Is it Possible...Could It Be?

The air is crisp and the leaves are gradualIy starting to change their color from brilliant green to intense orange, plums, and reds. I think fall has arrived here in Washington. This is my favorite time of year. I love the colors of the season the closeness you feel toward your family as the holidays approach.

This time of year is also so special to me because my 2 of my babies were born in the fall. I am so excited to experience fall in Washington. In our former town in SoCal it is 83* and temperature there won't change until maybe November.

I am so excited to experience the seasons here in Washington. Happy Fall everyone!!

20 years

Yesterday marked the 20 year anniversary of my mother's passing. In the past this day has caused me to fall into a depression. The enormity of her absence in my life and failure to have her in the most precious of life's moments and memories is devastating to my spirit.

This year I choose not to remember the time and memories lost but to focus on all the memories with her I did have.

I remembered the way she and my father used to dance at weddings. The way she decorated our house at Christmas.

How every Friday she made a special dinner for our family and we all gathered around her dinner table to laugh and enjoy our family.

Her pink curlers in her hair and the smell of nail polish. Her love of roses and hummingbirds, elephants, and owls.

I miss my mom everyday. I think of my mom everyday, and even though she has been out of my life longer than she was in it. 20 years does nothing to ease the pain.

Motherhood Does It Ever Get Easier?

That's a question asked by mothers everyday all around the world maybe since the dawn of time. Today I found myself asking THAT question.

I am at a loss, sinking quickly in an abyss of frustration and despair over my oldest sons lack of effort in school. I have tried EVERYTHING to inspire ambition, concentration, and success.

My son is a brilliant boy. His level of intelligence and vast vocabulary often even shocks me. However his school work does not reflect that. In fact often times it reflects the opposite. His teacher is well aware that my son is "gifted" child but that does not change the fact that proof of knowledge has to be shown.

My son does not suffer from a medical condition that makes it difficult for him to concentrate or follow directions. He does however suffer from boredom. And to alleviate his boredom in class he reads whatever interests him most at the time.

This has been an issue that has plagued us and we have suffered with for years. Today was my limit. Today was the day that I raised the white flag of surrender.

This issue has taken so much of my attention that I feel I have neglected my other school age sons education. I am so completely focused on my oldest that his younger brother has been left to work completely independent from me. I am so blessed that he has no struggles or issues in school.

I have tried EVERYTHING to guide my oldest away from taking the difficult path that he is determined to take and I have to allow him to learn from his own mistakes.

I can no longer coddle him. I have to give my attention to his younger brother and hope he will get his act together.

It is in these moments of motherhood, of parenthood, that my husband and I give thanks to God that this is our big family issue.

LAST TO KNOW!!

How was it NEVER brought to my attention that Blogger had an official app for iPhone?!?!?

This is the kind of news that can change a persons life drastically!! Well my life drastically. I am on cloud 9 over this news. I needed this kind of simple pleasure in my life.

Things have been a little difficult but I'm trying to stay positive and throw myself into the things that give me great pleasure and distraction. Like reading my $1.99 Good Will find, a paperback copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Or making book wreaths for neighbors. Watching French Food at Home on the Cooking Channel. My darling hubby just recently bought me a new book to read once I finish Pride and Prejudice, about who other than Marie Antoinette.

My hubby is so sweet and absolutely my greatest blessing. Next to the new Blogger app of course. *wink*wink*

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!

Time for school to start again and you know what that means... Mornings filled with madness and vanilla coffee, sleepy children and misplaced homework. My boys shouting "Mom I can't find my shoe!" and "Did you sign my permission slip?... It's due today!"

I am so excited for the madness to begin. Honestly it makes me feel like a mom; if that makes sense. Last night while laying in bed with the hubby reflecting on our day my heart began to mourn a little. My babies are babies no more. Not even just a little. I have 3 big boys and it's hard to accept.

It's hard to accept there will be no more baby bottles or high chairs. No more soothies or Johnson & Johnson lavender baby shampoo. No one to rock in my arms and drool all over my shirt. No baby wipes or diapers to carry around. It brings tears to my eyes to think that season of my life is over. A season I thought would bloom just once more.

But choices were made and decisions had to be accepted. When 2 people have totally different views on what the next chapter of family life should be... well someone has to put their wants aside.

So now I have 3 big boys who are growing up too fast for my poor heart to handle.

Busy Bee

I have been such a busy bee these past few weeks. I have been busy repurposing and rehabbing my Good Will treasures. Touring Washington and all it's beauty and amazing sites. Enjoying my children and their summer vacation while being tortured by it.

We are feeling more comfortable in our little town nestled at the edge of the woods and it's even starting to have an "I'm home" feel. We unfortunately are having a difficult time finding a home church.

We found a temporary church but with each service, I like it less. I miss my church in SoCal tremendously. I hope we can find a church here that can give us the peace and inspiration that RCC did.

I also hope that I can find the time to do the laundry as well as fold it. Drink some sweet tea and craft a book wreath AFTER I read the 7 books my girlfriend Kristie gave me. You know you have an amazing and real friend when she gives you bags of books!

I wish you all a memorable summer!

I DID IT!!!

Okay so yesterday Kristie came over and we ventured out in the "rain" to my second newest addiction and favorite store here in Washington, The Dollar Store!!

(The Dollar Store is my second newest addiction and favorite store because my first newest addiction and favorite store is The Good Will Store,)

Anyway, Kristie needed some supplies to make more of her shabby chic book wreath creations. So we went to The Dollar Store. Also Kristie had said she would teach me how to create my very own book wreath so I needed to buy my own supplies.

The day prior I had stopped by The Good Will Store to see for myself what all the buzz was about. Well let me tell you the buzz was spot on!!

The store was clean, the merchandise hot, and the prices mind boggling. I found and purchased 2 Twilight books for $1.99 a piece. You wanna feel like a millionaire? Shop at The Good Will Store.

Anyway, before I get carried away about The Good Will Store, I shared with you that specific information to give you this information.

I made my very own book wreath, from you guessed it, my NON-gently used Twilight books. I made a Twilight book wreath!!

It was fun.
It looks fabulous.
I burned the *B-E-E-P* out of my finger.

I can't wait to go to the store and buy more glue for my glue gun to make another Twilight book wreath.

I DID IT!!! I made a craft all on my own. I did it, and I must say I did it well.