A Zoo, A Drinking Cowboy and a Dog's Birthday

      I love days like yesterday, where every once in a while we get to spend time as a family and spend a little money on entertainment. We went to go see the last matinee showing because frankly I think it's ridiculous to pay almost ten dollars a person to see half and hour of movie trailers and then finally the main feature. "We bought a Zoo", that's what we went to go see. I looked at what the critics had to say about it because I let that sway my opinion on weather or not to see the movie. The critic's said "maybe". I decided that we should see it, and so we went.

     It turns out that it was a really good family movie, and I will be buying it when it comes out on DVD. It was full of all the range of emotions. Humor, fear, sadness, happiness, and all the other ones I haven't mentioned. It feels good to see a movie that is definitely worth what you paid for it. I am sure all of us have at one time or another paid for a movie only to leave feeling like we were just mugged. You won't get this feeling with this movie. It was the perfect kickoff to the much anticipated weekend that awaits us.

     So after having way too much popcorn, we decided it was time to go eat something more substantial. We went to El Patron restaurant on East Ave. My mom thinks they have the best food around and a lot of other non Mexican food think that this food is oh so good. In my opinion, I think the food is okay, but it is not the greatest. I had the chile relleno burrito. The Spanish rice that was in the burrito also was very bland, lacked salt and simply tasted like rice with way too much tomato sauce. Also, the thing I missed was the free tortilla chips that usually come with every meal that one purchases at a typical Mexican restaurant. Here at El Patron, you have to pay five dollars for the tortilla chips. The one thing I really liked about this place was the ambiance of it. It had low lighting and was clean and I liked the earth tone colors of the walls. It was very comfortable, warm and inviting and made the food seem to taste a little better.

     I am my daughter's biggest fan. The following is an actual true statement of what she said. She wanted me to take a picture of her "standing like a cowboy drinking at the bar". She totally cracks me up! I love this chick! We do watch a lot of old westerns, because it reminds me of my dad. That is where she probably pulled this idea out of her head. To be honest, I never really know what is going to be created in her brain and then come out of her mouth, but that is a part of the awesomness that is Loralai.

Peace & Love

                                                                         

Yaya and Lollie at El Patron.

Tired

 Today was a productive day, tomorrow will be better.

Caught in the Riptide

     So you're at the office, and you make small talk through out the day with fellow co-workers, and then one of them starts to say stuff about a third party that they would never say to their face. Yes, I am speaking of gossip. I mean, that's what gossip is right? How many of you get caught up in that? C'mon, I bet you do more than you'd like to admit. Unfortunately, I was caught up in that today. I tend to do that a lot actually, and I need to figure out a way to stop that.

     Just because you are a Christian, does not mean that you have an easy life from the moment you give your heart to God. I think at times you may be attacked even more. I feel like I am under such attack. I am trying to be a reflection of Jesus, but seem to be taken away with the tide of sin. Work is hard in that I am surrounded by non-believers, and I need to figure out a way to not participate in office ongoings that put my walk with God in jeopardy. I don't want to alienate myself from the rest of the crew either. If anyone has any suggestions, I very much welcome them.

     I think the thing I need to do about this is simply take it to prayer. That really is the best answer I can think of and probably the best response I will get. Maybe when gossip comes up I can change the subject with something else. Maybe the other co workers will not catch on to the fact of what I am doing. I don't know....but what I do know is that I can no longer participate in the aforementioned not only because it causes me infliction spiritually, but because it is in now way honoring God. Here's to growing in Him.

                                                               Peace & Love!

When Late Night TV is the Six O'clock News....

     So today was the first day I got up at five in the morning to have Bible study, do some yoga and get dressed before the kid wakes at seven. It went pretty well. Even though my phone shut off sometime during the night, God woke me up right at five exactly. I am so not making this up. I did not even know that my phone died last night and all of a sudden I woke right up, sat up ( which I NEVER do), grabbed my phone, realized it died, plugged it in, turned it on and the time read 5:00am! WOW!!! When I said I wanted to wake up at five every morning I didn't think the "big guy" was going to hold me to it. I guess he really wants me to start talking to him again. Awwww....my Father misses me. <3

     Yeah, so made it through the day and even went on a mile and a half walk with Gomez. Just finished watching the nightly news, wanted to stay up for the Iowa caucuses, but I am pooped! Here's to another awesome day tomorrow!! Let me know who wins the caucuses!!

                                                             Peace & Love!

Mondays Aren't So Bad

     I was supposed to get up at five in the morning today to study the Bible and do some yoga...that so did not happen. Then it was rush, rush to get Loralai to school and me off to work. I thought for sure was going to be a typical case of the "terrible Monday's". It turns out, it was not really all that bad. I think a major reason for this is my decision to be positive no matter what. I know it sounds retarded and people probably think "yeah, like that's really gonna work", but it actually does.

     I have to do work study while I am on break from school, so I am working at a blood bank and it is actually really fun. I really want to get into social services, or just any job where I am helping people. In church, we talk about what spiritual gifts we all are blessed with, I think my calling is to serve others in need. It really lifts my spirits to be able to do that. Even though I am only volunteering at the blood bank, I would sure LOVE to have a job like this. I really can't wait to go back tomorrow.
    
     Another decision I am making, is to be thankful even for the small things. My daughter and I usually eat dinner in front of the telly, but today I put a stop to that. Tonight we dined on coconut battered shrimp and steamed broccoli and had some pomegranate for dessert. Man oh man, that was some good grubbin'. Here's to the little things in life!

                                                                                  Peace & Love

30 Something Feels So Good

     I don't know why a lot of us have to go through this needy state in our 20's. I can understand the need when your in your teens, but in your 20's so many women go from relationship to relationship, can't go to the movies without a girlfriend or any outing for that matter. Now that I am in my thirties, I very much enjoy going to the movies by myself. I enjoy not calling a girlfriend back right away, but finishing reading the chapter of the book I am into. I am surprisingly also okay that I am not in a relationship where I have to ask "what do YOU want to do?"

     I don't know if this is the point in which you start to become a grumpy old person, or if it is the point where we start becoming comfortable in our own skin and start putting ourselves as a priority. There is definitely a sense of peace that comes with they coziness. I do fear sometimes that I am so comfortable that I might have a hard time wanting to be in a relationship in the future. I don't think I am that selfish to the point where I will be unwilling to consider an other's interests. I am mean I am a mom after all. Being in my thirties though, I don't have the need to hunt for my next boyfriend, or have to make sure that I have a friend to hang out with on the weekend. No, I like exactly where I'm at and if God chooses to bring someone into my life that I can sustain a relationship with, then I welcome that. Until then, this sure does feel good.

Happy New Year!!

     So it's the first day of the new year! Welcom 2012! I decided to come up with a bunch of resolutions for the new year like most everyone does. When I was reflecting on that, I came upon this in my facebook news feed: " Don’t allow another negative word toward yourself come out of your mouth. Celebrate who God made you to be. Start meditating on the fact that you are God's masterpiece. You are one of a kind, equipped and anointed. You are God's very own creation." This is soo true! I am not saying that you should never try to strive to more Christlike or a better person that treats others better, but one should take the time to be thankful for what they are already blessed with.
    
     I have decided this new year to improve upon the things I am already supposed to be doing, but do it better! As most of you know my daughter is bipolar. Having someone in your family requires a lot of work and I have to be honest in saying that I have been downright lazy about some things. Well, that stops today. The second is that I have always been an "on the fence" Christian. This year, I will connect with Jesus everyday and not make him the distant relative that I never keep in touch with. The third, ( I like doing things in three's I dunno why, there IS a method to the madness.) is not so much to lose weight and look like a model, but just to be healthy. Eat healthy, live healthy.

     I stayed up way to late last night, so this day is off to a slow start. Thank God, that I can attend church online. I am moving back to San Diego in June, and the church I was a member of before I left was The Rock Church. I LOVE that church. The worship service was amazing today, and it was great to be able to share my resolution with other Christians and recieve encouragement. By the way, if anyone happens not to skip this blog immediately, and actually reads it, please let me know if I can pray for you or someone in any way. If you do not want to post it in a reply on here, please feel free to e-mail me. I believe it is posted on here somewhere, if not I can send it to you.

     I did not go to a pulic event to ring in the new year, I went to a friends house and had some quality friend time. It felt really good to just hang out, and not have to get all gussied up in uncomfortable shoes, in an outfit that requires SPANX, just my comfy cotton clothes. I do now and then like to get "dressed up", perhaps I will do that next NYE, but last night was just what I needed. I thank God that I was able to return safely home. I really enjoyed strangers that I have never met before wishing me a happy new year and a "be safe" to go with it. The constant concern from stranger to stranger, friend to friend was very comforting. Here are a couple of pictures from two new friends I made. The puppy is named Norma Jean and is as cute as she looks. The second is named Brodi and was such a good dog. She was totally rocking her 80's doggie knitted sweater, she was just missing her leg warmers. I hope you all had a memorable night as well.

                                                                 Peace & Love!