Bullet Point Rambles Update

I haven't really had a lot of time for blogging, and you can't imagine the dust that occurred here while I've been gone. Not only is there dust on my computer but all over my house as well.   Sigh.  I think the only thing that doesn't have dust on it these days are my window blinds that my son Solomon was paid quite handsomely to clean. 
It has come to this.
Paying my children to do my chores, or are they solely my chores now that I'm not a "stay at home" momma anymore? Well, either way I'm happy to pay someone, anyone, to get this place in order... but then that paycheck doesn't really seem to last very long.  Double sigh. What's a girl to do? If you have that answer please leave your wisdom and insight in the box marked comments below.

That's me, at work, working hard!
This is just one of the musings that have been kicking around in my brain as of late, but nothing of real substance.
I have however been having some random thoughts and ideas about life in general, but don't expect anything profound here.  If you are looking for inspiration this might not be the blog post for ya.  Here's another random thought; The battery charge red zone on my phone. It starts with the warning  "20% battery remaing" To which I normally just dismiss, and I think eh... I have some time. When it gets to the 10% warning I start to kind of get worried if I'm out and about and not near a charger. And when I'm down to 5% or less I go into full on anxiety attacks!!  O.k. that might be a bit dramatic but I start to freak a little I'm not gonna lie.
So this past week, I was grocery shopping no time to stop and in total go mode and my battery got pretty darn low, and I had this thought ... I act as though my phone is a person. That if it dies, it won't come back to me. That the world will stop and the tragedies that could occur while having a dead phone are too many to mention. And well, this just really bothered me. I began to think about the days before cell phones. Do you even remember those days? Tell me your thoughts on this beloved readers? How do you react to a low battery? Do you freak out like it's a person dying or are you cool as a cucumber about it all?
That random thought might be a sign that I need to unplug a bit more.

And now for a personal update;
My brother got married this weekend.   I think I still might be in shock. I remember this pesky lil boy who would drive me nutts pretty much on a regular basis, as all little brothers do.

  And now he's married to a beautiful woman who I can officially say I'm happy to call sister.  I love them both.

They will continue to make a great team. And I can hardly wait for some lil nieces and nephews... thee hee hee!! Following in Grandma Ellen's footsteps there ;)

And finally the last topic that's been rolling around in my brain is the fact that since I've turned 40 I have gone on this kind of inward strike and I'm unconsciously boycotting all traditions that I used to hold so near and dear to my heart.
It's not totally even a strike as much as it is just an attitude. Well, see, even attitude sounds too harsh. It's more like my new favorite sentiment toward life right now, Meh! I'm not sure why I feel this way about the traditions that used to be oh so important to me, but if I figure it out I'll let you know.
Meh!
Before you go getting all hot and bothered that I won't have the traditional Pie Party in November... simmer down I will forever be A Girl for all Seasons What up Grease 2 circa 1989 ;) It's a passing phase I can tell you that much.
That's really all I've got for now folks. That and Happy almost May 1st!!

Pie Party and Some Other Musings

Every year for the past almost 10 years, (minus the 4 years we were in Washington in an 800 sq ft cabin) my family and I have been hosting what we like to call a pie party.  I can't take credit for this AMAZING idea because that would be just wrong to my East Coast relatives who started it way back when, but I will say the minute I heard about a Pie Party I was all over it like Meringue on Lemon Pie.
I usually have it the second Saturday in November because to me it's a way to have Thanksgiving (minus the Turkey) with ALL my friends and family.  It's also a way for me to get my favorite dessert!!

When I was preparing the prizes this year I got SO excited for this party I almost did a happy Pie Party dance. I'm pretty sure it would have looked a bit like Elaine on Seinfeld so I reigned in my excitement and got to putting together those prizes you see up there. We give out prizes to 3 categories; Best in Savory Best in Show and  UGLY but it Tastes Damn Good  aka  UBITDG!!

While putting together prize baskets, I thought about all the families that would come with their delectable pies and my heart overflowed with gratitude for many reasons. The first reason that my heart was exploding with joy, was that I am so grateful to be back here in Nevada. That sentence up there... well it's one that even as I type it I still can't believe I'm saying it. It's taken me quite a long journey to get HERE, and I don't me here as in Nevada here, I mean HERE as in this place of contentment that has come over my heart regarding where ever HERE happens to be. 

I have to say that there have been countless tears shed and plenty of tantrums had, over not having that kind of an attitude. I'm happy to report though, that Jesus has done a work in this bratty girls heart, and it's a good work. A work I know I couldn't have done on my own. 

He has made me realize that it's not about the place, it's about the people. 

I now know that even if he called me to live in Texas(please don't dear Lord baby Jesus) I think I could manage to keep this grateful, contentment going. 

As long as there was Pie in Texas! Psh... of course there would be PIE in Texas!! Those Texans have got the right idea when it comes to pie. I have heard they make a pie for just about every occasion... so yea I think I could manage, but for now I'm staying put with a happy heart right here in good ole Nev a duh!!
I do so apologize to leave you with  mouths watering ...let me  make it up to you with this quote that I feel fits just perfect with this here Pie Party blog and truly is a recipe for happiness. 
 "Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with  LOVE, GRACE, and GRATITUDE." Denis Waitley

Epic Photo Bomb

Today is one of those days that I want to write about everything and nothing at all,  all at the same time.
That's not an easy topic folks. So maybe, instead of trying to solve all the worlds problems, and tie it up pretty with a bow here on the bloggy poo, I think I will just share this... 

EPIC with a capital E
FRICKEN
FANTASTIC
PHOTO BOMB !!
Brought to you by yours truly from my niece Savanah's, Super Hero Themed , 7th birthday party. We were trying to capture the fact that everyone had on a super hero item of clothing.

Even Grandma and Grandpa Pellant were in full attire. Aren't they just the raddest super hero's ever? They are without a doubt my hero's!! Man I love those two!
Well, there we all were gathered for the perfect photo opt and out of nowhere ...
Was it a bird?
Was it a plane?
No it's a Flying Zed Head!!!

Just in case you didn't catch it the first time here's another one. I tried to be upset, but I gotta say it was pretty damn hard to be ruffled by this silly kid! 

Here's what the above photo should've looked like.  Such a great day celebrating my favorite 7 year old on the planet, Savanah !

Can you see why she's my favorite?
Oh but wait... The fun photo's don't stop there from this day. There was this one celebrity there his initials J.T.P
He's so cool
He's so hipster
He's Batman Jeremiah

What a Stud my bro is!! I'm so glad he decided to grace us with his presence that day. It's hard to catch a sighting of this Batman Jeremiah. He's my favorite 22 year old. Can you see why?
And since these photos have brought me so much joy I think I will end this blog with a quote about joy. It's gonna be a real simple quote. One I think you may have seen before.

"Don't you think daises are the friendliest flower." Meg Ryan- You've Got Mail
Ok maybe two quotes ;)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I realized something while taking our family photos for Christmas cards this year and that is,

 Cyndi Lauper was right.

We girls really do just wanna have some fun,and also we don't mind photo shoots as much as the men folk in our lives.

You would have thought I was asking my boys to clean the toilet, go to the dentist, and rake the leaves all just to get a smile out of these fellers. 

Now, to be fair My Giant was sick, but then again so was Chloe. The other two though... well they have no excuse for pictures like this;

Notice the joy and elation on the fellers faces.  Kinda lacking in the joy department don't you think? And then compare that to the lovely smiles on my girls faces.
I mean, I don't ever expect much from Solomon he has since the time he was a wee lad HATED, with a capital H, taking pictures. But usually, I can count on Isaiah to help out when it comes to looking somewhat happy. In this picture though, notice the arm over the banister. Don't you think it just screams of PHOTO EXHAUSTION. It's like they have PPTS. Post Photo Traumatic Stress.

Now any mother can relate to my rant here, because to get a good family photo is a task that is not for the faint of heart. But, I mean, I really thought that as my Fab 4 got older I wouldn't have to rely on photo shop so much. Well, and then  a picture like the above photo pops up. 
U G H !! I mean, seriously?
What am I supposed to do with the Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins on the end there? Everyone in this picture, even my Solomon is smiling so nicely, and then there's Mr. Grinch on the end. So, I decided to roll with it this year.  He asked me when I put the word Naughty over his head if he was going to get coal in his stocking and would Santa understand that it's a joke? I assured him he didn't need to worry. His status of naughty or nice wasn't really in true jeopardy from this PHOTO BOMB!
I sure hope your Christmas photo shoot went a little better. If not, keep in mind that a good sense of humor and a hint of sarcasm can go a long way. 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Beloved Reader!!  
 

Maybe that's Better

I ask you,  Is there anything better than coming home after a day at the beach, and taking a shower, and then lathering up in coconut lotion?

Maybe seeing cousins play all day at the beach, and then when they finally do take a breather hearing them talk about the Trinity and all things Spiritual.
Maybe that's better.

Maybe hearing the youngest cousin say the oldest cousins name for the first time, and feeling like time is standing still for just a moment.
Maybe that's better.

Maybe sharing a treasured memory with your children and family that brings you back to another treasured memory of where it ALL began.
Maybe that's better.

Maybe remembering a moment in time when you were young, and so very much in love, reminds you that although you are no longer young you are still so very much IN LOVE.
Maybe that's better.

Maybe this and so much more makes you feel grateful beyond compare to be where you are, with who you are with, doing what you are doing. 
And this is a far better joy than any bottle of coconut lotion could ever produce. Although I gotta say, I'm feeling sun kissed and happy right about now ;) AND I really do hope you are too!

Thankful Thursday

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” 

                                       Mother Teresa

This Thankful Thursday morning I am so beyond grateful for my recent trip to Nevada to be with my family. On Sunday, I got to surprise my mom and dad who share the same birth DAY. They were both born on November 4th, but 4 years apart. 4 is kind of their number. Their birthday is the reason that they even met. A mutual friend of theirs 42+ years ago set them up on a blind date because of it, and the rest... well it's MY history.

“I sustain myself with the love of family.” ― Maya Angelou  


My parents are without a doubt my heroes. 42 years married, 5 children, 6 grandchildren, a faith in Christ that is inspiring, those are just some of the reasons I look to them for inspiration. This past summer my dad had some major health issues and so this birthday I was especially grateful for his 71 years of life.  Nothing like a little brush with almost death to appreciate the everyday moments.

“you can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.”
― Frederick Buechner

Another life I'm really thankful for this morning is my brother Greg's. That's him in between my sister Jen and I on his birthday. He was born the day right after my mom and dad's birthday on November 5th. My mom tells the story that she was at her birthday party 35 years ago, big and pregnant and she started to get contractions so she had a glass of wine to relax her. Well it did relax her, so much so, that Greg was born the very next day. Huh, funny thing is though the "relaxed" effect didn't linger. Nope, that kid is full of more energy than Red Bull on Crack! Seriously though,  My brother is all kinds of amazing. He is a truer, than true friend and I'm thankful I also get to call him my brother.

I got to see this little sweetie, my niece Sophia that I have nicknamed #lastminutebiscuit , because she was born on Dec 31st last year. I can hardly believe that this biscuit is going to be 1 year old soon. She is walking and talking and I was bound and determined to teach her my name while I was there. I kept saying can you say....  Auntie N-o-e-l....  Auntie N-o-e-l? She just smiled at me so sweet and cute like. It melted my heart every time. The good thing about the beginning of my name is that its the start of another word that most lil's learn to say pretty quick(NO!!) so I'm pretty sure my name will beat out her other Auntie's and Uncles.  Well, and even if she just goes around saying NO!! I'll take the credit for that too ;)

Are there any words that an Auntie can say to express the joy within that our nieces and nephews bring to us? All I can think of to say is that my nieces, even my oldest niece Kaylanne who I haven't seen in far too long, brings me such joy. When I see a part of my siblings, or my sister-in-love Hillary who is no longer with us, in my nieces it makes my heart swell with joy. They are JOY incarnate to me. There I tried, to express what a niece or nephew can do.

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.” 
― Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

The final above quote is truly what I'm thankful for today because, I realize that my family of origin, is a rare gift. The older I get the more I realize how rare this gift, my family, truly is. I deeply love and admire each and every one of my siblings, and my parents. To have had the health and good fortune that we claim, through the Grace of God, is without words the greatest gift a life could ever behold.


Linking Up Here and Here

Hello... Goodbye

If the month of April were laid out like a Math equation for me this is what it would look like;

April 7+7=14-7=7+3=10-3=7+1=8-1=7+1=8-1=7+2=9-2=7 May

Hello.

Sister Gina, brother in law Izzy

Mom and Dad with all the grandkids

Brother Jeremy and daughter Emma



Goodbye.


Hello.

Friend Trista and her college bound boys Brandon and Sawyer

Goodbye.

Hello.

Friend Christine aka Weeny

Goodbye.

Hello.

Brother Greg and his girlie friend Tanya

Goodbye.


I'm taking ideas for motel names now.

There is A Bridge

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.

What A Treat

Part 2 of I don't know yet(Continued FORD saga)

My heart sank and I began to feel sick to my stomach. Mo prompted me to try the engine a few more times but this time it just clicked when I turned the key so they thought maybe it might be the battery. The police officer hooked up his battery jumper cables and still nothing. Moses came over to tell me that the engine was "blowed up", done, ca-put, gonzo. I sat there shocked. Surely, something could be done. At this point I was really feeling ill but had to make a decision as to who to call to come to our rescue and decided that my mom's house would be the best bet because someone is always home. The police officer kindly let me use his cell phone to make this call and thankfully my sister was home . After describing where we were, that she would need to bring mom's van because there would be so many for the car ride home, and that we didn't have our cell so she would just have to keep her eyes wide open for us she said she was on her way.
The police man needing to get back on the road after helping us for the last 2 hours said he would be by later to check on us. He drove off and there we all sat and sat and sat. There was of course the occasional bathroom break behind the protection of our vehicle and I did get out and try to wave down a cell phone to call Louie and Joni to inform them that we wouldn't be there but other than that we sat. It was almost getting to be dark when I saw our beloved rescuers on the other side of the road , honking , waving , and smiling. They pulled up behind us and jumped out of the car in such a hurry that they locked themselves out of their very own car with the engine still running!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
All I could do was laugh because I had been crying all afternoon and thier just wasn't a drop left.

A day in the life....

So , today started off pretty good. Got the kiddos up and showered and ready to head out the door, when suddenly I realized it was hat day at Little Lites today. Can't be the teacher without a hat or have my son a straight' A 'student(no such thing in preschool) without a hat on hat day!!! He chose his new nike hat and I of course in preparation for the Bo' Sox first game this weekend chose my Boston Red Sox hat. Before we left though the phone rang and on the other end was an answer to prayer. Our kids dentist bill was dramatacially different than what I thought it was going to be and in fact my complete prayer for this situation was completely answered. I KNOW this is God's doing!! So we were off to school, with hats on our heads and a smile on my face.
Great day at school , some quotes from our class today ; Eli when describing his hat to the class "This is my hat from Ho-tucky that my Nana gave me" I believe it was a University of Kentucky hat, but Ho tucky I think is pretty good. Nathynn, when asked about the memory verse, " The debval is the bad guys boss." We then went on to have a wonderful loud parade and later a special visit from Pastor Louie that was pretty fun.
When I left school today the weather was absolutely fabuloso and so I decided today would be a great day for a car wash. This is the first time I haven't had kids with me thru the wash and let me just say that it was not nearly as much fun. The way thier eyes light up when we go thru the machine is a sight to behold and literally an event for them , kinda like going thru a disneyland ride. After I was done cleaning up the car I shut the last door and went to drive off when I realized I had locked my keys in the car. DAG- NABIT!!! I was determined not to let this ruin my day and the lady who was cleaning her car next to mine had a cell phone that she was kind enough to let me borrow. She had two little girls and said she wasn't going anywhere (fast anyways,w/kids at the car washit takes about half hour longer than normal) so I did call but of course Moses was busy outside and couldn't hear the phone. I then remembered that the gals for Joni's small group were meeting over at Starbucks and I thought maybe I could borrow Joni's car , run to get Moses keys , and then be back in enough to time to finish my other errands. All was well again. Thank you Jesus. I prayed for blessings for that kind lady and for Joni (it's good to have a big family) I was on my way to Wal-Mart for the things that Mo needed and on my way out the Older gentleman greeter was wearing a Bo' Soxs hat we exchanged mutual admiration for our hats and the team and I was off to get the girls from school.
I picked them up and Joni said that they lady who lent me her cell phone stayed around and chatted a bit with the other ladies . Get this , she said that she might be checking out the preschool. How great is that.
Just sharing a day in the life of Noel, Enjoy!!

The Family of God

Family of God you are a gift to me.
Just very thankful for the family God has given me at Hillside(and formerly at the Fountainhead). I am so glad I get to be a part of such a wonderful group of people. Thanks each of you for who you are and how much you love Jesus and His people.
That's all!!! Just sharing the vitamin love!!! (my new favorite phrase)