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

Easter Weekend

My Sister Bean aka Gina, came to see me last weekend. She brought with her; her hubby Izzy,her two girls Savanah and Sophia, my brother Jeremy, and My mom and dad. And...She brought her beloved camera.

Did I mention she also brought the movie star child above, my niece Savanah, who can sing the whole Adele song, Rolling in the Deep? Start to finish she doesn't miss a beat or a lyric. Amazing. This little movie star child is going places, mark my words! I might be a bit partial because I am her Auntie, but this lil one can sing!

We went to the tulip festival here in Washington and it once again confirmed my love for this beautiful spot on planet earth where I get to live.

Did I mention, her little peanut, my new niece Sophia, aka Last Minute Biscuit is the cutest baby ever? I mean I hope my kids don't get jealous, but she is so CUTE! I had to fight off my Fab 4 all weekend to keep that lil peanut in my arms. I treasured every, single second and I took in a good long wiff of that baby smell. Not the stinky diaper kind, but the new born baby lotion scent that just reminds us that the world is a beautiful place and that everything is going to be okay, You know that one?

Also, I now want one.
Psshh.. don't be silly,
NOT a last minute biscuit, but a Nikon D40 camera. Although, I did ask her to leave her last minute biscuit too, but she politely refused. I told her I would give her back around the time she starts learning the word "NO!" Still, she refused.
Her camera is really so great. I have a new item to put on my long list of "want". The things I could accomplish with this camera, I mean maybe I really "need" this camera.

We got so many amazing pictures that I can hardly contain myself when it comes to sharing them all with you. They will be treasured for years to come.
These pictures are amazing. And so is this little peanut.

I bought the lil biscuit that outfit she is wearing and it is mandatory that you speak French to her when she is wearing it. She will smile if you do. Actually, she will smile either way cause she is just that happy.

What kind of camera do you use?
I am in the market for a new one because the flash on my old one is broken. I won't be buying anytime soon but I am doing some research.
Gina's camera really helped in this process because it was so newbie friendly.
Is your camera newbie friendly?

Favorite Captured Moments #5

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 #3

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?

An Update In Pictures

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.