St Basil & I; I found courage and strength

Yesterday, Wednesday, January 2, 2013 was the Feast of St Basil. I pulled all my courage and strength and made some important contacts, hoping for answers and weight to be lifted from my shoulders. Today, part of my planning and praying is coming to fruition. Don't get me wrong, I'm still praying...HARD that things will work out. As I was having a discussion this evening, I was made more aware than in recent months, that everything happens for a reason.
I've always thought this and believed that He has a plan for all of us. Sometimes in frustration and the unknown, it's easy to feel, that we've been forgotten or our plans have been misguided. In those times, I've learned, we must be patient and continue on the path; He will guide us, nudge us, or shake us to our core to let us know, never give up. Similarly, it can be said that in desperation of separate people; fate will bring those people together to solve both their dilemas with one solution. I can hardly wait for the next couple of days to see what the plan is for us.
I also had a great day today, just hanging out with my kids! I really enjoy being with them; they're great kids & truly fun! I am so blessed! We worked for a bit today, went to the mall & Taylor used some birthday gift cards. I promised a movie & popcorn (because mom's popcorn is a favorite). They both picked The Lorax; a great pick since Jaret just got a Lorax book at the library today. So naturally we read that first. We had to run a couple errands before we could watch our movie and out the door we headed to get dog food.
We were driving to pet store & passed an auto parts store. From the backseat, both kids were in overdrive about Grave Digger the monster truck @ the auto parts store in the parking lot. So we took a detour, turned around and pulled in the parking lot. It wasn't part of our plan, but like I said, everything happens for a reason. Grave Digger, Jaret's favorite, or as he calls it "The Master of Disaster" was only there for a short time. We snapped some photos and went inside to get an autograph from the crew. Jaret told them he'd seem them tomorrow night, since dad is taking them to Monster Jams. If we would have picked up dog food earlier when we were out, they wouldn't have seen the monster truck & honestly it made their night! It's the small things in life we need to savor.

Weather Beacon's gone; so New Year 2013, changes foreseen...

The title to this entry probably makes a lot more sense to those familiar with the iconic Weather Beacon, that went dark in the last quarter of 2012. For a few miles, after driving past it on I235 through Des Moines, the conversation would be about the predictions of that old Weather Beacon. It had been there for longer than the world's been blessed by my presence (glad my bulbs aren't obsolete). Several catchy phrases related to color, blinking or steady would forecast the weather. The google search on our smart phones made it so much easier, to not lose our minds completely before reaching our destination, so we could figure out what that pointed framework of missing and burnt out bulbs was trying to communicate. Yes, we could have watched the local weather, but there's no sport in that! That's like going to the shoe department without perusing through the shoe room (sales!) and just picking up the 1st pair you like.
Well anyway, the New Year is upon us; here we didn't make it to midnight (almost), I already missed a day of blogging (spent the day with my babes & mom shopping), but the best part-nothing is going to hold this girl back! I'm letting the fantastic out & honestly, my pure glitter for personality, might make a few people scream & shout. It's all good, I can not and will not own their response, however, I encourage an applause (just kidding of course).
Call it what you will, I consider myself to be a hopeless optimistic & also a hopeless romantic. Good thing about both, I'm not just hopeless! I've got a great sense of humor and lately, ugh, I've needed it! I'm not going to let all the drama, fear of what's to come & uncertainties rule my future. I will follow the path that I'm meant to travel and maybe I'll figure it out as I go along. I'll admit, I'm not great at navigating anyway, so we're used to U-turns and wrong ways.

It's sure to be an event, everyday is in my world; sometimes multiple events in one day! My life is truly an experience and I hope you will jump on this journey with us and share in the randomness & love of life I will share. Never know, you might even learn something along the way, even if it's not useful in the ordinary sense; you never can tell when you might need that winning answer to a random trivia question. Yep, glad I could help, I know, I'm a dandy! And if at any point, you can always ask: Are we lost? I haven't been out driving if I haven't heard that from my backseat co-pilots at least once in the past week. It won't offend me, not much does. So I hope the same for you and you can at least find a few minutes of entertainment if that's what you need on any given day.
Let's sit back, click away and begin this ride through 2013 together. I'm ready! As I proclaim, "Let's do this!"

Gettin' in the spirit

In preparation of the holidays, we're beginning to get festive these days! We've seen Santa a couple times; evidently that increases your chances of the delivery of goods on Christmas Eve. TJ the Elf arrived last night & now the 2 Stanleys (Taylor & Jaret) will hopefully be on their best behavior; which will also increase their chances of the delivery on Christmas Eve. This is all seeming a bit like the lottery; I wish I could go sit on Santa's lap & that would increase my Powerball chances! I would camp out @ Santa's Workshop if that were at all likely.
In no time we will be wrapping packages; thankfully my shopping list is complete for the most part. There will be candy making & cookie baking, hot chocolate consumed & lots of anticipation for the "Big Man in Red" I presume.

I've been on hiatus we'll say (life got in the way) but I'm back!

What a wild ride it has been since June when I last posted! Full of ups, downs and maybe even a few sideways rides. I would like to begin blogging each day. It may not always be extensive, relevant or full of useful information; but I will provide my never ending random thoughts, sometimes full of snark and some comic relief to help us get through our day. So I guess, please sit back, lean forward, or stand on your head if you wish and enjoy the scenery; I'll do what I can to provide the entertainment value and you can count on my life, aka one experience after another, will be told in true unedited joanna style. That's how we roll around here, honesty with respect always. So let's do this thing!
Yep, I'm a dandy!

Back home, 2nd home (ballpark) and gone again; nice surprise from afriend

I dont' know about you, but I love getting a nice little surprise in the mail from a friend, no matter how often you talk or see the other person; it just lifts up your spirits! Anyway, I received a package on Friday with this lovely, handmade bracelet, that I've now been sporting all day @ the ballpark, aka, our second home. Some people have vacation homes, we go to ball parks. In fact we're more like gypsies dreaming of our luxury weekend getaways. Oh well, it's all worth the smiles from the kids!

If you're interested in her bracelets, either custom made or she can choose, they can be found on Facebook; Boxtown Bracelets. And the quality work is amazing with great finish and it's obvious the passion and time she's putting in these!

Anything is Possible...

Sometimes it seems life is a constant uphill fight. Sometimes, we do get to sit back and enjoy some downhill fun with the wind at our backs. To me it doesn't alway happen that way in my real life (family & fun) is the same status as my working life. Both are very rewarding and I have passions for both, now that I have found something I truly enjoy doing; it really doesn't feel like work anymore. Many days I have to remind myself that I am "working". Honestly, who hasn't caught themselves or even said to their coworker(s) on a perfect weather day, as you're sitting on the inside of the big panes of glass, that you'd do anything, even call in sick, to go outside and enjoy the weather. That is my new reality! As a Superintendent for Parks and Recreation, I can go outside (almost) anytime I choose. Yes, I do have meetings to attend, which can be at times really uninteresting! But I still attend to show that I take my fun job seriously.
I recently read a quote, one of the many I now add to my ever-growing collection; I just love quotes. It reads: In 1922, President Truman was 38, in debt & jobless. In 1945 he was the most powerful man in the free world. This proves to me, that if we put our minds to it, we can accomplish anything, with enough hard work and dedication.
One year ago; I was out of work, packing clothing and essentials for my kids & I for an indefinite stay in New York City from our home and my husband, the kids dad. I was recovering from skin cancer and honestly had no idea what to expect & received a lot of push back from family and friends. The mere thought of me leaving with my 2 young(ish) children to NYC, to some people was just crazy and many thought I needed my head examined. But that is not the first time I have gotten that response from people; so we were heading out of town to pursue the interest many agencies had shown toward Taylor and her budding acting & modeling career. We had no expectations other than staying safe & for me to protect my kids no matter what, and hopefully Tyler would come visit. And in that journey, we had success! The kids and I learned so much about culture, ourselves and each other, that I would not trade that experience for anything. With my new adventure with the City of Carlisle, I hope I can aspire other people to take that step or to them it may be a giant leap and step outside of their comfort zone and explore this wonderful world around us; even in this small town in Iowa. We have to dream it to believe it!

What this girls been up too: eyh, yeh, yeh!

Well, spinal surgery with bone graft, a fall & broken clavicle 3 1/2 weeks later. Summer's here & that means ball practices, games & tournaments. One kid out of school & the other has 2 1/2 days, yay! And seriously, that's just the beginning!