And So It Goes...

modeling my new clothes...

and lovin' my new boots!

and jacket...

On, and on, yes Dec. 8th I turned another year older, so did my nephew, and my mom (I was born on her birthday many years ago). I hate living so far away and not getting to spend it together.

My day was awesome, I received $, just what I wanted to try and replenish my miserable wardrobe (I love fashion but hate to shop...go figure!) We went out for sushi with friends and then my hubby planned a family party for Saturday when the kids were all available. He cooked tacos (he's so thoughtful to attempt it & they were really good!)

I was kind of disappointed because my oldest son Josh couldn't make it at the last minute. I don't know why I let my feelings get hurt...but I put on a smile and acted like it didn't bother me,
story of my life...I hate to let anyone see my emotional or sensitive side.

It really was a special day & I'm so thankful for my AMAZING husband. He always surprises me with his loving, caring, thoughtful ways!

Making a wish! 20 please!
j.k. those were some tough years glad to be older AND happy.

no pictures please...

Shorts, Dresses and Board Shorts YES!

It's getting to be that time of year, the sun is now shining it's been slowly warming up and my family is wanting to hit the beach. This now officially puts me in PANIC mode. Another year of swearing that I will work out early and be "beach ready" is shot. I have not worked out at all. I usually at least try to work out at home a little bit to get rid of the jiggle. Nope not even that!

So as the Fourth of July approaches, I get to try and find something that hides my body for our annual bike ride and beach trip. I've been a little excited that those really long dresses with sandals are popular this year. But that wont do for our bike ride. I guess I'll need to find some extra long shorts to hide the "special" areas.

Here's a few options for you ladies who may have run into the same procrastination problem that I have.










See it's all in how you camouflage the areas...so if your panicking too, head out and pick your self up a few of these "MUST HAVE" items!

A Day of Change

I came home from work just as Josh was getting ready to leave for his interview. I had to leave to go to Elijah's basketball game and waited for his call. For those of you who don't know Josh...he is a man of VERY FEW words. It's like pulling teeth to get detailed information. He said that he thought it went well...that's about all I got. I don't want to be a meddling mother so I left it at that.

Thank you all for your prayers...he needs a job so bad! He is really depressed right now, this will help him to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I got home from the game, Jason (my nephew) had just dropped Josh off here. He has nowhere else to go and doesn't want to stay here at all! He was crying and said that he doesn't want to talk to me. He's still angry with me about something that happened a year ago that disrupted my kids lives. His dad continually filled his head with a bunch of negative things about me.

Needless to say, our relationship has been a surface one. He spends time with me but it's usually a little strained. I tried to tell him that we can use this time to get everything in his life straightened out and then he can eventually get an apartment. He is too upset right now...he wants to live at my sisters with his cousin. Luckily my wise brother-in-law put his foot down, (my nephew and son are not good together and bring each other down) he told him he cannot live there and needs to go home to his mom.

We'll see what happens...lots of prayers are needed right now! Change is always hard, but necessary for growth.

It's Done

Well our season is done, they chose Bishop Amat for the final spot. I'm pretty upset and can't believe that it's over just like that. Jullien isn't really talking about it too much right now. I'm hoping he will continue to play in Jr. College. The Santa Ana coach contacted him and really wants him to come play for his school next year. He went and met with the coach and received passes to go down on the sidelines to watch one of their games. He will be going to Santa Ana College to become a fireman. I told him that as long as he is there, he may as well play football too. We'll see what happens...I just don't want to stop watching him play. He is such a gifted and talented player.

Handling Disappointments

I received an e-mail today from a writer for FIRST MAGAZINE. I have been working with her for a couple of weeks about using a true story I wrote for their magazine. She actually contacted me out of the blue after reading my story on a website. I was really excited, and after she continued to contact me asking for more information etc...to present the story to her editors, I began to get very hopeful. Today I received an email saying that they wont be able to use my story...I was really disappointed! I always wanted to have something I've written published...I'm not disciplined enough to finish a book, so the little short stories I do have been my only opportunity.

For most of my life I would always focus on the negative, then if something good happened I would be pleasantly surprised. I HATED to be let down...which was the case most of my life. I have changed a lot in the last couple of years. I now look at disappointments as opportunities! Once I got over the initial feelings of sadness that they didn't want my story...I thought, now maybe I can make a book out of this. It's a very touching and encouraging story and should be told. I believe things happen for a reason...I just have to trust and know that my life, (the good and the bad) is pushing me toward Heavenly Father's perfect plan for me...it's about faith, trust and most of all PATIENCE!

HOT HOT HOT

I live at the beach...which usually never gets above 80 in the summertime and when it does...OH MY GOSH!! This past weekend was miserably hot. We couldn't even stand to be in the house...I think it was in the high 70's inside and we were all sweating, groaning, and arguing (beach communities rarely have air conditioning...the ocean breeze usually works great).

I'm sure all of you having to deal with heat over the 100 degree mark are rolling your eyes right about now...but the way I see it, you guys are used to it. We are actually suffering the most since our bodies have acclimated to the 70 degree mark. You should all feel very sorry for me, LOL!

I came up with one of my famous "spur of the moment plans"...as we walked out the door I sprung it on them. My plan came on Saturday at about 7:00 p.m. We were getting ready to drop my step son, Adam off at an 8th grade graduation party. I told my husband and 16 year old son , Jullien that they should grab their boards and wet suits, after we drop Adam off they can surf and I'll take pictures and walk Allie with my son's girlfriend, Chelsea.

The usual comments, "We can't do that, it's too late. Why didn't you tell us sooner so we could get stuff ready? I'm really tired and it's been a long day! It will be dark before we get there." My reply (which always works), "Stop being so negative, why don't you guys stop griping and try to be a little spontaneous...you're both like little, grouchy old men!" Off they scurried to grab their stuff...I love being a woman, we're soooo good, LOL!

We got to the beach after sitting in tons of traffic along PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy)...more grumbling, "Look at all this traffic, it's gonna be too dark, you and your ideas"...blah blah blah, I swear they are both the biggest complainers! We picked up my sons girlfriend and took the back route to the beach (all the inlander's flock here to get out of the 100 degree temperature that they should be used to)...finally we got there and they paddled out. The wind picked up, the current pulled them so far down the beach that I couldn't even see them...they paddled, paddled and paddled, only catching one wave each. Chelsea and I grabbed our stuff every few minutes, trying to walk as fast as the current pulled them, actually quite a work out in the sand. We tried to get close enough to watch them and take pictures.

My husband was the first one out of the water..."This sucks, I remember why I never surf this spot! My arms are dead, I only caught one wave, I had to hike a mile up the beach to get back to you guys...GREAT idea Lis! Did you even get pictures of the one wave I caught?" I said, "Uh, no but I got a picture of you paddling!LOL!" He didn't find the humor in my comment, I don't get it??? Jullien came in next, he had the exact same comments...hmmm...did they rehearse it in the water?" I told him that I got some awesome paddling shots, to his scrunchy faced comment, "VERY funny mom!"

My husband's paddling perfection!


Jullien's paddle before the pull out (mushy, slow wave )...Look at the form "Paddle Boy"!LOL!

Okay so everyone didn't like this spur of the moment trip, but the water was 70, the beach was 84, I had a good laugh, took some amazing sunset pictures...and got out of my HOT HOT HOT house...hmmm, GREAT DAY FOR ME...YAY for me!!

Jullien and Chelsea

Is This What Heaven Is Like?

God's Beauty



Jullien's Favorite Scripture:

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)


THE END TO MY PERFECT DAY!