Happy Birthday To My Giant

40 years. My Giant is 40 years old today. I have known him, really known him for 19 of those years, so almost half of his life. And then I knew of him a few years before that, but that's a different story for a different day. Of the 16 years I didn't really know him I have had to piece together some of his childhood. I get some of those pieces from his dad,  A lot from his mom, some from his Aunties and Uncles, I got quite an ear full from his sister before she went on to be with Jesus(what I would give to get more from her now, and to hear her razz him about being OLD) and then of course quite a bit from his cousin Derek.
Today I want to talk about what I KNOW about TheMoses.
He is funny. He is generous. He is forgiving.

He is sincere always. He is never dull. He is a deep, deep thinker. 

He is strong.  He is resourceful. He is patient.

He is steady. He is a Christ Follower. He is a really good dad.

He is shy. (hard to believe but it's really true) He is smart, not just smart, but wise. He is fully present, but only in the spot he dwells.

He doesn't like the gym. He doesn't work out, but gets a work out from his LIFE everyday. He is a good Uncle.

He is a firm believer in asking questions and therefore has a few conspiracies under his belt. He has an incredible work ethic. He can fix anything.

He is an artist. He is a random facts library. He is a trustworthy man.

He is a teacher. He doesn't like to read books. He likes to watch documentaries.

He likes a lot video games. He is a pessimist married to THE ETERNAL optimist(we kinda make a good team) He is a carpenter.
He is a fall asleep when his head hits the pillow kind of guy. He is a REALLY, REALLY good cook. Really. He a terrible baker. (Sorry babe it's true though)
He is just. He is fair. He is a good friend.
He is a man of few words. He always has a side project going on or building plans in progress. He has a really good B.S. detector.
HE IS A GOOD MAN.
It's hard to put into words the measure of a man that has had 40 years. I would have to agree completely with MLKjr. on the quote below though, The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
These are only some facts, likes, and dislikes but to really KNOW a person you have to go to the heart and soul of a man. What is his heart and soul? What does he live for? What would he die for? What consumes his every waking moment?
In regards to his heart I can honestly say, that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, Moses has a beautiful heart, one that is as big, as he is tall. He would like you to believe otherwise, but don't be fooled He is a gentle Giant. He would and has bent over backwards for family, friends, and even strangers. He gives even from a place of being in need, and as far as his soul look at his everyday life. He slaves away so that his family can live well. While he sacrifices we enjoy. While he labors we play.  I know what he lives for, I see this everyday at the butt-crack of dawn, o-dark-thirty he lives to provide. Not only is he living for us, but in some ways, no... in a lot of ways HE has had to die for us too. The dreams and aspirations that have long been in his mind have been pushed to the side under the weights of responsibility. 
He is a good man.
My Giant, You spent 20 years without me and   Now 20 years with me. Here's to another 20+20 maybe even + 20 more!! There is truly for you xo 

To My Giant... Happy Valentine's Day

This Stud Muffin pictured above

He still;

Rings my bell.

Has My Number.

Get's Me Going.

He is;

A Major Babe Alert.

My Daddy Mack.

A Looker.

Is it getting Hot in here?

And Here's what I would like to say To My Giant when I see this picture;

Do your legs hurt from running through my dreams all night?

Oops, I lost my phone number. Could I have yours?

If Santa comes down your chimney and trys to stuff you in his sack, don't worry cause I wanted you for Christmas!

Just having a little fun keeping LOVE alive!

Hope it inspires you to do the same <3 <3 <3

Happy Valentine's Day

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

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.

Bottom of The Barrel, lyrics by Amos Lee

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!!

New Project

It never ceases to amaze me how my hubby can just take a project and run with it. We were having lots o fun at all the Reno Art Town stuff when I came upon a booth selling hair accessories. I have been checking online for some flower hair accessories to go with my fifties style dress(borrowed from none other than Mrs. Heifner). This ensemble will be for a photo shoot that is for our VW clubs calendar(more on that later). Anyway, needless to say the flowers that I had seen online were quite expensive so when I found a booth this weekend selling these pretties I was so excited and bought one right away. Soon after my purchase my new found excitement was met with even more excitement when my ultra talented hubby Mo took one look at what I bought, and said what I have heard him say countless times before... "I can make that" and he did.
Now I have a flower accessory for every outfit, and some for my friends as well.
The one I bought from the art fair has already broken and so of course my genius husband saw that coming and made these new hair "pretties" to be much more functional.
So I am pretty much set and once again so impressed by my boy.

TGIF

This week was an extremely busy week for me and my family. It is Friday afternoon and I can't believe I made it to this spot but I did it and pretty well I think.

This week Mo started a new job at a brand new Tattoo shop that opened up in downtown Reno. It's called Reno Gearhead Tattoo and Barber Shop. It is located literally right across the street from the Eldorado. Anyway, his new job made it so that I saw him maybe 5 or 6 hours this week if that. He went to work  at his day job at 7:30 came home to eat dinner at around 4 or 5 and headed to the shop by 6. He stayed there most nights at least until 10:30p. So when you have a family with 4 young kids and your husband works overtime it means you work overtime too. Now, don't get me wrong I am not complaining I am just explaining.

On top of his new job and late hours I chose to wake up ooober early with a friend (via cell phones) and walk on the treadmill. So I did that successfully 4 days this week and still managed to keep my sanity. Yea me :)

My job at Little Lites has been great. I absolutely love working again but getting there is quite the chore in the mornings when you have an uncooperative 4 year old. One of the days he was crying on the way into school and I felt like I wish I could do that. 

On top of that my classes have kicked into high gear this semester. My math class requires 9 hours a week of logged in time (no exceptions) and my English class is a whole lot of writing which I of course don't mind it's just that when there is not another parent in the house to help with homework and you have homework yourself that YOU need help with(Mo is going to help me pass my math) life can get interesting. We survived.

I didn't even mention, laundry, dishes, dinners, lunches, dog messes(that just about threw me over the edge), regular 10,8,7, and 4 year old messes, and life in general stuff. I will have you know that the power of prayer works because I know I couldn't have made it through this week with out it.

So here I am thinking back on the week with a weekend full of events and I have decided to do some  rearranging already. Some things in my schedule this weekend have got to go so that I can have more down time. I have realized the older I get the importance of down time. Thanks much to Jesus and Louie's Sabbath teachings for that, but also it is part of my genetic makeup to not only have downtime but believe it or not alone time.  So here's to the weekend and everyone who worked super hard all week, cheers we made it!! 

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Good News, be it ever so small

Today while I was preparing to take some preschoolers out for play I found a ring I thought I had lost. I went to put my gloves on and there it was. I had been whining about losing this ring for weeks now. I had asked my kids to be looking around for it and I had just felt sick over losing it.

I bought this ring for myself at Genoa's Candy Dance a few years back and it was one of my most favorite rings. When I came home from grocery shopping a few weeks back I realized it was no longer on my finger and after retracing my steps I thought it must have fallen off at Winco or something and I was so bummed. 

But alas, all this time it was in my glove!! I was happy to say the least.

Then when I got home from picking up my kiddos today I was happy to see that my hubby got off work early and being as how I throughly enjoy that man's company and can never seem to get enough of it I was glad for the time together.

After that my treasure friend Allie called with some even more good news that only a friend like her could give me. (Those of you who know her, she did not tell me she was pregnant)

Finally, tonight while hanging out with hubby we got some very good news for him about his recent Ink career and all I have to say is that in this life when you are given good days like this you just have to take a moment and give a shout out to the giver of ALL good things.

Whoot woot!! or Hallelujah!! (which ever floats your boat)

A Holiday Special and My Inner Dialogue

Tonight provided for an unusual occurrence in my home. I actually got to watch the Christmas Special put on for the President and First Lady. This special aired on ABC around 10p and there is a reason it was on so late, (I will get to that later).
You might or might not be asking why is this an unusual occurrence in your home Noel? Well, I am glad you asked. It is unusual in our home to watch these kinds of events because the Giant is not much for these type of shows. He's not really fond of Holiday special anything or award shows, or anything celebrity or politically or Holiday-ish related. He tends to be a bit sarcastic sometimes, I know surprising isn't it, But it's true!! Anyhew, as you can imagine these kind of shows really provide a varietal plethora(sp?) of opportunities to be sarcastic, and then I usually start defending people that I don't even know and probably don't deserve defense, and it just really isn't all that enjoyable to me anymore so.....all that to say, I was excited to get to watch this special tonight because the hubby was out at a movie.
Now, I have to say that I know my writing skills are not going to bring this blog justice as to what was going on in my psyche while watching this special, but I am going to try. Hopefully I don't bore you all to death and if you are already unamused please, by all means, stop reading.
I sat down with some chocolates, a glass of wine, fully prepared to enjoy this Christmas Special and Wynonna Rider starts off the show. Now I am not a HUGE fan but I can appreciate the country music so no biggie but when she addressed the President, weird is all I can say. She timidly tried to jest with him to which he just smiled and nodded and it was just so strange. This is just a good indication of what the rest of the lame event entailed. They proceeded to have dancers half dressed(I sound like my dad there but truly they were), John Sicata(token Hispanic person for this white bred event) Yolanda Adams a woman who well.... just was interesting as well , but I am thinking is a fav of the Presidents because MAN ALIVE SHE SANG ALOT (and well she mentioned she is from Texas), a Comic who was sweating like a pig trying not to step on anybodies toes, and the Creme Del Creme OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN (or as my dad would say Olivia Neutron Bomb). The whole time I couldn't enjoy the show because Moses sarcastic voice was so loud and I just couldn't shut it up and well by the end I didn't want to shut it up because it became truly the only thing entertaining about the show. I kept hearing him say things like, "Look at them all smiling as if they are enjoying this woman who is so old she can't even keep on key anymore." or "We sing this Feliz Navidad song every holiday and still need the translation that comes with it" There was other commentary that was funnier at the time and I can't think of it now but all I have to say is God Bless Moses and his wonderful, cheery outlook on life that has forever wrecked/ruined me.

My Husband

My husband is a GENIUS in every sense of the word

GENIUS- an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work in science, art, music, etc.

That's all!!

The Giant

My Giant came home tonight with a mission. To paint(sorry Gardners he started a new one). Do you know how exciting this is?? PROBABLY NOT, so let me explain. He hasn't picked up a brush since Christmas. That's an awfully long time to not engage in a hobby that you love, that relaxes you, and even inspires you.
So needless to say, while he paints I scrap, blog, read, watch movies and wait for the finished product. I can't peek over his shoulders or comment until the end because I have learned that these are not good things to do to someone when they are creating a masterpiece. Didn't know that before but now after many years I do. Everytime he paints it's like Christmas to me. So excited to see what this will be. Just thought I would share and when he's done maybe a picture will appear here of the finished product.

Happy Birthday, My Gentle Giant!!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Moses,
Happy Birthday to you.

My husband is a genius!!!

Ok so problem with photo number one has been solved by the genius giant.
He photo shopped Em's non-smile and replaced it with the lovely pose in another photo as well as made Sol's smile a lil bigger as well, exhibit right.
Now, this makes me wonder is this like genetic reprogramming? You know like you don't like what you get so you get to change it
Kinda wierd but really great for the dilema's of a family full of small children who rarely to never are all looking and smiling in the same direction.