The Sky is Blue

My life is big, and full.  While I feel like I have been following God's leading in making it so, there are certainly choices along the way.  We chose to adopt Nicholas, and wow, what an amazing gift he has been.  God smoothed the process from start to finish, He brought him through a precarious pregnancy with no prenatal care, drugs, and who knows what else, He brought him into the world healthy, bright, and beautiful. So I guess while that feels like a choice, was it really?  Victor was placed on my heart, no getting around it.  The Lord put him there, and would not cease until I payed attention.  That felt a little more like a direction, and a test in obedience.  We have these two rescue dogs Duke and Murphy.  They are both blessings, and we love them, but having two dogs, especially one with crazy anxiety issues and the strength  and jumping ability of Superman, is not always easy.  Try taking a vacation, Ha! We can't even all fit in...

Spring is the season of renewal, of beautiful weather, gorgeous colors, dreams of beach days.  Unfortunately for me, this spring has brought me a fat season. My weight has always fluctuated.  Nothing a good flu couldn't cure, just kidding, well sort of.  It is that 20-25 pounds, just enough to make me feel unattractive, and to be ballooning out of my jeans.  Yuck.  Boo Hoo for me.  I am a grown up, I could take a walk, go to a yoga class, skip the sweedish fish, have less wine...I know what to do, it is no mystery.  My mind is so adverse to being told what to do that it won't even listen TO ME!!!  How do you like that??? So instead of worrying about all of the things I should be/but am not doing....I am focusing on the things that make me feel fabulous regardless of size.  Things like fab nails, awesome shoes, accessories, lip gloss....you feel me??? I know you do.  It doesn't matter how fat you get, a sweet manicure is a sweet manic...

Have YOU ever pulled your son from an athletic team because he wasn't learning anything? Have YOU ever sat on the sidelines appalled at the behavior of coaches and parents? I have. Nothing is more frustrating than knowing your child has talent, or even just a love for a sport, but having that thwarted time after time by bad experiences that kill your child's love of the sport. If you want your son to learn, to be inspired to do his best, to be encouraged, and to foster a passion for football--- sign him up! West Valley Ravens (formerly Calabasas Raiders)--- with Seniors Coach Jeff Rhodes. Contact Jeff at 818-251-6931 or sedohrman13@gmail.com You will be glad you did!! :) -- and yes this message is biased, he is my husband, and father of my five sons, and he rocks!!  — with  Jeffrey Rhodes  and  2 others .

I have a billion things on my plate today, but I just have to take a moment to acknowledge a fleeting and wonderful moment I experienced yesterday.  It was a simple task, something on my long list of To-Do's on this weeks list. Go buy William a suit for prom, his very first prom. Now for many of you, this whole suit buying thing happens much younger because of the whole Bar Mitzvah thing, but not for us, we haven't really had an occasion that a sports jacket and slacks couldn't cover yet. I was rushing everyone around, picking the boys up after football practice, I had made and plated dinner so that everyone could scarf it down.  Jeff was busy too, hitting the grocery store then off to a coaching/recruiting event for his West Valley Ravens. We pile in the car and head to Northridge Suit outlet. My husband had already hit Macy's, Nordstrom, Burlington, and Men's Warehouse the night before, and nothing under $1000 fit nicely and looked made well.  William is a big b...

Good things and bad things seem to come in waves.  Today is a week full of good things.  My Mother-in-Law is coming to visit, my oldest son is going to his first prom, and our annual ABF Tea is on Saturday, and I am heavily involved in the planning.  Ohhhh, let's not forget the Lacrosse Banquet on Sunday, and..... hmmm I think that covers it.  I am also blessed with work, and oh, one more thing, my 6th grade student has the TAN festival on Friday.  This little event requires me to help him get ready to represent multiple cultures in clothing, food, and posters. So in summary, this monsoon of good stuff is washing over me and pulling me under. Praise God who covers the big things and the small.  Please Lord take this weight from me, so that all I would feel is joy as I work through the details of this busy week.  I surely can't do it on my own.

With Mother's Day comes the reminder that my life forever changed the day William Rhodes was born.  It is a difficult thing to explain to a person who has never experienced it before, but the way you see the world morphed by the new lenses God puts before your eyes.  I can't say it feels the same for everyone, for I can only speak for myself, but I will try to describe it. Where once my focus was completely on my own life.  My career, my relationship with Jeff, our home,  our friends, our next vacation..... I now felt the pull of a higher responsibility.  How will the choices I make today affect him, this precious, squalling, little bundle, of blue eyes, and chubby thighs. How will I ensure that he is provided for, and safe, and loved, always. My own life, which I once took for granted and risked recklessly, seemed more important, as I existed for more than my own pleasure. Now I need to stay healthy, and safe, because this little one needs me. I am his pr...