It's Spring, Not Summer!

It was about 90 degrees today. Look how red Tanni was, and for only bring outside maybe 15 minutes. 

We went to our local Harvest Festival. It's citrus season here. How cool is that? We had fun, except when Hezzie got lost in a crowded area. He stayed calm and found help from a volunteer. He has his name on his glasses so that was helpful.

I've been busy trying to get my eBay going strong. I think I'm doing okay.

Time Change

You know you're life is good, when this is your view. When your kids interact with each other, when the screaming is that of laughter.

The time change has us all a bit off, we cleaned up and lounged around like house cats. Lots of board games were played today and cuddles were had. 

We missed Mass, but not prayer. 

I'm feeling blessed tonight, even though I'm states away from the one I love. 

16 Years

I started out in the Marines as a girl with no intent of meeting anyone, let alone marriage. My eyes were set on living the free life while enlisted and the cat lady life after. Of course, it dudvt take long for me to take notice of this guy. To be exact, two days after chrcking in at my MOS School.

We became friends and my insistence on not being attached to anyone kept it that way for some time. I'm hard headed and abyone who knows me intimately knows when things get too friendly I get cold.

We mett November 9, 1994. North Carolina was in the process of becoming winter. The weather was brisk, but not yet unbearable for a girl from Southern Californina. 

I went home only months after we met from a chronic knee issue. My battle between heart and brain weighed heavy in me. My need not to enter into what would probably become a failed marriage and my desire to be with the person I had green to love, left me at odds with myself. I wrote this guy a letter. Laying it out.

Not too long after that I got a letter back. This was before everyone had email and text messaging. We entered into a long didtsve relationship. Letters and mixed tapes were sent across the country and around the world. There was a brief pause in this time. So brief I often forget it even happened. Fast forward almost three years...I find myself a little older and more worldly stepping off s greyhound bus back in North Carolina. He's a little older, more worldly and well traveled. This was 1997.

In 1998 we take a bus, a taxi, and a plane and land in Louisiana on our way to Texas. In 1999 we got married. We got married with so many people, including myself not thinking it would last longer than the careers of the Spice Girls. 

In these past sixteen years of marriage we've moved seven times, have owned five cars/vans (including the current ones), added six kids into our family, and have had ups and downs. We've laughed, daughter, cried, separated sbd come back together...most of all we've loved. We've loved each other even when we didn't like each other. We've wondered how we've lasted so long when we can't even stand ourselves. We encourage each other and challange each other. We even purposely irritate each other. 

I can't imagine my life without you in it, James Francis. Thank you for loving me and encouraging me to be true to myself. For never being embarrassed of who that person is. I hope we see at least 16 more years. I love you even when I don't like you. Happy Anniversary!! 

Red Lipstick Days

Some days just call for red lipstick. You know, the days where it seems nothing is going right, or everything makes a turn for the worst. 

Today, apparently Tanni had another red lipstick day. I wonder if her dismay for "Let It Go" covers did it, or was it my need to pee when she wanted to nurse. Oh, I got it....it was probably when I decided I wanted to clean and she wanted to not let me. But, then again it could be that we lack pink and purple Duplo blocks.

Maybe she decided she needed to feel pretty, like I need to sometimes. When my day is filled with a whiney kid, or two much laundry. When I feel like I need to be around adults, and I'm stuck with a teenager who thinks he's an adult. 

Or when I'm having a particularly bad self esteem day.

Whatever it was...it's a red lipstick day.

What's Up Buttercups

Maggie has been working on her room. She drew out the design and everything. So far she's mainly missing an oval tag rug. I think I might give her the one under Hezzjes desk and put a striped rug under it. 

We've been finding her decor and bedding at the local Goodwill Outlet. She found her blanket today for $2. She was so excited. Going there has been teaching her patience and the importance of budgeting.

This girl is getting so big. She's very much into her baby dolls, Frozen, and Spongebob. She also likes to drink from her milk glass cup and help me clean. She was sad last Sunday when she couldn't go to Childrens Lituragy of the Word with the big kids. She wants to be a big kid. Slow down little one, momma loves you. 

Tomorrow we are doing another lesson from Catholic Mosaic. I'm excited. 

I've been Bible and prayer journaling. This part of my prayers from Common Prayer spoke to me. This part of the verse is everything. We often feel lowly, maybe because we feel like we are failing. Houses get dirty, hair might not look good, we don't like how our momma bodies look, maybe our partner is having their own inner crisis and we feel the effects. We feel lowly, undeserving, and without love. But, wait! God lifts the lowly! He puts his hands under us, lifts us upright. 

He hears our prayers and our intentions. He's there for us, we can cry out to Him, and now that He will lift us up even in our darkest hours. Remember you are loved by the Almighty! 

A Little Adventure

Maggie and I have plans on building a Little Free Library, so today we ventured out to find some. We found three of the four that were listed in a local town. Here is the first one. It looks just like that house! It was so cool.

On the way to the next one we stopped at an orange stand. Luckily I had three dollars cash in my purse. She was so excited to pick out the oranges. 

Off to the next one, she likes the colorful knob. It must look nice at night wiry the twinkle lights on it. 

The last one we found has a solar light built into it. Genius!! We ate going to visit more soon and get more ideas. We need to collect some wood and books. But, it's going to be a fun project! 

Wednesday

Here we are, finally being able to start Catholic Mosaic.  We read  a really great story, The Gift of Gracias. We learned about Our Lady of Thanks and the kids made things stating what they are thankful for. Lists included, computers, bikes, books, honey, bees, watermelon, families, wolves and dogs. It is nice seeing my kids being thankful. We all need to be thankful for things in life. I personally am thankful for my family, my faith, hot tea and good fitting bras.

We had a nice family dinner, dad didn't make it as he was at a union meeting. During dinner discussion there was an argument as to who was most sick. You know, I didn't crown a winner, in general being sick sucks.

We have been watching Bomb Girls, and learning about women's roles in World War II as well as some of the racial discrimination that went on. I won't lie, we also watch Friends and Malcolm in the Middle, too.

I have been working on making home more. Cleaning and finding things to decorate with. Maggie thought that a rolling, moving Duplo wold needs to be on the TV center. I am not sure it goes with my Nativity collection or my Virgin Mary statue, but it can stay for awhile.

I have been praying using Christian Prayer and Common Prayer. I am also working on a prayer journal. Life can only get better.