Shades of Violet

New Year

2012-01-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

I read something today that inspired me so much

that I just had to share.........

Each day do something to lift another soul out of the sea of sin, or disease of doubt which man has fallen.......A helping hand is needed that raises the helpless to courage, to struggle, to faith, to health. Love and laugh. Love and laughter are the beckoners to faith and courage and success. Trust on. Love on. Joy on.

Refuse to be downcast. Refuse to be checked in your upward climb. Love and laugh. {I am} with you, {I} will bear your burdens. Cast your burden upon Me and I will sustain you. Then in very lightheartedness you turn and help one another with the burden that is pressing to heavily upon him or her.

How many burdens can you lighten this year? How many hearts can you cheer? How many souls can you help? In giving, you gain.

Give, and you will recieve. Your gift will be returned to you in full---pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. ~Luke 6:38

Have an wonderful New Year~

The Five Stages of Grief.........for chocolate?

2012-01-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

my husband & I have a close family member who is going through a break-up that is like a divorce, even though they were never married, they were together for a very long time. We are grieving with him through this process. Even though its so difficult, it was a necessary break, dispute the hurt.

It got me thinking about a particular relationship I needed to sever in my life.

chocolate.

I read an an interesting article recently of the effects of chocolate on the brain. Chocolate causes neurotransmitters to be released in your brain. It causes serotonin to be released, which aids in stress, and tryptophan {which is found also in turkey} is found in chocolate, which also causes the release of serotonin and helps you feel relaxed. One of the most interesting neurotransmitters that chocolate releases to the brain, {possibly the most fascinating of all} is phenylethylamine. its actually favored to be the 'chocolate amphetamine', causing slight euphoria, alertness, and happiness. It causes your heart to race and blood pressure to peak.

I need to go to chocolate rehab.

I imagine the Kübler-Ross model five stages of grief for chocolate would look something like this:

denial: 'I'm ok, chocolate tastes so good, its not that bad.' or 'I could stop eating chocolate whenever I want!' or 'Somebody needs to keep Hershey's in business, and that person is me!'

anger: 'I can't believe I ate that much chocolate! grrrrr you, chocolate!' or 'It's not fair that I gain weight after I eat chocolate!!'

bargaining: 'After my next piece I will stop. I will just eat one piece.' or 'I will only eat chocolate when I am PMS'ing. That is all.'

depression: 'What's the point of living if I can't eat chocolate?' or 'Why even try to enjoy life when there is no chocolate?'

acceptance: 'I have no power over chocolate.' or 'I will be able to live without chocolate. It is possible.'

dear chocolate....

you have brought me through some tough times when I needed you, but now it is time to cut ties. you make me feel so guilty after i eat you, and i know i need to let you go. someday i might be able to enjoy you again, but on different terms. for right now, i am going back to my first love.........coffee.

sweetly,

violet

{What would a computer do with a lifetime supply of chocolate? }

~Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

complete.

2011-12-28T21:35:00.000-08:00

"Even in literature and art,

no man who bothers about originality will ever be original;

whereas if you simply try to tell the truth,

{without caring twopence how often it has been told before}

you will, nine times out of ten, will become original without ever having noticed it.

Give up yourself, and you will find your real self.

Loose your life and you will save it."

~C.S. Lewis {Mere Christianity}

{book review soon to come}

Riley's Gift~

2011-12-23T11:04:00.001-08:00

My daughter made this Christmas gift at pre-school this week that only a mother could love....

and I love it!!!!!

~Merry Christmas~

courage.

2011-12-22T21:11:00.000-08:00

"Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got?"

'Ohhhh!'~{The Cowardly Lion}

'What happened?' ~{The Scarecrow}

'Somebody pulled my tail.'~{The Cowardly Lion}

'Oh, you did it yourself!'~{The Scarecrow}

Just call me The Cowardly Lion. Brain? Check. Heart? Double check. Courage..........?

I surround my self with courageous, strong people. Both of my closest friends, {this one & this one} yet different in personality, both very strong in spirit. My husband exudes more confidence than any other person I know. {one of the many things that attracted me to him in the first place} I named my daughter a name that means "valor, valiant, courageous".

When I start to compare and slip down that slippery slope of self-distruction, I think.....'Where the HECK did I go wrong?' Then I have to remember this:

Courage is so much more than I think it is. It specifically means: "The ability to confront fear, pain, uncertainity, or intimidation."

One of the greatest things that I have discovered over the past month or so ,while sitting on a stiff chair once a week, in a small office, talking to a very kind and understanding woman I pay $45 dollars to for a little over an hour: is that I am my own worst enemy. Nobody thinks towards me the way I think of myself. In fact, my closest friends & my husband tell me that I am one of the strongest people they know.

please take 2.5 minutes out of your life and watch this:

here is the link if it doesn't play above: http://youtu.be/oeAiRJzKns4?hd=1

In his book, The Courage to Be, {incredible, life changing book, if I might add. read it if you ever have time}

Paul Tillich writes:

"Courage is the self-affirmation of being in spite of the fact of non-being. It is the act of the individual self in taking the anxiety of non-being upon itself by affirming itself ... in the anxiety of guilt and condemnation. ... every courage to be has openly or covertly a religious {or faith-based} root. For religion {or faith} is the state of being grasped by the power of being itself."

Another great book, God Calling, that I have been reading lately {this old 1970's book that is packed full of wisdom that is eternally applicable} speaks about the 'perfect love' described in 1 John 4:18

'There is no fear in Love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.'

In the book, it gives evidence of God speaking truth in this:

'The fear may have been but a small one, but it afford evil a weak spot of attack and entrance, and then in come rushing despondency, doubt of Me, and so many other sins. Pray, my beloved children, for that Perfect Love of me that indeed casts out all fear.'

This hit me in the face so hard. When I accept these condemning fears and thoughts, it directly affects the way I view and perceive perfect love, in whatever form that might be...... In my realtionship with others, friends, my husband. It affects the way that I view love from others.

In following the truth that I mentioned previously, God Calling issues this:

'Fight fear as you would a plague. Fight it in My Name.......Fear, even the smallest fear, is the hacking at the cords of love that bind you to me. However small the impression, in time those cords will wear thin, and then one disappointment, or shock they will snap. But for the little fears, the cords of love would have held. Fight fear'

So I will fight. Everyday if I have to.

'Read what my medal says: "Courage".....Ain't it the truth? Ain't it the truth?'

~The Cowardly Lion {The Wizard of Oz}

Riley's Bangs!

2011-11-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Riley & I took a trip to the hair salon to get a little trim for her hair....... and she left with bangs!

"Never loose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful,

for beauty is in God's handwriting."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's Raining Leaves.....

2011-11-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

I never realized until our family moved to the Northwest, how much I have missed out on the autumn season. Last weekend, my family & I were driving to visit my parents and we drove through this beautiful place called Port Gamble. It looks like what I imagine turn of the century upstate New York would be......check it out here . When we drove down the main tree lined street, all these beautiful, colorful leaves poured down on our car; hundreds of leaves; in greens, oranges, reds, yellows.......it was like something out of a novel.

Autumn has made me so thankful for this season to the point of cherishing every moment that fall has to offer this year. I have made spiced apple cider in my crock pot, at least a half of a dozen times (easy recipe: 1 bottle of Motts Apple Juice, 2 TBSP of Williams-Sonoma or Trader Joes Mulling Spices wrapped in tea strainer or cheese cloth, heat on LOW for 1 hour in crock pot, then set on WARM till served. YUM!) My daughter & I have collected some gorgeous dried leaves & made a little collection of fall things in our entry way......

A family friend of ours gave us 4lbs of apples from their apple tree this past Sunday. I am going to try to make this for the first time on Thursday. What isn't more autumn than warm out of the oven apple crisp??

p.s.......I am thoroughly enjoying all of Starbucks fall drinks......

especially the Salted Carmel Mocha. salty.sweet.goodness.

--------------------------

What are you appreciating most about this fall season?

Riley: In Her Words.

2011-11-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

"It is translation that demonstrates most vividly the yearning for transformation that underlies every act involving speech, that supremely, human gift." ~H. Mathews

Listening to my child decipher the English language has to be one of the most fascinating things I have ever done. In through her ears she hears how a word is pronounced and out her mouth comes a whole another word.

It's really quite entertaining and adorable at the same time.

Here are just a few of Riley's translation on some words:

heeba butter:

-or peanut butter. A peanut based paste applied to bread or sandwiches. Or to Riley, anything that has a similar texture: sour cream, whipped cream, butter.......its all heeba butter.

woosic:

-or music. Riley...."Mommy? could you turn on some woosic?" me: "Sure! What do you want to listen to?" Riley....."Bob." (Bob is equivalent to VeggieTales)

kiger:

or tiger. A wild, African animal with stripes. We were parked on a ferry and I hear my daughter shouting: "Loooooook, Mommy! A kiger!! A kiger!" Sure enough, this man next to us had a leopard print chair cover in his car. A kiger.

Gumbo:

or Dumbo. The elephant in the 1941 Disney cartoon. Or really any elephant she sees. They are all Gumbo's.

strawbabies:

or strawberries. The red, delicious berry. I guess they are small......like babies? Not to sure on this one. 'A' for effort in my book, Riley!

kwips:

or chips. Deep fried or baked potato slices, prepackaged in a bag. She loves these things! If fruit snacks are the fuel for Riley's body, I think it's the oil in kwips keeps her motor running.

___________________

Please share in the comments any adorable word translations your little one has.... in his/her words.......I would love to hear!

Well......HELLO!!

2011-09-05T20:10:00.001-07:00

I know what you are going to say. It's been a LONG time. Well, a lot has happened in my small world this past month!

for instance......

~our little family moved 1500 miles away to a rural part of Washington State. Beautiful area. My husband is working again in full time ministry. We live on an acre & 1/4. We have no dishwasher (did not know that when we accepted the rental agreement!) Our dryer is not compatible in our house because it runs on gas, so we have been hang drying our clothes......so either we are really going GREEN or we are really going back a century. I am voting for the first one. I get to wake up to the sun rising over the mountains and seeing the sun set over the pines. We take hikes through the woods down to the straight of the ocean where you can see Canada across the bay. Most of all I get to be apart of it all with my family. Blessed.

~quit my job and now am full time at home with my daughter again. So happy for this. Oh don't worry. It's not like I am just sitting around reading celebrity mags & eating chocolate all day. She keeps me on my toes ;)

~photography with my sister-in-law at a wedding. LOVED IT! Turns out I actually have a knack for it. Such a beautiful wedding & incredible couple. She: a petite, brunette with highlighted hair & Him: a red head & irish!! Reminded me a lot of me & my redheaded irishman. When you see a couple like that, so in love, it's so inspiring! I do have way to go before my talent is perfected.........thank you, Lindsey (AKA my Soul Sister!) for letting me be apart of that day. I was so honored. Check out her photography here .

~overcoming anxiety with the enormity of it all. You see, when we chose the house that we are in, we never visited it beforehand. Thus bringing up a lot of mixed feelings from my childhood. Arriving at a home, not knowing what to expect. Even 20 years later it is difficult. Needless to say, I had some pretty destructive thoughts following. Thoughts that tear me down as a woman, mom, wife & friend. Here's the kicker.....or the piece de resistance, as some may put it: I gave into those deflating thoughts. I let them get me down. I am really fortunate for the people I have in my life. One in particular gave me incredible encouragement (or put me in my place?) when I needed it. She shared with me how I am merely human. To keep my joy & do NOT let the evil sneak in. I was greatly provoked by this verse and this Steven Curtis Chapman song called Meant To Be that my redheaded irishman downloaded for me.

Here is a just a few lyrics~

Meant To Be

Long before you drew your first breath

A dream was coming true

God wanted to give a gift to the world
So he wrapped it up in you

Every step that you’ve taken
Every move that you make
Is part of his plan

You were meant to be touching
The lives that you touch

And meant to be here
Making this world so much more
Than it would be without you in it

____________________________________

And with that, I bid you goodnight, farewell........

It is good to be back.

~Vi

Shaun the Sheep!

2011-07-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

Who is Shaun the Sheep you ask?

Let me indulge you.......

Shaun the Sheep is more than your average sheep. He exudes more intelligence than some human beings I know. He can play a mean game of soccer with a head of cabbage. He can dance an Irish jig like no other sheep. He has mad skills on the dance floor like John Travolta disco-dancing in Saturday Night Fever. His wit & brains are more than expressed in this adorable show for people of all ages.

What interests me in this stop-motion animation show? First of all there is NO dialogue. NONE. With the exception of a grunt from the red-headed farmer or an occasional BAAA from the sheep herd. Second, it keeps my daughter & husband entertained for HOURS. [Love that!] Lastly, I love how the sheep-dog, Bitzer drinks his cup of coffee every morning watching over the herd.

Check it out!

You will seriously laugh out loud.

in 55 years......

2011-07-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

my hubby & i are totally going to be that old couple married 65 years and bickering about God knows what. at the end of the day we are still going to kiss and hold each other till we fall asleep.

i love him so much.........

Sound Off !!!

2011-06-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

I found this in a magazine today. It made me laugh so hard I just HAD to share it with you all.

10 things NEVER to say to a WORKING MOM~

1. It must be hard missing those special moments everyday.

2. I suppose its smart that your working, in case your husband leaves you someday.

3. I'm surprised you went back to work, I thought your husband made so much money!

4. It's cute that your kids call the babysitter "Mommy".

5. I just love MY kids too much to leave them during the day.

6. Didn't you see that DATELINE? The one with the hidden camera at the babysitters?

7. I could NEVER let someone else raise my kids. But that's just me!

8. I hated my mom for being a working mom.

9. You must feel SO guilty, huh?

10. I wish I were as laid back as you and just let all the housework go.....

This one that made me laugh too.......

10 things NEVER to say to a STAY-AT-HOME MOM~

1. When your kids get older, do you think you will get a REAL job?

2. How June Cleaver of you!

3. Oh! So you don't actually work?

4. Since you don't work, could you whip up a batch of brownies for the PTA meeting tomorrow?

5. I'm jealous. I wish my husband was as rich as yours so I wouldn't have to work either.

6. Well, I'm sure you're not the only one who has ever wasted money on a college degree.

7. That explains why your son is so clingy!

8. All day with YOUR kids? I can't even imagine......

9. So. What exactly do you do all day anyways?

10. Weird. I just assumed your house would always be superclean.

I have recently gone back to work, after working only a couple days a week for the first year and a half of my daughters life, then taking 6 months off this past year to stay home with her and take a few classes. Being a working mom has been difficult, but a necessity for our family. Personally, I have had #'s 1,2,5,7,&9 [by very ignorant acquaintances] in the first set of "Things" said to me. Thankfully I have a wonderful mix of friends who are working moms & stay-at-home moms who are SO encouraging and uplifting to me who would never say these things. It's so crazy being on the "other side of coin" experiencing these opinions and reactions.

I hope someday to be a full-time stay-at-home mom again........

I know that day will be wonderful=)

Which one of these questions have been said to you? Working mom or stay-at-home mom?

The YaYa's

2011-06-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

"You don't write something because you want to say something, you write something because you have something to say."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

One of my favorite movies is The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood. No.......its not that movie about those crazy pants that magically fit each of those girls. This one is about a set of women who are friends through childhood all the way into elderly hood. I think the reason I love it is because all of these women are broken, flawed and incredibly real. They each know that about one another and remain friends throughout life and would go to the ends of the earth for each other.

I would have to say that I have always envied these women in this movie; being so close, real and caring for each other. Up until a couple years ago I really hadn't found this group of YaYa's that I had always dreamed of. Granted, I know it would be difficult for me to have had life long friends beginning in childhood, because of my ocean-like childhood, being tossed back and forth. Yet. With my life as an adult, when I truly believe my life has begun, I have wanted to find women like this.

In desperation, I even considered placing a personal ad in the local newspaper looking something like this:

Wanted:

Geeky, Sci-Fi loving mom seeking friendship with a group of moms. Job includes and is not limited to: Birthday celebrations at a local Italian restaurant called Oregano's. Enjoying a glass of Pinot Grigio every once in a while. Commitment & Loyalty required: Defending this geeky mom to others who 'talk smack' & cannot get 'butt-hurt' easily. Must be able to laugh at each others flaws. Not allowed: Jealousy of one another & judging each other parental skills.

-If interested please respond to:

willyoubemyfriend?@live.com

Call it fate. Call it providence. Call it what you will. (Call it a really tall & loyal Asian woman?=) Somehow these woman signed up for the job.

I am inspired, encouraged, uplifted by these women. Whether its a chat on the phone, a text or a night out laughing, I have found these 'YaYa' sisters.

"I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with the roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass threads or frost-work, but the solidest thing we know." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

not a lost cause

2011-06-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

I was about 11 years old. My adoptive mom was in the front seat of our family car with relative chatting and I was in the back seat with my sister. I think we were singing Little Mermaid songs or something. We were parked in front of my moms parents house after a day out together. When this particular relative got out of the car, my mom turned around to us in the back seat with obvious disdain on her face. She said to me between gritted teeth, "Do not listen to a WORD she said. Adopted children are NOT messed up. You are exactly the way you are supposed to be. You are NOT a lost cause."

I don't even remember hearing the conversation between my mom and this particular relative, but I do remember my mom sharing with my dad what was conversed, and basically this woman stated to my mom (in front of me) that she felt like all foster/adopted children were 'messed up' and had serious problems.

I really don't know why I remember this almost 20 years later.

What I do know is that what my mom said is true. Even though people go through certain things, it doesn't make them 'messed up' or a lost cause.

It just adds to character and who you are.

You are not a lost cause.

........b&bw.........

2011-03-31T17:02:00.000-07:00

I found this delicious smelling hand soap........

It smells like a tropical vacation I WISH I were on yesterday......

my question is:

When is it going to be in a 16 oz version on ice with a straw?

;)

Day 21 [A picture of something you wish you could forget]

2011-03-24T20:16:00.000-07:00

Sept 11, 2001

Day 20 [A picture(s) of somewhere you would love to travel]

2011-03-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

Of course I can't just pick one. So. I am going with:

'Various Countries in Europe'

First~

Venice, Italy.......The birthplace of my heritage.

Second~

Ireland.....The family origin of my redheaded irishman.

Thirdly~

London! It looks incredible!!!!

Last......but not least~

Normandy, France. Where our soldiers fought, sacrificed and died for our freedom on Utah Beach during World War II.

Day 19 [A picture of a letter]

2011-03-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

This day is sooooo weird!! Ok. so I could only think of the tv show V. I cannot get into this show! I like sy-fy. I like mystery. I even like the fact that one of my LOST characters is on this show! I just COULD NOT GET INTO THIS SHOW!! First of all the mother-alien-woman......her neck!! I don't know what this has to do with the letter V either. Alright, I'm done. The End.

Day 18 [A picture of your biggest insecurity]

2011-03-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

My biggest insecurity?

I sometimes worry too much about what others think. It's sooooo ridiculous, I know. I think too much sometimes......'What if I say the wrong thing?' 'What if I hurt someones feelings?' 'What if ......ahhhh!!!' I have worked through dwelling on this ALL THE TIME like I used to in my younger years. Yet....... sometimes [like when I am sleep-deprived or in a group of people I have never met!] I start to drive down this slippery slope of self-destruction. I have really trained myself [most of the time!] to not let my thoughts 'go there' & focus on good things like whats for dinner tonight or encouraging others.

Day 17 [A picture of something (or someone) that has made a huge impact on your life recently]

2011-03-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

My T-Group [Transformation Group] girls. Kim, Jaime & Lindsay. These ladies are awesome. The best. Each week we get together for coffee and chat over what we have learned while reading the One Year Bible this year. We pour our hearts out to each other. I am so honored to know these women and look forward to our lifelong friendship together!!! Love them!

Survival Mode.

2011-03-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

The redheaded irishman said to me this morning; 'I don't know how you do it. You are wide awake and functioning and I am exhausted. I have not even had the week you have had.'

Let's just say that the only thing that has kept me awake this past week with being a mom, wife, friend, working & family in town is this:

Yes, I am completely addicted to this legal stimulant. And I don't care.

Day 16 [A picture of someone who inspires you]

2011-03-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

My friend Jen. She has an inspiring blog here , mom of 5 kiddos [2 adopted from Africa] and one of the most giving people I know. Jen is such a real person and an encouragement to people around her. She inspires me to be a greater friend & mom. Thank you, Jen!

Day 15 [A picture of something you want to accomplish before you die]

2011-03-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

Adopt a child. From the US or another country. [picture from relief trip to Haiti the redheaded irishman led in '09]

Day 14 [A picture of someone (or people) you can't live without]

2011-03-16T19:07:00.000-07:00

My little RiRi and my redheaded irishman.

Day 13 [A picture of your favorite band or artist]

2011-03-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

The Goo Goo Dolls would have to be my all time favorite. I love the acoustic guitar the band uses on most of their songs. I love the influences of The Cure in their music. I love John Rzeznik's gravely voice. The Goo Goo Dolls music was very influential in my formidable high school/college years.

Day 12 [A picture of something you LOVE]

2011-03-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

It's the Happiest Place on Earth. I love Disneyland!!

Day 11 [A picture of something you HATE]

2011-03-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

I hate spiders. Actually..... I loathe them. Even just looking for a picture of a spider I start to itch & get all creeped out. Whenever I see a spider I run the other direction. Here in Arizona we have the brown recluse and black widow in this dry desert. So gross!! In the summer time if the bug-guy doesn't spray around the house---- we could possibly have an infestation. Disgusting. I hate these creatures with a passion.

Day 10 [A picture of the person you do the CRAZIEST things with]

2011-03-12T20:27:00.001-08:00

My sister in law Lindsey.....Since I met her my junior year on our high school basketball team we have seriously done some crazy, fun stuff. Some things include:

-snowboarding down various mountains in Washington State.

-a late night run to Win-Co ;)

-taking........ pictures.....

-laughing our faces off when no one else has any clue what its about......

-hehehe.....Brian McKnight.

-sharing each others clothes.....'member the cherry skirt????

-Bath & Body Works spray makes EVERYTHING smell better.

And so many other memories I can't even list here that are craziness to others but history & testament to our frienship and now sisterinlawhood. I am so happy she married my brother almost 10 years ago so that now we are family.

Day 9 [A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most]

2011-03-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

I just CANNOT decided on this one. I have so many people who have seen me through so many times. So..........I guess I am going to remain unaffilated on this one. Sorry, folks.

Day 8 [A picture that makes you laugh]

2011-03-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

Say.........'CHEESE!!!' Riley!!!!!

Day 7 [Picture of your most treasured item]

2011-03-09T22:13:00.000-08:00

My American Eagle skinny jeans. I can't live with out these. I have had the same pair for 2 1/2years and they still have life in them. So comfortable. They look amazing with flip-flops, flats & heels. I love the low rise & the weird swoosh emblem on the butt-pockets. Jeans don't get much better than these. I hope they NEVER go out of style.

Day 6 [Picture of someone you'd love to trade places with for a day]

2011-03-09T22:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I know this may sound VERY strange, but I would love to trade places for a day with Bear Grylls. He gets to see the uncharted areas of this incredible world, eats the craziest things like raw salmon out of an icy Alaskan river, and has the coolest accent [have you HEARD the way he says vitamins? Epic!] He is in peak shape---not from being a gym rat, but from tromping around gloriously in wild nature. All the while: with the most positive of attitude.

Day 5 [Picture of your favorite memory]

2011-03-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

My daughter Riley Sophia entering this world. It was so incredible. My husband-Daniel, & I waited 6 years to start trying for little bambinos. We got pregnant 2 months later and lost that little one 8 weeks in. Scared that we might not be able to get pregnant, three months later we were pregnant with our little Ri Ri. We were ecstatic. She is so funny, lively, sweet, beautiful and adorable. I can't ever stop telling her I love her, give her kisses on her soft face, and hugging her after I have been away from her. I just love her so much. Life is so good.

[thank you Kimbasa & Jaimers for letting me copy you two.]

Day 4 [Picture of your night]

2011-03-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

Slightly confused by this one. Just going with a picture of tonight. There are families that are pro-football fans, then there are families that are pro-basketball fans [as seen on the crazed look on my husbands face pictured above]. From the months of October to May, the Phoenix Suns Basketball team are in the midst of their regular season. Most Sunday afternoons / nights are spent here at the Conner home watching the Suns or a double-header [Two sports games held in succession on the same program.] Its fun, entertaining, and I am so happy my daughter is going to grow up with this fantastic pastime.

Day 3 [Cast from your favorite show]

2011-03-05T09:35:00.001-08:00

What can I say? LOST is my favorite show for so many reasons. Plane crash on a deserted Island. Mystery. Suspense. Beautiful people. Interesting characters. Others. Incredible serialized storytelling. The intertwining lives of the cast. Time-travel!!! LOST is the kind of show you have to THINK when you watch. I love how all of my close friends have embraced this phenomenon, too. If you have never seen LOST--you need to. Then you can thank me later.

Day 2 [ Person you have been the closest with]

2011-03-04T09:25:00.000-08:00

I would have to say my husband Daniel. He is seriously the most easy-going guy I have ever met. We have traveled together to so many fun places. He knows me so well. Makes me laugh harder than any other person ever has. He is one of the most selfless people I know & an incredible dad.

30 Day Photo Challenge~

2011-03-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

So I decided to join the many masses and attempt the 30 Day Photo Challenge.

Day1~

Picture of yourself & 10 fun facts~

1) I am such a geek about LOST that I created a fan page on Facebook called LOSTie.

2) 1 of 6 kids. Was adopted when I was 10.

3) Love Sy-Fy/fantasy movies, tv shows & books. Cannot WAIT for The Hunger Games movies!!

4) In May, I will be married 10 years to Mr. Conner.

5) We purposely waited 7 years to have our daughter. We have been pregnant 2 times, we lost a little one 3 months before we were pregnant with Riley.

6) I like dark, funny comedy. I am actually writing something right now that has to do with a self-help group for people who inflict pain upon themselves . Which leads me to......

7) I like to write. Much of which is not in this blog. I think its in my blood. My bio-hippie-mom is a published poetry writer. My grandma has written incredible memoirs on our family from Italy. My uncle on my bio-father's side has written beautiful stories about his childhood on the Oklahoma plains.

8) I love the fact that I have Italian heritage. I love cooking Italian food. I love Italian wine.

9) I once took a personality test that said I have a Golden Retriever personality. I am always loyal to the ones I love and care for.

10) I like to stay fit. But, not in a crazy, obsessed way. Just enough to feel good in the clothes that I am wearing.

Make Your Own Kind of Music

2011-02-12T21:18:00.000-08:00

Little Miss Riley Sophia.......

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road....

2011-02-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Considering that I named my blog post a few weeks ago after a David Bowie song, I found it very poignant to name this one after a Elton John song [two of my favorite English singer-songwriters....]

In August of last year, I left my employment of almost 10 years. It was not an easy decision to make, but a essential one. I found that many things that were apart of my job title, I did not agree with. It was very difficult to excel in the position, due to the severe cut in the economy. It seemed to me [in my humble opinion] that a person in this field of work would almost have to [for all practical purposes] sell their everlasting soul to advance anywhere.

At one point in my career, I had won an all-expense paid trip, not once--- but three times. One time to Hawaii; twice to Las Vegas. I had seen the highs of this job, and then ultimately: the lows. I knew it my heart, it was time to move on.

I am very happy about my decision, yet at the same time so conflicted. Well. For one....I was going to miss the paycheck. And two.....some of my great friends I had worked with for years.

On Monday, I start at a new vocational job. I am excited, eager and apprehensive. You see, I have this Type-A perfectionist-personality; sprinkled in with some people-pleasing tendencies. I hate it sometimes. I know that I will do great, and everyone there will throughly enjoy working with me, but the another part of me says: 'What if I'm not good enough? What if I don't excel?'

So, dear reader. I welcome your thoughts & prayers, and for that; I would be deeply indebted to you.

Kipper: The Dog

2011-02-01T16:29:00.000-08:00

I found this adorable cartoon on Netflix that my daughter Riley LOOOVES! Its called Kipper: The Dog. The series is based on the books by Mick Inkpen, a British author. Kipper is voiced by the English comedian, Martin Clunes.

What I love most about this adorable puppy is how kind he is to his friends: Tiger the dog, and Pig the Pig, how well he treats sweet little creatures that he finds, and how wonderful his manners are. He babysits for his friend Pig the Pig, watching Pig's cousin: Arnold the Baby Pig.

He says things like: 'Thats brilliant!' and 'Thats a great idea!' and 'Hooray!!'

He uses 'Thank You' and he shares with his friends ALL THE TIME.

The soundtrack music are these jazzy feel-good tunes. So chill. So relaxing.

It's a great show for 2-4 year old toddlers.

*I am secretly hoping my dear friend Lindsay brings a Kipper the Dog stuffed animal back from England with her in September.* [a seriously shameless plug]

This show is so perfect! Check it out!!

Little Wonder

2011-01-25T14:34:00.000-08:00

The other day while I was cooking dinner I look over and see this tiny person staring at me.......

Riley managed to stay in this adorable position until I could snap a picture.......

A very challenging feat for a 2 1/2 year old.

I love this little girl so much=)

Flashes Before Your Eyes.

2011-01-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

It was December of 2003. Three days before Christmas. I was working as a customer service rep at the bank I used to be employed by. It was the usual Monday morning, customers walking in and out. Close to 10:00am after our cash shipment arrived, two men walked in the branch. I only noticed the one. He was the one who sat in the lobby with the people I help. But he did not look like a man. He was dressed in drag.

You see......I worked in a part of town that this was very common. Men in drag. So I really didn't think much of it. Actually, the one thing that ran through my mind was, 'Grrreat. I'M gonna be the one who has to help him.' Yes, it was very obvious it was a man in a muumuu with a black wig.

As I stood up to call the next person on the sheet, I didn't even get the words out, 'Can I help you?' when the man in drag stood up, grabbed me, then proceeded to shove me down. The next thing that happened will be imprinted on my brain forever-----he pulled out a silver Glock pistol, grabbed the man next to me and put a the gun to his head. He started to yell, 'Open the vault or I'm gonna kill him!!' with plenty of explicatives in between. The man who was being held down, in the softest voice possible retorted, 'Please, don't.'

The second man, whom I never noticed, was in the teller line when the first man pushed me down. Immediately when the first man pushed me down, the second man ran out of line, to the first teller, and put a gun to that tellers face yelling profanity laced threats. It was the most maddening, chaotic mess I had ever seen.

The only thing that came flashing through my mind when I was sitting on the floor with my knees pressed to my chest sobbing uncontrollably was:

1) I'm going to die

2) I never got to have a baby.

My husband and I were only married two and a half years at the time, and were not planning on trying for another two and a half years for a baby. I have read that in a moment of panic during a life-threatening situation, the mind uses the defense of thinking on the most cherished of things: a parent, loved one or your mind dwells on things you wish you would have had/done.

The whole event seemed like it went on for hours, but before I knew it, the perpetrators ran out of the bank with only $600. Kind of like Einsteins Theory of Relativity: the perception of time is VERY subjective. According to scientific studies, when the brain is subjected to disconcerting or deviant stimuli, it actually causes the person to have an overestimation of time. In my case, what seemed like hours, was in actuality not even 20 minutes.

Later, we had this touchy-feely human resource counselor come in. He seriously made me laugh. He was coaxing us to talk about what happened, and when someone shared something, he ALWAYS brought up a Star Wars reference. For instance: I mentioned that I felt like really couldn't trust customers again. He responded; 'Its kind of like Luke in the Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader tells him he is his father. He did not trust him or his feelings. But in the end, when he decided to trust his feelings and his father, he did not fall to the dark side.'

Seriously?

I like Star Wars (as previously noted, I am a sy-fy geek!) but this is NOT THE TIME OR PLACE, DUDE!!!!

In the end, after taking a few days off, I was ok. A little shaken up, but ok.

It's things like this that really put things in perspective. Make you thankful for being alive.

2011-01-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

Riley loves her pasta.

Her italiana mama is so proud=)

10 Things You MIGHT Not Know About Me

2011-01-02T20:26:00.000-08:00

1) I love snowboarding.

Learned my junior year in high school: backside rotation; bevel; grind and jump off a lift without biffing it.

2) The color yellow and/or gold looks TERRIBLE on me.

Awful.Frightening.Nightmare-ish. You won't sleep for weeks.

3)Name the state: I can name the NBA basketball team.

Without Google-ing. And all 4 teams in Cali.

4)Have a chip in my front left tooth (#9).

I hit my mouth on the monkey bars when I was 6.....It's filled in with resin now.

5) Was a cheerleader at one point in my life.

Never again. Never. Again.

6)Married my first and only boyfriend.

Just wish he was also my first and only kiss.....

7)Can twirl a pen like a drummer twirls a drummers stick.

Friend from high school who was a drummer taught me.

8)LOVE Sy-Fy movies!!

Can't wait for the 2nd Star Trek to come out!

9)Have a semi-photographic memory.

If I read it once, I can recall it & picture the page in my mind.

I know. I'm weird.

10)My dream is to be a professional writer someday.

I would love to be like Nora Ephron & Stephen King: novel writer, screenwriter, and magazine column contributer. The works.

.....Even a penniless writer will suffice=)

I tag three of my blogger buddies to write 10 Things You MIGHT Not Know About Me:

Kimbasa, Jaime, and Lindsay E.

GO!

The Gift of Friendship

2011-01-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

Going into 2011, one of the many things I am overwhelmingly thankful for are great friends. Two of these great friends each gave me something this holiday season to help succumb to one of my weaknesses~Starbucks coffee.

The gifts? The exclusive holiday tumbler and the Jonathan Adler designer mug.

The tall, transparent one with a exceptional sense of holiday flair: from my friend Kim.

The short, chic one with a unmatchable taste for design: from my friend Jaime.

Thank you so much, my sweet friends. I am so thankful for our friendship and looking forward to many more laughs together at Oreganos.

'There's no greater gift than friendship.' ~The Polar Express

My Daughter

2010-12-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

Riley Sophia.

Next month she will be 2 1/2.....

It was just 2 1/2 years ago I brought home this tiny little baby that only weighed 5.8 lbs 3 weeks early than her due date. My life has never been the same since.....for the better.

My daughter has this beautiful, crazy, wavy, mass of strawberry/blond hair. These incredible sapphire blue-eyes with these dark eye lashes...(good to know she did get SOME of my genes!)

She loves to sing. Lately she has loved to sing Christmas songs, especially 'White Christmas', but she is not limited to : Veggie Tales 'Theres a Whole in the Bottom of the Sea' and the title song from Beauty & The Beast. I will post an adorable video of her singing (not to sure WHAT song it is....but so adorable non-the-less!) for your enjoyment. Soon.

Today she watched the Tinkerbell movie: The Great Fairy Rescue. After watching the part when Tink sprinkles fairy dust on the little girl in the movie and she started to fly, Riley jumped up started running across the room with her hands up to the ceiling exclaiming 'I want to fly! I want to fly! Then she ran to me...'Mama, I want to FLY!!' My heart just melted. I love how her mind is so creative already.

She loves our little dog, Vito. Whenever he is outside, she tries to talk to him through the sliding glass door: 'Puppy. You cold?' ; 'Puppy! 'Shhhh!' (when he is barking) and when he barks one loud bark she tells him 'Bless you!'

Riley~

I don't remember what life was without you. I don't ever want to remember. Thank you for being my sweet, beautiful, kind, creative daughter. No matter what, I will love you. You are the most incredible girl in the world to me.

The Toothpick

2010-12-25T22:13:00.000-08:00

As we were leaving our Christmas festivities from my husbands grandmother's house, she stopped us to say there were coats that belong to his grandfather she wanted to give to my husband.

You know....those coats that I'm sure your grandfather wore?

The IZOD kind. Yep......THOSE ones. After arriving home, my husband tried one of them on for size. Placing both hands in the pockets; he pulled out a toothpick.

This toothpick was one that his grandfather was notorious for chewing many, many times.

He died five years ago, Christmas.

This five-year-old toothpick represented so much: memories of his grandfather, a legacy.

My husbands grandparents were married 55 years by the time he passed. His grandfather was 12 years her senior. When they met, his grandma being the woman she is said: 'No smoking and you have to go to church to date me.'

Enter: the toothpicks. My husband remembers this distinctly: his grandfather chewing on these while he grew up & his grandfather picking up a toothpick anytime he saw one on the way out of a restaurant.

So. The greatest gift this Christmas? A toothpick.

Psalm 37

2010-12-22T14:25:00.000-08:00

*disclaimer*

In no way is this to preach or teach to anyone. It is merely my thoughts and if there is anything you take away from this journey....... may you be better for it.

F.Y.I.....This may be one of my longer blog posts.

This past weekend I stumbled upon Psalm 37. I have read it before, this time so much of the psalm spoke to me.

vs 1-2 'Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.'

I think about how David must have felt, when people who he trusted, loved and spent time with and who were in service with him/betrayed him/forgot about him/now look at him as an enemy. I can imagine how painful it was to see these people prosper while he was not. We all can relate. I love how David continues in the next two verses:

vs 3-7 'Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.'

David knows that God will set things right. It is Gods will that is active in my life, not a person or an enemy. People may betray. People may discourage. People may disown. It is God's destiny in my life that prevails all.

Trust in the Lord: Everything good or bad is filtered through God's destiny for us. He is present through it all. Even though others may have intended something for evil or their own purposes, God will make it good.

Do good: No matter WHAT happens, what people do to me, fail me, disown me, criticize me, I choose a higher path and am responsible for my reaction and what I say. Through this, I grow.

Dwell in the land: I have this tendency to run from conflict. It's like there is a little robot inside of me saying 'Danger, Violet Conner! Danger, Violet Conner!' to avoid it at all cost. But when I do this it robs me of any joy or love that I can experience from Christ. Stay and deal with it.

Delight yourself in the Lord: I don't need to focus on the negative. I need to focus on the positive: the evident action of Christ's love in my life. No matter my situation, He is my peace.

Commit your way to the Lord: No matter what people say, do or distract me, it is my choice to serve the Lord. People may say 'You are not cut out for this' or 'You aren't good enough' but in reality, I am. It's up to God's destiny in my life, not mans.

Be still before the Lord: He ultimately rules with fairness. Even though it may seem like people who hurt or are spiritually archaic proceed ahead in this world, I can remain patient knowing Gods purpose triumphs all.

vs 8-11 'Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret---it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.'

Anger & worry lead to hate & bitterness; and that overall leads to evil. I know of these actions that people have had in my life, but I want to learn from this; not retaliate; and not go down that path. It seems also that certain people succeed in this lifetime that shouldn't. In reality: each life is like a breath, it can come today and be gone tomorrow. Which makes me think: What do I want to be remembered for?

Whew....that's all I can write today.

Part 2 coming soon.....

The Things We Do As Moms......

2010-12-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

Its no secret that our family LOVES Disney movies.......

So when Disney Movie Rewards started this 'charm' collection with 3 of its movies, of course I had to start collecting them for Riley. Of COURSE.

First, was the Beauty and the Beast charm. You buy the movie (Beauty and the Beast), put in the code on DMR and....BAM!! You get the link for the charm. This one is a red rose......like the rose from the movie.

I just received this one in the mail.

Second, was the Santa Paws charm. This charm is blue star with a puppy in the center of it. I got Riley this movie for an early Christmas present (using a $10.00 off coupon from DMR!!) and when I went to the website........THE CHARM WAS SOLD OUT!!!!

Ok.....so how am I going to complete this collection for my daughter??? (ok who really wants this? mommy or daughter?)

So...... needless to say, I emailed Disney Movie Rewards customer service. I recieved a message back: 'Sorry, the Santa Paws charm is out of stock and we are not expecting any more.'

Uggg!!!

I was able to order the last charm & bracelet combo from Tinkerbell: The Great Fairy Rescue. Its a silver Tinkerbell charm with silver bracelet. My sweet mother-in-law bought it for Riley (with a $5.00 coupon ALSO from DMR!!) for Christmas.

Like I said.......the things we do as moms......HA!

Speak up.

2010-11-28T12:02:00.000-08:00

I was given some constructive criticism recently. Specifically on communication.

Criticism....interesting concept. It could come across as constructive or destructive. I have had to really think on this a lot after receiving mine. I was told in one way or less that I need to use my 'big girl voice' when talking to others. Did it shock me? probably. Was it the best way to phrase it? no. Did I need to hear it? yes.

Winston Churchill once said:

'Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.'

So true.

I do need to heed these words: to speak up. See.....I have had this problem with precariousness. Stemming back to my early years. When I get nervous, scared & possibly intimidated; I start to talk in this small voice. Why? Insecurities. Being unsure of myself. Self-doubt. Forgetting who I am. The list goes on. The criticism did make me realize that this is an unhealthy thing to do. It hurt to hear, but I needed to hear it.

Next steps? Having courage. Speaking up. Listening. Being sure of who I am in the most difficult of circumstances.

Easier said than done.

'Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.'

-Winston Churchill

Christmas Time is HERE......

2010-11-26T13:53:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas time for SO many reasons....

I love the decorations.

I love the old Christmas movies....White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life & Holiday Inn.

I love the music.

I love spending time with family.

I love seeing my daughter experience and take it ALL in.

I love shopping for gifts for others.

I love celebrating the birth of Christ and reading Luke 2.

It's the best time of the year!

Father Fridays....

2010-11-19T15:10:00.000-08:00

Ok. So I kinda stole this idea from my sweet friend Kim who does a 'Thankful Thursday's' blog post.....

Just follow me here.

I got this nifty idea to blog about my thoughts on a fathers influence on Fridays; (when I have the time) specifically my fathers influence in mine and my husbands influence in my daughters life.

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. I won't say how old he turned to spare him any embarrassment, but it wasn't THAT old. I was fortunate that my parents visited from my home state of Washington this past week, so I got to hand deliver my gift to my dad.

One of the things that I have learned from my dad is gift giving. When my dad hears something that any of my siblings or I are interested in/like, he writes it down in his handy-dandy DayTimer dayplanner he has attached to his George Costanza wallet. When Christmas or a birthday arrives, he knows what to get. In turn: I really LOVE to pay attention to what my family & close friends are interested in; take a mental note/write it down to find the perfect gift later.

I was sharing with my husband how my dad used to read to me each night after I was adopted out of these 4 different books. He would open these books ask 'Where is this?' and 'Where is that' on each page. Just like I do with my daughter now. It inspired my love for reading and books. It was also quality time with my dad.

Skip forward a few weeks later. In the mail: a gift for my daughters 2nd birthday from my parents and a note from my dad. It was the 4 books he read to me as a girl. I was elated. He wrote how he remembered how much I loved these books and wanted to pass them on to his granddaughter for me to read to her. Just like when I was little.

Oh yeah. I cried.

Skin.

2010-11-07T13:25:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember, I have had an autoimmune disorder that effects my skin called psoriasis. I really can't remember a time that I did not have it. I've visited several doctors, naturopathics, dermatologists and to no avail: I can't seem to get past it.

Basically psoriasis is this: an autoimmune disorder that effects the adrenal glands (the small organ that sits on your kidneys) and appears on the skin. Psoriasis can look many different ways; mine looking more like patches on my elbows, knees, knuckles, ankles. I have asked many doctors the reason I could have this, here are some possible answers:

-an major injury to the skin (can't remember a specific circumstance that major injury happened to my skin)

-genetically passed (my biological family can't confirm that anyone of my relatives have it)

-stress (possible factor. does 7 foster homes before the age of nine count?)

-excessive alcohol/smoking (have never smoked and have had psoriasis much more severe before I was even of age to drink)

-obesity (last time I checked a size 2 was not EXACTLY overweight. Also have had it more severe when I was EXTREMELY underweight in my jr high/highschool years)

Needless to say, I have stopped trying to figure it out....

I have had many observations on my psoriasis: 'What is THAT on your hands/arm/feet?' ; a charismatic woman praying hallelujahs over me; 'Are you into boxing?'; 'Does your husband hit you?'

Ohhhh! and my favorite from a very tactless person : 'Do you have leprosy?' ...All I can do now is laugh at that one.....

I have now resorted to be thankful for it & decided to make a compilation of reasons why:

TOP TEN REASON I AM THANKFUL FOR PSORIASIS:

1)Constant reminder to me that beauty is so much more than skin deep....

2)Man repellent. (I think that Mr. Conner is certainly happy about this one!)

3)Hardly ever get sick. Having a high immune system is a result of psoriasis.

4)Never have to serve in the military....in the event of a draft for women....

5)Never had acne. Psoriasis makes skin excessively dry, never had oily skin....

6)Causes me to relax. Stress makes it worse.

7)2 Corinthians 12:7-10

8)I get to sound smart & intellectual using big words....'It's an autoimmune disorder that effects the adrenal glands and appears on the epidermis.' This part I love.

9)Gives me something to write about.

10)Helps me have more compassion towards others....THIS part I love too.

Overall it has helped me realized who I truly am. Much more defined than by looks, appearance or skin. I am a wife, mom, writer & a child of God. I am thankful for the skin I have been given.

Just Breathe. Relax....

2010-10-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

As I am typing on my laptop: I am sitting on my micro-suede couch; watching my favorite show; in my beautiful home.....thinking about this past week/month in my life. I look back on many stresses (i.e. clinical exam for x-ray certification which I passed/150 term test on dental instruments yesterday) and trying to relax....

Then I think....seriously? What are my real worries? Why do I stress and worry about the things in my life when people in India don't have clean water? There are some people in Haiti that are still slaves and people in Sudan are being murdered simply for believing in the One True God......What are my real worries?

I have a beautiful family & incredible friends. A wonderful husband; an amazing daughter who inspires me and challenges me everyday to be a better person (yes....a 2 1/2 year old.....) I have a home, food to eat, a place to sleep and water to drink. I AM BLESSED.

Things in life may have gone different than what was planned. Getting turned down for something over and over, being told you are not good enough, or not having the money to do the things you wish to do in your life.....It can make a person think .....'Why me, God?'

Why NOT me, God? You have shown time and time again in my life (and I KNOW in yours too, fellow blogger...) that there is a plan in all of this mess. It may not be how I planned it out, but there is a plan. And in the end it will be more amazing and spectacular than I could have ever dreamed of.

Belle....

2010-10-13T22:23:00.001-07:00

Last week, my husband and I watched our new Beauty and the Beast DVD with our daughter. Its so fascinating to watch movies you loved as a child with your own child, when they can understand and cherish it as you do. Incredible.

We watched the opening musical number which is as follows......

'Look there she goes that girl is strange no question, dazed and distracted can't you tell?

Never part of any crowd. 'Cuz her heads up on some cloud. No denying shes a funny girl that Belle...... Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar, I wonder if she's feeling well.....With a dreamy far off look, and her nose stuck in a book......I'm afraid she's rather odd, shes different from the rest of us, shes nothing like the rest of us, that Belle.'

My husband looks over at me and says....'You know, Belle is the Disney character that always reminded me of you.' I kind of look at him out of the corner of my eye......then he stated, 'She has that piece of hair that is always falls on her forehead and brown eyes like you!'

So sweet.....

I know what he really means. To me, its OK. I like to be different. I love how I was created: unique. I don't want to be the same as others. It's OK with me. I like to wear a perfume that no one else wears. I don't like to have the same clothes as others....(unless it's AE, of course. The ONLY exception...) I like to have my own identity.

Don't get me wrong, I love to be inspired by others. But I love to be my own person. The way I am. This simple way of thinking for so many people has taken me a while to get to.

Enough seriousness.

Have you ever noticed how much Beast looks like a young Brad Pitt when he becomes human?

I just wish his hair was red......

Life is like a breath....

2010-10-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended my great-uncle's funeral (my adoptive mom's uncle)...He was one incredible man.

Glen William Hill was born June 27, 1921. He served in World War II, from 1942-1945, before suffering injuries that sent him home. I will always remember my great-uncle for his trademark fedora, sweet & kind demeanor. My uncle Glen had an old-world disposition about him. He always looked out for the ones he loved....when he met my husband (boyfriend at the time) he told him that 'If you do anything to hurt her [Violet] I will have to hurt you'. And knowing how he was military trained....he was very serious......

I will always remember my great-uncle for his stories...

He once tried to spay his cat he had and at the advice of friend, used PLENTY of ether......and when he ran out of the ether.....was really doped up because he forgot to put on a surgical mask.....He was so funny.....

Glen was so passionate about the ones he loved. In a way, he would go to the ends of the earth for them. He cared so much for his beautiful wife, Sylvia, who cared so much for him mutually. He loved his children and grand-children so much. He loved his great-nieces (like me) without fail.

My great-uncle knew the true meaning of life. To inspire others and to love others. He knew even close to the end....saying this just a few days before......

'I think it is God's plan that determines when a man dies, if we take it in our own hands to the end it is a sin. I am ready. I believe. Romans 10:9-10.'- Glen Hill

Thank you, Glen.....for your inspriation in my life.

Influence.

2010-09-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Do you ever think about influence? Your impact on others or their influence on you? I think about it a lot. That could possibly be because I am a self titled 'thinker'.......yet it does evade my thoughts many times.

Definition: in-flu-ence --noun

1. The capacity or power of person or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.

(I love definitions....if you COULDN'T already tell.....)

If you think about it, you influence in so many ways : Things you say, do, write, even how you look at others. To me influence is what I like to call 'The Ripple Effect'. Someone influences you, then you influence someone else, then that someone else influences the next person.

At one time, with all of my overt insecurities, I never thought this possible about myself. Laying all of those aside....I realized just how much I CAN have an influence in others lives, in positive and negative ways. If you pay attention.....SO many people watch you, and crave to be influenced by you. It is not an arrogant/egotistical way to look at influence, but reality.

It's also NOT about changing others. Many times influence is looked at in this light. It is about bringing out the BEST in a person. Not to change the person they are. Just by being who you are suppose to be, you will influence/inspire others by your attitude.

In my life, to influence or to be influenced is such a big thing to me. I want to influence and be influenced positively. Positiveness attracts positivity. Negativeness attracts negativity.

I love these classic and timeless lines by Charles Swindoll.....

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

Who/what influences you? I would love to hear your comments......

Zesting....

2010-09-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

Since I have not been working, and our family is trying to save a few dollars, I have been cooking a lot more at home. I pulled out my Giada Family Dinners cookbook (delish recipes, if I might add!) and got to cooking. One thing that Giada asks you to do in a few recipes is zest. Zesting is taking a certain kitchen tool, called a 'zester' and basically you shave the entire the rind off of a citrus. I needed to buy one because I have no clue what happened my last zester. That word is fun to say.....zester.

Ok. Moving on.

While I was buying my zester at the store, I remembered an incident involving a question around zesting.

Last Christmas, while we were in Seattle, my family was playing one of the many boardgames my parents have. This particular game the guys have to answer 'girl-ish' questions and the girls have to answer 'guy-ish' questions.

Team Guys: My dad, brothers and my husband had the question~

What is zesting?

They started debating, is it this, is it that. Finally, my brother and my husband came up with this:

'Zesting is when a girl sprays her perfume into the air then walks into it with her shoulders back, like this---'. Then my brother and my husband proceeded with a demonstration.

Oh, yes. It happened.

I laughed so hard.

The 'KUWTJ' Syndrome...

2010-09-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know its not an actual disorder mentioned in the DSM IV, but it should be.

Ahhh, the Keeping Up With The Jones' Syndrome. We all have either had this once in our life, have it, or will someday. I know I have. Having the best of everything, first or before anyone else. In someways it is so sad to me. Knowing what happens outside of our US borders with the poor, orphans and refugees......money is WASTED so much on needless things in this world. Currently, it is virtually impossible for me to have this syndrome right now, because of my current job status (none!). But at this time I would like to address a few key items:

The Current State of Technology in My World:

TV:

As of right now, our home has the 2005 model of the 37 inch Panasonic, and last month one of the rear-projection lights went out, so towards the middle-left of the TV there is a red glowing spot when you watch certain frames. We are not going to be able to replace this for quite sometime, but I really don't care. To me it doesn't matter, there are people starving in this world and I have a TV I can watch movies & LOST on. I don't need to complain.

*side note: We also do not have satellite or cable so we use a trailer-trash antenna hooked up to our wall sconce by the TV.............Yep. We are Claaaassy....

Phone:

About 2 years ago we ditched our home phone for 2 cell phones. It works great. We were even able to attach our alarm system to the cell phone number (score!). This is really good because I no longer have to sleep with a baseball bat next to me when Daniel is out of town.

My current cell phone is a LG Dare. My husband won it at a Phoenix Suns game 2 seasons ago and it just happened to be with our wireless provider: Verizon. Now I WISH that I could score a iPhone with my free upgrade with our provider, but the talks that it may available to Verizon customers anytime soon are about as accurate as a pregnancy rumor in US Magazine.

Video:

My husband bought the Flip camcorder last year so he could film mission trips and family. The only catch is that he has yet to show me how to upload the videos to my laptop and I have no clue where the box of directions are......So I have been taking videos with my LG Dare phone and uploading them. This is after: I dropped my phone NUMEROUS times; my daughter has chewed on the end of the phone where the pix/video are taken; and I think that LG makes their phones SUCK for taking pix/video after about a year....

So needless to say I know my videos of my daughter are not the best quality.....

Laptop/Internet:

I currently have a Toshiba that is about 6 years old. It makes all sorts of cracking noises when I open it up, it has a beautiful bumper sticker from Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee (drinkcoffeedogood.com) that I put on it two years ago to cover the Toshiba name on the front.....

THIS is where I am convicted....I WANT a Mac sooooooo bad, but it is not a necessity....

So I will wait. Until it is=)

Our Internet provider is through our wireless service provider and it is broadband. The claims through the rep in the store say that the speed is EXCELLENT and FAST........

Excellent and fast my........anyways.

It works just fine.

Like I said: people are starving elsewhere in this world.

Just Dance......

2010-09-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Every night after dinner, around 6:30 or so, something magical happens at the Conner household. Something spectacular, something astonishing. Dance Party presented by Riley*.

After she jumps out of her high chair, she runs over to the iPod in the dock, points to it, and exclaims : 'Dance! Dance!'

So.....of course, I am entitled to turn it on.

Not just any music will do.....Oh no. Only Michael Jackson.

After the music is turned on, she gets her grove thang on.......

A little glimpse of my tiny dancer..........

(if you notice, she shakes one knee/foot to the beat.....=)

THE End.......

2010-08-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

I love LOST....alright I'm obsessed. But its a healthy obsession. I think. If there is such a thing. I love LOST for so many reasons. The redemptive storyline. How it shows how your life is connected to so many people, and that there is a reason that certain things happen in your life, good or bad, it all happens for a reason. And, what it's all REALLY about: Love. The show is so amazing, its ridiculous.

In honor of the 6th and final season on DVD here is some reasons I love this show:

The couples:

Like this one.........

and this one...........

Oh, and of course my FAVORITE couple of all............

I loved this promo pic of the season even though some may consider it, ahh lets say, a little sacrilegious.....

the greatest addition to the show 3 seasons in.........

(because every good show needs a Burt Reynolds wannabe...)

and of course.........

I can relate the most to .........

I really don't know why I do, but I just understand her. I just do.

So........I am sad its over, ecstatic that Season 6 is on DVD, and hope more of my friends catch on to this phenomenon of a show.

Look-alike

2010-08-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

About two years ago, I had my closest experience to meeting a celebrity. Actually, it was more of a case of mistaken identity.

Let me explain.....

My husband and I were in the check out line at the grocery store with our then 6 month old daughter. As we are standing there, my husband proceeds to get this gentle tapping on his shoulder. He turns around, the couple standing there were staring at him. The man in the relationship, points at the TV Guide magazine in the rack of the check out and asks my husband, "are you that dude?", my husband looks over at the magazine and said "What?". Then man said to my husband, "are you that dude from that show? Life?

The man in the check-out was referring to this man:

This tall, lean; auburn tressed man with piercing blue eyes, is not my husband, but if fact, the actor Damian Lewis. He also was in Band of Brothers on HBO. Little did I know, that this was just the first of his look-alike comments by others. I can't even tell you how many times I was asked by my elderly customers, at the financial institution I used to work at, if my husband was: 1)someone famous 2)an actor 3)on TV 4)on the show Life, from the pictures I had on my desk. It seriously was funny! I do have to admit, my husband is very photogenic and we have an AMAZING photographer, Kim Logan Photography, who has taken pictures for our little family many times. But STILL. My husband looks JUST like this actor.

Have you been told you look like someone famous? I would love to hear your comments.

Dream on....Dream on....

2010-08-13T21:31:00.000-07:00

I have had this same reoccurring dream for the past 5 years. The same dream. Why does this happen? Residual effects of my pre-adoptive childhood? Maybe. Possibly. You never know. To me, I can never tell the difference between reality and the actual dream when I am in the middle of it. It just seems SO real, you know?

Dreams are interesting to me. I took a class in college for my counseling degree and we had to do dream analysis. I loved it. Basically we were taught, you can't really interpret the dream, like those psychics/psychos on channel 61 at 2am, but try to relate your dream to your life. Case in point: So.....you are dreaming about running away from something. Start asking questions: What in your life are you fearful of? What in your life are you running from? Conquer these fears....and so on. I know it sounds all 'touchy-feely' but seriously, people in my class worked out some serious crap. What I found from my wise teacher/Yoda psychology master, is, that you can't tell someone the meaning of the dream. By asking questions: help the person figure it out on their own.

Yet, still. I wonder.....Do dreams reflect something from your subconscious? Something deep, profound that has yet to submerge in your conscious mind? What placed the dream in your mind?

Why?

I think sometimes I think to much........

What's In a Name?

2010-08-08T12:06:00.001-07:00

As a parent you have one of the most challenging and creative commissions: bestowing a name upon your child.

It can be so rewarding and such a debate at the same time.

We had so many questions as to why we chose our daughters names, hearing MANY comments. "Why not a biblical name?", "Isn't that a boy's name?" and so on. In fact, we really delve deep into the decision.

Riley~\r(i)ley\ of Irish/Gaelic origin. Meaning: brave, courageous, valiant, outgoing.

Sophia ~ \soh(FEE)a\ of Greek origin. Meaning: wisdom.

My husband and I had a lot of influencing factors when we chose her name. 1) We both wanted a name that reflected our heritage, my husbands being Irish/Scottish; mine being Italian. 2) We wanted it to have deep meaning, as if to give her a blessing within her name. I loved the meaning of her first name (many of the meanings, I want her to have in her personality!) and loved how feminine the contrast of Sophia was with her first name.

It's interesting the way I was named. I found out from my bio-hippie-mom, that her and my bio-hippie-father were actually together 6 years before they had me, and both long before conceiving me, decided if their baby was a girl, she would be named after a flower. How appropriate. It was Rose or Violet. So happy for the latter. I would not make a good Rose. Sorry to all the Roses........And my middle name: Emmeline, it was an old-fashioned name my bio-mom loved. Very unique.

My husband, on the other hand: His parents decided to go a very biblical route. Daniel (meaning 'God is My Judge') & Old Testament prophet; and Thomas (meaning 'zealous') a New Testament disciple, as middle name.

Why are you named what you are? What were the deciding factors on choosing your child's name?

Basketball, Coffee & Sci-Fi? Yes, Please!

2010-08-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

So....I can't sleep after my husband left for work at 3:30am this morning......the after effects of sharing the same bed with someone for almost 10 years.....

I woke up to these three ideas this morning, and needed to write....That's a good thing, right?

To the point:

My dad influenced me in SO many ways. Yet, three I want to zero in on today are the above mentioned.

Basketball:

Specifically NBA basketball. When I was first adopted by my parents, my dad had the summer to take us on vacations, create so many memories, to make up for lost time. Yet, when October rolled around, I found out one of the many things my dad is passionate about: NBA basketball. My brothers & I would sit down and watch these games with him (at the time, our team of choice was The Seattle Sonics....R.I.P. so sad.....). He would teach us the ways of the Game. He quizzed us on the players, the stats, and what teams each player had been on. I soaked it all in. To me, it was so much more than basketball, it was spending time with my dad.

Coffee:

Oh, sweet java, how I love thee!

I remember, when I was just 10 years old, my dad waking me up, teaching me to make coffee in the morning. How many scoops, how much water.......every pot of coffee I made, turned out great each time he said. I would take sips of his cup of java, and my experience would be similar to Elliot's in Open Season: "Its terrible and wonderful at the same time! It's like freedom in a cup!". I remember my mom, on my 12 birthday, giving me something I begged for a while! A great big cup of coffee my own. As black as my dad drank it. I had a grin a mile wide.

Sci-Fi:

Every summer, since my brothers and I could sleep in, my dad would take us to the local video store for movie night. Looking back, its so funny. The VHS videos! No DVD's! I can't wait to share that with Riley and say hear her say "Mom, you are so old!" I can't wait.

The little video store at the time had a sci-fi section. It was specifically labeled Sci-Fi! No joke! And we would pick these movies, like way below B movies. Some of them were outrageous, but some of them awesome. Like 'They Live' and 'Terminator'. There was also this one that we all loved, but I can't remember the name of it (even tried to Google it!), it was about how the world was if Hitler won WW2, and how these people made this time travel machine and went back and killed Hitler and some of the main Nazi SS officers....It was awesome!

Afterwards we would sit and critique the movie; the acting, the plot, if it was believable or not. We debated on if it could actually happen in the real world. If the movie sucked, my brothers would slowly one by one sneak out to play Metroid or something, and my dad would say, "Vi, I need a movie buddy!". I was glad to comply. =)

How has your dad influenced you?

Whatever Happened, Happened......

2010-07-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

[caution: deep thoughts ahead]

There are things in the timeline of your life, that aren't just a blip on the radar. Things that you can't just say, 'Oh, yeah, I went through that...' then move on. The kind of things I am talking about evade your thoughts 24-7 while going through them, sometimes even dealing with years later. The things I am talking about, don't just fade away like time, from memory. Hurtful, traumatic things, that just can't be washed from the slate of your life. Does it mean that you can't move on? Does it mean that you can't be whole?

For some of you who know me, my story, know the years I spent in foster care until I was 9. I was then wonderfully adopted by my parents, who gave me a life that I only dreamt about. I am eternally grateful. A few years ago, I decided to finally seek help, so to speak, on the things that I experienced as a child.

After dealing with it, I experienced so much freedom. The one thing I could really never get over until about a year ago, was the answer to the daunting question: Why?

Why do some people, many who are helpless, go through such things? I think even in my mind, thoughts of 'Why would a loving God let this happen?' yet all along I knew, it wasn't a loving God who let this happen in my life. We live in a fallen world.

Then, I stumbled upon a movie and book that would forever remain with me, my thoughts for the rest of my life: The Lovely Bones. After watching it, then reading the book, I was astonished. I (through much thought, observation and prayer) realized not only had I gone through what I did, but LIVED through it. Which, the title character did not. I LIVED to share with others, to inspire others, to give hope to others. I realized.......what happened, happened. It happened, which I could be ruled by it, or RULE IT, by using it to move on, be whole. I SURVIVED it, which means I am a SURVIVOR (go ahead, start humming Destiny's Child, I don't blame you...). Which very few people can actually say about themselves. It happened. IT in a way, was supposed to. Even in my deep thoughts, I have thought, 'What if I could go back in time, change/stop what happened, would I be the same person today? Maybe a BETTER person?' Whatever happened, happened. And I am who I am, because of it.

So fellow, blog reader, I want to tell you whatever happened, happened in your life. And you are WONDERFUL and exactly the way you are, because of it.

A.E.......

2010-07-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

If I were an addict....my drug of choice would be American Eagle. Specifically the jeans. Whenever I walk into that store, my heart starts to pound. I smell the wonderful, beautiful clothes that surround me. I take it all in. As I approach the sales rack, I touch the clothes I want to try on....euphoria. I know.......its a little exaggerated.

But I am telling the truth.

For my 29th birthday , I rec'd a beautiful gift card from my wonderful sis-in-law @lindzabenz. (If you think I elaborate on her too much, check out how much Jane Austen wrote on her own sister. I won't be so annoying.) I bought a pair of shorts and tank top on-line, but they just did not fit right. So, I took it all back. When my husband and & walked into that American Eagle store that day, I saw the most beautiful pair of jeans. They were on the sales rack. Perfect size. (I won't tell you WHAT size.....only jealously will ensue!) I took them home. My wonderful husband washed them the next day and I wore them. It felt like I had worn them for 10 years, they were so, soft, and worn in. WOW.

I really don't know what point I am trying to make, but American Eagle REALLY knows how to make their clothes, and whether you are a size 12 or size 2........you can find the PERFECT pair of jeans......Seriously.

I Love........

2010-07-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

The Perks.......

2010-07-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

Its no secret, I love being a mom. Here is this little tiny life, entrusted to you, to love, take care of, and cherish the rest of your life! There is no ceremony or licence to have a child (even though for some people, I think it should be a requirement!) Its an incredible thing. One thing I never realized is how many perks there are to this mommy thing! Its awesome. Here are just a few things, and believe me the list goes on and on and on......

1) Teaching your child a language.

Believe it or not, when you teach your child to talk, you are teaching her a language to speak, read and write! She is a blank slate, taking in everything you teach her and she is SO willing to learn! You are her teacher & mentor. Case in point: The other night I was giving Riley a bath, and she was splashing the water with her tiny little hands. Every time she would splash she would say "WATIE!" which translates to -water-. I say to her, "Riley, 'WATER' wa-t-ER.", trying to use proper enunciation. She looks right at me and splashes again "Watie!", big grin. Oh well, we will try again tomorrow.

2)The Secret Mommy Society.

Alright. I KNEW this existed, but never actually got to be apart of it until I had Riley. Before you have a child you may hear this all the time from experienced mothers "Its different when you have a baby/child." or "You will understand someday when you have a baby/child." I know I did. A lot. Its because there is this 'unsaid' thing amongst mothers.

Then you have your little bambino. WOW. Eye opening. After you have a child, other mothers look at you differently. They give you 'THE LOOK', when you are holding your child. And its not bad. These mothers treat you differently too. There is this mutual respect. I love it. I am so glad I am a card carrying member. Get yours today.

3) The Mom Bod.

Some moms may be upset about this one. Or depressed. Me, I am happy. It's incredible what your body has done! Delivering a child is not an easy thing. It's like marathon you train for & you complete it. And for some, like me, almost a 17 hour marathon. Sure your body changes. Sure you get the stretch marks. Sure you are going to jiggle in places that will never change, no matter the amount of exercise. But your body has done something only 1/2 of the living human race has done! Be proud of it.

4) Yes, I am that mom, in the women's bathroom, with my little girl, in the stall next to you.....

I remember this time before we had Riley, I think we were at Disneyland, and this young mom was trying to get her little girl to go to the bathroom. It was so cute. It kind of went something like this: Mom- "Honey, can you please try?" Toddler-"No, Mommy." Mom-"Please?" Toddler-"No." I remember thinking that day, soon it will be my turn. Well, my words are a little different, and I actually heard an employee from the store we were at, laughing in the next stall, . Here is how it transpired: Me- "Ri Ri, can you go peepee??" Riley- "Noooooo." Me- "Ri Ri, if you go peepee you can have candy!" Riley- just a blank stare. Did I mention this is a perk of being a mommy?

5) Your husband becomes a dad.

Seeing an adorable, caring dad is one thing. When your own husband becomes that adorable, caring dad, its such an incredible, life changing experience. The day I had Riley, I looked over at Daniel, realizing we created this beautiful, sweet little baby girl together and fell in love with him ten-fold that day. Every time I see my husband coloring with her, teaching her numbers & colors, I fall EVEN more in love with him. I heard it before, and now completely believe it; there is nothing hotter than your husband becoming a father.

Please share some of YOUR perks of being a parent or things you are looking forward to as a parent. I would love to hear.

Some of my favorite things......

2010-07-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

When you are Italian, I believe there is a prerequisite to enjoy good wine. It's just in your blood. A good wine can make good food taste, even better. To get a good wine, you don't need to spend a lot of money. Its great to find the right wine, good food and great atmosphere. With this economy, its great to enjoy all of this at home! So, I would like to share some of my favorites.

Enjoy!

Rose' ~

Montevina White Zinfandel

This is a great wine, and so far the only place I can seem to find it here in the Valley is at Basha's. Great price, $6-8, and tastes great. This is an awesome summer wine. I love to pair this with chicken dishes or dessert. It's a light, fruity & delicious.

Red~

Robert Mondovi, Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Disneyland California Adventure has their entire Wine Country Trattoria area presented by Robert Mondovi. When you have the Disney stamp of approval, it means this vineyard gets it right. I love how Robert Mondovi is such a prestigious vineyard, yet this bottle of Private Selection is only $7-8 a bottle, and if you are lucky you can find a $2 off coupon in Wednesdays Arizona Republic sometimes! Great wine with steak au poivre and of course my signature: lasagna. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

White~

Barefoot California Moscato

This is a very sweet, dessert wine. It goes well with creme brulee, and and any other fruit dessert. I have also seen this served with raspberries in the flute, because it is very similar to a bubbly wine, like a spumante or champagne.

Lambrusco~

There really isn't a category for this Italian wine, Lambrusco. Its a very interesting wine. Is it a bubbly? Is it a red? I don't know! But, I do know its good. It's a very grape, fruity, sweet flavor. Served cold, its delicious with anything on the grill.

Please share if you try any of these in the comments. I would love to hear, and to hear what food you pair it with!

Just A Small Town Girl.....

2010-07-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

Oh, yeah. I ripped that title off the Journey song, Don't Stop Believing. Which also happens to be my main ring tone on my cell phone. Except for which my ring tone for when my husband calls : Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man.". Go ahead. Laugh. Its true. There Ain't.No.Other.Man.

Well, back to the main theme. I am just a small town girl. It was so crazy moving down here to AZ......my eyes were opened. You want to know how small of town I grew up in? I grew up in a town so small, there wasn't a Wal-Mart built until two years AFTER I moved away to college! I grew up in a town so small, the closest Starbucks was 20 min away! Not to go all 'Jay Leno' on you or anything.....

I seriously did.

Well, I was raised with the mind set: Be happy with what you have. In reference to your image. To the world we live in, image is everything. Especially in a state like this, where 9 months of the year you can wear short-shorts or a bikini, image IS everything.

I was so blessed to be raised/adopted by the family that I was raised by. My mom who adopted me, raised me with the mindset: Be happy with what you have. More than even saying it, she lived it. My beautiful blond, long-legged mother, had 3 biological children of her own, and is still gorgeous! She would be the first to tell you, "Yes, I have the stretch marks!" but she would always say they were WORTH it. Never was it placed in my mind that you have to have the perfect body, after children or before, and never was it said either. We girls were raised that make up was an 'accent'; not your entire look, and wearing certain clothes can hide 10-15 lbs, but its not worth sharing with the whole world your 'treasures'. I am SO entirely thankful for this.

Yet this world we live in, its completely different. Its perfectly acceptable to augment your body when you are not happy with it, whether you have had no children or 6. Proverbs 31:30 states:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

When you place your faith in the One who gave you those looks you have, whether you think what you see in the mirror is worthwhile or anything, you will realized where TRUE beauty is! It is as simple as this. Believe me. It has taken me YEARS to realize this, and day to day; I have to remind my self of this.

So, it may not mean that I am 'Just A Small Town Girl' or just see things from a different perspective from what this world tries to thrust upon women......and someday, my daughter........

What I am thankful for is that I DO have an influence in my daughter's life for her to have that same outlook on life. And she will.

Prayer, church and other spiritual things....

2010-07-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

Life seriously can throw a curve ball at you. Or if you are a basketball fan like me, a fake. My husband, Daniel and I have always been "planners". We knew when we wanted to get married before he actually proposed, when we wanted to have a baby before we even got pregnant......things like that. But, when something drastic happens like a job loss, like in our life 5 months ago, all your "plans" be put aside. This time in our life has really made me realize how much NOT in control I am of my destiny....not that I DON'T have a destiny, which I know I do, but how it is so much in God's control.

SO....to the point, OK, Violet? Ah yes. Well, since the loss of the job and a church, since both were my husbands profession, you REALLY can't keep one or the other if you work there, even though people do say its possible I really would like to know how it is???? We have been the proverbial "church hoppers" these last few months. That being said, we really don't have a church we are going to.

This past Monday I was working at my part-time job, and really feeling the urge to spend some time in prayer. For my family's life, direction and for where God wants us in the world.

At lunch I drove past a catholic church by where I work, and thought....."I want to go in and pray." First off, I know what you are thinking, and it's probably one of two things: "Why do you feel like you have to go to a church to pray?" and the other is "Why a catholic church?".

Well, I really am not totally sure either. Except for the fact that I really just wanted a quiet place to pray, and seek God earnestly. Granted, I am not catholic, (even though I did attend catholic school when I lived with my sweet biological aunt & uncle whist in foster care. There is this crazy story too, about the time I caught the nuns eating my lunch, but that's a whole other blog post. Remind me to share it sometime. It's really quite comical.) nor wanting to convert. I also am a parent of a joyful two year old little girl, and finding solace in prayer is very few and far between.

So here is my question to you, fellow blog reader: Does it matter REALLY where you pray? Where you attend a house of fellowship? Is it really just a matter of the heart? I would love to hear your insight.

Just starting out

2008-09-13T00:05:00.000-07:00

This will be my first entry once I get started.