40, try something new!! Feeling fab!

Turned 40 this week.  I'm not sure how this has happened as I seem to recall I was just in high school?!!?!? 

But a few months ago I decided I wanted to be a bit adventurous.... I didn't want to feel "old" or appear "too old".... do you have those thoughts?  

Just as it has panned out --- I've had the opportunity the past month to do a few "firsts" -- just to make sure I keep life exciting and feel young!! 

• White Water Rafting trip (thanks to my sister in law)
• I'm terrified of drowning, so I nicely passed when she asked the 1st time using Lindsay as my excuse -- however, when Lindsay decided she would go, I had to go too..... 
• BUT I didn't fall out and I loved every minute, want to do it again. 
• Ziplining --- FANTASTIC!! Check out High Life Adventures in Warrenton, OR.  We had a total blast.  My parents went as well as my kids and hubby. 
• Riding a quad - actually DRIVING a quad.  After a terrible experience as a kid, I had not driven one ever again. But patient and kind friends encouraged me to do it.  It was very fun.... plus it involved riding at the beach -- did you say the beach?  Yes!! I'm there.  Riding along the water was a total thrill. 
• Road Trippin it with Garth & the kids... this was the longest road trip we've had together and it was fantastic. Disneyland, Universal, Hollywood, family, etc.... great times. 
• As of last night: 
• 1st surprise party thrown on my behalf.  Fantastic times and so fun to see people from various walks of life together in one place!  Loved it!! 
• 1st jello shot ever in my life thanks to my sweet friend.... they are dangerous and should come with a warning label..... 
• 1st time having my drivers license with a punched hole in it.... luckily or not so luckily I didn't have to show it to order my BUCKET last night... hhmmm..... 

I learned this past month that I need to keep life more interesting.  Not necessarily with "things" (or expensive trips) but with being willing to try something new.  This is a life skill that I need to polish up on and be a good example to my kids to try things. You never know if you are going to like it until you try it... 

Have you tried something new this summer?  Did you like it? 

Makin Memories...

Vacation was fantastic.  We had originally planned a camping trip to the Redwoods/Southern Oregon coast but decided to ditch that plan once Garth got a new job.  We realized next year's vacation time was already taken, and by the next vacation -- Hunter could be working and we need to maximize the time we have with them now as time is slipping away.... 

The kids had no idea of the change until the morning of when a trailer was not being taken along...... 

First on the agenda was Wildlife Safari.  Hugely disappointing from the last time we were there.  So, just did a drive thru and went on..... 

We surprised them with a stop at In-n-Out Burger.  And of course tshirts for all!! 

Stopped at Sacramento for the night.  Had a great day of driving and then gave them their 1st mission -- to learn all they could about CA. at the capitol! 

We then gave them their 2nd mission -- DISNEYLAND! I booked this trip through Get Away Today online!  Man, their package was awesome and SO well priced!! They had all the details thought through and offered suggestions.  I will definitely use them again for a vacation. 

Had a great time, didn't wait more than 45 minutes and that was only for 1 ride -- most other rides we walked up to or waited 15 minutes!  But it was crowded -- just timed it by going in the mornings. 

Their 3rd mission was UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.  This was my favorite thing.  I love seeing how they make movies, decorate the sets, stunts, special effects.  So interesting.  Again we hardly waited in lines -- got there by 7:30 in the morning and had done everything by 5pm! 

Lastly we went to Hollywood and it was disappointing.  However, we had a great time at the wax museum.  Then bee lined for our car where I felt much safer!!! 

Got to see my aunt and stay the night with her for Garth's birthday -- then headed for home. 

We were home for less than 20 hours and headed to the beach for our annual church campout.  It was a great time to decompress, relax and soak in all the sights we had seen and enjoyed.  And sleep in my own "bed" in the trailer!  And get me some "beach therapy". 

Since we were at the beach -- all I wanted to do for my birthday was to zipline! And we were able to do this with my parents.  See the videos on my facebook page or the kids'.  We had a fantastic time and I'm blessed to have such cool parents to do this stuff with! 

The kids loved their daily "mission" surprises and it was fun to come up with them. Hunter made a video of the missions we read to them. 

Family time is precious. I'm feeling this more and more the older the kids get -- we just came home from our "family" camp for church --- it wasn't really for family time (not complaining) but time for the kids to bond with other kids since I only saw them when they wanted food.... makes you realize you have to seize the moments, soak it up, relish in it.  Times are changing.  And not only our immediate family, but seizing time with my parents as well.  

Today Garth began his next journey in his career which will demand a lot of time away from home this year -- so we seized time -- time just with our kids, making memories... and now to have fun scrapbooking it all!! 

So much.....abundance

I'm reeling.  Literally.  Hunter left for a week of camp and  I feel like our life has completely changed in the week he's been gone.  I would like to say it would be nice to have a boring week -- but since we are Mosher's -- that won't happen.  Won't he be surprised??

Lots of things are uncertain at this time.  Life changes I would say.  Garth starts a new job on August 8th, looking at school options, facing a vacation, work changes/issues, big birthdays coming up.

All of it good -- all of it challenging -- all of it uncertain.  The past month, as my birthday is coming up, I've been thinking about 1st's. If you follow me on FB, you see I've been posting about 1st's.  Choosing to celebrate change, choosing to try something new, something uncertain.  And resting in the fact that I know the One who never changes, who always is and always will be.  He knows our future, He knows what's best, He sees the larger picture.

I'm really trying to savor these good things -- that we are in a season of harvest.  Reaping what we have been planting all along, but knowing that there will be another planting season, another time to grow and wait and prune.

Have faith!  Have faith in times of uncertainty, change.  God sees the BIG picture.

Sassy Redhead!!

I was the focus of my friend's blog today!  Check it out.

She's amazing with hair! Call and make an appointment!

http://goldyloxhairdesign.blogspot.com

Mother's Day 2012

How was your Mother's Day?  I'm not a huge fan of holidays -- as we have taken them and laid out huge expectations that seem to always disappoint.  But that's the story of another blog.... :)

God showed up big time in my day and I hope He did for you too.

The day before Mother's Day I got to spend time with my mom, sister in law and my Grandma.  We attended a woman's tea that had a great speaker who encouraged us to live for today as we aren't guaranteed anymore than that.  Perfect timing as my Grandma (who is 95) was struggling in her health.  As I visited her, it broke my heart to see her deterioration.  To deteriorate and know it seems worse than my Grandpa who was deteriorating, but with Alzheimer's didn't really know it.  So, this made me very sad and very thankful to have a family that lives with no regrets and if God called her home, we were as ready as you can be.  I love my Grandma, her sense of humor, her wisdom on life, her humility that says she hasn't even figured life out and most of all I love her faithful prayer life for her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.

That day when other things seemed bleak, you would mention my cousins or my children --- her face would light up.  I pray for that type of love in my own life -- such a testimony -- even when you don't feel good or I get to be 95.

Then we spent the evening with my mom -- and loved watching her face light up as we gave her a Kindle.  She was so very excited and it's always fun making memories together as a family.

I had a rough time leaving that night.  It's hard to live away -- even though it's a bit over an hour away -- you can't just pop in to see things.  It resets your priorities.  I'm not sure why it has to take these kinds of things to refocus you, but it seems that's true. Maybe I should work on that.

My heart was a bit broken........

Earlier in the week, I had sent my birth mom an email -- God had been leading me to open my heart a bit, and let her see a glimpse and also share some words with her.  This scares me, and I guess always will.

Her response on Mother's Day..... no response to my words I sent to her, but a simple Happy Mother's Day email.

My heart was a bit more broken........

The kids woke up.  They had each made me a gift.  Hunter painted me a beautiful picture of rocks at the ocean.  (The beach is my favorite!!!) Truly a gift, I love how they share their love.  And then came Lindsay's letter.

Tonya: 

Caring, hardworking, loving, helpful

Mother of Lindsay, Hunter, Jeff

Lover of family, polar bears & dark chocolate

Who feels happy, loved & peaceful

Who needs nothing

Who gives kisses, love & faith

Who fears losing her children, illness & family dying

Who would like to see her kids not fighting, a clean house & people become Christians

Resident of Beaverton, OR

Mosher

Wow.  Wow. It was as though it was a love letter from my God as well.  He saw my needs, my hurts, and allowed my kids and husband to love on me and affirm me.  I don't think you could ask for a better gift.  

It is my saying for the week:

Life is hard -- God is faithful

What an awesome God to see my broken heart and know just how to mend it.  He understands, He hurts with me, He misses nothing.  Truly blessed.  Truly blessed.  

Tax season 2011 DONE

I made it!  Conquered another tax season!  I think I need to celebrate...

Opportunities!!

Today was a bit of a rough milestone for me.  You know the one, the one where you have to say NO.  Does anyone else struggle with this?  I sure do.  I'm not sure where it comes from and why I think that I can be Wonder Woman -- but I sure think I can.

I got a GREAT opportunity for a new client.  Huge challenge, new software, great people, steady work.  Sounds great, right?  It is.  But I had to turn them down. Life isn't as easy as saying yes or no to things.  I wrestled with it in my mind all weekend -- how I can fit it in, what great experience it is, what will it look like.

I realized a few things.
   1.  I'm already busy enough.
   2.  My kids are getting older and I don't want to miss out on anything
   3.  What if I can't give them my best because my best is divided so much?

Balance is something I'm working on.  So because of maintaining a proper balance, I had to say no.  Balance is something I struggle with everyday and am trying to incorporate.  (My next step is in exercise -- so keep me accountable). But balance in your life brings about peace and great relationships.

But saying no in a way that means not right now --- saying no in a way that tells them that since I care and want great things for them, I'm saying not right now.  And saying no in a way that still leaves the door open for the future.

While in business, doors always need to stay open. And as a business owner, always looking for great opportunities is what I do.  Keeping relationships that will allow you to possibly work together again in the future and allow for even greater things.  This gets my adrenalin going and I get excited about what COULD be coming.  You just never know and that excites me..

Today was a milestone -- you can either worry or you can trust -- but you can't do both.  (From church yesterday).  So, I'm going to trust.