My Favorite Words

Here's the thing, I've been reading the bible a long, long time. I was raised from the time I was an infant in a Catholic home so I had the essentials down by age, oh I dunno 8 or so. I heard the commandments and prayed the Our Father even earlier than that, really since I was a wee-tid bit of a thing.  (say that with the best Irish accent you can muster up) And then somewhere around 13 or 14 I picked up this beloved book in a whole different way.  The Lover of my Soul became Alive to me and the words in that book were no longer just words, they were life, and breath, and nourishment to a very hungry soul. Ask my fellow class mates in Jr. High where Noël could be found at lunch time, but keep in mind before I disclose this embarrassing secret that this was before I discovered the Christian club... On a regular basis, at lunch time, you could find me off in the bathroom reading the Bible. I still kinda chuckle at that. Poor girls in Jr. High coming in to relieve themselves and there I was with my bible on the bathroom floor no less.  Eww... LOL. I don't recommend the bathroom floor as the best place to read, but I mention that true part of my history to reveal that I didn't care where I was reading it, I just had to be, wanted to be, needed to be reading that book.  And still... STILL 38 almost 39 years later  I am captivated, surprised, shocked, and in awe of how truly amazing the bible is. There is a reason it is the number one best seller book of all time, and I would bet my life it will stay that way because here's the other thing... It is ALIVE, because God's Spirit uses it to be poignant and relative to our individual lives. It would be like if you were reading a novel and all of a sudden the main character meets someone else that is exactly like you. The new character has your name, your personality, your habits.  And then you read that the new character does something that you JUST did the other day. It would be so crazy, kinda creepy, but mostly SO, SO COOL!! That's the bible. This is something that I sometimes forget and then I'm reminded when I sit down and pick up that book only to find the very words that are LIFE to my very dry, empty soul. I'm humbled and blessed by this book on the regular. Now that I have gotten off on a rampage on something most of you already know, let me tell you what words in that book are changing me right now.  It's a portion of scripture that I have probably read a thousand times. For real. NO joke I've read this scripture A LOT especially because it is one that I have framed and it sits right in front of my kitchen sink.  How many of you know I spend A LOT of time in front of the kitchen sink?  Momma of 4 = A LOT of Dishes. I have this scripture in that appropriate place because of what it says. Do you want to know what it says? Ok, I'll tell you, and thanks for asking. The portion of scripture that once again is blowing me away, comes from Matthew 11:28-30.  I'm going to kinda stop and go with this portion of scripture to talk about the new life it's taken on in my heart recently, so if you want to skip ahead and just go read it yourself, I won't hold it against you. "Come to Me, all who labor and heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls." Let's just stop - Selah -  right here. The first thing I know about what Jesus is saying here is that I need to come to Him.  If you wanna know how I come to Him on a daily basis read the story above. Only now I no longer sit on a bathroom floor ;) The second thing that comforts me beyond belief is that HE knows that my life can become over-burdened, heavy, and full of work.  Are sensing WHY I have this scripture in front of my kitchen sink?   Because often times when I'm standing there doing the dishes for the ump-teenth time I feel heavy-ladened. Ya know what I'm saying? Do you ever get that heavy-ladened feeling? Sidenote-  Would if we went around asking each other "Are you feeling heavy-ladened today sister?"   That makes me giggle, ok moving on. Let me tell you what heavy ladened translates to me; I feel like the work of this world will never end sometimes and without a purpose I will be found until my dying day in front of that damn kitchen sink doing all the worlds dishes!! Sigh....  Ya know what I'm saying? But, wait... then I read this... Come to me and  Take From me. What other person in your life do you know that says,  "Come on over here to my house and take whatever you want, whatever you need. Take it all!!" I know, NO ONE like that. I am in a relationship with a man who I have loved and he has loved me for 19+ years and never, never in all our years together has he said, just keep taking from me, I ask nothing in return. No.  Relationships on earth require a Give and Take. Now, you might find that in some Godly relationships there is a self-less attribute that we try to attain, but that is only achieved by God's grace and love that's been given to each person. But Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls."
- Selah - What does he want us to take from him? A yoke?? Like an egg yoke?  No, but for real what is this yoke business you're talking about Jesus??

 Well, that's a yoke up there. A cow and a donkey yoked together to plow a field, go on a leisurely walk, umm... I dunno? All I know is that they are yoked together to do what ever it is the humans who yoked them, want them TO DO. Maybe just to take this picture? Dunno. Now, in a yoked type situation like this I picture myself of course as the Jack Ass because... well compared to Jesus that's exactly what I am. I jack things up ALL the time and because He's yoked to me, he gets my mess.  But ya know what ? He doesn't mind.  In fact He tells me to take these things instead of the Shi%$# I hand him. Rest. Relief. Ease. Refreshment. Recreation. Blessed Quiet. I don't know about you all but I need, desperately need rest, relief, ease, refreshment, recreation, and blessed quiet.  Listen to those words.  Aren't those words that you wish you could have an endless supply of? Also if I trip and fall He is the strong one that carries on. When I fall down, HE stands up. The weight of the yoke falls on him.  Those yokes are heavy man.  That picture of Him being strong and me being weak, that's what I love about this relationship. I'm so thankful I'm yoked to someone so much stronger, because I feel weak and tired on a daily basis, but being yoked to him is like being yoked to a HUGE muscle man.  I wish I had the computer graphic skills to make a picture like that for you, but just imagine my tiny little head yoked to this guy. (Don't those muscles look painful? ) Ok moving on....

"For my yoke is wholesome (useful, good-not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and MY burden is light and easy to be borne." I think that there are so many other things in this life that I yoke myself to without realizing how heavy, and hard they become until my back is broken and I'm crying out to God. Asking Him for help is where I stop, pause, and Come to him. And then I take on that useful, good, comfortable, gracious, pleasant yoke of His and all is well again. If you are feeling tired, burdened, and heavy ladened today I pray you will find rest and comfort by these words and from the Lover of YOUR soul. Linking up 

Words

Words. They carry meaning that attaches to our hearts and infiltrates our minds, and they have the power to change us. I am forever in awe of incredible writers that with pen and paper can transport me to another place. I am also very impressed with people that I see on a daily basis encouraging and spurring others in their lives direction with mere words. Words. They are something that with song can melt the heart of any robotic mundane person. They inspire, empower, and infuse us with courage. They stop a dog in his tracks. They infuriate the innocent driver when reading a bumper sticker. Words. They were in the beginning of all time. "In, the beginning was THE WORD and THE WORD was made flesh" These words are used to describe the Creator of the Universe. Words. They can humble, they can hurt. They can mold and shape a person. They can stay unspoken. They can be over used.  They can desensitize. Words.

Today as I was strolling through blog land I have to say, I was thankful for your Words. They made me smile.  They made me ponder. They made me wonder.  And this morning when I was reading the Lover of My Souls book I was thankful for those words.  Those words make me smile on the inside.  So here's a tribute to words. Thank you for stopping by here from time to time and leaving a piece of your heart with words. You'll never know how much they mean to me. 

Memories Are Made Of This

Tonight I made a great spontaneous memory with my family. One of things that I absolutely, unaquivaclay, LOVE about my family is that we are a spontaneous bunch, and I'm so glad to be back in Nevada to get in on all that spontaneity. My brother Greg called me up yesterday to say that he wanted to take Mom and Dad out for a surprise. Ricci Martin, Dean Martin's son was in concert at the Nugget in Sparks and he thought my Ma who is a HUGE fan of Dean Martin, would really enjoy if we all went to see him together.

I will admit when he first said Ricci Martin I was thinking of another Ricci Martin and I was thinking ya know I don't really want to go see him or pay money to see him, but for Ma I would do anything. Much to my surprise we weren't thinking of the same Ricci.  We had no idea what to expect and to be quite honest I had no idea Deano had so many children.  Did you know he had 8 children all together?  4 from his first marriage that lasted 8 years, and 3 from his second that lasted the longest 24 years, and 1 that he adopted from his third and final marriage that only lasted 3 years.  Ricci said that he and his mom Jeanne later reconciled and would come together for dinners and holidays.   It was really, really interesting to hear his son talk about this legend that we all know from the Rat Pack.  He had a little Q&A time and of course my Ma shared the story of when she actually met his father, Deano. It was really, truly awesome to see the smile on his face when hearing something good about his dad. I mean here is a man who is 60 years old now and still the memories of his dad are even precious to him. 

My mom is a third generation fan of Deano. I guess that makes me the fourth generation, and you better believe I have trained my young to be the fifth generation of Dean Martin fans. I remember from a very young age my mom singing his songs and even my grandma enjoying his music.  But, tonight was a real treat because it was proof that music with stands the test of time. Good music that is. And it weaves itself into our stories. 

So the story goes in my family that my Great Grandfather Farina was a wee bit jealous of that guy up there because my Great Grandma said he was a looker with the voice of an angel.  Ahem... I'm thinking me and Great Gram  have ALOT in common !!

Ho Hum ....

*(written last night 9/4/13)
Today has been one of those Ho Hum days.  You know the kind that everyday life is made up of. I find myself wanting this day to be over, but for no particular reason. It hasn't been a bad day as days tend to be rated.  Or at least as I tend to rate days. I tend to think there are many ratings for any given day.  I also tend to say tend quite a bit, especially in those last few sentences.  In an effort to make this day not so Ho Hum I'm going to share with you beloved reader one of my favorite books and then of course we are going to talk about why I have given this day the rating of being HO HUM. Being that I am ex-early childhood educator, and the fact that I have 4 grown children, it goes without saying that I have read many children's books in my day, but one of my all time favorites is; Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Buy It Here This book is a favorite because right from the start you just know it's going to go from bad to worse for poor Alexander and we can all relate to that kind of day.   You know the kind of day that starts with the moment some well meaning person says,  " Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." WE are doomed! Doomed I tell ya!! I strongly dislike that saying, because every morning I get up, being that I'm not a morning person you might think I got up on the wrong side. But who died and made YOU the boss of my bed?!! As though if I would have only chosen the other side of the bed my whole face, attitude, day would have been better.  But no,  when I hear that it's like ... Oh well, I started out wrong and God Please help me because I can't even help myself,  I am gonna end up WRONG!! Maybe now is a good time to tell you the real reason for my rating today Ho Hum? Nah... I think I'll keep you wondering until the end. Let's have some ratings and their definitions, shall we? Come on... work with me it's going to be fun... help me out here people! HO HUM- nothing all day. It's like you could go around saying , "I got nothin!" Nothing to give, nothing to take,  a whole lotta nothingness. I mean this day can blend into the back round of days and you would never mention it again. GOOD- means nothing eventful either bad or good has really happened today. It was just a GOOD day because nothing really bad happened.  A good day is a cut above a Ho Hum day only because, you don't want to say every day is a Ho Hum day. I mean if you did say every day was Ho Hum you might begin to sound like a certain Donkey, and not the one on Shrek.  GREAT-  means the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and all the traffic lights were green. Your kids were all getting along,  the baby took an extra long nap so you were able to get a lot of stuff done, your honey kissed you like he meant it when he came home, and the stars all lined up just to twinkle for you. Oh and every song on the radio was a favorite. That's crucial to a GREAT day.
FANTASTIC- means something really amazing happened. Something like a baby was born, a marriage took place, or you got a check in the mail saying that your house is paid off ! Or your on vacation with your whole family in a place like Hawaii.  Wouldn't it be nice to have Fantastic days everyday? BAD- means some things didn't really go your way today. You got a ticket on your way to work. You forgot to eat breakfast and were starving until dinner because you didn't get a lunch break. You didn't sleep very well the night before. Or if you are a stay at home working momma the baby didn't take a good nap and cried all through what was supposed to be your masterpiece meal. Ya know, a BAD day.
HORRIBLE- means you found out someone you love is very sick or worse you are very sick, you not only got a ticket but found out there is a warrant for your arrest. You ate breakfast but it landed all over your brand new suit and it had some form of chocolate in it so it's not coming out. You tripped and fell at some point through out this day. You got a bloody nose, the coffee pot exploded because somebody forgot to turn it off. And they just shut off your power because you forgot to pay the bill. Ok, now that I have given you my ratings, let me tell you why this day was Ho Hum. The real reason for this Ho Hum day is that I just tend to like to say Ho Hum, because I tend to think of Eeyore when I say it.  Anyone else think of that cute donkey when you say Ho Hum?

What kind of day did you or are you having? Do you have a rating to add to this list? Hope it was better than a Ho Hum day ;)

A Hot Smokey Minute

It has been a HOT minute, a very HOT and SMOKEY minute since I have been here with you beloved reader.  But, here I am, and all I can think to talk about is how grateful I am that the smokey grey skies have cleared for a minute.

  Sheesh! I suppose that was one weather element I completely blocked out of my memory in regard to Nevada.   Forest fires in the summer= Grey skies and below healthy breathing standards. I'm pretty sure I blocked it out because it's traumatic! Also, don't forget I tend to be a bit on the dramatic side.

 
The grey skies I can handle and actually enjoy, but the smell of campfire smoke and canceled sporting events ... NOT SO MUCH!! The smoke filled skies sure do make for some awesome pics though wouldn't you agree?
So at least there's that :/
Aside from the silly weather topic and hundreds of acres of land being burned to a crisp, I really don't know what to tell you.  

Oh... I know...
The fact that summer is almost over. Can I get a big Whahhh Whaaahh I don't wanna!!   Let's recap this summer for the MoNoSco clan shall we;
School released in Washington June 22nd so there were lots of goodbyes, and last visits with besties before...
Noël and 4 kids and two dogs(The Giant was already in NV) move to Nevada June 25th.
We made a pit stop in one of my favorite places with some of favorite people.

Such a good looking gang up there in that pic. Does my heart good to see my kids with one of my soul sisters kids. It is truly a gift. 
It was a 14 hour car ride very uneventful except for how the Red Bulls toward the end of the trip were making this Momma a lil Cray Cray!! Those energy drinks really do a number on me.
 So, Kids and Dogs safely reunite with Our Giant and we spend the week out at David Walleys with the family. The pic below is me and my siblings. I'm there in the middle like it should be. Man, I really love my brothers and sisters.  I'm one blessed woman. 

We were in Beautiful Genoa Nevada.  If you have never been... put it on your places to go. It is a natural Hot Springs resort here in lil ole NV that is truly one of a kind.

Then Noël and the Giant fly back up to Washington to do phase 2 of the move and we all know where this story goes....

Broken Uhaul trailers can drive one or even TWO grown adults to have some crazy behavior. Our behavior in the above pic is just one example. It is also quickly becoming one of my all time favorite pics.
So even though we went bat shit crazy on that car ride home due to multiple break downs the story... It has a happy ending.


Finally arrive safely and have a big welcome back 4th of July bash with family and friends. 
And then begins the REAL fun that we had to cram into only 4 weeks time.

  Parties, visitors, Lake Days, Water Parks, Movies, Birthdays, more visitors, Virginia City,

 
sleep overs, More Birthdays, lots of BBQ'in , more visitors, and finally August rolls around and it's back to school ...
SAY  WHA???

That's right school started here in Nevada August 12th, and No they didn't take into account that the MoNoSco clan JUST got out of school... OR That we had just moved here.... OR That we weren't nearly even remotely ready to begin school.
My Fab 4 headed off to new schools like the champs they are.  Bringing light and joy in every room cause that's how we Do it!!   Don't even get this sentimenatal momma started on how she feels about having one High Schooler, Two Middle schoolers, and only ONE... ONLY ONE in Elementary school now!! SO not OKAY!!
And somewhere in between all of that madness we(I mean MY Giant) did a whole lotta this:

Yea he's pretty much a bad ass!!

So is the fella who got this ink ;)

And in case you were wondering I'm pretty much spending all my free time here,Marked Studios there, and everywhere like all moms, wives, women in general seem to manage life.

But it's all a part of this beautiful life that 

I'm feeling blessed to live.

I hope you had a wonderful summer and that you have a fantastic Labor Day weekend. 

All the hard work of the year can wait, go have some fun this weekend !

Thanks for stopping by.

Maybe that's Better

I ask you,  Is there anything better than coming home after a day at the beach, and taking a shower, and then lathering up in coconut lotion?

Maybe seeing cousins play all day at the beach, and then when they finally do take a breather hearing them talk about the Trinity and all things Spiritual.
Maybe that's better.

Maybe hearing the youngest cousin say the oldest cousins name for the first time, and feeling like time is standing still for just a moment.
Maybe that's better.

Maybe sharing a treasured memory with your children and family that brings you back to another treasured memory of where it ALL began.
Maybe that's better.

Maybe remembering a moment in time when you were young, and so very much in love, reminds you that although you are no longer young you are still so very much IN LOVE.
Maybe that's better.

Maybe this and so much more makes you feel grateful beyond compare to be where you are, with who you are with, doing what you are doing. 
And this is a far better joy than any bottle of coconut lotion could ever produce. Although I gotta say, I'm feeling sun kissed and happy right about now ;) AND I really do hope you are too!

Happy Birthday Zed Head

9 years.

9 years of pure laughter, joy, and constant surprise.

9 years of random funny comments.

9 years of take a picture of this mom.

9 years of always being the buddy, and never knowing a stranger.

9 years of getting to know the strong sense of justice God has placed within you.

9 years of wake up calls in the middle of the night because of a bad dream.

9 years of " I want faff"

9 years of legos, tonka trucks, nacho libre viewings, and wrestling matches with your brother.

9 years of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or macaroni and cheese.

9 years of scrapped knees, elbows, and other various body parts.

9 years of the gift that is your life Isaiah Gregory. 

Happy Birthday To My Baby!!

Settled and Unsettled

Good Morning Beloved Reader-
It feels good to be here with you in this moment.  This is a moment that I have longed for, for quite some time. Do you want to know what moment I'm talking about?  I'm talking about the moment of being settled in. Almost every box is unpacked.  I have a favorite spot, with my favorite reading materials close by, I even got some sewing done last week, and it all feels so very good.  

There is something very unsettling to me about the moving experience. I am a creature who loves to set up camp and stay in that camp a very long, long time. The camp fire embers can be nothing but smoke and I would still linger there. BUT... My Giant moves things.  He's a mover and a shaker. I'm a camper. Together we make a great team, because really who wants camp fire smoke all up in your eyes and all over your clothes? There is a time when moving makes sense and it is necessary, and good, and even something that I want, but still it shakes me to the core. Does that make sense? Are there any other campers out there??
All that to say, It has taken quite a lot out of me these past few months, actually really this whole year, and I'm just now feeling that settled moment, and I'm glad I get to share it with you. 

I want to share something else with you. This past weekend was my 20 year High School Reunion.  Yep, I'm OLD!! I wasn't able to go because we had a family wedding to go to, but I have been having moments of nostalgia all weekend. It was so wonderful to be with my Giant and his clan this past weekend. I got to hear him and his cousins reminisce about their youth and we laughed so hard, but there were also "THANK GOD" moments where they each realized how far they had come, and what they have been delivered from.
It's a very pivotal time, ones youth, don't you agree?
Thinking about my youth makes me happy, because I had a really good Jr. High and High School experience. I thankfully, don't have many regrets from that time in life, and so I look back on it with a tender memory in mind. It's also the reason why I would have enjoyed going to my reunion, I think? But, it also kind of really trips me out at the same time because I can hardly believe that I have children who are 15, 13, 11, and almost 9.  Like, really... When did that happen?
I am the mother of teens and tweens and this brings up all kinds of emotions.

We are having a lot of firsts in the Monosco camp. First time your oldest drives off in a car with friends who are boys. First time your 11 year old boy goes off to camp where there wont' be someone there to remind him to wear deodorant or behave. First time there might be a serious boy, girl relationship looming. First time for crushes, and permits, and dances...
Ya know ... stuff that you deal with when your kids are no longer kids but young adults, being shaped and molded by more people than you can count. I find myself in this weird position of sitting back, but at the very same time, actively putting holes in the carpet on my knees in prayer.

I know this makes perfect sense to those of you who have pioneered before me in these teen and tween years. And let me just take this moment to say, please share your wisdom, share your encouragement, but keep the horror stories to a minimum please.  I said please ;)
It's a time where you have to sit back and hope and pray that all you have planted inside of them will begin to grow, and not just that, but that it will take root.  I pray for very DEEP ROOTS.
"Hang tough lil roots"
This morning is a moment I'm feeling settled but unsettled all at the same time.  Let me explain. My older three kids are off to church camp this week. And  When I don't have all my baby chics under one roof it feels strange. Those of you who have lils, as much as you long for the day that you can sit back and relax because you're not constantly in shear panic mode from that two year old that just won't sit still, just remember this;
Right now you know exactly where that two year old is. (Or at least I hope you do) You know where they will go to sleep tonight. You know what they will eat. You know who they will talk to. You know who they will drive with,  and  You know that as long as they are with the momma bear they are safe.
But, when they get older something very strange happens.  You can no longer control all of this, and it's unsettling and at the same time it is very healthy, and normal, and necessary to let this process happen. Because I mean, no one wants a Smother Motha!! I do so solemnly swear;
I WILL NOT BE A SMOTHER MOTHA!!

Still, I honestly don't know how people without the reassuring presence of the Holy Spirit are able to get through this season in parenting. This morning in my prayer time for my three older kids who are at camp, my Heavenly Father God gave me this reassuring scripture;
"For He has strengthened and made hard the bars of your gates, and He has blessed your children." Psalm 147:13
For this momma bear who would like nothing more than to keep those babies behind bars protected from the world outside that could hurt or harm them... this was exactly what I needed this morning. To know that the GOD of the universe has got my kiddos in the palm of His hands settles my spirit like none other. Don't go reporting me to CPS just cause I want to put my kids behind bars just to keep them safe. I swore up there I wouldn't Smother remember?

No, I think instead of smothering this is the action I will take;
"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance, and in everything, by prayer and petition(definite requests)with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's PEACE shall be yours." Phil 4:6-7
And I am once again settled.  I like that settled feeling. I think I will stay a while here in this settled position.