Life is in the Details

There are two camps in life, those that are detail-oriented, and those who are not.
Can something really be that black and white?
Really only two camps?
Okay, maybe three, but for the sake of my little post here just indulge me on this.
I used to be of the camp that didn't care too much about most details.
I used to also think that being an overly detailed person meant that you were kinda anal, and that this was not a good thing to be.
I no longer think this way.

Life is in the details.
Not just some details but every detail is important.
Like when given a menu with so many choices on it, I used to quickly read it over instead of reading the description or details of every menu item. It would overwhelm me sometimes to see all those choices and descriptions.
I thought it took too much time to read them all, and in the end I usually just went with what I knew I would like, rather than take the time to find out if I might like something new.
This in turn has made me become a very boring person where food and appetite are concerned.

Recently, I have had the very scary experience of realizing that God is in the details.
I say scary because it is a very a frightening awareness to realize that the God of the universe is very much aware of every detail of YOUR little life.
It is scary, not like in a horror movie scary, but like a fear that causes you to realize just how little you know of the universe that surrounds you.
Fear like that of an awe-awakening experience that makes you want to know more.
Awe-inspiring, fear, captivating, yet scary at the same time.

It's not like I didn't know this before.
It just makes me want to be more like this now.
I want to be concerned about the details.
I want to take the time to figure out what little details I can change in my life.
Especially if it will help make someone else's life better, or even just my own.

God is so detailed about every aspect of our lives.
He cares about the smallest details and of course the big ones as well.

Being detail-oriented means you have taken a little extra time to really care about something.
So whether you are of the "naturally detail-oriented camp", or the "not so much details" camp
I would just like to say that details are important.
Details matter, some more than others of course.
And...

Life really is, lived out in the Details.

More than...

More than Clarity, I need Wisdom.

More than being Happy, I want Joy.

More than Comfort, I need Peace.

More than, More than, More than.

More than just Being, I want Life.

More than Food, I need Living Water.

More than Friends, I want Family.

More than, More than, More than.

More than Possessions, I want Memories.

More than Places, I need People.

More than Books, I want Knowing.

More than, More than, More than.

More than the air I breathe

I want moments to take my breathe away

More than the sun I see

I want warmth in my bones

More than silence

I need gut-wrenching, belly laughs.



More than my wants given,

I need, my needs to be met.

I resolve to regain my voice

I am sitting here on a Thursday morning alone in this cabin in the woods.
The air is cool but the sun is out (one of my all time favorites on the weather wheel) and it's shining through all these wonderful windows.
I have candles burning and smelling up the place like cinnamon and vanilla.
I have coffee in my cup and I am listening to some of my favorite musicians.

The stars have all aligned and given me this day to myself.

A day off.
How will I spend it?
What to do with all this free time?
Well, I have laundry going.
The house is clean.
The dogs have been walked.
Now what?

Well... usually time to myself gives me time to think.
I don't get much alone time to think.
Thinking is good.
Pondering is good.
I am relishing in my moments this morning to think and ponder.

I am thinking about a lot.
Last year at this time I had declared a month of love notes.
Some of you might remember my constant posting on FB, love quotes.
Looking back I now realize that to tell all the people I love, how much I truly love them it would take much longer than a month of love notes.
Still, that was a really special month last year because I realized that often times in life we don't tell people how much we truly love and appreciate them.
It stretched me to do that little self-imposed exercise.
It also made me realize how much I love writing.

Words.
I love expressing myself in written word.

So this day that I have to myself what did I turn to first.
Writing.

In a recent conversation with a new friend she asked if being a Preschool teacher was something that I was passionate about?
I told her that yes, on a good day!
I do love to teach little people.
Little people are amazing and they are truly my most favorite people to hang out with.
Still, I feel teaching is like an old trusted friend that I can fall back on anytime I want.
And I don't know if that means I am passionate or not about it, but that's how I feel about it right now.

But writing.....
Well, if I were to choose a career that I could transition out of teaching and explore more fully it would be writing.
I attempted to write some children's books, and well in the move those have taken a back seat.
Still they call to me every once in a while in a quiet moment like this I remember that, that is something I really do want to pursue.
I currently live in a place that would make it quite easy to actively pursue this dream of writing.
My time to think and ponder has now come to an end.
The laundry bell has rung.
Thanks for listening.

Music and Me

I am sitting here having church with Amos Lee this morning.
His song Black River just really gets to me every time.

Thinking about all the things I have to be thankful for.
One of those things would be music.
Not only do I come from a musical family that I am grateful for, but
The ability to express myself with my voice in song is something I don't ever take for granted.

There is something strange that happens when the emotion to sing comes over me.
It is a like a deep gushing wave of water that pushes it's way to the top and I just can't stop it.
I love to sing.
I love to sing best when no one but my Creator is listening.




I love to hear my children sing.
One of the many other things I am thankful for is my children's talent in music.
Emma is currently writing a song for her Auntie Jenny's upcoming wedding and it just makes me smile to hear her practice this.
Isaiah got an electric guitar for Christmas, and I have an old acoustic guitar(thank you Uncle Jimmy) that the kids have been having jam sessions with.
I can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me.

I should say that,
I am sure because I am their mom it sounds beautiful to me, but to the average ear it would just sound like noise.
So don't go knocking down my door ready to be their agent (BIG SMILE)


If I were the type of parent who lived out their dreams in their children I would have already exploited these
beautiful gifts.
Alas, I am not so the rest of the world will have to wait to hear these Fab 4.

Everything is always made better with music.
Music is powerful.
So powerful in fact that, that is why often times back in the day the musicians would lead the army onto the battlefield.(Glad I wasn't a musician in this day and age)
I remember an old friend told me that certain notes even had the power to break things in us, or fix things (whatever way you want to look at that) spiritually.
I believe this to be true.

So as you prepare for this week ahead
whether it's been one you have been looking forward to for a long time
or one that you have been dreading
don't forget "to put your records on and sing your favorite song"

Dieting, Puppies, and Other MoNoSco Updates

A funny thing happens when you go on a diet.
Food just becomes a tool, rather than something you enjoy.
To some extent life changes entirely and I find myself getting kind of depressed.
This of course makes me realize how much food and drink(can't forget the drink) has become somewhat of an idol in my life.
The diet I am on is extreme, and I would tell you the name but... the only reason I am not sharing it with you is because I don't want that to become the topic of our conversation, but needless to say, it is limited what I can and cannot eat... BUT it's working!


Having a puppy in the house after several years of not having a baby of some sort has made me realize how selfish we all are.
Barley( our new Yellow Lab pup) has pushed us all to the brink of exhaustion.
He is so high energy that even our Jack Russell, Bella (supposedly the most hyper dog around) is wiped out and tired of him by the end of the day!
Still, in the end he brings me so much joy, as does Bella and well Joy is a rare commodity these days!
Those 4 legged friends sure are something, can't quite put my finger on what, but they are SOMETHING all right!

We had a communion moment at church last Sunday.
It started out bad and painful, but I hope ended up good and memorable.
We came home and let all 4 of our kids watch Passion of the Christ.
We of course edited quite a bit and actually only showed them bits and pieces.
This movie still makes me bawl like a baby.
Jesus without a doubt is SO AMAZING!
I know it made a lasting impression because they are still asking me questions.

We, Monosco are still having moments,
sometimes whole days ...
where we are wondering what the H E ..double hockey sticks we are doing in Washington??
But today when the sun is shining and we recently got to visit with a good old friend that feels like family I feel happy to be here.

I miss my mom.
Can you at 36 years old still miss your mom?
Is that legal?

Well, even though the sun is out this cabin has turned into an icebox.
I must go start a fire now to cozy things up in here.
Sure wish I was having this conversation face to face with those of you that might read and comment on this.
If we were, I would have already put the coffee pot on and the smell would be divine because...
Raven's Brew is what I am brewing these days. If you haven't had this brand of coffee go out... RIGHT NOW and get some.
It is Divine!



One more final thought and then I really am going to go , okay maybe two
I am reading;
Fiction-Salamander by Thomas Wharton
and
Non- Fiction-Follow Me to Freedom by Shane Claiborne and John Perkins
both great books so that alone makes me happy to have good books waiting for me late at night.

and really here it is my final thought...
New All Time Favorite Tea
Stash brand Licorice Spice, it's like dessert in a cup

Economy of Love- Latest Greatest in the book Department for Me

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." Mahatma Gandhi

The King will reply, " Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matt 25:40

I am sitting here thinking about who might be "the least of these" in my neighborhood this morning?
I am thinking how do I go about helping "the least of these"?
Am I one of the "least of these"?
I don't feel like I am although, I know I live well below what America would deem the poverty level for a family of 6, I don't feel poor.
I know when I drive my kids over to friends houses that are significantly bigger than my own that there is a difference between the way I live and the way they live, but still I don't feel like they have more than me(well... maybe a second bathroom would be nice (JK) because honestly, my life is rich in so many, many other ways.
I feel rich in love and protection, health and hope from my Creator, love from my husband, love from 4 children, these are things I measure as far as what I have and what I don't have. My "have nots" list is pretty slim and really I feel as though I want for nothing!
I feel I have a lot to give in the love department, but only because of the love that has been given to me. I would venture to say that most peoples love banks are more bankrupt that this Country right now and that is where I feel rich.
SO, what can I do for "the least of these"?



These quotes and the one to follow are all still coming from the book, Economy of Love. They have got me thinking again about what it looks like to live communally and what it is that God might be asking of me now.

"I'm not anybody's savior; I'm just another vulnerable human being. To remember this fact was to be rescued from my own self-sufficiency and from an inflated sense of my own importance. This experience of seeing myself as one of the least was both painful and beautiful at once, which is often what it feels like to be ushered a step further into the kingdom of God."

Well, those are my big thoughts for today.
I pray I can turn them into more than words.

A Quote

"Among us English-speaking peoples especially do the praises of poverty need once more to be boldly sung.

We have grown literally AFRAID to be poor.

We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save inner life.

If he does not join the general scramble, we deem him spiritless and lacking ambition.
We have lost the power even of imagining what the ancient realization of poverty could have meant; the liberation from material attachments, the unbribed soul, the manlier indifference, the paying our way by what we are, NOT by what we have, the right to fling away our life at any moment irresponsibly- the more athletic the trim, in short, the fighting shape."
William James

I have been reading everything that I can get my hands on written by Shane Claiborne for quite some time now.
The most recent book that this quote came from is out of a workbook that goes along side a video titled, Economy of Love. I got the workbook first and read it quick. Then I went back and realized that almost every page was tagged for me to return to some day. You know you have your hands on a good read when the top corner of your book starts to fan out from all the folded corner tips. And that is what I have here. There were just so many good tid-bits I felt compelled to share. Thank you for obliging me in this.

So this above quote was just the first quote of many that got my attention. It reminded me of some things that God had stirred in my husbands heart quite some time ago and I was too afraid to admit that those stirrings might be prophetic.

He told me that he had a dream or vision that black birds were flying out of his eyes so quickly that he could no longer see. When interrupted the dream was said to be about our finances and us loosing everything of financial value. This scarred the crap out of me. It still does scare me. This was a dream given 1 year before we were to lose our home through a foreclosure.

Sitting here now, I am no longer afraid of losing everything because the funny thing is once you go through something like what we experienced last year you realize two things;

1 God is still on the Throne
2 We survived

I am not saying that I would wish what happened to us on even my worst enemy(of which I have none) but still we not only survived, I feel by the grace of God we thrived.
Why this was our story I am not really sure. I can only attest to God's grace that covered us like a big bubble in the midst of some of the hardest months that MoNoSco has ever faced.

More thoughts on this topic later

Facts for my 2011( or I guess some you could say are Resolutions)

Here I am re-capping the first week of 2011 and thinking, "WOW what a great week!" Okay, so only one week in does not = a great year already, but you know me, the eternal optimist that I am I think it really will be a great year.

In this year ;

I will have an official teenager in the house, one of my own this time. Not just one of those random teens that show up on my door step! That's right the Scofield's head into the official teen years on May 28th as Emma turns 13.

I will no longer be "forsaking" hanging out with some of the coolest people on earth on Sunday mornings just because I don't
feel like it, or my bed seems more attractive, or because truthfully I just don't want to be vulnerable. I am done with the theme song being "I am a Rock... I am an Island" so not true!

I will have only one child left that is NOT in double-digits, when Solomon turns 10 in October. This is a really, really big deal considering that some of my favorite people on earth are those that don't belong in the double-digit club!

I will reclaim not only my waist, but more importantly my physical health! I am over being lazy and carefree about what I eat. I am done not caring about myself because frankly, if I don't care then no one else will ! BBKH- here I come!

I will see my oldest sister Jenny get married to her "Mr. Brownskin" in June. And will be in the Brown state for that month as well :) Looking forward to this , really so much. WOW, what a treat this will be!

I will master the art of crocheting.

I will have lived 2 years outside the state that I was raised in. Some said,( Alyse Locke) we would be back after 2 years. We shall see!! Tempting for sure, happening probably not, sorry Weezer.

I will be going back to school in the Fall to finally, FINALLY get a stinking piece of paper that says I am an official teacher now ;)
Sheesh, that will change everything!! NOT!! But at least I will have the sense of accomplishment there that is long overdue.

Some of these you could call resolutions, some you could say are promises, and some of this is just plain hard-core FACT! I am one determined person so I am gonna go with FACT- this will happen! And then of course I do plan on doing the work that will make it so!

Generosity

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

A few weeks back on Thanksgiving weekend I was asked by a homeless man for a little help and I ignored him. Hoping he would just go away, I turned a blind eye to his begging and thought he would get the clue. He didn’t. He continued to say, “I am just down on my luck and any little bit would help”. I didn’t hear this. I heard, I am just lazy and I don’t want to get a job, hold down that job, and pay my bills like every other grown-up. My deaf ears were gently interrupted when my 6 year old son reached into his pocket and gave the man what little change he had. I was angry at first that the man had begged so long, and so loud that it caught the attention of my 1st grader. But then later something happened. That man’s face stayed in my head and I kept hearing him say all the things I was thinking like, “I’m not a drug addict, or an alcoholic, I just hit some tough times”.

And then I realized,somewhere along the way I have stopped having a generous spirit.

It got me thinking about what a cynic I have become and why? I could say that it’s because I have come to my senses in my old age and am no longer taken for the fool with “those” homeless people. I could say that if I gave to every homeless person that stopped me in Seattle I wouldn’t be able to feed my own children with what was left. I could say that I am practicing tough love. But all of this would just be an excuse.

The reality is that a part of my heart has become hardened to the troubles of others. I have enough troubles of my own and at some point my capacity for “troublesome” life must have just gotten overloaded and hardened.
I know it seems cliche but this holiday season I am wanting a heart that is softer, kinder to those in need. Not just those in need of money but also those who might just need a friendly face, a hug, a listening ear. I know these are goals I can’t manage on my own. I know this will come with a change of heart and so I am asking My Creator for help.

This reminds me of a worship song;

“Purify my heart let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart cleanse me from my sin deep within.
Refiners fire, my hearts one desire is to be holy, set apart
for you Lord.
I choose to be holy set apart for you my Master ready
to do your will.”

Today as I sit and type this and remember that man on the street all over again, I pray a blessing over him. For although I didn’t give one at the time I am wanting to give one now, and I know God knows exactly who I am talking about. I also know that it is NEVER too late to have a change of heart.

Generosity.

What a beautiful word.

An Update In Pictures

Happy Holidays to all who are reading this, from our family to yours. SO thankful for the family and friends that keep up with me through reading this little blog here. To those of you who do mostly read these post for little updates, I know it's going to seem quite crazy, almost totally bonkers to read this post that includes a picture of the newest member of the Scofield family, right after I just posted a complaint about Bella. BUT don't judge me!



It seems the time is just flying by and I can hardly catch up to the rate at which time is traveling now.Can't believe Uncle Jeremy graduates this coming year, and that my daughter Emmers will be an official teenager soon. Jeremy if you are reading this, I am beyond words proud of you and can't wait to hoot, holler, and go crazy nutts on your graduation day.



This Thanksgiving we had the absolute pleasure of hosting 13 people at our dinner table. And what a table it was. When discussing with The Giant how we were going to fit all of these loved ones around our little IKEA table that we bought when we first moved into this tiny cabin he said, "Why don't I just build us a new bigger table?" This he said to me the day before turkey day and the same day that some of our company was arriving that night. I know better to question him on these things, my only concern was the timing.... because we all know timing on Thanksgiving day is everything. Well once again My Giant came to save the day. The New Table that Moses built the day before Thanksgiving is amazing. Still can't believe the skills that boy has.



And Finally the moment you have all been waiting for, Newest Member of the family; Barley Bambino Boo Scofield.

Bad Dog Bella!!

WARNING- venting ahead... ARRGHHH!!

Dear Bella,

If you continue to make HUGE messes for me by getting into the trash as punishment for us all leaving you in the morning, I will be forced to leave you outside, IN THE RAIN!!

Not really.

Sincerely,
CEO Scofield Home

Sidenote- I know that my dog doesn't actually read my blog but ... it just feels good to vent to someone, so thanks for being someone.

My Veteran's Day Tribute

I am sitting here watching the tail end of the CMA awards, and my brain just got thinking about Veteran's Day tomorrow and all things USA.

I am thankful for the day off of work.

I am thankful that I don't have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to get my daughter off to Jr. High.

But so much more than that I am thankful for the Veteran's out there.

The Veteran that hit's home for me tonight is my Uncle Jimmy featured in the above picture on the left. (Sorry it's a small pic, but it's the only one I could grab in a hurry)

Uncle Jimmy fought in the Vietnam war, one of THE most unappreciated soldier's wars out there. In the midst of so much confusion and in a time when going to serve God and country was what was absolutely excepted of you, my Uncle Jim went to war.

He wasn't happy to go to war , to quote him he said "I am a musician not a mortician". And with that quote I couldn't agree more. War what a tragedy, but my Uncle Jimmy made the best of it. His stories astound me from this time in his life.

I can't speak for him, but I know the time he spent there was a time where he saw things that I know I can't even imagine, let alone even begin to write about.

For this sacrifice I say thank you Uncle Jimmy.

You are amazing.

YOU are inspiring.

You are loved.

You are appreciated.


I wish I could put into words all the love I have for you in my heart, but just know that this niece of yours is thinking of you tomorrow on Veteran's day.

Although to be a Veteran of any war is not a happy thing, to you I say Happy Veteran's day because I am happy you made it through the living hell that we call WAR!

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.

Rebuttal to 1 year later

(Cabin in the woods where we are making new memories)

After my last pity-party post I felt I should quickly post a rebuttal.

I am thankful for my new neighbors here in Washington.


(Favorite row of trees this fall, but the picture doesn't quite do it justice)

Tonight we went trick or treating with our neighbors.
Neighbors from Russia, Brazil, Mexico, India, and L.A.



(Pea Patch Preschool class on Orange Day!)


It has taken some time to find our niche here in Redmond, but tonight actually made me feel like it is starting to happen.
Definition of Niche- " a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted b : a habitat supplying the factors necessary for the existence of an organism or species c : the ecological role of an organism in a community especially in regard to food consumption d : a specialized market"

It is an interesting thing meeting new people. We have been here in Washington a whole year now and this is just now starting to happen. There is just a glimmer of the beginnings of finding a niche here.

I am thankful for people who share their gift of hospitality with me and my family. There have been all kinds of gestures to welcome my family and I and for everyone of them I am thankful.
Whether it's a walk up my hill, a pie brought over, a free week pass at the gym, a birthday party, a night out , a night in, a book club, an invitation to anything cannot be overlooked when you are the new comer.



(Sol the cowboy, Friend Irene the Witch, and Isaiah The Hulk)

More now than ever I have realized that I want to cultivate my gifts of hospitality and make my home one that welcomes strangers.

Funny side-note, tonight while trick-or-treating I saw a welcome matt that said "GO- AWAY" it made me LOL :)
That matt would be the opposite of what I am trying to convey... still it is pretty dang funny!


(Pic of some branches on the Big Daddy Tree in our yard with some moss and just a speckle of sun)

I am thankful for new neighbors, second chances, new friends, new jobs, a new home, and a new lease on life.

1 year later

I had a total melt-down moment tonight.
It has been a start to finish beyond busy Monday.
The kind where you don't have time to really eat, pee, or even breathe!
From 6:30 this morning until almost 8p tonight I didn't have one single moment alone.
Then while waiting in the car for Sol to come out of Cub Scouts, all alone at approximately 7:55p, it hit me.
We have been living here in Washington for a year now.
I felt at that moment in the car alone with no one but me and my Creator a deep sigh of grief.
I breathed in and out, 3 long breaths and the floodgates opened up.

It's hard to believe that one year ago, I was arriving here in Washington with my family of 6 to live in a tiny little cabin in the woods. The Pacific Northwest still doesn't feel like home, but at least I don't feel like we are on just a really long vacation anymore :) Whether that is a good or a bad thing I don't know.
What I do know is that putting down roots in a new home takes some time. Time is something we mark with birthdays, holidays, and other such traditions. So this time of year especially always reminds me of a few things that are just not the same anymore.

Tonight I realized this time of year will never be the same anymore.
For a moment I had it really great.
Now I will just have to redefine great.
All of my immediate family living in one state as grown-up adults that was great.
Now great has to be at least that we all live here in the States again :) and also that none of us have passed away.
I can still call anytime I want to hear a voice on the other end and that is something great that I took for granted before, something really great is being able to hug my family whenever I want to. I just now have to buy a plane ticket to do it.

A good friend reminded me recently of the importance of grieving and so I guess that's what I am doing tonight.
I feel like I have been grieving for while now, and not just about moving away from all my family and friends, but about a lot of pain and sorrow that I have seen all around me.

I realize that this post is one that might get deleted because I don't usually like to grieve publicly.
I guess I have always been a private crier and therefore a kind of a private griever.
I think it mostly comes from not liking to be too vulnerable, but also because chances are after a good night sleep it will all feel so different in the morning.

Tonight though it feels good to cry.
I am crying over being too far away from friends and family.
I am crying over the struggles in marriages around me.
I am crying over the failing health of loved ones.
Over loneliness, brokenness, and despair that I see on the faces all around me.
And then over my own selfishness and humanity.
It feels selfish to cry when I have a roof over my head, my health, food in my belly, and the love of my amazing family, but still here I sit with tears and it really also feels SO good.

Happy 9th Birthday Solomon

Oh My, how you have grown.

Who,What, When, Where, and How ?

I don't know what happened, but suddenly I turned around a corner and my oldest daughter is in Jr. High, and she is making social engagements left and right.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy that she is a well adjusted pre-teen who has a lot of great friends. I just want to know when I signed up for more taxi-cab hours? And HOW she got to be so grown-up-ish already?

I don't know when I realized how great, I mean truly great my husband is, but it must have been between now and the last 16 years that I realized just how fortunate I am. He is a man of substantial character and although I know he would say many if not most of his good qualities come from knowing God somewhere in there is a man who chooses God above all things and for that I am grateful.


I am really not sure who taught my daughter Chloe to be so clean but she has got this department in life DOWN. I mean I am learning from her every day better ways to organize and beautify life. She is such a God-send to me in this very busy, very messy family. I truly treasure her for more reasons of course than just this but this one is what I am thinking about right now as I sit and type.



I am not exactly sure how I feel about the fact that my oldest son has a birthday coming up that will mark the last year of his life when he is just a single-digit child. I mean I think that Solomon is really going to enjoy his 9th year of life, it's just that I can't hardly believe that the little boy who made his way into the world with such gusto is now going to be embarking on double digits soon.



And then there is Zed. Well, I could say enough said about Zed and not only would that rhyme but those of you who know him would know that there is just so much that could be said about Zed! WHERE did I get him?



So that takes care of the who, what, where, when, and how of my life right now.

Just in case you were wondering.

Now it's your turn?

One Year Later

I have gone to Pikes Market more times than I care to mention and still every time I am blown away that I live so close that I could shop there for fresh flowers if I wanted to.

I have missed, birthdays, weddings, funerals, baby showers, bridal showers, baby arrivals, and countless other important dates that rip my heart out every time they pass by and I am here and they are there.

I have finally gotten to the point where I am not afraid to drive around here without Gloria Paige Smith aka GPS.


I have come to realize that although I love Seattle, it is just a place.

I have changed I hope for the good in ways that I wouldn't have if I never moved out of the state that I lived in for 35 years. In ways that I never thought were possible. In ways I never knew I was capable of.



I have a husband who has become my one and only truly all over again. I have 4 children who right before my eyes are quickly becoming young/big people. These surroundings are the only ones that are still the same. Everything and Everyone else has changed.

I have a new job. It's a good job. I am thankful for it. It works out perfectly with my other job of being CEO of Scofield international.

I have reinvented what it looks like to be a mother to Emma, Chloe, Solomon, and Isaiah.

I have realized that the older I get the less I know for sure and the more I find myself saying," I don't know" when I thought I would know more.

My Day

Caffiene 6am
‎7am bus drop off,
8:30 bus drop off,
work by 8:45 off by 1,
Library,
Thrift Store drop off,
Oil Change,
Pick up Em early 2p,
Dr-well check for Em to play sports 2:40,
Caffiene 3:30



pick up from bus stop 3:45 appx 5 kids +1 Jr Higher already in tow,
drop off 2 kids that don't belong to me 5:45,
Hubby gets home... pass the baton to go shopping and get Em ready for above sports that start tomorrow,
Caffiene 6:30
back to school Curriculum night for Elementary kids in my house 7p,
Home by 8 ish....
Some minor dental work on Isaiah's front top tooth,
I'd say it was a busy day but the more likely comment these days would be... Welcome to my World!



And What a Beautiful World It Is!!

NO JOKE .....

Back To School Shopping for 4 kids

144 No. 2 Pencils
10 Pink Pearl Erasers(which the town of Redmond has a shortage of)
8 boxes of kleenex
20 glue sticks
4 bottle of Hand Sanitizer
48 crayons or 2 boxes
4 packs of colored pencils
4 scissors
6 red correcting pens (don't teachers use these, I am a teacher and I have to buy my own supplies)
23 notebooks
35 personal folders
2 gallon size Ziploc bags (boys only, I have 2)
2 sandwich size Ziploc bags (girls only, I have 2)
1 very expensive calculator
4 binders all specific sizes (had to search high and low for a 2" binder, what the crap!!)
3 pencil plastic boxes
Disinfectant wipes
Diaper wipes , REALLY ? !!


I haven't even gotten half way through but you get the idea....

1 bottle of wine (instead of the useless, but ever so funny EASY button from STAPLES)

I was tempted to buy the button instead of the bottle but it was more expensive.

Oh and Mom, in case you are reading this I LOVE YOU and thank you, thank you, thank you for doing this 5 times over!