2010, What a year this has been.

As 2010 comes to a close, I'm once again reminded and very thankful over the blessings and the gifts that God has given this family, Three healthy kids, a great husband, and and friends that I wouldn't trade for the world. This year there were a lot of I'm gonna, and this will happen,some resolutions that fell thru the cracks, and things that just ended in failure. I'm not afraid to admit that a lot of things that I hoped would work out, just didn't.

2010 brought us a son sent off to fight a war in Afghanistan and three months of no sleep for his momma. How proud we are that our son has excelled and is doing so well in the military. How thrilled we were, that God brought him back to us safe and sound, and now in 2011 we will gear up for him to leave us again, to go and protect us and provide that blanket of freedom we all love to cuddle under so much.

2010 brought us a restaurant fire, and the uncertianty of what would happen next, we were blessed very quickly with a vehicle to accomodate a mobile pizza manager, who was now on the move and working all sorts of hours. We were thankful that he was still employed,

2010 brought me what I like to call an "Eat,Pray,Love" moment. After seeing the movie and reading the book, I wondered, do I really need to go all the way to Bali to find me, to get in touch with the part of me that I know I have lost along the way on this journey called life. And with this new found idea in my head, we decided to change our vacation plans, and do somthing we had never done before. Take our children on a road trip, a journey to see and do some things that we had not done.
I said to my husband, your almost 46 years old, how much have you really seen? His reply, "nothing really".

So we embarked on a journey down the california coast, stopping along the way, to take in the sights, sounds, and smells. We rented a really cool mini van, and even bought one of the big maps of the United States, hung it on the bedroom wall, to stick pins into where we had been and where we will be going. We even went to Las Vegas, we ended our journey in Moab, Utah, at Arches National Park, Oh what a sight, that if you get the opportunity to see, dont pass it up. We were truly among Gods Majesty and splendor, and were reminded once again, how incredibly tiny we human beings are, on this majestic planet called earth.It was a great vacation, for all of us, both mentally and physically, time with each other and our children that could not be replaced. It really reinforced the idea of taking nothing for granted, and I continue on that journey of self discovery, with the goal of achieving the things, I let my insecurity stop me from doing.

2010 also gave me the courage to try out for womens flat track roller derby, and although I was cut, at least I had the guts to try, quite an accomplishment for me, anxiously awaiting the next tryouts.

As for me the end of 2010 brought about a few lessons in human nature, and the ability of some people to do things and say things, that I myself would just never allow to happen. Humans fascinate me in this respect, I learned some important lessons in the meaning of friendship, and what I thought friendship was, and what it turned out to really be. It breaks my heart, but its life, and this is how we learn, even when you do nothing wrong, people find a way to take the blame off of themselves and cast it upon you. Meh, such a sad way to live I guess. Rest assured, those are mistakes I will make sure, not to make again.

I think George Washington summed it up best with the following quote:

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."

A life lesson for all of us I guess.

So as 2010 ends as quickly as it started this evening, I know that I have been the best person that I can be. I have stood solid in my faith in Jesus Christ as my savior, and his ability to take care of things. I know that he has a plan, not only for me, but for this entire family, and I find great excitment in wondering just what that will be.

In 2011, its time to "edit" the story,(somthing our pastor said), with hopes of doing the things and fullfilling those dreams, that I hold onto each day. I am humbled and so very thankful for all my blessings, and for my friends, who I hold so dearly in my heart. You know who you are.....

I have said this before, and I will say it again, "I take nothing in this life for granted, ever!"

What will your story be in 2011?

From our family to yours, may 2011 be healthy, happy and prosperous!

"Dont mess with the family" LOL!!

until we talk again..........

Leaving your comfort Zone

Have you ever wanted to do something, I mean really do something that you never thought you would have the guts to even try? Well yesterday I did exactly that, I left my comfort zone and did something I didn't ever think I would have the guts,much less the courage to even try.
I went to womens roller derby tryouts! Yep, you read that right, roller derby! Somthing that I have always wanted to do, but never did and now at almost 44 in two days, what was I thinking.
It was brutal, and today I hurt. But I learned something about myself, and I guess thats what people say about everything we experience in life being about. I learned that no matter how fearful I am, how much I want to give up, or how much confidence in myself I lack, that all of those things can be overcome.
Yesterday I may not have been the strongest skater, I may have been experienceing the worst shin pain I have ever felt in my life, but I kept picking myself back up, and doing it again.
I realized that aside from being more physically fit, losing more weight, and really focusing in on core strength, that the "CORE STRENGTH" is not just muscular.
The true core, deep inside you, where you hide from all of the negativity we throw on ourselves daily, has the power to do it all....
Was I disappointed?, HELL YES!!! Did I cry? Of course....
But I went there and I tried, even though I didnt make it this time, (march is the next try out.)
I am a winner anyway, because I had the GUTS!!! to even walk thru the door and attempt it....
and that my friends is one hell of a good feeling!!!!!
until we talk again

Under A Tuscan Sun Designs

I recently fell in love with hand stamped jewelry. So much that I decided I was going to start my own little buisness. I love to create these custom one of a kind pieces.
So here are the links to both my etsy and my facebook page.

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Under-A-Tuscan-Sun-Designs/144508922252891

ETSY:http://www.etsy.com/shop/UnderATuscanSun

Please feel free to check out both locations, LIKE me on facebook, and then come back here and leave me a comment here on the blog about something you liked in the shop, what you might like to have customized.

When I reach 200 fans, I will draw random for a free necklace from the comments left on the blog!!

Hey free is good right?

The sweet sounds and smells of the Summer of 2010

So as I sit here, part of me is sad that the summer is coming to a close. Those lazy days, and late nights are all drifting away as the clock ticks down and the sun begins to set. How I will miss sleeping in and spending my days by the pool, watching my kids laugh and play.
We really did a lot this year, our vacation most certianly was the highlight of the summer.



It was also a summer of worry as Air Force Puppy was in the sand box, for 3 months.
As the summer comes to an end, so does his tour, we are thankful to be getting him home safe and sound.

As school begins again, its time to be more focused, more organized, and not so lazy as we have all become way to accustomed to lately. But oh the memories we have not only in pictures but in the little things, to carry us thru till next summer.
Memories of the beach, and sea world, and a really cool mini van that took us on our 10 day journey.




Memories of lunches and chinese food, and lots of ice cream at rizutos. While part of me is sad, I am happy that it is coming to a close.

Most of all, the laughter, the joy, and sometimes the tears made this summer a memorable one, movies and popcorn and the park and a ton of things that we did TOGETHER!!!!!

I look back at the last bastion of the summer of 2010 approaches and I am at peace, content, and thankful that Jesus has blessed this family in more ways than I can count.

I guess you could call me one of the lucky ones!!!!




till we talk again......

Once again..I find myself in that old familiar place.

Once again I find myself, cornered by my old friends, self doubt, fear, and their good buddy insecurity. The three musketeers have drawn their swords upon me again...I fear that this may be a deadly combination, and may permanently scar me for life. Or perhaps kill my soul!!!
I have set my self to a particular challenge, one that will remain nameless for now, and tonight some things that need to be reworked became painfully evident to me.
So my three buddies, whispered in my ear the rest of the evening, throwing every no good reason to just give up the desire to accomplish what it is I have set myself too.
All I can think is how incredibly weak I am, but part of me will not let go of the desire to succeed and not to fail.
Failure, oh my sweet love, we have danced quite often in the last year, and we are most definately no longer strange bedfellows...
It is you I fear the most, and yet writing this blog, lifts some of weight of the attack of the three musketeers.
My heart tell me to stay strong, stay focused, and press forward, been here before, just for a different reason.
I am hoping that when I close my eyes tonight for what will hopefully be a peaceful sleep, a freedom, that surely will not end up that way...
that my 3 friends will be gone in the morning, and I will awake with a new plan of attack to achieve my current desire...
who knows what the sunrise will bring???????

Anaheim, or did I really think two amusement parks back to back was a good idea?

Next stop, Mickey's House, decided on the trip after a few suggestions to do Knotts Berry Farm!! what a thrill to spend what ended up being an extremely stress free day. Highlight of the day, Arianna rode her first rollercoaster. The sidewinder, the highlight of mine? Listening to her scream in shear terror the whole time. I couldn't stop laughing.
The pitch was so high she probably could have broken glass. I am so not kidding. The result? She rode it 5 more times, (no lines) LOL.
Dante did some brave things too, but we sure did have fun. We paused for the cause to have a little dinner at PINKS the world famous hotdog place. YUMMY!!!!
It was a day filled with fun, drama, laughter and tons of junkfood. The memories were priceless, Dante rode the log flume for the first time, and the final drop hill, well let me just say they take a picture and the look on his face, priceless. Bought that picture up in a heartbeat, By the time we got back to the car, it was dark, and everyone was bushed. Visions of mickeys house and cotton candy lingered on the kids as they drifted off into a welcomed sleep.
Talk about bushed! NOT THEM, ME!!!!
we tucked them into their bed at the hotel, and poured ourselves into ours, dreading that early morning alarm....
until tomorrow!!!

Cruising down the California Coast!

Our Journey continues to trek us towards Santa Barbara and we find a quaint little in 2 miles away from a Danish town named Solvang. Andersons Pea Soup Inn was a quaint little inn, with a great pool and yummy danish in the morning. Which we discovered came from the bakery in the town. After a nights rest, and a dip in the pool and hot tub, we make our way to Slovang. A danish town, famous for its pancake balls, and pasteries. We park and walk thru the town, stopping to admire the little shops, some of which there were rude shop keepers. Really its true....
After a couple of hours and a few pancake balls and russian tea cookies we are headed for Santa Barbara.
A beautiful beach town, and a gorgeous pier to walk out on. We park and trek our way up the beach to the pier for a look around. We decide to take a water taxi, named Little Toot, which of course brought a ton of giggles from the kids. An inexpensive ride to the other side of the harbor.
The best part was the kids got to drive the boat! See pics below. Then we took the 25 cent electric trolly car back to where we started. Got in the car and enjoyed more of the coast on our way to Anaheim.........