Better out than in

My dear friends,     Those of you who know me well, know that I don't really voice a lot of my political opinions,  I generally keep to myself my thoughts about current "hot button" issues.  However there comes a time in life when you have to take a stand. When a wrong MUST be righted, and INJUSTICE that I can no longer stand for.   This happens every year, some years worse than others. People have some very strong opinions and things can become very volatile.. I am of course referring to GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SEASON. Yes friends it is that time again, and you are going to be faced with the very difficult decision of WHO to buy said delectable treats from. Did you know that 1 in 9 consumers buy their cookies from Daisy and Brownie scouts. More then 8 billion cookies will be purchased from girl scouts ages 5-6. That leaves 8 kajillion girl scouts all vying for that last one percent of cookie consumers. * (*all statistics were completely made up by me) ...

Looking over the past year, it's amazing all that has transpired in 365 short days. Parts of this year will stay with me for the rest of my life for better or worse.  I was fortunate enough to get to see my beautiful cousin Bridgett get married. I spent the weekend surrounded by family, love and happiness. I wanted that weekend to last forever. My beautiful daughter started high school. Her growing up is having a profound affect on me. Connor started dating, like as in has a serious girlfriend, it weirds me out that we have reached this stage of  life with him. Tanner started middle school, waterpolo, math team, and tried out for football. Being the lease adventurous of my children, his new found interests are delightful to me. Garrett has started playing the saxophone.. which I felt at the time was cool. :) He's actually doing really well, and is quite the rocking 4th grader. We went on a fabulous family vacation to Disneyland in December.  I will treasure e...

What does evil look like? Today we saw first hand the face of evil. An act was committed that we will NEVER understand. No reason, no explanation will ever be good enough. I, as most of you, listened to the news today with tears, with disbelief, and with an ache in my heart that was unreal. As I sat waiting for Tanner to get out of school, staring into the schoolyard that almost 34 years ago was the scene of "the first" American school shooting, I could not contain the tears in my eyes. The what- ifs?, the whys? They all came to me. I can not comprehend how the parents felt that day, or how the parents in CT are feeling tonight.  They are returning home to a house that will never ever feel the same. A child is missing forever.  A tree with presents that will never be opened, toys that will never again be played with, and an emptiness that I can not fathom. So what now?? The effects of this have reverberated across this nation. Our school was getting calls asking about o...

2 days ago I turned 38, it's a bit surreal. I usually tell people I'm 25. I feel 14 and look 70. I think though if I had to pick an age to be forever I would be 9. I want to ride my bike down this weird dirt put with my brother and the Barr twins. I want to walk to Plateau. I want to hang out at Creekside, and listen to stories told by Willie and Big John. I want to have that amazing excitement and magical aw that I felt watching "Charlie Brown Christmas" for the ninth time. I want to believe in Santa. I want to walk out into my backyard and have it be a national forest, not someone elses back yard. I want my biggest worry to be not wanting to go to school in the morning. I want to have a sense of wonder about the world, instead of a sense of fear. I want to go to the 4th of July parade and be excited about the firetruck at the end. Yep if I could pick an age to be forever I would be 9. Garrett is 9, he's funny, carefree and smart, and he sti...

I haven't blogged much lately, not for lack of things to say (obviously) but more lack of time, and cognitive thought. So here are a few things that are on my mind (because really random compilations is what I do best) I have been on this insane mission of self improvement for much of my life. I FINALLY realized that I need to improve the things that I feel will make me/my family ect better. I spent far too much life trying to be the person others wanted me to be, not the person I am. People who are truly my friends love me for me. Once again I am on a weight loss kick... I so got this this time.. I'm determined, and tired of being round. I love to sing, sadly I'm very bad at it.. Connor on the other hand hates to sing in front of people but is insanely GOOD at it.. seems wrong. Apparently a dead ringer for Earnest Borgnine attends my church (or so says my son) I really like my son's girlfriend. I think she's finally warming up to me and not as afraid of...

So summer is coming to a close... noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :( but alas, the start of  a new school year is upon us. Here are a few things I've learned (or had reaffirmed) over the summer... (and a few random thoughts and observations) If you watch all the ghost shows on Biography you will learn that you are far more likely to come back from the dead if you are Italian (seemingly so at least.) If you bury a yoga ball in the sand at the beach, you can use it as a little trampoline. Garrett is taking to the saxophone pretty well! I never want summer to end.. I want to freeze in time, right here and right now. Friends are important, but never compromise your true self for anyone (even the parts of your true self that are annoying to some) I will NEVER have a useful sense of direction. One Direction.. isn't HORRIBLE... I even kinda like them... a little. Garrett can eat an entire 20 oz jar of peanut butter in one afternoon. I sell myself short. ...

A week ago, one of the strongest women I've ever had the honor of knowing, passed from this life and onto the next. Marsi White was the epitome of strength. Her nearly 3 year battle with cancer, proved that time and time again. She always had a positive attitude, met it head on. In part that is why I never for one moment thought that she wouldn't beat it. Her strength gave the people around her strength. I will never say goodbye, because I know I will see her again one day in heaven, but it doesn't help the hurt that everyone who loved her feels now.  I believe however that even in death she is giving strength to those who loved her. I was in Michigan for my cousin's wedding when Marsi passed on. I got to thinking about how blessed I was to have her in my life, as I looked around me, I realized that I also pull strength from the amazing women in my family. I am so lucky to have been surrounded, raised, loved, by some of the most amazing, strong women on the planet. ...