Mixed Emotions

Sometimes days start out one way and end another. I had a great day at work...the owner gave my manager & I his credit card & told us to have lunch on him. I had a delicious filet mignon, mashed potatoes & veggies for $10.00 at Pascal in Fashion Island (they have a $10.00 menu before 6:30 pm.) Then we stopped and got some Gelato Paradiso. By the time we got back to work it was time for me to go home (now that's what I call a perfect work day:D) 

At 6:00 p.m. my son Elijah had a 7 on 7 game against the Edison Alumni (he got 2 picks). I was on picture duty as usual, but I love it...it puts me right in the middle of the action. By the time I got home, things were all good. But after I received a phone call, my day quickly turned. I had a little melt down. I'm not a crier AT ALL. I'm a pretty tough cookie who holds things in. I usually just suck it up and  "deal with it." But every once in a while, something can strike a cord with me and after the phone conversation, I couldn't hold it in.

On the rare occasions I do break down I try to make sure I'm all alone. But the tears started to come and my hubby was in the room. I kept trying to hold them back, but they slowly trickled down. Eventually he caught on and since it's such a rare occasion, he wasn't quite sure how to react. Poor guy. He came over to give me a hug & I said, "No hugs...it'll only make me cry more." So he just kind of stood there looking at me. Then kept asking, "What's wrong?" I finally broke down and told him my feelings were hurt (another thing I never want to admit.) He was so sweet he just listened (*something he's been working on~guys try to fix things but girls usually just want their man to listen.)

Sometimes feelings flare up and cause, moments, and I was definitely having my moment. After I had a good cry, he said, "Can I hug you now?" I let him this time. He then asked if he could pray with me. Of course I said yes. I felt much better after he finished. I have to admit, I don't like having a girl moment at all. But sometimes it's just unavoidable.

I was thinking how fickle our emotions are...up and down...back and forth...round and round. The one thing that's certain, even though our perfect days may not end up perfect...things ALWAYS get better. So as I write this, yes my feelings were hurt. Yes, I lost it for a moment. Do I need to dwell on it, no. Emotions can take us on a roller coaster ride. Emotions can control our reality if we let it. It's good to let things out, but our emotions can't always be trusted. They blow in and out like the passing of the wind. Don't get lost in the emotion of the moment. My boss told me her friend who had cancer always used to say, "Breathe in...breathe out...move on."

Jullien's Coming Home

I feel like it's been years since my son Jullien's been home. Luckily he's been staying really busy. He had a recent casting for a Louis Vuitton video and received the only call back from his agency. But as many busy models know, when you have another job already booked, call back castings take a back seat...even for Louis Vuitton. I'm sure there will be more BIG opportunities coming up for him though. I just feel blessed that he is one of the "working" models! He's built a great life for himself in New York...but it's hard having him so far away. I only get to see him twice a year. Like most mom's I'm proud of my son, but I wish he was closer to home.

So today I got the official email from him with his flight info. He'll be here from July 31 - August 20. YAY! Now I just have to try and convince him that his mom is more fun to hang out with than his friends;D

Today's The Day-GRADUATION!

It's Happy Graduation day for my stepson Adam! He's #5 of our 6 children. Needless to say, it's a bitter sweet day...one of our last two "bear cubs" is officially graduating from Edison High School and headed to Golden West College. We're so proud of him, not only because he's graduating but also because he's turned out to be such an amazing young man who loves the Lord.

As parents, we spend years disciplining, guiding and of course occasionally losing our patience causing us to scream and yell...but what a reward to see our kids doing so good. I often think of the Bible verse, " Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. How true this scripture is!

So as we celebrate Adam today...I'm so thankful that the Lord allowed & blessed me to be a part of this special boys life. He's truly brought joy, laughter and pride to our family.

Congratulations Addy Boy! YAY...you did it!!<3

Take-down at the Tony Bennett Concert

For Mother's Day, we all got dressed up and took my hubby's mom to see a Tony Bennett concert (I even wore a dress!) This was going to be one of those very laid back, mellow nights...or so we thought. As we entered the building, there was a line a mile long for all the older people who were waiting for the elevator because they couldn't walk up the stairs.

We were definitely the "young" people in the crowd. My hubby waited with his parents for the elevator (his dad is older & has a bad knee.) I headed upstairs with my sister-in-law's. We were hanging out by the elevator, knowing that it was going to be a while. All of a sudden the elevator doors open & there's loud screaming. Startled, we looked over to see two elderly men in their 80's pushing, shoving & yelling. I immediately headed towards the action, thinking (or not thinking~obviously) that I would break it up before it got worse...in my dress and all!

All of a sudden, an elderly lady gets knocked out of the elevator, and rolls across the floor, legs flailing in her dress. My immediate instinct was to get to her first before the two struggling men & people trying to get out of the elevator trampled her.

By this time the fighting had taken a whole new level. One man bashed the other man's head up against the wall and did a complete take-down move, ending up on top of him. Several younger (our age...) men rushed over trying to break it up. One of them ended up getting hit in the face.

As I leaned down to help the elderly lady, she was screaming, "He elbowed me in the chest! I want him arrested!" (Turns out her husband was the one who took the other guy down for hitting his wife in the elevator.) I was able to help her up as she kept pointing and yelling at the man, who by now had gotten up after people had separated the two men.

The man who elbowed the lady walked towards us with his wife, who I'll refer to as "Pat Benatar" (because she wore a big thick black & white headband on her forehead.)

She was bleeding out of a cut just below her eyebrow (they were kind of a quirky, weird couple.) I walked over to them (just a few steps from the elbowed lady) and told him he should apologize to the lady because he hit her in the chest & it was probably just an accident because it was so crowded in the elevator (I just wanted to fix the whole CRAZY situation.) He just stood there staring blankly at me (the lights are on but nobody's home look) which I've seen before when my son, Jullien got knocked out in a football game. I'm sure when his head hit the wall before the take-down and he probably had a concussion. Pat Benatar looked and me & said, "What about him!!" Pointing to the man who was still being held back away from her husband. The elbowed lady started up again with, "CALL THE POLICE! I want him arrested." Next thing I know, Pat Benatar & her husband quickly disappeared into the auditorium.

And can you believe...I was so busy trying to help that I missed the opportunity to get the whole thing on video! I'm sure it would've been a You Tube sensation. Seriously, when can you say you've seen two elderly men in their 80's doing a take-down move dressed in suits. At a Tony Bennett concert no less!

*Oh, and I have to say...Tony Bennett still sings great!;)