Got the Call!

The first of November, I was offered the job of server at Maggiano's Restaurant. Nate and I were both so excited for this new job. He would be working for the gaming studio and I would be working at this fine dining restaurant. Things were looking up. Well it is 2 weeks later and just last night I got the call to start at Maggiano's. They asked me to start on Monday the 15th. I immediately called King's restaurant to talk to the manager and give a 1 weeks notice. I know that 2 weeks is preferred but I did not have much of a choice. I could wait the 2 weeks and not get this better job or I can give a week and then start on Monday at this better restaurant. So that is what I am doing. I go into King's tomorrow night with the written notice and work the entire weekend. I hope that they let me work these last 3 shifts. They may decide to send me on my way without working out a notice. That is okay, I will do what I have to do to support my family. King's still is not giving me enough shifts and the business is not picking up even being 2 weeks away from Thanksgiving. As an added bonus, with me starting at Maggiano's then Nate will get to stop working 2 jobs and just focus on the one job and his school work.

Thanks to My Veterans!

Tomorrow is Veterans Day and I want to take the time to say Thank You to All the Veterans in my family. 

Thomas Edward (my Mom's Granddad) served in the British Army during World War II. He never liked to kill people so he would aim at the soldiers butt's. This was they did not die and it took more manpower to help the soldiers get better. 

Jim Barrs (my Mom's Dad) served in the Army in the early 50's 

Ken Nivens (my Dad's Dad) served from September 1955 to August 1958 in the Army (the ASA -- Army Security Agency). He was stationed in Japan just after getting married. My Dad was born while he was in Japan. Once he came home from Japan, he was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC until being discharged. 

Ron VanZile (My Birth Father) served from June 1971 until his death in April 1978 in the United States Air Force. Ron served in the Philippines, Montgomery, AL (where he met and married my mom) and lastly in Tampa, FL (where I was born). 

Ron joined to fight in the Vietnam War but due to his great skills in radar and communications they sent him to the Philippines instead. 

David Everett (brother-in-law) served 6 years state side in the United States Air Force

Jason Moore (brother-in-law) serves in the United States Air Force. He is currently stationed at the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. He has been serving since 2002. 

These are just a few of the many people who serve in the Military Forces that defend our great nation. Thank you all for your hard work, dedication and willingness to fight for a Country that you love. I can not thank you enough for the sacrifice you and your families have done for the citizens of this great nation. 

GOD BLESS AMERICA! 

~ Kidney Stones ~ (Not Mine)

In November of 2005, Nate had a kidney stone. This was a 3 week long process of Dr's and Hospitals and ER's with no insurance and lots of prayers. It started out as what we thought was a UTI and then found out it was kidney stones. We had been at a family Thanksgiving Dinner when Nate had to be taken to the ER and spent the night in the hospital for the kidney stones. A week later Nate had to have surgery to have them removed.

So last Tuesday morning when Nate woke up with lower back pain, and the start of a UTI, I got scared. All the pain and stress and hospitals came screaming back to me. I took medicine and cranberry juice up to Nate at work. On the way I started praying for Nate. Not the please help him feel better prayers but the I need a miraculous healing Now kind of prayers. Over the course of the next week, Nate's pains came and went. Some days he would feel better and we thought he was getting better and then the next day the pain was back. He drank so much cranberry juice, cranberry pills, water, and that still didn't work. So yesterday morning Nate decided to call a clinic in the area and go to the Dr. Still praying he would be better I said okay. About 11am I got a text from Nate, "I just passed a freaking Kidney Stone!" Relief washed over me. Nate "I have the stone and already feel better" So last night I took a picture of the kidney stone and by this morning Nate is eating real food and drinking anything but cranberry juice and water! Thank you Lord that Nate is better and that we did not have to go through the ER, Dr's and Hospitals again!

Nate's Kidney Stone

Beach Edict

I went to the beach today. Yes, I know it is November but the weather was great. It was Sunny and about 90 degree's on the beach and about 105 further inland. Nate was at work and the kids are school, so instead of sit around the house, I packed up the books and cokes and hit the beach. I was about to enjoy about 3 hours of bliss on the beach. I took a bunch of pictures (200) of the waves, surfers, beach, ..etc. This was the first time in Cali and one of the few times ever, that I have been able to go to the beach by myself.

The waves were very calming and the water was cool and refreshing. Don't get me wrong, I don't actually get in the ocean. I have seen Jaws enough times to know better, when I can't see the bottom of the ocean. I remember going to the beach each summer with my family and my granddad teaching me to swim in the pool by my uncle Joe's condo and going to Uncle Raymond's house he rented every summer. As a kid I thought he owned the house and was super rich with all 6 kids and 2 houses. I would swim in the ocean with no fear of anything, get out on a float and ride the waves. The adult men would always go out with the kids and I never understood why my mom and aunts never would swim in the ocean with us. NOW I know, they were the smart ones. Now I am too. Nate will get in the ocean and do all the fun stuff with the kids while I am content to watch from my beach chair.

As for Beach Edict

~ When there are only 15 people on the entire beach, don't sit right next to someone else with your screaming kid. I left my kids at home, and want to read my book in peace. There are 50 feet all around me you could have chosen to sit, why me?

~ Teach your kids to NOT kick sand, I know it is hard but at least let them to stop when you see them kicking sand on other people and Laughing about it.

~ Do not change clothes on the beach, that is what the bathroom is for. (The Nude Beach is south into San Diego)

~ You are free to make out on the beach ( I have) but do not lay in the water and sand and be all X-rated for all the world to see. This couple today was like they were in a video and got all gross and people started leaving because of them. I was to far away to say something, or I would have.

~ They make bathing suits in ALL sizes, please find one in yours!


~ Everyone is required to wear a bathing suit, this is not your 9 year olds bath tub!

~ The birds will eat your food, even out of your hand so watch out!

A Good Pair of Jeans!

Every Person should have a good pair of jeans. 

I have quite a few "good" pairs of jeans. Since turning 18, I have fallen in love with jeans (pants in general). I defiantly own more pants and jeans than any other type of clothing.....well not shoes. Growing up in a house where, wearing pants was not allowed , may have sent me closer to the "dark side" but I am not laying blame. I was given my first pair of jeans when I graduated high school by my friend Michelle. I still have those same jeans and they are in my "bum jeans" collection. Yes, I have collections of jeans. I have my pairs of "fat" jeans for the extra baggy days where I just want to be a relaxed and hang loose. Then we have the skinny jeans, low rider jeans, my bum collection, the extra nice jeans for church and dressier occasions, and lastly the jeans Nate does not let me wear out of the house because they have way to many holes. 

There is something great about slipping your legs into a great pair of jeans. 

I do own a couple of dresses and a few skirts for those special occasions where they are required. I am not knocking wearing dresses or skirts. They are nice and some people love to wear them. Some for comfort, some for feminine looks, some for coolness on a hot day, they just are not my style. I can admire and appreciate a beautiful dress, but when the thought of actually putting the dress on comes to mind, I get chills and sick to my stomach. My Mom should be very pleased that I wore a wedding "dress" on my wedding day. 

If I have put on a dress for your special occasion, know that is was with great Love and sacrifice that I stepped out of my comfort zone for you! 

Whether you are a jeans or dress kinda girl, every Lady needs a good pair of jeans! 

Halloween Weekend!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN MY PEOPLES! 

FRIDAY! 

Joel had a Halloween Parade at his school Friday morning. He dressed up as Snake Eye's from G. I. Joe. Joel's school had a huge parade around the blacktop (playground). The weather was a nice 70 degrees when the parade started and only took about an hour for all the grades and classes to show off their costumes. 

SATURDAY!

Nate and I both had to work at different times so the kids had the day to play and watch tv. They both watched a bunch of different Halloween themed movies. Joel loves the movie Gremlins! 

SUNDAY!

On the big day, I woke up not feeling very well. I pulled out Joel's legos and sat on the floor with Nate and tried to put together a couple of pieces for a car. Lego's are a lot harder when they are not just out of the package. I took nap to help me feel better and Nate headed off to work. One of the neighbor's brought us a pumpkin to carve. The three of us took turns carving the pumpkin and placing it on the patio rail. 

Before the Carving

Cori getting messy

Joel's turn

Adding the Vomit 

~ After ~

After the carving, the kids got dressed up and ready to go trick-or-treating! Cori dressed up as a Witch, complete with broom and Joel was Snake Eyes from G. I. Joe. We went out with Sean and Taylor, who are friends next door. After all the trick-or-treating, Joel went around to the people in the complex. A guy gave him a dollar and a couple of the older ladies bought candy just because they knew Joel would be coming by. He has won the people in the complex over with his jokes, actions, and climbing tree ability. 

Cori read her 1st Christy Miller Book

Anyone who knows me, knows I love to read! I want to pass my love of reading to my children, in the same way Nate wants to pass on his skill and love of video games. My favorite author wrote my favorite teenage series, The Christy Miller books. My copy of this book is the original cover that looks nothing like something a teenager would read now. So every time I show the book to Cori and try to get her interested she looks at the cover and says NO Thank you!.

Cori got in trouble last Monday and part of her punishment was to take the time to read this first book. It took her 2 days of playing around before she started to read it, another day to read it and then she was hooked. She has read the 2nd book and is into the 3rd book in just a week's time.

For anyone who has not read this series, Christy Miller leaves her home town in Wisconsin to move just south of Newport Beach, CA. The 2nd book picks up with her move and then how she adjusted to living in Southern California. Christy's rich Aunt and Uncle live in a house on the beach in Newport. I am so grateful that Cori is reading something in the Christian Fiction genre and not just Harry Potter and Twilight.

This is the closest cover I could find to mine, only I don't have the pink circle with the # of copies in print. 

This is what the cover looks like now