I am SO excited, AND I just can't hide it!!!

Ah Yeah Baby, it's game time in my home of origin. Mom's a Bo sox's fan, Dad's a serious Angels fan and has won over some of my weaker siblings to the dark side. Dad, Gina, and Israel will be sporting the Angels hats meanwhile I will remain true to the Bo Sox's. This is going to be serious fun.


"It's game time, it's October," pronounced right-hander Curt Schilling. "This is when great players play great, and hopefully, we have a couple of those guys in this clubhouse."
"We have more things to do, but there's no getting around how excited we are," said manager Terry Francona, seated with a cigar in hand just a few feet outside his office. "This was a very big accomplishment for the organization, for the city, we need it to just be the beginning. But it's a big accomplishment."

Why I am a faithful fan........

I must take a moment to say why I could never ever turn my back on the team that will win the MLB playoffs THIS YEAR!!! That's right, I said it.

My family on my moms side is as true blooded Red Sox's nation as they come. Her mom, my gram was actually cousins with Rocky Marchiano who lived in Brockton Mass, while my gram, mom and family lived nearby in Braintree Mass.The east coast and all things Massachusetts will always be near and dear to my heart because my beloved of all grandparents was born and raised there, the woman who gave me life was born there,and many of my cousins, aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles still live there and well.....it is the home of my heart. I identify with the culture, people, traditions, and basically have just been really blessed to say that I have a proud heritage there. Not something many can claim.

Although I jest all in good fun, I will never be a turncoat and go Yankee even if close friends happened to choose the wrong team to play on. Even if my own husband doesn't share my enthusiasm, this is a team that I will remain true to til the day I die.

So put up your dukes, I am ready to fight....it runs in my blood after all!!!!

DISCLAIMER- THIS BLOG IS MEANT TO CAUSE A REACTION, IF YOU FIND YOUR HEART RACING WITH COMPETITIVE BEATS YOU MAY NEED TO TURN OFF THE COMPUTER AND GO PICK A BETTER BASEBALL TEAM :)

My Neighbors

I came home this morning from dropping all my kids off at school and my dog, Baxter was waiting ever so patiently for me on the front lawn. At first I thought thats wierd how did he get out and then I looked over to our side gate and realized that someone(a taller someone) had unlatched it. Now normally I don't think up conspiracy theories like this but my neighbors are quite the unfriendly people type who have literally avoided any social contact with all of us except for yelling at my son Sol when we first moved in to get off thier lawn. I have also literally seen them with my own eyes pick up leaves that are from our tree and by hand remove them from thier bushes and place them back over on our side of the property. These neighbors are older and never have visitors. THE only time I see them are when they are out trimming thier rose bushes and they don't speak to anyone so it's not like I have my feelings hurt or anything. I waffle back and forth all the time whether I should "kill em with kindness" as my grandmother used to always say or just go on ignoring them as they ignore me. It is hard to ignore though when they do such nasty things. I know what Jesus says so please don't go preachy on me anyone. I just needed a place to vent my frustrations about these old farts!!! Okay, I know that wasn't nice but seriously who does this kinda stuff other than farts or turkeys, maybe turkeys is a better word.

Newest Member of our Family, 64 VW Bug

We purchased a 64 VW Bug about 2 months back and this weekend I finally got to take it for several spins. I have to say that of all the VW models the bug is my all time favorite. The very first car I ever owned was a 69 VW Bug and so of course they are near and dear to my heart. I just fit so well in a Bug and it feels as though you are driving in the road rather than on it, kinda like a canoe in water. I haven't named him yet but when I do you will be the first to know. I am pretty sure that he is going to be root beer brown though my all time favorite color for bugs is red. I have saved that color for my dream car which would be a convertible VW Bug at least about 65 or older. Anyway when I post some picks you all can put in your 2cents worth for names the guy until then you will hear us coming.

These are a few of my favorite things.....

When the bugs RED, When the love flows, When the friends are great..... I simply remember my favorite things , and then I don't feel so bad.

Hebrews 3:13-14

Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today.... We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

What a PEST , BUDA is

My sister Jenny left today for Budapest, Hungary. I am sad. I know that she is doing what she needs to be doing and that it is only for a while(a long while) but I am still sad. I will miss her so much. For some reason this year was harder to say goodbye than last year.

I am thankful however, that we have the summers memories to get us through this next year. I am also very much aware of the sacrifice it takes to have missionaries for family members. Not so much to be a missionary but I could imagine somewhat. Anyway, I pray for all those who are living the life they feel God had called them to live AND for thier families.

Dog People and Dog days

Ever since we got Baxter we have met so many interesting Dog people. One lady asked me once, "Can your dog sniff my dog's butt?" HUH? I didn't quite know what to think of that, but she went on to explain her craziness which still didn't really explain alot, but I digress. Anyway, there has been an older lady who walks the Marina quite frequently as I do and she always comments on how beautiful Baxter is. Often times on days that I am frustrated with him for chewing up yet another item around the house, or ON the house I feel like saying, "Ya want him?" but I wouldn't do that to this poor woman :). Anyways, today the wierdest thing happened as I was walking with a friend Baxter's tags fell off. I didn't even know that they had fallen off before I ran into this lady again for the ba-zillionth time and this time she asked me what my dogs name was. When I left she found his tags a bit further down the way and then called me to let me know she had them. We got to talking and she decided that she would be over my way and would just go ahead and drop them off to me. She arrived an hour later and then we talked for about an hour. She told me all about her life. She is from Santa Barbara and recently decided to retire here and lives by the Marina. She is all alone and just has her dog to keep her company. At one point in life she had up to 7 dogs. She has 6 of her deceased dogs ashes in vases at her home and by the end of the conversation was willing to adopt Baxter at least financially so that he could eat only the best dog food.
Needless to say, it was one of the more interesting conversations that I have had with a "dog person" and I was extremely happy after she left(NOT because she left) because she was just too cute.
I went to the pet store after she left and invested in a more expensive collar for Baxter even though she was willing to buy this for him I just didn't know what to think about all that.
Then after leaving the pet store I went to my kids school to pick them up and there was a teenage girl who had the cutest Shiht-Zuh puppy and I so wanted to take it home after having dogs on the brain. When I told her how cute it was she said, "Do you want it , I will sell him to you for $50 bucks?"
Thank God for my husband who does not live in this crazy dog eat dog world that I do. He said no, we don't have Shiht-Zuh. I think I wanted it partly just cause it's fun to say that name.

You can face an ocean......

You can face an ocean......



with the hand of a sister.

New Year at New School

Today I had to register my kids at a different elementary school than the one that they have been attending for the past few years since we have lived here. When we moved here 2 and half years ago we didn't know anything about the many elementary schools in our neighborhood but we did know some friends and so we took our kids where we knew they would have guaranteed friends. This year there was a re-zoning that brought in so many new kids to this school that they could longer grant variances to any children but they were hoping that our family could stay so we waited until all the new registrations came through,kinda like waiting for stand-by on a plane ride. Today we got the news that they couldn't keep all our kids and with the Scofield's it's an all or nothing deal!! So we headed over to the new school. This is where the story begins because much to my surprise everyone there was wonderful and even the building itself was better than I thought it would be. When we first moved here we had heard some negative things about the school, the principal and that many of their good teachers were leaving. Come to find out none of these things were true. So the moral of the story , Don't believe everything that you hear!!

Sabbath

"We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring." Oswald Chambers
This quote really sums up for me what the time of Sabbath has produced in my heart. This break from routine has really once again reinterated the importance of the process and everyday living. I have realized about myself that events (places to go , people to see) have become somewhat of an idol for me. Not having that to rely upon to define my life has been interesting to say the least. I am thankful for my faithful Lord, Savoir, and Friend because He has taught me that in the commonplace is where it is at. In the humble moments of life where we realize the preciousness of people and each persons unique giftings and talents as well as thier weaknesses and failures and then take it a step further to realize we are just like them, no better and no worse, we begin to see a very big picture. An event begins to take place in our hearts that changes us and those around us. I am thankful that God knows ME even though there are so many others just like ME there is only one ME and He knows this girl inside and out and STILL He never leaves ME.

What A Treat

A mountain that can not be touched, A tree that cannot be uprooted

"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched...But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men... to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant." Hebrews 12:18,22-24

Reading this today made me think of how I love the fact that it refers to God as a mountain that cannot be touched. It's not even like this scripture says He is a mountain that can not be climbed, He can't even be touched. I love this aspect of God. He is so big for our human words. There are so many things that I don't understand about Him. His ways don't makes sense to me most of the time and when they do finally makes sense it seems such a simple lesson. Can you imagine a city that was owned by God. What ,would God be like the mayor? This reminds me of that song ,"Would if God were one of us, just a stranger on a bus" that's a bit of a sidenote. Anyway, this part "you have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,to the church of the firstborn" makes me think of the legacy of people who have gone before me believing in this God. It makes me remember I am a part of the firstborn church ever? The first church ever, what did that look like? My ancestors in this family are many and thier lives speak of this God still today. Will my life speak of something even after I am gone, and what will it say?

The picture I have attached is of a tree that was on my mom-in-laws property in Mississippi. It was blown over by the storm named Katrina. It lays on the ground, roots exposed, yet it still grows. In fact right now it is in full bloom. This tree spoke to me of so many things, but I think the most prevalent message it conveyed was that when our roots are deep we cannot help but grow even when we have fallen down. We still live on and this speaks of God's goodness, faithfulness, and grace. Remembering this helps to think of how deep and strong those roots are that have grown in my life. I know there have been many storms in my life and that there will be many more but I pray like this tree I would continue to grow and therefore reveal my roots even when knocked down.

Approaching the Sabbath

Today was a bittersweet day for me in that it was great to be with everyone but as I looked around I began to feel sad in a way knowing that I won't be seeing everyone for the next few weeks. In sharing communion at second service I began to get a bit teared up which is silly I suppose but then maybe not. This past few weeks have been emotional for our family and as I looked around the room this morning I was very grateful for all the relationships that I have come to enjoy through Hillside. I was feeling the" vitamin love." :)
I am very excited in many ways to have this time because I believe that God is going to do some really big and also very small things to continue to grow me. I am proud to call Hillside my church family/community and I am proud of all of us for answering this call to step it up a notch. At the same time I am very mindful of how much this thing we call church has become a very normal part of my routine, a connection point if you will, and again not being one who is big on change it takes me a minute to get fully on board with any change.
I am on board fully with this change. Mostly because I know it a direct call to obedience but also because I know it is a necessary part of our growth as a church family.
Today some very close friends came to visit Hillside for the first time and thier newbie commentary was so, so positive. It made me really appreciate some things that maybe I have come to take for granted for the last 3 years that I have been a part of Hillside.
All that to say, I will miss you family. Looking forward to our bon-voyage on Saturday and the party that will launch this and also to what lies ahead.

Some things you never , ever forget

Tomorrow I was invited to go on a bike ride with a my sister friends. I haven't been on a bike for a while but I think that I will be alright. They reassured me that this ride wouldn't be too vigorous. I think it will be good to get out since I have pretty much been in house since last Friday when Chloe was in the hospital. They say you never forget how to ride a bike. Once you have learned it just comes back to you no matter how long it has been . I believe that to be true. At least I know it is for me.

Something I will also not soon forget when they rolled Chloe away for surgery. It has made me reflect, pause, clean house and re prioritize my life. Nothing else matters but the people God has given us as gifts. I really want to make sure that all the relationships I have been blessed with in this life I appreciate on a daily basis. Sometimes I forget things like how great it is to hear my children laugh, or go running through the house. I forgot how many people are around me on a regular basis that have made my life richer. I forgot that all that really matters and all that I can take with me when this journey here on earth is over are those relationships. I am thankful for new days, new beginings, and for some things you never, ever should forget.

Love Hate Relationship

The ice cream truck or trucks that frequent my neighborhood several times a day slow down or completely stop in front of my house about 3 times a day. I have a love hate relationship with them.Now this is a relationship I feel I must explain. On the one hand I love this truck that symbolizes something so familiar to me and my childhood and the songs that they play can bring me right back to living in a small house on Siskiyou St. in Carson City. You could hear the truck from a mile away, it was much quieter back then :) and me and my siblings would pester my mother for probably back then 25 to 50 cents and off we would run to catch the ice cream truck. Also it reminds me of a HILARIOUS little bit that Eddie Murphy used to do about the ice cream truck man and if you haven't heard this act you have not truly lived.
The HATE comes in and enters stage left here- I am not made of money. Contrary to what my 4 children believe , it's really true. It doesn't grow on trees either some of the very same phrases I remember my mom saying to us when we were kids(sorry again mom) so that poses hate number one. Hate number two-enter stage right is that every time the kids get an ice cream I feel I need to get one also , in fact even when they don't get one I have my own secret stash of cold things in the freezer to get me through the summer months, and so the weight saga continues :)
I am not complaining , just explaining the saga of the ice cream trucks that come out and stay out until the sun goes down and the weather gets cold. Thought I would share , hope you enjoy.
Do you have any love hate relationships that you would care to share with me?

Leaness of Soul and one Fat Soul

" Why should not every year be richer than the past, in love, and usefulness,and joy?-I am nearer the celestial hills, I have had more experience ofmy Lord, and should be more like Him. O Lord, keep far from me thecurse of leanness of soul; let me not have to cry, "My leanness, myleanness, woe unto me!" but may I be well-fed and nourished in thyhouse, that I may praise thy name."
This excerpt is from Charles Spurgeon's daily devotional and the language toward the end is bit difficult to understand so I thought why not put it out there on a blog and see what others think the last part might mean. What does it mean to have "leaness of soul"?
I think that the "curse of leaness of soul" would mean keep me from living a shallow life. A life consumed with things that don't really mean all that much but seem to busy up my day more than the people who I should be investing in or the time I should be getting closer to God. I believe I get closer to God everytime I hear my children laugh because of something funny that was said or done, or when I read them a book, or when I spend time tickling them to the point of being tickled back. I believe I get closer to God by talking to my friends who are struggling in this life's journey and we discuss questions and answers of some things that have worked and some things that haven't worked. I believe I get closer to God when I am taking care of business with my husband :), greiving with a friend, rejoicing with another, and so many other ways that many people take for granted as just part of living. I don't believe anymore that the only way I can get closer to God is by reading the bible or going up on a mountain top to be alone with Him. I used to believe this to be true and I still believe these are ways that I can get closer to Him but they are not the only ways to avoid this "leaness of soul".
Our lives are made rich by the people and experiences that come our way, by hard work, and by easy living. My soul is filled to overflowing with substance, meaning, purpose, and it is all because of love. I believe I am well-fed and nourished by every house I enter because of Who enters into that house within me and for that I am truly thankful.

Some wisdom from Solomon

So yesterday, we are driving home from a very busy day at the pool and spending the night with gramma when my son says this, so randomly,"MOM, I am going to be a telemarketer when I grow up"After I compose myself from laughing so hard I blew snot out my nose, I say,"Oh yeah, what's a telemarketer Sol?""It's when you call people all the time and they hang up on you"Pretty interesting the mind of a 5 year old boy. Don't know why but I guess that sounds like fun to him.

Ready SETTY GO!!!

Ready ....Setty..... GO!!
That's what Isaiah says before he jumps off the couch or into the pool or pretty much get's ready to take on the world. "Ready , Setty, GO!!" This expression has been running through my head for a while now as some new things have been stirring in me and I just need to make the leap and get the ball rolling. For some reason though, I procrastinate when change is coming down the road I will wait til the very last second to make the changes or plan for the changes or pack for the trip or whatever. I know that this is the way I have been but what I don't know is , is this the way I always want to be? It reminds me of my hubbies mother and how she would wait til the plane was almost leaving the terminal before getting him to the airport because she just didn't want to say goodbye. They were literally the scene from Home Alone when everyone is running and rushing to catch the international flight and they forget the kid at home. I can't say that I blame her for waiting so long to get to the airport but the affect this had on Mo I don't think was all that good. So that's what brings me back to my own behavior in waiting to make changes until I am almost forced to make them. Is this good, is this bad, or should I just continue to be indifferent about it? I don't think that I can be indifferent about it anymore though because what I have realized is that this trait has trickled over into the way that I handle things with not just me, myself, and I but all other relationships are affected by my choices to wait, procrastinate, or otherwise do nothing. Some things have got to change in me. I know who to go to for help. I am equipped to handle these changes and now it's just time for me to say, "Ready, Setty, GO!!" and take the jump.

Just a few pictures

The pictures that I took were mostly with Gina and Izzy's brand new camera so by the time I realized I should take some of her with my own camera to post and email she was already in the nursery. So these are through the window but you can still see how beautiful she is and all that hair :)

Can you say , proud Auntie.

Savanah Rae Guzman

Savanah Rae Guzman was born this evening at 6:58p.
She is beautiful.
I am already in love with this precious person.
My sister is amazing and God is so good.
Pictures to come soon.

Gotta love Ellen and Gladys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuT0Zf3kJX0
Okay so this is the first time I have done one of these u tube thingys and I apologize in advance for those of you who might not care for Ellen but I thought this was stinking hilarious and just wanted to share the giggle with everyone.
There are two Ellen's in my life who make me laugh and I still haven't figured out which one is funnier.

Baxter, A dog and his bone

Last night our new dog Baxter kept me up from about 1-4p. I would dose off in between his hyper adventures but not for long. He doesn't usually keep me up at night but last night the Giant brought home a GIANT bone for him from the grocery store, he could barely fit the bone in his mouth, and this dog went nutts. Literally, he is the kind of dog that can't just sit there with a bone and enjoy it he has to figure out where the best hiding place for the bone would be. So that's what he did, ALL night. From the backyard to the living room, to the bushes right outside our open window, to the pile of girls dolls on the floor. I finally had to put an end to it around 4:30a as he had woken up Emma and she was not happy. It really was funny now that it is over. I have never had a dog so obsessed with a bone. He is the typical dog I guess in that sense that once he gets a bone he has to bury it. Makes me wonder what we will find in our backyard someday if we ever try to change the landscape. And, guess where the hyper dog and his bone are now? Well, the bone is nowhere to be found but the dog is asleep right by my feet dreaming of big bones I am sure.

Some questions unanswered is okay

How much more in this life have I misunderstood because I didn't have the correct interpretations or all the facts gathered before making up my own conclusions? How many more decisions will I make because of my own fears that will lead to lack of true freedom?

The older I am getting and the more I am learning about life in general I am coming to realize how much I have misunderstood. How many people I have taken the wrong way or thought of so differently then what lies beneath the surface. In many ways it seems to be a bit of an awakening for me to realize that I don't nor will I ever have it all figured out and that's okay. I want to be a life long learner. I want to still be asking questions about my God, my husband, my children, my family, my country until my dying day. I don't want to know everything there is to know but I do want to know everyone that I can possibly get to know with the time that I have been given.
A friend recently posted a blog in which they asked if you were to tell your life's story with only six words what would you say.
I said, "Live life fully , moments pass quickly" which is more of a saying than it is a story so I think I would change that to say, " one life, many questions, still peaceful"
What would you say?

Summer , Whoo hoo

The summer got off to a great start this morning as every one of my kiddos and even their Uncle all slept in. We all got up leisurely after 10 and then headed to the park to meet up with some friends. When we were there the kids caught some tadpoles that I was hesitant to let them keep but Emma was quite convincing when she said , "Mom I will get online and research exactly what they need to stay alive and then I will clean the house to buy them whatever they need and then ....." can you just hear the plea from this 9 year old girl with her sister and brothers right behind her cheering her articulate adult conversation on. I was overpowered by the forces that be and caved into allowing baby frogs in my house. Then she had the brilliant idea to make a lemonade stand to raise some money to "save the tadpoles" and well I have to admit that this kid is one smart cookie and when it comes to having a plan of action she has got it in the bag.
So here I sit and type while hearing every 5 seconds "Lemonade 25 cents!" This is a very busy street and they haven't even been at it for an hour and have already made 2 dollars wait I take that back someone just donated a dollar so 3 dollars in less then an half hour , I'm thinking if this works out well she might have just found herself her first job :) She can start saving for college now.

MORE PICTURES

So this picture was taken from our bedroom window in New Orleans. The one to the right is of me and my mom-in-law in front of a famous restaraunt and the other two are some silly pics , one is the Jesus bus that on the front read "Jesus is the first" and on the back read "and the last" it was covered with lots of interesting things but that quote just made me smile the way it was so appropriately placed on the front and back of the bus. Enjoy!

We are Back

The top is Mo,me,and Kay in front of Jackson square in New Orleans and then bottom two are Mo and Kay on her grad night and me and Kay in New Orleans trying on sunglasses.

We arrived home safely late Sunday night and spent the majority of memorial day just chillin with the kiddos. It is funny when you go away for that length of time(which I don't often do) you come home and everything looks different. I was actually excited to get back to doing the dishes. I missed our kiddos so so so much. I knew they were in great hands it's just I saw so many things that I would've loved to have shared with them and the whole trip would have been that much richer if they were there. I am not saying that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the break from them it's just that they are all at such fun ages right now and so traveling and seeing new things wouldn't be as hard as it used to be, but that was not for this trip. The time with the Giant was so great and we really got to have alot of time with our niece, Kaylanne who graduated last Friday night.

Some highlights from the trip were

Niece graduating

Nashelles' Restaurant

9 abandoned cars in a matter of a few minutes

House filled with antiques for 100,000

6 turned over dead armadillos

The town of Stonewall

shopping at Dirt Cheap

Meeting new people named Doo and :)

The soon to be famous swimming pool in Stonewall

New Orleans

and lots of late night chats

Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and our kiddos while we were gone. I missed you all and look forward to catching up with everyone. It seems like it's been a long time since seeing all your friendly faces.

Mississippi

We leave tomorrow for Mississippi to see our niece graduate from high school. I don't know how much access I will have to a computer so I probably won't be bloggin for a bit but upon my return I promise a few pics from the trip and also the highlights.
We are leaving the chillins here so could everyone please be praying for them as 7 days is a very long time for those that are under 10 years of age(well it is also a long time for those that are 32 years of age but that's another prayer request.) I know that they are in very good hands and I know that the time with my hubby is going to be fabulous but I just want to cover all the basis here at the homefront and it helps me to know that people are praying , so thank you in advance.
See ya when we get back.

A truth that is self evident

"The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, but those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mould us. " Oswald Chambers
I read this quote today and it really struck me to the core because I believe and have seen this to be so true. The people who have influenced me the most in this life (in a positive way) are the ones who are just living thier lives the best way they know how but purely and simply. They are the people who are not striving to be or to do but they are confident in thier uniqueness and they teach with thier actions rather than thier words.
This isn't a new concept, "Actions speak louder than words" is something we have all heard before, but I guess the way that Oswald said it this time made me stop and take note. This is not something hard or at least it shouldn't be. We should be able to just live life like the signs of nature that never change thier purpose. The stars and the lilies are pefectly simple and unaffected and that is something I want to be perfectly simple and unaffected by lifes circumstances. I want to know deep within, my lifes purpose, so concretely that life is not a series of stressful striving attempts to know who I am, but rather a life so simple, at peace, and unaffected by the elements around me that I continue to remain who I am whether or not the world around me likes it or not.

John Alvin Ford Munnerlyn

OH HAPPY DAY!!

My treasure friend Allie gave birth to baby FIVE today and I am so thankful that even though I couldn't be with her Jesus was. Thank you to everyone who prayed for baby and mom and please continue to pray for healing for momma and health for that baby boy who has no name yet but when he does I will be sure to announce that as well. What a precious, precious thing life is.

Semester coming to a close

I can hardly begin to explain the joy I feel knowing that I am almost done with this semester of school. I love school but this semester was unusually difficult for me, not because the classes were hard, they weren't, but because the timing of these classes got sandwiched in between a very, very busy season of life for me. There was also a little issue with one of my instructors that has been very hard to navigate through without getting bitter or discouraged about school in general, but today I took my final online exam with that instructor's course and I WILL NEVER take another course from her again in the future. I am so glad that I am finished with that chapter of my life. The words of my freind Mindy ran through my head all week, "Finish Well!!" she said it in passing but those words have encouraged me so much in the last few weeks that I thought I would just give a shout out to her and tell her, Thank you! Also, I just wanted to thank my best friend for helping me so much and for just being the incredible Giant of a person that he is. WHOO HOO!!

Season change, People change(come on sing along)

Today while driving back from dropping my girls off at school I was just completely in awe of how faithfully around this time of year the green begins to appear. The leaves on the trees start bursting forth like a brand new thing is beginning. The sprinklers that were out on the lawns and the people chatting with their neighbors made me truly grateful once again for the seasons. It is amazing how this season, Spring, brings about a sense of new life. People begin to clean house like they haven't cleaned in many months and you see next to the garbage cans the things that they no longer want or need. Yard sale signs begin to appear because of this.Everything begins to take on a shine. Where life was dull and drab from the winter it begins to look bright and happy again. I am so glad that despite my temperament, that in many ways likes things to stay the same, God continues to make the seasons change. He is beyond good to faithfully make the seasons change and today on this beautiful Friday morning I am just completely aware of why I love Him so much.

Walking into a Dark room

The other night I forgot something after youth group was over and it was in the big , dark, room up at our church. I knew walking into this room that is was dark and that it was also filled with many a chair, but that didn't stop me from barging on in looking for what I had left behind. About way halfway into the mangled mess of chairs I realized that I should probably go back and turn the lights on or I might be there for another few hours searching and wounding myself.
What struck me about this quick little scene played out in my life is that I didn't just turn the lights on in the first place. I don't know about everybody else but I so often know what I should do but often don't choose accordingly. I know I shouldn't eat after a 6p for good health but I do it anyway, I know I should excercise also for good health reasons but I don't, I know shouldn't stay up so stinking late when I have to get up early with kiddos but I do anyways, and so on and so forth, etc. etc. ......
Why don't I do what I know I should before I stumble and get hurt? Am I alone in this plight of stupidity or are there others of you out there who do the same thing and if so please share so that I don't feel alone. Oh yeah, and I am not calling you stupid if you do share this trait that would only be me :)

African American or can it just be American??

The current Essay I am working on is challenging the writings of W.E. DuBois essay on Our Spiritual Survival. This was the man who had a big part in forming the NAACP and this essay is a very beautiful piece of literature with much of it that I agree with. My challenge comes in with wondering can you be truly African and American at the same time. I don't know many Italians or Irish that go around saying I am Italian American or Irish American. The only race of people who I think this kind of thinking makes sense with are the Native Americans because they were truly the Native Americans. I am all for representing and teaching others of our original heritage and therefore keeping it alive, but I like so many others who have greatgrandparents who immagrated from another country don't go around saying that I am Italian American.
SO my question to the bloggers out there( brave enough to jump in this ring) is do you think you can be African American or shouldn't you just be American and know that with that title comes the knowledge that we are all from different original soils, cultures, and histories??

Emma Faith's blog

Just thought I would drop a note here and say that Emma and I created a new place for her to blog since we forgot all the info from her last blogspot. She wanted to make a new one anyways so off to the side is her link or you can find her at emmafaith.blogspot.com

For anyone who is wondering what a almost 9 year old girl might be thinking :)

Random Blog thoughts

Today was a great day. My moms group was awesome and it is simply because the people who come are awesome momma's who I am deeply grateful that I get to know better each week. Then I got to spend the afternoon with a wonderful friend and she brought her furry friend for a playdate with my new furry friend and it was really cute.Then tonight we had breakfast for dinner, yum(one of my all time favs) At my english class we read over the essay "A Modest Proposal" written like a million years ago and basically by a crazy guy who wanted to eat babies(not really but kinda) Then I went to the store to pick up a six pack of beer and got carded. That was fabulous because I know there will come a day when that doesn't happen anymore. Finally, I am here with some time to blog and that makes me happy. Not much to say that is really important just wanted to chime in with something new.

Oh yeah and one more final random thought, there is a player on the Bo Sox team this year named Coco Crisp :)

Fenway Park

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

Boy oh boy would I love to go see a game there this season. Seems like everybody in my family has got to go BUT me, no fair!! Maybe someday that dream will come true. In the meantime I think I am going to order a new hat just for fun and just to get my dad going :)

BAXTER

Meet Baxter

We have a new member to our family.

At the Pound this weekend

Love at first sight!!!

We brought him home yesterday.
He is a Jack Russell Terrier Mix(Mutt)
and we love him already.

Wow, that went by fast

My break is over and it's back to hitting the books for me. Boo-hoo!! I can't believe I actually inflicted this upon myself. Ya know, when you cause something to happen yourself you really can't complain to much about it ...which I am not complaining that I get to go back to school I am just saying that my break went by way too fast. I don't think I will be taking summer school although.... I have to say that the idea of getting done a little bit sooner is really tempting now that the end is so clearly in sight(at least at TMCC)

Oh yeah, I also finished reading the Velvet Elvis book over my break and I give it a5 *****+ rating. A must read for all human beings who are faith seekers. Truly if you regret reading it afterward you can come hunt me down and .....force me to eat seafood(which I hate and may barf on you afterward but still I will eat it if you don't learn something interesting from this book).

Velvet Elvis

So... you might be wondering what I am doing with my spring break(other than of course the obvious-1man,4kids,1house, 1cat, 2goldfish)
I am reading a book that I have been wanting to read for some time called, Velvet Elvis written by Rob Bell. It is a book about questions and answers in faith. All faiths. It is a very quotable book to me and I found myself right away picking up a pad of paper and a pen when reading it. This to me is a sign of a really great book. I thought I would share some quotes so far and I would love to hear what you think about them or if you have had similar thoughts.
"Central to the Christian experience is the art of questioning God."
"It is possible ... to make the bible say whatever WE want it to , isn't it?"
"Doctrine is a wonderful servant and a horrible master."
"OUR words aren't absolutes, Only God is absolute"
"if you do see yourself carrying God to places, it can be exhausting. God is really heavy."
So what I really like about this guy is that he doesn't pretend to have all the answers just some thoughts of his own about faith in general and he encourages you to challenge even the thoughts that he has written in this book. So if you are one who is seeking and one who has a lot of questions for the Big Man upstairs this would be a great book that will challenge your thinking or affirm some thoughts you always had. Either way, it's a great read.

Spring Break

My kids spring break began this week and we got off to a very interesting start. Really it was like we were awakened to a war zone is a better way to put it. The week got better as we reigned them back in to the way we do things around here and as of last night I am officially on my own spring break. I have never longed for a break so much in my life!! Whoo hoo.

The Bible

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

I love this manual for life that we have been given. Sometimes when I open it up to read I know that it is not just alive but it really does know the thoughts and attitudes of my heart. So often I will read exactly what needed to change in my heart for that day. It isn't always what I wanted to hear but it is always what I need to hear. How does a book do this? It's just a book right? :)
If I were to try and explain to someone who hasn't had this experience with the bible yet I would tell them, It's like going to see a psychic or counselor everyday or having someone read your journal and then tell you exactly what you needed to hear from all the emotions that were laid barren in your journal. Something like that. I guess there probably isn't a real way to know what it is like until you are there. Kinda like parenting or being in love. Those are things that even though you could explain them it really doesn't hit home til you are there.
I remember that when I was little we always had bibles around and we never read them(or least I didn't ) but they were there on the self like any other book would be. Little did I know that if I only read with a new perspective and a resceptive heart that book would change my life.
There is a reason this book has been around for so long and is the hottest seller. I am very thankful that in this country I am not put in jail for reading it , instead I can have as many copies laying around my house as I want and read it all day long if I want. I am thankful for that and for the way this book is changing my life.
If I were to rate it .....well.....it's off the charts but a 5***** for sure!!!

New favorite Quote

" JOY means the perfect fulfilment of that for which I was created and regenerated, not the successful doing of a thing. " Oswald Chambers

To me this means that when you are living the life God created YOU to live , therein lies true joy. Not in doing things but in realizing that you are a special , uniquely, gifted, talented person that no one else will ever be like or has ever been like. It is amazing when you stop comparing and start realizing that just being you is all that is required to succeed.

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!!

New Identity

Over the past few months I have really been hearing Jesus telling me to remember and never forget that my identity is in Him. To press in and get to know Him better and deeper. He gave me this very cool word picture about the ocean and how if you stay in the shallow end for too long even though you will feel the sand beneath your feet and the coolness of the water you won't see what the oceans deep really has to behold. I believe there are creatures out there that we still haven't even seen. I started to think of the shallow waters of the ocean and how when you stand there long enough you start to see the muck and sea weed and all the impurities that are in the water but if you go deeper the water gets clear and more beautiful. This is what life with Jesus is like . You put your foot in the water and you are cooled, the scenery is breath-taking at first but if you stay there you miss out on what lies beneath. It takes courage I think to go deep sea diving and I think it takes courage to press in to get to know this God that is so massive, so beyond little old me. The funny thing is that this is a interesting picture to give to me because I don't really even care that much for water stuff. I have never been snorkeling or deep sea diving(nor do I plan to) heck, I can't even swim!! All the same I got what He was trying to say to me.
What amazes me still and probably is something that always will amaze me is that after all these years of knowing Jesus there is still so much more to know, feel, learn from Him. My whole life I have been brought up in some sorta church and so I have been hearing about Jesus for 32 years and I know that even in another 32 years there will still be things about Him that will fascinate me. I am so thankful for His presence in my daily life. I am so thankful that from a very young age He has personally drawn upon my heartstrings in ways that only He can. I can't even put into words His love. Truly He is amazing and His love for me baffles me.
So digging deeper, what does that look like for me. I am reading, worshiping, listening, learning from ALL His people, taking time for Him, laying down things and picking some old things back up again and in a sense I feel like I am deep sea diving. Don't know what that feels like and this time going deeper feels different. It's good , it's refreshing, it's a new identity.
"My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God , My Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood
His mercy reigns
Unending Love, Amazing Grace."

You learn something new everyday

Today while doing some laundry and ironing I realized something about myself. I really like to iron. I don't own very many clothes that need ironing but recently I have purchased a few nice shirts for the giant and while ironing those today I realized that I really like to iron.
It was relaxing, warm, and smelt really good. It was something that for a moment or two I could look and see a job well done. This is a nice change of pace from my usual chores around here that quickly get mucked up by my 4 messy roomates (all under the age of 10 in case some of you were wondering if I was refering to my sexy roomate). Ironing on the other hand is something that I can look back upon in an hour and still see the nice, clean, ironed shirt hanging in the closet - still nice, clean, and ironed.
Yep, you learn something new everyday and today I learned , I like ironing.

So Excited!!

My friend Shontell is on Wheel of Fortune tonight so be sure to watch. She's the beautiful, smart girl with the curly black hair who wins the big bucks.
I wasn't going to be able to watch this live and then due to the snow , I will be enjoying this total entertainment along with everyone else.
Don't miss it , you will be sorry if you do.

Books, Books, and more Books!!

I just finished reading the book by Rob Bell entitled Sex God and I highly recommend it. I devoured it over the weekend and it is a really good, easy read. By the end of the book I was thinking of all the people I wanted to buy it for , ya know sorta like "Here read this, it will solve all your problems" but seriously, it is that good. It is not at all what you think it will be about and then in a way it is. Very good, I give it 5 ***** out of a possible 5 *****.
Now the other book that I have been working on is Everybody wants to go to Heaven but Nobody wants to die, and I hate to say it but this book is too ADHD for me. It is all over the place and has some good points, but for some reason I am having a hard time finishing it. My positive comments on the book would be to say that it is a very artistic way of two friends who are coping through some very painful deaths in their lives and this was their way of dealing. My not so positive comments would be to say that it is a hyper book. My rating for this one would be 3 *** out of a possible 5***** and that is because I think for the average reader you might get lost and miss the message because of all the creativity going on.


Now, to the real reason I am rating and blogging about books . I have always thought that it would be one of the funnest jobs to rate something. Ya know , like a food critic, or a book critic, or better yet a judge on American Idol(although I would only want to come on board after they have weeded through the people who are certifiably insane) or a dog show judge(course those dog show people, scary). I just think that it would be fun. So this is my attempt at rating books. I am starting my own book rating system here. I will have to post what a 5 ***** book really entails later but for now I just thought I would let you all in on my fun!!

Oh yeah, did I mention that I am currently enrolled in 3 classes right now and you might wonder how I can leisurely read while having so much academic reading going on. Don't ask, cause I won't tell!! It could have something to do with the fact that I haven't got my grades back yet :)

For my determined purpose is.....

I read something the other day that triggered this blog. If you were to finish the sentence, "For my determined purpose is....." what would the end of it say?
I thought long and hard about this and I came up with some interesting answers. There are not many things in this life that I am determined about but there are a few.
The answer to the end of this sentence is basically your lifes goal. If you could accomplish only one thing and at the end of your life it would be what you were remembered for what would that be?
My mom has this saying that she has told me since I was little and that is, "You have to do whatever makes your heart sing." What makes your heart sing? That is what you should be doing and if you are not then you have to rework your lifes plan of action. All of us have something within us that gets really excited , really alive by certain things and that to me is what makes your heart sing. These things are not usually what pay the bills but they can be but if they are not then how can we incorporate them into our daily jobs that pay the bills. It is sad to me that I can honestly say I don't know very many people who are doing what makes thier heart sing. Why is that? Is it that we lay down those things when we become adults, parents, or the responsible ones. HOG WASH!! I think we are all capable of incorporating our lifes passions into our everyday lives we just have to think outside the box.
It reminds me of when I was working at the psych/detox center at Carson Tahoe Hospital. This was certainly not a job that I would place in the catergory of making my heart sing and yet God gave me oppurtunity to use my particular gifts in that place. In fact, when I was given that oppurtunity to use my gifts there it soon became one of my fondest memories and most amazing growth times in my life.
I think this sentence is like our lifes thesis statement. Once you know what that is you can write the rest of your essay. Once you know your lifes thesis statement you can write the rest of your life around that.

My first essay of this semester

I turned in my first essay of the semester tonight and I think I started to get a panic attack in class. Not really, but I was a little nervous to turn this one in. My teacher is really great and I think I will do fine but something about writing is like baring a little piece of your soul out there for the world to see. I shouldn't be so nervous because I do that everyday or almost everyday here on my blogspot but this is different.
Our first topic to write about was a day that changed your life forever and what you learned from it. Can anyone guess what I might have written about? Prizes will be given to the winners :)
Now I am going to go listen to some Billie Holiday and relax, pat myself on the back and relax some more.

Sudden Death, New Life, Marriages......

I found out yesterday that an old friend passed away suddenly by choking on a piece of food. Another close friends ex husband/father of her 2 oldest children's dad passed away after a very painful bout with Lou Garret's disease. He was only diagnosed about 8 months ago. Another friend finally getting out of the hospital today and on the road to recovery. Some other close friends finding out what the sex of their baby is today. Some friends getting married this weekend. All these full circle life events have just got me thinking how strange this life experience is. Not a lot to say about that or as Forest Gump would say, " That's all I have to say about that."

Let it Rain

I hate weather days like today, where the sky is filled to overflowing with rain clouds but there is no rain!! Let it RAIN already!! It's like being promised something without the promise maker coming through or like someone you start to fall back on and they let you go instead of catching you. Dropping straight to the floor is no fun. I don't usually notice the weather as much but I have been praying for moisture since last week. I want my lawn to be green this summer ya know.
Yesterday was one of the warmest winter weather days that I can remember so what does that tell you about my effectiveness in prayers(just kidding). I noticed though that my mood yesterday was bright and cheery and I got a lot done around here. Did anyone else notice that you were happier yesterday because of the sun than you are today because of the clouds? They have a diagnosis for this as they do for almost everything now. I don't think that is what is wrong with me because I want it to rain , whereas someone with this weather condition, syndrome thingy would probably want it to be sunny all the time. Not me. I like the clouds so long as they provide something but when they are just there covering up the sun and not doing anything at all , forget it!! Who knew you could make up a whole blog about the weather.

Mothers

This is a tribute to all the good moms out there. Today was the first day back at the small group "Mommy and Me" and I must say that yet again I am amazed by mothers. What is required of us, what we are capable of , and what we really stand for amazes me. I really believe that most moms don't even realize how amazing they are and how appreciated they should be, so here I am in a sense just tooting my own horn, but also giving a very big shout out to all the great moms who work day in and day out to make the world a better place. It has been said that this is the hardest job on earth and I must say that the only other job that it parallels for this title is that of being a Father. My own mom always says that "Parenting aint for cowards" and boy, is she right about that. You cannot last a minute in this vocation in life if you are weak willed and cowardly.
So, if you are reading this and you are a mom just know that someone else out there knows what a hard worker you are and what a completely unselfish, special, amazing person it takes to be a "Mom". Good Job, Well done, and know that all the unseen, behind the scenes work that you do is really not unseen at all. There is someone who sees EVERY mess you clean up, EVERY tear that you wipe dry, EVERY diaper you change, and HE thanks you too.

Surprise!!!

Today was full of surprises. Not only did I find out that my financial aid did come through for my classes in time for me to still be enrolled in school this semester, but then my darling hubby brought home the long awaited Ford Expedition that has been gone from sight for 8 very long months .Wow, what a treat!! Two big surprises in one day not sure I can handle all this good change. Yeah, ya, I think I can... I think I can..... I think I can. Changes good or bad are still tough for me but these kinds of changes I think I could get used to.Now back to my online classes.

Remaining Grateful

Today as I was done dropping kids off at school I was thinking about the fact that in about a week I should be driving my Ford Expedtion again(thanks to my amazing hubby and his generous parents). Anyway, I started to imagine for the first time the warmth, size and comforts of this modern car. I know that after some time has gone by all the luxuries will soon wear of , the kids will have made it their own, and I won't be as grateful to drive this car as I will be in a few days.
This same thought or feeling occurs often times when you go away from your home for a few days. You come home and have fresh eyes to look around the place or when your spouse or family member has been gone for a few days , weeks or even months. You have a new appreciation for something or someone that you might otherwise take for granted. It is something that is also talked about a great deal in a new book that I just read , "Living the Resurrection" by Eugene H. Peterson. In this book he talks about how we can try to cultivate the amazement and wonder that the disciples had upon seeing Jesus alive again after they had just seen Him crucified. He talks about how children are one of the greatest cultivators for wonder and amazement because they literally do see everything with fresh eyes and a completely new perspective. I am sure this is one of the reasons that Jesus said we must have a childlike faith. I started thinking about how often I have taken for granted my beautiful relationship that I have with Jesus and how I don't want that to become the norm.
My thought is how do we continue to keep looking at life in this way when the mundane of day to day comes everyday and takes over. I really don't know that we can except to make a commitment to not allow the mundane to take over and to pray that God change our heart and attitude about what we might otherwise take for granted.

I have a confession to make...

The other night when I was cooking up a mean pot of cheeseburger soup I found myself talking to a pretend studio audience. I knew I was pretending and talking to myself and I still kept on doing it until Chloe came in and said, "Mom, who are you talking to?"
I think between the food network and HGTV I am watching a little bit too much cable television. I am learning some pretty great meals and crafty house ideas but I think I need to get out of this house soon or I might start scaring my children.

I have become an HGTV junkie

We got cable for the first time in the 11+ years of marriage that we have had . I think we never owned cable before because we thought that we would turn into couch potatoes yet we would still watch television just through a fuzzy screen. We now have more channels than we will ever watch and I have to say that in some ways I feel I have missed out on the world of cable. Anyway, my favorite channel is HGTV. I could watch this channel 24/7. It really has become a problem, kinda like Myspace was at first. Well, I guess realizing that you have a problem is half the battle right??

The Lord wasn't willing

Well, our tripped has been canceled due to a storm that would be traveling with us down to Arizona. I am pretty bummed. I was looking forward to this trip in more ways than one. Time with my best friend, time with some other very good friends, time in our vw camper, other good vw sightings, going to a new town and lots more reasons. Although I was very, very disappointed earlier today I am quickly taking the giants lead and trying to look ahead and also with other disappointments much more meaningful that occured to some other very good friends it puts my lil trip all in to perspective.
Maybe next year.

Here we come, Lord willing

Pray that our Bus makes it.

A Quote that inspires me

" Be content to be like him, a worm and no man, that like him you may be satisfied when you wake up in his likeness. That rough-looking diamond is put upon the wheel of the lapidary. He cuts it on all sides. It loses much-much that seemed costly to itself. The king is crowned; the diadem is put upon the monarch's head with trumpet's joyful sound. A glittering ray flashes from that coronet, and it beams from that very diamond which was just now so sorely vexed by the lapidary. You may venture to compare yourself to such a diamond, for you are one of God's people; and this is the time of the cutting process. Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for in the day when the crown shall be set upon the head of the King, Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, one ray of glory shall stream from you. " Charles Spurgeon

I had to look up the definition of lapidary it means; a worker who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones. Moses used to be a lapidary, wonder if he would have recognized this word . Probably. Anyway,sometimes most times I don't feel like a precious stone .Most times I feel like a lump of hard solid rock that takes years and years of chipping away at to get even a slight change in the shape. I wonder often why God doesn't just give up on me. I am thankful that He doesn't and quotes like this remind me that the process of change isn't always an easy one but one that is worth it.
Big changes are in store for me this year. I can feel it in my bones. Oh, Lord help me.

Christmas Pics 2006

Strange Dreams

Early this morning,I had some of the strangest dreams that I can ever remember having. I don't remember my dreams very much so to have two back to back was quite strange. I will breifly share.One was completely a kind of funny depiction of me not being able to say no to my friends who needed me to watch all thier kids at the same time and pick them up or drop them off at school, all the while forgetting that I don't even have enough room in my squareback for my kids. In that dream I was forgetting kids left and right and even a little boy named Louie showed up in that one and then even Louie himself.
The other was a total fear based dream that woke me right up. A man came and entered my house and was hiding in my closest little did he know I was right behind him hiding in there as well. I had this dilema of whether to kick him really hard, yell out boo and scare him while I tried to run or in the end because I started to become conscious I grabbed a gun and shot him in the back. This kind of violent act is very unusual for me to have even in my dreams and so it woke me right up.
It got me thinking though about what I really would do if something like that were to happen. Not something that I spend much time thinking about but it led me down that dreary path of thoughts. When I shared these dreams with Mo he asked the very logical question, "Why wasn't your door locked?" To which I replied , "Very good question, I guess because dreams are bit like Hollywood movies they don't always make much sense"

Potty training for the last time, WHOO HOOO!!!

We are only into day 2 of potty-training the 4th and final Scofield child and I have to say that I will be oh so happy to be done with diapers. It has been a long 8 years of diapers, diapers, and more diapers. Several times having 2 in diapers at the same time. What a milestone that is taking place here and little does Isaiah even know the excitement going on inside his mothers heart everytime he successfully makes it to the toilet.
I would have never chosen this time of year to potty train but thanks to Sherry Walker(thank you Sherry) and lil Zachary's positive peer pressure Isaiah got a tad bit interested and when the potty chair bug bites you just gotta role with it.
So here's to no more diapers after a very long 8 years and I must say a very fond farwell. I am not fond of the dirty diapers but the babies who are in them I could never get enough of.

Quote from Solomon and maybe a new Scofield family tradition

Me- So Sol , since Christmas is supposed to be the time that we remember when Jesus came to earth as a baby that would mean it is Jesus birthday on Christmas . We should get Him a birthday present. What would you give Him?
Sol- Mom, Jesus doesn't have a birthday. He is too old.(Me thinks he is a bible scholar and knows that Jesus has been here since the begining)
Me- Yes, well this is the time of year we remember that He came here on earth for real as a baby and so it would be His birthday. What should we give Jesus for His birthday?
Sol-...........
Me- Do you need to think about it?
Sol- Yeah, give me a minute
Me-(10 minutes later I had forgotten that he was still taking time to think about it)
Sol- I got it mom, I got it!!
Me- What?
Sol- We should buy Him a balloon and draw on the balloon that we love Him and then let it go up to the sky.
Me- (Trying not to cry cause that was just so cute) Great idea Sol. I think He would like that.

So I must say.....

I really do love this time of year. I know that I said that last month when the fall weather came around but I guess I have learned to love every season of life as it comes. Ya right!! Psshh, changing seasons in life has got to be one of the biggest challenges for me. I really don't embrace change all that well. Once change has taken place and is now currently the present then I am okay with it, but during the changing process I have a tough time. I must say though, over the years it has gotten easier.
Anyway, I am way off track on this blog that really doesn't have a track to begin with but I will try to walk at least alongside the track of "this time of year" and by that I mean not the weather but the holidays. I am enjoying the excitement that is in the air for my children and I remember oh so well this same excitement when I was a child. I can hardly believe that I am not the child but the parent , okay there I go getting off track again. I just celebrated my 32nd birthday of which my mother reminded me that I was supposed to be born on Christmas day but much to her surprise I came a week early. Turning 32 I must say not a big deal, and there I go again off track. So back to Christmas and why I love this holiday.....
Christmas has become a holiday that has so many meanings it is hard to just nail it down to "The Real Reason for the Season" or something cliche like that. It has morphed into a very different holiday then just celebrating Jesus birth of which didn't really even occur during this time anyway so why , oh why do we try to deem it the Real reason for the season? Again off track.
I think that one of the reasons Christmas is such a special time of year universally is because it is one of the main times in a year that you really do think about other people instead of just you and yours. I know for myself sending out our Christmas cards is not just so that I will get them in return(although , to be honest that is a big reason) but it is also because I like to really think about each and every person that I give one to. I wonder what thier year has been like and how they have grown or changed. I think about what an impact that they have had on me in my life all year long and for some it is just comforting to know that they are still there. I am reminded every year around this time that my life is rich not with material possesions but with people who are truly amazing.
I won't attempt to put a tag on this season for what it really means because we all know that it means so much to so many but to me it really is a time when I like to hear from, see, and cherish the true gifts that God has given me, the people that I call my friends and family. That being said, If you are reading this then I want you to know that I wish you a very
Merry Christmas and please know that you are loved.
Noel

Quiznos Man on McCarran

This blog will only make sense if you live in Reno, drive on N. McCarran on a regular basis, and have seen the light-footed gentleman who holds the Quiznos sign.
So, if you fall into that catergory, have you seen this man? I just wonder what is playing in his Ipod and why he gives me a peace sign everytime I wave back at him. Are you supposed to wave back at him or is he just doing his job? Did they tell him he has to dance like that or did he just get handed some Quizno lemons and is making lemonade out of them?
Anyway, whatever the case he puts a smile on my face everytime I drive by.
Oh yeah, one more question- Do you think he gets a yummy sandwich everyday for free?

Last English Essay

I finished my last English essay this evening titled , "The Importance of Preschool" and although it is much less controversial than my first attempt at writing on Same Sex marriage it is soooooooooooooooooooooo boring. Not at all an argument really and I am wondering if my teacher is going to catch on to the fact that I don't really like to argue.
It's really lame even by my standards and so I revisited the old paper and I am wondering if it would be against college English protocol to turn them both in?? What do ya think ??

so many thoughts, so little time...

and yet nothing comes to mind to write about.

Nacho Libre Sleeps!!

why are they always so stinking cute when they are asleep??

i feel i should explain why my son fell asleep with belly exposed and mask on. after watching nacho libre about two weeks ago he has been a bit obsessive about the character nacho who is a spanish monk turned secret pro wrestler in his off time.

anyhew- isaiah now is definitely in a phase(at least i sure hope it is a phase) of taking his shirt off, putting something over his head(even if it is his brother's dirty underwear) and running into the room hands up exclaiming, "nacho libre!!"

if you haven't seen the movie it's a good one for laughs and if you haven't seen the reenactment yet from isaiah, stay tuned you probably will shortly.

My final English Essay

My final English essay for this semester has to be an argument, and in case you haven't already noticed I really don't like to argue nor do I care to write a whole 4 page essay based on an argument. I could so easily hand this over to the giant who should've become a lawyer he is so convincing, but I fear she will not recognize the decisive tone of the paper and also not to mention the fact that would be cheating.
I gave every idea possible to other students who were struggling for ideas on what to argue about and yet when I try to think about what I want to argue about, I Got Nothing!!!
I started to get something about the hot topic of same sex marriages but then it got all muddy and now, now here I sit needing to write a paper but instead choosing to blog because I am once again avoiding an argument.
Oh did I mention that we have to read these in class? That should be argued as cruel and unusual punishment.

Me and the Dentist

I had the best dental experience today that I have ever had. I forgot I was at the dentist because my new dentist and his assistant were so incredibly funny. I got up from the chair when it was all done and felt I should tip them for their comedy relief. Later today when thinking back on the experience they put a smile on my face not only because my teeth got fixed but it was so easy, and dare I say it, fun!!! The icing on the cake for sure though was the bill which was incredibly lower than what I am used to. Gotta love that.
So this is a shout out for my new dentist, located off of Greenbrae in Sparks, Dr. Bobby Locke.

Holidays and a Tribute to Jen

As the bigger holidays are approaching this year I am more aware than ever that my sister is half-way across the globe and it makes me miss her something fierce.
I have been fortunate all these years to have all 4 of my siblings close enough to share all the big holidays together, and this is the first year that we won't be all together. I know that might seem like something silly to be bummed about, but I adore my big sister Jenny and she lights up the room like no other. So this is a tribute to her and to her namesake who will also be missed this holiday season.

Too much fun

Here is the fall photo of our little ones minus the elephant aka Isaiah or Izillia as Joey so nicely deemed him.
Solomon won the costume contest this year which was pretty great. The expresion on his face is priceless to me in the photo of him with his prized puppy. Not too many more years of this fun dressing up stuff so I am fully enjoying thier creativity and imaginations right now.