Life In Progress.

Every year, for the last 18 or so, Bill and I would trek up to Lake Havasu City for the annual Run To The Sun Car Show.  A show that helped us spread the Classic Truck Bed Lid market, making new friends and sharing shade with friends we hold dear to us to this very day.

Last weekend was no different. The BEAUTIFUL classic cars and trucks line the streets.  They covered the golf course.  The held our bodies as we ventured from show to The Turtle. Or home to Cha Bones. They cruised us down London Bridge Road while singing out loud to Tennessee Whisky.  Or Bad Company.  It held moments of clinking all the glasses together.  Cheering to the words "Happy Anniversary" to the friends we met there years ago while "sharing our shade (EZ Up)".  

It held the most amazing sunsets.  Something I will never take for granted these days because it seems more and more folks don't get the chance. 

Run To The Sun. 

Together. 

Over the years, I've not snapped as many pictures as I should.  So I rely on friends. Or friends of friends to send them to me.  Most of those pictures offer lots of laughter, because, well...."big nose squinty eyes Lisa"-- #muchowine

But this is life.

It's my life. 

It's the story I am writing. 

  Shaking hands with old customers.  The conversations about classic trucks.  

Monday was surely an eye sore - head bangin reality for us.  Both figuratively and mentally.  It seems the older I get, the harder it is to recoup after 4 solid days of good times. 

Once I sort through the many unworthy pictures of me, you'll get to see. LOL just kidding-actually not, but you know the drill.

Here's a few that made the cut. 

Ummm, Leese, are we pretend jump roping....or......

dork.org

 Can't see my nose at all. 

And then, well....

"Because of you I laugh a little harder, cry a little less and smile a lot more"

This morning while IRONING (I don't iron, I throw things in the dryer) but I've had this favorite blouse for years, it's linen, blue and I just can't part with it.  

Crumbled in the bottom drawer, I began to iron it.  On the kitchen counter-LOL.

Then I read the tag this morning...

This morning I was still groggy. I am groggy right now. 

But this little tag (not sure if this is even the company that made it, I bought at a consignment store by my parents years ago)  

This is just life lately.

In progress.

Alive.  Healthy enough.  And smart enough to watch out for the weirdo's. 

Seems there's alot of them lately.  

Hope this week treats you decent.

LIFE IN PROGRESS.

Make a difference.  Some way.  Some how. 

Just be kind.

And if you iron on an ironing board, teach me. 

Or maybe not. 

PEACE out kids, PEACE out...

This Mama Lisa

Oxygen.

And sometimes you need to step away and put that oxygen mask on. 

Have a great weekend my friends....

XO

This Mama Lisa

Sometimes It Looks Like this.

Sometimes the people in the pages you've written in each chapter are the cheerleaders that rally you on.

The ones that smile across a table with affirmation that you are a good human.

The ones that can hug you at the end of the night filled with inside jokes and laughter and really know the history you left behind is in fact adding to the story we write today. 

The six pack story.

You bring your small dishes of comfort.  Not to mention the good bottle(s) of wine and whiskey that make us laugh even harder.  And sometimes tequila. Let's not forget the tequila.  HAHAHA!

We boat together, we break bread together, and we share life together.

The six pack is an element of history.  Of over 20 years of friendship.

Through sickness, health, death, and living...we stick together.

A pack that wasn't expected to roll on this long, and yet the bond is unbreakable.

They've watched our birdies grow, and we watch their nephew, nieces and cats grow. 

Without you, we'd be a different tribe.

Six pack. 

We love you.  We love US. 

And to my amazing little birdie moving big tall mountains....

I. AM. SO. PROUD. OF. YOU.

Friday was an Open House for friends and family to attend at Insight Global.
A moment to actually meet her bosses and colleagues.
It's the first time they hosted a lunch like this, and I think it's the BEST way to see their daily duties first hand.
Amazing organization.  Amazing structure, and most of all, her GRIT, and where it will take her-
Kali, you've got this girl!

Corporate-Schmorprate-


Happy Monday to you all...


As for me and my groggy eyes?

Two words.

Red wine.

Actually wait, five words...

Didn't sleep because of wine.


Hope you all have a stellar week....

Don't stop believing!

And NEVER stop telling your kids just how great they can be!

Because of YOU, teaching them---

This Mama Lisa

Friday Reminder

More and more as I learn about my birdies and their differences, I see why and how they attribute to their successes, and at times small failures. Nothing dramatic, but to them, whatever it may be...

A failure.

And how each one of them transpose the difference, and how they view each success and failure in their own interpretation. 

So interesting.

One is so hard on herself. While, the other views this life with a different set of lenses.

Shrugging off small petty, and yet absorbing the simple parts in beauty.
In plants.

In animals.
Putting himself through school two nights a week.  Choosing to advance his career as he moves through healing and all the changes that come with it. 

The other is grinding to the top, in leadership and corporate focus. 

What they don't know is the older you get, the more you understand that the BIG things in their lives right now aren't as BIG as they grow older. 

Take for instance, Kali.  She's Miss. Prompt Patty, and if she's running late anywhere, WATCH the F out.  In Kali's eyes, if you're on time, you're late.  She's the most prompt in our family.  It's her jam, and I'm not complaining.  

There are times I have to remind her that it's okay to make small mistakes.  It's okay to be late if it's not your fault.  It's okay to be honest with your self.  With your colleagues, and even your boss!

This week she came down with a bad cold.  The kind that starts off as a bad headache and soon rolls into a bad sore throat, and body ache, stuffy head, etc.  

Her week had a mid week baby shower (for one of her bosses) and a couple important meetings, all of which aren't dis-countable in her eyes. 

They sent her home on Tues at 1:00pm.  Not wanting to get her pregnant boss sick, it was the best idea to get home and get into bed.

She was home again on Wed.  

Thursday morning my phone starts to ring at 7:03am.  She's in complete freak the hell out mode.  MOM, I SLEPT THROUGH MY ALARM!!!

Mom: Um, yea, you're not feeling good honey...that happens!  

Kali:  Mom, I can't believe I have to tell my bosses I over slept! That's the lamest thing ever! My biggest pet peeve...

Mom:  Kali, I know this.  They will learn this about you.  You've been home sick, you've never been late....it's OKAY!

Kali:  Mom, I had the worse night I didn't sleep and I don't feel good, but I need to go in and show up just because I didn't call, and they're not replying to my texts'. 

The small lessons in this life.  

Be who you are. 

Forgive the moment. 

Things pass.

They'll eventually get to know just how punctual Kali is.  I'm actually sure they know this about her. Her biggest worry is sleeping through an alarm (i think we all worry about this)-

She gives 150% with whatever she does -  

She called me while driving in, just because she needed the affirmation that "It's all okay"-

Things happen.

Her mom reminding her that life is too fast.  Be a hard worker.  Be loyal to those you should be loyal to, and the rest will fall into place. 

This day, 1 month from now won't be the big deal it was at 7:am this morning.

Life moves on. 

Fridays come and go.  

Just like Monday's.  You get through.

Thanks for listening she said----

It's what moms can do.  It's what we teach.  And show. And set examples for. 

Can't always say I've been Prompt Patty, but I do like excellent attendance. 

And for that.... I say, YOU GO GIRL!

No excuses!

Happy Freaking Friday!

Wash yo hands kids, and keep your fingers away from your FACE!

No teeth pickin', eye wipin, unless your hands are clean!

AND, don't share drinks! HAHAHA!

Be grateful you can heal, because some folks never get that chance.

"Race to the top, or race to the bottom-Either way you will win" 

Up to you-  Just don't give up. 

Ever- EVER!

Goodness gracious I hope you both know how much I love you....

PS-  I often think of this blog as my book and long open letter to them.  Something I hope they can look back upon for the rest of their lives.  And mine.  xo 
Hang in there with me kids haha. 

So True.

Many reasons to become frustrated with California (hello politicians....)  But the one thing we'll always enjoy is the weather.  California will always have the best!

Happy Thursday!

This Mama Lisa

Happy Birthday Mom- Seventy

I have been pondering on the word seventy for the last couple of weeks.  I can remember my mom telling me she was so worried about taking her written test at the DMV this year, and just how scared she was to fail.  I expressed over and over to study, and that she wouldn't.

It soon came to realization that she is turning 70. 

I've always expressed to those around me, it's just a number.

But for some reason, it haunts me to think she's growing older.  

A stain of guilt on my soul for not staying physically closer to her. 

Imperfect families, yet love runs deep. 

The thought of not being able to chat with her, or even hug her haunts me.

Action.

Life. 

Chapters.

Regrets, and yet motive. 

Just act like you don't see the piece of picture missing from her forehead. LOL

My mom had us really young, so she was always the young mom.  The mom that really wasn't super stoked to be a young mom, or a mom in general, but she gave all she had. Literally. 

Mike and Pam 1992

The only thing that stood in front of my sister and I, was her aerobic classes back in the 80's.  There was no stopping her and her leotards.  

She cooked every single night. Even the nights of blur when our dad tipped way too many brews back.  She cooked.  She packed up the car every Friday afternoon so us three girls would stand and sit in that local laundrymat to do our laundry.  We never had dishwashers or the luxury of luxury. We cleaned. She cleaned.  

My dad has one tattoo, and that tattoo is a bumble bee.  A bee representing the woman he married at the tender age of 18 & 19.  A girl he met in middle school.  Fell in love and took her through some pretty wild chapters.

She has always been the busy bee.

Same mama, same. 

 She has always been such a beautiful woman.  Deep down I think she feels like she missed out on the glamour of being a young woman.  Single and willing to mingle. jk

She gave.  She provided.  She would flip a blinker on or off when she was mad while driving and I'd swear it would almost break off.  HAHA!  #oldpontiac

She loved.

She always made sure to provide all the necessary deeds for her little family of four. 

On our birthday's we'd get her homemade chocolate cake, and well, she'd never want any fuss on hers. 

Happy Birthday to our Libra Mom. 

A wizard in the kitchen.  Can whip up an apple pie, homemade crust included, with her eyes closed.

Not the nurturing type, but what she taught me is STRENGTH.  I have a fierce demeanor or protection, love and nurturing to my family. 

I try and find the right card every year.  The truth is, the only words that can honestly come out of my mouth to her is THANK YOU.  Her reasons of being a mother are different than what, and how we all do the task nowadays.  

I hope she allows the love to flow in today.  I hope this day offers her sunshine (she loathes heat and too cold of weather)-

I hope the sun shines bright and her hair feels extra pretty today....

She's a tiny little shiny star. 

Happy Birthday Mom!  I love you....

When I think of you celebrating up on your hill with Dad, I imagine this is YOUR slice of a good time!  

May you stay healthy and able for many more years to come.  

This song always reminds me of you. 

Hot Stuff

Miss you.

Toot Toot Heyyy Beep Beep!

Lisa Lynn 

Mood.

Made me laugh--

Happy Tuesday!  

This Mama Lisa

Dreaming Of.

The struggle to keep my hat on while floating in the warm Arizona lake water, versus the struggle to get through the rest of Monday after a sleepless night!

Any other sleep deprived humans out there?

#redredwineyoumakemefeelsofine

Hope you guys are forging on through---

I love finding old pictures of the good ol' days and memories of being tucked away in our favorite cove-  

Nother' beautiful day in the neighborhood though, right?!

Finally meeting up with one of my og soccer mom besties tonight after almost 5 months of just texts', Instagram stalking, and emails sprinkled here and there-
Kyoko!

Oh the memories on those fields...
This picture right here was the absolute coldest, windiest, gnarly weather enduring game we EVER went through.  Lancaster was shit fest. 

amiright?

This Mama Lisa

Go Iowa State Football! What A Vision! BEAUTIFUL IDEA!

Love this concept!

The Iowa State WAVE!

Enjoy your football filled weekend!

When 70 THOUSAND turn to wave, it means more than most people may know...

Love,

This Mama Lisa

The Cool Air. The Sun Shines So Bright.

Well, we made it to Friday!  I've grazed like a cow all week.  I've cried more in my car driving than the last few weeks, because, well....baaaaby shark doo doo doo doo....

I know, I'm a drama queen.  Riddled with a lack of hormones, and a body that is shifting into new gears.  A body that runs hotter than a griddle at night, and can cut through bullshit with her tongue in two seconds flat come morning. 

I am on one setting- FULL THROTTLE.

#FOCUSED 

I have things to accomplish, and ain't no knucklehead gonna stop me. HA!

Hear me though....I don't like the feeling.

I wish I could sip martini's and good wine and toss my hair back over my shoulders and laugh at the world. 

The truth is, you can't hide from reality.  Your soul and your vibe is what you make it to be.  Some mornings I literally feel like I can't walk out of the house.  Like I want to get back under the sheets and hide from the world.  And then I remember, I have two birdies to prove what hard work offers. 

Look at our son.  A guy that has literally walked through the rusty gates of hell, and slithered back out.  And still gets up EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.  And NEVER EVER EVERRRRR complains.

I think I heard him say to ME, ONCE in 2019 "Mom, I'm just sick and tired of feeling sick and tired"-

And yet he forged through.  Looking for his good days.  Enjoying cactus, bunnies, dogs and his family.  Mingling with friends here and there. 

So, you know, Mama gets her shiz together, and rolls on through.  Making the beautiful days to come, worth it.  

I hugged my daughter tight last night before dinner, as she shared a very scary dream she had the night before..a dream that felt so real.  I was kidnapped.  Her story of this dream proved the fear that we all have of loss.  Of trauma.  This dream lingered on her all day.  She said it was so real.  

Her fear of loss.

I told her these fears are underlying pages our body is trying to protect us from.  

I remind her every week to stay off her phone while getting gas, walking to and from stores as she loads groceries.  To not be a dingaling to become a victim.  To stay vigilant. 

We had such a beautiful dinner last night.  Their words "nothin' like mama's taco's" make my heart strings sing.  

I was telling Carmen a couple weeks ago, that I love to watch those I love eat the food I cook, solely for the smile or happiness on their faces.  It makes it all worth it. 

Sitting around the table last night with Bill, Kris, Kali, Grant and the dogs and cat-  The Eve of my favorite day of the week.....

Together, and well.

We listened as Kris went on and on about fishing, cactus, politics, and work.  

Kali following Mozy around outside as she explored and followed bugs at her content. 

Grants golf game with his dad before joining us.

Closing out a week filled with new pages.  Pages we've written. Together. And yet some in silence alone.  

I wish you all a cozy weekend, and one filled with, as my bestie Shelley says "sipping coffee from an open cup"-  

Make the recipe you've wanted to try...

I'm making this -

Beef Bourguignon

May you sip from a good wine glass (seriously nothing better, the thinner and sexier the glass, the better...).  Clink with those you love.  

Be safe, and smile through the chaos!  

Better days are ahead!  

Dun-dun-dun-dun....Shark in the water, GET OUT! hahahhahaha!!!

All my sass, and love!

This Mama Lisa

I know I sound like the Earth lovin', Tree Huggin Hippy, but please check out how shiny the afternoon sun is during these Fall weeks...

So pretty! 

Forever, and ever, until the end of our time....xoxo 

It's you and me baby cakes....

Truth.

This is me every morning this week.

Lisa the Sleepy Crabby Pants....

This is Lisa on her way home after another long day of shufflin', answering questions, fielding phone calls like a clown at a circus, and jugglin all the things in life.  And trust me, I don't take one beautiful day for granted, because I know first hand just how shitty it can get in one call.  One stare from someone I love.  

But this week......

You know what helps?  

But you know what?   

I can't sleep with it in my system!

So I am SCREWED! HAHAHAH!

So, CHEERS to these cute glasses, and please pray for my family this week as I am a little shorter in patience, and a little more stern in my answers.

This is life...

And I love it for what it is.....as long as my babies and my man are safe and healthy....

Almost the best F word of the week!

Love,

Le' Great White Lisa

Do Yourself The Favor

My favorite time of year to walk on the beach.  Especially down by the water. October and November.  There's something captivating just before sunset.  It's generally not so windy.  The way the sun glistens is different than all summer long.

Try it. If you can. 

Take some time for YOU. 

Go down and pray. 

Or just walk.

Look for shells (leave em if you can resist)

And soak up the view.

This Mama Lisa

Happy October!

Because in the end, YOU are in charge of YOUR happiness!  

Plus, it's that time of year where you're  I am -inundated with TOO MANY PUMPKIN SPICE OVER KILL, so try these....

Peanut Butter And Jelly Cinnamon Rolls