I want to be that kid up there

I want to be that kid up there.
The one who when faced with an ocean and a pair of very long jeans, just rolls up the jeans as he gets deeper and deeper in the water. No fear of what the future may hold. No thought of the car ride home and how sticky and wet and sandy I might be. No concern for the cold wind that might be blowing my way.
I want to be that kid up there.
The one who screams with elated cries every single time the ocean water touches my feet. No worry or concern for where I ditched my tennis shoes several miles up the beach. Who plunges in the ocean water like moth to the flame. So carefree. So uninhibited. So child like.
I want to be that kid up there. 

On Looking Back and Choices I Made

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my greatest contribution to this planet is most assuredly my Fab 4 children. It was not for me to be a CEO of a fortune 500 company, or to go to Law School,  or to be a Missionary, but rather it was, to be a full time mom to 4 children.    I know some moms are able to do both,  (career and raising a family) I know some single mommas are forced to do both, but for this momma of 4,  both was simply not my choice.  I'm really grateful that I got the choice.  I have come to realize so much of life, really all of life is made up of choices we make. When I was a young person getting ready to go off to college I derailed from the University I had chosen, and where I had been accepted and had scholarships. I made this choice for the sake of saving a buck and decided to go instead to the community college where I lived.  I don't regret that choice because had I left I wouldn't have ended up with My Giant and then therefore we wouldn't have our 4 children. Would I recommend to all the up and coming graduates to walk in my foot steps? HECK NO!! There is one moment in time where you get to have the freedom to go anywhere and do anything.   IF you have been given the opportunity to do something grand, expensive, and far away ... TAKE IT!! The time for this in your life might not ever come again, so GO FOR IT!! If however you choose to take the safe and practical route like I did, know that there is glory in that too. In this life we make choices, when we aren't honest about those choices we get into a state of being I like to call denial, and although denial is comfy some times, it's not healthy. So,  may I suggest to just be honest about your choices when looking back. I remember along the way making a conscience decision to choose my Fab 4 over career and other passions. It wasn't always easy, and still isn't financially, but I'm never going to regret this life choice. NEVER. EVER. And then something like this quote comes along and confirms your life choice.  "Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do but ... SOMEONE YOU RAISE."  Andy Stanley It's hard for me to even begin to imagine "The Kingdom of God" being changed or affected by my life choices, but somehow this quote resonates with me. This quote gives my life purpose beyond what any paycheck or title could ever do.  And it makes me think about my Fab 4 and how they have changed me as a person. They have given me a gift beyond any other earthly token. The gift of motherhood. Although it's a messy, sometimes thankless, and certainly penniless job, it's my favorite.

Spring Break 2014

Today marked the end of Spring Break for our camp and I have to say I'm a tad bit bummed.  I gotta tell ya, it has been so nice to have the extra time with my Fab 4.  We actually got two weeks for Spring Break this year. Can't I get a Whoop Whoop!! I enjoy hanging out with my Fab 4 so much. Sometimes I wonder why I share them with the rest of the world, ever?  I suppose it wouldn't be healthy if I did keep them all to myself, like the mom in Tangled. "Mother knows best listen to your Mumzy!"  Ha ha, that song just popped into my head right now.  Scurry.  (Insert emoticon with a straight face and eyes wide open) 00 - Before you go calling CPS know that I have in FACT, been sharing my kiddos and plan to continue sharing them, it's just sometimes when I look at them I think that mom in the Disney movie Tangled might have been on to something. I digress. For the first part of our Spring Break we traveled to Paradise, CA. where my Aunt Linda and Uncle Gene live.

The above pic was taken from their front porch. I haven't been there in years because it was a bit too far to travel from WA. but from NV it's only about a 3 hour drive and I plan on making it lots more in the future. It was a wonderful time with family and my eldest Spawn even did some recording with her band called  In Between Simple. If I knew how to share the songs here believe me, I would but alas... I am just not that tech savy. I need to figure that out, because I am their biggest fan.  Gotta promote ya know !

While I was there, I drank out of that mug up there. It belongs to my Aunt Linda and it was my favorite mug in her cupboard because of the saying on it. I prayed that prayer the entire time I was there and hope to pray it the rest of my life.  "Lord help me to see thing through Your eyes!" I really do wish it was possible to keep that perspective all the time. So often I get caught up in things that don't really matter.  Things that in comparison to eternity, the bigger picture, just won't even register on my radar. Oh, to be always seeing things through the eyes of Jesus. Speaking of seeing things through Jesus eyes, the tail end of our Spring Break I had the immense pleasure of taking my girls to a Joyce Meyer Conference in Sacramento. (More on this later)

As long as I live on this planet there will never, ever be a better place for me than in the House of God with all His thousands of kids praising him. I love, love, love to hear the people of God come together and give glory to the King of Kings. 

There truly is nothing greater, except maybe seeing your children praise the King with all their hearts, souls, and minds.

I can't get over how my girls have grown and right before my eyes turned into two of my most favorite young women to hang out with. I love to hear how they think and what their dreams are. My cup overflows with joy for the memories we were able to make over the past two weeks.  And as they headed back out into the world today, I thought of how fast the time is flying by. They only have 59 more days of this school year. That's just nutts!!  Why do I torture myself with thoughts like this.  It's a snowball, one finished Spring Break turns into their Graduation which then turns into a Wedding Day, and so on and so forth. When they all stepped out of the car this morning... I might have shed a tear like the day when they first went off to Kindergarden.  I'm not gonna lie, I think I did. But, hey I warned you... I'm a sentimental heart. I can't help myself.  The important thing to remember is that I didn't lock them in a tower ;)

Settled and Unsettled

Good Morning Beloved Reader-
It feels good to be here with you in this moment.  This is a moment that I have longed for, for quite some time. Do you want to know what moment I'm talking about?  I'm talking about the moment of being settled in. Almost every box is unpacked.  I have a favorite spot, with my favorite reading materials close by, I even got some sewing done last week, and it all feels so very good.  

There is something very unsettling to me about the moving experience. I am a creature who loves to set up camp and stay in that camp a very long, long time. The camp fire embers can be nothing but smoke and I would still linger there. BUT... My Giant moves things.  He's a mover and a shaker. I'm a camper. Together we make a great team, because really who wants camp fire smoke all up in your eyes and all over your clothes? There is a time when moving makes sense and it is necessary, and good, and even something that I want, but still it shakes me to the core. Does that make sense? Are there any other campers out there??
All that to say, It has taken quite a lot out of me these past few months, actually really this whole year, and I'm just now feeling that settled moment, and I'm glad I get to share it with you. 

I want to share something else with you. This past weekend was my 20 year High School Reunion.  Yep, I'm OLD!! I wasn't able to go because we had a family wedding to go to, but I have been having moments of nostalgia all weekend. It was so wonderful to be with my Giant and his clan this past weekend. I got to hear him and his cousins reminisce about their youth and we laughed so hard, but there were also "THANK GOD" moments where they each realized how far they had come, and what they have been delivered from.
It's a very pivotal time, ones youth, don't you agree?
Thinking about my youth makes me happy, because I had a really good Jr. High and High School experience. I thankfully, don't have many regrets from that time in life, and so I look back on it with a tender memory in mind. It's also the reason why I would have enjoyed going to my reunion, I think? But, it also kind of really trips me out at the same time because I can hardly believe that I have children who are 15, 13, 11, and almost 9.  Like, really... When did that happen?
I am the mother of teens and tweens and this brings up all kinds of emotions.

We are having a lot of firsts in the Monosco camp. First time your oldest drives off in a car with friends who are boys. First time your 11 year old boy goes off to camp where there wont' be someone there to remind him to wear deodorant or behave. First time there might be a serious boy, girl relationship looming. First time for crushes, and permits, and dances...
Ya know ... stuff that you deal with when your kids are no longer kids but young adults, being shaped and molded by more people than you can count. I find myself in this weird position of sitting back, but at the very same time, actively putting holes in the carpet on my knees in prayer.

I know this makes perfect sense to those of you who have pioneered before me in these teen and tween years. And let me just take this moment to say, please share your wisdom, share your encouragement, but keep the horror stories to a minimum please.  I said please ;)
It's a time where you have to sit back and hope and pray that all you have planted inside of them will begin to grow, and not just that, but that it will take root.  I pray for very DEEP ROOTS.
"Hang tough lil roots"
This morning is a moment I'm feeling settled but unsettled all at the same time.  Let me explain. My older three kids are off to church camp this week. And  When I don't have all my baby chics under one roof it feels strange. Those of you who have lils, as much as you long for the day that you can sit back and relax because you're not constantly in shear panic mode from that two year old that just won't sit still, just remember this;
Right now you know exactly where that two year old is. (Or at least I hope you do) You know where they will go to sleep tonight. You know what they will eat. You know who they will talk to. You know who they will drive with,  and  You know that as long as they are with the momma bear they are safe.
But, when they get older something very strange happens.  You can no longer control all of this, and it's unsettling and at the same time it is very healthy, and normal, and necessary to let this process happen. Because I mean, no one wants a Smother Motha!! I do so solemnly swear;
I WILL NOT BE A SMOTHER MOTHA!!

Still, I honestly don't know how people without the reassuring presence of the Holy Spirit are able to get through this season in parenting. This morning in my prayer time for my three older kids who are at camp, my Heavenly Father God gave me this reassuring scripture;
"For He has strengthened and made hard the bars of your gates, and He has blessed your children." Psalm 147:13
For this momma bear who would like nothing more than to keep those babies behind bars protected from the world outside that could hurt or harm them... this was exactly what I needed this morning. To know that the GOD of the universe has got my kiddos in the palm of His hands settles my spirit like none other. Don't go reporting me to CPS just cause I want to put my kids behind bars just to keep them safe. I swore up there I wouldn't Smother remember?

No, I think instead of smothering this is the action I will take;
"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance, and in everything, by prayer and petition(definite requests)with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's PEACE shall be yours." Phil 4:6-7
And I am once again settled.  I like that settled feeling. I think I will stay a while here in this settled position.

Thankful Thursday

There are moments in life when you know someone, somewhere, somehow, should be recording the chronicle of events that you are witnessing. The other night was one of those moments. My oldest daughter had her first High School Choir concert.

Wait. I'm feeling a little Va-Klempt!! Talk amongst yourselves. No really, it was a circle of life moment. I was Mufasa telling my young Simba someday this land will all be yours. Or something like that. Ya see folks, I was a Choir student. That's right. I didn't play sports.  I wasn't a cheerleader.  I was Rachel on Glee, and I loved it. I was in my element in that choir room with Mr. Peebles. Yep, me and Mr. Peeb's we were friends. No, for real we are friends. 

And now almost 20 years later, my Emmer's well...  she's a Choir student. Sniff. Sigh. Vaklempt. I was so proud of her, and also Ahem... I have to admit,  I was VERY proud of my parents. Let me explain.  As I sat there for each and every performance, many of which Em  wasn't even on the stage for I realized, My parents did this for me. They sat through each and every painful, off key performance just so they could hear their daughter sing some Mozart song that says Hallelujah over and over, and over, and O-V-E-R again! As I looked up at her and then down the row with my other 3 munchkins I had a moment. Sniff. Sigh. Vaklempt. My other 3 kids were so cute to watch as their faces were beaming to see their sister up there on stage.  My boys were totally cracking me up as they were trying as hard as they could to make their older sister laugh. Yep, it was a circle of life moment that I was thankful for. Thankful for life. Thankful for Emma and the choices she has made to follow in my footsteps. Thankful for my parents and how incredibly supportive, encouraging, and amazing they have always been. Thankful for music. Thankful for music teachers. Thankful people who can sing on key, and even thankful for those who can't. Thankful for all of my kids. Thankful for my parents. Thankful.  Linking up here

On Active Listening

One of my favorite things about being a mom is overhearing what my kids say when they don't know I'm listening. There have been countless conversations over the years that I have overheard that just make me giggle. There are countless more conversations that I overhear and I have to step in and say, Whoa there kiddos in-a-pro-pro! You can find my favorite quotes and conversations over the years from my kids here;Kids Quotes.

*Total side-note here, but doesn't my baby look like a Football player in the making here. Too bad his mom won't let him play. Put a pin in that point we will come back to it on another day, when I have more time to convince you that I'm right for making this decision and you are wrong. Come back, same place, I mean it.
Ok so...
 I love my blog for the fact that it has documented quite a few of these conversations.  Well, really I documented them. But Blogspot helps me keep an ongoing record. So does pen and paper, but hey... I'm trying to pay Blogger a compliment here, do you mind?
One of the other things about being a momma that I love, is that you get to hear all the brilliant ideas your children have, hot off the press.   Ya know, the real news shattering headlines like; "When I grow up I'm going to invent something that you could travel backwards with."- Isaiah 8yrs Or "I'm going to make bubble gum that could be as big as this house." - Isaiah 8yrs Or "I'm going to invent a fan that goes sideways, because it blows more air." Solomon 10yrs.

*Another side-note Solomon the boy rocking the 80's look up there, does not like to take pictures. It really is so sad because he's one good looking boy if I do say so myself. Somehow I need to figure out how to brain wash him while he's sleeping. Suggestions?

So the most recent quote that I need to document here is from  the other day when Isaiah came over to me very excited with something he just had to tell me.
Now,how many of you know that sometimes 8 year olds have a lot of brilliant ideas that they just can't wait to tell you about?
How many of you know that sometimes you don't always hear everything your 8 year old says because well, you kind of sometimes can sort of tune them out?
How many of you know this doesn't make you a bad parent? 
How many of you know, you shouldn't judge it's bad for your health?  Besides this is a no judgement zone.

So as usual when Isaiah came over to tell me something so important I was half way listening, probably doing something really important like saving the world through blogging. But, My ears perked up a bit when I heard Isaiah say, 
"Mom I want you to know that I don't want anything for Christmas"

Wait.
What?
 "I don't want anything for Christmas."
So I said, "Ok. Why?"
It was at this time that I felt I was the best parent in the world. Like I had done my job in raising a sweet, wonderful, kind soul who probably wants to give all his toys and presents to the orphans. I was thinking all of our efforts with the Kony campaign really paid off. I was ... well I was sadly mistaken because he then went on to say;
"Well, I don't want anything for Christmas OR my Birthday, and then I want to go to Hawaii."
Ouch.
Now, the good news here is that my baby boy who is now 8 realizes that it cost ALOT of money to go to Hawaii. The bad news is that he doesn't realize that with the current airfare it will probably take all the Christmases and Birthdays until he's 18 before we could afford a trip to Hawaii.
By then he will have forgotten all about it. I hope.

Reprogram Time

My kids start school next week, but
we are already in the back to school mode around here. The meet and greet of teachers for the boys is today, and the High Schooler has been for two weeks already at her school everyday for Volleyball practice. The resident Jr. Higher this year doesn't get a meet and greet apparently, but we are just gonna go roam the halls for fun. Let's hope we don't get kicked out before she even gets started. 
So with all of this I have to reprogram the internal clocks from island time to "REALITY" time. So in the evenings we have been preparing for bed around 8 and then reading for about 20 minutes, and then lights out around 8:45 ish.
Let it go on record,
That's been a pretty big (Ish) folks.

Last night was rough, that's all I'm gonna say. 

When I cracked the whip at 8pm to go brush teeth and get ready for bed, you should have heard the out cry. 

But then around 11:30 the house was quiet, and I was still awake.

Go figure, that the biggest whip to crack is gonna have to be on my ass.
Because here it is past midnight and yep, you guessed it I'm the only one awake. 

There is a part of me that feels SO not ready for the lazy days of summer to end. In the summer I throw that whip out the window and let the Fab 4 stay up til all hours making memories.
I personally feel, that's what the summer is all about.
In fact,

I always think of the Billy Holiday(she's my fav) song Summertime when summer rolls around.
But, as the school supply lists are being handed out, and I am at the bank taking out a loan to pay for it 

I think about the fact that the nights will get longer, and the days will get shorter.

I try to soak in the Vitamin D while I can and sit outside as much as possible.
Because come October, The "living will no longer be easy" and "the fish won't be jumping".
Sigh..
Which makes my mind jump immediately to... HURRY QUICK...
 I have to buy one last watermelon and have one last EPIC BBQ to mark the occasion. 

Speaking of the word EPIC...

Apparently,

I didn't make the summer as EPIC as I could have in my children's eyes.
And I quote Isaiah, aka Zed, aka my baby, aka my 8 year old boy, "Mom I can't believe the summer is already over. It was SO not Epic"
First of all where did this kid come from?
Second...
Can I get a witness that if you didn't take your kids to Disneyland or some kind of amusement park, or just some where other than your local beach it was NOT EPIC to them?!?!

He must have forgotten that we bought a ba-zillion fireworks on the Fourth, went to a couple Mariners games, had Summer Little League baseball games 4 nights out of the week, Swim Lessons, visits from all kinds of beloved friends and family,camped, made smores right outside our doorstep...But still... NOT EPIC.

So I say, "What will you tell your teachers when they ask what was your favorite thing about your summer?" And I shutter to hear the very honest answer. From the mouths of babes people, comes... well... their truth. 

Can I also get a witness that sometimes it's hard to hear our children's truth, and sometimes it's just downright funny ?

On this particular occasion it was funny because well The Fab 4 all chimed in, and they all have a very varied view(ha ha say that 5 times fast) of what an Epic summer should look like.

In Other News...

I have begun to really long for the schedule, the routine that is the END of summer.

I have already started bringing out all my apple decor in the spirit of back to school days. 

I start stocking up on pumpkin spice everything. I literally almost fell over with complete and utter joy from the smell of a pumpkin spice candle at the grocery store the other day.

I start to get giddy with excitement about the fact that my favorite season is right around the corner.

And I bid this summer a do which despite my children's description was, "SO NOT EPIC!"
Who needs Epic anyways?
Was your summer Epic?
Please do tell what did you get to do this summer that my children would be jealous of.

*Oh and let it go on record, I don't really have a whip, maybe some COOL whip ;)

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?

Tulip Festival 2010

AKA Photographers Dream Come True


We set out on Saturday to check out the famous Tulip Festival that happens every April in the town of Mt. Vernon Washington. The drive to get there for us coming from Redmond is about an hour so I made sure to pick a day when the sun would be shining and I would have plenty of time(or so I thought :/ ). Last Saturday seemed to be the best day. What I didn't expect was that on top of the 2 hours just to get there and back , there would be another 2 and half hours of sitting in our car with bumper to bumper traffic. However, despite all the time spent in our car it was worth the 2 hours we got to walk around and see such beauty. SO, like everything in life if it's something good that happens every year you have to be prepared to share it with others, and to sit in TRAFFIC! Next year I will be sure to bring a kite to fly, sunglasses for all, rain boots for all(well these we brought the boys just refused to wear them) a picnic lunch, lots of things to do for the kids while we sit in unmoving traffic, and most importantly my Giant.






So as not to deceive my faithful few readers, although the day may have looked as if it was picture perfect it was not. My boys were a constant reminder to me that I might not be cut out for parenting two male children. They were a royal pain in the a** and I was about to seriously lose it with them before I realized I was in public and in Washington no less where I might be reported to the CPS. The girls were bickering the whole time about the boys and I had to bribe half of them with ice cream to smile in the pictures. I knew I had lost the battle when Sol after totaling his shoes in a big mud puddle looked up at me with a big smile on his face and said, " I don't care if I don't get any ice cream".
I was reminded of how difficult the life of the single parent must be without having my better half there to back me up. And by the time the very long car ride home came about I was feeling like quite the schmuck by making us all late for a dinner date with our new friend. (Hope she can forgive me for not only this but for doing her dishes as well, so as to appease some of my guilt).

Still after all these set backs I do plan to go again, but never again as the ONLY adult!!

A right of Passage-Self Hair Cuts

I woke up this morning to the sound of my 11 year old acting as though it was the end of the world. Is it just me or does the drama factor go up a notch when kids hit double digits? Anyway, when I finally got my cup of coffee and figured out what all her mumbling was saying to me( I just hear mumbling until that first sip of Java) I realized that the final right of passage in the hair department had been accomplished this morning while I was asleep having more crazy dreams.

It's official, all the Scofield children have accomplished this right of passage- Cutting their own hair. Isaiah would be the final one to go this route. His reason, " I couldn't find a comb". Okay well, that was an interesting one, guess we will have to make a trip to the dollar store later for more combs.
Other excuses over the years that I have been given, "Well you do it mom" " I just wanted to see what I would look like" and the one I loved most from Chloe who wants be a hairstylist someday-" I needed some practice mom" this was of her not cutting her own hair of course but her siblings.
Every time this passage is walked through in my house it reminds me of when I was little and I had a friend named Heather. Heather had a perfect page haircut with bangs that were so straight you could have used them as a ruler. Heather's mom was from England. Her mom had not been back to England with her children since they were born. Heather's mom had planned this special trip to England for her beautiful girls to meet all their relatives for the first time. The trip was in just a few days after this dreadful day that I speak of.
I bet you can guess what happens next.
It was traumatic.
I was in big trouble.
Heather's bangs took a long time to grow out.
I will never forget it.
Isaiah is not as skilled.
The damage has been done.
He is not going to England anytime soon.
Now, we can all move on.

Thursday

This morning was great. I love the Spring like weather that we get to enjoy if only for a few days. It makes everything seem more alive. Maybe I am affected by the weather, but then who isn't?

Great day at work. Then I went shopping at Winco. When I was down the soda isle getting my sparkling water a woman dropped a whole box of soda's and one exploded all over her. I felt so bad and I was really glad that I always carry around a thing of wipes. I am pretty sure even when I don't have little sticky fingers this is something I will still do. At the checkout  I always pretend when I am bagging my own groceries there that I am a grocery store employee and I challenge myself to see how quickly and efficiently I can bag my own groceries. 

Walked to pick the big kids up from school because I can and because I should. It was nice until Isaiah took a digger and because I baby him I carried him all the way home.

Then no one had homework so we played outside for a bit and then we all decided to watch a movie, but what movie could we all agree upon?? It took a minute and a few tears but finally it was decided by popular vote to watch My Girl.  Forgot how sad that movie is. Me and the girls cried and cried and boys just stared at us like we were from another planet. I have a feeling that might happen a lot in our house.

 Brie Cheese dip for dinner. It is that good and that filling!! Kids didn't like it. They thought it taste too much like Blue Cheese which none of them like.  Too bad Mo and I were the only ones who could enjoy this delicacy. 

Samantha B. came over to get a tattoo on her foot and it turned out beautiful. Made me want one on my foot but I don't think I am brave enough for the foot. I have heard it's a very painful spot. She is sitting like a champ though.

It was a pretty good day, looking forward to tomorrow..... sing along!!

Tuesday

Found out later last night that my mother in law has breast cancer. Sigh, more tears. I am hopeful and prayerful that she will be just fine but all the same it is a shock!! Prayers appreciated. She goes for Surgery next Monday.  I have the day off so I will probably go and see her and try to put on a brave face.

I said goodbye to a friend who is leaving on Thursday with a brand  new baby and a 4 year old to Japan today. Her life is in transition and she is amazing to me. Handling it all in stride.

Called another friend who has not had to work in over, well... her whole life but had to get a job due to recent financial changes. Her and her hubby have not had a paycheck in over a year. I am hopeful that things will all work out for them.

I am making Corned Beef and Hash even though I don't like to claim my Irish I do have some and thought I would celebrate this Irish meal with some great friends.(Turned out oh so good if I do say so myself)

Still trying to think of an idea of how to wear a man's tie fashionably!!

Yelled at my kids, hate when that happens. Quickly said sorry but all the same I just don't like that when I yell and they look at me as though I have become a crazy woman because I have. I am a yeller in my weak moments and I hate this about myself :(

Got a call from a friend who I am going to see very soon and I can hardly wait. I appreciate that she is rearranging her whole weekly life just to squeeze in a few days with me. I haven't flown on an airplane since last year around this time when I went to see sister in Europe. I am a little nervous because of what happened last time I traveled but know I need to get past my fears because there is a whole lot of world left that I want to see.

I am enjoying blogging all this week because of Spring break. I am also enjoy a very clean house because of it as well.

Monday

I had a hard time getting my 4 year old out the door this morning. This used to be the sort of thing that would really upset me but as I am getting older and hopefully wiser in this parenting gig I am realizing some things. Sometimes, it's just really not worth it to get all worked up over 5 minutes and really, I mean really it's only 5 minutes.

Preschool - was great as per usual, except one lil friend who wasn't feeling so well, that's always a bummer :(  What a sweetie. Jesus help him feel better.

Today we talked about what comes out of an egg. It was so great and is truly one of my favorite things in the whole wide world to hear 3,4, and 5 year olds use their imaginations. I think it has got to be pretty much one of the greatest things when a 3 year tells you with all their heart, "A Lion comes out of an egg Miss Noel" hmm... really??

Today after school I went to visit my friend Christene who is doing Chemo right now for however long to battle brain cancer once again. It was great to see her and just chill for a visit. After leaving I thought of how amazing she is. What a fighter that girl is. So grateful for her friendship in my life. Love that girl. Jesus help her through this time. Tears. Sigh.

Then I went to pick up my big kids after school and they wanted to go to the school's book fair. I just can't resist cheap books. Makes me think of the line in You've Got Mail, " Of course they are going to love us we will sell them cheap books and legal stimulants!"

Then I got a phone call today that was so nice. It was after picking up kids from school. After we were settled here at home with some new books. After we had just had our homemade, yummy chocolate chip cookies for snack and my cell rings.

I knew who it was because of the ring tone. It's a song, " I'm in love with the world through the eyes of a girl" it was my boyfriend calling to tell me he wanted to cook dinner. 

Life is good even on a Monday.