! Either have an FB and use it or don't have one at all, like the people who are my personal social heroes!

5. The Self Promoter
These people have a business, have a band, have a store, have a church, they have a political agenda, have You tube videos they want you to check out, have a blog they want you to read... ahem... guilty, and they use FB for that purpose. To self promote. They are the commercials on FB. They are annoying... sorry. And they know who they are, ME :) again sorry!

These are just a few of the types you might find on there. There are of course countless other types of people on FB for a variety of reasons. But there you have my friends the ones that stick out to me the most.

Now at this point you might be wondering why I am on Facebook. Well, back in the day the very first social networking that I ever took part in started right here. Then there was Myspace. And then FB, and now Twitter, Path, Instagram, etc.....

I am at the point where I don't really remember why I got on facebook.

I am grateful for all the social reconnections I have made on there, but I am getting a little tired of all the changes Mr. Z keeps making to it and I have started posting a lot less.

I no longer share pics there, instagram
I rarely share a status update, twitter
and I have never really posted stories there, blogspot
and honestly if it weren't for my Dad just now getting on the site,
I think... dare I say it.... I might have abandoned it all together.

For now I am still there.
But I do have a lot of questions about it,
and you know what happens when you start questioning Facebook?

I dunno what happens, I just wanted to be dramatic.

Can't wait to see who the winners will be.
Shontell, no cheating by going on Mike's FB, although you can tell him about it.

Share your thoughts.
What category do you fall into?
What happens when you start to question Facebook?
Who was that Shock and Awe statement from?

Oh and Don't worry those that aren't on FB and couldn't play this lil game, I will have more games to play soon enough, don't you worry your pretty little heads about it.

Dear Bella

2012-01-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Bella,

I fear you have become more neurotic and way too nervous. You make me nervous, you are so nervous.
I wonder if I should put you on Prozac? When you act all cra cray it makes me want to confine you to your little box.
Those fluffy brown and grayish animals are called squirrels. You see them every day. They won't hurt you, I promise. I wish you would so calm down already. Simmer down, simmer down. Or as Auntie Jenny would say in Hungarian Nugi Nugi!
I am beginning to wonder if you have become a bad influence on your younger brother Barley.

Do you think it's time we seek help for you little dog?
I think we might need to find a therapist.

You sure are cute though.
And I still love you,

Your owner

P.S. Do you think, Maybe it's the diet food we have had you on for the last 3 years?

Field Trip with Lo Lo

2012-01-13T12:17:00.000-08:00

My daughter Chloe is in 6th grade. Very soon she will graduate from Elementary School and be an official Jr. Higher. I am trying to prepare for this in my heart, because being that I am the sentimental type, I have to prepare for these big life changing events well before they take place. I have til June.

I have until June to prepare for the fact that after Jr. High comes High School, and after High School is Marriage... wait NO College... and after College, do you see how my brain works? Do you see why I need to prepare now, in January for June?

The field trip was to the Burke Museum in Seattle Washington. The museum is on the campus or by the campus of The University of Washington. So after we got done touring this very cool Museum we explored the campus of "U Dub", and I had some moments where I had to tell my sentimental heart that Jr.High does not equate College.

So at least there's that.

The field trip will probably be one of the last ones that I get to go exploring with my Lo Lo. I tried not to think like that. I tried not to hog her that day. I will admit to you, but you are sworn to secrecy that my thought processes honestly went a bit more like this... Like this is the last lunch we will share... this is the last bus ride we will take together.... this is the last time she won't be embarrassed by her mother !! Yep, I think like that. But thankfully after all these years, I have managed to, try to, learn to, in process of, working through, letting her go.

Remember, I am preparing now for the day she will have a baby.

No seriously though, Soon she will be in the Land of No Field trips... and well, that just makes me sad beyond measure.
I love going on field trips with my kids. I love to see them with their peers. I love to discover and explore new places and learn things with them. I just... well... I love them, my Fab 4. They are all getting SO Damn big, Dammit!!

Sigh.

Remind me to tell you the story about these carvings that are in the above picture. It's a good one that involves a momma bear that gets cheated on.... and then has her unfaithful partner murdered. Oh wait, shoot I just gave away the ending. Well I think I just told you everything, but there are a few more details and they are good ones so if you want more details... then remind me.

Ok where was I, oh yeah Chloe going off to College.

This is just one of the pictures on that beautiful campus that is going to steal my daughter from me in a few, ok well more like 5 years. Well, at least I hope she goes somewhere close... Oh Geez... Oh man... would if, would if she wants to go out of state? Breathe Noel... Breathe...

I caught this pic toward the end of the day and honestly I had to walk a few steps behind the rest of the group for a minute because the water works started to work up and I went and got all sentimental again.

Damn them getting big.
And Damn my sentimental heart.

Top 5 Favorite Childhood Snacks

2012-01-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

One of the things I have noticed since being a parent to 4 young people that all go to school now, and come home ravenously hungry, is that the afternoon school snack is of utmost importance around here. If my cupboards aren't filled with what my children love to eat when they get home then the rest of the evening can go down hill on the drop of a dime, and we may never return to a state of normal.(So dramatic, I swear I am going to work on that)
Anyhew, I work hard to study them, and find out what their favorite snacks are because I remember a time not so long ago, that the afternoon school snack was the highlight of my day as well.

It is now time for a Noel's Top 5

Ya know how David Letterman has a Top 10 list every night, well I am starting right here, right now, with you as one of the first to play along a Top 5 post.

These posts won't be nearly as witty, or brilliant as Big Man Dave's, but I will try to have some fun with them, and I hope you will too.

Feel free to join along in the comment section.

Okay so here goes...

Top Favorite Childhood Snacks:

5. Cheese with Apples- Now this one is a snack that goes way back (to my childhood of course... giggle, giggle just seeing if you are paying attention) and I have my mom to thank for it. I actually know someone who puts cheddar cheese on their apple pie. Don't turn your nose up, it's actually very good. And it is a somewhat healthy snack that I am proud to report is now a favorite with my Fab 4.

4. OLIVES- Have I told you the story of how we(me and my 4 siblings) would get a can of olives in our stocking every year for Christmas. NO Joke. I LOVE them. I love them alone. I love them here, I love them there. I love them everywhere.(Also I love Dr. Suess) One thing that we can not be out of in this house is TP and Olives. They are that important in my life. Now, Cottage Cheese with olives, or tomatoes, or both, that's another favorite but I added those other things later in life. I think it was around the time when I grew out of putting the olives on my fingers.

3. White Bread, Butter, Sugar, Cinnamon Toast- it's called the poor kids cinnamon roll. And this is now one of my kids favorites as well. Again so simple, so easy, and brings me right back to 1311 Siskiyou Street when I was a kid.

2. Peanut Butter Cookies- My mom always seemed to have a batch made, and I love, love, love them. LOVE peanut butter too, btw(sidenote). Mom if you are reading your peanut butter cookies are still my all time favorite cookies. I love them. I love you.

1. My number 1. childhood snack that I have never seen another adult in my life (other than my Ma who taught it to me) is ... Drum Roll Please....

Saltine Crackers with a little butter on top.
I LOVE THIS SNACK. LOVE IT. If I am having a day where I am missing my mom, all I have to do is run to the pantry, pull out those beautiful salty, crispy squares, and get that doll-up of creamy butter on there and I am good to go.

Mom if you are reading this I know I should have listed on there a box of cheeze-its as a go to snack because you always had those as well, but I thought I would leave that for your list.

And now that you have just heard Noel's top 5, what are yours?

What was your momma making for snacks after school everyday?

Or what did you run to the pantry for when you first got home and could eat at your leisure?

I want to know.

Eggs according to Zed

2012-01-11T22:29:00.000-08:00

Levels of Eggs according to Isaiah

"You're (me his mom)the professional egg.
I'm the golden egg.(Isaiah)
Chloe is the silver egg.
Emma is the cracked egg.(Emma comes out of her room and says,'Why would I be the cracked egg when I get home before all of you do?')
Oh well,umm...
and
Solomon is the rotten egg because he got home last today.(Solomon in protest points out, "I am not the rotten egg Dad will be home last or maybe cousin Derek")

...or I guess Dad would be the
rotten Egg since he will be home last then.
Or it might be cousin Derek that gets home last?
Then I guess Solomon you are the bronze egg.

(Emma says, "I should be the pro egg since mom never even left the house!" said in a very rolling the eyes kind of tone... ahem... these are the typical 13 year old responses one should expect to hear from a 13 year old, no else could possibly be the pro egg EXCEPT a 13 year old, even in playful banter they have to be the pro AND be right... all the time RIGHT!?)

If Derek comes home before Dad then he would be the cracked egg"

After school conversations.

I guess Chloe was happy with being the silver egg because she never said a word.
And me the demoted Pro Egg... I was taking it all in and No, I was not at all bitter that I was no longer the Pro Egg.

My New Niece

2012-01-11T13:14:00.000-08:00

My niece Savy who is in the picture above that was taken this past Christmas is now a big sister.

Her little sisters name is Sophia Adelle.
I had asked Sophia to come out and play while I was there. Pleading with my sister Bean's belly, I begged and begged. She didn't come when I was there.

She came a few days after I left.

She was born on New Years Eve.

She came earlier than her due date, and later than my trip down to NV would allow me to stay.

So I guess you could say that in her short life she has already learned the art of compromise.

Although I haven't yet had the joy of holding her I have had a few skype visits which have been a real treat, and I love her already.

I remember the day her sister was born.
I remember the day my baby girl was born.
Heck I remember the day her mom was born.
And if my mom was here she would say,"I remember the day you were born"
All this really means is that I am OLD!

Oh but the newborn.
The new life that is only a week and 4 days old.

Well what can I say about that.

The newborn phase in each of our lives is so very precious.

I know if I was living there right now, my house and my children would all be neglected because all I would want to do is to sit there and stare at her, ALL DAY LONG.
It's what my mom calls a baby romance.
That's what she calls the need to just sit and stare at a newborn.
ALL DAY LONG.
And it's a need make no mistake about it.
It's a need because it reminds us that
New life is such a gift.
It speaks of promise for the future.
Hope for better tomorrows.
And a love that is unlike any other.

Congratulations Izzy, Gina, and Savanah.

Give Sophia extra hugs and kisses until her Auntie Noel can do it herself, oh and be sure to get in some sitting and staring, because before you know it Sophia will look like this.

My big girl Emma Lou, working away, being so responsible, so grown up. So not wanting me to take her picture

My Boys

2012-01-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

This is a boy who likes to be photographed.

This is a boy who does not like to be photographed.

These are my boys eating breakfast this morning.

Keeping an eye on the camera. Giggle.

Trying to act cool like his brother, like he doesn't even notice that the camera is on him. This makes me Giggle.

Boys conversations at the breakfast table are funny, and make me Giggle too.

I like the word Giggle. It sounds like the word Jiggle which I don't like, not so much.

This post is for the Grandparents.

One Less Lonely Girl

2012-01-10T20:38:00.000-08:00

I realize that at this point I might actually lose those new followers(heck, I might even lose some friends on this one) that I so shamelessly begged to come follow my blog, but at the risk of not being authentic ... I'm going to go ahead and take my chances, because this is a portion of what I was thinking about today.

How many of you are Justin Bieber fans?

Well I am probably one of the only moms in America, who has teenage and pre teen daughters that are NOT his fans!
My girls room is NOT covered with his posters. I do NOT hear his songs over and over and over again. In fact, I do NOT even know any of his songs except ones that have been played, and announced on the radio as his songs.

My Girls, they used to completely detest him. I am not sure why. I think they take after their dad in that way in that they just want to be different. If I even tried to turn the radio up when he was on my whole clan would break out in an uproar and not the good kind. So strange my Fab 4.??
Honestly, it used to be kind of fun for me to tease them about this. A way to get a rise out of all of them.

But as for me and my ...(not house) just me I am a fan, and I'll tell ya why.
You want to know why don't you?
Well, I read some article about his life story and heard him on an interview, and then I was completely blown away by his kind heart. I became a fan. Not a cra cray Bieber fan, but a fan none the less.

I would say that his music to me is catchy for sure, and his voice is at least tolerable(which is more than what I would say of Miley Cyrus voice... who the girls did like at one point, glad that phase is over) but that's not really what I like about him. I like him because of his life story, because it's a good one. I think it's amazing truly that he didn't have a single,solitary, person in the business that knew him and gave him his start. I appreciate that he started out singing church music.
And I love how he is constantly encouraging others to pursue their dreams.

Today I finally got to watch his movie. I wanted to go watch it in theaters when it first came out. I wanted to go with my girls so as not to look like the crazy old lady, but that wasn't going to happen. So today I got to watch the movie finally on netflix, and that's what inspired this post.

First I have to say that lil boy can drum.
What a precious little boy.
Now I suppose he would be better described as a man-child.
Seriously, how can anyone not recognize that pure talent?
But what I really wanted to talk about was this;

There is a song he sings I guess at every concert, called One Less Lonely Girl.
When he sings this song his people go into the audience and they choose one girl to come on stage and be serenaded by him,
and he gives them roses,
and they are weeping,
and shaking,
and the hysteria is nauseating... but you can see the power behind these words.

Here are some of the lyrics that stood out to me:

"I'm coming for you, I'm gonna put you first
I'm coming for you, I'll show you what you're worth
That's what I'm gonna do, if you let me inside your world
There's gonna be one less lonely girl

I can fix up your broken heart
I can give you a brand new start
I can make you believe, yeah
I just wanna set one girl free to fall, free to fall
She's free to fall, fall in love with me "

These words and this song are so powerful not because of the "Bieber Fever" or because the girls are on that stage in front of millions,(although I do think this contributes), they are not even made more powerful because they come with a dozen roses handed to the girl by Bieber himself. No, I believe with all my heart, they are powerful words because that is the Heart of God for each and everyone of his children.

If the Father God could sing to us His children that's what he would say.

**I would like to point out at this point that some of you would not appreciate being called a girl, but I am sure God knows that and therefore wouldn't refer to you as such.

He would say to us, I want to make you one less lonely boy or girl.
I want to show you what you are worth.
I can fix your broken heart, give you a brand new start.
It's what we all want to hear.
It's what we all long for.

Sorry to those of you that are true blue fans, even if you are the future Mrs. Bieber not even that would come close to what it is that your Creator could offer you.

Those lyrics were born from these words from your Creator:

"For GOD, so loved the world
That he GAVE his one and only Son.
That who ever would believe in him
Would not perish but have everlasting LIFE." John 3:16

If you haven't heard the song give it a listen, or don't if you share the same sentiment as My Emmers.

But know this YOU ARE LOVED!
You are never truly ALONE.
And I am done being cheesy now.

Do you like how I just talked about Justin Bieber and mentioned John 3:16?

I'm pretty impressed myself.

Dear Barley

2012-01-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Barley,

When you sit in "your" chair you do realize that at one point it was "my chair"?

It now smells of you no matter how much frebreeze I spray on my, I mean your beautiful chair.
No one wants to sit in this chair anymore because it smells like Barley, and although we love you Barley we do not love your smell.

I realize you only sit in that chair and stare out the window to make me feel guilty for not taking you out and playing ball with you.
Don't you think I know what you are doing when you do this?

But remember when I just took you out a minute ago? You probably don't remember because a squirrel just ran by and now that's all you can think of.
Well, sigh... ok let's get you off that chair so I can spray it down once again, and you can put a smile back on your cute puppy face.

Yours Truly,
Your Owner

Day 9

2012-01-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 9th day of January.
I know it's BIG news like this that you check my blog for, I'm just here to help what can I say!
Ok now that we got that piece of earth shattering information out the way, let me move on to what I was really thinking.

I signed up for another Tasha Challenge, (if you don't know what that is see label below) and what I really wanted to share with you is that this time it kinda feels more like cheating than a challenge. I am to wear 31 days of hats. That's what I signed up for, but the part that feels like cheating is that I wear a hat almost everyday anyways.

In fact, this weekend when I was wearing a hat on Friday night my girlfriend, Shelene said "Cute hat, and I don't think I have ever seen you without a hat."
She's an observant one that Shelene. After she said this I immediately replied "I just don't like to do my hair." And it's true. I will spend countless minutes(I would have said hours but I am trying to be a bit less dramatic in my old age) on my makeup.

I love makeup.

Ask my mom.

Since I was too young to even be wearing make-up I have been having fun painting it up on my face.
But, doing my hair well that's another story. There was a time when I didn't have to choose one or the other, hair or make-up. But somewhere along the way a choice for time purposes had to be made and I chose make-up not hair.

So I started wearing hats.

I love hats.

The hats on this blog are just for fun and ones that I didn't actually purchase so don't go calling the "What Not To Wear Show". They were just hats I was trying on one year at a Bug O Rama show in Sacramento. I did however pick this one here on the bottom. It's cute don't cha think?

You might see it again in my 31 day challenge, minus the flowers and sunglasses.

Tasha if you are reading this doesn't mean that I am disqualified does it?

P.S. Do you think one can get wrinkles from a constant ducky lips look?

Things Are Changing Around Here

2012-01-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you have noticed my faithful readers, but things are changing around here.
(Things are also changing around here @9567, but I won't be posting here @beautiful life about @9567 anymore because @9567 has it's own blog now.)

I am of course speaking of the design of my blog and the few little things that I have done to this place. This year in August will be the 6th year anniversary of beautiful life.
In honor of 6 years of me having this live journal I have been making some changes to spruce up the place. I hope you like the subtle changes, and don't worry I won't be getting all crazy like about it. Just a few changes that won't take away from the words on the page.

Here are some of the things that have changed.

I have labeled every blog so they are all connected and you my readers can now easily find the topic you might want to read about on the right over there. You might need an hour or two, but if it's a rainy afternoon and you don't have anything better going on(which for your sakes I hope you have something better) then give it a whirl. If you are faithful reader chances are your name is on the right and you have been labeled. So go... go right now find your label.
If you don't find your name over there and you have been a faithful reader, but not a faithful commenter, than shame on you... comment, comment now and I will give you a label all your own.
Of course maybe you don't want to be labeled. My Giant hates to be labeled... that's why I have so many labels for him :) Snicker, snort, giggle!

The other change I have made is that I have created pages. To be quite honest I am not exactly sure why "pages" are necessary on a blog when the whole blog is in fact a "page" but whatev! I have pages now. One is about this blog and what I talk about here. The other is the first blog explaining my new blog 9567. How many times did I say blog? How many times can one say blog without smiling. Blog, blog,blog! Try it. Did it make you smile.

And finally, I added permanent pictures. They are the cast of characters in my life. I may refer to them by other names like Meisha, Lo Lo, and Zed in the future so I put them there as a little reference to help you out:) I'm a giver!

I hope you like the changes. I hope you know how much I appreciate your comments, encouragement, and support. Thanks for keeping up with my life. Ya know, I consider this my year long Christmas letter. I hope you know, label or not you are important to me. And please by all means comment about the changes, do you like them?

Oh and I almost forgot come August we are going to have a little blog party to celebrate my 7th year of blogging,so consider this your official invitation. Blog Door Prizes will be given!

And Now For an Oldie but a Goodie... LOVE/HATE

2012-01-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

I love lotion.
I hate dry anything. Hands, Legs, and especially face.
I love blogging.
I hate when people read them and don't leave comments(Yeah, I am talking to you)
I love hats.
I hate hat hair.
I love bubbly water.
I hate how it makes me burp.
I love having painted nails.
I hate when the paint on my nails starts to chip off.
I love bubblegum, grape flavored especially.
I hate when the flavor goes away.
I love having a clean house.
I hate when I turn into the wicked witch of the west just because people start to live again.
I love the new show New Girl
I hate when a NEW show already has re-runs(WTF?.. the F stands for fudge people)
I love a really good glass of red wine.
I hate when I run out.
I love a good cup of coffee with the perfect amount of foam on top.
I hate when I burn my tongue on said cup of coffee, because I am too Damn impatient!

I love to hear your love/hates.
I hate when you don't share.

On Becoming a Planner

2012-01-05T14:06:00.000-08:00

Have I told you before that I am not a planner. While visiting family and friends this past Christmas in Nevada, I realized how much I wished I was a planner.
I was having a conversation with some good girl friends at the Hillside Christmas Eve service and I was realizing that I really should have had the forethought to plan ahead for a gathering at someone's house to which I said to them, "Ya know if only I was a planner!" And my girlfriends laughed, really loud. You know you have said something true that no one would dare say to your face, but if you go ahead and say it somewhat in jest and people laugh really loud... well, you know at that point you could be onto something.

All that to say, I have decided to be a better planner. Something that My Giant has said he would love to have planned around here is our dinner meal. I'm sure there are other things he would love to have planned around here as well.. but get your mind out of the gutter!
When he for a brief moment was the stay at home dad and I went back to teaching full time, he had this place running like a well oiled machine. I will say it, He does a much better job than I do at managing this house. I am okay with that. I know I bring other things to the table.

Anyway, one of the things outside of the shower schedule that he had the Fab 4 on, (yeah, that was border line child abuse, don't cha think?) was a weekly planned menu. He said it saved so much time and energy to know ahead of time what was for dinner every night and he has said that it would be a good idea for us to do again.

So one of the things that I was determined(See blog below) to do this year was get better at planning meals for our household.
I HAVE FOUND THE ANSWER TO ALL MY LIFES PROBLEMS!!! Ok sorry for shouting, and being a tad-bit dramatic but you need to understand how life changing this is going to be for me.
I have found this website; plantoeat.com and it has forever changed my life.
Check it out, report back and tell me what you think.

Oh and next time I come to Nevada I will be in need of someone's house to have a small gathering to see all our old friends, any takers?

Took My Chances with a Red Bull

2012-01-03T22:47:00.000-08:00

Well around 4:30p today as my second shift of the day began, and I was switching gears from laundry, dishes, menus, dogs, etc... to my Fab 4 kids coming home from school, I decided that unless I got some caffeine into my blood stream I was going to check out right then and there.
I headed to the grocery store. I grabbed the little tin can against my better judgement, and I was almost finished drinking it before the clerk had even finished ringing me up.

Here's where I would like to explain something. I don't usually drink these energy drinks. Occasionally I will take a sip from My Giant's, but never, have I ever purchased one for myself.
I can now see why they are so popular.

Not only did I finish my day by doing some more grocery shopping, cooking dinner for my family, taking Chloe to Hip Hop class, cleaning up dinner when I got home, read several chapters in my book, planned the meals for the whole month of January on my new favorite website plantoeat.com, watched some boob tube with hubby and cousins, BUT now here I sit and can actually write a little blurb about my Red Bull experience that hopefully makes some sense.

Sidenote- Could you imagine the Proverbs 31 woman on Red Bull?

I will let you know tomorrow if I will be trying my luck again with this legal stimulant. The key factor will be if I ever fall asleep tonight.

Determination

2012-01-02T22:10:00.000-08:00

Determination.

That is the word I am looking for in this season of my life right now.
There are so many things that I want to accomplish in my life, and the older I get I am realizing that so many of these things I never will.
That's okay.
I just want to accomplish the most important ones.

I want to be like what I read about in this; Luke 9:51- Jesus basically on his death walk into Jerusalem in this passage didn't let it phase him that no one wanted him when he came into town, even though his peeps were ready to bring down fire on the people for rejecting him, he says, basically.... that is not what I am here for.

I want to narrow down this list of goals and remember why I am here above all else.
I want to cut out things in my life that will keep me from these things.
I want to be determined beyond recognition.
Determination.

------------------------------

I wrote the above lil blurb over 6 months ago.
I am pretty sure it had something to do with me losing weight before my sisters wedding.
I am pretty sure I didn't lose that weight.
And I am pretty sure that as I found this old post in my edit section the reason it stood out to me as something I should revisit is because, the word;
Determination,
is what I am looking, longing for again.
It is that time of year when I am feeling like my jeans are a lil snug.
I am looking at my bank account and re-thinking those financial courses I should have invested in, or maybe wait, I did invest in them but, I conveniently put the wisdom aside around December 1st. Either way, I am now looking at the year ahead and thinking of ways to make my life better as that new year rolls around.
And so the word;
Determination,
is the word that is appealing.

I think the reason that I didn't post this before is because I went off wandering and wondering what exactly I wanted to be determined about at that particular time.
I know I could find what it was I was looking for in my journals if I really wanted to, but I am sure it probably went something like this;

Eat Better.
Exercise.
Read My Bible More.
Deep Clean and Organize my house.
Simplify.
Ya da Ya da Ya da!!

Now as I sit here 6 months later I am looking at that word and thinking, I do want to have determination to do those everyday disciplined life things, but I also want to accomplish some life goals, and passions that I have had from a very young age.

One of those dreams was to write.
One of those passions was to sing.
One of those wants was to photograph life.
One of those desires was to become a wife, a mother, and a teacher.

I can honestly say, that as I look at that list the only one that I can check off is the one that is, was, and will always be the most important.
The other three are just icing on the cake of this beautiful life, and I plan to be determined about all of them in this upcoming year, and take care of the everyday life determinations... one cookie at a time... wait I mean one glass of water at a time.

Happy New Determined Year Readers!

Favorite Captured Moments #5

2011-12-30T15:01:00.000-08:00

And so begins the holiday pics.

This top one is still a shocker to me every time I look at it, I think to myself... Self "I can't believe you let your boy do that?"
BUT Before you go thinking I have gone off the deep end by letting my 10 year old get all painted up like a zombie so he could participate in the Michael Jackson Thriller act that he had been taught at school, and practicing all week, and begging, begging to be allowed to be scary and gory for just one night at the Redmond Town Center... just think to yourself... It's Michael Jackson for crying out loud AND DON'T JUDGE!

Well I did let him go and you can see as I have now once again used you my reader as my therapist, that I still have a little guilt over that one.

Moving on, this year I could not stop taking pictures of the autumn taking place all around me. If you have ever read my blog before, and IF you are indeed my friend you know that this is the time of year that I love most. I know shocking, being that my name is NOEL and all, you would think that it would Winter and that I should be a true blue Christmas Elf, but alas the time of year that makes my heart sing is Fall. I must have a bout a ba-zillion photos of trees and leaves from this year alone.

This year Halloween was quite different than in years past. It marked the beginning of an end for the Scofield clan. We were all fragmented and went our own ways on Halloween night. For this sentimental heart it was a rough night. And the picture below marked another big day in my house. Sigh. That's all I have to say about that.

My kids are getting older as children often do. You feed them, they grow. This momma is trying to hold on for what lies ahead is what the picture below captures. My younger brother Jeremy is now on his own. In his own place. Paying his own rent. Making his own dinners. Working a job. Going to school.

WOW!! Seriously, when did that happen? He is an amazing human being. Success number 5 for my mom and dad.

I can only hope to do half the amazing job these two have done with 5, with my 4.

Solomon turned 10 this year. We now have 3 in double digits, SAY WHAT??
Yes, this 10 year old boy still much like his namesake is so wise beyond his years. He makes me think, "They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know. And I think to myself what a wonderful world" You know, I just can't help myself sometimes with the song quotes. It's in my DNA.

The captured moment above was a memory I will treasure forever. When I went home to NV in November for my dad's 70th B-day, my sister Gina's baby shower, my brother Greg's birthday and my mom's birthday, I got the pleasure of having a pedicure done with my 4 year old niece right by my side. She was so precious and wanted only what Auntie Noel wanted for "pol-nailish" and this moment was just so fantastic to me!

For Thanksgiving this year we had the absolute Joy of having Momma Nash here with little Izzy, Auntie Eileen, and Uncle Jeremy. We also had our wonderful friends the Days over. Needles to say with 17 of us in our little cabin it was a true Scofield, Jam em in, Get real cozy, and Enjoy the Ride kind of event!

I loved strolling the Market with the family and having us all together was really so special to me.

For Christmas we headed down to NV because that was THE FAB 4's Christmas wish. To be with family and friends in NV. More than gadgets. More than money. More than toys. They wanted people. Hmmm.... imagine that?
It was a wonderful memory that will hold us all over until we meet again.

We also had our first of what I hope to be many viewings of the movie Elf with some great friends, we brought in the Christmas season eating the Elf diet of Candy, Candy Corns, Candy Canes and Syrup. We came. We saw. We laughed. We quoted all while we went into diabetic shock(JK) and we remembered the Joy of Christmas Spirit, comes truly from LOVE.

Well friends this concludes my favorite captured moments for 2011. It's hard to capture a whole year on film and then narrow it down to your most favorite but I enjoyed doing it, and I hope you enjoy looking at it.
If you are reading this and you took the time to see our life lived out in pictures then know that you are loved and YOU ARE PATIENT :)

Until 2012 readers :) thanks for staying tuned!

Favorite Captured Moments #4

2011-12-29T11:46:00.000-08:00

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine."
Thomas Jefferson

Is there really, anything under the sun(or the clouds in my case) better than old friends?
I don't believe if I searched the whole world over, with a fine tooth comb that I could ever find better friends than the ones that have crossed my path in this beautiful life.

As I look through all the photos of this year I am reminded that although I might live in a little tiny cabin in the woods, with barely enough square footage for the 7 people that live in it, I have so much! SO MUCH! I often feel I am the wealthiest person in the world when it comes to the people department.

I also don't feel worthy. Of all the kind words, and deeds that have been given to me and my family from said friends. You all are amazing! Truly, I love and appreciate you so much. If I haven't already told you this, I am saying it now.
FRIENDS... FAMILY... Thank you for making my life so very rich on every level possible.

You know I am a girl who LOVES words, and I find that when it comes to this department; my friends and family there are NO WORDS to ever really express how grateful I am for you.

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."
C. S. Lewis

Do you even know how hard it is to choose favorite captured moments from just one year? So many pictures, so little time. As I stroll through each and every captured moment, I am brought to that place where there was love, laughter, and life. This my friends is where it's at!
"I got two turntables and a microphone, where it's at!" Thank you Ben Folds :)

At the end of this summer we started what we hope to make into a new Scofield family tradition. We had an end of the summer BBQ. It was so fun to finally have many of the friends and family here in WA that have taken such good care of us, over for a little gathering. My Giant is still working on the Garden area for next year but I hope to be eating and sharing some of our own growth next year from it.

And I hope that you can be there!

Favorite Captured Moments #3

2011-12-29T10:55:00.000-08:00

This year was such a BIG year for my family in so many ways.
The month of June especially seemed like around every corner we were celebrating something.
But 2011 as a whole marked many very important dates for my family;

As I mentioned in the previous post we have an official teen now, we also have a 70 year old dad now, a 40 year old sister, a 30 year old baby sister, our baby brother graduated from High School,

And ....Sister Jenny's Wedding Day came. The day when my sister Jen said "I DO".

My sister Jenny's wedding was on June 25,2011 and what an amazing event that was.

Her special day has been a topic of conversation ever since I can remember. My day many moons ago(16 to be exact) June 3, 1995 came when I was so young, so in love, and also so very much like the non-detailed person that I am. For me there were many decisions that were made by others because I simply didn't care. So I don't remember putting as much time, energy, or thought into it.

The only detail that I remember thinking about was that of course I was going to get to finally have sex!! (Did she just say that? Why YES, YES I did!) My Giant, IF you are reading this which I highly doubt you are, know that just because I didn't think about our actual wedding day much doesn't mean anything other than, I knew without a doubt I was ready to get IT started!! LOL...

Okay where were we?? Oh yea, But my sisters day was one that was a long time coming, with many a thought, many a detail, and so there were many, many conversations as to what it would look like, who it would be standing next to her, and how it would all happen.

Well, her day came this year. She had always talked about getting married by the water and to see her on that day with the crystal blue Lake Tahoe water behind her made me realize how completely fortunate our family is to have one answered prayer after another. I am now the proud owner of another amazing brother-in-love, James Simmons. To see my sister in her new role as wife really does my heart good.

And Did I mention I have a teenage daughter now?

Favorite Captured Moments #2

2011-12-28T17:15:00.000-08:00

In the Spring of 2011 the Scofield home became an official teenage home. That is we officially have a teenager now. So many people warned us about this moment when our lives would forever change. We were nervous. Not really.

Well, what I want to know is when did she

Turn into her

It goes by way too fast people. That's all I am saying. And you know that saying you don't ever know what you got until it's gone well it's true. When I was younger and my sister and I would fight and bicker about clothing items or what radio station we should have playing in our room I never thought in a million years that there would come a day that I would long to share a room with her again. That's where my girls are at. They don't know what they have.

I am here to remind them. Someday they will be grown women who will say to their children when they are fighting, "Love Each Other" or "Tell each other 'you're my best friend'! They will do as I have done. Repeat the words my mother said to me. Teach as I have taught.

So I kinda cheated by using some old photos to prove a point here but you'll forgive me.
From top to bottom
Emma and Chloe this year 2011 in Funky Freemont
Emma at Lake Tahoe 2007
Emma here December 2011
Emma and Chloe Newport Beach 2007
Chloe University of Washington 2011

This last pic is of me and my sister Jen enjoying a Christmas morning together.
Too Fast People.

Favorite Captured Moments 2011

2011-12-28T15:25:00.000-08:00

This year a very tragic thing happened regarding my captured moments. You can read about this sad day here if you have time, under the tag Maccy, but for time purposes and to keep this mostly about pictures I am going to give you the condensed version.
My Maccy crashed and so with Maccy went all my beloved pictures that were stored in him.
It was tragic.

But thankfully, I bought a new little piece of technology this year called the I Phone.
It has not only been my only phone but also my camera, computer, and all around favorite piece of entertainment that I now own. We bonded after Maccy died. We became friends. I learned to appreciate this small device in a way I had never done before.

Well, all that to say the pictures that would have been posted on this recap post would have been quite different if I had all my pictures but I am getting really good at picking up the pieces, and the pictures wherever I can find them. Don't be surprised if I steal a pic right off your page for my own purposes because that's just how I roll now.

These Favorite Pics are of when;
Uncle Greg and Tanya came to Seattle in February
Easter in West Seattle
and When our Lil Cabin got a Face Lift
Hope you enjoy, more favorites to come.

Full Moon Poem, written on Myspace Aug 2009... remember that place MYSPACE?

2011-12-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

For these I am thankful;

The Moon,
The Breeze,
The sound of the wind through the trees.

The Love,
The Joy,
The sound of my girls and all three of my boys.

My House
My Cars
My Dogs who sometimes I wished lived on Planet Mars.

My Family
My Friends
My Neighbors who are always giving without end.

The Creator
My Savior
Without which what is this life for?
But with whom all blessings come from and so much more.

Love Letter #2

2011-12-21T22:29:00.000-08:00

Remember when you sent that really cute, very old man up my street?
He was just waiting by my address sign.
As a bonus you sent him with his beautiful baby girl, great grandchild.
Remember when you had his parents name him Gregory because you knew that would make me know it was from you.
Those are the moments only you can orchestrate, and that's why I love you.
Remember when he was standing there listening to the sound of the creek.
That sound that I get to listen to now everyday.
You really know how to show me that you love me.

# Tagging

2011-12-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

So now that I have this tagging thing somewhat figured out, (only took me ... ahem...not going to say how long it really took me to figure this out) I have a lot of old posts to tag.

In doing so I am having so much fun looking back at when I first started this ongoing rant with you all.
It will be 7 years this August, and I do believe that I am going to throw a party for my BLOG :) LOL!
That's right. We are having a party to celebrate "beautiful life" right here folks, August 2012

Not sure how I am going to throw a blog party but I have some time to think about.
In the meantime check out the tag below that will lead you to my first post here, many moons ago.
Hope it provides a chuckle.

Oh and tagging blogs is so much fun.
I can't believe it has taken me this long to catch on.
Ya know me a lil slow in the tech dept, but on point in real LIFE!

Love Letters #1

2011-12-18T22:54:00.000-08:00

Thank you for the that perfect, divine moment.
Where you sang to me through the voice of Josh Groban.
When you made the fog so thick that it made me slow down.
In a car alone with a moment to breath deeply.
After I was feeling like no one knew my name, you sang it out.
Sigh.
Thank you for that.

Turning 37

2011-12-17T13:43:00.000-08:00

The day began as any other Saturday would.
Well, except My Giant had to go into work at 2am.
Kinda,
LAME.
After he wished me happy birthday, he begrudgingly got out of bed and went to work.
I went back to sleep, only to be awoken by Solomon around 8am.
8am.Really?
LAME.
He went right to the most important thing in life to a 10 year old boy on any given Saturday morning, video games.
No Happy Birthday mom from him.... hmmm...?
LAME.
Back to laying there I went. Because although I wasn't asleep, I wasn't going to get up earlier than 9am dammit!
So I laid there.
Thinking.
LAME.
And this is what I thought.
37 is a LAME year.
Really, I mean even the number is lame to me.
*(Not to my sister Gina, oh no this is the year she can't wait for,huh? Yep! But I am getting ahead of myself we will return to this later,don't forget)
So why wouldn't this birthday be lame to me?
LAME.
I laid there a little longer and then the dogs came out.
Dogs can't wait to go to the bathroom and eat. Even if it is your birthday they need to be fed.
Did anyone offer to do this chore for me because it was my birthday and I should therefore be able to sleep in? NOPE!!
LAME.
This began the downward spiral of lame thoughts, which then turned into a full blown pity party.
I got up and had a mountain of dishes waiting for me, and also two hungry puppies.
It WAS 9:07am. Success! But still...
LAME.
By this point Chloe and Isaiah were up.
OF course one of my beautiful blue eyed babies would remember it was my birthday, but NOPE!
After feeding the pups, and feeding the puppy of 'LAME' inside my head, I decided to get started on those dishes(they weren't getting done all by themselves)
LAME.
So there I stood doing the dishes.
Until my oldest,my teenager came rolling out of her bedroom.
Of course,she will remember now that she is a young adult. I mean I can hardly hold it against the kids, but a young adult will surely remember her dear mothers birthday... NOPE! She passed me right by me and headed straight for the bathroom. Not a word!
LAME.
By this point that puppy LAME was getting HUGE!
It was a fat puppy.
It was a hungry puppy.
I could have given that puppy a million more bones to chew on, BUT ya know what?
Just as I was about to let the streams of tears come rolling down my cheeks,guess what happened?
I decided that once again I was going to shut that puppy up!
By puppy I mean discontentment.(See tag below)
She's a sneaky B-word... discontentment. Sneaky, mean, conniving, ruthless, and deadly if not caught in time.

So in my head I decided right then and there to change my mind.
It's all about perspective.
37 is not LAME!
37 is one year that I WILL NOT feed that puppy LAME anymore! (God knows I have enough puppies :)

Then the phone started ringing.
Just like that, my birthday wasn't forgotten.
Chloe shot up and said, "Oh yeah Happy Birthday mom" and then they all rang in my Fab 4.
Chloe took over doing the dishes and
I got the first HB song of the morning by a dear friend on the phone.
And then another one from family.
And even an old school Fountainhead Foursquare version of the HB song(which made my day!)

Oh yeah, and then returning to 37 being my sister Gina's favorite year. Thanks for reminding me.
When talking to her on the phone and explaining how LAME I think the year 37 is,she said
"What ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Apparently!
She reminded me that this is the year that she can't wait to be, because it is her favorite number.
Huh?
She reminded me that this was the year she told our older sister good things were going to happen, AND THEY DID!
Huh?
She reminded me that this year was going to NOT be LAME but that it was going to be Good. Very Good. Really Good.

37 GOOD.

Fog and an Ode to My Twilight Fans

2011-12-16T23:04:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned to you, my beloved reader... how much I absolutely love the FOG!

Foggy mornings are a bit of a normal occurrence here in Seattle Washington, so are foggy evenings for that matter.
If you love them too, Don't be a hater! Just enjoy the pictures and come for a visit so you can take some of your own!

Still for this native NV girl, they take my breath away every time. I believe my family members think I have developed Asthma from all the gasping!

There is just something about the fog that can make any ordinary morning turn into something spectacular.
And by spectacular I mean kinda eery.
And by eery I mean kinda cool.
And by cool I mean... ok I will stop!

Is it any wonder why they filmed a series of movies about vampires swinging from trees up here in the PNW?
Can't you just see Edward walking out from in between those trees?
And NO we did not purchase an old red truck to copy a certain girls truck in a certain vampire movie. Mr. Big, aka My Giant, aka The Moses, aka Hubby purchased "Old Red" last year for dump runs. We like him. He eats A LOT!!

Reporting Back about Barbara Wa Wah's show

2011-12-14T23:19:00.000-08:00

Todays your lucky day ....In case you missed the infamous Barbara Walter's Most Fascinating People show that was on last night I have a recap.
Because lucky for me My Giant wasn't home last night and so I got to watch this show with out his sarcasm and snickers!
Here are my thoughts -

Modern Family Gay couple - Mitch and Cam I LOVE THEM! And by THEM I mean the characters they play on Modern family. They didn't spend too much time on the actual actors, so I can't say that I love them but...
I LOVE that one of the actors is not gay, yet he is so very comfortable in his own skin that he plays his role flawlessly. This makes me LOVE them both even more. I think they are doing a good thing with the roles they have been given. And well, I could say a lot more about that, but I won't not here on this fun post.

Moving on...

Simon Cowell- I hate him(not really I don't hate anyone) BUT I still want to hear what he has to say, Why? Well, because he is Candid. That word Candid is not something that most people are. It makes me think of candid camera the tv show. That's a sidenote- but I like that word and I am not sure that in reality if Simon was CANDID with me or my daughter( who so desperately wants to be on his show one day),that I will like this word or him anymore. Didn't I say I hate him already. Not really.

*While watching the show I was constantly annoyed by the fact that I burned the roof of my mouth when I popped a burning hot Brussels Sprout in my mouth at dinner time, and because I was too damn impatient to wait for it to cool off I now have a scar on the top of my mouth!! At least for 24hours anyway.

Herman Cain- What a joke! I don't believe ONE word that comes out of that mans mouth. When you are innocent, you are innocent and you can walk with your head held high and it causes no pain or suffering to anyone around you because YOU ARE INNOCENT! And one final note, HE CAN'T SING!! And he's a schmuck! God forgive me!

The Kardasians - First let me just say that I don't even care enough about this family to write a commentary here. And after watching their lil blip on the show, I feel the same.

*Shh... don't tell but after that interview I really wished My Giant was here so he would have changed the channel and then therefore I wouldn't have wasted anymore of this precious quiet time.

Derek Jeter- Ahhh man, Really? I have to mention a stupid YANK on my page!! Ok fine. This is what I got from his interview with Ms. Wa Wah, We have 2 more years, at least that's what his contract says. And then he should come join the best baseball team EVER... Go... Bo Sox's... Booyah!!

Katy Perry-It's funny, that I really know nothing about this girl before tonight. I mean I have heard her songs but I couldn't tell you that I knew it was her that sang them. In fact tonight during this show when they were playing clips and her songs were playing, I was like "Oh that's who sings that song!" She has a Jesus tattoo, and well I tend to believe that she is more sincere about saying that is where "her roots" came from than the song Herman Cain sang at the end of his interview, as a tribute to his faith.

*For reals, sometimes I think MY GIANT is right. Shhhh... DO NOT REPEAT THAT! You are sworn to secrecy. I mean really why do I care listen to these people?

Donald Trump- He's Bi-Polar," I will run, I won't run, well maybe I will still run" AND HE pretends to be RICH! Did you see his gold furniture? No one who is really rich has gold furniture! He has a fake tan, fake hair,and I like the guy who plays him on SNL better than the actual Trumpster himself! And about his wanting my man Obama's certificate let's see his proof of ownership on those GOLD CHAIRS!! Those babies are rent-to-owns for sure! He's had so many bankruptcies, how many you ask? I think 3... I mean I don't have proof but...?!!

Amanda Knox- This story was one that I had followed closely due to the fact that she came from Seattle Washington. The local news stations have been covering this story for a while here so it was interesting to hear the run down on Wa Wah's show. I thought she was going to interview her but Wa Wah left me wa-wa -wanting!
For me the jury is still out on this girl. My questions come in here : I don't know why she had a written confession and I still have my doubts about her innocence... so well... that's cool she's home now and Seattle now has a questionable young lady lurking about.

**Honestly, it's so hard to not concede to the voice of sarcasm on this next story.

Pippa Middlaton- Who is she again? Oh yeah the sister to some new royalty person in England. Really? Bab's you fail me here. I mean there were so many other life stories that you could have chosen, that are way more fascinating than Pippa. The only truly fascinating thing about this girl is her name. Who name's their child Pippa?

And the Most Fascinating.... Drum Roll please....

Steve Jobs- Truly his story is amazing. Buddhist, Hippie, Cancer Fighter, Truly a genius. Some thoughts on the recap of his life,What's up with people stealing other people's companies? SO not cool! Also, his last word's "Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow!" I want to know what all those wow's were about don't you? I think I have an idea, do you?

So in conclusion of my night of guilt free, special celebrity shows I have this to say;

DAMMIT- MY GIANT WINS! These shows are stupid! The people on them are stupid! And am stupid to waste my time and watch them? Well, maybe not as much if you leave a comment here and make me feel better.

Barbara Walter's 10 Most Fascinating People... AND..

2011-12-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

THE GIANT isn't home so I can watch this wonderful program without guilt.
This never happens. Ok well... if you follow the tag at the end of this Blog it may have happened once before.
Here I sit, all 4 kids are in bed and somewhat quieted down.
Prayers have been said.
Books have been read.
Wine has been poured.

AND The Giant is at work when the Barbara Walter's special is actually on LIVE, like right now!
Did I mention that already, oh okay well it just started and so I have got to go watch and I will report back later.

Tasha's Challenge

2011-12-13T22:48:00.000-08:00

I love my friend Tasha Gardner.
If I were to describe her in a few short sentences this is what I would say;

She is beyond creative.
She loves her husband.

She is a good mom.
She raised and outstanding young man.

She loves VW's.
She introduced me to the world of scrap-booking.

She loves challenges.
She reinvents herself on a regular basis.

She is a good friend.
She is a faithful friend.

Those are just a few of the words I would use to best describe my friend Tasha.

I wanted you all to reacquaint yourselves with Tasha, and her challenges because she has come knocking on the challenge door again and this time I am more prepared and excited than ever!

If you want to you can join in on this fun challenge, here are the ground rules;
Pick a clothing item or genre and wear it for the month of January.
She (Tasha) is going to wear 31 sweaters in 31 days.
I am going to wear 31 different hats.
Emma is going to wear A SCARF for 31 days.

We will of course need documentation of your activity and there will be prizes.
To see some of her previous challenges years past follow the tag below that says ; tasha challenge

Hope this gives you enough time to prepare and join in on all the fun!!

Finding our Niche, aka My Sweet Spot

2011-12-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

Definition of Niche- " a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted b : a habitat supplying the factors necessary for the existence of an organism or species c : the ecological role of an organism in a community especially in regard to food consumption d : a specialized market"

I love this definition of Niche-" a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person is best fitted" because it does describe what I feel we have found here in Washington. We have found a place where the people and the environment seem to be best fitted to me and my family. There are many ways that a niche can be found, but for us it was with many trials and tribulations to get to where we are now.

Looking at the above statement, I have to giggle at how dramatic I can be sometimes. Because really compared to those that move to the States from another country, not knowing a single soul, or the native tongue, what we experienced was as easy as eating a piece of apple pie(which is pretty easy, too easy for me). That's not to say that it wasn't difficult to go from the state that I have lived in my whole life, where all my immediate family still lives, where some of my very best friends live, to a place where we all had to start from scratch. I feel really fortunate that two of my very close friends from my youth both live 20 minutes from me and also some wonderful family. Their friendships truly have been a life line to me. I knew though that as much as my comfort zone didn't want to stretch and meet new friends, it was necessary for this Old Sanguine.

It is an interesting thing meeting new people though. There are awkward silences. There are looks that are unfamiliar. There are moments that can feel like an eternity has passed if you don't keep the conversation rolling. We have been here in Washington since October 2009, and we are just now beginning to find our "niche" as far as people are concerned. We have finally found a church to settle into and call home, and we have got in sync (LOL in sync, like the band) with the culture that surrounds us.

I now know what it is like to be the newbie. The outsider looking in. The foreigner. The stranger. When I left NV, I left the place where everybody knew my name and my business, and I entered a land where I was completely unknown. It's good to be known. It feels better to be known, than to be unknown. I had been known for so long, I had forgotten what it felt like to be unknown. However, to be unknown in some ways, if I am completely honest was really nice for a time. It brought a freedom that could have soon turned into apathy if left unchecked. Thankfully, I have a checker. That checker gently nudged in the direction of living in community once again, and I am thankful for him. And I am thankful to be known once again.

I am also so very thankful for the people who have shared their gift of hospitality with me and my family. There have been all kinds of gestures to welcome my family and I, like a walk up my hill, a pie brought over, a free week pass at the gym, a birthday party, a night out , a night in, a book club, an invitation , etc. these extension of friendship have meant the world to me, and my kids.

And now that I am sitting sweetly in my "sweet spot" or niche, I hope I can extend the same gesture of friendship to the next newbie.
A kind of pay it forward in the niche department if you will.

Discontentment you B-%@!!

2011-12-01T09:50:00.000-08:00

Last night I started to have a bit of a pity party. As I was laying in bed wide awake while the rest of the house was asleep, tears started rolling down my cheeks, and before I knew it I was, singing in my head "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."

Not even a day after I had posted here how easy it is to always find something to be thankful for, there I was sulking in discontentment. Although it wasn't things that I wanted but rather changes in another person. This is the worse kind of discontentment. The kind that blames all your woes and sorrow on another.

This kind of discontentment will not only bring a sort of death to any relationship, but it most certainly will end with more discontentment. It is doomed to fail from the moment it is let out of the gates of our minds.

So what did I do? I shut that puppy down! I thought, "SHUT THE HELL UP, DISCONTENTMENT you B- *%#!!!"

And then I rolled over and began to thank God for everything I had to be thankful for.

This morning I read in Proverbs chapter 1 about wisdom, and I thanked God for giving me this wisdom to discern when thoughts are good and life-giving, and when they are bad and will result in death of some kind.
I am so thankful for breath of life that scriptures like this bring to me, and I am reminded once again this morning who the lover of my soul is.

Thankful Project 2011

2011-11-30T07:51:00.000-08:00

I AM THANKFUL FOR:
Day 1- my sisters, two by blood, several in spirit.
Day 2- warm beverages in the morning
Day 3-FAMILY

Day 4- My mom and dad

Day 5- My brother Greg
Day 6-LAUGHTER
Day 7- MOSES( my Moses)

Day 8- Words from my Creator, candles that smell like fall, fresh flowers, and a warm spot to take it all in.
Day 9- To hear two cousins shooting the breeze at the end of hard days work.
Day10&11- Sunny and Gray days! One makes the other that much better.
Day 12-FRIENDS
Day13- Funny movies, good food, and Stellar men
Day 14-PICTURES

Day 15-For all the ARTS; music, painters, dancers, writers, etc. Expression is a beautiful thing!
Day 16-WORDS
Day 17- My daughters

Day 18- My sons
*I had quite a few more things I am THANKFUL for on THIS day. I got a free turkey. That's right a 21lb FREE turkey, pretty stoked about that. Also I am currently typing from my beloved Maccy that has been in the shop. Woot Woot! It's friday, I made homemade Manicotti, my house is warm, my Mr. Big is on his way home, and my kids are AMAZING!

Thankful day 19- The sun is shining in all these wonderful windows, my front yard is filled with the beautiful colors of fall, my mom-in-love is on her way up, and my Mr. Big is home enjoying his children, while I sit and enjoy this warm cup of joe. This is my "SWEET SPOT" when everyone is all together, and we are just chilling. LIFE IS GOOD!

Thankful day 20- Today I am thankful for my health. The older I get the more I realize how fortunate I have been in the health department of life. Something I have often taken for granted and even done begrudgingly is exercise. Today I head out the door for a morning walk thankful that my legs work :) and that I had a great playlist to inspire me up the BBKH!!

Thankful days 21 and 22- For People, and all kinds of personalties. I love people. I know that seems kind of general, but truly people are so interesting. I love to hear the life stories of every single person. If I could, I would sit down and hear everyone's life story.

Thankful day 23- Today I am thankful for my younger brother Jeremy. The jewel of our family. He is truly one of the funniest people I know. He is kind, sincere, faithful, responsible, trust-worthy, and already at 19 years young one of my favorite human beings on planet earth!! Jeremy Pellant I LOVE YOU!

Thankful day 24- full pantry, full fridge,full belly, full table,full heart, if life was a deck of cards... I just got a full house!

Day 25- leftovers :)

Thankful days 26 and 27- The holidays that celebrate being thankful and that it's better to give than receive

Thankful days 28 and 29- I am thankful for my faith. It is a gift that at a very young age, truth was revealed to me. Also for the many teachers in the faith that I have been fortunate to know and learn from to mention just a few; Greg and Ellen Pellant, Ben and Anita Sanchez, Jen Pellant Simmons, Moses Scofield, Charlene Oakes, Shaine Claiborne, Tom Griner and Kathie Griner, Judy Bratcher, Max Lucado, Jamie Weston, Louie Locke and Joni Locke, Peggy and Louie Locke, Jeff Peterson,Greg Rea, and so many, many more. To all of you who are running the race and I have followed after as you follow Christ, I say a HUGE THANK YOU!!

DAY 30- If you are reading this I am thankful FOR YOU!

Last day of Project Thankful 2011- I have to say that it's not hard for me to find things to be thankful for so this wasn't really a challenge or anything. Can you be thankful for being thankful? I think I remember an old Petra song about that topic... anyhew that's not what I want to say I am thankful for. TODAY- I am thankful for YOU! If you are reading this it means our paths have crossed somehow and for that I am thankful :) and I hope you can find it as easy as I do to find something, anything to be thankful for.

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for!!!

My Maccy

2011-11-17T09:19:00.000-08:00

So my beloved Maccy is dead. Ka-put! Gone-zo!
I did not have a back up system in place and so everything on my said Maccy is Ka-put, Gone-zo... no longer in existence except in my mind.
This evokes all kinds of emotions.

It's not as though my house burned down. Which recently happened to my beautiful mom-in-love's bed in breakfast in MS. It was filled from top to bottom with her mothers lifetimes worth of memories.
Thankfully no one was in the house when it burnt to the ground, but still there were treasures lost.

This recent loss for her has definitely helped me keep things in perspective when it comes to My Maccy, still I miss him.

It is a shock. To have all the pictures, stories, information just gone! I imagine an even greater shock when your whole house and everything in it is just gone. Or when you have had something stolen from you.

These thoughts and many more keep this experience for me in perspective. I suppose that's the lesson learned. It's all about perspective.

I have never been more grateful for my little Iphone. The past week would have been a lot worse if it weren't for that lil apple, can't wait to get the big apple back though.I am not skilled enough to write an entire blog on my little apple so
currently,I am typing this on what My Mr. Big just purchased. A little PC called ASPIRE. It's teeny tiny and will make a great computer for the kids when we get Maccy back. Going back to a PC after being on the Mac is very interesting me. I remember learning the Mac and getting so frustrated,and actually that's how he got his nick name because I would say in frustration "MAC...KEY why you do me like that?"

When he returns directly upon his arrival home I will be sure to switch over to the camp that "hopes for the best but prepares for the worst". I might do a little dance, sing a little song, and continue keeping things in perspective.

Lesson Learned.

Ignorance is Bliss

2011-11-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well, last night while strolling the neighborhood with my trick-or-treaters I started to ponder the thought of this Holiday Halloween, and what it must look like to foreigners.?!?

You see, I live in a neighborhood that is made up of the Nations. I absolutely love this about where I live, but when it comes to American holidays I wonder what they must think about this one.

You see, we teach our children all year long to not talk to strangers, not to eat too much sugar, don't walk out in the middle of the street and on and on... and on this one night we abandon all for the sake of a bag full of m&m's and tootsie rolls.!!! ???

When we first moved here I didn't realize that we live in an area that many have migrated to from India. In India a holiday that is a lot like our Christmas is one called Diwali. Well, this is our third season of Diwali and so when I see the lights go up I no longer think "Oh come on, we haven't even had Halloween yet?" I used to think we just had a bunch of overly excited Christmas Elfs that got started on the outside lights in October. I am embarrassed to say, this goes to show you how small my world view was. Now I know that when the lights start going up it is not Christmas Elves(I enjoy the lights all the same) but those that celebrate this Festival of Lights, Diwali.

Now that I have a bit more understanding about their holiday I wonder how would I explain this Holiday Halloween.
I am not sure I can explain it just yet, but I would say I have made it what I want it to be. A day when little kids get to use their imaginations to the fullest degree, wear that creativity on their bodies, and then be rewarded for it :)

I know this is a very simple minded look at it, but ignorance is bliss;

Happy Halloween!!
and
Happy Diwali!!

2 Year Anniversary

2011-10-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

This pass week marks our 2 year anniversary of when we moved a million miles away(Ok not a million miles, but it might as well have been). I thought on this relaxing Saturday morning, when my hubby is out at Sea what better time to reminisce than here with you all.

This is a picture of the cabin right after we had squeezed all of our lives into the 800sq ft space. 2 whole years ago. 2 years might not seem like a long time to some of you but to us, it may as well have been 20.

This is a picture of what it looked like before we moved here. While we were still living in NV Moses came up on a scouting trip to see what kind of shape the current rentor/pot dealer had left the cabin in. This is what he found.
Moses, Dennis, Joel, Shawn, Greg, and Papa Russ, thank you for changing this

into this;

I cannot even begin to tell you all how much baggage we came to Washington with. Literally and of course Emotionally.

We couldn't even move in our living room for the first couple of weeks because there was no place to store all our stuff. The hard work that was put into this little place still astounds me.
Even now looking back on these pictures I am amazed at the transformation.

Thanksgiving 2010, this was THE table Mo built, Uncle Jeremy, Emma and Bella in the back there.

MoNoSco 2009

When I think about the fact that we really did this I have to laugh. There was a time though when we first moved here that we did a lot more crying than laughing. I mean, from the picture below you can get a good idea why one might want to cry!

It has now officially been 2 whole years since we embarked on this big move 700 miles up north, and what a roller coaster ride it has been. There have been many, many moments when we have thought "What the hell were we thinking?"

And then there have been many, many moments when we have sat outside, heard the sound of running water from the creek outside and thought "This is truly our safe haven, thank you God for this."

There have been many adjustments along the way, and as much as I tried to prepare myself for this major life change there really was no way to be fully prepared.

The first year here we were under siege. I say "we" loosely because truly it was Moses who was bombarded with countless things that needed to be fixed, chopped, built, moved, rebuilt, and then fixed again.
THE MAN, MY MAN IS A STUD!!

2 years later this place looks so different now.
I no longer need Gloria Paige Smith (aka GPS) to guide me.
I have a storage shed that is NOT my living room anymore, or the front and back porches.
We have figured out how to stay warm in the winter without central heat.
I have adjusted to not having a dishwasher or garbage disposal(my hands have never been so appreciative for a good bottle of Palmolive)
I now have a compost.
Even living on a septic tank has become my new norm.

Life is Good.

2 years later and we are still here.

Homeless (cont.)

2011-10-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night the ladies at my book club discussed our recent book Paris Wife,(good book btw). A book about Ernest Hemmingway's first wife and then somehow in some strange way this became the topic of conversation;

Should I give money to homeless folks or beggars?

I found it so interesting because I didn't bring this up, yet it was a thought that had consumed quite a bit of my time last week after my somewhat encounter with the beautiful stranger(see blog below).
In scrolling around on my usual reads this morning I found this lil note written to the above question by one of my favorite authors, Shane Claiborne.

"Jesus said give to everyone who asks. That’s a tough command. Sometimes we wonder what Jesus would do in the Calcutta slums or in these heroine-haunted streets where folks ask for change on every corner. What we can say with confidence is that we are to give something to everyone who asks – dignity, attention, time, a listening ear. Sometimes we may give money, sometimes not. But we can always give love. And there are times when giving money can even be a way to insulate ourselves from friendship or the messiness a real relationship might demand. So you can toss a few coins to a beggar or write a check to charity precisely as a way of insulating ourselves from relationships (and still appease our consciences)… but at the end of the day Christ’s call is to relationship and compassion. When Jesus speaks in Matthew 25 about caring for “the least of these”, the action he speaks of is not about distant acts of charity but personal actions of compassion – visiting the prisoners, caring for the sick, welcoming the strangers, sharing food with the hungry. Better than sharing money is sharing life, a meal, a home. Having said that, most Christians need to get taken advantage of more. And we can usually spare some change. Sometimes folks say this question about giving to beggars and panhandlers with suspicion, speculating that homeless folks will just use their money for drugs or alcohol… which happens sometimes. But we don’t always ask what CEOs are doing with our money when we give it to their companies (and the recent events on Wall Street raise some flags about how responsible they are!). In the end, if we cannot take someone to dinner or give them a ride when they ask for money, we might as well give some money. It’s better to err on the side of grace than on the side of suspicion. And we doubt that Jesus is going to reprimand us for giving too much money to addicts… more likely, we will discover we could have been a bit more generous than we were."

Shane Claiborne

Even if you are NOT a follower of Christ I think this blurb has some very good points to consider. Like we might not need to give money but we can always give LOVE. I like how Shane comes at the age old argument of not giving because they might use the money for drugs or alcohol, combated with do we scrutinize America's public servants, aka politicians with the same rule of thumb?
I believe the topic of people in need is one that will continue to resurface as the programs that were once in place to help those in need are now being shut down. I don't necessarily think this is entirely bad because it now gives us "the human race" the opportunity to step up to the plate of real true need, and help meet those needs.

I want to do my part. Not exactly sure what that looks like, but I think it begins with "giving to anyone who asks".

I am proud of my little book club because these thoughts and more were all part of our conversation last Friday night. And now I leave you with the same question;

Should I give money to homeless folks or beggars?

The Homeless

2011-10-19T19:34:00.000-07:00

Today I had a strange thing happen to me. I was sitting in my car in front of Safeway getting ready to go to the grocery store for the umph-teen time this week, (I feel as though I live there, but I digress) and I was txt-ing back a friend and when I looked up I saw a beautiful, clearly homeless woman sitting in front of the store at Safeways outside tables. She was sleeping peacefully, and she had figured out how to chain all her bags to her person so they wouldn't be stolen while she slept.

I saw her and paused...

And then I paused some more and thought, what must that be like?

Taking a nap outside of Safeway, having everything you own in the world chained to you, and resting peacefully?

I thought maybe I should leave her some money because clearly she could use it, right? Or maybe not. She didn't have a sign up saying that she needed money so I thought maybe she was okay for now. Then I thought maybe I should go in and get her a Starbucks on the way out to help her wake up from her slumber.

Then I got thinking about how many people choose this way of life because they are so tired of running the rat race. I wondered IF she had in fact chose this way of life or if life and it's cruel ways had forced her to this place.

She sat there in the middle of the day sleeping, and here I was running from here to there, trying to make it all work. Napping in the middle of day is not a bad gig. Ask anyone who has done it. It is glorious! But this was different, or was it?

So in the end, after I prayed to see if I was to give her anything besides my prayers I didn't end up giving her anything at that time. A while back I blogged about how convicted I was by not giving to homeless people when they asked for something and ever since have made it a point to give something, anything if I can WHEN ASKED! But she didn't wake up and ask so I walked inside and thought if she is awake when I walk out and IF she asks for something I will give. Whatever it is... maybe she will ask for coffee, a meal, some cash?

I then imagined how cool would it be to sit down and have a conversation with her.

She was awake when I came out and both our attention was drawn to a toddler that was not being watched by it's mom and playing with a gadget about ready to walk into a wall. We both shook our heads by this, and smiled in acknowledgement of how cute the toddler was. I waited for a plea for help, a hand outstretched for something but there was nothing.

Hmm....

I wish I could say that I was my usual sanguine self and sat down to strike up a conversation with her but I didn't. I put my groceries in the car, she put her head back on the table, and I drove off.

Maybe next time.
Maybe she was an angel I could have entertained?
She sure was beautiful.

Solomon turns 10

2011-10-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

10 years ago I became the mother of my first son. 10 years of "I love you's" from my little prince. 10 years of slugs, inventions, spontaneous wrestling matches, action heroes, legos, baseball games, bugs, lizards, and overall fun.

I am currently reading Bringing Up Boys, by James Dobson (again) for reminders of how to do just that. I want to bring up this Boy, Solomon to be in love Jesus more than life itself.

For me bringing up boys is harder than it looks. You see because, I come from a family of mostly girls. I do have two brothers but they were so spread out in age that I never got to see brothers in action. And being of the female species I often finding myself in a territory unknown.

I ask my husband all the time if the things that our boys do is "normal" or should I be concerned? When should I consult a professional ?

Before I had children I used to say that I wanted only boys! HA ha ha , serious LOL on that one. God knew. He knew what I needed and what I could handle.

All of that to say, that the last 10 years although it has kept me busy and on my toes I wouldn't trade Solomon for the world.
Not even when he went through the phase of sticking things up his nose!!

2011-09-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

I don't have anything really substantial to say, but I want to say something anyway. So here it goes.

School is in it's 4th week of full force for my kids. They are all doing great. I have to say I am a little jealous of their lives. They get the normal routine of getting up, going to school, coming home, doing homework, doing their individual extra curriculum activities, and then going to bed. How funny is it that when you are child all you can do is wait for the day when no one is telling you what to do, and when you are an adult you wish you had the simplicity of childhood?

At this time, I would like to point out that my oldest daughter has the best self management skills I have ever seen! Truly, she is a wonder to me. She has since the time she was a little girl put herself to bed long before the bed time bell rings and it just astounds me. My daughter Chloe and I on the other hand will be burning the midnight oil until the day I die. Total opposites those girls are. It just makes me giggle to think of them. Same DNA, Same Parents, Even Same birthday month... yet so completely opposite!

Anyway where was I, oh yeah back to my kids back to school routine. SO they are back doing great and I am jealous of their simple lives. When we went shopping for school supplies I of course bought some for myself just to feel apart of the busy. Every time I do back to school shopping I think about the movie You've got Mail where Tom Hanks says, "I would like to buy you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils". That movie is an all time favorite for me because I can so relate to Meg and Tom's characters love of school supplies.

Moving on... SO fall is my favorite. I have told you that before. There is just something about this season that makes my heart go pitter patter. The leaves on all the trees around here are showing little signs of the change that is coming. One of my favorite children's stories of all time is a story called "Frederick". I am sure I have blogged about this book before, but it's about a field mouse who when all the other mice are scurrying about to get ready for winter, collecting nuts, preparing their homes for hibernation, Frederick is just sitting there. Seeming to do nothing the other mice get frustrated with him, but later they realize he was taking it ALL in. When it gets dark and there is no longer any color left in nature Frederick starts sharing about the colors he was storing in his mind so that he could tell stories about it later. IN the dead of winter he paints the pictures of summer and shares his poetry. That's what I feel like sometimes when I catch myself just soaking it all up before the leaves fall off and the trees go barren.

I just realized that Fall is nature way of saying that things are dying. It makes me awe in wonder at the God I serve that right before death we get such beauty! Isn't that true in life. Right before the elderly pass, we get such beauty if only we have eyes wide open to see it. This Fall my eyes are wide open to see the beauty. My ears are wide open to hear the beauty. And my heart is full of gratitude for the changing of seasons.

Ciao Bella Summer 2011

2011-09-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

Although my favorite season is right around the corner, I am sad to say goodbye to this summer.

Here in Seattle it feels as if the summer is just getting started because the weather has finally got the memo that summer generally means warm and sunny.

Maybe I am so nostalgic about this summer coming to an end because the very special event of my sisters wedding took place June 25, 2011.

Or maybe I am sad to see it go because it means that now a new school year has begun for my kids, and that means they are getting older, and that therefore means I am getting older.

What ever the reason this was an amazing summer and I am so grateful for all the fantastic memories that were made.

I am looking forward to the year ahead. I hope as you are saying goodbye to summer you are feeling the same way, grateful for the summers memories and excited about the new year.

Remembering a Day

2011-09-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

Remembering a day we all have said we would "never forget" is harder than it looks. We all want to honor the thousands of lives that were lost on that tragic day, and how we choose to do that doesn't really matter as long as we do remember. As Americans, I don't think we like to remember that bad things really do happen. In our culture I don't feel we grieve well, but that's a topic for another day. This week I have been hearing and reading a lot of conversations as to how we as a Nation should go about remembering, and really I personally think that we should all feel free to remember and honor the heroes of that day however we choose. So that's what I am doing here, remembering.... because;

I will never forget.

For me it's easy to remember how many years have passed since that tragic day because I was still pregnant with my third child, Solomon. He turns 10 this October 4th, and so that's how I know 10 years have passed since 9/11. During his pregnancy I remember being so full of hope. I was excited to find out we were having our first son. I was excited for his future, little did I know that the year he would be born would make history for a tragic reason. Forever, that will be a part of his story. That he was born a month after 9/11.

I will never forget.

I am sure most of us can remember exactly where we were when we saw or heard the news that morning. I was at home with my girls who were only 3 and 1 and a half. We were watching PBS Sesame Street which was the normal morning routine after daddy had left for work. My friend Alyse, who also happened to be my neighbor at the time, called to share the news with me. I thought something had happened to her or one of her kids and was shocked to hear otherwise.

I will never forget.

It's hard for me to imagine raising Solomon without his dad being there to help him, but that is exactly what so many have had to do because they lost their soul mates, and parent partners that day. For Solomon there have been countless first days of school, boy scout mtgs, baseball games, birthday parties, and bedtime prayers said with his dad by his side all these years. For thousands of other children this 9/11 marks how many things they didn't get to do with their loved ones. That's a lot of candles that didn't get blown out. A lot of wishes that didn't get made. A lot of prayers that never got spoken.

I will never forget.

Recently, tragedy struck again in the little town where Solomon was born, Carson City NV. A random gunman shot and killed 4 people yesterday, and now this week before 9/11, will never be forgotten for all those families. That was only 4 people, and I am sure the town of Carson City will be forever changed because of yesterday. I called my hometown of Carson City to make sure that none of my loved ones who still live there were at I HOP that tragic morning. They were not. My mom however taught one of the boys who lost his dad this week. He will never be the same. On 9/11 we lost nearly 3000 people. That's a lot of stories cut short. That's a lot of teachers who had students who lost parents.....

I will never forget.

After 9/11 I remember how many flags went up, how many bumper stickers were posted "Never Forget", and how many lives and their stories were being played over and over on television. I remember being somewhat glued to the television. I remember being so thankful that I lived on the west coast far away from what had happened. I remember feeling safer because I didn't live by a big city or any national monuments. I know that seems selfish, but I was glad my little family was far from the appearance of danger. We were far away from what happened. But, I also remember not feeling safe for quite some time. I was not directly affected by that day. All my loved ones came home that night. I lived on the west coast. It happened on the east coast. I felt I had no real reason to panic, but I remember starting to have panic attacks shortly after that event for the first time in my life.

I will never forget.

What will I do this year, 10 years later?
I thought this was a great way to remember;

http://blog.sojo.net/2011/08/22/jesus-bombs-and-ice-cream/

Check out this creative way to remember.
If only I lived in Philly :)

Well, I don't live in Philly, but I do live in Washington now, and that means I live close to the wonderful Mike Farina family.
I will be at the Beautiful Amoure Farina's birthday party. That's right she was born on 9/11, and if we aren't celebrating her newest grandbaby, we will be celebrating that life goes on and that the most precious thing we can do to remember is to LIVE!

I Will Never Forget.

Getting Lost-Being Found

2011-08-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

I absolutely hate getting lost. Now that I see that statement, it seems kinda funny because I don't know many people who like to get lost. But I really hate it.
Last week, I set out to meet a friend at a new beach. I am always up for finding a new, fun, beautiful spot in this great state that I now live in, so I said yes. Little did I know that I would A.) set out to the wrong destination, but then 2.) even when I did get the right destination that I would continually get lost around every corner.
I don't mean to sound like a drama queen but it was exhausting! By the time I finally got there the sun was coming down, and I seriously was so irritated. In the midst of getting lost I had a moment where I thought, maybe I should just turn around and go home. It didn't help that my 7 year old who is almost as impatient as his mother when it comes to getting lost, kept saying... "Maybe we should just go home!"

Well, this got me thinking of the life lesson or the spiritual life analogy here.
Sometimes in life I get lost. I mean, I know I am FOUND for all eternity, but there are moments, seasons where I feel lost.
There are times in life when you question. Questions are okay to ask... they prove we have a mind. It's who we get our answers from that shape us.
I think these times come very randomly and for no apparent reason.
It's a feeling. Feeling is okay... it proves we are human, it's what we do with them that matters.

Like right now for instance.
I have had this nagging feeling of being lost again.
I am at a point in my life where I am wondering am I doing a good job being me?
Do you ever ask that question?
AM I doing a good job being me?
And then I quickly think what would be the definition of good?
Will I look back on what I have been given and be proud of myself?

I have been reading the book of Joshua in the bible.
I am past the point where God tells Joshua "Be strong and courageous, don't be afraid. I go with you." 1:9
I am past the point where Rahab hides the spies and because of this her whole house hold is spared. 2:14
I am past the point where Joshua and the people of Israel have seen God's hand move over and over on their behalf. 6:16
I am past the point where Joshua prayed for the Sun to Stand Still and it DID! 10:12(read it people it really did)

AND

Then I read this the other day;

"Joshua asked the Israelites, How long will you be SLACK to go in and possess the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?" Joshua 18:3

This is after the land has been given, the boundaries have been set, the victories have been won, cities have been captured, THE SUN HAS STOOD STILL, and yet.... they SLACK?

They weren't lost. They found the right destination. They had clear cut jobs to do. But still they SLACKED?

I read that and thought this is exactly what this feeling of being lost is like for me. I have been given everything, and I DO mean everything that I need to succeed in this my life, and yet I SLACK!

Why?
For this I have no answer.

I only know that just like when Isaiah asked me, "Can we just go home?" that there is no going back.
Not when you have looked this long.
Not when you have spent that much gas.
Not when you have hoped for the destination to end all destinations.
There is no turning back, where else would I go?

21:44

24:15

Isaiah Gregory

2011-07-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

7 years.

7 years of sweetness.

7 years of silly.

7 years of excitement.

7 years of joy.

7 years of surprises.

7 years of quotes.

7 years of pure fun.

7 years ago this boy came into the world as one of the greatest surprises my life will ever be given, and I will never be the same.

Happy Birthday Isaiah Gregory
Zed
Zay Zay
Zed Head
Iggy

The world has been a much brighter place the last 7 YEARS!

Blog Rolling and Stolen Moments in NV

2011-07-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is roll through all my favorite blogs.

On any given lazy Saturday, I love to sit with a good cup of coffee and roll through all my favorite blogs. This is "blog rolling" or so I have deemed this silly Saturday morning luxury.

Over the years blogging has been such a sweet escape for me, and if I were to choose only one internet luxury
ie:
myspace
facebook
picture websites
etc.
I think I would choose blogs.

Recently one of my favorite sites slogoin vw's got removed, and I know it might seem silly but it really bums me out. See, I like to check in on my friends, family, favorite authors, favorite chefs through the venue of blogs.
I like to see pictures, read the stories, copy the recipes, steal the ideas from blogs.

I also love to blog myself. I have said it before and I say it again over the years this blog spot has become my own personal therapy sessions. Sorry for those of you who have had to weed through the more therapeutic sessions/blogs than others.

Well, despite losing one terrific blog( Tasha if you are reading this COME BACK COME BACK!!) I have now added a new blog site that will for sure be regular stop on my Saturday blog rolling trips : )
Here it is in case you are interested in a great new sight as well;
http://caterflylara.wordpress.com

Happy Blog Rolling Friends!!

Be it ever so Humble...

2011-07-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

There truly is no place like home.

I have been living out of bags for a month, with 4 kids, 2 dogs, and 1 hubby(who for the most part took care of his own bag, THANK GOD!!).
Needless to say, I am happy SO HAPPY to be home.

We hit the ground running on June 1st with our big trip to NV. We arrived June 2nd wiped out from driving all night and then June 3rd it all began. The first celebration and order of business/pleasure... to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary.
It was great to be in Carson City for this day. 16 years later there we sat, me and my Giant across from one another at The Cracker Box(a lil breakfast joint in CC that holds so many memories and really great omelets) and I thought to my self, "Self... you are one fortunate girl" Still thanking God for the beautiful man that sat across the table from me, and still so very much in love.

Then June 4th lil brother Jeremy's graduation celebration. Hard to believe that my lil bro is not only graduated, 19 years old, a hard working responsible adult, and planning to move in a year to my neck of the woods. Yippee!! I am so proud of him. He is an amazing person, truly. It was also the graduation day for some very close friends of ours only son, Ashton who is another amazing person. Come to think of it 2011 graduated 3 amazing graduates and the world is fortunate to get to have them all in our class now... Jeremy, Ashton, Maria congratulations!!

The next day we did some more after celebrating with friends and family and on June 6th Mo had to fly back to WA for two more weeks of work.

Meanwhile, the kids and myself stayed behind for a whole lotta busy.

Bullet Points-

Jeremy's 19th b-day
Visit with the fabulous Gardners
Maria's graduation
Jessica's Baby shower
Jenny's wedding shower
Wedding errands
Savanah's b-day
Savanah's b-day party
Visit to Brother Greg at Fire academy
Wedding errands
Izzy's b-day
Father's day
Natalie's b-day party
Wedding errands :)
Week at Wallies
Mo comes home(celebrate Father's Day again)
Mo and boys go camping-pack for boys
Sleep over with Marie
Jenny's Bachelorette Party
More Wedding errands
Boys come home from camping, clean boys and pack them for the big event
Wedding Rehearsal
WEDDING OF THE CENTURY :)))))))
Visits with the fabulous Munnerlyn family
Visit with the Harder/Johnson family
Sleep over with Vanhoose's
Visit with the Gore family

Sigh...... Post traumatic stress from an overload of busy!!

Kidding of course, but I am truly glad to be home.
Clean house.
Laundry going.
Kids relaxing.
And most importantly sleeping in my OWN bed tonight!

The saying is never more true for me than today;

"Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home!"

P.S. to any NV peeps that I didn't get to squeeze this time around please read the above note and know that I love you and that is was just NOT physically possible for a squeeze THIS TIME.

Bottom of The Barrel, lyrics by Amos Lee

2011-05-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

Amos Lee Song Bottom of the Barrell is really speaking volumes to me right now.

Bottom Of The Barrel lyrics

I keep on livin',
to keep from cryin'.
I keep on dreamin',
to keep from dyin'.
I keep on trying,
I aint gonna stop.

Get right down to the bottom of the barrel and float back on top.

We all know someone,
whos always hurtin',
The sun is shinin',
they draw the curtain.
One thing for certain,
the pain aint gonna stop.

You get right down to the bottom of the barrel and float back on top.

Cuz i know the grass,
is always greener in someone else's yard.
And the world is so much meaner,
when your heart is hard.

I go out walkin',
in any season.
It could be rainin',
it could be freezin'.
I don't need no reason,
it's just so pleasin'.
And i can't stop.

You get right down to the bottom of the barrel and float back on top.

Tou get right down to the bottom of the barrel and float back on top.

The winds of change have blown our way again and this song is what is getting me through the day.

I Wonder if they might speak to you too ?

And yes those would be my ducky lips that the giant keeps telling me to put away, but dammit sometimes those lips come in handy!!

The Written Word

2011-04-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

I love writing.
There is something so beautiful to me about the written word.
Words that are spoken are important for sure. But to me they are words that would normally come out of ones mouth, and then maybe fall on ears that would remember what was said for a day or two.
Maybe if the listener was really paying attention the words are ones that a person would carry for a lifetime, but often times the words we say fall on deaf ears never to be thought of again.

Ah... but the written word.
Well, that is an entirely different beast all together.

Good or bad the written words are forever held in time.
Right now I am finishing up a book club choice called People of The Book, by Geraldine Brooks
It's a fictional book about a book restorer who is working on a book that was written in the 1400's.
The book she has been commissioned to work on is an old Jewish prayer book called a Haggadah.

Anyway, the story is amazing!
The story within the story of this book is what has got my wheels turning.
She finds in her restoration process stains and marks in the book, and then has them analyzed for further clues as to where the book got it's origins. The amazing part to me is that we have books like this.
Books that have withstood the test of time.

One of my favorite older books that I own is a book called "Cooking for Two, by Janet M Hill copyright 1909.
I bought it from my neighbor June.
It has articles in the front and back about "Being a Good Housewife" or "When Mom lets us Cook" or " Some Cleaning Secrets " and all of these and her little scribbles here and there are what make the book that much more precious to me.
The story within the story.

June was an older Scottish woman who to keep her mind sharp and get some social interaction, every Saturday morning she would open up her little garage on Minnesota St. in Carson City and sell some of her treasures that she had carried for a lifetime.
I would go down every Saturday and buy only one or two things. Usually one of her salt and pepper shakers and one book.
We would talk for a bit, mostly I would ask her a lot of questions about her life and listen carefully to this very wise wonderful woman.
I miss June.
But I carry a little piece of her with me in the books that I bought from her.

I have often thought now that we have become so digital and everything is out here in cyberspace rather than on paper what treasures will be lost when we no longer have access to this.
There are ways, I know that you can turn your blog into a book and I really have thought of doing that for my children to enjoy someday.
It most certainly is a record of events.
An out loud journal of sorts.
It makes me wonder, why we all love living out loud so much?
Those of us that blog anyway.
To me its therapeutic.

When I first started blogging it was because I was a stay at home mom who desperately needed connection to the outside world.
Now I blog because I have grown to love the blogging community and the process of getting things out of my head and onto the computer screen.
I am thankful for the written word.
I am glad that there are others out there just like me who treasure it as much as I do.

For those of you who are just like me, I leave you with this the quote at the beginning of that old cookbook;

"The best things are nearest... Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life."

True, true indeed.

That and next time you are at a rummage sale, don't look over those old books. There might be a story within a story.
Oh, and when you own a book be sure to make your mark on it, who knows someday those little notes that you write down might be the very thing that makes that book so much more special to the readers of the future!

Happy Reading AND Writing Friends!

Coffee Fast Is Over...

2011-04-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

It's a funny thing, my fast from coffee ended yesterday and I think I had about 3 or 4 very good, very full cups of coffee, but here I sit today with a cup of Green Tea and one stevia. (My replacement drink of choice in the mornings)

Giving up coffee was not an easy fast for me.
I am still not entirely sure why I did it.?
I know I wanted to give up something for Lent that wouldn't have a dual purpose.
By that I mean, often times when I fast, to be quite honest I hope that it will help me lose weight.
I mean, I don't set out going "I am going to fast from sugar so I can lose weight!"
I definitely disguise my fasts with a much more spiritual expression as to why I am fasting from whatever it is.
So a true confession I am giving you here is that, when I fast from time to time to pray, seek God's wisdom, or for a friend or whatever the reason, deep down I think this will help me too!

Shocking I know, but there you have it!

But coffee never entered any of those categories.
In fact, I think I remember telling myself that I could never give up coffee.
It was like the one thing in my life I would never do.
When others would talk about not drinking coffee anymore I would actually feel bad for them.
As though they were missing out on something so precious in life, so wonderful, so essential... why would you ever give it up?

Well, here I sit on this gloriously rainy, perfect Washington morning and although I could have coffee I want Green Tea.

Huh? I didn't see that one coming!

Fasting I have learned over the years is more a matter of choice.

And how luxurious a life I lead that I GET the choice to FAST from anything!

If there is just one thing that I really took away from this Lent season it is that.
I have the choice to fast from food, drink, television, certain clothes(free trade), stores i will shop at, etc.

And what a gift that is.

Truly we (Americans especially) are saturated with choice.
It is a freedom, I know I have taken for granted over the years.

This Lent season helped me to realize that, and so much more and I am hoping I don't soon forget it.

If there is nothing else you have to be thankful, grateful for in your life today let it be that you have the choice to choose whether to drink coffee or tea, or clean water and be blessed by that alone.

My Shoe Entry For Tasha

2011-04-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

Create a free picture collage

I have been blessed with incredible friends who happen to be very creative.
They make my life so much richer, fuller, and downright fun!
One of my most creative artistic friends would be a lady named Tasha Gardner.
You can see just a portion of her creative genius in the blog listed on the right, VW club.
Anyhew, she put out this shoe challenge in March.
30 days.
30 shoes.
I didn't quite succeed, but I tried my hardest to document the shoes I did wear in that time.
And here is my entry.

If you have been a long time reader of my blog you might remember some years back when Emma and I took her color challenge. Where we were asked to wear a different color everyday.
This really was a lot of fun so thank you once again Tasha for your constant pursuit of all things out of the ordinary :)

Hope you enjoy!

LOVE WINS - Rob Bell , My Take on all this Hoop-La!

2011-04-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished re-reading Rob Bell's new book Love Wins, A book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person who Ever Lived.

If that isn't a dramatic title for a book, I don't know what is! :)

For those of you who run in Christian circles you know that this book got quite a bit of hoop-la( I love that word) before it was even released. People were slinging all kinds of accusations toward Mr. Bell and really behaving in such a way that if you were listening and you were NOT a follower of Christ I am sure their behavior convinced you even more so, NOT to become one.

Truly it was downright appalling to me the critics reactions toward this book.

I of course put the book on order long before it was released and then read most of it the first day I got it. Then I went back over it in the weeks to follow because I kept looking for what all the hoop-la was about?

First- if you have ever read any of Bell's previous books you know that he likes to ask a lot of questions. He comes at lots of topics that are theological by nature, with kind of a scientific approach. He gets down to the root of the words that were written in Hebrew and really studies each passage from an angle that doesn't take anything for granted. I love that about his writing.

Second- I have read only two other books of his and both of them were life changing for me. They both pointed, directed, lead, and encouraged me to draw closer to the God of my youth.

C.- This book was no different. Not only did it have a lot of questions, (which btw God can handle any and all of them) but it also directed me once again to the Lover of my Soul. Frankly, it made me fall in Love with Jesus all over again.

The book is only 198 pages long.

Around page 79 he says this,

"There is hell now,
and there is hell later,
and Jesus teaches us to take both seriously."

So, for those that were claiming he says there is no hell in this book and that is why they are calling him a heretic... umm.... read pg 79 about half way down.

There are so many more quotable things in this book, but really if you are at all interested you should read it yourself.
One of my favorite questions, one that I really think is the theme of the book is this one;

"Has God created millions of people over tens of thousands of years who are going to spend eternity in anguish? Can God do this, or even allow this, and still claim to be a loving God?"

Anyone who claims to know Christ , whose sole purpose on this earth was to reconcile all of mankind to God can't answer those questions any other way.

God doesn't choose hell for us, we do.
God chose over 2000 years ago something so different for us.

Jesus whole existence here on earth was an act of LOVE.
He lived for LOVE.
Died for LOVE.
And still reaches out in LOVE.

LOVE really does win!

Lent

2011-04-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

I'll admit I haven't been a participator in this Lent tradition since I was a Catholic child who somewhat unwillingly participated, if at all!
I remember families giving up T.V., Sugary Treats, and a variety of other crazy talk happenings! I remember never really understanding a lot of things that were spiritual concepts back then, but one thing I did understand was that I didn't want to give up sugar right as I was selling Girl Scout cookies :)

Up until a year ago I thought the season of Lent was just another legalistic way of trying to take away from the greatest sacrifice ever made. A kind of earning your badges of being a good, better, best follower of Christ.

That was what I thought, until the church I was attending a year ago at this time had such a different take on this thing called Lent. They spoke of this time of preparation, remembering others who are suffering, sacrificing for a greater good, fasting from some things in order that other things might come in abundance, and just an over-all time to take note of your spiritual life. A time to take stock of your inventory as a Spiritual being, and prepare your house for the day of new life. New Beginnings. A kind of Spring cleaning spiritually. They inspired me to take a second look at this thing called Lent.

I remember coming home and sharing with the kids about the fact that I was inspired to do something for Lent, that it was a special time, and that I was going to give up sugar. At first they looked at me like I was crazy, eyes wide as saucers. At some point they too were all excited about this new found thing called Lent. They took an interest with mom and got on board until later that evening when Isaiah asked if he could have Hot Cocoa and I said, "Buddy that has sugar in it". He said without even a second thought, "Oh well I'm out" as though it was a game or something.
That was when I realized:
1) guess I am not that good of a teacher as I thought, and
B) it might have been too big a concept for a 5 year old to get, dunno?

So this year, I told my kids that Lent was coming, and told them what I was giving up. I gave up coffee(that's a blog post for another day), and
I didn't ask any of them if they wanted to join. But, to my surprise they all chimed in with what they were going to give up.
I think that I might have done a better job describing this Lent season to them. At least a little better than last year, because they are all still going strong with all of their fasts.(excluding Isaiah... refer to point 1. and B.)
I told them that usually people give something up, but also some people add some new good behavior or habit in place of what they gave up.

So as if I wasn't challenged enough already....

On top of participating in the traditional Lent Season of giving something up for six weeks, I had decided this year that I wanted to begin adding new challenges to my life.
The challenges I wanted to incorporate into my life are motivated by LOVE. After all, the greatest act of LOVE that the world has EVER seen is what we are preparing to remember and celebrate so what better time than this to take these; LOVE challenges.

Instead of doing this all at once, I have been giving myself one week challenges.
To me it seems more attainable to do things in one week increments.
Once one week is over if I have accomplished these goals and feel inspired to keep going with them, I do.
And then I add a new challenge.

There are about 3 weeks to go until Easter Sunday, and I can honestly say that this Lent season for me has already been pretty amazing. I have learned a lot about myself and what motivates me. I would like to think I am learning even more about this amazing God that I get to serve. I hope and pray that eventually I will be able to describe/teach about this Lent season thingy in such a way that even Isaiah will whole-heartedly get on board, but until then as I am learning I am confident that one day he will too. Because isn't it so true that you can't really teach something to another person unless you fully, completely, whole-heartedly get it yourself?

Wet Logs

2011-03-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

Something I have never had to deal with in my lifetime is Wet Logs. When I would set up a fire anywhere in Nevada I was always dealing with very dry, crispy, ready to be burned wood. But since we have moved to the PNW and we are living in a home where our primary source of heat is wood, we have had to deal with wet logs. When your heat source is a fire, and you are surrounded with an abundance of free wet wood, you take what you can get and make it work.

Now, you are not supposed if you can help it, burn wet logs, I realize this. Mostly because they just don't burn very well if at all. But also because they let off a lot of smoke(bad for the environment...PNW doesn't like bad for the enviroment) If you were in the wilderness and trying to make a fire with a wet log it would never, ever light. We are not in the wilderness(well it kind of looks like we are) and not only that, we have a blowtorch to help get things started around here. SO don't worry we have plenty of warmth.

Today while making a fire out of some wet logs, I was getting frustrated and impatient. I kept the blow torch on the logs for a good amount of time. I set up the logs just right with some wet and some dry logs. Still after several attempts no fire. Apparently these logs were more than wet, they were saturated.

It got me thinking that this is kind of how my heart can become sometimes. Saturated with worry, fear, bad attitudes, comparisons to others, and countless other things that keep my heart from flame. I keep a fair distance between my heart and God's flames because of fear.

God tries to come in with His blow torch and flames but I am just too dang wet with the world and I miss out on the warmth of His flame. I need others who have been on fire for a while now to help me out.

*** The above blog was written over a year ago on 3/4/10 - It ended there. My need for help. Little did I know a year later so much more of this blog would make sense.

Recently, some friends have really inspired me by their fire like faith, and have set a flame to these wet logs. I had here in my heart saturated logs. They had been heavy with fear, worry, and doubt. They have been watered this past year not with living water, but with compromise, creature comforts, any thing BUT living water.

But then I came across this scripture: 1 Kings 18:33-38

This is a passage in the bible where the prophet Elijah is told to set the stage for God to show up.
He tells people to set up two places where a burnt offering can be made.
One will be to the God Baal and his prophets
and the other to the One True living God.
The one that is set on fire is to be forever known as the Living God, The One True God.
He then proceeds to tell the people on his altar "wet logs" are what he wants.
Not once, twice, but three times he says pour water over these logs.
He does this to prove without a shadow of a doubt that His God, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob WILL set the logs on fire.
After God set the logs on fire, Elijah said get ready because there will be rain in this dry dessert place.
Again another thing God told Elijah that even though there had a been a drought there was going to be a great rain.

I read this and thought this is what you were up to God.
These metaphorical "wet logs" in my heart have now been set a flame once again.
I have caught the vision of what you are doing and want to continue to do in my life.
No one else gets the glory for that but you.
There is no better blow torch than you.

"So let the rain fall on me, on me, on me.
Let it wash away all my insecurities.
Let the rain fall on me, on me, on me.
Let it wash away all my impurities.

I'm taking it all in
The sounds of beginning again.
It's starting to touch my soul.
It's starting to feel like home.

So let the rain fall on me, on me, on me.
Let it wash away all my insecurities.
Let the rain fall on me, on me, on me.
Let it wash away all my impurities."

What is wrong with the world? What can we do to change it?

2011-03-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

With recent events in Japan,
The Brewing events in Libya,
In house events with Rob Bell's new book coming out,
My somewhat not really an event, finishing Shane Claiborne's book Follow Me to Freedom,
And with my current event going to watch with some friends the new documentary tonight, " I AM"http://iamthedoc.com/

I have got a lot on my brain.
There are so many points in this movie that I have been thinking about for a long time.
Even more points in this movie that I have heard my husband saying for years, (being the prophetic fella that he is)
I am still chewing on quite a bit of it, and I don't want to give away the ending for those of you who want to go see it, or the answer to the above question, but I will say this... the grand finale... well it ends with a four letter word.

I will give you some clues (in song of course);

What the world needs now is....(blank) sweet.... (blank)?

Where is the ..... (blank)? Where is the.....(blank) ?

His banner over me is..... (blank)??

Dances With Wolves... and some deep thoughts with Me(LOL, that title just makes me laugh)

2011-03-14T17:06:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday night we had the distinct pleasure of sharing with our Fab 4 the old movie Dances With Wolves starring and directed by Kevin Costner.
There were quite a few scene's that were of course not appropriate for all of our children, and therefore skipped through, but as a whole I thought that the movie was a good one to share with our kids.

While watching it, one of the things that Mo mentioned to the kids that I found so interesting, was the fact that the women were the ones who in many, if not most tribes, built the Tee Pee. She also had complete control over what went on in her Tee Pee, what came in or out of her Tee Pee, and she could even kick the man out of her Tee Pee if he didn't "bring home the bacon" so to speak!
I found this so intriguing.

I think for one, because general carpentry is not something that I do in this house. Outside of putting in an occasional light bulb or putting batteries in my children's toys, I leave the fixing and or building of things to my hubby.
So the notion that the women not only built the Tee Pee, but put it up as well was a foreign concept to me.

I also think I found it interesting because today you often hear phrases like;
"The woman is the heart of the home" or
"If momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy!"
So in a way I suppose you could say this is a cross cultural theme and an aged-old truth.

Either way, it made me then think about my home.
What have I allowed to go on in my home?
What have I promoted to be a good or bad thing in my home?
Who have I allowed to influence my home?

And also do I really need all this stuff ?
That question leads me to my other thought about Tee Pee Life.
Those families were on the move quite a bit.
The women I am sure were very careful about what kind of things they let become permanent fixtures in their homes because having the life of a nomad does not work well, with having the life of a pack rat!
They "traveled light" I am sure.

Finally, it made me remember one of the choices that my book club picked last year that I never got to thank them for choosing;
Daughters Of A Copper Woman

And then I read this, just this morning;

"Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14:1

Hmmm....

I want to be a woman that carefully builds my house.
And if I do tear it down may it only be for the purpose of moving with my family on to the next great adventure!

Life is in the Details

2011-02-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

There are two camps in life, those that are detail-oriented, and those who are not.
Can something really be that black and white?
Really only two camps?
Okay, maybe three, but for the sake of my little post here just indulge me on this.
I used to be of the camp that didn't care too much about most details.
I used to also think that being an overly detailed person meant that you were kinda anal, and that this was not a good thing to be.
I no longer think this way.

Life is in the details.
Not just some details but every detail is important.
Like when given a menu with so many choices on it, I used to quickly read it over instead of reading the description or details of every menu item. It would overwhelm me sometimes to see all those choices and descriptions.
I thought it took too much time to read them all, and in the end I usually just went with what I knew I would like, rather than take the time to find out if I might like something new.
This in turn has made me become a very boring person where food and appetite are concerned.

Recently, I have had the very scary experience of realizing that God is in the details.
I say scary because it is a very a frightening awareness to realize that the God of the universe is very much aware of every detail of YOUR little life.
It is scary, not like in a horror movie scary, but like a fear that causes you to realize just how little you know of the universe that surrounds you.
Fear like that of an awe-awakening experience that makes you want to know more.
Awe-inspiring, fear, captivating, yet scary at the same time.

It's not like I didn't know this before.
It just makes me want to be more like this now.
I want to be concerned about the details.
I want to take the time to figure out what little details I can change in my life.
Especially if it will help make someone else's life better, or even just my own.

God is so detailed about every aspect of our lives.
He cares about the smallest details and of course the big ones as well.

Being detail-oriented means you have taken a little extra time to really care about something.
So whether you are of the "naturally detail-oriented camp", or the "not so much details" camp
I would just like to say that details are important.
Details matter, some more than others of course.
And...

Life really is, lived out in the Details.

More than...

2011-02-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

More than Clarity, I need Wisdom.

More than being Happy, I want Joy.

More than Comfort, I need Peace.

More than, More than, More than.

More than just Being, I want Life.

More than Food, I need Living Water.

More than Friends, I want Family.

More than, More than, More than.

More than Possessions, I want Memories.

More than Places, I need People.

More than Books, I want Knowing.

More than, More than, More than.

More than the air I breathe

I want moments to take my breathe away

More than the sun I see

I want warmth in my bones

More than silence

I need gut-wrenching, belly laughs.

More than my wants given,

I need, my needs to be met.

I resolve to regain my voice

2011-02-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here on a Thursday morning alone in this cabin in the woods.
The air is cool but the sun is out (one of my all time favorites on the weather wheel) and it's shining through all these wonderful windows.
I have candles burning and smelling up the place like cinnamon and vanilla.
I have coffee in my cup and I am listening to some of my favorite musicians.

The stars have all aligned and given me this day to myself.

A day off.
How will I spend it?
What to do with all this free time?
Well, I have laundry going.
The house is clean.
The dogs have been walked.
Now what?

Well... usually time to myself gives me time to think.
I don't get much alone time to think.
Thinking is good.
Pondering is good.
I am relishing in my moments this morning to think and ponder.

I am thinking about a lot.
Last year at this time I had declared a month of love notes.
Some of you might remember my constant posting on FB, love quotes.
Looking back I now realize that to tell all the people I love, how much I truly love them it would take much longer than a month of love notes.
Still, that was a really special month last year because I realized that often times in life we don't tell people how much we truly love and appreciate them.
It stretched me to do that little self-imposed exercise.
It also made me realize how much I love writing.

Words.
I love expressing myself in written word.

So this day that I have to myself what did I turn to first.
Writing.

In a recent conversation with a new friend she asked if being a Preschool teacher was something that I was passionate about?
I told her that yes, on a good day!
I do love to teach little people.
Little people are amazing and they are truly my most favorite people to hang out with.
Still, I feel teaching is like an old trusted friend that I can fall back on anytime I want.
And I don't know if that means I am passionate or not about it, but that's how I feel about it right now.

But writing.....
Well, if I were to choose a career that I could transition out of teaching and explore more fully it would be writing.
I attempted to write some children's books, and well in the move those have taken a back seat.
Still they call to me every once in a while in a quiet moment like this I remember that, that is something I really do want to pursue.
I currently live in a place that would make it quite easy to actively pursue this dream of writing.
My time to think and ponder has now come to an end.
The laundry bell has rung.
Thanks for listening.

Music and Me

2011-02-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here having church with Amos Lee this morning.
His song Black River just really gets to me every time.

Thinking about all the things I have to be thankful for.
One of those things would be music.
Not only do I come from a musical family that I am grateful for, but
The ability to express myself with my voice in song is something I don't ever take for granted.

There is something strange that happens when the emotion to sing comes over me.
It is a like a deep gushing wave of water that pushes it's way to the top and I just can't stop it.
I love to sing.
I love to sing best when no one but my Creator is listening.

I love to hear my children sing.
One of the many other things I am thankful for is my children's talent in music.
Emma is currently writing a song for her Auntie Jenny's upcoming wedding and it just makes me smile to hear her practice this.
Isaiah got an electric guitar for Christmas, and I have an old acoustic guitar(thank you Uncle Jimmy) that the kids have been having jam sessions with.
I can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me.

I should say that,
I am sure because I am their mom it sounds beautiful to me, but to the average ear it would just sound like noise.
So don't go knocking down my door ready to be their agent (BIG SMILE)

If I were the type of parent who lived out their dreams in their children I would have already exploited these
beautiful gifts.
Alas, I am not so the rest of the world will have to wait to hear these Fab 4.

Everything is always made better with music.
Music is powerful.
So powerful in fact that, that is why often times back in the day the musicians would lead the army onto the battlefield.(Glad I wasn't a musician in this day and age)
I remember an old friend told me that certain notes even had the power to break things in us, or fix things (whatever way you want to look at that) spiritually.
I believe this to be true.

So as you prepare for this week ahead
whether it's been one you have been looking forward to for a long time
or one that you have been dreading
don't forget "to put your records on and sing your favorite song"

Dieting, Puppies, and Other MoNoSco Updates

2011-02-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

A funny thing happens when you go on a diet.
Food just becomes a tool, rather than something you enjoy.
To some extent life changes entirely and I find myself getting kind of depressed.
This of course makes me realize how much food and drink(can't forget the drink) has become somewhat of an idol in my life.
The diet I am on is extreme, and I would tell you the name but... the only reason I am not sharing it with you is because I don't want that to become the topic of our conversation, but needless to say, it is limited what I can and cannot eat... BUT it's working!

Having a puppy in the house after several years of not having a baby of some sort has made me realize how selfish we all are.
Barley( our new Yellow Lab pup) has pushed us all to the brink of exhaustion.
He is so high energy that even our Jack Russell, Bella (supposedly the most hyper dog around) is wiped out and tired of him by the end of the day!
Still, in the end he brings me so much joy, as does Bella and well Joy is a rare commodity these days!
Those 4 legged friends sure are something, can't quite put my finger on what, but they are SOMETHING all right!

We had a communion moment at church last Sunday.
It started out bad and painful, but I hope ended up good and memorable.
We came home and let all 4 of our kids watch Passion of the Christ.
We of course edited quite a bit and actually only showed them bits and pieces.
This movie still makes me bawl like a baby.
Jesus without a doubt is SO AMAZING!
I know it made a lasting impression because they are still asking me questions.

We, Monosco are still having moments,
sometimes whole days ...
where we are wondering what the H E ..double hockey sticks we are doing in Washington??
But today when the sun is shining and we recently got to visit with a good old friend that feels like family I feel happy to be here.

I miss my mom.
Can you at 36 years old still miss your mom?
Is that legal?

Well, even though the sun is out this cabin has turned into an icebox.
I must go start a fire now to cozy things up in here.
Sure wish I was having this conversation face to face with those of you that might read and comment on this.
If we were, I would have already put the coffee pot on and the smell would be divine because...
Raven's Brew is what I am brewing these days. If you haven't had this brand of coffee go out... RIGHT NOW and get some.
It is Divine!

One more final thought and then I really am going to go , okay maybe two
I am reading;
Fiction-Salamander by Thomas Wharton
and
Non- Fiction-Follow Me to Freedom by Shane Claiborne and John Perkins
both great books so that alone makes me happy to have good books waiting for me late at night.

and really here it is my final thought...
New All Time Favorite Tea
Stash brand Licorice Spice, it's like dessert in a cup

Economy of Love- Latest Greatest in the book Department for Me

2011-01-22T12:30:00.000-08:00

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." Mahatma Gandhi

The King will reply, " Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matt 25:40

I am sitting here thinking about who might be "the least of these" in my neighborhood this morning?
I am thinking how do I go about helping "the least of these"?
Am I one of the "least of these"?
I don't feel like I am although, I know I live well below what America would deem the poverty level for a family of 6, I don't feel poor.
I know when I drive my kids over to friends houses that are significantly bigger than my own that there is a difference between the way I live and the way they live, but still I don't feel like they have more than me(well... maybe a second bathroom would be nice (JK) because honestly, my life is rich in so many, many other ways.
I feel rich in love and protection, health and hope from my Creator, love from my husband, love from 4 children, these are things I measure as far as what I have and what I don't have. My "have nots" list is pretty slim and really I feel as though I want for nothing!
I feel I have a lot to give in the love department, but only because of the love that has been given to me. I would venture to say that most peoples love banks are more bankrupt that this Country right now and that is where I feel rich.
SO, what can I do for "the least of these"?

These quotes and the one to follow are all still coming from the book, Economy of Love. They have got me thinking again about what it looks like to live communally and what it is that God might be asking of me now.

"I'm not anybody's savior; I'm just another vulnerable human being. To remember this fact was to be rescued from my own self-sufficiency and from an inflated sense of my own importance. This experience of seeing myself as one of the least was both painful and beautiful at once, which is often what it feels like to be ushered a step further into the kingdom of God."

Well, those are my big thoughts for today.
I pray I can turn them into more than words.

A Quote

2011-01-20T16:46:00.000-08:00

"Among us English-speaking peoples especially do the praises of poverty need once more to be boldly sung.

We have grown literally AFRAID to be poor.

We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save inner life.

If he does not join the general scramble, we deem him spiritless and lacking ambition.
We have lost the power even of imagining what the ancient realization of poverty could have meant; the liberation from material attachments, the unbribed soul, the manlier indifference, the paying our way by what we are, NOT by what we have, the right to fling away our life at any moment irresponsibly- the more athletic the trim, in short, the fighting shape."
William James

I have been reading everything that I can get my hands on written by Shane Claiborne for quite some time now.
The most recent book that this quote came from is out of a workbook that goes along side a video titled, Economy of Love. I got the workbook first and read it quick. Then I went back and realized that almost every page was tagged for me to return to some day. You know you have your hands on a good read when the top corner of your book starts to fan out from all the folded corner tips. And that is what I have here. There were just so many good tid-bits I felt compelled to share. Thank you for obliging me in this.

So this above quote was just the first quote of many that got my attention. It reminded me of some things that God had stirred in my husbands heart quite some time ago and I was too afraid to admit that those stirrings might be prophetic.

He told me that he had a dream or vision that black birds were flying out of his eyes so quickly that he could no longer see. When interrupted the dream was said to be about our finances and us loosing everything of financial value. This scarred the crap out of me. It still does scare me. This was a dream given 1 year before we were to lose our home through a foreclosure.

Sitting here now, I am no longer afraid of losing everything because the funny thing is once you go through something like what we experienced last year you realize two things;

1 God is still on the Throne
2 We survived

I am not saying that I would wish what happened to us on even my worst enemy(of which I have none) but still we not only survived, I feel by the grace of God we thrived.
Why this was our story I am not really sure. I can only attest to God's grace that covered us like a big bubble in the midst of some of the hardest months that MoNoSco has ever faced.

More thoughts on this topic later

Facts for my 2011( or I guess some you could say are Resolutions)

2011-01-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Here I am re-capping the first week of 2011 and thinking, "WOW what a great week!" Okay, so only one week in does not = a great year already, but you know me, the eternal optimist that I am I think it really will be a great year.

In this year ;

I will have an official teenager in the house, one of my own this time. Not just one of those random teens that show up on my door step! That's right the Scofield's head into the official teen years on May 28th as Emma turns 13.

I will no longer be "forsaking" hanging out with some of the coolest people on earth on Sunday mornings just because I don't
feel like it, or my bed seems more attractive, or because truthfully I just don't want to be vulnerable. I am done with the theme song being "I am a Rock... I am an Island" so not true!

I will have only one child left that is NOT in double-digits, when Solomon turns 10 in October. This is a really, really big deal considering that some of my favorite people on earth are those that don't belong in the double-digit club!

I will reclaim not only my waist, but more importantly my physical health! I am over being lazy and carefree about what I eat. I am done not caring about myself because frankly, if I don't care then no one else will ! BBKH- here I come!

I will see my oldest sister Jenny get married to her "Mr. Brownskin" in June. And will be in the Brown state for that month as well :) Looking forward to this , really so much. WOW, what a treat this will be!

I will master the art of crocheting.

I will have lived 2 years outside the state that I was raised in. Some said,( Alyse Locke) we would be back after 2 years. We shall see!! Tempting for sure, happening probably not, sorry Weezer.

I will be going back to school in the Fall to finally, FINALLY get a stinking piece of paper that says I am an official teacher now ;)
Sheesh, that will change everything!! NOT!! But at least I will have the sense of accomplishment there that is long overdue.

Some of these you could call resolutions, some you could say are promises, and some of this is just plain hard-core FACT! I am one determined person so I am gonna go with FACT- this will happen! And then of course I do plan on doing the work that will make it so!

Generosity

2010-12-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

A few weeks back on Thanksgiving weekend I was asked by a homeless man for a little help and I ignored him. Hoping he would just go away, I turned a blind eye to his begging and thought he would get the clue. He didn’t. He continued to say, “I am just down on my luck and any little bit would help”. I didn’t hear this. I heard, I am just lazy and I don’t want to get a job, hold down that job, and pay my bills like every other grown-up. My deaf ears were gently interrupted when my 6 year old son reached into his pocket and gave the man what little change he had. I was angry at first that the man had begged so long, and so loud that it caught the attention of my 1st grader. But then later something happened. That man’s face stayed in my head and I kept hearing him say all the things I was thinking like, “I’m not a drug addict, or an alcoholic, I just hit some tough times”.

And then I realized,somewhere along the way I have stopped having a generous spirit.

It got me thinking about what a cynic I have become and why? I could say that it’s because I have come to my senses in my old age and am no longer taken for the fool with “those” homeless people. I could say that if I gave to every homeless person that stopped me in Seattle I wouldn’t be able to feed my own children with what was left. I could say that I am practicing tough love. But all of this would just be an excuse.

The reality is that a part of my heart has become hardened to the troubles of others. I have enough troubles of my own and at some point my capacity for “troublesome” life must have just gotten overloaded and hardened.
I know it seems cliche but this holiday season I am wanting a heart that is softer, kinder to those in need. Not just those in need of money but also those who might just need a friendly face, a hug, a listening ear. I know these are goals I can’t manage on my own. I know this will come with a change of heart and so I am asking My Creator for help.

This reminds me of a worship song;

“Purify my heart let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart cleanse me from my sin deep within.
Refiners fire, my hearts one desire is to be holy, set apart
for you Lord.
I choose to be holy set apart for you my Master ready
to do your will.”

Today as I sit and type this and remember that man on the street all over again, I pray a blessing over him. For although I didn’t give one at the time I am wanting to give one now, and I know God knows exactly who I am talking about. I also know that it is NEVER too late to have a change of heart.

Generosity.

What a beautiful word.

An Update In Pictures

2010-12-02T22:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to all who are reading this, from our family to yours. SO thankful for the family and friends that keep up with me through reading this little blog here. To those of you who do mostly read these post for little updates, I know it's going to seem quite crazy, almost totally bonkers to read this post that includes a picture of the newest member of the Scofield family, right after I just posted a complaint about Bella. BUT don't judge me!

It seems the time is just flying by and I can hardly catch up to the rate at which time is traveling now.Can't believe Uncle Jeremy graduates this coming year, and that my daughter Emmers will be an official teenager soon. Jeremy if you are reading this, I am beyond words proud of you and can't wait to hoot, holler, and go crazy nutts on your graduation day.

This Thanksgiving we had the absolute pleasure of hosting 13 people at our dinner table. And what a table it was. When discussing with The Giant how we were going to fit all of these loved ones around our little IKEA table that we bought when we first moved into this tiny cabin he said, "Why don't I just build us a new bigger table?" This he said to me the day before turkey day and the same day that some of our company was arriving that night. I know better to question him on these things, my only concern was the timing.... because we all know timing on Thanksgiving day is everything. Well once again My Giant came to save the day. The New Table that Moses built the day before Thanksgiving is amazing. Still can't believe the skills that boy has.

And Finally the moment you have all been waiting for, Newest Member of the family; Barley Bambino Boo Scofield.

Bad Dog Bella!!

2010-11-18T13:14:00.000-08:00

WARNING- venting ahead... ARRGHHH!!

Dear Bella,

If you continue to make HUGE messes for me by getting into the trash as punishment for us all leaving you in the morning, I will be forced to leave you outside, IN THE RAIN!!

Not really.

Sincerely,
CEO Scofield Home

Sidenote- I know that my dog doesn't actually read my blog but ... it just feels good to vent to someone, so thanks for being someone.

My Veteran's Day Tribute

2010-11-10T21:52:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here watching the tail end of the CMA awards, and my brain just got thinking about Veteran's Day tomorrow and all things USA.

I am thankful for the day off of work.

I am thankful that I don't have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to get my daughter off to Jr. High.

But so much more than that I am thankful for the Veteran's out there.

The Veteran that hit's home for me tonight is my Uncle Jimmy featured in the above picture on the left. (Sorry it's a small pic, but it's the only one I could grab in a hurry)

Uncle Jimmy fought in the Vietnam war, one of THE most unappreciated soldier's wars out there. In the midst of so much confusion and in a time when going to serve God and country was what was absolutely excepted of you, my Uncle Jim went to war.

He wasn't happy to go to war , to quote him he said "I am a musician not a mortician". And with that quote I couldn't agree more. War what a tragedy, but my Uncle Jimmy made the best of it. His stories astound me from this time in his life.

I can't speak for him, but I know the time he spent there was a time where he saw things that I know I can't even imagine, let alone even begin to write about.

For this sacrifice I say thank you Uncle Jimmy.

You are amazing.

YOU are inspiring.

You are loved.

You are appreciated.

I wish I could put into words all the love I have for you in my heart, but just know that this niece of yours is thinking of you tomorrow on Veteran's day.

Although to be a Veteran of any war is not a happy thing, to you I say Happy Veteran's day because I am happy you made it through the living hell that we call WAR!

beautiful life

A Tribute To Whitney

The Secret to Happiness

Valentine Cupid Elf Gone Awry

Question

U2 song- Whoa The Sweetest Things

1 week away

Dear Barley Bambino Boo..Boo

Winner Announced

There is A Bridge

Name My Knife

Tasha's Challenge

A Favorite Poem

Mondays

Father Time

Hippie Wanna Be

My Friend Allie

Love Letter #3

New Favorite Quote

More Snow Pics

There's Always Tomorrow

Happy Birthday to My Giant

My New Favorite Word

A Boy and His Dog

Is It Baseball Season Yet?

Snow

Congratulations!

Facebook and My Growing Disdain for it

Dear Bella

Field Trip with Lo Lo

Top 5 Favorite Childhood Snacks

Eggs according to Zed

My New Niece

My Boys

One Less Lonely Girl

Dear Barley

Day 9

Things Are Changing Around Here

And Now For an Oldie but a Goodie... LOVE/HATE

On Becoming a Planner

Took My Chances with a Red Bull

Determination

Favorite Captured Moments #5

Favorite Captured Moments #4

Favorite Captured Moments #3

Favorite Captured Moments #2

Favorite Captured Moments 2011

Full Moon Poem, written on Myspace Aug 2009... remember that place MYSPACE?

Love Letter #2

# Tagging

Love Letters #1

Turning 37

Fog and an Ode to My Twilight Fans

Reporting Back about Barbara Wa Wah's show

Barbara Walter's 10 Most Fascinating People... AND..

Tasha's Challenge

Finding our Niche, aka My Sweet Spot

Discontentment you B-*%@*!!

Thankful Project 2011

My Maccy

Ignorance is Bliss

2 Year Anniversary

Homeless (cont.)

The Homeless

Solomon turns 10

Ciao Bella Summer 2011

Remembering a Day

Getting Lost-Being Found

Isaiah Gregory

Blog Rolling and Stolen Moments in NV

Be it ever so Humble...

Bottom of The Barrel, lyrics by Amos Lee

The Written Word

Coffee Fast Is Over...

My Shoe Entry For Tasha

LOVE WINS - Rob Bell , My Take on all this Hoop-La!

Lent

Wet Logs

What is wrong with the world? What can we do to change it?

Dances With Wolves... and some deep thoughts with Me(LOL, that title just makes me laugh)

Discontentment you B-%@!!