Easter 2019

We got up Easter morning to head to church.  Sara met up with us, she had spent the night at a friend's house.  The service was nice.  I really enjoyed having Sara there with us at church.  Afterwards we met Kyle for lunch at the Galaxy Diner.  I love my family and every moment I can get with each and everyone one of them.  

I love seeing these two together, it doesn't happen often, in fact it needs to happen more,

Ben and his mom, we had forgotten to take pictures together when we were all dressed up after church.  So here is everyone in their comfy clothes.

There is always smiles and laughter when this guy is in the room.

April 1-14th 2019

May 14th finally getting around to publishing this post and writing on my blog.  I'm not sure why I didn't post this one when I wrote it back in April, maybe I was going to add to it...I don't know but here is one from April.  I plan on getting caught up around here and bring things up to date.

Haven't really been taking pictures lately.  We have been busy developing new routines and settling into one house together.  I enjoy the drive from Parks into Flagstaff more in the morning than on the way home after work.  I'm not sure why, maybe because I'm tired and there seems to be more big trucks out on the road. 

Sara and I have had a few bumps in our path to talk about and work through.  It will take time but I know things will work out and all will be happy.

I've really really been getting into essential oils lately.  I recently bought a "family essential" kit from Dotterra.  I've been learning about them and how to use them.  I want to learn how to use them for preventative medicine with issues before turning to traditional meds and going to the doctor.  I don't have insurance and I have chronic pain so I want to find ways to stay healthy.  I take good vitamins and feel good in that way but I'd like to see what I can with oils.

So far I've used them for allergies and it does help.  I've always used them to help me sleep, diffusing lavender or rubbing some on my wrists before laying down.  I'm trying them out with some of my aches and pains.  There is a ton that they can used for and its been fun learning about them.

I have also gotten into freezer meals a little bit.  I've been trying to help Kyle out by making up a few that he can cook up in the oven for dinner.  The few I've done he has enjoyed.  They do save time.

The picture above and the next several are of our "first Friday night" living out here in Parks.

We all sat out and enjoyed the evening.

Even Sara bear for a little bit joined us :)

Yes that is tiny little snow balls.....yes its April....Flagstaff weather always gets a little confused between seasons changing lol.  Soon it will be Spring like weather and then Summer.

This was this past Friday night (our 2nd Friday night)  Its been two weeks, we still have a ton of boxes to unpack but its getting there.

Ben and his mom and I sat in the living room, relaxing, watching a movie, well we tried but we all kept talking.  We enjoyed a few drinks, laughing and talking.  My hair is up on my head because I got hot, silly me.

He is always making me laugh :)

I love this man so much!!!

March Catch Up!

Its been awhile since I've posted anything.  All of a sudden March sort of got away from me with all that has been going on.  This will be a quick update, things should be slowing down some now that a few changes have taken place.

At the beginning of March, the first weekend, Karlee said let's go get all of our stuff out of that room at Micah's.....so we did.

I have been keeping a journal since 1988, I was 15 years old.  It's been interesting looking through and reading some of them.  I love that I have these to look back on.

Spring struggled to spring forward with Winter trying to say no.

Still happy and loving this guy :)

I was driving back from dropping Ben off at work and this was my view. I thought it was cool with the pink light was coming down in the middle.

I rode along with Ben when he had to go get a load of water, the view on this side of the mountain out here in Parks is so pretty!

Still trying to find Spring lol

Thats the back end of what was Kyle's truck.....going to go sell it.  We took it to a tiny little used car lot and within 10 mins. had it sold, collected the money in cash and that was that.  The money will sit in savings to add more to it as I can so that I can find something for my youngest daughter, my last kid that has her drivers license.

Well that is basically March.  I now sit here on the last day of March, on my couch out in Parks in Ben's house.  Yep we moved Thursday, Friday and finished up yesterday.

Oh and Sara is exercising her right as a normal 16 year old girl......red hair.  I rolled my eyes when I saw her and her friend that did this to their hair.  It will wash out after so many washes.  Its been fading to a hot pink shade lately.  Girls will be girls.

This is my view from my couch right now.  Ben on the other coach and the living room and kitchen full of boxes everywhere.

It's a little overwhelming but in time we will get things unpacked, in place and organized until then we need to rest and get ready for our new work week and my new drive to work each day from Parks into Flagstaff.

Happy Sunday!

My Son

Wrote 2/27/19

My son is tall and he has to lean over to hug me.  I have to sort of stand on my tippy toes to reach him and stand there to hold him when he allows me to linger a bit during a hug.

My son is quite and keeps to himself but can be the life of the party with his laughter, funny voices, and smile, when he is surrounded by family and friends.

My son is a very sensitive person.  He is very caring and dedicated.  He is very protective of his family.  He has a handful of close trusted friends.  he would do anything to help a friend in need.

My son has a tender heart and he struggles when he has been let down.  He also has a temper but he is aware of it and works hard to keep it in check when things get  heated.  He says he is sorry when he is wrong.

My son thrives on routine and feeling secure.

My son loves to relax with his video games after he has had a long day of work.

All this to say is that its hard to see my kids struggle.  My heart aches for them.  I can't fix things for them, like when they were small but even then.  Two of my kids are young adults living on their own making decisions daily.  I have to be there with comfort, encouragement or a little guidance and then let them go.

Yesterday Kyle came over briefly on his way home from work.  Dinner was just being put in the oven.  He was tired and just wanted to go home.  I gathered up leftovers from the night before and some Texas Chocolate Sheet cake that I had made in honor of his birthday (2/23/19 turned 19).

He lingered for a bit, shared small talk with Ben and then soon he released it.  He shared his frustrations with his friend/roommate.  He was hurting and struggling with doing what he knew was right to keep the peace while his friend was treating him ugly.

He talked and talked, he needed to.  Ben and I listened.  I did tell him how proud I was with how he was handling the situations.  I know it was hard for him but he knew it was the right thing to do.  He knows he has to make the most of it until things improve or until he can live on his own when their least is up.

He doesn't understand what the problem is with his friend.  He tried to talk to him and help him but he just got mean with his words and actually shoved Kyle and shouted out for the neighbors to hear.  He walks around in silence and ignores Kyle.  It is hurting Kyle and he just wants his friend to chill out and recognize how he is acting and say sorry.

Kyle came over to give me a hug before he left.  I was in the kitchen.  He bent down and our arms went around each other and then he let it out.  He lingered and lingered and I help on to him tight and gently swayed while he clung to on to me as well and relaxed and safely was able to release his emotions and his tears of frustration on my shoulder.

My heart was full but ached at the same time for him.  It was such a deep moment, a moment to cherish.  I held him until he was ready to release his arms from around me and then he was ready to wipe his eyes, take a deep breath and go home to his place and face the silence again.

During our embrace I told him how much I loved him, how proud I was of him and how much I knew this was hard and how he was struggling.  I encouraged him to keep doing what he knews to do,  to hang in there and that it would be alright.  I encouraged to let it out and that I was there for him and always will be.

He cried.  He cried hard and I held him.

February Moments

Wrote on 2/18/19

My favorite time of the day is the morning.  Its a new day.  Its quite and peaceful.  If I'm by myself I can be still and reflect.  If I'm with others then I can have a cup of coffee and share in conversation.

I've noticed that I start my day with one cup of coffee.  Just one cup every morning.  Things seem a little off when I don't not so much with the need of it, just the routine I guess.

In some ways routine can be everything.  It can make someones day or break it.  Having a routine can help start a new day on the right foot.

Wrote on 2/22/19 at 8:12 a.m.

This morning I sit comfy on my couch under a soft blanket, in my jammies.  Because of the crazy snow storm we had yesterday I don't have to go to work today.  I'm so thankful for that.  Its a lot for me to get out in the cold and drive in the weather.  It stresses me out and get my  anxiety going.  I try to be calm, with music on the background, I go slow and easy but then I start the worry of others around me.  In moments like that on several occasions, yesterday being one of them I start to pray out loud and talk to God.  I also talked to my daddy.  I found comfort and courage to keep moving forward on the road home yesterday.  Challenges and things we find difficult do help us to grow and to lean on God. 

The other side of it all was that being at home the next few days slowed me down to do things I hadn't done in a while. 

Called my Uncle and my Grandmother
Painted my fingernails
Relaxed with a few documentaries and hot tea
the list goes on.....

It was nice to slow down a bit and take some time to just sit still.

Valentines Day 2019

Karlee picked Sara up to have a little sister time with her and Natalie.  They made chocolate covered strawberries.

My handsome son walked into my work 10 minutes before I was getting off work and surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of roses.  I was so surprised!  My heart was so full and happy at that moment.

Then this one drives up to me in her sister's car and surprises me with a box a chocolates!  I was sitting waiting for Ben to get off work.  She used some change she had saved and cashed in at Walmart.  

Then Ben gave me this card.  He was very thoughtful and sweet.  He knows how much I love butterflies.

love it!

Love him!

I made chicken Alfredo for dinner.

I felt very blessed and loved.  Didn't expect anything and was so surprised all afternoon.  So thankful and blessed.  :)

A moment through His eyes

Monday, February 11th

My heart is tender and aches when I hear of a broken relationship, especially of a marriage.  I know so many people from a broken relationship, my kids have several friends from broken marriages, my own parents divorced and I have two under my belt.  Brokenness is all around us and sometimes its seen and others its not.

There is this grocery store clerk at Safeway that when I see her behind the counter I go to her lane.  She is friendly and does a nice job.  I usually stop off at this one closest to work in the mornings so its nice to start the day off when I do stop on a happy and friendly note with good customer service.

Anyways we had a brief conversation that made my heart ache.  She had been talking with the gentleman before me and it seemed to be a deep, thoughtful and serious conversation.  I came up and they finished up their talk and he seemed concerned but very hopeful and gave her some encouragement.  Her last statement as he walked away was that she can  not afford to live her on her own.

She gave her attention to me with a good morning and a smile.  I simply agreed with her said I can not afford to live on my own here either, its so hard.  She said that she just found out over the weekend that her husband of 40 years wanted a divorce.  She said she didn't even know him anymore and was shocked and wasn't sure what she was going to do.  She said again after 40 years....

I asked her if I could add her to my prayer list.  She was so touched, she paused and took a moment before she responded.  She said that would be really nice.  She leaned in and her hand was close, I reached  up and placed my hand on top of hers and told her that I understood and had an idea of what she was going through.  I told her my name and that I come in often and I look for her when she is at a lane.  I looked at her name tag and said Wendy you are in my thoughts and to hang in there.  She thanked me and off I went to work.

It just goes to show you that you never know what others are going through and that we should try to notice and pass along a smile, a kind word or prayers.

I came home at the end of my day from work and wrote Wendy's name on my prayer list in my prayer journal.  I will also do my best to go in the store again soon and say hi and ask her how she is doing.

(I went back in later in the week but her lane had a long line and I was on my way to work so I didn't get to touch in with her but I know there will be another moment that I will be able to)

I'm thankful that I was able to see through His eyes.  When the Lord shows us that another person is hurting its time to take a moment to pray and reflect.