Smiles in the Mix

Its crazy great how happy joyous times can sneak in and get mixed up in the daily frustrations of life. My oldest daughter and I have been butting heads some.  Its been over little things too.  There have been times that I've been firm and after time to cool down she comes to me ready to move on in a positive way.

For example we had gotten irritated at each other over my view of what had happened between her and a friend.  Later she came down and said she was going to the bank.  She came home and tossed her money on the table in front of me and said that she was ready for me to help her with starting her own envelope system.  ( a visual way for her to see where her money goes and to save for the things she needs to take care)  I was thrilled, it had been a few weeks since we had talked about it.  In that moment things were good and we accomplished something.

In the next moment I'm not sure what happened but I said something that sent her upstairs frustrated with me.

Later she came down to give me a hug and ask me to make her a quesadilla.

The other day she was in a silly mood and she asked me to come into her room....she wanted me to join her in sucking helium out of balloon she had so we could talk funny.  I've never really done that and didn't really want to.  She went first and started to sing a silly song with her voice sounding funny.  Then she made me do it and she had a big smile on her face and was laughing so hard.  It turned out that I had fun with her, laughing and smiling.

Then there there was the moment this week that she wanted to drive us to the store and she said that she wanted to play the music that she likes to listen to, she said that she wanted to let me into a part of her.

(I've always liked music, I remember being her age and able to find a song for every mood I was in.....it was like music was a way of communicating with my emotions  I could be the real me without showing it to others.)  I noticed a little of that with my daughter.  The music she played was upbeat and happy, it made her move with joy and smile with a light happy heart.  It reminded me of when she was a little girl.  Its hard to explain but I did get a little glimpse of her and who she is becoming in the music she shared.

So all this to say is that I continue to see how God takes me through my day with ups and downs but always smiles and joys in  the mix!  So thankful

(now I'm not saying it was easy....by no means...I was just as frustrated at times as she was and had hurt feelings but with God's help we got through to the next moment and always came out loving each other)

Birthday Joys to Now

Its time to catch things up.

May 12th was my 42nd Birthday.  It was filled with several phone call, hugs and smiles, flowers, cards and gifts.  It was a good day.

 I was spoiled with yummy food and good company over the next few days.  My husband on my birthday grilled us an awesome dinner of steak, salad, bake potato and cheese cake.  The next day I enjoyed lunch with a friend.  She asked me if I wanted to get out of box a little and try some ethnic food.  I said let's do it!

   Linda & I eating                                                    Indian Food

The next day I went to breakfast with another good friend and she treated me to Wildflower Bread Co.  I had never been there for breakfast, soon I discovered that I think anytime you go there you'll find nothing but goodness.

Cathy & I enjoyed visiting over breakfast.  My cinnamon raisin nut french toast was so yummy!

In between doing life I have been having fun with Thirty One.  I have reached several goals.  My mom has been a great help with two catalog parties.  I'm looking forward to the fall/winter catalog and goodies to come out.

Saturday was Karlee's junior prom.  She had fun with her friends.  The guy that was her date was the DJ for the night.  He was very nice and was outgoing....from what I could see he had the perfect personality for the job.

Kayla & Karlee

Hayden & Karlee

Junior Prom 2015

German Chocolate Cookies

Monday was Micah's 44th Birthday!  I made him some cookies and took him out for Chinese for dinner.  The day/evening would have been perfect had "life" not gotten in the way.....his son was arrested and taken in for aggravated assault charges.  Earlier in the day Micah had gotten a call from Dillon and said that he was in a bad environment and needed a place to stay.  Micah was unable to take to him again after that, when he got off work.  We got a phone call from Dillon's phone....it was his friend Joey telling us that he was arrested.

Today is Thursday and we don't really know what really had happened.  We do have a feeling that it won't be good for Dillon.  He apparently had a knife and had used it on the other guy in a fight.  Micah saw online that there is a petition to revoke Dillon's probation (for what he had done two years ago) if that happens he will be in jail for about a year and a half.  Not sure how this other will fit in to it all.  Micah is going to go visit Dillon on Saturday.

Prayers for Micah.....he is so heartbroken and bummed about all this with his son.

I have to get ready to go to work.....I'll try to post again soon... until then God bless and I'm so thankful that God is control of my life.

Expectations/Joy

MOTHER'S DAY!

My Happy Cup!

The flowers I bought myself for some bright cheer in the living room.

A pretty tulip at a friend's house that I edited some.

Started my morning with coffee, Sara and I went to church.  I wore my new cute stylish pants from a Karlee.  I love them.  I should take a picture and show you all.  Sara and I ran a few errands and stopped by where Karlee works so that we could say HI.  Went home to relax and not do much.  I finally decided that I would have to cook my own mother's day dinner.  So I got off my duff and grabbed a glass of wine and went out to the balcony to turn on the grill.

I soon discovered the joy of cooking everything out on the grill.

Enjoyed some music

A little wine...

Tuna steak, chicken, squash,and salad.  It was quite tasty  even if I did eat alone and my husband didn't come home until 1:00 am from work.

Wrapped up the evening with a candle lit to set the mood to relax and watch a movie on Netflix.

Life is never how we expect it.  Our days are never as we plan. Letting go of what we want to happen or think should happen is the best thing to do.  It allows more joys and blessings to enter into the moments of the day.
  Lesson learned......

Thank you Lord for showing me how a day can be by letting go of expectations.

A Mother's Treasures

(I wrote this yesterday afternoon) I was in quite the reflective mood yesterday

A Mother's Treasures

A mother's treasures

are not what she receives.

Her treasures are the moments 

she spends with her loved ones.

It's those times that will

be cherished and placed in

her heart's treasure box.

A mother's treasures are priceless.

Everyday a mother gathers her treasures.

It's those created cherished moments 

in her life that brings

joy, kindness, love and hope 

that makes each

new day beautiful.

Spring in Flagstaff

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It's May 9th the sky is bright blue, the sun is shining brightly.  The heater clicks on.....yes the the heater...  Even though I hear the little birds sing of spring outside I see a white covering the dark green pine needles on the tall pine trees, and in the distance a snow capped mountain.

Flagstaff Spring.....the streets are busy with people going to and from.  The sidewalks have people with their dogs, they are dressed in a winter type jacket walking their "man's best friend" in the cool crisp "spring air".

Yes this is May in Flagstaff AZ!

God controls my moment

I love how God controls the things in my day.....the people I see or talk to, the situations that come up.  Its in those God control moments that life is best for all who is in that moment at the time.  God is the designer of my life.  He blesses me with friendships, conversations, the beauty in the world and the love of my family.

Last week, on Thursday, I had filled in for the our church secretary on the day of a busy MOPS morning.  Those mornings are crazy fun with mamas to be and mamas with little ones running around along with the young college students that come to help keep after the little ones running all around too.  It's really a great morning for all who attends.

I was finishing up a little chat with a friend when a young woman that I had befriended a year or so ago greeted me.  It was great to see her and her little guy is adorable.  Anyway she asked me if she could ask me something personal.  She needed to bend an ear about a friend that doesn't live close to her that is going through a hard time in her marriage.  Knowing of some of my struggles here with my marriage she wanted some encouragement to pass along to her friend.

At first I was....I'm not sure if shocked is the word I'm looking for.....but I was surprised that she asked me of all people.....I know what you are going to say.....but that is when I realized once again how much of my day God controls and plans out for me.  He had it all planned out the moment Linda had mentioned that I would probably have to work for her so she could be with a friend in the hospital.  He knew how my day was going to be, who I'd see and talk to and would allow me to not get much done in the office other than giving me a moment to minister to another.  He knew I had the knowledge and words that would offer comfort because He gave me my story that would be used later to come along another to offer hope, comfort and encouragement.

God is amazing!

The words of hope poured out, thank you Lord.  The Lord let the words flow out so fervently with so much compassion that I don't really remember everything I had said.  I do know that things like "don't give up", "lean on Christ", "always look for the joys and blessings"," ask the Lord to show you them when you are straining to see them", "pray for change", "prayer is the only way for another to change", "let it go and give him to God",  "God is always there and is always working in your heart and his heart" "do not give up, trust in Him"  "Be grateful", having a grateful heart allows grace to enter into your life and helps you give grace to another" "be thankful for everything, even the little tiny things, it will mean more than you think"

She walked away with a lighter lift in her step and a smile of comfort on her face and with hope awaiting to spill forth from her lips to her dear friend that is hurting inside.

God is amazing!

I walked away feeling very thankful for the story that the Lord has been writing in my life.

Weekend Highlights

It was Youth Sunday and led worship.  I love seeing my daughter worshiping the Lord with her voice.

The Lord has blessed the young man in the middle with the blue shirt with a talent for singing, playing an instrument and writing a song.  He wrote a beautiful, profound song and led us all in it.  It was wonderful.

Karlee and her friend Kayla ran in the Color Fun Run, they had a good time.

I spent off and on all weekend doing my first Facebook online party for Thirty-one Gifts.  It was interesting but it pulled through and the Hostess earned some great free product!

On Saturday morning I elder sat for a few hours so that a very sweet couple could go out on a bike hike and enjoy lunch together.  They have a beautiful backyard, love running water, the way it sparkles as it runs with the glow of sunlight and the peaceful sound it makes as it runs down the rocks.

Life is good right now.  God has blessed me with many moments to cherish and reflect on.  I'm so thanful