Monday, October 26, 2015

Broken


My oldest son, Matteo, sent the most cool picture ever.  Our boy played last weekend for the Las Vegas Philharmonic...kinda like playing for a pro sports team except in the music world.

I feel like shouting, so I'm going to...we are SO PROUD!

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He's working so hard to live the dream - and it's one we know well.  It goes like this:
A musician is someone that puts a $5,000 horn in a $500 car and drives 50 miles for a $5 gig.

Plug away, Matthew.  Plug away.

Fall is here and the picture on my weather app was of my neighborhood.

How cool is that?

Yet another Busch boy who marches to his own drum.

And yes, he wore this to school for spirit day.  

Friday night football is so. much. fun and I'm going to miss it so much when it's over.  This is our 12th straight year at the high school and it's all coming to an end.

What will we do with all our free time?

Boys 2 and 3.  

I dreamed of this family...this big, messy, loud, obnoxious family and I am so very, very thankful.

I'd be more thankful if they cleaned up after themselves, but you can't have everything.

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I will say, I am NOT going to miss the sweaty, smelly uniforms...every single day there are two loads of just uniforms.  Whites and reds, whites and reds, whites and reds.

Not sure I'll ever wear either of those colors again.

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THIS.

I have a broken elbow and I am so very, very sad.  It hurts a lot, it's hot, it's itchy and I became a blubbering mess in the cast room.  I knew something was wrong but had no clue it was broken.  

No hiking, no lifting, no nothing...it's hard to run a household with one arm.

=(

On the flip side...I can drive and I can work and my boys have been so great.

I'm praying it heals relatively quickly...could you pray that too?


Today I basically just felt sorry for myself.  Tomorrow is a new day and I'll pick myself up and carry on.

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Thursday, October 22, 2015

Snipets


Saturday morning breakfasts are,  more often than not, made by that guy that I like so much.  They're always different because he uses whatever is in the fridge and they are always so good...though doesn't everything taste better when made by someone else?

Coffee in a hula girl mug doesn't hurt either.

Last weekend was homecoming...our school doesn't do a formal homecoming dance but instead does something called 'jersey jam' where they all wear - you guessed it!- jerseys.  

Can't believe our baby is a senior.  And that he is tall.

The weather here in SoCal has FINALLY woken up and realized that it is Fall.  The days are warm, the nights are cool and we are all so very, very happy.  

And hello...nothing beats pumpkin bread.

My favorite trail is closed and so I've had to move to the one next to it.  All around us they are preparing for El Nino - big, big rains are predicted for our drought stricken state this winter which is a good and bad thing...we desperately need the water but not the flooding that is expected to come with it.

My trail is next to a retention basin and so they are preparing...I hope that means snake removal, too.

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We went to Costco for toilet paper and came away with the most complicated tv/sound system ever.  He's thrilled and I just want to be able to turn on a TV and watch a show without needing a 12 inch thick manual...or a two hour long class because we all know how much patience I have when it comes to following directions.

=/

FYI - we still have boxes holding up our family room chair...we're always one step away from being all put together.

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Last weekend we had the most lovely garden party and I haven't cleaned up from it yet because it's such a happy memory.  Our space is little but it is mighty and it makes me all teary eyed when I think about it.  This was an epic garden party season...though they all are.

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THESE.

Have you tried them?

I blame my girlfriend and I'm not sure I'll ever forgive her.  

And yeah, I had four bags of them in my cart because hello...they're seasonal and that means when I'm crying for them in February, they'll be tucked safely in my freezer.

Yum.

And this.  My elbow.  I've had an old, old injury that I hurt again in the most weird way (running through an airport, carrying my super heavy laptop bag over the crook of my arm) and I'm spending a lot of time at my chiropractors office the last few weeks.  I'm doing everything I can to avoid surgery even though that is probably the easy way to go.  

Bummer.

Quadruple bummer.

Football season is winding down and I'm going to miss the friday night lights and hearing my boys name called over the loud speakers.  I won't miss the worry - or the sweaty, smelly gear.

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Last night we went to a new to us place...Mesa in Costa Mesa.  There was jazz playing and the food was AH-MAZING and it had kinda this swanky vibe and a super great happy hour.

Not quite sure I'm cool enough though...but I'll try and fake it because those fried olives were seriously the bomb.

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Lots of work to be done today which screams for lots of coffee.  A slow, one armed hike for the afternoon followed by a big pot of chicken cacciatore (lifted by one of my strong males...sigh), eaten in the garden.  

Happy Thursday, my friends.

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Friday, October 16, 2015

Fall Break


That guy that I like so much is on Fall break and we've been having a really fun time just putzing around.  We've discovered some fun new coffee places...local, hole in the wall places that are perfect for people watching and reading and even writing a blog post.

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(If you're local to the OC - Alta in Newport is a new favorite.  Try the bueno bowl.)

He's also been cooking fun suppers for us...yum

I front loaded my work week so that I could hang with him as much as possible.  We had tossed around a little getaway but it's homecoming week for the youngest shrub and there is lots going on...that, and college apps are almost ready to send.

FYI...one of the only life stages I WON'T miss?  The college app stage.  The poor kid is a very young senior - he just turned 17...and he's gotta make pretty big decisions about something that isn't going to happen for almost a whole 'nuther year.  Ah well...life.  He's got great opportunities, is super (as in exceptionally) smart but isn't sure he wants to leave the nest quite yet.  And I get it.  Totally.

SoCal continues to be HOT and dry and while you're reading reports of massive flooding and mudslides, we continue to be dry.  

We need rain.  Safe rain...the kind of rain that slowly soaks into the ground.

Yesterday we hung out at a coffee place in the morning, wandered around some of our favorite shops in the afternoon and ended up pulling the trigger and buying some much needed furniture.  I made a big pot of soup for supper and it was just one of those lovely, easy days...I wish there were more days like that.  

The laundry is piled 5 miles high and the floors need to be mopped but yesterday was a gift.

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I've been challenged in my mothering abilities lately...yet another of my boys is feeling the need to spread his wings.  Two are easy now; one to go.  It's so hard to always have to be a parent when it would be so much easier to just be a friend...but I wasn't hired to be a friend and sometimes that just sucks.

Ah well.  This too shall pass.  I love the relationships I have with each of these boys of mine and am blessed in that department...what a gift to have that.  But seriously...why have they each needed to do stupid things? 


Our olive tree was full of olives this year and after overanalyzing olive info online, I left them on the tree until they turned a glorious shade of purple, picked them and am brining them in a way that doesn't require using lye.

So...the limocello is steeping, the olives are curing and next up?

Christmas fruitcake.

Yum.

We're heading to a movie this morning, stock up at Costco this afternoon and then to Brian's homecoming football game tonight.  This weekend is blessedly open and clear...the garden is calling my name.  

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Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Holy Hotness Batman


Southern California has not gotten the memo that it's officially been Autumn for about 3 weeks now.  Our daily temps have been as close to 100 degrees that you can get and pretty much all we can do around these parts?

Whine.

We're:

a. all miserable
b. thankful for AC
c. crying at our bill each month
d. willing to give up food in order to pay the bill


I went out and bought a pumpkin candle with the hopes that at least the inside of our little house  
will smell like it's no longer summer.

It's working...kind of.

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I'm being a rebel though...or maybe just hopeful, and last night I made a huge pot of vegetable wonton soup that ended up feeding the masses.  There seems to be a steady stream of boys in and out of this little house of ours and it's just been really fun.  

It's not ever quiet but that's more than ok.  

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I spent all morning on hold with the social security office...I ended up locking myself out of their website when trying to create an online account.  They ask three or four security questions and it turns out I don't know my own life as well as I thought.

I guess I should pay better attention but seriously, how am I supposed to remember things that happened in 1989?

All's well now but lesson learned.  I'll pay attention from now and on.

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I guess this is my week for waiting around...yesterday it was dealing with a tire issue on my work car that took me from the tire place to the dealer and then back to the tire place.  The wheel lock snapped off when they were trying to remove it and it took a whole bunch of people 4 hours to resolve an issue that was supposed to take 30 minutes.

No biggie.  There was a Starbucks nearby with the ever present wifi and AC and all repairs were paid for on a company credit card which makes them the best kind of repairs ever...no matter how long they take.

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I'm off to meet a new baby this afternoon and I am so excited to hold a newborn.  There's something about the fact that they don't move and don't talk and don't forget to turn in their homework or to walk the dog.

Sounds kinda nice to me.

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Sunday, October 11, 2015

Even Though I Cannot See


1 Peter 1: 3-9

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 


God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life. 


 We have been born into a new life which has an inheritance that can’t be destroyed or corrupted and can’t fade away. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you, since you are guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.


You are extremely happy about these things, even though you have to suffer different kinds of trouble for a little while now



The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. 


Your faith is more precious than gold, and by passing the test, it gives praise, glory, and honor to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ appears again.


Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. 

You don’t see him now, but you believe in him. 

 

You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words as you obtain the salvation that is the goal of your faith.



I love this passage in scripture.

I need this passage in scripture.

Key words:

given us new birth
confidence
an inheritance that can't be destroyed
kept in heaven
guarded by God's power
extremely happy
suffer for a little while
purpose 
test your faith
more precious than gold
extremely happy with joy
hardly be expressed in words
salvation is the goal

So much hate.  So much fear.  So much anger.

Enough.  

The suffering will not end and our beliefs will be challenged but this time on earth is temporary.  And while I weep for what is happening around me, I am holding hard and strong to what is waiting for me.  And for you.


Amen.

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Life this week:

Matthew and his love, Brianne
My trio, all together for 3 whole days
The Gypsy Den at The Lab...my new favorite hideaway for morning coffee
A nail in my (work car) tire
Dear Fall, where oh where are you?
Brian recovered a fumble!
Yes, he wore lederhosen
Alex and his love, Emily
Oktoberfest 2015
Girlfriends for the win
The polka AND the chicken dance - opah!



 

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Saturday in October

Home feels so good, especially after being away. 

Lots of meals eaten in a hotel room, lots of airplanes, lots of airports, lots of quiet.

I was ready for home.

All my boys are home this weekend and I'm soaking it up.  There's stuff everywhere, they eat A LOT, there's a lot of boy stuff happening at all times.  How come boys can't walk within 5 feet of each other without shoving or elbowing or making a comment of some sort?

It's kinda fun to watch now but I just don't get it.  Will they still do this when they're 40?  

If I could have a dollar for every time I've said, 'BOYSSSSSS!' then I'd be rich.  Really, really rich.

I'm finding myself...and others are, I'm sure, wondering what is happening in this world of ours.  So much hate, so much violence, so much judgement.

I am a Christian but I've questioned...if faced with a gunman, would my faith speak or would my fear?  Those college students stood up for their faith...but would I?  I'm a mom.  I'm a wife.  I crave heaven and the peace it will bring but I like living here, too.  I want to grow old with that guy that I like so much.  I want to rock my grandbabies.  I want to smell the air on beautiful Autumn mornings. I want to eat pasta in Italy one more time and have coffee with girlfriends and sit in my garden with my loves and every single one of those things is such a selfish, earthly thing.

I need Jesus.  Plain and simple.  I need to trust in the promise that He will carry me when I need to be carried and not worry so much about the rest.  But it's hard.


Everything else seems small these last few days.  

And so I'm doing what I do.  Praying for my boys and their salvation.  Praying for my husband as he goes to work at his college each morning.  Praying for peace  - for this world, for those who suffer, for my own heart.

Come, Lord Jesus.  Come.

And until then, real every day life continues.  

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Trader Joe's has pumpkin caramel kringle in stock,  the coffee is hot and strong, that guy that I like so much has a concert tomorrow,  my boys (and one girl!) are all under our little roof on our little street, there's a 15 pound pork roast ready to go in the oven soon and I've got a new phone with a major amount of memory on it.

It's silly but I am SO happy.  

So on this Saturday, that's that.  There is a change that has happened - a change in the weather that tells me yet another season has come.  As I'm sitting at my counter drinking coffee, the windows are wide open and even though it is close to 80 there is a slight chill to the breeze.

Finally.

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