Life with Boys...

The Glory of First Love...

2009-03-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

I wanted to see what all the hype was about...the movie adaptation of Stephanie Meyer's book "Twilight" was due out last Friday night, fittingly, at midnight! There were parties scheduled around town, at stores like Hot Topic, Borders, etc. I hadn't read the books or anything yet but was intrigued at all the hoopla so I snagged a copy of the first book last week at Costco. Last Sunday, the 15th, I began reading...and I couldn't put it down!!! I finished the almost 500 page book in 3 days! I was hooked! The last time I was so drawn into a book was when I read the Harry Potter series, I could NOT put them down!

What amazes me is the gift that is given to these authors! Stephanie Meyer did not have a writing background, she was a stay-at-home mom with 3 little boys and one night had a dream of these characters. Once she had the dream, she started hearing these characters talking in her head throughout her days. She was a busy mom, so she would think on the story all day and then write at night. She wrote the story Twilight in just 3 months! She said she was pretty obsessive about it, writing something like 10 pages a day. And the funny thing is that she never intended to publish...she just wanted to record this story that had come to her. When she let her sister read it, her sister told her that she loved it and that Stephanie should do something with the story. And as Stephanie thought about it, she thought she owed it to her characters to have them exist outside of her mind. So, she send letters to small publishing companies and then, just for kicks, she sent it to 3 BIG publishers that she figured wouldn't ever touch it but she thought, what the heck? And it was one of those big publishers that ended up asking her for the first 3 chapters!

Now, if that's not fate, what is?! She was meant to be the vessel for this story. And what a story it is! It is, at its heart, the story of First Love and how when you fall inlove for the first time, it encompasses your entire world, your entire being is so invested. Reading Stephanie's words, she perfectly captures the emotions, the feelings...I truly felt like I was falling inlove for the first time again. I was experiencing it vicariously through Bella, meeting Edward, feeling that magnetic pull to him...thinking of him every waking hour, dreaming about him...wanting to know everything about him... her writing just brought it all to life! No wonder I was hooked! What woman in her mid-thirties, whose been married for nearly 16 years, wouldn't want to feel those youthful feelings of falling inlove for the first time all over again?! That's the beauty of a good book, of good writing, is the ability of the story to draw you into its world and for a while, the cares & concerns of your own life are forgotten...and you exist in another world! You are 17 again...Fascinating!

Before I finished the first book, I was at Wal-Mart picking up the 2nd one because I knew that I would want to continue reading immediately once I was done with the first. So, I am now 1/3 of the way into Book 2. On Saturday I picked up the Blue Ray DVD and we had a couple of the boys' friends over to watch with us. We popped popcorn, got movie candy, drinks, we all gathered on the sofas and watched. Now I know that some who read this who liked the movie may disagree with me BUT I was horribly disappointed! And I feared I would be, as I was reading the first book. I worried that the actors in the movie wouldn't do justice to Stephanie's characters and they didn't but it was not their fault.

Although the movie is over 2 hours long, they just couldn't capture the characters personalities and motivations completely. In the book Stephanie is able to, with her words, take you into the minds of Bella and Edward. You get to know them so much better in the book. In the movie, the characters seem very "choppy" to me, very erratic with no explanation as to why. It seems to me that Bella and Edward just stare at one another and don't really develop a relationship and then suddenly they are saying they love one another! In the book, the relationship is truly developed and progresses before those words are ever spoken. And when they finally are, it's such a sweet moment, and bittersweet at the same time, because of the circumstances. I could go on and on about my disappointment but I won't because from the interview I saw with Stephanie Meyer, she was happy with the end product.

I do have to say, though, that I think Robert Pattinson was a genius find for Edward. He's attractive but in an unconventional way. Unlike the book, which describes him as "model beautiful" and "god-like", he is not PERFECT and I find that more attractive than perfection. As far as the actress that played Bella, I found her "look" to be right on, but her acting to be annoying. I felt she tried too hard with the teen angst thing. For example, when she freaks out in the last hospital scene when Edward is saying that he is going to leave her, it wasn't believable to me, I feel she tried too hard in that scene.

However, I think the major criticism was that the movie was just SO SLOW! It dragged on and on and on...I kept thinking to myself, "This has got to get better, right? It's got vampires, it's got to be more exciting than this?" but it never got better. The only exciting time was the last fight scene and it was over all too quickly. There were so many other scenes from the book that could have been done either better or weren't included at all...

So, I return to the books where I can dive into Stephanie's world of the city of Forks and all the characters I am growing to know and love. I will relish this time as I know, that in 2 more books, the journey will be over. I will be at the end of my involvement in this world. I will store the characters and story away in my heart, as I do with all the books that I love. And when the next movie comes out, as it inevitably will, I will have to decide then if I want to give film adaptations another chance!

Blessings,
Eliana

Time Flies...

2009-03-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

In January of this year, I finally joined Facebook. Why, you may ask? Solely for the reason that almost my entire graduating class is on there and we are all reconnecting. You see, this year will be my 20th High School Reunion! It is SURREAL! I honestly cannot believe this year is here! I was the person in charge of organizing our 10th Year Reunion and almost jumped on board to help with this year's reunion.

So much has changed in the last decade! Our children have grown, most of us have teenagers who are either entering, are in, or are even graduating from High School themselves...amazing! I even have some friends who have already become grandparents! (Typically this has happened through a marraige with previous kids, but still!) Sadly, we have also had 3 deaths in our class...I think 2 were from Cancer and the other I am not sure of the cause. We are all so "grown up" now. We are lawyers, teachers, business owners, stay-at-home moms...it will be so interesting to catch up on everyone's lives.

It HAS been an absolute blast being on Facebook and interacting with others from my class. We had a genuinely great group of people in the class of 1989. I just want to reach through my computer when I reconnect with some dear friends that I wondered about for years but had lost track of! It's so nice to see their smiling faces in the pictures they post and to see that they are happily married with children, beautiful children of their own!

In retrospect, High School was a good time, a time of growth and learning, a time of getting to know myself in the beginning stages. Because looking back, I see now what I child I still was, we all were...and yet we felt so "grown up" and ready to be on our own. What a difference the reality is from the fantasy! I always say I would NOT go back and do it again...but lately, as simple as life was then, looking back, perhaps I would...if only for a while...

Eliana

Sweet on Corgis...

2009-02-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

We got some exciting news the other day... Our breeder contacted us and let us know that our future puppy is on its way! They bred a Red & White female, Darla, with a Tri-Colored male, Monte, and now Darla is expecting 6 puppies on March 27th! Brandon's birthday is March 26th, so he is happy to have the puppies born close to his day.

What's even neater is that my friend Debbie has a Corgi named Riley. He is Darla's brother! So that means that he will be the Uncle to our puppy! Riley and Darla both have wonderful personalities & temperaments, which is important to me. I am happy our puppy will be coming from the same lineage as them.

We went to visit our breeders early this month, and some of you may have seen the pictures on our family site. The ones above are also from that day. The sweet, smiling face is a female named Emilee. She was sweet, but very hyper! She jumped up on my lap immediately, giving me big, wet, Corgi kisses! I couldn't help but laugh. In the picture, I had to hold her in order to get her to stay still for a moment so I could snap the picture. I absolutely love that picture! It truly captures the sweetness of Corgis. They just want to love on you all the time!

Something else is going on in relation to dogs in general here at the Martinez household. Andrew has taken to making homemade Gourmet Doggie Cookies! He has looked up some basic recipes and then modified them to make them his own! He has had 3 orders already for his products. He offers "Nutty Buddy Peanut Butter" and "Paw-Lickin' Chicken " flavors. They are all-natural and partly Organic treats. They need to be refrigerated since they have no preservatives. They have been a huge hit with every dog we know! And we know a LOT of dogs! In making our list, we realized our friends have over 15 dogs combined! Wow! We are looking forward to becoming fellow dog owners this summer. Our puppy should be able to come home just before my birthday, around the first or second week in June.

We hope you all have a great weekend with your dogs, if you have them, they sure make life fun, don't they?! And if you are interested in Andrew's Gourmet Doggie Cookies, he will have flyers available soon!

Blessings,
Eliana

Valentine's Day = Sugar !!!

2009-02-09T20:14:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is Saturday...what do you do with your special someone? For the past 2 years, my husband and I have had a nice dinner at home, complete with our own waiters! (The boys dressed up and waited on us!) It's fun, easy and we don't have to brave any crowds!

Valentine's Day, for me, is a day to let everyone know how I feel about them...all my family AND friends! I love the verse,

"A Friend Loves at all Times - Proverbs 17:17"

and I always print it on cards and give it with goodies to friends. One of our favorite comedians jokes that Valentine's Day used to be just for your girlfriend/wife and now it has extended to include everyone. He jokes how awkward it was the first time he got a Valentine's card from his grandmother! I think it's sweet. I love any excuse to give a gift and show I appreciate others, it's just who I am, I am a giver by nature!

So, I currently have 4 batches of colored sugar cookie dough chilling in my fridge! 2 bright pink and 2 bright purple. Tomorrow will find me baking Valentine's cookies (heart-shaped, of course!) Later I will drizzle them with royal icing and sprinkle them with colored sugars. Then I will wrap them up individually to give to those I care for...and the joy I get from their faces when they receive them, that is MY reward!

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day no matter what you do...take a moment to tell those you love how special they are to you!

Blessings,
Eliana

"Uncharted Territory..."

2009-01-20T08:43:00.000-08:00

Last week I spent 30 minutes texting with a young girl who was crying over my son, Brandon. She had developed a crush on him and felt like he would never like her "that way." Then the very next day, I was texting another girl, who lives 3 doors down, for the same reason! She, too, has a crush on Brandon and was crying over him as well! Phew! My fingers are sore from texting so much!

We are entering "uncharted territory" with our boys...both are teenagers, officially, this year and are starting to notice the fairer sex! Hormones abound in the older one and the younger one is not far behind. It is at these times that I realize how smart God was in not giving me daughters! I don't know how I would have handled the DRAMA! At first I thought, "these girls are too young to be going through this!" but then I realized that I had my first crush at 12 years old, too...so, I guess it's par for the course...

With these new experiences come the need for new rules to avoid any "inappropriate" situations. Some of the boys girly friends like to roughhouse and be silly with the boys. (Who doesn't remember punching a boy when you liked him?!) But we have a rule of no rough housing with girls. They must be treated like young ladies, even though, at times, they may not act like it. I don't fault the girls that they don't know how to act...I have to take into account the kinds of families these girls have, some from broken homes that now have single parents, most are left to their own devices for most of their daily lives as the parents are off working. Some don't have mothers in their lives everyday. They enjoy gathering at our house on a regular basis and I try to be a mom that they feel comfortable coming to should they need to talk, even if it's about my boys :)

It's funny, though I wasn't given girls of my own, ever since I became a parent, girls have been placed in my life regularly for some reason. I have friendships with them and help them in some way through that friendship. I think that I have a purpose when it comes to all these girls that move through my life. I pray that I have a positive influence on them and that years later they will always remember "Mrs. Martinez" and what I was to them for that brief time our lives overlapped.

I encourage you to take a look around at the young people whose lives you may have an influence upon. Don't take it lightly, you have a purpose in knowing them. In one way or another, you affect their lives..and that can be a powerful thing they will always remember and you may even change them or their lives!

Blessings,
Eliana

Wishes for 2009...

2009-01-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!!!

Thank you to my friends and family who faithfully read my blog and follow my life through my entries. I know life is busy and it means a lot to me that you care enough to take the time to read them!

So....another year behind us...I remember when I couldn't even fathom the idea of the year 2010 and now it is only a year away! Wow! Very weird...this past year was one of tremendous growth for me, mentally and emotionally. I feel like I have really "come into my own" in my thirties. Here are some things I count as "successes" in my growth, followed by my wishes for 2009:

* I know myself extremely well by now and I am keenly aware of my strengths & weaknesses in life. I know the things I wish to work on about myself.

* I am comfortable knowing how to say "no" graciously to things that I do not have time to do, therefore freeing up time to enjoy the things I do.

* Though I am not currently happy with my weight (I know a lot of us are in the same boat here, especially after the holidays!) I know how to discipline myself in order to get back to a healthier me and I have started on the road towards that goal.

* I was never taught how to manage money when I was growing up. I spent many years struggling, failing, and trying again (many thanks to my EXTREMELY patience husband on this issue!) I had to learn the hard way and feel confident now.

* I was also never taught how to run a household. I lived with my paternal grandmother. She ran the house and didn't take the time to teach me anything. God rest her soul, I loved her but she would rather I stayed out of her way and just let her get stuff done. I asked her once to teach me how to do laundry so I could help her but she didn't think I should have to do it, I guess. I wonder how she learned? Someone must have taught her...Well, after many years of "on the job training" (and a husband who had to teach me how to sort clothing, etc (again, honey, thank you for your endless patience!) I know how to successfully run my household, with all the chores involved.

* My husband jokes that when he married me, I didn't even know how to boil water! That's not far from the truth, actually. I have a picture of me in 1992 with the first Lasagna I ever baked! I was very proud. No one taught me how to cook, either. Again, my grandmother, God love her, did all the cooking and told us to "stay out of her kitchen", unfortunately. So I never learned that either. Over the years, I taught myself how to cook and bake. Baking eventually became a passion of mine, as you all know but I can cook a pretty good meal, too, I am proud to say! My husband is especially happy for this and our boys never had to suffer through my "learning years", only my husband had that privilege!LOL

Now, onto my wishes for 2009:

* I wish to become debt free. I have us on track to achieve this goal and barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will reach it!

* I wish to be a healthier-sized me! I did it 6 years ago, I lost 30 lbs, so I know HOW, I just have to stay determined. And if I do, my goal is to celebrate my June birthday as an improved me!

* I wish to add a Corgi to our family! I'm sure you have read my earlier blog entry, "Dreaming of Cupcake", where I talk about my desire to get a dog. I am in contact with a breeder who just mated her Corgis and I will find out mid-month if the mama is pregnant! If she is, there will be puppies due on Valentine's Day. I am first on the list to get a puppy from that litter. I would be able to bring one home in May, an early birthday gift to myself!

* I wish for my husband to find another job. He is not happy with the current company and it is not a strong company, we are surprised it has lasted this long. So, we are keeping our eyes open for a new opportunity!

Well, that's it for my reflections and wishes for 2009. I encourage all of you to make a mental list of things you'd like to accomplish this year, because, as we know, time flies all too quickly!

Blessings,
Eliana

Christmastime is here...

2008-12-20T15:46:00.000-08:00

Have you had the experience of trying to get teenage boys to pose for a Christmas picture for their mom? Note the pictures above...see what I mean? All I wanted was 1 nice picture, in front of the tree, for the family album...but alas, it was not to be...not until I walked away annoyed. Then they felt badly, set the timer on the camera, and gave me what I wanted after all. Sigh....

The goofiness has been at an all time high, these days! Most of the time I crack up with them...sometimes I have to hold my laughs to scold, then laugh in private! LOL

We managed to get the tree up, though, it was a 2-3 day process, though! Back and forth from the storage space and finally, it was done! Phew! And Brandon really had no interest in the whole process this year...I remember when they couldn't wait to help! Now, they'd rather be texting, myspacing, or watching tv. Gone are the days of the little hands helping mom whenever they had a chance...that's okay, I know one day they'll ask to help again...and then, hopefully, the grandchildren will be there to help, too! I envision a full house one day in the distant future...full of married children and grandchildren...the thought brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart, just imagine! I know before then, though, we will have to pass through the girlfriend stage and the "empty nest" stage...whatever will my husband and I do with just one another to be with?! LOL

Well, for now, they are still young and here at home with us...and I am thankful for every minute! May you all enjoy your time with your families....life moves quickly!

Merry Christmas!!!

Eliana

Dreaming of Cupcake...

2008-11-26T07:39:00.000-08:00

I bet you think I am talking about the kind of cupcakes you eat, right? And you are confused as to why I have a picture of a dog at the top of this post...

Well, I am NOT talking about the kind of cupcake you eat! Cupcake is the name of the puppy I am dreaming about owning next year. Growing up, we always had dogs and sometimes cats at the same time. I have pictures of different pets I had over the years. As I thumb through my boxes of photos, I come across one sweet little face after another.

In no particular order, i'll start with the cats. There was Mussi, the blue Russian cat we had from 5th grade on and then Taffy, the very loveable Calico that Mussi brought home one day. Then we had a skinny little white cat named Pinky that used to love to sit on our kitchen bar.
When I got together with Tony, he gave me the most handsome Tuxedo cat, simply striking! I named him Bogart (after Humphrey Bogart) and he was nicknamed "Bogie". He almost had his picture in "Cats" magazine, he was so pretty! He was an indoor cat, exclusively, so he stayed clean, flea-free and fight-free, thank God! Unfortunately, once Brandon was born and became mobile, we worried that Bogie would not be tolerant of him. Bogart was extremely independent and did not like to be snuggled or messed with a lot. He had a mean streak in him that made us nervous. We found a nice single gentleman who wanted a companion cat and it was a perfect fit! I missed him terribly but loved my new son more!

Now, onto dogs. We had a beautiful Irish Setter that for some reason I can't remember the name we gave it. And when I was little, growing up, we had a gorgeous German Shepherd, salt-and-pepper colored, named Loba, which is spanish for "wolf". Later we had a yellow lab that was poisoned by our neighbor(long story) and it was my first heartbreak in the loss of a pet...then we got Charlie, during my high school years, he was a pain-in-the-butt Cocker Spaniel. Poor thing, he was ignored a lot of the time, as my brother and I were in Jr. High & High School and had no time to spend with a pet, it was all about friends, friends, friends!

Mixed in there was a rabbit when I was quite young, maybe in Kindergarten. I always wanted another bunny, so about 7 years ago, when we moved in here, Andrew wanted a bunny for Christmas. So, a friend had 2 that needed a new home, so we adopted them and "Santa" brought bunnies that year! That started a string of 4 bunnies as the white bunny outlived 2 gray ones and then a caramel-colored Lop-eared that I absolutely adored. But Snowball, the white one Andrew originally wanted, ended up being his best buddy. It was a true heartbreak when he finally died. We missed him something awful!

So, now I have been "petless" for a few years now, as far as domestic pets. We have no shortage of other critters, believe me! With 2 boys and a husband who sometimes is a "big" boy, we currently have 2 Leopard Geckos, 2 Russian Tortoises (land-type, no stinky water, thank you!) and 1 Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantula (yes! I said Tarantula!) And actually, she has become "mine", essentially, as I am the one her care has fallen to (fellow moms, I KNOW you understand how this happens to us!!!)

And though these "pets" are nice, I enjoy them tremendously, you can't snuggle them. They won't come to you when you call them. You can't take them for a walk and have them keep you company. I miss the companionship of a domestic pet. So, when Andrew started talking about having a dog some years ago (we have always rented, so it has not been an option to have a dog yet) he started researching all the different breeds and fell in love with the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Now I have always had medium to large sized dogs and was partial to getting another German Shepherd or a Lab but I have to tell you, the more I read about Corgis, the more I leaned towards one. They really grew on me but then there was the "clincher"!

A young gal in the neighborhood began walking her Corgi puppy by our house everyday on the way to the park. That dog was so darling! Andrew noticed it and we started watching for them each day. Then we went out to ask about the dog, met the girl, Jessica, and the dog, Windsor. We became friends with them and are now friends with their whole family! They live just 2 houses away around a corner from us. We had never known them but because of Windsor, we now count them amongst our friends. What a blessing!

So, I have begun a "Bring Cupcake home!" fund. All my coins are going towards saving for that puppy. I have located a breeder closeby that will be breeding this winter for puppies in the spring that will be ready to adopt next summer! Right around the time of my birthday in June, how perfect is that? So, I am dreaming of Cupcake! (I had to name her some kind of dessert, if you know me, you know why!) And I pray that everything will fall into place and I will bring Cupcake home next summer...

Blessings,
Eliana

2 Things I Tried Because of My Son...

2008-11-22T15:55:00.000-08:00

You know how you see things in the store but you just never think to get them? Maybe because you don't want to spend a bit extra or it seems unnecessary...well, I tried 2 new things recently.

Upon my older son Brandon's recommendation I picked up Downy fabric softener. Now, I knew it existed but never bought it. I guess I thought it was a gimmicky thing, not worth spending extra money for yet another household product. Boy, was I wrong! Since we bought the bottle, my older towels have been rejuvenated and made soft again! They were becoming a bit worn and stiffer than the newer towels. I was beginning to think I would have to replace them soon. Now I don't!

The second thing I tried is Puffs tissue with Vick's in them. It is amazing! They actually are made with Vick's Vapor Rub stuff IN THE TISSUES, which kills 2 birds with 1 stone. You get tissue and at the same time you are using it, it's clearing your nasal passages. You gotta try these the next time a cold bug gets ya, as one is passing through our home as I type! You won't regret it and if you have a Target store near you, they are much better priced there.

So, that's all for now, I guess...just standard life stuff, but good to know!

Blessings,
Eliana

"Fine, thank you..."

2008-11-08T18:53:00.000-08:00

When my friend Susan went missing, another friend and I were chatting about her. She said that every time she saw Susan and asked her how she was, she would always answer "Fine, thank you..." and smile. She said she would have never guessed that anything was wrong by the way Susan acted...

That reminds me of an email that circulates talking about how we never say how we REALLY are when asked in our daily encounters. That's a tough one because we all struggle and we figure no one wants to hear our struggles, our complaining, right? So many of us can be in the midst of something so discouraging, so sad or scary, and yet we put on a happy face for the world. A lot of us are suffering, silently, as my friend Susan was, and no one is the wiser.

That brings me to the focus of this particular blog entry. I want to encourage you all to seek out someone in your lives that you can truly confide in during difficult times. You may already have someone, you may not. Of course, you have to be sure to use your discretion, not just share with anyone casual acquaintance, because that can do more harm than good, there are many gossipy people out there, unfortunately!

However, if you can find one person, whom I refer to as a "vault", I think it would help you get through the difficult times. Someone you can open up to, who won't judge you, someone who won't give advice unless it is requested, someone who will simply listen and be there...that is truly a blessing. Maybe if Susan had had a person like that in her life, maybe if she would have opened herself up to a friend like that, maybe she would have stayed...

So, yesterday, that same friend and I were at a church participating in "Operation Christmas Child" and we encountered one another at the end of it. She asked how I was, I automatically answered, "Fine..." and then I stopped myself and said to her, "Well, we are all fine, healthwise and schoolwise, but you know, I am having a really hard time with ...." and then she said, "I know EXACTLY what you mean! We are having challenges in that area, too..." and we went on to share with one another, openly and honestly.

Our problems may not have been solved by that conversation but I think both our spirits were a little less heavy because of it. It really touched me that she felt comfortable enough with me to share that part of her life and not just give the usual "Fine, thank you." I need to write her an email and let her know!

I pray all of you may find someone in your life that can be your "vault", for those people are truly a treasure!

Blessings,
Eliana

Halloween Fun !!!

2008-11-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official, I no longer have "children", I have TEENAGERS, as evidenced by the choice of costumes this year... Jigsaw, the horrible clown from a scary movie and some horrible-looking monster-ghoul thing Brandon selected for his mask! Sigh...gone are the days of Batman & Robin, Construction workers, normal clowns, Zorro....all the cute costumes of their "youth"...

And gone are the days of going trick-or-treating door-to-door(which I have to admit, I don't miss!) You know what the boys did this year? They worked in the haunted house our neighbors across the street put on each year. As Andrew put it, "Last year I was a clown, this year I am scaring the little boy dressed as a clown!" LOL ...

So, I stayed home and really enjoyed seeing all the little ones come to our door. There was this one baby girl that I just had to make my husband get up off the sofa in order to see! She was about 6 mos old and dressed head-to-toe in a little mint green & pastel pink Mermaid outfit! I should have taken a picture, she was TOO CUTE!!! (Makes me wish for a baby girl again...sigh...) But, alas, I regress!

I have another little one in my life I can enjoy seeing dress up each year...my nephew Dominick was dressed as Robin, Batman's sidekick...or a Lion... My sister-in-law picked one costume and then my brother picked Robin! I don't know which one he ended up wearing for the Harvest Party they were attending...i'll have to get a photo and see how cute he looked! I also get to see her nephews, Cole & Connor (5 yr. old twins) and their little sister Hannah (3 yrs. old) dress up each year...so I can keep my toddler fix without the added work! LOL

Well, I hope you all enjoyed your Halloweens, no matter what they entailed... Thanksgiving is next!!!

Blessings,
Eliana

Found ...and still lost...

2008-10-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a glorious day! My friend, Susan, was found!!! The police will not disclose her location as she does not wish to be found. Neither does she wish to return home. It is very sad. ( You can view the newspaper article here: http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_10847290 )

During the investigation, Susan's personal journals were discovered and in it is portrayed a very different person than everyone knew, even her husband. It came as quite a shock. Apparently, she feels there is some threat to her family if she remains in their lives, so she has opted to simply "disappear" into hiding, for however long, until she feels the threat is no longer existent. No one knows exactly what this threat is, whether it is a real, valid threat or perhaps some perceived threat. Only God knows.

And that is the hardest part. Having faith and being okay with the "not knowing". In life, there are so many times we have to just accept the way things are and there is nothing we can do about it. I guess this is one of those times.

No one can make her come back, she is an adult and can do as she pleases in this life. She hasn't done anything illegal, so she cannot be taken into custody and brought back. Many may view this as abandoning her family but as far as she was concerned, she had no choice. If she did not leave, her family would come to harm in some way. I do not know if my friend is mentally OK, I do not know anything more than this, so all I can do is continue to pray for her...and miss her...

Eliana

Heartsick...

2008-10-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

So, my friend was on the morning news today...the police are asking for the public's help in finding her or any information that will help lead them to her. It has now been over 3 weeks since my dear friend Susan went missing and this past Tuesday, the 21st, a letter was received written by her, to her 4 sons and the letter reads:

"Dear Michael, Daniel, David & Dennis,
My Beloved sons whom I asked and begged and pleaded with God to give me. I know you cannot possibly understand what happened. I don't expect you to. I do hope you look at it remembering the mother I have been to you all these years and God's obedient servant. Then maybe you can forgive me instead of hate me.

It may look as if I abandoned you. The truth is I left in order to protect you. I was driven away from my home by wicked men and not given help by other men. So believe what you want, God knows and when you are older I hope we have the opportunity to be together again. Right now it is best for you for me to be out of your life because what was happening continues, but at least now you are not in it because of me. When I am confident that it is safe I will let you know how to reach me so we can remain in contact. Until don't take my silence as not caring, or forgetting about you - It's because I love you that I am hiding.

I have a roof over my head, usually I have food and always always always I have God with me. Please don't forget me. I will never be able to come back, but maybe someday you can come to where I am. I always love you, I always pray for you.

Love Mom"

My heart is sick, my heart is heavy and broken for her 4 boys... I do not know if she is mentally well, if this threat is real or simply a figment of a damaged mind... I do know that nothing will ever be the same for her children. The damage has been done to them. The minute it was realized that she was gone, their hearts were broken beyond repair...and it pains me to think of what they must be going through...their Mom is lost, in more ways than one...and even if she returns to their lives, nothing will ever be the same again, for any of them.

How do you reconcile that? This is one of those "how can God allow this to happen" times for me... I just don't understand...

"Primping"....not just for girls!

2008-10-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

The picture above is of our shower. Yes, I have 2 boys and those are what I have dubbed "moo-fahs", you know, loofahs are for ladies, moofahs are for men! LOL

Our boys have started taking an interest in how they look and smell. And not a moment too soon, I tell ya! There was a time, not too long ago, where you would have thought I was out of my mind telling our boys to take an interest in their personal appearance! "Why?" was the general consensus... "if my hair is messy, i'll just wear a hat..." they had been known to say! Now, less than a year later, they each have their own bottle of Axe bodywash AND bodyspray because God forbid they should smell the same!

I'm sure I have written about a similar topic in past posts but I just giggled when I opened the shower curtain the other day and saw the items pictured, neatly placed next to one another on the far shower wall. That's how blog inspiration strikes, so I had to go with it!

So, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons will find our boys taking 2nd showers before youth group (they attend 2 different ones at 2 different churches), combing their hair, dressing in a fresh set of clothes and yes, "primping" with the Axe bodysprays...cough, cough! (I can be heard telling them they sprayed too much! Ha!)

Most of my friends have girls.. well, i'm hear to tell ya, i'm not getting off easy over here in the house of testosterone & Axe body products...it's just different products!

Blessings!
Eliana

The end of an era...

2008-10-10T23:23:00.000-07:00

When I was young, I fell inlove with Mother's Circus Animal cookies. You know the ones...the pink and white frosted animal-shaped cookies, covered in rainbow-colored non-pariels (sprinkles)? But my Mom didn't want to buy them for us because they had too much sugar. So, when I was old enough to buy my own snacks, guess what I practically overdosed on? You got it! Mother's Circus Animals cookies!

Thus began my love affair with Mother's cookies. My dearly departed paternal grandmother, Nana Rosa, used to buy the variety pack that came with the Iced Oatmeal, Taffy, & those Iced Raisin cookies in it. She loved the Iced Raisin ones, I always remember that : ) I fell inlove with the Taffy cookies.

So, you can imagine how I felt when I heard on the news yesterday that after 92 years, Mother's cookies went bankrupt and will cease production immediately! I was so sad! And you know what that means, right? Whatever cookies are on the store shelves right now....that's ALL THERE IS !!! If I want to enjoy those beloved cookies, for the last time in my lifetime, I must stock up NOW!

They will keep quite a while unopened and I have even considered freezing some packages! LOL Do you know that I could probably buy a bunch and resell them on EBay for a profit?! How hilarious is that?! I bet there are people out there who would buy them! I heard the other day on the news that a guy paid an insane amount for the last hot dog sold at Yankee Stadium! And guess what he did with it? He ate it! (you thought I was going to say something crazy like he preserved it in bronze, didn't you? Ha!) And all the proceeds of the sale went to charity, so that's cool.

So, if you are a fellow Mother's cookies lover like me, run, don't walk, to your local market and stock up on your favorites now, before they are gone....it's the end of an era, I tell ya...so sad...

Eliana

Desperately Seeking Susan...

2008-10-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

I have a friend named Susan. We have known her & her husband for over 7 years now. They have 4 boys: 9 years old, 12 years old, 14 years old & 17 years old. They are a homeschooling family, like us, so we have a lot in common. My husband works with her husband nearly every weekend. Our boys grew up together the last 7 years. Susan and I don't get to visit very often due to our busy schedules (she plays cello in the church Orchestra and attends regular Bible studies, I run our Private School and teach children's baking classes for the community college) but I adore her. Every year we spend New Year's Eve with them up at their house with other families and all our kids. Everyone brings board games, food, drink & we ring in the New Year together. I am blessed to count her amongst my friends!

Over the past year Susan had been having struggles with her health. She is a marathon runner and had some issues with her foot at one point. Then one day when she was out for a run, she blacked out and the park police found her fallen on the side of the road! (They live literally on a mountain, up on the property of the local gun range, her husband is the range master up there) So, there began the concern with her mental well-being. I believe she had another blackout, possibly, I can't recall the details....I had growing concern for her...I worried what might be wrong. She started acting rather odd and "spacey". She just wasn't herself at all...

On Saturday, September 27th, Susan got up and left her home for an earlymorning Bible Study....she never arrived at the Bible study and was never seen or heard from again. Susan has now been missing for 11 days...

My heart is heavy. Her husband is besides himself. Overnight he became a single parent, working full-time (saving grace that he lives where he works and they homeschool!!!) and managing 4 boys! The church has rallied around the family and 2 friends that homeschool (1 is me) have taken in the 3 younger boys and are schooling them with their own kids. I am coordinating meals for them so that the husband doesn't have to worry about feeding the kids while he has regular meetings with the police investigators and church pastors, etc!

It seems that Susan possibly returned home later that morning and collected some personal items, such as a toothbrush, but neglected to take her cell phone....all these things leave us all confused. Did she plan to leave all along? What was her mental state? How could no one know what was going on with her? How unbelievably sad that she may have been so unhappy for whatever reason that she would leave her 4 children behind without a trace, without a word, explanation or good-bye! It absolutely devastates me to think of her out there somewhere...is she okay physically? Mentally? What in God's name is happening with her? I want answers, her family wants answers....I can only imagine, if I am hurting like I am, how about her 9 year old boy? How can you even begin to explain how a mom could leave her babies...regardless of how old they are, our children are our children...something has got to be wrong mentally, in my opinion, for a woman to just up and leave...

So, I am sending flyers to shelters, coordinating meals, schooling her young teenage son, making phone calls, worrying, crying, praying, pleading to God that she is okay, that He would just send some tiny sign of her, in whatever way, so that we may know SOMETHING....the not knowing is the absolute hardest part.

I guess the lesson in all this is the old adage of "tell the people you care about that you care when you see them, for no reason because you may never know, tomorrow they may be gone..."

So, to all my friends who are reading this blog entry: Thank you, thank you, for the blessing of your friendship! Our lives get so busy and it takes time to stay in touch, to show one another that we care...but it's SO worth the effort! I love you all SO MUCH!!!

Gratefully yours,
Eliana

First rain of the season...

2008-10-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up to that wonderful, distinctive smell that comes with the first rainfall of the season... It had rained overnight and everything was moist. Not too heavy a rain, as the cars showed dirty raindrop marks on them, like it had just lightly sprinkled and not for long. I opened up the sliding back door, as I sat on my computer, I said to my younger son, Andrew, "There's that smell I love...the one that comes after the first rain..."

I think the feeling I get is one of anticipation, like it is officially fall and the holidays are on their way! Just like a certain song can evoke memories, so do scents hold many memories for us... Andrew remarked the other day, when he smelled an apple spice candle, "Mom, it feels like Christmas because last year we had that scent in our house at Christmastime!"

For me, it's the scent of pine that reminds me of Christmases long ago, when we always had a real tree. Since the boys were mobile, we switched to a fake tree one year and I have longed for a real tree the last couple of years. I think this year will be the year we treat ourselves to a return to traditional Christmas with the purchase of a real tree! Of course, that means the extra expense of purchasing a water-holding tree stand and the daily maintenance of watering the tree, but I think it will be well worth it. Perhaps we'll make it a family excursion and actually go cut one down like we did at times when I was growing up. That's the stuff memories are made of!

So, bring some autumn scents into your home...start stirring up those heartfelt memories...the season is quickly approaching! Here is a recipe to make your home smell wonderful:

Maple Spice Cookies

3 c. flour
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 c. packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. maple syrup

Coarse sugar, for sprinkling

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line one or more baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and cornstarch.
3. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking powder and salt until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4. Add the egg and maple syrup, and beat well. Add half the flour mixture and blend, then add the rest of the flour. Scoop the dough out of the bowl, form into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
5. Divide dough in half and, working with one piece at a time (keep the other piece in the refrigerator to stay chilled), roll the dough out, flouring to make certain it doesn't stick, to a 1/8 inch thickness.
6. Cut out cookies with a 2- to 3-inch maple-leaf shaped cookie cutter. Using a spatula, remove cookies to parchment lined baking sheet. (Re-chill the dough if it gets too warm).
7. Sprinkle the cookies with coarse sugar. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges. Cool the cookies for several minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 1/3 dozen cookies.

Enjoy!
Eliana

Battle of the Sexes...

2008-09-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

The other day I went to sit down in the bathroom and almost fell in! The seat had been left up (totally normal in a house with 3 guys and 1 gal) and I had failed to notice it till it was too late! ARRGGHHHH!!! I hate when that happens! Those of you with the balance of power leaning on the side of Estrogen most likely cannot relate to this, unless you grew up in a household full of boys!

My home has also become an "Axe" and "Tag" body spray zone! As the boys are entering their teen years, they have started caring about their appearance (Brandon more so than Andrew right now) and their "scent". I had to ask Brandon to pick a different scent of Axe this last time because the musky scent he previously chose was making me sick! Tony and I laugh at the smells coming out of Brandon's room when he sprays too much body spray. I think I need to have a "proper-body-spray-application-technique" chat with my 13-year old. You know, the "spray-and-walk-through-it" technique?

And for those of you who have girls and think that with boys I am avoiding all the "drama"...no such luck! My boys fight over things as silly as one of them will like an article of clothing at the store but the other one likes it, too. So they argue over who saw it first because God forbid they should own the same piece of clothing! (I'm rolling my eyes right now)

Parenting...whether boys or girls...once they hit the teen years and the hormones hit, look out! Funny how we can't remember how we were now that we are parents, huh? I think our brains must block out the brat years...LOL... Brandon's voice is also changing, which is very interesting. Half of the time now he has quite a deeper voice but the other half is higher and squeaky! And it's taking longer than I thought to change completely. Not to be mean, however, I am tiring of the inconsistency, I just want it to change already!!! : ) (Those of you with boys may feel the same, support me on this!)

So, I guess I should have a point to this blog entry, shouldn't I? Maybe not, maybe it's okay to just have a venue in which to simply vent your life's frustrations and subject your friends to sympathizing with you...ha!

Well, whatever parenting dilemma or frustration you may be having today...rest assured, you are not in that boat alone! Just try not to dump YOUR teen overboard!

Blessings,
Eliana

Google It !!!

2008-09-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

You know, as a homeschooling mom, there are many times when I am asked a question by my boys/students, that I just don't know the answer to! At those times, I am so thankful to be able to say to them, "Google It!" and within moments, we have the answer and we learn something new. Due to the technology of today, the boys are walking fountains of random information!

Some of the things they tell me surprise me. "Mom, when is Election Day?", my 13 year old asked me day before yesterday. "The first Tuesday in November," I answered. "Wrong!" he answered, all too happily, "it's the first Tuesday AFTER the FIRST Monday in November...if November 1st falls on a Tuesday, it is NOT Election Day. It would be the following Tuesday, November 8th!" I was completely astounded...I never knew that!

With the internet, you learn something new every day! Homeschooling the boys have become the re-education of ME! And you know what they say...as long as you don't stop learning new things and challenging your brain, you stay younger! And as I approach the big 4-0, anything that helps me stay younger is great! So, the next time you find yourself wondering about something totally random, like what a "rain chain" is and how much they run...just "Google It!" and find the answer!

Blessings,
Eliana

A Fashion Statement...

2008-09-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

You know how sometimes you have the best intentions and then life just benches you? Well, I went to a Foot & Ankle Specialist yesterday and was told that the bone fracture in my right foot has not healed yet. So, I was given the lovely special "shoe" that you see above. I am to wear it for an entire month and lay off the cardio. Of course, I can still strength train, I just have to not impact my foot at all. So, I have to get creative.

Of course, I could take this as an excuse to stay off that wagon, so to speak, but if I do, I will just disappoint myself more. I think that if I am able to keep up with a modified fitness routine through this challenge, I will feel even more accomplished once I start seeing results! It takes a lot of determination, though. The mental work needed to stay on track with a challenge like weight loss is greater than the actual physical work. I know, I went through this 5 years ago and believe me, it is harder now, mentally, than it was then. I think I just know how to justify things too much but I also know how to stay on track. It's a constant battle, day-to-day! It doesn't help that I have a sweet tooth and have all my desserts business "supplies" on hand at all times! I don't quite know what to do about that, short of abandoning my business...it's a lot harder to resist when temptation is just in the other room. If I struggle too much, I just may have to abandon my business...for a while, we'll see...

Well, I hope that whatever you are struggling with in your life you are able to overcome it. We all have personal struggles that challenge us but they are also what make us the person we are, they help us grow, no matter how much we hate it at times! So, stay strong and do the mental work needed...you'll be glad you did!

Good luck!
Eliana

I'm a Size..."Do I really care?"...

2008-09-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the new Jenny Craig ad campaign? Queen Latifah strolls out and says, "I'm a size Energetic! What's your ideal size?" and she proceeds to try to convince us to stop looking at numbers when it comes to our weight. I understand what she is trying to do, she is trying to make us all feel better about ourselves. So many of us struggle on a daily basis with our weight and self-image.

I know I have a real love/hate relationship with food myself. I struggle day to day. I am NOT the size I want to be.... I used to be, 5 years ago I looked great! I worked hard, I was disciplined, I lost the weight and the acknowledgement of my hard work was so wonderful. Though I never left the gym for over 3 years, I began to allow myself more slack on the eating part of my life and the weight slowly crept back on. That along with life stresses and then an entire year of Plantar's Fascitis, followed by a bone fracture in my foot (which is my current struggle, it has yet to heal!) made for a rather chunkier-version of my former self!

I no longer have much of a wardrobe left, I think that is the most annoying part of this. I refuse to buy a whole new wardrobe in a bigger size! I keep thinking that if I don't have anything to wear, maybe i'll be more motivated to get the weight off but like I said, I have injury issues to contend with, so I should cut myself some slack, huh?

Well, seeing as I am a believer that when you are married, you and your spouse have an obligation to stay attractive to one another, I have a hard time cutting myself any slack. I also want to look good for me. When you start getting towards the big 4-0, you need the reassurance that you are still attractive to the opposite sex, at least I do! It's a nice feeling to "turn the head" of others on the street. Who doesn't enjoy a little boost to your self-esteem! Especially when you have had children. Although motherhood adds to your identity, it also takes a lot away and I think many of us lose ourselves for too many years. I don't think we have to let ourselves get frumpy-looking just because we are moms! Put on a little eye makeup, dab on some lip gloss, feel like the beautiful woman you are!

So, that is my "rant" for today...and one more thing...be sure to participate in regular "Girls-Night-Out" evenings with friends...that is the best therapy ever!!! I have a dear friend whose hubby gets to go out EVERY Saturday night to hang out with friends...and they have 2 young kids... but she doesn't allow herself the same luxury. Why?! She works just as hard (in my opinion, WAY harder than he does!LOL) So, I make sure she is always my number 1 invitee to my Girls Night Out dates! She deserves it! Reserve time for yourselves, ladies! Life is too short!

Love & hugs,
Eliana

Monkey Wrench *&$(#$)!

2008-09-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

So, I awoke this morning to a rather pleasant day...the boys have a writing class on Friday mornings, and then we were to enjoy a potluck luncheon at the park with our homeschool group (for which I made these darling Back to School cupcakes) and then we were to have our annual "Kick-Off Meeting" for our homeschool group...then life happened!

...and a monkey wrench was thrown into my day! Everything was cancelled, we missed it all! And I was stuck at the computer with emergency paperwork for the next 3 hours of my day! Boy, was I upset! I am STILL upset..and it doesn't help my mood that it was nearly 100 degrees here today! And I do NOT live in Arizona, I live in California! In the San Francisco Bay Area! Not even inland! We are in the middle of yet another Indian Summer heatwave and I am readly for FALL!!!

Right now it is 4:30 pm and we have all the curtains drawn, the big fan going in the window (we don't have the luxury of air conditioning here) and my tank top is moist with perspiration! I think we need to hit the local Jamba Juice for a liquid dinner tonight cause there is no way I am cooking ANYTHING!

So, if you are experiencing a heatwave where you are, take a day off from the kitchen, have breakfast for dinner, a cold salad, hit a restaurant or have a liquid dinner at your Jamba Juice or Starbucks! Hot days like this are the perfect excuse!

Stay cool!!!
Eliana

Calgon, take me away!!!

2008-09-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt bogged down by life? Sometimes it just seems that I have too many concerns on my mind and I just want to run away and disappear! The bills and problems will still exist, I just will not acknowledge them for a while. I'll feign blissful ignorance...

Many days I dream of just packing it up and moving to Spain! That is my (not-s0-secret-anymore) dream. When we were self-employed, I told Tony, "We don't have a job to report to, we don't own a home, we have nothing really "keeping" us here, you know? Why not just up and move to Spain for a couple years? Well, unfortunately, unless you are debt free, that's just not an option. We are working on it, we are closer than ever, but not quite there yet. It's frustrating!

So, this isn't a "everything-turns-out-okay-in-the-end" blog entry, sorry! But maybe it will help some of my friends out there feel that they aren't in that "boat" alone. I'm in it right now and i'm sure others will be joining us shortly! I think the key is to focus on the things that ARE going well, to help minimize the problem areas...at least for a bit. Think of it as a "mental" vacation! So, grab a Starbucks, put on your iPod and put on your "Life is Good" playlist! We were given imaginations for a reason!

Blessings,
Eliana

Labor Day !!!

2008-09-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can hardly believe that it is September yet again! These holiday weekends are nice but always tend to mix my brain up. I keep thinking it is Sunday : )

It's a beautiful, clear, sunny California morning. It promises to be a gorgeous day. My day started off realizing that I failed to get a new jug of coffee for my poor hubby! So, I scraped the last bit of grounds and managed to make him an entire single mug. He's such a good sport, he didn't even complain. Sometimes husbands pleasantly surprise you!

Well, Andrew has decided he wants to switch from guitar to bass guitar so we are off to Guitar Center today to check them out. Brandon continues on the drums and guitar. They have found a singer and another guitar player so their band is almost set! They still wish their friends Billy & Bobby lived closer because they really "mesh" well with them, as musicians, but alas, it is not to be, for a band anyway. (Tam, if you are reading this, we gotta get together soon! Brandon, especially, keeps requesting to jam with Billy!)

So, I hope you all enjoy your Labor Day today...relax and enjoy the leisure time, as the busyness of fall is upon us again!

Blessings,
Eliana

Hot Tamales!!!

2008-08-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

Wow! Yesterday and today it was nearly 100 degrees here in San Lorenzo, California! It made me think of my friend, Missy, who lives in Arizona with her family....she has weather like this on a daily basis! Crazy! You live for air conditioning when it's this hot! Just standing still you drip sweat unless you are in front of a fan (if you don't have a/c in your home, which we don't!) The only thing about this heat is the evenings after the sun sets are just dreamy! We went out to eat and sat on the patio...I could have sworn I was in Arizona or Colorado! Just perfect! It made me wish we lived in one of those states...

Well, my blog is now "stylized", thanks to Nikki (www.blogsforacause.com) She designed my header and the background for my blog. Since my life revolves around our boys, and music is a huge part of our lives, I chose to have a music theme. I hope everyone likes it! I will strive to keep up with my blog entries, so that I may share our day-to-day lives with you all. I am hoping this will be a way to share both pictures and talk about our lives in one place.

Labor Day is upon us once again! The kids are back in school (we start Tuesday) and we are going about the business of settling back into a routine. Our kids are another year older, as are we! Time marches on...before we know it, the holidays will be here! (Only 117 shopping days left!! Sorry, couldn't resist! LOL) Enjoy your holiday weekend and check back with me often! Have a good start-of-the-school-year!!!

Blessings,
Eliana

Getting started...

2008-08-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first "official" blog entry! Thanks to being inspired by my dear friend, Missy's blog (www.chloescornerandmore.blogspot.com) I decided that this may be an all-inclusive way to journal my busy life for friends and family.

I will be having my blog "stylized", just as my friend Missy did, by another inspiring person named Nikki (www.madebynikki.blogspot.com) Portions of the fees charged go to support her missions trips to help needy children in places like Ethiopia & the Dominican Republic. I encourage you to read her story on her blogspot.

So, more to come soon...and welcome to my busy "Life with Boys!"

Eliana