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 ;)

Irons and Bees

I'm working on ... working on things. Or you could say,

I have quite a few "irons in the fire" right now. Don't cha just love old sayings like that? I just love old sayings like that. When I looked up the meaning of that old saying it made me giggle.  You really should read the back story on that very famous saying,HERE so you can giggle too. It will be an especially giggly time for you if you are a busy bee like me.
Speaking of busy bee's I am one, but I still managed to find this quote for you;
"It's not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted." Mary O'Connor
The "why" to my busy is what I want to focus on here for a minute. That quote made me question whether all my busy is God's busy for me? Does that make sense? Cause if it's God's busy then there should be praise, but if it's my own busy then inevitably swatting will ensue.  I mean... I feel I am a bee and to be praised(I want some praise people this is hard work this mom to 4 kids work) while I'm busy about my Fathers business. But how does one know they are about their Father's business, and not their own business, especially when it's my new business that is keeping me busy. Did you know Our Father Who Art In Heaven has a business? Well, He does and I want to be that kind of bee that does it's Father's business. Ya know a bee that should be praised versus a mosquito who deserves to be swatted?

 It's busy, business, being a bee. 

Say that five times fast.

I am SO busy, but it's a good busy.  It's a healthy busy. It's a (I'm -right- where- I'm -supposed -to- be) busy. It's the kind of busy that makes my heart sing.

I'm driving my kids here, there, and everywhere, and they in turn are driving me nutts!  No, really I am throughly enjoying them and their very active, very healthy lives right now. But when I'm not driving the Fab 4 here, there, and everywhere here are some other irons I've got heating up;

I have my shop that I'm loving so much. I'm sewing up a storm to stock the shelves of NodotsShop just in time for Christmas. And I'm trying to really prepare for having a booth at the Farmers Market here next Spring. I'm a bit excited about that little dream come true, bucket list, adventure. I sure hope they like me and my stuff. I hear the jury process is a rigorous one, but I have all winter to prepare.
And then I have my son Solomon and his art work that I'm trying to get packaged and ready for Christmas presents(hold tight family your copy is coming) and possibly future retail. Yes,  He is my 11 year entrepreneur, artist, inventor child. He wants to sell prints of his artwork at the Market next year with me. Well, really he wants to sell them right NOW he's an ambitious lil fellow that Sol Doll ! He started his own little business at the young age of 10 and he calls his business Donut Productions. I wonder where the love for Donuts comes in? Psh... certainly not from his mother who buys them all the time!

This recent piece of art work that he and his dad worked on together  a few months back has gotten quite the buzz. Buzz, buzz, buzz... there's those bees again.
Solomon came home from school one day inspired by Van Gough and he asked me what my favorite Van Gough piece was, I said A Starry Night, and that is where Rainy Night was born. He sat down with a Sharpie and drew with such detail that My Giant was super impressed. Mo finished the piece with some amazing color and I might be bias but I think it's better than A Starry Night.  Psh... totally better!!

And then I have that little writing project that I was working on, Brody the Bishop and The First Day of Spring is no longer on the back burner people. Nope.  I put him back up on that front burner and I have a goal to get him full blown cooking by next Spring. That's right you heard me, I have a GOAL.  Just one or two, or maybe a few more than 5 ?
Remember this guy? 
Well if you don't you can read more about that HERE or just stay tuned. You will be hearing more about him in the future.  

Of course I still have my everyday life jobs, laundry dishes taxi cab driving vacuuming  cooking taxi cab driving shopping cleaning did I mention taxi cab driving?

Really, I promise I'm a happy taxi cab driving mom.

Most of the time I'm a happy driver.

Clearly, not a happy driver here but.... 

There ya have it folks,  the Irons and   The Bees. Linking up here

Reality Check

I was talking to a friend the other day who said that she can't read blogs sometimes because they make her feel jealous. I had to laugh because I knew exactly what she meant. Sometimes when you read another person's blog you don't remember to read with eyes that are pre-filtered. 

By that I mean, you have to remember that the edit process on mostly all blogs is pretty substantial.

People usually only post about the best version of themselves or their families. 

They post the funny, the exciting, maybe the occasional rant or rave ... but it's all through a HUGE edit filter.

The edit process on most Facebook Status updates is normally 90% BS+Fluff, 10% truth. 

And the edit process on tweets, well that might be where you see some real life going on. Strangely people like to tweet their whole life, but you still have to read between the lines.

So as a tribute to said, friend I give you this 

My Reality Check...

I eat too much sugar.
I don't exercise enough.
I yell at my kids.
I cuss.
I can be lazy.
I have zits at 37.
My house smells like dogs because I have 2 dogs.
I drink too much wine.
I sweep up a fur coat from said dogs almost everyday.
My washer and dryer are never empty.
My kids haven't been to the dentist in a really long time.
I haven't been to the dentist in a really long time.
My Giant hasn't been to the dentist in a really long time. (Who can afford the dentist these days, raise your hands? Anyone?)
My kitchen sink is never empty.
I am so impatient sometimes I make coffee nervous.
I make frozen dinners way more than I care to admit, or just buy pizza.
I hate dusting, so my shit is covered with a good layer of ... well.. dust.
My Giant and I disagree, a lot about a lot of stuff.
I have a teen daughter who is good at it, being a teen that is.
My car is old, really old.
Some days cocktail hour is not confined to an hour.
AND ...
My shit stinks.

Please Don't judge.

If I Were Rich

I would pay to have a maid.
I would not pay to have a nanny.

I would pay to have my car washed.
I would not pay for someone to drive my car.

I would pay for someone to go grocery store shopping.
I would not pay for someone to cook.

I would pay for someone to handle all the designs on my social media's
I would not pay for someone to write for me.

I would pay for a fancy camera.
I would not pay for a photographer.

I would pay for my dogs to be groomed.
I would not pay for them to be exercised.

Now, I wonder what about you?

What would you pay for if you were Rich?

What wouldn't you pay for?

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

When sister Bean(aka Gina bo "bean" na) came here with her beautiful family one of the things she wanted to do was to go to theSkagit tulip festival here in WA. You don't have to ask me twice to go see a pretty field full of flowers and take pictures of these cuties.

As I started this post which originally was going to be only a picture post, I had to laugh at how many pictures it takes to get that one good picture that you want the world to see. You know the one where everyone is smiling, you don't see the wind blowing, or the runny noses because it's so cold outside, or the sibling squabbles. You just see the finished product.

Well that got me thinking, often times in these social media outlets you don't really get to see the whole story. I mean most of the time people only let you see what they want you to see. I'm not saying that I don't do this as well, because frankly if you all saw my kitchen sink right now you probably- would de-friend, or un-link, or disown, or maybe you would feel better about yourself. But, what I am trying to say is...

It's like people's Hollywood version of life is put forward, and you the reader are left wondering...

Do these people ever have a bad day?
Do they ever have a child who doesn't like to be photographed(refer to above photo, son Solomon on the left))
Do they have a sink full of dirty dishes?
Does their sh*%# stink?

I'm here to tell you that yes I have bad day's.
Day's where I feel like the worst mother on planet earth because I yelled at my kids.
Or because they went off to school with two different color socks and a crappy lunch.

I'm here to tell you that instead of doing that sink full of dishes I am sitting here blogging.
Instead of doing laundry I'm surfing the www to look at jewelry I can't afford.
And I'm here to say that yes in fact my sh*#% does indeed stink!!

But I am also here to tell you that there are moments when it all comes together. The stars all align just perfectly and you have all your sh*#% together, and you capture a snip-it in time that looks like this.

These are the captured moments that make you think all those dirty dishes are worth it.
All those early mornings, countless hours at the grocery store, taxi cab driving, never going back to pre-pregnancy body EVER, it's all worth it.

Because look... the boy who never smiles in pictures is smiling(ok so it might be forced but still)
The baby is making everyone laugh with his Kung-Fu.
The girls are looking pretty and primped and not fighting.
The Giant is like... huh what, wait why am I here again?
And life is good.
Life is beautiful.
To me that above picture is better than any polished up, edited, cropped, photo shopped picture you could ever publish because it's real life.

Because you look at those smiling happy faces and you see LIFE.
You see the older brother, making the younger brother LAUGH.
You see that despite whatever pains it took to get there, LOVE abides.
And life really is BEAUTIFUL.

Favorite Spaces (prize give away in here somewhere)

There are spaces in my house that I like to frequent through out the day because they just make me so happy.

The above picture is a space I like to visit because not only does it sit right next to the beloved Coffee Bean, but it is filled with trinkets and gifts that are near and dear to me.

I think at this time it would be fun to play a game of "Where's Waldo?" or in this case;

Where's Donald?- That duck makes me so happy. Not only does he represent the Oregon Ducks, but he was a gift to me from a beloved friend who lives where the Oregon Ducks come from, Eugene Oregon.

Where's My Apron?- The apron that I wear every time I cook because it's bright, beautiful but it reminds me of another beloved friend who gave it to me. She is bright and beautiful.

Where's The Custom made Cupboard/Wine Rack?- This piece is one of the only things we pillaged from the Breaker way, Foreclosure. It was an ugly brown cupboard when it started out, and now due to MY Giant's Genius building skills it is a beautiful, white, cupboard/wine rack/plate rack/chalkboard/ spirit holder/... you get the idea.

Finally, Where's the sock puppet that my amazing, artistic son Solomon created? If you can find this guy that I use as a chalkboard eraser, then there will be a prize in it for YOU! First one to find it and comment here, not on FB wins a gift card to...Jamba Juice, to keep the creative juices flowing.

There are spots like this all over my house. The spaces and places where I try to make the world, our world in here a little brighter. I have recently been enjoying decorating with lemons. Can you tell?

Lemons get a bad wrap because they are sour, but if given the chance lemons sure do come in handy when it's grey and cloudy outside and you want your house to look warm and cheery. Lemons can brighten up any room. Don't believe me, go get yourself some. And then of course they make wonderful things like Lemon Bars, Lemon Banana Scones, Warm Lemon and Honey water, Pink Lemonade, and of course pretty pictures.

And don't ya know it's all about the pictures for me. Oh and I almost forgot, they are fantastic for making your kitchen sink smell fresh and clean. Throw one in your garbage disposal if you have one and see what it does to that smelly drain. I don't have a garbage disposal. Everyone should feel so sorry for me right now :( Poor Noel she doesn't have a garbage disposal. I know it's terrible. One of my favorite things to do was throw lemons, limes, or oranges down the disposal to make my kitchen smell up nice again. But alas, that's not the only item in a kitchen that I miss. I'm getting off topic. Anyhew, I still use the lemons here, I just smash it up take out all my aggression with the Skeleton Scrubby, act like I'm a badass and then wha-lah, sink smells fresh again.

One more final note before I go,
Favorite spaces and places, that's a board I have on Pinterest. Have you heard of this place? Well if not click the link below and happy pinning. Your life will never be the same.
That website will give you more ideas than you possibly have time for in your whole entire LIFE! Just a warning. But, if you are looking for some new decorative, home decor ideas. Or DYI ideas, then pinterest is the place for you. You have to be invited. Strange but true. It's like a lil club. So if you check it out, and aren't already part of the club report back here and I'll send you an invite. I'm a giver. I know.



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Table Topics

A few weeks back my friend Andre came up for a visit and one day while she was here I whisked her away for a little one on one time. We had a fun date by the beach, in and out of novelty shops, getting coffee, and eating sushi together. We've never eaten sushi together before because I never used to eat sushi. I do now. I like it. It's really great. I now know what the buzz was all about. It's only taken me a few 20 years to catch on. I'm a slow learner.

Anyways, one of the shops we went into was in Kirkland. It was this great little shop that had everything from fancy quotes around every corner(i love the new trend of words everywhere btw), furniture, something called a gurgle pot(i want one just can't decide on what color),amazing smells, lotions, candles, fabrics to die for, and fun cutesie kid stuff.

http://www.gurglepot.com/

I restrained from buying up the whole entire store. It was hard, but you would have been proud. I showed great self control in this here lil place, so cute.
I did however buckle when I saw a cute little box labeled Table Topics.

http://www.tabletopics.com/

This was listed as one of Oprah favorite things and I am sure that is why it is now a famous item because anyone of us could have come up with this idea. In fact I think I kinda did. We used to have a tradition called "Highlights" where we would tell our highlights from the day and then if there was any low lights those were added as well. I should get a patent on this now, so that Oprah can't take the credit for my great idea. Anyways, it was just our families way of getting conversations started. But now we have Table Topics. It is a box full of questions that get conversations around the dinner table started. Whoever sits down first gets to read the first question and this gets the ball rolling.

One of the questions that was asked last night was;

"If you weren't afraid of what would happen what would you do?"

I realized once again how much my life has been driven by fear.
I wish so much that I was not given over to the fearful nature that is within me, but it's been a work in progress.

I am afraid to swim, sky dive, ski, and many other athletic related actions. That was my answer last night. I said I would learn to swim, sky dive, and ski if I wasn't afraid of certain death that would come knocking at my door if I tried to do any of those things.

What about you?

What would you try if you weren't afraid?

I used to be afraid to try sushi because of the allergic reaction that might take place all over someone else's plate. Eww... gross sorry ;(

I am no longer afraid of sushi.
In fact, I now really, really, enjoy sushi.

Kinda makes me think what else I might be missing out on.

Valentine Cupid Elf Gone Awry

Today I set out to be the best Valentine Cupid Elf known to the face of the earth.
I am fighting some kind of bleh funky funk, so I haven't felt so great.
Plus it was raining. (Big Surprise I know)
Normally I don't mind the rain but we recently had several days of sun, and
I was kinda getting used to that idea.

When I got to the post office with my packages all tied up in string
(not really but couldn't resist the Sound of Music quote)
I realized I forgot my address book at home.

Can you say DAM MIT!
Well, I did!

But there I was with my handy dandy new upgraded I Phone... (thank you Baby Jesus and hard working Giant), and so I started texting away for addresses.

All wasn't lost.
I was able to mail off some Valentines Day goodies.
And then I came home and read this.



“There were people who went to sleep last night,
poor and rich and white and black,
but they will never wake again.

And those dead folks would give anything at all
for just five minutes of this weather
or ten minutes of plowing.

So you watch yourself about complaining.

What you're supposed to do
when you don't like a thing is change it.
If you can't change it,
change the way you think about it.”
― Maya Angelou


And I thought, well thank you Maya

Determination

Determination.

That is the word I am looking for in this season of my life right now.
There are so many things that I want to accomplish in my life, and the older I get I am realizing that so many of these things I never will.
That's okay.
I just want to accomplish the most important ones.

I want to be like what I read about in this; Luke 9:51- Jesus basically on his death walk into Jerusalem in this passage didn't let it phase him that no one wanted him when he came into town, even though his peeps were ready to bring down fire on the people for rejecting him, he says, basically.... that is not what I am here for.

I want to narrow down this list of goals and remember why I am here above all else.
I want to cut out things in my life that will keep me from these things.
I want to be determined beyond recognition.
Determination.

------------------------------

I wrote the above lil blurb over 6 months ago.
I am pretty sure it had something to do with me losing weight before my sisters wedding.
I am pretty sure I didn't lose that weight.
And I am pretty sure that as I found this old post in my edit section the reason it stood out to me as something I should revisit is because, the word;
Determination,
is what I am looking, longing for again.
It is that time of year when I am feeling like my jeans are a lil snug.
I am looking at my bank account and re-thinking those financial courses I should have invested in, or maybe wait, I did invest in them but, I conveniently put the wisdom aside around December 1st. Either way, I am now looking at the year ahead and thinking of ways to make my life better as that new year rolls around.
And so the word;
Determination,
is the word that is appealing.

I think the reason that I didn't post this before is because I went off wandering and wondering what exactly I wanted to be determined about at that particular time.
I know I could find what it was I was looking for in my journals if I really wanted to, but I am sure it probably went something like this;

Eat Better.
Exercise.
Read My Bible More.
Deep Clean and Organize my house.
Simplify.
Ya da Ya da Ya da!!

Now as I sit here 6 months later I am looking at that word and thinking, I do want to have determination to do those everyday disciplined life things, but I also want to accomplish some life goals, and passions that I have had from a very young age.

One of those dreams was to write.
One of those passions was to sing.
One of those wants was to photograph life.
One of those desires was to become a wife, a mother, and a teacher.

I can honestly say, that as I look at that list the only one that I can check off is the one that is, was, and will always be the most important.
The other three are just icing on the cake of this beautiful life, and I plan to be determined about all of them in this upcoming year, and take care of the everyday life determinations... one cookie at a time... wait I mean one glass of water at a time.

Happy New Determined Year Readers!

Just Because

Just because....


I found this the other day

M + N

engraved on a tree stump outside our house.

It reminded me of a few years back when I found this cave man writing scribbled on a rock in San Gregorio.



It made me smile to think that after all these years

we are still making our mark as MoNoSco.

It made me smile to know that not only does my honey know that I love notes,
but he has given me notes that will last forever.

It also made me think what does M+N = equal ?

The obvious answer would be E+C+S+I

but beyond that what does it equal?

Moses was/is my life choice.

I chose him over college, over career, over parents, siblings, over everything and everyone.

I made a good choice.

High Lights and Low Lights

In our family almost every night we have what's called "high light and low light" time. This is where we share what was the high light of our days and what was the low point in our days. SO here you have our high light and low lights of the Scofield's Spring Break 2010







Some high lights from our Spring Break-

My mom and sister Jenny finally getting to come see where I have been living these past several months.

Surprise visit from Dan and daughter Shane( who like a typical princess Shane left her fuzzy pink slipper behind)

Mom and Dad's renewal of vows in celebration of their 40 years of marriage.

Watching Brother Jeremy in the Wizard of Oz performance.

My niece Savannah calling Uncle Moses "Your Prince"

Two Easter egg hunts for the kids: One organized and carried out by sister Gina despite the Tornado like winds and the other by New friends in Seattle in Ms Sue's backyard.



Snow in Carson City.

Playing, Talking, Visiting with all friends and family in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City.

Seeing the Gore family not once but twice in the span of one week.




Some Low Lights from our Spring Break

Having to leave Moses behind to work and slave away at a job that doesn't deserve him.

Driving through the snow to get back home.

When my niece Savy started to cry when we drove away, dagger through my heart !!

Coming home to 20 plus loads of laundry.

Having to say good bye. I don't like good bye's.

Books, Pictures, Gardens, and More Books

I do believe I am having withdrawals from not being enrolled in classes right now.

Hurry Quick, read that last sentence before it disappears forever never to be mentioned again.

The absence of involuntary reading that is imposed on one when they are in school has left me wanting. So I have been reading everything I can get my hands on. I even picked up a copy of my daughters series of the Twilight books (Eclipse) and read it in a day. Those of you that know me, know that was a desperate cry for help. Here is the list of the other books I have read in the past few weeks and my own book review of them;

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Club (*****)

The 13th Tale (****)

Eclipse (**)

Wuthering Heights (*****)

Persuasion (***)

Irresistible Revolution (****)

Those are the books I have devoured recently. And now our newest (friends/neighbors (for 2 weeks)/first members of our community up here) Erston and Blue gave Moses and I gift cards to our wonderful used book store here. We went yesterday on a nice little date while waiting for the kids to get out of school and here is what we picked up;

The Pillars of The Earth

Everything Must Change

A New Earth

Till We Have Faces

Learning Italian



More guilty pleasures. Just for fun here is the list that Moses picked up;


Far Out (101 Strange Tales From Science's Outer Edge)

Choosing and Keeping Chickens

A Diet for A Dead Planet




The picture at top is of Erston and Blue (as promised to Allie)

Middle Picture is my starter plants for my garden that are coming right along. I already have about 8 sprouts. This gardening thing is so exciting. I will be in awe if those tiny seeds actually end up being food we can eat. It's just SO COOL!!

Last pics are of my garden in it's current state and just some of the signs of spring around here.




This flower bush hangs over the garden and the pictures hardly do it justice because the color is just so beautiful. Funny thing about living here is that because of the back drop being gray clouds and mist a lot of the time, colors just seem to be that much brighter.


I hope the colors are getting brighter where you live too. Can't wait for Spring to fully explode.

Wednesday

I woke to the warmth in my room that has been missing in the mornings since last October.  Our room doesn't get any sunlight at all because of two massive trees that we have in the backyard and so in the winter time we have to use a floor space heater. It was nice this morning to wake up to a little bit warmer room. It makes the whole get up and get going process a little easier.

Preschool was busy this morning but fun. The kids are still learning about what comes out of an egg and we did a fun little game today with finger puppets. We were trying to figure out which animals/sea creatures came out of eggs. There were about 5 of the almost 20 or so puppets that I had no clue about. An octopus, squid, lobster, and 2 others I can' remember. Anyway I sent them home with those kids as  "homework" to find out whether they came out of eggs or not. One of the boys who got one of the puppets was not having it. He wanted nothing to do with homework, I thought to myself some one's older sibling must not like having homework and must speak of it with a vengeance.  

After work it was nice to come home to a clean house due to the fact that I spent countless hours last night organizing and basically keeping myself busy while Mo was on an onsite tattoo job. He has been doing at least 2 to 3 tattoos a week mostly out of our home and mostly in the evenings so I am finding that I am getting a lot done.

I do believe that my dogs have finally mellowed out. I am afraid to even say this because of jinxing it but they are doing better. No trash cans piledged, no running away attempts, no chewed up toys, furniture, or shoes and no accidents for a while. Really, this has been the case for some time now I think I am just now noticing it. One of the kids at preschool today said, " My mom doesn't like pets because they poop all over her backyard" I had to laugh as I told him  "Yep your mom is right they most certainly do." 

Had dinner at a friends tonight. I was so nice just to sit back and relax, watch a movie and not have to do the dishes. Thanks Jeni.

Now I am watching (halfway) Tango and Cash with Mo and getting ready for a bed.

It was a good day.

Processing

I have always had a tough time processing things quickly. Whether it's the news of a friend or some news on the Television, I take a long time to process things. I especially take a bit longer than that when something directly affects someone I deeply care for or even more time when something has happened to me personally. As I get older I am realizing that I have never done anything quickly, except maybe getting married. So it's not surprising to those of you who know me. Last year there were quite a lot of things that my brain just couldn't wrap around and understand and so I began to check out in a very unhealthy way. It was a rough year for pretty much everyone I know. In some way, shape, or form everyone I knew was having a tough time so again, my issues I didn't want to bother anyone else with or give them yet another problem that needed to be solved. So I got quiet, took lots of naps, and began to shut down. There were some friends who noticed even over the phone that I didn't sound the same. I am sure I needed to be on medication but because we didn't have insurance(still don't until Feb 11th) I haven't been to a doctor.

When I get upset my whole life ever since I can remember the way I deal with being really upset is to go to my nice, warm, comfy bed and take a long nap. It seems as though after a nice long nap everything gets better. That's how I process. Slowly with lots of naps. I also process things by cleaning, but that's usually just my M.O. when I am angry. If I get really angry I clean like a mad woman. Literally.  

I think the way we process life is so interesting. I know that my mom processes by talking. She loves to talk. She talks when she's nervous, happy, sad, angry. She's a talker. I know that my dad processes by going and listening to his music. He puts his headset on and listens away the day or night. 

I am wondering how do you process things?  I am also wondering can you change the way you process life? Is that just something that is part of our genetic makeup that can't be changed? I would really like to process a bit quicker. Maybe not stew on things for quite so long. It seems anytime I try to rush my processing department I have a major malfunction so I don't know that it is something I can mess with. I would however like to be one of those people who takes a long run or uses exercise to process. It is not the first reaction I have when things don't make sense. My going to take a nap is like a knee jerk response. 

Anyway, I am processing a lot already in this new year. There is already some news from several friends that I am stewing over. Praying for them. I came home yesterday and did take a short nap to help myself but today I am wondering is there a better way to process?

My mom's socks box

Tonight while cleaning up Christmas and New Year events and also doing lots of laundry all day, I was remembering something that my mom used to do with socks. In our house there was 6 of us and then 7, at one point more than that depending on how many people my mom invited to live with us at the time. Anyway, that's besides the point of my blog here. 

My mom used to keep a socks box for all the mismatched socks. It was generally found in the hall closet with the towels and all the other general population items of the Pellant house , like toilet paper ,towels, and such. I remember when I was younger that this socks box was the source of either great discontent or satisfaction depending on whether or not I found the sock I was looking for. I remember when I was younger being so frustrated with my mom for not knowing where all the socks were in the whole house. How could she put just one sock in my room without the other. How could she not know where everything was at all times. I thought when I was younger that this socks box was more just her laziness in not putting all our socks together and in our room. Why couldn't she have put them all neatly in my drawer folded together and organized like all the other mom's did? Why did she just throw all the socks in the box and call it a day??

Funny how your perspective changes as you age, have children of your own, and have done thousands upon thousands of loads of laundry. A little perspective is always a good thing.

Tonight while sorting and cleaning I thought, my mom was a genius she had a place for the most annoying things on the planet = mismatched socks. 

There is no moral to this story other than I have done some growing up(at least I think I have) and have now a new perspective on my mom's socks box. 

I will now have one of my own. 

I hope my kids will think the same of me someday as I do of my mom right now.

Cleaning, OCD, and Life with Me

I have cleaned, cleaned, and cleaned some more. I believe my bathrooms should have been reported to the CPS as being completely and utterly unsanitary. Rest assured Trista, they are now once again safe at least for today. I am going to move onto the carpets and then the kitchen floor next. I never thought I would ever hear myself say this but, it feels SO good to deep clean. I am not a deep cleaner by nature. I surface clean. I throw stuff in baskets and deal with it later.

*Usually, much later. BUT, I have so far cleaned out my bedroom closet, the towel closet, and will later work on the coat closet up front. I have brought three HUGE bags to goodwill and still have some more. It feels so good and it has been a long time coming.

Last night at bible study everyone was talking about their different OCD tendencies and my husband said(with great sadness I might add as though being OCD is a good thing), " I think I was once OCD but Noel took that right out of me. Any OCD tendencies I once had are long gone now. How could you be OCD in this house?" and on and on he went. I then began to reflect. I was trying to think if I had any OCD habits but alas, I couldn't think of any. I don't do anything in my life in the same way twice. When I watch movies where the people get up and go to bed in the same way every night and day I think how odd. My life is one big spontaneous roller coaster ride and most days, I like it that way.

I am having a hard time relaxing since being done with this semester on Friday. I still keep feeling as though I should be doing something. Studying, writing a paper, or checking the computer online classes 20 times a day. I am so glad to be done with last semester and next semester will not be taking 3 classes.

My publishers called and I talked to an actual person again which was exciting. I told them I was waiting on my illustrator which seems strange to say. They said that is a common hold up for most people and not to worry they are still interested.  I have also started working on another children's book series, entitled Micko Peeko the Whiney Rhino. This one is already such a winner with all the kids. It was really Isaiah inspired and I think might even be better than Brodey the Bishop series. 

Well, my cleaning break is over. I have finished my lunch- Nachos with Pepper Jack cheese(melts THE best) and a tall glass of OJ. 

 I think I will post everyday this week just to help me get used to not having to do homework. Ya know to kinda ween me off the computer.

My very own TO DO list

I have only a few days left to get my house in order for this new year and all that it brings. I have signed up for 3 classes this fall and might possibly add another to that list. I am still at home for now and hoping  I won't have to get a job prematurely but if I do there will be that to be added to this already busy woman's life. I have to finish up my manuscripts and get the illustrations colored and send them all out before the school year begins. I have yet to get my house really cleaned all summer. I don't even want to know what lies beneath the surface in all our closets. I have to do some light back to school shopping for kids stuff and then all the shopping for supplies that they come home with on the first day of school. I am sitting here thinking, why didn't I finish getting my degree BEFORE I had children? Children who are in school at the same time as their parents is a tough gig. It can be done, and has been done it just would have been so much easier if ya know I did this like most people do, but then I have never been one to follow. Enough of the shoulda, coulda, woulda's for today. 

So there is my next few days all planned out and scheduled  for me. I think I will add to the list that I need to go on a diet. Maybe more on that later , maybe not.

A bruised reed He will not break, A smoldering wick He will not snuff out

It is good to be reminded that no matter what lies ahead or behind Jesus has got my back. I remember just a few months ago being so full of hope. Hope for the future, hope for dismal situations. Hope for the pessimist and the optimist. Hope enough to make the world go round. Some things between now and then have happened and it not as though I am hopeless by any means, it 's just I feel like a bit of the wind  of hope has been taken from my sails and I am barely moving across the ocean in my sailboat of hope.

 Yet, today something happened that reminded me to keep hoping in Christ for all things in my life. I prayed a prayer for a simple need and in less that 10 minutes it was answered.  It reminded and convicted me that I have not because I ask not. There are so many times that I move so quickly from having a need, to then being anxious about that need, to then trying to figure out how to meet that need myself, when all the while I never even stopped to ask for help. Why is it that I forget to ask Jesus for help? He longs to help me.

 This  reminds me of how God placed Moses in the cleft of the rock so he could display the magnitude of His glory better. I often think that in times when His help is most needed and I don't ask for it , it disappoints God.  I believe He longs for the opportunities where He can prove himself faithful again and again to me.  I believe He loves me so much that even the simplest of needs is important to Him.  I believe that He is who he says He is and His promises are true and reliable and can be taken to the bank.  

I just wanted to keep typing, I could type all day!!

I am sitting here wanting so much to blog about something but not really having a good topic to even consider typing. This has never stopped me before. Why should it stop me now.  I don't think I will let it. 

So here are some more random thoughts -

My book status is in a standstill right now because I have been debating whether or not to pay money to have it professionally edited. One agency says that I should and the other hasn't mentioned it yet. I am leaning toward not. I have it illustrated now (Thanks Mr. Big) but I don't know how to send the illustrations effectively. Up until this point everything has been through emails and phone calls. So it sits in my computer unpublished until I have the energy to move forward.

I leave again for High School camp on Sunday. This might be my last camp for a while which makes me sad. I really do enjoy teenagers and hanging out with them is really a good time for me. Getting to hear about their hopes and dreams for the future is always interesting. To see a young person turning into not so young a person, right before your  eyes is really amazing to me. Time flies when you are having fun. I think about the teens that I was able to know and lead back in the day and now they all have families, careers, and still keep in touch from time to time. I don't think I will be long from this break from the youths. They are all just too much fun.  Course,  I could get really old, irrelevant and boring to them and then I might just have to reconsider but I doubt it.  Anyway, if I wait long enough I will have teens of my own. YIKES!! 

I was reading in Malachi yesterday and was amazed at what stood out to me this time. It is not a hard book to read all the way being that it is very short but it is however a hard book to read in that it is full of convictions and harsh warnings for leaders. It spoke to me in a whole new way and I love that about THE BOOK.  So living and active.  You never get the same things twice when reading anything from the bible. 

I am enjoying sitting on my bed and being on the computer. Yipee, to having a laptop for the first time. I could really get used to this. I think I will. Oh to be a writer and get paid for this, wait.... I am working on that. What a dream come true that would be for this Frederick the field mouse.

Isaiah had another funny quote yesterday,   "Mom if I give you all my money in my pocket(which consisted of some pennies and a I think a dime) could you please make it my birthday today!"  Oh to be a kid again. 

Well, I am off to get some new running shoes and luggage. After my European tour my orange bags just couldn't make another trip. So much for buying luggage on Ebay.

Just some random thoughts

When I went grocery shopping last night I had a pretty big revelation about God. It's one of those ones that you can't really explain and I am hoping I am not the only one who knows what I am talking about. Something like, trying to explain what love is or how it feels , you can make attempts at it but it really never suffices. It was good to hear something from Him. Sometimes He can be really quiet.

Then I went for a 4 mile walk around the marina very late and realized some more profound thoughts. I love having friends that I can openly talk with, about everything. Sometimes for whatever reason I have felt like I have had a muzzle on my mouth and with the closest friends this shouldn't be. You should always be able to talk openly with close friends. Don't you agree?

Today is my sister Gina and Izzy's third wedding anniversary, and every time I hear the song, Whoa Amber is the Color of your Energy(this is not the songs title just some words from it).... I think of them. In fact last time that song came on Solomon said, "Hey, that song is from Gina and Izzy's wedding, I wish we could go back to that day." I know what he means, some days are just locked in the treasure chest of time as so beautiful and that is one of them. Congratulations you guys, you are a beautiful family.

The summer is half way over and this just makes me terribly sad. I am not one of those moms who can't wait for their kids to go back to school. I LOVE having my kiddos home. I love that we can all sleep in and basically do whatever we want everyday of the summer. I think this is why teaching will be the ideal job for me because I can continue to have my summers off with my children and enjoy every second.

Speaking of teaching - I am actually beginning to get excited about going back to teaching again. I love teaching little people that is. I don't do as well with the bigger people, or at least I don't consider myself a teacher of bigger people because I am always learning from them instead of the other way around.

Well, that is all the random thoughts for today folks. Enjoy. Leave some love.