FullyBloomed and Coming Home

Here's the part where I tell you WE are moving back to Nevada.
Sigh.
After almost 4 years of living in Washington, the Evergreen state, it appears that the not so Green State... I mean the Silver State has called us back.
Sigh.
Here's the part where I tell you I feel a lot like that flower up there. Broken Open  and Fully Bloomed.

And here's the part in my life story where I tell you that this quote is a description of what the past 4 years has been.
"There came a time when the risk to remain tight  in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin
The risk, the pain, it's all played a part in bringing us where we are today. 

It was a risk to come up here and we didn't know if it would be one worth taking, but we took it anyways. It was too painful for us to watch our home be taken away from us that's why we left. We walked away very slowly from all that we knew, from all that was familiar.
In the time that we have been here, we have played the role of foreigner, and we have been blessed to be placed in families. The word hospitality has taken on a WHOLE new meaning. 
Here's the funny part, to move back to Nevada used to seem like it would be a failure, but here's the part where we get to say, We tried and we didn't fail because at least we can say we tried. We took the leap of faith. We sprang forward into a foreign land. We imagined a very different life for our little family. 
And it was good. It was really good. We feel stronger now. We know the depths and the heights of this place. And in the end it's just a place. Whether we loved it, or hated it, it's just a place.

Life has a funny way of bringing everything full circle. The main reason we had a spring board to leave Nevada was due to the foreclosure of our third home. Many of you stood by our sides when we were robbed by Bank of America.  Many of you were robbed too. Here's the part where it has turned full circle, not only are we moving back to Nevada for an incredible opportunity, but this past week, we received a check from Bank of America.
A tiny piece of some retribution from the Bank that stole our home from us, but not our lives.
Sigh.
And now we can sing this song

I'm coming home Holla  RENO NEVADA!!
I'm also a dork.  Thanks for listening!

Early Morning Thoughts

*Warning  This whole blog post and life analogy could just be that I had only one cup of coffee, before 7 am and while I was driving around having this profound realization, I may or may not have been coherent. 

Early, early yesterday morning after I had dropped off the the bigger spawn at school, I got caught at the ETERNAL light. Ya know those stop lights that without a doubt are THE longest stop lights in town?
 Well, there I was getting ready to be there for a good long sit when I happened to see two little birdies in the middle section of the road.  They caught my eye because one was safely in the planter part of this intersection, no doubt looking in the dirt for worms and one was right there in the road, very close to cars and picking through the gutter. As I sat and watched them, I thought well maybe these two are a duo. Like one gets the worms from the dirt and the other gets the garbage from the gutters for their nest?
I may be giving these pea brained birds a bit more thought than what is reality, but hear me out.  Just for fun! I warned you, one cup of coffee before 7 am can do funny things to ones psyche ;)

   So, as I observed closer I saw the one in the gutter actually trying to eat the cigarette buts and other pieces of trash. Like he was actually checking to see if they were edible.  And here's where the life analogy comes in. Ignore the fact that I called them pea brained earlier.

The way I saw it was like this, the one in the dirt was looking in the right place for his morning meal.  He was safe in the dirt looking for that big fatty worm that he no doubt would get. But the one in the gutter, well it just didn't make sense. Maybe he'd been hit by one too many sliding glass doors or windshields?  Too far?  Well, I'm just saying it really made me wonder!
It reminded me of how often in life we get our meals for our souls from the gutters of the world instead of from God's own heart. We eat lies instead of truth. We scrounge around for trash rather than eating a T-bone steak.  We hang out in dangerous gutters looking for something, anything that is edible and we eat the disposable crap that has been thrown away, when every morning we could have fresh baked bread, or a fat worm in this lil pea brained birds case.
Does any of this make any sense at all? Yes? No? Ok maybe I needed more coffee.  But, if you are tracking what I'm laying down then let me just say, I don't want to be that dumb pea brained bird in the gutter.  Who's with me?
"Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap, or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.  ARE YOU NOT MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN THEY?" Matthew 6:26

Major Mom Faux Pas

I have a funny little story to tell you.  Funny to me, not so much to my sweet Solly Dolly. Do you see that look he's giving me in the above photo... well that doesn't even come close to the one he gave me this morning.
 I hope this lil story makes you laugh. Beloved reader, We could use a laugh right about now don't cha think?   I still can't believe I did this to my oh so sweet Prince Solomon.   I am confessing it here to you now beloved reader, in hopes of forgiveness, absolution, and wishful thinking that someone else out there has made a similar mistake. Please, would you be so kind as to make up some similar stories of embarrassing moments with your kids if you haven't done something so stupid in your parenting career?
That's right, just lie to me and make me feel better would ya?!! I said Please.
Ok so here goes nothing. Wait. First a little back story.
For those of you out there who are moms of boys there is a certain age that our sons embark on  (usually around double digits) where it is no longer ok to point out anything that has to do with a certain area of their bodies, our bodies, anyone's bodies. Even the word bodies might be reason enough for a conviction from them. Those of you who have sons, KNOW exactly what I'm talking about. The nether regions are off limits for Moms of boys in double digits.  You just DON't go there. Netherlands with 11 year old BOYS + Moms who are GIRLS= OFF LIMITS!!
I have taken great measures not to embarrass my boys, BUT in my defense,  I come from a long line of talk-ers. A long line of just saying what needs to be said-ers. A long line of .... well My Mom Ellen...  Enough said. Ok moving on.
Here's the story Every Friday morning I volunteer at my children's school in the library. Before you judge me for this here Faux Pas, just remember I VOLUNTEER!! That should count for something, somewhere shouldn't it? Actually, shhh don't tell but the real reason I'm there every Friday morning is because I dig the kids school librarian. She is ... well she's awesome, and I just like to hang out with her. So, I do. Every Friday.   I love Fridays. Every Friday me and my boys drive into school together which gives us more time to get ready and of course more time to talk. (Really, more time for them to goof off, but let's just stay on the wishful thinking notion here) The rest of the week they have very different schedules so I treasure this time with my boys every Friday morning. I know in the not so distant future Friday mornings with my boys will NOT BE so we take our time.
Once we get there we walk into school together and we say good bye usually right there at the entrance of the school.  Isaiah goes off to his class and Solomon goes with me into the office where I sign in and he prepares for morning announcements. Oh right, you might not know this but my son Solomon he's the school President(Big Man on Campus) so he does morning announcements with 3 other student council members. The Vice President Brett who is Sol's best friend, and two girls.
So that brings us to today.  Sol goes off and gets the announcements ready, I'm signing in and getting my badge and then I turn to say goodbye just like I do every Friday. He's sitting down across from the two girls who help with announcements and so I know I can't give him a mushy kiss and hug goodbye, or say things like ; "Did you remember to wear deodorant today son?"  No. I can't and don't say that.
BUT, Here's what I did say;
"Ok buddy, I love you, have a great day, and  X Y Z!!!"
No sooner had the words come out of my mouth then I realized what  A H U G E  NO  NO  those three little letters would be in mixed company.
X Y Z!!!
Ugh.... How could I be so NOT observant? Poor Solomon. He looked up at me like as if to say, "Really MOM??!!" At which point I totally just thought it would be best to turn and walk away.
Cuss! OH CUSS CUSS!!  that's what I was thinking in my head. 

God Is Good

Good Evening to YOU Beloved Reader. I'm not sure what to begin with. What a strange course this post has taken. I started it this morning when I read the quote below, and then came back to it this afternoon after the Boston bombings. And now here I sit this evening with this post that in a matter of 8 hours has taken on a whole new meaning. If you want the bullet point version of this post here it is; -God is good. In every season. -God is still good. - When bad things happen,God is still on the throne. -In the Winter and in the Spring,  one thing remains; God and His faithfulness.
Here's the quote that got this train of though rolling;
"The joyful birds prolong the strain,  their song with every spring renewed; the air we breathe, and the falling rain, each softly whispers: GOD IS GOOD." John Hampden Gurney

The above quote reminds me of two things; 1.)Seasons are important,  and B.)The present moment is a gift. Whether it is in the Winter or the Spring. Present aka Gift.
Oh and  D.) Am I listening long enough, well enough to always be hearing the soft whisper that indeed says, God Is Good?
There is a renewal process that happens every Spring that gives birth to new life. But, what we want so desperately to forget in the Spring is what caused this life to come to pass.  The Cold, Dark Winter.
We even whine and complain if Spring starts to change it's mind and head back into those symptoms of Winter we are trying to forget! Can I get a witness those of you who live in Minnesota terrain?
With the cold dark days of December behind us now, it's easy to shout the praise from the mountain tops. We get a spring in our step, A spring in our song,  Heck even a spring in our cleaning!! And that's great.  It's the way it should be. I'm just reminded by this quote to think a little deeper. Because although, its easy to say God is Good when things are coming back to life, it is a very hard position to take when death is on the line. ("Never mess with a Cecilian when DEATH is ON THE LINE!!" You're welcome Princess Bride fans)
So I ask myself what was      my song,  my step,  and even the cleaning of my own heart like this winter? I can honestly say that this Winter was a lot better than those that have gone before it. Still, there was some lag in my step. But as my kids went on Spring break this past week I had the thought that I could hardly believe it was over.  The Winter is over. Spring is here. It didn't seem like some Winters that have gone before it to be so long that I wondered if there would ever be a Sunrise AGAIN!! Ya know what I'm saying?  I guess that's a good sign. I bet by now you are gathering that Winter is not my favorite?! Yer, A smart one young whipper snapper !!

This past week has been filled from top to bottom with nothing but goodness for me and mine.  A much needed visit from Momma Nash has been the main reason, as well as having some much needed time with my Fab 4 while they have all been on Spring break.
Do you ever have weeks like this? Where everyone is healthy, everyone is happy, and all is right with the world?
I can't help but sing God's praise in the midst of such goodness. So that's what I'm gonna do here for a minute. Listen real close. This is me,  singing God's praise.
As we are in full swing into this Spring season(say that five times fast for fun) I start to think about what lies ahead. The flowers are blooming. The birds are chirping. My kids will soon be wrapping up this school year and in less than 1 month I will have two teenage girls in my house. 1 in High School, 2 in Middle School and only 1 left in Elementary school. I'm coming up on a new season of life(BIG KID SEASON)
This Spring break provided such a wonderful time to take the pulse of this lil family we call MoNoSco and the pulse was strong. It was good. Because God is good. I give thanks for this.

*Now, as I sit here and type the news of the Boston Marathon bombing has just hit the airwaves and I'm praying for all those on the east coast that may have been affected by this. I have family on the East coast who thankfully are all okay, but I'm thankful with pause now. No longer a Spring in my step. Pause. Selah. It is a crazy thought that someone this morning got up, laced their shoes for a race they have been training for months, maybe even all year, and now finds themselves either injured, or worse gone forever.
Although it is Spring for all of us, someone over there has just headed back into Winter. The darkest one they will have ever faced. And I hope and pray for them even in the midst of this they are able to say  God is STILL Good!
It's hard to make sense of such senseless acts of violence. Try as we might, that is why they are appropriately named. So, I am not even going to attempt to make sense of the difference a day made in my heart. It started out with a spring and not a care in the world and has ended now here with extreme sadness for those in Boston. But one thing has remained; God in His Goodness. At the Foursquare Church youth camps that my husband and I used to frequent,there was a saying that would get said A LOT! The speaker would say,(or shout depending on how The Spirit was moving) GOD IS GOOD  and the people would say in return ALL THE TIME
And even though I don't understand days like today, somehow, by the grace of God, I do understand this.


It reminds me that life, the air we breathe when we wake each day is so very precious. The present really is a gift, not to be taken for granted.

Big Tease

Well, aren't I just a big ole tease! I said I was so happy to be back(and I really am) but then I went and got silent again all week. Ru... In my defense and I do have one, it's been a tad bit busy round these parts.   So here's the reason for my silence;
Baseball and More Baseball

Baking Sewing  Embroidering

Getting ready for Saturday Market to open Exercising Spring Cleaning

Boat Rides Visit with Momma Nash Movies and now It's my kids Spring Break.

I'm pretty sure this week will be full of quick snap shot check ins on instagram again,  and not much more... so here's that link if you want to find me Instagram NoDotss

I do hope to get back on here really soon and actually post something more than pics, but for now enjoy my instagram view of life.
Happy Monday!

Oh Happy DAY!!

Beloved Reader I have missed you something fierce! 

It has been a long six weeks of no Facebook, No Instagram, No Twitter,and No YOU! It seems like forever and a day that Lent began, and now I'm finally "reunited and it feels sooo good", and  while I was away there were some majors that took place; A very beloved cousin passed away at the young age of 44 years old(more on that later), The Oscars,Daylight Savings, me working out M-F for a solid 6 weeks in a row .. What what? Hold the phone ... Noël, NoDots working out for over 30 days now that is some crazy talk if I have ever heard crazy talkin !! Some Village members moved on to greener pastures, A trip home to Nevada for a beloved friends baby shower and BASEBALL SEASON!! Woot WOOT!! 
All of which, was hard to process without you, but I managed to survive ;)

 I realized some very profound things during this 6 week break from social media, and the first one is my need for people. I love people. I love my people deeply. My love for you beloved reader is deep.

Are you getting that there is a deep theme going on here? 

If it weren't for you I wouldn't be here. I have other places to write so that my outlet is fulfilled and you better believe those places looked a lot fuller during this Lent season, but I was longing to share what I was thinking, what I was learning with YOU, because LIFE is just better when it's shared.
Can I get a witness?

 Living life is just not nearly as fulfilling without my fellow sojourner. All that to say I'm happy to be back.
Sheesh, I sure am long winded sometimes.

Another not so profound thought, but still meaningful at the same time was that I had social interactions face to face that I might not have pursued otherwise. I started talking to people in the grocery store again, and not looking down at my phone while waiting in line. Ya, know... living life in real time!

Now hold the phone...
I don't want at all to discredit the social interactions that happen here or in other places with social media. Because, honestly,
  I feel I have a whole community of people here that I truly love and I know you love me and that is just amazing! Like, people try to always point out the negative about social medias and they neglect to mention the positive.
Like totally they do that!!(Do you like my inner valley girl I'm channeling there?)
 Where else can you go and by writing one tweet or status update have hundreds of people praying... That's some awesome sauce if I've tasted awesome!!

What I'm saying is its all how we look at this thing called social media.

Balance in all things, freedoms should be applied, but not taken for granted that to look up from the computer or the phone every once in a while is a VERY GOOD THING!!

And before I say too much more I mostly just want to communicate that I am happy to be back with you all.
And without further ado the song I feel like singing today...
HE's ALIVE!!
and
SHE's ALIVE!!
It's all Abundant, Beautiful LIFE!!




I'll get down to some meatier topics I processed while away later this week but for now,
Go ahead and enjoy a little Oingo Boingo on me today.

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Good Morning Beloved Reader, Today I want to talk about the topic of Ash Wednesday and Lent. Ash Wednesday is tomorrow and many of you that may have been raised Catholic or are still Catholic know what Ash Wednesday signifies, but those of you who don't may have just seen people walking around with a black mark on their foreheads and maybe you thought they just got messy while making their fire that morning.  But, Nope. 
That's not what the ash on their foreheads is about. Before I get into a bit of history on the actual meaning of Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent I would like to get personal for a minute. 

I would like to share my story, on why I celebrated the season of Lent as a child, and why at one point I didn't, and then now why I do again.
When I was younger I was raised as a Catholic, and not just your everyday average Catholic my parents both were very spiritual people. My dad was in the seminary intending to become a Priest and My Mom was a teenager who lived in a Convent for a time. Clearly, that didn't work out because otherwise I most assuredly would NOT be here. However, even though they were both Convent/Seminary drop outs they still had a very strong faith, and ever since I could remember we were having bible study or Catechism lessons in our living room, and going to church faithfully on Sundays. We celebrated Ash Wednesday and Lent every year and this is what I remember as a child about those days. 
One- Ash Wednesday was not my favorite because not only did I get this black stuff on my forehead that messed up my whole look, but I also had to give something up for 6 weeks.   Two- I didn't ever really understand  the WHY,  behind these occasions so they meant nothing to me.
 And C. -They were in my mind, almost like a punishment for being Catholic that I never enjoyed and certainly had no intention of carrying on once I was old enough to stop the madness.

The reason I think these are my memories as a child of this season is because I believe that  somewhere along the way for my mom and dad these acts became just that, ACTS.  I'm sure if you were to ask them today they would say that they both were not doing these out of love and devotion to Christ, but out of duty. They just did what they had always done without really asking why?  It's important that we never forget the WHY behind the WHAT. Why is a powerful word.
It was at this point that my sister Jenny worked with a woman who sought out her faith so differently, and my Uncle Gene introduced both of my parents to a new way of pursuing their faith in Christ. It was like God was working on their hearts all along for this moment in time, and the rest is my family of origins spiritual history so to speak. Needless to say, when they stopped marking my forehead I was beyond glad to end that silly tradition and I never looked back until....
About almost 4 years ago now I attended a church service that explained some things about these days that I never understood before. If you want to read up more on Ash Wednesday Here is a great link to read about Ash Wednesday's original origins American Catholic dot Org ;) but for the sake of what I'm trying to say here I'm just going to say that somewhere along the way in my faith journey I realized that it isn't the outside that matters so much to God, but rather what's going on in your inners that HE cares about. And, it's not just once a year that we should take inventory of our faith walk but on a daily basis. 

What I'm saying is that, I know now  to walk around in "sackcloth and ashes" and give sugar up for 6 weeks is not what God really wants from me. But, what does he require of me then? 
And that brings me back to that powerful church service 4 years ago where I realized in many ways I had thrown the baby Ash Wednesday out with the Bath Water Lent.  Hee hee hee... I make myself laugh.
These acts in and of themselves are not bad, but rather the motive behind them. If my motive is to be seen as a great spiritual person who can give up Coffee so that the world can stand in awe of me, then umm... I  might need a check up from the neck up, or down really... cause my heart is what would really need a transplant.  But IF however I feel fasting from Coffee will help me realize my great need, desperate need, for God to give me strength and not that dirty drug Caffeine then I think I'm tracking what God is laying down.
We are told as Christ followers that our numero uno call or command is to Love God above all else.  Which brings me to the word Idols. That word has become a household acceptable name now with American Idol, but make no mistake that is a NAS- TAY word!!  We can have all kinds of idols in our lives and they don't come in the form or the fashion of statues anymore. They come in Wine Bottles, Celebrities, T.V. shows and dare I say even in the form of Blogland. But oh beloved reader, they are not to be trifled with. They come to rob, kill, and destroy our original design and purpose here.  And I believe the only way we can even realize they are there is to get on our knees and ask God to reveal them to us.  I now look forward to this time of year because I walk into it with Freedom. Freedom to know that even if I say I am giving up sugar for 6 weeks and I goof up and have a donut one day, God doesn't really care.  He doesn't require sacrifice and fasting anymore. 
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 Amplified Version.
This will be the fourth year of celebrating Lent with this new understanding.  Every year I ask God what may have crept into my life and taken the place that only HE should have. And every year HE has been faithful to reveal to me something that would be good to give up for a while.  Beloved reader this space here, and all of my social medias are going to be quiet for the next 6 weeks while I soak in and soak up only HIM.  I will still be answering emails, and your comments here through email, but you won't find me living here or on Instagram,Twitter, or Facebook. For the next 6 weeks I'm going to take this time to reflect, repent, and renew what it is God has called me to.  I will miss you, and I sure hope you are still here when I return.  I certainly gave you enough to read in this here  Book of a post.  Sheesh... long winded much!! I'm already having withdrawals can you tell? Pray for me.

Flashback Friday

This week we had kind of a Matthew Broderick marathon with two of his older movies when he looked even more baby faced than he does now. Any guesses for one of the movies that was a must see for a flashback movie of his? Yep, you can't say Matthew Broderick without saying Ferris Buehler.  In fact I think I thought that was Matthews name for the longest time.

I love this movie so much because it reminds me of my High School career.  Shhh... don't tell my kids, but playing hookie was one of my favorite things in all of the world. I got decent grades and was a good kid, but I definitely was and still am a home body. My mom didn't mind having me home though, she enjoyed the company I think so I was never sneaky like Ferris. Still, this movie I might suggest watching without the kids. Learn from our mistake we watched it with our Fab 4 and one child in particular who is at a very impressionable age, ahem... Solomon my 11year old, tried very hard at the beginning of the week to follow in Ferris footsteps. It was actually quite funny. He is a home body too, bless his little heart,  just like his momma. So all my training and experience came in handy and I am happy to report he didn't miss a day this week. Tried as he might.  The other Matthew B. movie we watched last night was Biloxi Blues. I had never seen this movie and My Giant could hardly believe his ears when I told him, Nope. Never saw it! I started to realize about 2 minutes in why I had never seen it, because it is without a doubt a mans movie. It's about a bunch of soldiers who are going to boot camp for World War 2. Matthew plays the role of a want to be writer who journals everything that happens while he's in boot camp. They have all kinds of funny mis-haps and also a moment in the movie where as the momma of 2 young boys I was praying, "Dear God- please protect my boys from this" you will see what I'm talking about half way through the movie. Here's a hint- the scene involves a lady of the night. Enough said.

And now onto our Flashback Posts in the Blogosphere.... If you are new here first off Welcome and let me give you the 411 about this little link up I run. It is for older blog posts. I used to ask that they be a year or older, but I don't have time to check all of that and besides I figure if you have taken the time to link up something you want others to read, who am I to tell you from what calendar year it has to be from? The point is ... link up, have some fun, read and please comment on at least one other link up and have fun! Oh I know I already said have fun, but I really want to emphasize HAVE FUN, it's FRIDAY after all *Oh, if you want a cute lil button to spread the word about this link up, they are over there on the right. 

Where's the Beef and What's your Beef?

Does anyone recognize this cute lil old lady? She is the gramma for all those Where's the Beef commercials that Wendy's put out in the 80's or was it the 90's? Well, and she is my comedy relief today as I tell you about all the beefs I have been having with life lately. And, No I wasn't eating at Wendy's.

I'm noticing a trend lately in my life, I seem to be having a beef with everyone and everything. Can you say irritable anyone? Seriously, it has made me wonder if I am pre-menopausal. I keep asking God to help mellow me out, but I'm thinking I just wish they made a happy pill, so I could take like 100 of them and call it a day!! Let me give you a few examples of the beefs I am referring to;

So,I don't consider myself to be one that has road rage, but recently I have had a few real bleepity bleep drivers enter my pathway. No biggie, right? Everyone has jerk driver issues sometimes right? Especially, when you live in a big city.Well, the other morning this BMW driver cut in front of me ever so abruptly on our busy street here and then the funny part is(or the not so funny part) he ended up being a parent at my kids school.

What? What? Uh - huh! Needless to say, I was glaring at the back of his skull so fiercely I could have burned a hole right through it. As he drove in he proceeded to the drop off zone at which point he then GOT OUT OF HIS CAR (sorry for yelling but you needed to feel the shock and awe that I was experiencing at this point). It was to get his kids backpack out of the trunk and then button up his child's coat ever so slowly and THEN give the longest hug a parent could ever give... Fer real... It was like hugging was an Olympic sport or like he was never gonna see the kid again. Now I'm all for parent love and affection but there is a place for this. It's called a parking spot. SO ... clearly this guy didn't know about the "code" of the drop off zone. I mean call me crazy, but I think the words " drop off zone" should have given him a clue. Or maybe this sign ...

So here's my beef with this guy, not only was a he a grade A royal A%% hole driver but then he didn't even have the decency to pull in a parking spot to give his long farewell to his child. No, instead he made the long line of cars behind him wait while he was in the drop off zone. 
My beef OBLIVIOUS PEOPLE!!

Ok.. Moving on

I received a letter of "concern" from the elementary school that my children attend. It was regarding how many days of being absent that my youngest Zed head, had. Which, I would like to point out is under 10. Ahem... ok, here's my beef with this one being at school when you are well is great, but what this letter conveyed was "send your kids to school whether they are sick and dying or healthy and happy we just want your money" This letter really bothered me. The more I thought about it the more hot and bothered I became. So, I decided to go talk to the principal. The more I thought about the principal the less bothered I became because I know her. I feel as though knowing and being known by your kids principal is a very important goal to have in all parenting careers, but that's a topic for another day. So the more I thought about our meeting I began to have some Holy Spirit led good self talk that went like this, Noël why are you going to see Melissa you know she didn't personally put out those letters and she probably feels the same way you do about them. They are a district mandated letter you know this.  

Still, I went to go see her and our conversation went something like this ;
"hi Melissa how are you?"
"great noël how are you "
" great I really just have a quick question for you about the letter I received regarding Isaiah's absences ?" 

At which point she rolled her eyes because she already knew what I was going to say.

At which point I felt like doing a Homer Simpson Doh!!

But I said... "the first thing i just want to ask is do you send those letters out as a school district mandate or are they a personal letter that the faculty here has come up with?"

Right away she put my heart at ease by laughing and saying, they were without a doubt a school district mandate and that she had even received one herself for her own child.

Whew... ok so then I was on to the next beef I had.

And so on and so forth. And are you catching the common thread here? 
The common thread is that I HAVE ISSUES!! I'm working on them, but sometimes just typing them out helps me to realize how silly I am and also why people resort to taking happy pills at this point in life. That's a joke, kinda, sorta. 

Oh and also I read this;
"Understand this my beloved brethren(or sisterthen)Let every man or woman be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to take offense, (or a beef,) or get angry. James 1:19

OUCH!!
DOH!!
Double OUCH!!

The End... Pray for me and my issues... And thank you for this therapy session, the check is in the mail and.... have I told you lately how beloved you are? I have NO beef with you beloved reader, none what so ever.

I'm linking up here today cause clearly that's where I need to be;

From One Taxi Cab Driver to Another

Good Monday Morning Beloved Readers, I am being featured over HERE at Brooke's place Covered in Grace.  If you have some extra reading time, go stop by and say hello.
Today though...
I would like to go down on record as the mom who warns all of you younger moms about something that no one ever told me about. And that is that once your lils get into double digits something very strange happens to your life. You no longer live in a home but rather out of your car.

Do you think I'm joking? Well, I kid you NOT. Ask anyone who has children in double digits how often they are in the car on a weekly basis, and then ask them if this has changed since their children were younger?
So, let it go on record that you heard it here first, having double digit children = living out of your car. You can now add Taxi Cab Driving to your list of careers. 
Now, I would not just leave you with this bomb shell of information without some helpful tips. Some of these things you may already know or currently have in your car, but just in case you don't, let me help you out. First off, keep pens and pencils handy because children of this age are always needing you to sign something. It used to be that I kept a good amount of pacifiers at the ready, well now I just replaced that spot with pens. All kinds of pens, because they often get snagged for homework and come in handy when you are reading your "go to book" and need to underline where you left off.

Which brings me to survival tip Number two- Always have a "go to book" waiting in the car. At this season in your life you find that you wait outside for events, and other functions quite a bit so in all that waiting, even if you do have your smart phone and can check your email sometimes it's just nice to pass the time waiting with a good go to book. It can't be a book that is hard to get back into. It has to be one that you can leave at a moments notice and pick right back up again a few minutes later. I usually go to the Sweet Potato Queens for this book because they make me laugh, and because they are easy to leave when I need to go on to the next event.
*(But, I must warn you about the Queens you might have to wash your eyes out after reading some of their stuff cause those ladies can be naughty.. funny, but naughty. I should point out a disclaimer here, if you do find your eyes knee deep in a Queens book  I would like to say I don't whole heartedly agree, or advocate what they say. They just make me LOL... so don't judge)
Speaking of the next event, you may have noticed by now that you will be in the car for some time, and you might get hungry so that brings me to  C.  keep a good stash of snacks handy.  I find that pickle flavored sunflower seeds are my favorite, and granola bars are the kids favs. The reason I like the seeds are that they are not high in calorie, but helpful in making you feel like you are doing something with your hands when you are waiting at the lights. Oh the endless waiting. The eternal red lights!!

Hurry up and wait. Hurry up and wait. You will go from one place to the next just to wait some more. The scenery will change but the action will not. Do I sound bitter? I'm really not. I have come to terms with waiting. I think me and waiting are on a first name basis. Mr. Patience and I have a pretty good relationship, but every now and then I like to show him who's boss and get the first cup of coffee before the coffee pot is done pouring. I just get right in there with my cup and say, "Yeah... take that Mr. Patience!!" Ok moving on...
The final note of advice I have for you rookie Taxi Cab Drivers is to keep the essentials well stocked, lotion, wipes, kleenex, chapstick, and sometimes even nail polish. Ahem... yes fixing the chipped nail look can be done with this job sometimes... ya know multi taskers unite!! And beyond that I would only advise that you keep your Playlist OH SO happy!! Oh... and remember that all this busy means you have healthy, happy children who are able to go from here to there and that my friends is something to smile about. Your fuel tank bill.... not so much.

Don't forget who told you first. 
I would love to know if you other taxi cab driving mom's have some tips for me that I didn't list here?
 

Flashback Friday

Last night we had a real treat for our Flashback movie this week. We watched Batman The Movie, filmed in 1966, it was so campy that... well, I gave up on it.  My family was protesting about 20 minutes into it and I could tell this would be one old movie that wouldn't make it into our library. Still, I think I gave it a good solid 35-40 minutes before My Giant switched to a documentary. 

I can't really say how it ends or if it got any better, but I will say that the interactions between Batman and Cat Girl was THE most entertaining part of the 45 minutes that I gave this old flick. Seriously, they really were so funny!!   And now onto our Flashback Posts in the Blogosphere.... If you are new here first off Welcome and let me give you the 411 about this little link up I run. It is for older blog posts. I used to ask that they be a year or older, but I don't have time to check all of that and besides I figure if you have taken the time to link up something you want others to read, who am I to tell you from what calendar year it has to be from? The point is ... link up, have some fun, read and please comment on at least one other link up and have fun! Oh I know I already said have fun, but I really want to emphasize HAVE FUN, it's FRIDAY after all *Oh, if you want a cute lil button to spread the word about this link up, they are over there on the right.