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!!

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

Favorite Captured Moments 2011

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.

The Gum Wall

Here is a game of where's Waldo only its where's the VW in gum?


Seattle Washington 2011



Uncle Greg and his girlfriend Tanya came for a visit and this was just a minor pit stop in all the sights we saw while they were here.




As Gregs face says it all, this wall is really gross and yet somehow, somewhat, very, cool.




It sure does provide for some pretty great pics.




Here are some of my favorites.




I hoped you enjoyed :)