In the mood

Yesterday was Christmasy...it started with obligations at school and then moved on into a great adventure.  I have heard for a while about a Hughes Homemade Chocolate Shop in Oshkosh, WI for a few years. It's in a residential neighborhood in the basement of a house. My family and my friend Audra and her daughter Anneka went for a drive to Oshkosh it's really like stepping back in time, it was almost dark and very cold but we found the house.  They shuffled us to the side door to go down to the basement to this tiny cramped basement with a huge furnace and vents all over the place and a little counter with tons of boxes of chocolate.  We bought our chocolate not knowing what it tastes like but judging by the long line of people and the cars coming and going, it must be good.

We were not disappointed, I think my favorites are peanut clusters and toffee..yum.

We headed to a park in Oshkosh that hosts a drive thru light show. The drive was about a mile long and included live reindeer.  Oshkosh is a funny town, kind of hip  but the majority is a throwback to years gone by.  I want to go back and spend a little more time there.

To top off the day we went to North High School's Christmas program.  I was determined to go to this.  Last year Isabel's school was invited to sing with them at the Lawrence University Chapel (beautiful old building).  I cried through the whole thing, it was so amazing.

So this year I knew I had to go, and we dragged a very tired Audra and Anneka along.  It didn't disappoint, it was so spiritual without being overt.  Sometimes I find that God speaks to me most in situations that are covert in their attempt at spiritual (ie. public school, old movies, interactions with customers at The Fire ) but again I was in tears.  I wonder why I am more apt to be aware of  God's touch in a production like that; and then I judge a religious organizations flat out (most of the time) boring attempt of telling of a story.  I almost feel like I'm a part of something secret that everyone knows about but won't say.  It's a magical feeling.

Anyways, I know God knew what was going on and I'm sure He was pretty darn proud.  Not to mention the kids were talented and I'll leave the intentions of everyones heart in God's hands.  It was brilliant!

The rest of the season will be easy.

Small Business Owner

Wow! December can really be a challenge, the good thing is; new opportunities reveal themselves all the time.  I have three craft/home shows in the next few days, I started a business account, got a seller's permit, make things like a fiend and totally neglect my duties as a house cleaner and cook and nurturer.  It's only for a season so I don't take it to heart.

It is time to take another big step with my business I need a website, etsy and facebook are great for getting news out to my closest buddies, but it's time for the world to see what's goin' on in a basement in Appleton, WI. I want to get an iPhone and use this new gadget that I saw online this morning created by the guy who started Twitter, it is a credit card scanner you plug into your iPhone and it sends receipts to the customers email..I LOVE IT!  Only one problem no iPhone.  Oh well, who knows what lies ahead!

Dungeons and Dragons...cont'd

Saturday after Thanksgiving, tons of boxes in the living room.  I think I am actually doing all the decorating the rest of the time I'm trying to get the other 3 sloths in the house to at least look a bit interested.  Sam actually opened the boxes last night and pulled almost everything out and 'decorated'. I was tempted to leave it the way he did it..Nutcrackers everywhere in no certain order, stockings hung, and the musical snowmen that sing and play the piano with the batteries inserted playing loud.  It was perfect for him, those are the things he loves.  There was not a nativity in sight - I'm getting worried about my kids.

For those of you who were wondering.. Mike and I decided to let Sam play Dungeons and Dragons, he made his character on Friday and is very excited.  Today he rode his scooter over to his uncle's house to play his first day of the game.  I told him he couldn't tell the kids at school that he was playing for fear their parents wouldn't let Sam play with them anymore.  Oh brother, what a drama.  Uncle Erik promised it would be as brainy and non-nerd creating as possible. 

Tomorrow we will clean it out of him and make him go to church and stay a really long time.  If it were only that easy to insert your idea of God in your children or anyone for that matter, I know how much I love God and understand that way he works in my life.  So hard to show someone else, I think sometimes you just need to shut-up.

This is what Sam said to me a few months back..."Mom, you have really messed me up about God"  So, I've decided to take a different tactic...that of praying for him.

Ok God it's up to you...I give!

Christmas is gonna roll over us - WARNING Santa info

Last night the trees were standing outside Wal-Mart, hundreds of them.  The music has started and I'm not covering my eyes, I just realized that I only have a few more years with the kids.  This is the first year that the kids go into the holiday season as complete consumers without any thought to Santa, notes, sitting on his lap, lists for him and the elves.  Yep, last year was the last time.  I will forever cherish the note from Sam:

"Dear Santa, please give one of these cookies to Holly the Elf, (from his school) and the carrots are for the reindeer".  The year before Sam's note said: "Dear Santa, I just want a good day"

I will miss the innocence the excitement of the night before. This year we will make it more special for us as a family.  We will spend more time together, play games, think about getting gifts for each other. (yes, they are finally understanding the giving not getting part)

We don't have a church now, that has been a struggle to keep Jesus in our everyday life.  Mike and I say we are content without having a  church experience but the kids miss the whole experience of people who love and care for them.  We have visited churches and we always walk away without a feeling of "this could be our home". This story is for another blog.

Anyways, I've got a few Blue Moon Emporium shows, orders coming in all the time and this has really helped to take the stress off the family and now I'm enjoying my art and crafting more..now I want to do it, to make something more fun, beautiful, enjoyable for someone else.  It's a good feeling.

I'm walking into this Christmas season with an open heart and anticipating something different for our family, purposefully making it more spiritual, and  I'm going to sit back and enjoy.  I hope your family does too.

Success-Happiness-Contentment-Joy-Thankfulness

Swirling thoughts of the future surround me all the time...can I continue working towards the goal of successful business, parenting, relationships, financial security....it seems like a mirage sometimes you almost get to the flowy little airy water in the road and it disappears - it was only the heat of the moment.

I'm thankful for today, a little bit of laughter from my kids and husband, a few sales on etsy, a well received meal occasionally, a continueing knowledge that God is always with me, life is good.

next year

I know we should only live for today, but after working the whole summer (or watching someone work) on a treehouse I'm looking forward to enjoying next summer with no big projects...that is, unless we get a lot of money and I re-do the kitchen.

Mike and I have a plan to host a big party next summer and hang lights from the trees in jars...have gazebos, mexican hats on the tables with pots full of fresh vegetables and flowers. and make things like:

Smoked Lemon-Chipotle Chicken
Tomatillo Sauce
Lemon Chill with Raspberry Sauce
Margaritas

There will be swings in the trees..pretty tables..music...kids running everywhere.  Who wants to come?

My friend Jenny

I always think I'm being honest about my life here in blog land. I know that I'm influenced by friends, family, in-laws with what I say or don't say, but I wish I could write like my friend Jenny (click on the title of this post and it will take you there). I've known her since she was young, I feel a bit responsible for her marriage and then divorce. The way she writes rips at my heart, maybe because I've know her for so long and watched her struggle with diabetes, being a young pastors wife, and fighting the constant urge to want to be famous (just my impression).

Well, I'll try to be more honest but I truly cannot tell some of my stories. I'll save those for my book. I'm reminiscing a lot about my childhood now that my brother Rick is sick.

Ok, twist my arm..I'll tell you one. We were from a very Catholic family who got booted out of the Catholic church because my mother was divorced a few too many times. So we ended up at this nice Episcopalian church. It's a dressy Sunday, like Easter or Christmas...we are all dressed up and my brothers get a real sharp knife from the kitchen. They decide while we are waiting for Mom we should play 'chicken'. So, David (the leader of the pack), starts throwing the knife between his feet and then I do and then my little brother Rick throws it really hard - right through his shoe, foot, everything. We have to really yank to get the knife out.

We would have been in so much trouble if we told - so we went to church. After church got over Rick (or Ricky) just started crying and my Mom wanted to know why and he points to his foot which by this time is so swollen and filled with blood that we couldn't get his shoe off. Don't remember much more after that...it wasn't a nice morning.

Love you Jenny, keep telling it like it is.

This is going to date me...but remember when..

When I was a kid in school we got shots, it was like a cattle call, we all lined up and got it in the arm or sucked on a sugar cube. Last night I had to fill out the forms for Sam and Isabel to get the H1N1 vaccine, they are giving them at school. They have never had a shot without me in the room. They are a bit freaked out by this and how their reactions could taint their reputation forever in school.

I hope they are brave.

This last weekend was great, I'm glad it's over but it was fun. Blue Moon Emporium had a date with a holiday sale, it was at a private country club and you had to pay to shop (it was a fundraiser). The vendors had fabulous stuff, I had to really work hard not to buy things that I thought were just too cute. I have sold my stuff at our farmer's market and in the Fire but I'm kind of branching out now and it's getting exciting. There is a gallery/store that has a rack of my necklaces and another store in town wants some. I'm willing to take this business wherever it's supposed to go.

Today I'm going to mosaic a table for my front entry to look like a black hole...I'll show you when I'm done. My front entry has always kind of been an afterthought but when you think about it, that is the first thing someone sees and imprints in their brain about you. Better make it good!

Have a great week blog readers!

Fun things you see along the road

 

Owning a factory

ok..do you really want to see the factory? It is a 3 story facility with one employee.