Okay with the holidays fast approaching I have SO MUCH that still needs to be done!!! I am organizing a Christmas Charity for the needy of my community as well as planning my own Christmas, and think I may just go insane in the process of trying to do so lol!! My house is in need of some MAJOR TLC and my refrigerator needs cleaned out! I have a storage building that is holding clothes for the needy that needs some organization and a car that needs a good cleaning!!! My walk in closet has accumulated way more stuff than it should and it seems to be driving me insane but not so much so that I have the willpower to do something about it!!! I am usually so organized and try to believe that I am super mom that can do everything and make it look easy....well SUPER MOM has vanished and has left me all alone to this!!! I really wish she would return in a hurry LOL.. I think I will take a break from facebook, and blogging and CATCH up on the things that have been neglected lately!!!!! Well that sounds like a good plan at the moment anyway..lets just see how long that will last!!! =)

Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow

I have finally come to the conclusion that some people like to be miserable, that they actually feel happier when they are, and that being around people who are happy make them, well, MISERABLE!

Since very young I was BLESSED with the ability to LOVE unconditionally. I chose to see the "brighter" side of things and yes, YELLOW has always been my favorite color. I have always been told that I have the ability to find kindess in a criminal and have the knack to speak to just about EVERYBODY! My heart is given freely to everybody and has been bruised often, but it doesn't fail to go back for healing. Being and living happy is a choice that I make everyday...Some days it's harder than others, BUT EVERYDAY I MAKE IT MY choice! I have always danced to the beat of my own drum, be it popular or not. I have never had eyes that saw prejudice, nor ears that listened to hatred. I almost ALWAYS root for the underdog even when it isn't ALWAYS the politically correct thing to do. If I walked a path with someone who tried to change the person that I was, I quickly changed paths but NOT before almost always going head to head with those trying to devalue my values!

Growing up I have found that you WILL ALWAYS see people that have a little more, weigh a little less, drive a better car, make more money, live in a bigger house, but I have learned that bigger is not always better, shinier is not always newer, and that money is not everything. I have also learned that the best gift anyone could ever give anyone is absolutely FREE, comes from only you, and can never be returned or exchanged, and that is LOVE! But by far the largest thing I have learned is that life is often NOT easy and darn sure not fair but wasting your time feeling sorry for yourself will only take happiness from you and never will you find the self satisfaction your seeking. The key to happiness is through forgiveness. Forgive others and let go. If you stay angry at somebody then they still have control over you. If you stay angry over past hurts, then your past has control over you. If you forgive them, then you are free. I mean life goes on, doesn't it, after all? No matter how tremendous your fall, people will still go back to raking the leaves, cutting the grass, tilling their fields and planting flowers right? I have learned that friends come and go, everybody fails, and that many people will love you but there will be those that don't. The most important thing is to be true to yourself....not to change who you are for anyone, unless who you are is someone you yourself don't like!

I believe that everything happens for a reason. You might not know today,tomorrow,next week, next year or a decade from now...but some time in your life an event will happen that will "connect the dots" and teach you what you had learned from the previous experience. The TRICK IS YOU HAVE TO LEARN ALONG THE WAY! So the bigger the problem the bigger the lesson!

So I will continue to focus on the future and maximise my positivity. Steering clear of those who tend to cloud my vision with their misery. Hopefully, one day, they too will see that the meaning of life is to seek happiness!

The Real Survivor! =)

the REAL survivor!

I saw this in a friends blog and thought it was HILARIOUS!! I know our hubby's do a great job with the kids, but come on....sometimes I think they are just clueless:)

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and
3 kids EACH for six weeks.

Each kid will play
two sports
and either take music
or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must
take care of his 3 kids;
keep his assigned house clean,
correct all homework,
and complete science projects,
cook, do laundry,
and pay a list of 'pretend' bills
with not enough money...

In addition, each man
will have to budget in money
for groceries each week.

Each man
must endure crying fits
spilled koolaid on the rug and car
beans up the nose or in the ear
all without losing complete control

Each man must also
take each child to a doctor's appointment,
a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make
one unscheduled and inconvenient
visit per child
to the Urgent Care.

He must also
make cookies or cupcakes
for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for
decorating his own assigned house,
planting flowers outside
and keeping it presentable
at all times.

The men will only
have access to television
when the kids are asleep
and all chores are done.

The men must
shave their legs,
wear makeup daily,
adorn himself with jewelry,
wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes,
keep fingernails polished
and eyebrows groomed.

During one of the six weeks,
the men will have to endure severeabdominal cramps, back aches,
and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or
slow down from other duties.

They must attend
weekly school meetings,
church, and find time
at least once to spend the afternoon
at the park or a similar setting.

They will need to
read a book to the kids
each night and in the morning,
feed them, dress them,
brush their teeth and
comb their hair by 7:00 am .

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information:
each child's birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size
and doctor's name.
Also the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,
favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear and
what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island
based on performance.
The last man wins only if...
he still has enough energy
to be intimate with his spouse
at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win,
he can play the game over and over
and over again for the next 18-25 years
eventually earning the right
To be called Mother!

Love/Patience/Understanding/Sacrifice/Kindness = 20 years of happiness!

Twenty years ago today... I was a teenage bride with stars in my eyes as I gazed into the eyes of somebody I knew I loved so much. Dating him had it's moments of ups and downs, just as most teenage love stories go... leaving MANY to wonder if this marriage would last! I knew in my heart without a doubt that it would indeed and I am so thankful to say that he is still the love of my life. The song "Love Song" by Taylor Swift SOOOOOO depicts the beginning of our relationship...we laugh every time we hear it! (stop the music (playlist) at the bottom of the page and listen to the video at the end of this blog). I have been so super Blessed in my marriage and literally growing up with Glenn has been one heck of a ride. A ride I wouldn't take with anyone else! It amazes me that it's been twenty years since we said our vows and started our life together. God has blessed me many times over in my life, but perhaps one of the most profound blessings was in the husband he chose to give me. I can honestly say that I love my husband more now than the day I married him. He is a wonderful husband. He is smart, funny, handsome, caring, hardworking, honest and compassionate! I love that he is sensitive and has a heart the size of his entire body! He make me feel beautiful even on my ugliest days. LOL And makes me feel like what I am doing, being a mother and a housewife, is the most important job on earth. A LOT has changed since that day twenty years ago and yet so much still remains exactly the same...We have faced challenges that may not have always been easy. Yet through it all, our LOVE for one another has remained strong!I hope my children find the kind of love that we did, and that they too know that marriage takes work, patience and understanding. Together we produced the most sweetest, caring and God Loving Children and I’m so thankful that we get to be their parents TOGETHER! Now trust me when I say that he is all that and then some, but he has his days... as do I! When we have complete melt downs and we wonder how we ever made it so far LOL!!! Thank you Glenn for 20 years of FUN!

So Long Halloween.....hello Thanksgiving!

Well another Halloween has come and gone! It was spent celebrating with great friends!! Since my youngest son was the only one to dress up this year, the pressure was off! My sweet mother in law made the most awesome Indian costume for him!! I only mentioned that he had wanted to be a Indian for Halloween, and she immediately got busy sewing!! What she produced for him was AMAZING!!! Before Halloween we did our traditional family carving of the pumpkin and had many laughs doing so!! I now happily wave goodbye to Halloween, but not until I have devoured every last Mary Jane Candy my son has brought home from trick or treating...LOL Time to pull out the Thanksgiving decorations and put away the the Jack-O-Lanterns. I have always LOVED the coziness of November which is probably why I chose this month to get married 20 years ago!The smells of fall cooking fill the house, and the weather is PERFECT....the days are full of sunshine and the wind blows lightly, while the evenings are quite chilly! I admit that I am already starting my Christmas Shopping but vow to savor the pre-Thanksgiving time as well! I have so much to be Thankful for and refuse to let this become a "LOST" holiday! Seems like the advertising companies have forgotten Thanksgiving and go straight into Christmas. Don't get me wrong...CHRISTMAS IS MY MOST FAVORITE HOLIDAY...but I refuse to let them take my Thanksgiving from me (LOL). Thanksgiving is kind of the calm before the storm if you will. It's a time of relaxing with family before the hustle and bustle of the approaching Christmas holiday! Well I will add a few Halloween pictures as I close this blog.....My Anniversary is tomorrow so I will no doubt be blogging again soon! HARVEST YOUR BLESSINGS as I WILL MINE!

OUR ESCAPE!!!

On a Thursday a few weeks back..my hubby called and asked if I was ready for an ESCAPE to the sunny SAN FRANCISCO. For real, NOW?? Of Course, with our 20th anniversary coming up November 4th, what better time than now to go! I knew we had a window of opportunity that probably wouldn’t come again for quite sometime. And I was ready for a get away with just him and I!

We were headed to California to see San Francisco and I could NOT have been more excited! My excitement was short lived however. After telling the kids and seeing the look on my son Peyton's face, the excitement vanished as fast as it had came! The closer the date came to us leaving, the more I tried backing out! I mean really, HOW WAS MY HOUSE GOING TO RUN WITHOUT ME??!!! Well, my husband would NOT hear of me changing my mind...and I will forever be grateful!!!! My wonderful daughter and terrific Mother were more than happy to take over my duties and send me off on my trip knowing everything back home was taken care of!

The trip was MORE than I ever thought it would be! The Golden Gate Bridge was amazing, riding the cable cars up and down the hills of San Fran was just so awesome. The town of Sausalitos on the other side of the Golden Gate was beautiful!! We traveled up mountains and saw great views of San Francisco, walked hand in hand on Stinson beach, and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Enjoyed seeing a 130 year old farm, and tasting the wine from the GORGEOUS vineyards in Nappa Valley!!! We had breakfast in bed overlooking breathtaking views of mountains, leisurely walks, tasty food from real restaurants (no Burger Kings), coffee breaks in charming bistros and time to breathe in the fresh sea air. The sun was shining most of the time. We took a couple of naps. We had time to talk about anything and nothing all. I had no where I had to be. No laundry to wash, beds to make, no cleaning or cooking, no bathing the dog, or homework to check, and my life for a few days only revolved around MY OWN SCHEDULE!!! Of course NONE of this could have been done without the WONDERFUL help of Mom and Skylar. Nightly calls home always delivered good news...Peyton was LOVING his play time with his Poppy and Uncle Bruz, Trevor was more than pleased with his Nano's great cooking and Skylar was happy to spend some alone time with her grandparents! Each day after school they would go to my parents to do homework, play, and eat dinner..then Sky would bring them home to shower and get into bed, and would take them to school each morning for me! All in all this past week was just a super terrific one for me. My home on Friday was however a welcome sight...even though I had a terrific time, I did miss my kids immensely! My life feels full right now and I just feel so super BLESSED!

When you have LOVE in your heart!

It just goes to show that when you have love in your heart, you can find it anywhere. The other night, my family went for a evening walk. While walking the path that I take daily...my ten year old son yelled out, "Mom, come look!" Upon returning back to where he stood he pointed out this rock that was embedded in the asphalt. He said, "It's a heart, MOM. Can we dig it up so you can have it forever?" THIS MELTED MY HEART!!!!!! I grabbed my phone and snapped the above picture, and told him although we couldn't dig it up, I would indeed have that rock forever! It reminded me that I need to slow down, and look around more. I walk that same path everyday and never noticed that rock before. Life is a moment, actually just a flicker in time. We should all love like that of child. Thank you God for the blessings you have given me with my family!

"Stuffy" our scarecrow!!!

Move over Miss Wooden Scarecrow, your harvest time companion has arrived to join you center stage as a country Halloween decoration. For centuries, scarecrows have been thought to scare off unwanted garden intruders, this one is thought to scare off intruders period (lol). Our scarecrow is pretty pathetic looking, and the finished product has yet to be delivered. He is missing his red hankie around his neck, his rope belt, boots, and gloves. But I WAS SO EXCITED about our fun evening that I couldn't wait to post! Peyton named him "Stuffy" and you will see in the pics that even our cows were trying to figure out what we were doing! We had the best time tonight grilling chili cheese dogs and stuffing "Stuffy" the Scarecrow. I LOVE our family projects...it allows my family some down time from the daily chores and homework!! Hope you enjoy the pictures and puts you in the HALLOWEEN SPIRIT! lol

P.S. These pictures are NOT in order. I will change that when I post the final product. LOL

Our Yard and Home Is Our Symbol Of Faith, Hope and Love!

What a terrific weekend....It's so wonderful what Rain from the heavens can do for a yard and Flowers....after over fertilizing and killing (you will notice the plant on the one side of my walkway) some of my huge flowers, I am grateful for any and all rain. So that inspired my blog...lol Below you will find pictures of my yard, my FURRY FAMILY and home!


My yard is a place of peace, thoughts and dreams. A place where my husband and I have watched 3 sets of small feet learn to walk, run, catch grasshoppers, and of course a few stickers. It is a place where my boys learned to play football, my daughter did cartwheels, and they all learned to swing themselves. A place that holds the swingset and monkeybars my husband made for them over 18 years ago. And, a place where we garden, grill, swim, and watch outside movies. It is a quaint, SIMPLE, and quiet place...where we have watched memories grow. The place where him and I would lay under the night moon and watch for falling stars in our teens, dreaming of what our life held. A place where our cats can hunt, and our dogs can roll! Twenty years ago it was just a field, but over the years it has become so much more. It is a place where we wanted to show our children that faith goes beyond the parish doors. The place we planted trees that were no taller or bigger around than a fire poker, and watched them grow along with our children. Our trees and children have a few things in common, nourished with love they have flourished and grown faster than we could ever have imagined. It is a place I can sit in solitude and enjoy the the beauty that God gives me. So many different birds have made homes within our trees, and I enjoy each one of them. So I guess you might say that I have kind of turned my yard into my shrine. With natures reminders of what is most important in my life..FAITH,FAMILY, HOPE, and LOVE!

An Angel received his wings!

Luke Aaron Pollok

A young man that captured so many hearts, including that of my family has found the freedom he was missing. He endured so much these last ten months that I am THANKFUL the sweet Lord took him and gave him his wings to fly. I know that he flew straight into the arms of his sister Kyley who loved him so much! My heart is heavy for his family that is left with a void in their hearts. Though the pain of this moment might diminish the void will forever be there until they are reunited with Luke in Heaven. I feel Luke fulfilled his "earthly" duty...and that was to change lives, and lead souls to our Lord.

I find comfort in knowing that death is NOT the end, but is just the beginning. Our lives , here on earth is merely just a second. My Grandmother Rutkowski didn't believe in being sad for the loved one who had passed, she KNEW that their real life was just beginning. She wanted us to rejoice and find happiness. So, I know that Luke has entered a new and much better phase of his life. A place where he has no more pain, hunger, sadness, and his soul is allowed once again to play and have fun! It is comforting to know that he is running with his sister Kyley and that his love of Christmas will only be MAGNIFIED!! I know that he will now live forever in Paradise with God. And when it is his families turn to leave this "earthly" world, they too will join him once again.

"They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:16-17,


"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4



http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lukepollok