Last weeks ups & downs

This is a picture of how last Monday ended.....

Monday had been a busy and a little frustrating at work.  Then when I got home, it was ugly with my son.  Then I go to start dinner and I reached in for a skillet and I knocked a bottle of wine out while doing so and it broke right at the neck of the bottle and out flowed the wine all over the kitchen floor.....I really hadn't planned on mopping the floor and certainly not with wine.  lol

This was another rough evening after another frustrating busy day at work and then frustration with my son again.  Karlee said we needed to go get some ice cream so off we went.  For the moment it did help :) and it was very yummy!

Its been a long long long time that I've eaten Long John Silvers....probably since being a kid.  But in a moment at lunch one day this week I was feeling very nostalgic and I walked down memory lane of being a kid and my parents taking my brother and I to Long John Silvers or bringing it home to eat.  We always were interested in the pieces of fish that had the most "crunchies" on them. 

Let's just say I've decided to keep that as a warm fuzzy memory and not eat there again.....burping it on and off all day and then my tummy just didn't feel right at the end of that day.  Lol I survived it as a kid but not sure I would or will now!

Living in Flagstaff for the last 8 years the weather has never really been dull.  Yes it is May and Spring and yes that is snow!  I woke up the other morning to this....

As the end of the week came about the week was getting better.  I had a Thirty One Gifts party to look forward to!

Ready to party 31 style!

The little set up at the Hostess' home.  It was a small, cozy party, but it was a success!!

Saturday afternoon I went to a friend's baby shower, she was throwing for her daughter.  She asked if I would take some pictures.  I was excited and happy to! 

Today, Sunday....has not been very exciting and that has been great!! I slept in.  I was home most of the day, doing laundry, took a nap.  Yes I needed a nap.  Around 10:00 am I was beat, so tired!  I think I over did it with the busy afternoon from the day before.  I laid down around 2:30.  I picked Sara up from her friend's house, and we went to the grocery store, came home, got dinner going and that's it.  Now I'm relaxing and ready to call it a day soon.

Dragging my feel a little thinking about tomorrow being Monday, but there are a few things rolling around my head that someone said to me on Friday evening at her 31 party that was enlightening and helpful.  I think it will help get the week going and continue to give me things to think about too.  I will try not to drag too much and lean more on the Lord and focus on His words of joy and love instead.

Mother's Day 2017

My oldest daughter is more like my best friend at times.  She has a huge heart under her stronger attitude but I'm proud of her because when she figures out what she wants she goes for it!

Anyways while I was on the phone the morning of mother's day, I actually talking with my mom, Karlee ran down real quick and ran back upstairs.  She went into my area of my room/the living room...while I was talking on the phone I did wonder what the heck she was up to but I went on with my conversation.

When I got off the phone I found 3 little boxes on my bed with a little note.  

I read opened the boxes, read the little notes and tears welled up in my eyes instantly.....tears of joy and a heart full of love.  I went upstairs to find Karlee and she heard me coming, she was laying there in her bed with a huge smile on her face and said "I knew that was how you'd react".  I hugged her and thanked her.

The main note said:

Mom,  Thank you for being my biggest supporter, my best friend, and most importantly, my hero.  Happy Mother's Day!  I love you-Karlee Marie 2017

Then there were three little  notes to go with each charm:

The family tree-We wouldn't be a family without you.

The heart-You are my best friend.

The compass-You are on a journey of independence and self discovery.

May 12th 44 years old

I'm a little behind on posting about my Birthday and mother's day.  My Karlee girl is the one!  She is the one is the glue to our little family.  She and I met for lunch at Oreganos, a yummy Italian Restaurant that just recently opened a new location close to where we live.  The food was yummy but the company was the best!

Then these pretty smiling faces greeted me when I got home from work.  I walked in and found balloons on the floor and over in the dining area on the table and a cute happy birthday sign was hung and gifts on the table from the girls.

Sara knows how I love candles, so she got me some candles.

Karlee is my style keeper!  She bought me these slip on converse and they are very comfortable!

When Kyle got home from football practice we all head out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

My yummy plate!

yes really Kyle was there and I do have a son.....

I say that because he seems to be behind the scenes by choice actually but.....that's another story.

Between all the birthday wishes online and phone calls, and cards and then the kids, I had a great day turning 44!!  Very blest!

Gotta Love Flagstaff!

This morning when I decided to drag myself out of bed and get this day started, I went over to open the blinds like I always do.  Today my sleepy eyes had to do a double take.....there was snow outside, not a ton but it was snow! At first I groaned and walked away and went about my morning, I thawed the car and cleared the windshield and took Sara to school.

I started getting ready for my day and then a thought came to me and changed my perspective some...the snow, white....clean and new.  I don't know about you but its been a rough week for me, I've thought things and said things and my actions may not have been very good either but not only is today a new day, its a new day in Him.

2nd Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!

Thankful for the new day!  Thankful for the snow!

Thankful for the opportunity to be renewed by Him.

Today instead of thinking about the snow on the ground while its Spring, or how the cool temps makes my body ache more I will focus on the newness this day has to offer.....

Sara Bear 2017

This is my pretty girl Sara Bear....okay just Sara..I can't believe

 how grown up she has become.  She will be a Freshman in High School next year!

Sara dressed up for "Law Day".  She participated in a school project where they got to go down town to the court house, and present their "case" before a judge.

This is "smart Sara" now.  

She is presenting her science project along with her classmates.

It was nice they had a breakfast set up early for all the parents that went.  I'm so happy I was able to go, it was a great way to start my day off before going into work.

Today Marlee and Sara had to dress up as "greasers" from the book they have been reading in school.  The Outsiders.  They look so cute!

This is their tough look lol

My youngest has grown so much and has changed, but she is still my little sunshine!  I'm so thankful for her and how she shows love and care to others and makes me and others smile too.

To write or not?

Apparently I have started about 8 different posts over these last couple of months and all of them are saved as drafts.  I found that interesting and it caught my attention.

Its almost as if I'm trying to decide to "write or not" or to "share or not".  I do know that I've been in a funk lately and I've been so tired that when I come home I don't even want to think, talk or do much other than find something on Netflix to watch and then go to bed and start the next day.

It's  not like there have been bad times lately, well maybe frustrating, discouraging and annoying times mixed in with joys and blessings but that is just life.

I have been working hard every morning at having time with the Lord and his word.  He is my foundation and maybe at times I forget that, I know I have when I feel the way I do at times because its so draining and if I was truly leaning on Him, my foundation then I wouldn't feel as I have and be so drained in all sense of the word.

I do know that just this simple little post expressing how stressed I've been or how I'm not writing has helped, making me know that I have ignored a part of me.  A part that works things out in expressing her thoughts on paper in a journal or here on this blog.  I need to get out of my head and start again here with the little things.

I started this blog a long time ago as a way to help me deal with all the moments in this life, big and small in hopes that it helped others to not feel alone and that we all can gain insight from others joys, blessings, struggles, obstacles and crisis.  I know that this may not affect you but it has affected me.

Back to sharing I go........

Lately I've been stressed out thinking about my job.  My job in the insurance world.
I've been a little frustrated with all my kids and how they help or don't help me around around our home.
I've struggled with my son and his silence and not participating in the little moments of our family.

On the other side of things I'm thankful that my oldest daughter lives here even though her moods can be annoying and hard to be around too.  But I love her being here.  She has become my support and at times I know I shouldn't lean so much on her, she is young and starting out in her life but she is there for me and her sister and brother (even if he doesn't see it)

My Thirty One Gifts Biz has taken a rise lately!  Have had some great orders and parties!  Yeah parties!  Its been fun getting back into it and sharing the products with others.

For now those are the "ups" of things to share real quick.  I've got to eat something and get ready to head out the door to work.

It feels good to sit here and clear my mind......

Highlights March, April & some of May

Yes that is snow and yes those are pretty blossoms.  Spring came but forgot to tell Winter to go away!

March snow, one last appearance of Winter.

Time to get important docs. secure and other things organized too!

My brother, Jason and his wife Bea.  They had just landed in El Paso to visit my mom and gather things that they wanted of our dad's.

April 4th marked a year at Farmer's Insurance.

Celebrated with a giant cinnamon roll.

Easter 2017!

The girls decorating eggs with shaving cream and food coloring.

I'd been home sick for a few days with a sinus infection and bronchitis.  Karlee spontaneously put in the car and said that I needed sunshine and fresh air and drove the switchbacks to Sedona.

I enjoyed the drive to Sedona with my Karlee girl!!

Our second apartment in the same complex.  We moved on the 8th of April from F9 to H9

My new view from my porch of H9.  The apartment is nice inside.  It has been renovated with new floor, new counter tops and cabinets.

Moving in May now....Karlee and I recently enjoyed a Sunday afternoon together down town for lunch a little window shopping.

My new compact front loading washer and dryer set!  They are tiny but mighty lol!

I have got to get the pedestals ordered lol

My latest try at feeling healthy and good!  Thrive!  So far so good.  Its been 8 days and I can feel the difference. I'm trying this out for 8 weeks so we shall continue to see.....and if its as awesome as they saw it is then I'm going to get you and you and you on it and loving it!

I looked into this truck that had been sitting out by where I work.  I had my eye on it for a while before I decided to give the number a call.

My Karlee girl registered for college!!! Yes this fall she is going to go to the community college and start her journey on Hotel, Restaurant Management.

Kyle's prom was last Saturday (April 29th) and asked me me take pictures of him and his friends!  I took over 200!  It was so much fun!  I will post more later and a few of him and his date.

Well I called the guy on the truck and now it sits where we live!  A 2005 Chevy crew cab silverado!  I will try to get better pictures and post later.  I'm allowing Kyle to drive it and use it, he will start a payment plan soon with me so he can eventually be the owner of it later down the line.

The back of my bumper on my car!!!! The other day an old man came into the office to pay his auto payment.  We had a nice conversation, he was telling me about how he had fallen recently and broke his ribs and that it hurt when he coughed or laughed.  His agent is down town but he said he likes to come by here because its easier to get to.  As he was leaving, he was pulling out in his 1974 Yellow Bronco and he HIT my car!!!!!! He drove away!!! Its not dented, just scrapped pretty good.

I got his contact information and called.  His wife answered the phone, I told her what happened and she was so shocked and disappointed too.  She said that she thought she had the keys hidden better and that she didn't think he should be driving any more and also says that he has Alzheimer

 too!!  I know!  Oh My!!!

She said for me to get an estimate and let them know and they would pay for  the repair.

Then this week gets even better with the hitting of my car......

I failed the insurance test again!!!  For the 4th time!!!

I know this picture is odd, I used a filter on snap chat....

The test was taken on May 4th.  Its Friday today May 5th so now you are all caught up!!

The weekend is here!!!

As far as my job, well I still have one for now.  My boss is going to look into a few things and see if I can split the test in two parts and let me take them that way.  And if not then I can still work my regular full time job until he hires a new person and then he said he could keep me on at 20 hours a week, but we both know that couldn't last because that wouldn't pay the bills....Sooooo until we find a few things I won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

May has only begun, my birthday is next Friday and then there is Mother's Day and then Memorial weekend (I plan on going to my Uncle's) and who knows what else will be going on this month....oh gosh the kids will be out of school soon for the summer......