family time - It's a Vivas Thing!

Jun 18 2016

Taking the Time to Notice…

Growing up, my family spent almost every weekend camping…and playing softball. Having lived in the city for the past 27 years, it’s hard for others to imagine me as anything other than a city girl. Until I start to share my stories, and then they laugh. You see, yes, I am a country girl at heart. If I could have it any way, I’d be in an A-frame cabin in the woods spending my days wandering around with my camera taking pictures and ending the evenings with a fire while listening to the crickets and watching for shooting stars. And somehow, there’d be lightning bugs as well.

I’ll admit, I don’t know how I’d survive anymore without the ability to run to the store at a moment’s notice, but I’m sure I’d save on my grocery bill!

Two things stand out to me from my childhood.

One is my mom and the horseback rides we would take. We would spend the entire day, sun-up to sun-down, riding. We got to where we could spot a deer, rabbit, snake, lizard, skunk, bird….we could spot them anywhere. We knew how to listen and to watch.

The other is my dad. He loved to take pictures. He was always showing slide shows of the photos he took. I have enjoyed spending time with him sharing photos as I grew older. One of my favorite photos is this one, where he and B-boo are sharing photos on one of our camping trips.

My dad taught me how to notice the little things as well. We’d go on walks and he would take time to point stuff out. A flower here, a butterfly or bee, the way the water ran over a certain rock in a river, or the shape that some sticks in the woods made. And if we were too noisy, he’d “shoosh” us so we wouldn’t scare off any animals and miss seeing them. And he would spend time with me talking about the photos we took.

Now I enjoy taking photos as I take walks with my kids. My youngest son loves to be my assistant. He helps change lenses and points out things I need to take a photo of. I mean, how many photos of bunnies can one possibly take, right? But, he’s starting to notice the surroundings now when we walk. Once home, I love to put them up on the computer and go over them with the kids as we critique them together.

Too often, we become so busy with life. Especially living in the city. We work hard all week, and spend our time relaxing in front of the television or playing video games. And there is nothing wrong with any of it. But I think in doing this, we often forget to notice what is around us. We forget to notice the little things. My advice? Take time to notice what is around you. And if you have a camera, try and capture it as you go along.

Here’s some fun from my weekend.

May 08 2016

Mother’s Day 2016

It’s funny how things change. Twenty-five years ago, my life took on a change. After spending some time with my next-door teenager, I became a believer and started attending church. It was at this church that I made life-long friends. It was here that I met the man I would marry and spend the next 24 years with; where we would raise our children.

And in a moment; everything can change.

….And so we begin the next 25 years in reflection of who we are and where are we going?

I’ve spent the majority of this past year in phases. And as I look forward, I have to look back. And what has it taught me?

There is a Spirit that lives within me that provides strength and peace when I allow it.

We are stronger than we realize.

It is ok to simply be the best me I can be.

My children don’t expect me to have it all figured out. (What a relief!)

My teenager can understand and handle that mommy has a broken heart; and help as we overcome.

My children are stronger than I could have ever imagined.

It is ok to let it all out…food for the soul.

There is grace; patience; acceptance.

I have amazing people in my life who have loved me thru it all; the good, the bad, the ugly.

Today, I spend time accepting and learning to feel better about myself.

I spend time enjoying long walks. (Take walks.) It is then that I can ponder and reflect and be encouraged by what God has surrounded me with. I listen to the birds and the wind in the trees; laugh at the hummingbird that dances in front of me. I follow the butterfly as it flits along my path and notice the squirrel that peeks out in curiosity.

I spend time talking to my kids. And listening. And just enjoying being with them and laughing and crying and laughing some more.

I won’t lie. It’s hard being a single mother. R-E-A-L-L-Y hard. I work a lot. And there seems to never be enough time; and most days I feel like a failure when it comes to this new role . I don’t now how I’d get thru it without all of us pitching in to make it work. But….we are making it work.

And so today, Mother’s Day takes on a new meaning. We’ve started over. Starting the next 25 years at a new church; one that is just beginning. This time, I am not a young woman just beginning her life, but instead, one that is older, and can hopefully make a difference.

It fills me with joy to be a mom; and I am grateful times seven plus one.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all.

Jun 10 2015

Counting Blessings One by One

As I sit here this evening reflecting on blessings that have come and gone, I can’t help but think over the past month. In the past month, I have been able to spend time with family on an amazing family reunion…

We’ve celebrated our 4th child graduating from high school…

We’ve celebrated our youngest son’s birthday…

We’re about to celebrate another son’s birthday, and soon our oldest daughter will be getting married! I’ve gained some pretty amazing relationships that have gotten me (us) thru some pretty tough times. Life is good. It’s good because I can see the blessings…and I can count them one by one. And I’m so very thankful for those that He has chosen to put in my path, in my life, in my heart. Even more thankful, that He has placed me in theirs.

Apr 04 2015

Things that make me go…..hmmmmm

So the Smart One and I went shopping yesterday. We’re gearing up for Easter and needed some stuff.

Actually, we haven’t been shopping in a while and since we were out of napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry soap, etc….like LITERALLY out of them, we decided we had no choice but to go to wally-world.

It started out pretty good until we got to the section where you purchase things to help you wash your clothes AND make them smell good.

And herein lies the problem…

They have apparently discontinued the brand of laundry soap that we use. I’m not sure if it’s just wally world that discontinued it, or the world as we know it, but…it means I either run around looking for it, or I find myself another soap. This kind of sucks since the Drama Queen has allergies and seems to be having a relapse of skin sensitivity right now, so…

…I start to look for a new soap.

And then I realize that not only has my soap been discontinued, but apparently they are also no longer carrying the Bounce bar! I love that thing!

Now I’m faced with another dilemma…do I run around now looking for soap and a dryer thingy, or do I just face the fact that I need to re-think the way I do laundry?

And this is where it leads into a lengthy discussion in the laundry aisle of wally world…

Why, oh why, can’t the manufacturer of laundry soap ALSO be the manufacturer of dryer sheets and fabric softener?

I mean, if that were the case, the laundry soap would have the SAME SCENT as the dryer sheet, right? Wouldn’t it make sense to purchase the soap and sheets of the same brand and same smell?

Because really….I just want it to smell pretty and fresh.

So, I after a lot of discussion and debate on this subject with my son, we finally decided on the following:

Tide Spring Meadow and Snuggle Blue Iris. We’re hoping they are somewhat similar so that we don’t end up with our clothes smelling weird.

I still think that Tide needs to make some dryer sheets…or Snuggle needs to make some laundry soap.

Actually, I think that Wally World needs to stop discontinuing my other stuff so I don’t have to deal with something new.

I’m Just Sayin’

Cause you see how change affects me these days….

Feb 22 2015

Cousin Fun!

For those of you who have big families, I am sure you can understand how our family dynamics work when we all get together. The older generation are the grandparents. The next generation has us all as “Tio and Tia.” We are actually most of us cousins, but there are just too many of us. Then, all of the younger generation are simply cousins. That’s just how we roll.

There is always a lot of laughter when we are together and one never knows what to expect. We’ve raised our kids in this madness which can only make things crazier. Ah, the stories we could share…

Like the time one of the younger ones was conned into shaving her lips…

Or when two of them decided to sandwich another one; only the victim knew it was about to happen so moved at the last minute. And the two troublemakers had a head on collision…literally; resulting in a lot of blood, swelling, and attempt to cover it up…as if we wouldn’t notice the aftermath!

Bella Sandwich — Apparently they didn’t think we would notice anything different about her face….

Most recently, hubby took the DQ to go visit his parents for a few days. She was thrilled to be able to spend time with her favorite cousins.

Crazy Cousins — The one of her right is six months older…the one on the left is 2 years older.

photo 1 (4) — It’s the only way she’ll ever be taller than them!

In keeping with their usual antics, they decided to play a little game. So not long after she’d arrived, my sister-in-law sent me this photo.

Afraid to ask what had happened, she assured me that no one was hurt and sent me the following videos…which she took….in slow motion.

Not to be outdone by his younger brother, my nephew decided to try it too, if the DQ was still up for it. (Of course she was!) only he landed in the wall, which explains the first photo she sent.

We are planning a trip together in a few months.

Hopefully with ALL OF US!

Hopefully we will all survive!

I can hardly wait for it!