So This Just Happened.

Over this past weekend something really big happened in our household.

Even though my 16 year old daughter told me over and over it wasn't a big deal somehow my heart did not get that memo.

I tried to hold it together. I really did. But then this happened.

She pinned a flower on a boy.  Who told her she could do that? Oh wait, I guess we did.  That's right it's all coming back to me now. We were sitting at the kitchen table I'm pretty sure I had only one cup of coffee flowing thru my veins when she asked her dad and I if she could go to the JA dance with a "friend" who is a boy. Now, in my defense I did say that I only had ONE cup of coffee. Mom's cannot be held responsible for anything they say until the SECOND cup of coffee is consumed.
Obviously that rule didn't pan out here because, WE said yes! The plural word there being WE. The operative word there being "SAID." The debatable word there being YES. We said it, but my heart didn't really mean it.

I mean ....  What I meant to say is ... NO. NO you cannot go to any dances with any boys. NO you cannot wear a dress so beautiful and look so stunning that it takes my breath away. NO you cannot pin a flower on a boy when you were dressing up dolls like yesterday. NO you cannot drive away in a car with that boy when you were just learning to ride your bike a minute ago. NO you cannot grow up. NO. Can I do that? I mean, can I take it all back? That's a rhetorical question. Sigh. I realize that I can't turn back time and say no where I previously said yes. I realize I can't stop this train, thank you very much John Mayer. I just, well I just wish sometimes this life would give you a little warning before you witness big life events like this. Daughters who become young women right before your eyes.

Please chime in all you parents who have walked this uncharted territory. I have to share a song that Emma's Auntie Gina sent me that same week. I'll admit it  did give me a little chuckle. I hope you enjoy it  AND  Pray for me.  

I want to be that kid up there

I want to be that kid up there.
The one who when faced with an ocean and a pair of very long jeans, just rolls up the jeans as he gets deeper and deeper in the water. No fear of what the future may hold. No thought of the car ride home and how sticky and wet and sandy I might be. No concern for the cold wind that might be blowing my way.
I want to be that kid up there.
The one who screams with elated cries every single time the ocean water touches my feet. No worry or concern for where I ditched my tennis shoes several miles up the beach. Who plunges in the ocean water like moth to the flame. So carefree. So uninhibited. So child like.
I want to be that kid up there. 

Fruit Cake, Fonts, and Funks

Hello There Beloved Reader- I'm sitting here getting drunk on my Momma Nash's amazing fruit cake and drinking coffee.  I should be crafting and creating getting ready for another Craft show tomorrow, but I'm in kind of a FUNK! Are you familiar with the FUNK? I tried taking a shower to wash it off but that didn't work. I'm on my third cup of coffee hoping that the caffeine will kick in and that will help the FUNK find another home. And currently, while eating this delectable fruit cake I'm hoping I can eat it away.
BUT... alas, from previous FUNK days I know none of this will work. 
Maybe if I change the font on this blog post and have one more bite of this delish dish it will slowly work it's way out of my system. I suppose if I was an athlete I'd be going for a run right now, but I don't run, unless someone's chasing me, and even then I might just stop mid sprint and give them what they want to avoid running!!
That font wasn't happy enough.
Maybe I need a happy picture...

That did make me smile.  I love the phrase too. Seize the Day. Carpe Diem. I would be doing the EXACT opposite of that.  Today I'm sitting here and the only thing I'm seizing is this damn good fruit cake.  Which, I have to say now that I have had my self a healthy piece of it, I am starting to feel a little bit better.  There is SO much LOVE in this fruit cake that my mom-in-love made us. I can almost feel her big warm bear hug coming through it.  Along with Lots o Love it is also loaded with nuts, fruits, and some kind of strong alcohol that makes for one of THE best fruit cakes I have EVER had. Did I mention I didn't even like fruit cakes until I had a piece of Momma Nash's fruit cake? Man alive is that woman ever talented!!
Let's try another font shall we and maybe let's slant it a bit...
Because I'm starting to feel a little slanted. Maybe it's the fruit cake or maybe it's words in different fonts, or maybe it's just being here with you but I actually do feel better now that I have bared my soul to you.  Thank you as always for listening and for helping me fight the funk!! Even though, technically you didn't do anything you listened, or at least it feels like you listened. I'm reminded of You've Got Mail right now,
"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void."
And with that I will leave you for now, maybe it's time for a tiny bit more of fruit cake?

Pie Party and Some Other Musings

Every year for the past almost 10 years, (minus the 4 years we were in Washington in an 800 sq ft cabin) my family and I have been hosting what we like to call a pie party.  I can't take credit for this AMAZING idea because that would be just wrong to my East Coast relatives who started it way back when, but I will say the minute I heard about a Pie Party I was all over it like Meringue on Lemon Pie.
I usually have it the second Saturday in November because to me it's a way to have Thanksgiving (minus the Turkey) with ALL my friends and family.  It's also a way for me to get my favorite dessert!!

When I was preparing the prizes this year I got SO excited for this party I almost did a happy Pie Party dance. I'm pretty sure it would have looked a bit like Elaine on Seinfeld so I reigned in my excitement and got to putting together those prizes you see up there. We give out prizes to 3 categories; Best in Savory Best in Show and  UGLY but it Tastes Damn Good  aka  UBITDG!!

While putting together prize baskets, I thought about all the families that would come with their delectable pies and my heart overflowed with gratitude for many reasons. The first reason that my heart was exploding with joy, was that I am so grateful to be back here in Nevada. That sentence up there... well it's one that even as I type it I still can't believe I'm saying it. It's taken me quite a long journey to get HERE, and I don't me here as in Nevada here, I mean HERE as in this place of contentment that has come over my heart regarding where ever HERE happens to be. 

I have to say that there have been countless tears shed and plenty of tantrums had, over not having that kind of an attitude. I'm happy to report though, that Jesus has done a work in this bratty girls heart, and it's a good work. A work I know I couldn't have done on my own. 

He has made me realize that it's not about the place, it's about the people. 

I now know that even if he called me to live in Texas(please don't dear Lord baby Jesus) I think I could manage to keep this grateful, contentment going. 

As long as there was Pie in Texas! Psh... of course there would be PIE in Texas!! Those Texans have got the right idea when it comes to pie. I have heard they make a pie for just about every occasion... so yea I think I could manage, but for now I'm staying put with a happy heart right here in good ole Nev a duh!!
I do so apologize to leave you with  mouths watering ...let me  make it up to you with this quote that I feel fits just perfect with this here Pie Party blog and truly is a recipe for happiness. 
 "Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with  LOVE, GRACE, and GRATITUDE." Denis Waitley

Halloween 2014

Oh Goodness!

These two middles make my heart skip a beat. 

They are 14 and 13.

That's what their birth certificate says.

But somehow,

my mind and my heart has them stuck at around 3 and 4.

When and How and Why and Where does it happen that before you can even blink you have a full blown Pop - eye the Sailor Young Man on your hands?

Or a Baby Doll that might be "too sweet" for American Idol but not for this Momma?

Oh Goodness.

Oh Gracious.

And that Strong Man on the right... Well he has strong-armed his way into just about every heart that meets him!! Hope you and yours had a very Happy Halloween this year. Now on to some  P I E  =

H4Y

Hello There Beloved Reader,  and a Happy Fall Wednesday Morning to you!
I am beyond giddy to share some photos with you today. Have you ever been SO excited over a photograph that you literally wake up first thing in the morning with nothing else on your mind (except coffee of course) but posting a picture for the rest of the world to see?
No. Huh? That's strange.
Well, that was me this morning and you are the world to me so you get to be the lucky ones to see what I'm talking about. But before we get started with the roll of film that awaits can I just tell you something you may not already know? My Giant and I every Wednesday get the privilege of hanging out with some amazing young people.

Here are 4 of those young people and 1 of those pictures that I couldn't wait to post. Seriously, the moment I took this picture of these beautiful young ladies my heart went pitter, patter. That doesn't happen to you? Hmm.. So strange.

As long as I can remember, in fact even when we were young youthz(say that like Schmidt on the TV show NEW GIRL)My Giant and I have been helping out with some kind of youth group. I suppose we kind of really enjoy youthz... unlike Schmidt.

Would you just look at that bunch of world changers up there?  How could we not totally LOVE each and every one of them. Ok, in fairness 4 of those youthz are our own... but the rest... Although, I did not birth them (thank GOD) in my heart I feel a love for them that can't really be described.
Something else I really can't describe is the joy this picture brings me.

I couldn't tell you why the young man Jeffery on the right is laughing SO hard, but I have a sneaky suspicion it has something to do with that Giant in the Orange Sweatshirt. LOL. Seriously.
Every single one of these young men, young youthz(sorry I just can't help myself) will grow up to be our teachers, doctors, firemen, bus drivers, lawyers, tattoo artists, pastors, fathers, husbands...etc I suppose that's what so exciting about working with young people, ya know kinda like Whitney Houston sang about. We get the privilege, the great honor to teach them well. I'll take a double portion of that please!

  With a slice of goofy on the side!

Love Yourself

Good Morning Beloved Reader.

Let's start this blog off on the right foot, or I guess if you prefer the left foot that's fine too, but let's start by talking about a quote shall we?

 “If you put a small value on yourself, rest as- 

sured that the world will not raise your price.” 

I absolutely love the above quote.  It makes me think of this scripture;
"Love your neighbor as you LOVE yourself"
We will come back to that later, because It also makes me think about those two beauties in the above picture.
Why? You ask.
Well,  I have noticed something, I'm not sure when it happened but my girls have turned into young women, and not just ANY young women. They are young women who walk around with a healthy dose of value, self worth, confidence, and wisdom.
It seemed like only yesterday that they were playing with dolls and giving each other rides around the house in the laundry baskets.  And now they look like this;

The one on the left is only 14 people.  FOURTEEN!! The one on the right ... well let's not mention how old she's going to be in a few months!
Back to the one on the left...
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to let her wear that red lipstick anymore. (Insert emoticon with a straight face and eyes wide open)  Ahem...  I'm also pretty sure I want her new favorite accessory of choice to be a brown paper bag with only the eye sockets cut out!! It's a good thing her dad is a GIANT named Moses or I'd be really worried.   But, you know I'm really not that worried because back to that quote up there this girl, my girl Chloe, has a high value for herself that I'm fairly certain will keep her from most things that most moms would worry about with a 14 year old daughter that looks like she's  TWENTY TWO!!
Yes, I'm raising two beautiful girls that not only value themselves but they truly are wise beyond their years. I know with complete certainty that this value and wisdom comes from their personal relationships with Jesus so I'm not about to take credit for it.
  But I also know that this world works night and day to try and de-value them. The world and it's message to these young women is working over time to tell them they aren't skinny enough, pretty enough, athletic enough, rich enough, witty enough, smart enough,  enough. enough.  enough.
I tire so quickly of that message.  In fact every new day I need a new message.  I need to hear that I'm loved, valued, appreciated, honored, treasured and so on and so forth.  I know that my girls need to hear this as well. And I would bet my 1966 vw buggy named Lucy Blue that it's a message YOU need to hear as well!
This message raises the price of my value by immeasurable numbers.  This message is one I can find readily available to me at any given moment.  It's also where I have read over a thousand times' "Love your neighbor as YOU LOVE YOURSELF"
A few weeks back my friend who also happens to be a Pastor and a really great teacher, he spoke about loving yourself. It struck a chord with me because I think that for me it's easier to love my neighbor than it is to love myself. I don't know about you all but sometimes I need a healthy dose of self love. Not to become conceited and narcissistic but just to bring back into line my true worth. I really do think that ONLY after I receive that self love message am I able to truly go out and love my neighbor.
Did you know that you beloved reader were purchased with a price?

Raise your price today.

Love yourself.

Listen to the message that says this;

1 John 4:9-11 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Everyday Jesus sits waiting for us to listen to HIS message for us. 

He tries to speak to us in the trees of bright yellow, and the birds taking flight.

He tries to tell us that he made all of the beautiful things on this earth for us to enjoy and be filled with joy. 

I wonder, are we listening?

A Little Promo Time

Howdy Beloved Reader- I miss you. I don't have time to blog but I just wanted to say that I wish I did. Instead of blogging let me show you what I've been up to in pictures.

I took this picture this morning on a little site called Instagram. You may have heard of it.  I have been on this picture taking app long before it got bought by Facebook. Long before it had sponsors. Long before anyone even knew it was there. And today I just shot my 2500 picture on there. That's a whole lotta insta- grams ;) wouldn't you say? If you have time to look at 2500 pictures and can come back here and tell me what my first photo on there was there might .. No, there WILL be a prize in it for you!! I posted the pic with this lil blurb; "It's good to be reminded that no matter how fierce the storm may blow, at the end when the wind dies down and the rain stops Gods promises are true and HE is beyond faithful."
Here's where you can find me on there; NoDotss Just so you know its where I check in (social media wise)more often than anywhere else. Shh.... don't tell my blog ;)
When I'm not taking 2000 + photos I've been preparing for the McQueen Craft Show coming up. I now have two children that attend McQueen High School and so it gives me great pleasure to be a part of this craft show, because all the proceeds go to the students of McQueen.  Here's some of the stuff you might see at my booth if you come out and see me this weekend.

Vintage Pillow Case Aprons, pattern and design by yours truly ;)

Sweater Felted Headbands modeled by the LOVERLY Chloe Nashelle, 

And Embroidered Hoops with some pretty darn funny quotes on them.

Those are just a few teasers of what will be at my table.

I'm super excited to be teaming up with my friend Jami this year.

If you live in the Reno, Nevada area the show is Friday, Sat, Sunday and I hope to see you there!

McQueen Craft Faire Info

Well, now you know why I have been ignoring you.

I hope to pay closer attention to you next week sometime, but in the meantime here are some other great blog reads that I favor; 

In Praise of Leftovers- This blog not only gives you great recipes, but lovely inspiration from my friend Sarah who lives in Washington.

Caterfly Lara- This soon to be a (very well known author) is not only an amazing encourager to any woman but a salt of the earth kind of gal! Lara and her blog will not disappoint. 

Mothering with Creativity-   This momma of 4 is not only creative but she is down right, AMAZING!! If you are a stay at home mom, and or a home schooler you NEED to read this blog. 

That's all I've got for now Beloved Reader...

Happy Reading !

Perspective

Hello There Beloved Reader-
It has been far too long since I have had a good long chat with you, and today seemed like the day to remedy that issue. I have been pondering, dwelling, thinking, chewing, digesting and contemplating on a word lately, and this word is what brought me here to you today.
Ha Ha, that just made me think of Sesame Street, ya know the whole...  "Sesame Street has been brought to you today by the Letter 'h' "   ADHD moment there.  Sorry, moving on... The word I've really been thinking a lot about lately ... (when my mind doesn't wander off to Sesame Street)  is 
PERSPECTIVE.

I snapped this shot today on my walk with my sister Jen. 

Now, not many of you may know this but I'm a native Nevadian.

Actually, I was born in South Lake Tahoe at Barton Memorial Hospital on the California side of the mountain so technically I'm native but not. 

I used to always claim that being born in California made me not a native, but that was then.

Whatever! The point I'm trying to make is that I've been here a long ass time kinda loathing this dry desert place, but recently that has kind of shifted. 

It has taken me a very long time to find beauty in this dry desert place, but by golly I think I'm onto something, because that little scene above looks beautiful to me.

Sure, it isn't the ocean view I had the pleasure of enjoying this past weekend in Malibu, but it is pretty none the less. 

And that new perspective along with a walk and talk with my sister Jen and a few other tokens of wisdom that my Creator gave me, has brought me unspeakable joy. 

I ask you beloved reader,

Is there anyone out there who couldn't use a fresh, new perspective from time to time?

Well, if you would like to come along and sing this song with me let's start with the definition of the word Perspective.

Let's see what good Ole Webster has to say about this word that I've been devouring lately;

Webster's defines this word first by giving us the archaic meaning;
archaic

:  an optical glass (as a telescope)

After I read that first  definition I saw a friend post a pic with the quote below on it;

"The lens we look through will determine what we see."
It was after seeing that IG post that I decided to rattle off a few more thoughts about this whole perspective thing and life in general. An optical glass or telescope has a view that people pay a lot of money to see. It's a view that gives you the perspective of being small as compared to the galaxy above.  It's a view that songs are written about, and wishes are cast upon. It's a view that can't be seen at all without the correct lens. 

 

But before I get ahead of myself let's see the rest of what Webster's defines this word to mean shall we?

Webster goes on to give you 4 different definitions  ;

1

a :  the technique or process of representing on a plane or curved surface the spatial relation of objects as they might appear to the eye; specifically :  representation in a drawing or painting of parallel lines as converging in order to give the illusion of depth and distance

b :  a picture in perspective

*In regard to Websters point 1 b. I would like to say this, nothing in this life is EVER picture perfect.  But when we keep things in perspective it makes the blurry times come into focus. This life gets messy more often than not and we all fumble to try and make any sense of it. One thing I know for sure is that when we change our perspective about what appears to be blurry, smudged, messy, fuzzy or even just totally F'd up  in this life,  we realize it really was just a matter of adjusting our lens and then it all comes clear. 

2

a :  the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed perspective

>;also :  point of view

b :  the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance perspective>

3

a :  a visible scene; especially :  one giving a distinctive impression of distance :  vista

b :  a mental view or prospect perspective

 on the international scene — Current Biography>

4

:  the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions

My grandmother used to always, always sing two songs. She sang them so often and so much that even though she has been gone now for 10 years I can still hear her sweet voice singing them.  She used to sing Row, Row, Row your Boat and although it may seem just like a silly childhood song to you if you think about the words as an analogy to this life they actually make a whole lotta sense.  But, that's not the song I want to expand upon today, the other song she used to sing was this one;

Take a listen and tell me what you think? She was a wise woman my Grandma The Great! What I love about this simple song sung by Mr. Johnny is that it packs quite the punch in the perspective department, wouldn't you agree.
I have had quite a few revelations recently about how I have been viewing some things in my life and when I stopped to think about it what I realized is that all that needed to happen to make things better was that MY perspective needed to be changed.  Here's to accentuating the positive  and eliminating the negative!

This Summer

Hello There Beloved Reader- So the summer is almost over.  Boo hoo hoo!! For us it ended several weeks ago(read post below)
I thought I would take the opportunity to share with you a few things I have learned this summer. Who knows, maybe you will learn something too.

Lessons I've learned this Summer;  1.  When your daughter asks you to be on a certain show and you say "NO!! not until your 18 ... Unless by some strange, crazy, weird, random, freak,  chance they come to Reno, NV. "  You better be prepared for the aftermath.  Lesson- Be careful what you say UNLESS to

2. Remember when you bought that one Elvis record just because you thought you should at least have one of his records in your collection? Be prepared to have a FULL BLOWN Elvis fan on your hands. My baby Isaiah who is now no longer a baby but hit double digits this summer is a full blown Elvis fan now because of one record he put on last Fall while waiting for the bus to come.
Lesson- Be careful what records you have lying around collecting dust

3. When you travel 700+ miles with your Fab4 kids and no Giant to help carry the weight of travel, know that it will feel like a long two weeks, but when you are all back together again you will wish you didn't rush the memories because you weren't all together. Sometimes its so hard for me to enjoy life in whatever way, shape or form it comes at me.    Lesson- Enjoy life now don't wait for the perfect moments they may never come.

4. When in  this life you have trials and laughter, you will have extreme moments of sadness and ecstatic moments of joy, don't ever forget you are NOT ALONE. In all of these moments when you have a friend by your side who makes you laugh so hard you can't even see your eyes because your smile is SO big... hold on tight to that friend, and don't be afraid to lean on them.
Lesson- YOU are NOT Alone!!

5. Moving is never easy. Change is never easy. Life isn't easy. Some questions in this life will never be answered. I wished with all my heart that I could have lived in that lil cabin in the woods forever. I really did love every square inch... that's only 800 people. 

Sure, having only 1 bathroom for 6 people, then 7, then 8, then 12 was NOT easy but now when I look back on that time there is fond memory that will forever hold that place in my heart. 

But going back made me realize home truly is where your heart is. 

And my heart is no longer there. 

Lesson- Don't wish your life away

I think that's all I've got for now. 

I hope everyone enjoys this last weekend of summer. 

Wait Wha?

I found myself asking that question,

"Wait Wha?"

Followed by,

"School starts August 11th ?" 

And then followed by a rebellious,

"Oh Hell No!!" 

Put your seat belt on you are in for a wild ride rant, by yours truly. Starting school in August is just wrong!! Cuss. Cuss. @$%*&;@!! Bleep.  Bleep. It's wrong on so many levels, but the first of which I will say is the weather is too damn HOT for any student, or teacher for that matter to even focus let alone learn! Can I get a witness? Also, August does not go well with my Apple theme that I like to pull out once September rolls around.  August is NOT apple season and so therefore school should not start in August. I'm not sure the Washoe County school district really cares about holiday/monthly decor but dammit that should. 
And one more final thought I will leave you with before I stop this rant is that I feel like I have been robbed when school starts back up in August. Robbed of summer memories. Robbed of Island time. Robbed of family time. Ok, I believe I'm done with my rant you can take your seat belt off now,  or not  if you feel safer that way.
Does anyone else have thoughts on starting school in August?
What's your rant been about lately? I've heard several rants about the whole Ice Bucket challenge. I was challenged twice. I chose to decline.  But, that's a rant for another day.
Rant.
√
Rave...