Sometimes It's All We Have.

I remember walking the halls of the hospital and wondering how one foot could step in front of the other.  I remember looking at the nurses in the nurses station chatting away as though the world was full of unicorns and puppies (in my poisoned thoughts). The innocent callous nature of working over people fighting for their lives.  The unfairness in those hallways. The way I viewed it.

I was so angry at times. 

I learned to pray.  And pray hard.  

Bill's brother needs an enormous amount of prayers right now.

His mountain to climb just became higher. 

I never trusted God, or if I'm being honest, rightfully prayed to Him.  As a matter of fact, I still find myself questioning many things (like why do bad things happen to good people, and why doesn't God take down the evil humans that lurk this world) And yet, when the beauty of miracles slide in around me, my belief is restored. 

And here we are again. Praying for a miracle.  Praying for someone to push through another day.  

The big picture is embracing the family.  His wife. His father. His daughter. And his son.
Not to mention his grand-babies that have so many amazing memories with their granddad. 

We always want to take the pain.  We want to help with answers.  We want to fight for what we believe will work.  What is wrong, and what should be right.  What is hurting and broken that should be better. 

And yet....

The only thing we have is holding on to FAITH. 

And a miracle.

Rick, you have a circle of humans praying hard.
A family of sisters and a brother that are floating around in deep thoughts filled with love.

Me too. I can't stop thinking about you. 

With love, and a reminder to love your tribe hard. 

This Mama Lisa

 Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

My Highlights

The simple highlights for this girl. 

Cooking very early on Saturday morning as the rain came down...

Lasagna (which looks funny here, because this picture is after being in fridge all day....)

Banana Nut Bread (fav house smell just after)

Lunch at Walt's Wharf with Shelley (we took no pictures, no bueno)

Dinner at The Reynolds on a rainy Saturday night.

If you ever want the best Scalloped potato's in all the land, make reservations at their home.

Divine!

The sweetest highlight, coming across these swans in the harbor yesterday afternoon...scooping pretzels right from my hand..

STRIPES ON STRIPES FOR LIFE-LOL

I hope your weekend was full of cozy blankets, a stove filled with a good recipe, and lots of love from those in your tribe---

   Whatever you do, just show up, and give your best--

How'd that sprung-forward-clock feel this mornin?  As for me and this body, I put my slippers on the wrong feet.  So there's that....

Go get it done kids.  

This Mama Lisa

That Friday Feeling.

Bill works pretty much every Saturday now.  The first few I was a tad lost, but found cooking or cleaning to easily take the space of his time away.  I miss the Saturday mornings together, but must remind myself that if we don't push for our goals now, our summer days will be drenched in long days of work that could have been done months back. 

So, thank you Bill. Thank you for filling in for us.  

I promise to make extra yummy meals every weekend. And I promise to never make Jambalaya again. lol.

I hope you all have a rest-filled weekend. I hope the rain comes down after you're in and cozy.  

Remember to smile at a stranger....YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS GOING THROUGH....

Be the better half of yourself. Even if you're slogging through life right now.

This Mama Lisa 

Some Snapple Facts-

Did you know peaches are part of the almond family?

Did you know mosquito's are attracted to people who just ate a banana? (Carmen..no banana's!)

Slugs have 4 noses.

Alaska has the highest rate of people that walk to work.

A fish can cough.  

You're welcome friends...now go have some fun! No charge for my entertainment.

Woman. Mother.

Being a woman will pull your heart and soul in many directions.

The one direction I am proud of is my "Strength"-

Even when days like yesterday all I could do was let tears fall down my cheeks.

Releasing the pressure in my heart. 

Pulling it together between customers.

Filtering my strength as weakness.

Grabbing tissues disgusted in my own way. 

About heartbreak.

Motherhood.
Womanhood....

The word STRENGTH.

Some days, I don't have it.

Being beautiful to me is the wisdom to get through all the days.

Good, bad, sofuckinghard, fun, and easy.

I hope you have the intelligence to know you will carry on.  And can.

Being a woman is a beautifully intricate thing to celebrate.  From mundane, to literally picking up catastrophe's like a feather.

In celebration of cramps, periods, childbirth, menopause, hot flashes, prom dress shopper escort, valet, cab drivers, tear wipers, make-shit-happen, chef, cupcake pro's, party planners, handle-shit-in-a-hot-second, grilled cheese maker, whip-something-up right now cook, college planner, budget heartbreaker, patienceofasaintthatidonthave 

Woman hood-- celebrate they say----

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY!

womp-womp 

All my peace and love,

And this week, tears. 

For some reason...lots of em.

Happy Friday Eve kids...

xoxo

This Mama Lisa, The sissy-lala

Happy Birthday Grant!

Happy Birthday to the guy that makes our littlest birdie the happiest girl in the world.

Your sense of love, laughter and kindness is just a tid-bit of what you offer in this life.

Your eyes make everyone around you light up.

Your patience and soul is everything this world needs.

You make our family a happier family when you're around.

You never flinched when I smashed into your fender at the lake with the boat trailer.  

You smile through wicked moments, most especially when Kali has anxious episodes.  

You are just love.

We hope you stay safe, healthy and full of the good things this life should offer you.

I am proud of the man you are. 

May you enjoy good music. Good food.  Good laughs and lots of love with those you love.

May family and friends protect you from evil and shield you from harm. 

May you feel love from those around you on your toughest day.

You are the ultimate day brightener.

Keep chasing your dreams, we're waving our family flag for you...

Your hard work and tenacity is showing!

Happy Birthday Grantster...

We love you.

So much.

Now go enjoy a dinner our daughter has hopefully prepared for you.  

(Well, that's what she said she was doin' so I'd hold her to it, ya know?) lollllzz

And make sure you ask for all organic.  

Seriously.

Love,

Mama Lisa

Oh. And by the way- Here's Kali + Grant's song---

LOVE.

In Case You Didn't Know-

Truth

This warm sunshine is surely good for my soul...

Work hard, love harder.

This Mama Lisa

Monday---- Working Like Ants.

Ants Building A Bridge....

Feels like life right now.  Only thing different is the shadowing of friends.  

The bridges we build together. 

Holding one another up.

Let's all try to work like they do. 

And keep on swimming.....MARCHING....

This Mama Lisa

I've Always Said

Dive Bars and Rainy Days....

Raise your hand if you feel me?  

Bill and I have a dream to travel across the US in an RV.  Nothing too big, and yet big enough to live while traveling for a few months. 

My dream to see Martha's Vineyard, and parts of the East Coast.  I'd like to travel through Idaho, with my eyes set on Puget Sound as well.  

Idaho....

Puget Sound

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard

Montana

(Idaho)

So many beautiful places in the US! It's just merely a dream right now as we have our noses pointed  down at our desks' and computers, with a mix of phones tied to each ear all day every'day!  Hustlin' day and night to survive.

Working so hard for what we want. 

Check out this crazy list of Dive Bars across the states.

Some seem wonky, while others....pure glory.

Dive Bars

I've always loved a good dive bar on a rainy day....

Little bummed they showcased a Dive Bar in Oakland, versus...say, Mothers Bar in Sunset Beach...
Shelley, can you hear me?........

Because, I mean, comeon.. Oakland?! 

Hope your weekend is full of good recipes, a warm stove and lots of peace.

This Mama Lisa

Mothers Bar LOVE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRADY WAYNE EDWARDS!  WE LOVE YOU! MAY YOU BE BLESSED WITH GOOD HEALTH, SAFE TRAVELS, AND GOOD FOLKS ALONG YOUR PATH....

YOU'VE LEFT A LEGACY WITH OUR DAUGHTER HOW TO CAMP. HOW TO PUT UP A CAMPSITE AND THE ENTIRE WEEKEND OF CAMPING ONEHECKOFA, GOOD TIME!  She shares her memories of those moments when they were little....and I thank you!

Family Over Everything.

Happy March 1, 2018

This morning although super chilly, I could hear the first signs of Spring.  The happy chirps from birdies in search of food for the babies they've got tucked away.  Washing my dishes staring out the window at the glistening of frost on Southern California roof tops.  The sprigs on trees ready to blossom.  Waiting for more sprinkles of rain....

I am ready for long summer days and fun times at the lake.  Praying each night for wellness, and safety for my birdies.  

Change is happening around me.  Change I have no control of.  Even when my prayers don't seem answered, I will still allow love.  Trust.  Change. Heartbreak. Healing.

Most of all, I will continue to love. 

And love hard. 

(Might as well greet the elephant in the room.  The elephant that has been quietly sitting for a few weeks.  Perhaps months.   Jen and Kris have decided to part ways.  A hard decision.  Harder for one more than the other. But then again, this is true in life, right?  And so you hear all the antidotes for healing. "Things happen for reason"-  "Don't worry, these are doors closing so a better door can open"...and so on and so on.  But the truth is, this shit is hard.  Change is hard.  Heartbreak AND change is hard.  4 years living with someone that knows you inside and out.  Literally. 

The reality of this, is just that...reality.  The love we've all shared between both families is a real raw, amazing chapter. 

Dividing "things" they've accumulated.  Dogs. Hugs. Tears. Clothes. Stuff.--  He's moved back home. I will love. I will listen.  I will guide.  I will miss them.  Things we've all done together.  

But this is life- There's no blame on either side.  It's growth. It's change. It's life. People do what they need to do. The chapters they've written together is something most of us would never fully grasp)

A firm example of "You never know what someone is going through"---

Smile at a stranger, people.  

And just BE KIND......

"Let's not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around in awareness"

I hope you're all ready for this next little batch of rain.  Pick a favorite recipe to bake (my friend Erica left chocolate cookies on our porch this week, and...you guys...) Make a nice meal.  Hug your family. Write a note to a loved one.  Love hard today, because we never ever know what tomorrow will bring. 

Realize today, you are worth it.  Press pause every now and then.  And just be still.  

Happy Friday Eve!  Boomshakalakaboom.

This Mama Lisa

ps- On a sweet note, he's relocated his garden home, so holla if you need, cilantro, kale, broccoli, blueberries, limes, leaves, weeds, literally, strawberries, love, hugs, tears, hair, kidding.

Love you all!

And JUST KEEP ON SWIMMMMMMMIINNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG

Do You Feel It?

You feelin' this full moon?

The tension. 

The changes.

The goodness.

The sadness.

The movement.

The love.

The pain.

It's always more prevalent during these big beautiful full moons...

May you be blessed with a kindred heart, and forgiving soul.

This Mama lisa

Happy Birthday Buckie

To the little guy that makes our hearts full.

Nine Years.

Nine years of never willingly giving us kisses.  

Nine years of ignoring us while in search of a tree to pee on.

Nine years of loving us back. 

Nine years of stealing cat food like a boss.

Nine years of staring deep at whomever is cooking.

Nine years of tagging along to places you'd rather not be, but insisted on going at first.

Nine years of being the most chill dog we've ever known. 

Nine years of loving you. 

Nine years of loving us. 

Happy Ninth Birthday Buckie Stahl!

We are so lucky to have been loved by you all these years....

I hope your little heart keeps tickin' strong!

For the rest of your days, and the rest of ours....

YOU are the best puppers.  Happy Birthday little guy....

Love,

Grammie

Dear Weekend

Do your best.  Love your hardest.  Stay true to the truth.  

Go rest up.

And just be you.

But pass out smiles. Even if you must force it. 

Happy Weekend-- 

All my love,

Lisa Lynn

She Picks The Label

My name is Lisa, and I pick wines based on the label. 

This one stuck its arm way out for me to grab. 

Cultivating togetherness?

Yes, please. 

Generosity.  Peace.  Become. Family. Kindness.  Purpose.  Fearless.  Common Ground.

Laughter.  

And most of all....LOVE---

Happy Thursday friends...Gather where you can. With whom you can.

Trust Your Strength....

xoxo

This Mama Lisa

Ps-  Kali contested her 25th, (kidding) parking ticket, and WON. 

Silver linings kids, silver linings...

Words to take with you....

I actually attack the concept of happiness. The idea that—I don’t mind people being happy—but the idea that everything we do is part of the pursuit of happiness seems to me a really dangerous idea and has led to a contemporary disease in Western society, which is fear of sadness. It’s a really odd thing that we’re now seeing people saying “write down three things that made you happy today before you go to sleep” and “cheer up” and “happiness is our birthright” and so on. We’re kind of teaching our kids that happiness is the default position. It’s rubbish. Wholeness is what we ought to be striving for and part of that is sadness, disappointment, frustration, failure; all of those things which make us who we are. Happiness and victory and fulfillment are nice little things that also happen to us, but they don’t teach us much. Everyone says we grow through pain and then as soon as they experience pain they say, “Quick! Move on! Cheer up!” I’d like just for a year to have a moratorium on the word “happiness” and to replace it with the word “wholeness.” Ask yourself, “Is this contributing to my wholeness?” and if you’re having a bad day, it is.

An excerpt from The Good Life--

4 Years.

Happy 4th Anniversary to these two birdies....

You know the pages in their chapters. 

They've been through more in 4 years than some in 50.

I love you both.  

My wish for you both, is health, safety and peace....

This Mama Lisa

The Lonely Hearts

More human kindness and genuine humans doing what they can, to help the lonely.

The bullied.

The quiet ones.

Brilliant and Kind

And I post these pictures below because they make me happy.

Another reminder how quickly the years fly by.

Don't blink!

Beautiful day to you....

Three Cheers For Love And Kindness!

This Mama Lisa

Weekend Vibes

Enjoy some sunshine if you're lucky enough to do so.....

May peace and love be your weekend vibe.

Our one and only egg.  And mama and papa bird are gone....

This Mama Lisa