♥Observations.

Ever notice how absolutely surrounded (pun intended) by boundaries we are? They're everywhere: lines on the road, stop signs, speed limits, gates and fences, aisles, laws. All put in place to remind us of our place. I hated boundaries for a while and I did everything I could to intentionally step over them; proving that no one could control me. Know what I've learned? Boundaries are not a bad thing. They're actually meant to help us and keep us from danger. They're meant to guide us and keep us from regret. Boundaries don't have to be fun, but they will facilitate more fun than violating them will.

I've noticed a few of my own different heart-changes here and there. God has been really working on me (& that whole black and white thing I bragged about) recently. Not that my heart was wrong, but it wasn't right either. I'm totally okay with this kind of change. Anything that works in me a softer heart, bent toward loving others (in Truth) is something I'll surrender to.

Speaking of... I believe with everything that is in me that if someone is seeking Truth (capital T) they will find it. Others? The truth (little t) they're seeking is actually just a new version of comfort- something that will fit their schedule, their opinion, their preference. Truth doesn't make you comfortable; it draws you out of your over-stuffed Lazy-Boy and requires that you use more than just your logic to believe it. It doesn't conform to YOU, YOU conform to it. Which is why it's superior to opinion or preference.

Brokenness is not a gentle sort of thing. It requires a violent dying to self and a desperate thirst for an in-pouring of the Holy Spirit which can only be quenched by unutterable groanings and hours of weeping at the feet of Jesus. Brokenness is kin to suffering and sorrow; one cannot be obtained without the other. Yet, it is a thing of glory. For in it we take on the image of Christ and are able to be made whole… from brokenness.

God cannot be contained in a box. He just can't be. And anyone who tries to put him in a six-sided encasement is ignorant and is probably trying to stuff an idol in there, not the Creator of the Universe. Just sayin'.

The thing from before that I thought was Love? It wasn't really Love. It was self-serving and perverted. Love doesn't seek its own benefit; it doesn't use others to satisfy itself. So then what is the opposite of Love? Some would say Hate and I'd have to agree on that, but I also think that Self is Hate's counterpart and therefore also the opposite of Love. Self's sacrifice is an illusion meant to look, feel and sound like Love. But Self and Love are two entirely different creatures that are easily confused. The things is: when you finally find and act out true Love, you know the difference immediately.

♥I am woman.

I'm the woman that has all the other women wrapped up into one:

The business woman with her goals screwed on straight. Who isn't intimidated by outside forces beyond her control. The woman who grabs life by the you-know-whats and doesn't let go until she gets what she wants. <-- I'm 2% her.

I want to be the homemaker that takes pride in her clean living-room and doesn't mind wearing those new heels while vacuuming the halls. The woman that sees the feminist and pities her for her lack of domestic desire. Her entire world is her family and she lives to feed and dress them well. <--- I'm 10% her.

That 50's housewife gets old. Fast. I want to have the fire, the passion, to burn my bra and proudly walk the streets with squared shoulders and an "I can do anything you can do." attitude. Her strength is envious; her independence is unmatched. <--- I am 8% her.

Then there's Mother Theresa (minus the celibacy). Her focus, her journey, her end result is Christ and reaching out to those who need His love most. The desperate, destitute, and dreary world sees this light shining from her because her source is the Light. Sacrifice and toil are her closest companions. Her ministry is her life is her ministry. <--- I want to be 30% her.

What about the princess? The one who squeals at dirt and dreams of being swept away by a destined knight on a white horse. She replaces every damsel in distress (even the Disney ones) with herself as she imagines being needed and desired enough to be pursued in the right way. <--- I'm 20% her.

I want to be my mother. I want her strengths and her achievements. Her knowledge and her talent are surely to be mine, right? They're in my blood. She is an example unto herself of a woman that I strive to be. She is a real woman with weaknesses that she has to fight against and goals that seems daunting to her at times. Yet she still climbs toward them. She cares for her children and prays for her friends. She has a listening ear and an a compassion that warms the soul. <--- I am 15% her.

Wonder Woman, by my definition, has a week-long meal planned out. Her children's faces are never crusty or dirt-smeared. Her house has an air that draws company and keeps them. Her husband adores her cooking and her friends call to ask for her opinion of household decor. She seems like the 50's housewife... but in all actuality, she's just totally creative and has time to be so. <-- I'm 5% her.

This free spirit doesn't care if her kid's face is dirty, bare feet help him feel the earth, artistic character is developed best in chaos. Every day is an adventure and every discovery is a lesson learned- be it messy or on the edge of danger. Her kisses are untapped and her understanding transcends culture or social skill. She employs abandon and encourages running free. <--- I am 10% her.

“Women are strange and incomprehensible, a device invented by Providence to keep the wit of man well sharpened by constant employment” -Arnold Bennett

“Oh, woman, woman! When to ill thy mind is bent, all Hell contains no fouler fiend” -Homer

“I will never be the woman with the perfect hair, who can wear white and not spill on it.” -Sex and the City quote

“How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being.” -Oscar Wilde

“You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her”

stuff you may or may not be interested in.

conflict makes me feel sick.
it takes forever for me to make a decision, but when I do I'm confident enough to stick with it.
i'd totally be a barista again.
i love my dad but can't wait to move out of his house. or there might be a death in the family (of the animal sort).
of all the things i'm most grateful, it's for being allowed to be a mother.
i'm in love.
my pointer finger is double-joined and looks like it has been broken in half.
i wish dream interpreting books actually made sense.
i'm total girl and i frequently over-dress for an occasion.
the "snooze" button must be hit at least four times before i can drag myself out of bed.
"it is so happy to love." <---- first tattoo. for sure.
harry potter > twilight. there, i said it.
in life, i've gone from never speaking my mind to speaking my mind too much to knowing when to speak and what to say. iz good.
it frustrates me when people ask for help and then turn down every offer provided to them.
a recent lesson: God is not a cookie-cutter. He works in everyone according to their own person... and His will of course. but, what He has done for you or has told them is not the same for me.
my baby boy is growing and it astounds me how much he's starting to learn. it also makes me a little sad.
it's going to be an AWESOME year.
when you know... you know.
i'm not going to blog about this love, just yet. give us a little private time to revel in its newness and then you'll hear all about it. i promise. <3
‎"when I question something... i just buy a new outfit." <-- not originally me, still awesome.
my prime thinking time is when i brush my teeth.
i absolutely LOVE being a listening ear for my friends.
talking on the phone is not my thing, but i'll talk to him for hourrrrs.
God wants me to live in washington state, i just know it.

♫ I Believe...

Every year I get lost in "the meaning of Christmas. Between my Christian upbringing, the political madness (Say Happy Holidays, not Merry Christmas!), the busy-ness, the stress of money and time, the extra hours at work, and the constant noise around me...my view of Christmas changes almost every year.

This year, it's for the better.

This year, I've officially decided that I believe in magic.

I believe in Santa as much as my little girls, because the excitement in their eyes is more convincing than anything I've ever been told.

I believe that the buzz of Christmas has been commercialized, and it's thing to be felt, not accomplished.

I believe that the true meaning of Christmas IS Jesus' birthday, but that you can believe in magic too.

I believe that things get harder for those around us at Christmas, to make us appreciate the things we can't reach or understand.

I believe that traditions are things you can start at any age.

I believe it possible to send love, peace and strength, instead of material gifts.

I believe in old fashioned Christmas cards, and will never email them.

I believe that those that are suffering should be our focus, instead of those craving spoiling.

I believe in the power of prayer.

I believe life shows us hardships, to force us to remember the small things.

After closing my eyes. and feeling my way through a store to find the perfect gift for somebody that needs texture...I believe that Christmas is held in the eyes of children, and in the touch of people with special needs.

I believe Christmas music rarely tells the story right.

I believe that Christmas is a time of year, not a single day.

I believe that "Christmas" goes by many names, which doesn't make them any more right or wrong. (This tradition has been around for centuries, and the original story has long been forgotten. How do YOU celebrate Christmas? What about your great great great great grandmother?...follow your history; open your eyes))

I believe in magic.

Yours Truly,
Nomz

**Facebook Awareness Campaigns

We had a ghost blog come in to our inbox today! I'm sure she'd love your two cents on this matter! - Nomz and Sazaran

Nomz's intro: To add a bit to this one...there are a lot of "Facebook Campaigns" that go around. Anything from "Change your picture to raise awareness!" or "make this your status if you agree!". It frustrates a lot of people that are actually out there DOING instead of SAYING. On the other hand, in my opinion...it still raises awareness. Getting people to think and talk about certain issues is the first step in creating an action. Hmmm...what are your thoughts?

Ghost Writer:

Wondering if it bothers anybody else in the world when people think that just changing their profile pic on Facebook really supports something. If you get inspired, please write about it to your audience.

This is my status today after a very rough week (My son's friend's Grandma and Grandpa lost their house to fire this week. I went to a cops funeral and another has been senselessly shot, and I ran my truck through a barbed wire fence, etc...):

" Hold up. Exactly how does changing your profile picture to a cartoon character support the fight against child abuse? I don't get it. All that did was change your profile pic. ** If you really want to support the fight, get involved as a mentor, volunteer at a shelter or school, or send money to the nearest Salvation Army or Safe House.** "

-KG

♫ Ain't no cookin' like yo' mama's cookin'

My mama and my baby!


I need to note, before I get started, that a lot of these things in this blog are meant to be funny, (I kid, I kid!) but for the most part, it's nonfiction.

I love to cook. I adore cooking, but lately, not only is it hard to find the time to do the entire project (come onnnnn, we all know it's not about wham-bamming something together...the prep and clean up are HUGE chores), but I also hate that I don't own a recipe. I've borrowed hundreds, I've mastered several, I can follow a recipe and tweak it a bit and still have it turn out fine.

BUT...as the saying goes, there ain't no cookin', like yo' mama's cookin'. Mostly, I want to know, now that I'm a mom, when this saying kicks in!

Here's the thing...my mom came from a mom that can COOK. Obviously, most grandma's (if you're my age) grew up in the depression, and learned pretty quickly how to make masterpieces out of thin air and flower. I think as of late, or society has made cooking too simple...problem #1 for those of us that want to be infamous by our kids someday.

My mom then married a man from Minnesooooohta. If you know anything about the midwest, you know that any food made in the midwest is deep fried, slathered, and covered in cheese. So, my mastermind of a mama, combined what her brilliant mom taught her, with my daddy's cravings her grew up with, and mastered recipes! Those that have ever had her (or my) chicken enchiladas, beer cheese soup, lasagna, chicken & noodle soup with practically homemade noodles, breakfast anything, baked delights, etc....know I'm not kidding.

Here's where the joking comes in...IF my mom utters the words, "Come for a meal! I cleaned out the fridge today, added eggs, and call it garbage...it's really good!", OR, "I tried a new recipe on my pot roast, it's good this time!"...skip the invite. (I kid, I KID!)

My mama is a heckova cook, and I honestly can't wait until I inherit her gravy-making skills, her instinct to season when/where, her ability to know how slow to stir, and whatever else magic happens that makes ME a good cook, because I'm a mama too. Until then...I love you all for forwarding every one of your favorite recipes, for attempting my "new" recipes, and for laughing with me...when I kid, I KID!.

What's your favorite mama-dish?
Aside from the ones I listed above? My mom makes a killer bone soup. <---Not kidding.

Yours Truly,
Nomz

♫ Little Miss...

I've got this overwhelming urge to organize something, probably because my life is in such disarray at the moment. So, I'm organizing randomness. <--this takes talent, people.

I wish

*I wish the world, including myself, had less of a reliance for material items, and more of a need for emotional satisfaction.

*I wish, sometimes, that I could choose who reads our blog. Not that I want to block people, I wish I could block their assumptions though.

*I wish I wouldn't wait until I'm absolutely down and beaten, to remind myself that it's easier to be optimistic.

*I wish there was a way to decline kindness, without offending or hurting.

*I wish I could see the world through my kids' eyes.

*I wish more people would realize that it's the season to give, and not the season to gripe.

*I wish I could swoop up every hurting child in the world, and mother the heck out of them.

I've learned:

*I've learned that... "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to a better understanding of ourselves."

*I've learned that I make mistakes, and no matter how much I cry about them, they'll probably happen again.

*I've learned that when people have a void, they usually fill it with all of the wrong things, rather than seeking self worth.

*I've realized that I lack confidence in myself, and guilt trip myself as often as possible, to somehow make me feel better.

*I've learned that music heals faster than anything else.

I need to remember:

*I need to remember that most people, regardless of their actual action, have good intentions in mind.

*I need to remember that no matter what, I only have control over my reactions and emotions.

*I need to remember that I am right where I'm supposed to be, or God wouldn't have let the doors open.

New findings and musings:

*You're never too old to need your daddy.

*Tuesdays aren't nearly as bad as I always thought. In fact, they are right up there with Fridays in my book...all of a sudden.

*Bitterness in contagious. Fight it with immune boosters including but not limited to: optimism, 'thank you's', positive energy, the ability to walk away.

*Every girl needs a pile of good girlfriends.

*There is very little that cannot be cured with a flat iron and a glass of wine.

Yours Truly,
Nomz

PS- My latest favorite tune, brought to you by Sugarland: (In case Sugarland makes your ears bleed, please see lyrics posted below video)



Little Miss down on love,
Little Miss I give up,
Little Miss I'll get tough, don't you worry 'bout me anymore

Little Miss checkered dress,
Little Miss one big mess,
Little Miss I'll take less when I always knew so much more

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again

I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay

Little Miss do your best,
Little Miss never rest,
Little Miss, be my guest, I'll make more anytime it runs out

Little Miss you'll go far,
Little Miss hide your scars,
Little Miss who you are is so much more than you like to talk about

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again,
I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay

Hold on, hold on, you are loved, are loved

Little Miss brand new start,
Little Miss do your part,
Little Miss big ole heart beats wide open, she's ready now for love

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again
I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay,
It'll be alright again