You Ready?

  

Ready to close out this year?

Did you accomplish all you planned for?

Did your heart heal any more?

Did you learn from the evil that lurks?

Did you eat good food and have a roof over your head?

Did you hug your sweet babies with pure gratitude?

Did you bawl your eyes out one minute and laugh til you almost peed the next?  (I did)

Did you share love with those in need?

Whatever your year was made of, I hope you remember how lucky we are to have what we have.

Health, love, and good friends are what make my world a better place.

May you all be covered in His Grace.  May you see beauty where others may not. 

May you forgive those that hurt you and continue on their paths. 

Just try to love.  

And live.  

Happy New Year!

Bring it on 2020!

My Best, My Love, and MY Peace to you-  Be good, and be kind. 

This Mama Lisa

And I leave you with one last Christmas song for the year....

How Great Thou Art....

Chase peace you guys....and hand out compliments like it's your job.

Spread love.

And chop a mothasucka if you need to.  LOL

Truth.

Happy Saturday!  Hope you're getting your cleanin' on! 

I can't wait to purge the surge....

New Year, new chances!

This Mama Lisa

Pump Those Brakes.

Well, you made it!

The work behind the scenes. The planned meals.  The wrap done the way you like it.  Or maybe not. 

The breakfast the kids look forward to. Or maybe not.

The dinner prep to keep traditions alive- Or maybe not. 

The hugs and laughter. We hope.

Most of all, walking the path with those that keep your path clear.  And if not clear, a hand to hold to guide you down the messy lanes.

Or maybe not.

The holidays.

The pressures.

The happy.

The sad.

The lonely.

The bitter.

I hope the transition into the New Year brings you much peace. And a rested body.

It's easy to type those words out, and even easier to proclaim in passing to those we greet.

PEACE to you, and you and you and you....

But do we practice ourselves?

My wish for myself is to find peace. 

To heal my soul.

To strengthen my body physically.

I, more than anything just want peace.

I want to live the second part of my book thinking about the goodness' in this life.

The simple things I've overlooked.  

Remembering I am far from perfect.

Motherhood. Partnership. Sisterhood.

Trying to find the balance, just like all of you.

Pumping my brakes more than ever.

To just be alive.

Praying for peace, and good health, most especially I pray for my babies...

XO

This Mama Lisa

My Bookends.

The Ultimate Touchstone of Friendship

”But no matter the medicinal virtues of being a true friend or sustaining a long close relationship with another, the ultimate touchstone of friendship is not improvement, neither of the self nor of the other, the ultimate touchstone is witness, the privilege of having been seen by someone and the equal privilege of being granted the sight of the essence of another, to have walked with them and to have believed in them, and sometimes just to have accompanied them for however brief a span, on a journey impossible to accomplish alone.”

— David Whyte

And so you lean in to your bookends.

You love on your friends and fellow mama's during the busy season.  During the season of change. During the season of hustle. 

You count your blessings for the goodness in having best friends.

 You LOVE, and you LOVE HARD.

And the very best of all....

The most favorite hug and arms in my world....

HARDEST working man I know, and the most brilliant with talent, love and dedication...

Happy Wishes to you all....May you glide in and out of store like magic! HA!  

Drive safe, and remember to look both ways before blasting through a stop light...

Lots of holiday parties and folks out drinking. Rookies and knuckleheads-

HAHAHAHA!!!  Help me I'm tired....LOL!

Love,

This Mama Lisa

The Truth.

Tis' the season for all my emotions.

Happens to me every single year.

Overwhelmed with pleasing everyone.

Overwhelmed with grief.

Overwhelmed with wonder.

Overwhelmed with worry.

Never taking the real moments I preach about to heart. 

Not stopping to stare at Christmas lights with a full heart.

A rushed heart.

A tattered feeling.

Something I've fought off for many years. Not just the last 4.  

I've battled seasonal sadness for as long as I remember.

Maybe it's the cold.

Maybe it's the changes.

Maybe it's the fears. 

Good gawd, I can't wait for the sunshine behind the clouds.

Wishing for PEACE.  For LOVE. And for healed hearts full of forgiveness. 

My aunt Susie told me last weekend as she hugged me some important words.  

Let the small shit go, and move in. Not MOVE ON, but to move in. Move closer to those you love and that love you.

This life is too fast.  We aren't guaranteed tomorrow, and most certainly aren't guaranteed next year and the year after that-

We've got to pull it together.

One shot.

  

My best,

This Mama Lisa

The Truth

The First Call.

We had a fun weekend surrounded by friends, family and lots of laughter.  

Those moments I soak up because both my birdies were present and able.  

Any time I see Kris around crowds, and or cold weather conditions my radar of sickness comes into play.  It's almost a sick joke I put myself through.  I quietly hover.  I stuff antibacterial wipes into his pocket.  I remind him to keep his hands away from his face, eyes, nose etc.  *Fist bumps are the latest trend up in herrrrrr

Monday morning was gonna be a full one.  With a meeting with him at noon in Downtown LB, reviewing some important things he's taking care of.  . 

I received a text at 6:45am Monday. "Mom, I think I have strep, I can hardly swallow"-

The mama warrior immediately calls to go down check list.  Fever? Chills?  When did it start?

Calls to make appointments, and soon I'd be hauling ass down the 605 Fwy to scoop him up for urgent care.

I'll never put down my warrior bag. And if you wonder if I still shit my pants with each of those calls and texts? 

The answer is yes. 

Especially when he's trying so hard to just live normal. 

Same with me.

Trying to live this fast life for what it is.

Let worry go.

Rely on prayer. 

And Faith. 

Sometimes those don't coincide. 

But he moves on.  And ALWAYS with a kind smile to those serving him. 

Loved the doctor at Urgent Care.  Wanna know why?  Because she listened to me.  She took my momcologist advice for meds to increase.  She heard me out about how one med conflicts with his anti-nausea with possible heart issues.   She took her time with him.  With me.  With us.  She dealt out compassion to me.  She swabbed his throat, ordered 5 new meds and back out the door we'd go. 

This week I've been on feeding, cleaning and lots of praying mode.  

Slicing through bullshit, emails, and those little things that don't matter.

Holding tight to my lover.  Smiling across the kitchen table with a crooked smile even though I want to cry.

Wait a minute, I have cried. 

Lots. 

This life.

One moment you can walk the line of fun, while the next can be tending to those you love.

Kris, we've got this.

Just keep your hands away from your face.  And listen up kids....IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY IN. Remember the people out there with no immune system that can't kick those germies to the side.

Hope you're jamming away during this holiday season.  

Don't take your health for granted.  Take a moment to stare at yourself in the mirror and readjust your energy of what you don't have and be grateful for what you DO have. 

Health is number one. 

My babies are forever NUMBER ONE.

Even if the first call on a early Monday morning was to jump back in the ring--

This Mama Lisa

The Nursing Crew

Childhood Flavors

When we were little our mom would make these fellers...

I have plans to do the same...

So DELISH!

Here's the recipe- Not my moms, but worth a shot!  I'll add nuts to mine-

Chocolate Haystacks

Happy Saturday to you!

This Mama Lisa

Friday Flash Backs

 I love you more than I can jot down into words....

And you too...

 Wishing you all a peaceful weekend.  

This Mama Lisa

Don't Blink.

And the pages keep turning, and turning.

Cleaning my photo files, and stumbling across these.  If someone would have told me just how fast the pages would turn, maybe I'd slow and cherish them in front of me. 

I was workin', raising, hustlin', volunteering... and being the best mama I could be.  I feel as though the moments slipped by way too fast-

Don't Blink

Love,

Mama

Truth.

The time of year where the social media blender is whipping up perfection in pictures.  Pictures of trees lined with mounds of gifts.  Holiday decor floating around the decks and halls of homes.  

We've always hoped the tree in our home eventually fills up to make the little's excited. Just like the rest of you, it's in our culture to offer the best-of-the-best....

I'm guilty of fulfilling the wishes of our birdies.  Scrolling down their little hand written lists for certain clothes or toys. (Never was a big toy purchaser, but give them all the books) 

Stashing my Santa wrapped gifts until Christmas Eve.  Watching their faces light up the moment we all made our way to the living room Christmas morning. 

And then you think of the latter.

You think of the kids that have nothing. 

And if they do have "Something", is it valued just as much as what the over-does-it mom posted on Instagram or Facebook last night? 

I've come to realize that being a little more compassionate and aware of what we post before we post just might soothe those that aren't as fortunate.  Sure you have the knuckleheads that planned wrong or spent incorrectly, or battle addictions that pull from a purpose.  But the kids, teens and young adults are the ones that suffer.

I always think of those hardworking single parents that are simply making ends meet to soon compete with Mrs. Instagram mom boasting all she'd accomplished during the month of November!

Voila! Magic, she's so perfect!

If there was one thing my parents offered as kids was the simplicity of tradition. The tangerine dropped down first into our stockings.  

The stockings filled with SHELLED nuts HA!.(IMAGINE THAT YOU GUYS WE HAD TO USE A HAND HELD NUT CRACKER! CRAZY HUH!! lol)  One time our stockings were raided by ants causing lots of tears.  I can remember the board games "Santa" brought that would be played by our family of four that afternoon.  I remember the ham dinner my mom would whip up. Or how my dad one year bought us an incubator and had chicken eggs just about ready to hatch.  You guys.....swoooon. 

What some of us don't realize is there might be another human out there trying to make their ends meet, while struggling to maximize what our social status says we should be doing.  Is it enough?  When the single mom/dad who is trying to provide the weekly meals, yet magically is expected to drop presents under the tree. Or that young teen that really just wants to live more "magically" and yet wasn't born into a home that offers "magic"?  

Something to think about. 

That's all. 

Sure we want to see your tree.  But do we really need to hear about ALL THE GIFTS YOUR KIDS ARE GETTING?   lol

Probably not. 

How about donate your time or energy in helping a troubled teen get through these holidays....

Some of these troubled teens actually live in houses that produce money, but have quacked out parents.

Your compassion might just help them grow!

Don't get me started on the lonely folks without anyone during the holidays-

We see you, and yes we need to be more compassionate. 

K bye 

Compassion.

Love.

Kindness.

With Love Always, the not so perfect mom that usually fails especially during the holidays-

And thoughts that cross my mind while scrolling through some accounts...

This Mama Lisa

PS- I WILL get Kris his Honeybaked Ham this year.  THAT is something that boy has been craving-

How Ya Hangin?

Hey kids...how's this fine Tuesday treatin' ya?  Plans for Taco's?  No? Tito's?

Better yet, how's the full moon treating you?

As for me and my freezing cold body, I'm actually pretty good. Still baffled each morning on what to wear.  If I had it my way, I'd waltz out the door in my coziest pj's and slippers, but....#ghettovibes

I've teared up a couple times the last couple days, simply because of the changing chapters and pages. 

I still dwell too much on illness, life and heartbreak.

Music moves me- 

I hope you're all doing good.  Hang tough, and if you're having a bad day, or a bad month get up and get showered.  Head outside for some sunshine if you can.  

With love, and lots of peace to you and yours-

This Mama Lisa 

Get After It.

Let's do this---Hope your weekend was a good one...

This Mama Lisa

Ha!

Happy Saturday!  

This Mama Lisa

Slide Into The Weekend Like.

Remember when I tried to Marie Kondo my drawers?

Yea, they're all bunched up and jacked up again.

Maybe plans to pull out the summer shorts and clothes would be a good idea. 

After all, every day this week I've stood staring into my closet like WTF do I wear...

Feeling like a snow man each morning loading into my car. 

Enjoy the weekend.  Get freaky, or get sleepy-- YOU decide!

Love,

Lisa Lynn

HAHAHAHAHA!

Kay, bye...

Lean In.

The seasonal gloom takes over.

The stress of assuring everyone is happy.

The fear of loss.

The fear of disease.

The chapters closing, while another opens.

The smiles from those you love.

The tears you'll wipe for those you nurture.

The laughter from a good wine filled belly.

The nights we lay awake wondering why things fall apart.

The nights we lay awake with gratitude for this life filled with the good people.

The hugs we give and take from those we love.

The cozy feeling of a bed or couch while it's so cold outside.

It's turning the page for a new year.  New beginnings. 

New chances and new people.

New ideas and new pages to write.

There's hope that everyone will stay healthy.

Next year maybe we'll have peace.  More peace from the chaos that fills our souls.

The waves will crash and the waves will subside.

The tide will come in and the tide will go out.

A New Year, a new chance.

Two Thousand Twenty.  I hope you give me Mercy.

I hope my babies stay healthy and safe.

That will always be my biggest wish.


This life is so fast.

Look at the mundane things around you with gratitude. 

It's those small things and small moments that mean the most.

Trust me. 

Or trust God.  Lean in that way.

I know I do.

LEAN. IN.

Feeling sad and blue?  Get up and move- Get up and get going.  
Take a shower, freshen up and get moving....go look for sunshine.  Or a dive bar.  KIDDING.
kinda. jk. 

And the best of all?  PRAY!

Love,

This Mama Lisa

Pile Of Good Things

“So, what if, instead of thinking about solving your whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
— Rainbow Rowell

Everybody Say Heyy-Yoooo

Whenever I lose my grip on le'blog and writing becomes a burden, I remind myself....

You have time girl, just get through your foggy tasks in front of you, and jot down life later.

That's where I'm at. 

Woke to rain in the middle of the night, and all I kept thinking was the glory for all those worried about fires. 

ya ya ya I get the whole mudslide sitch, but man, fires are just awful!

Sit back and look for the rainbows kids!

Drive safe, and make some soup!

And tell your babies just how awesome they are!

This Mama Lisa 

I do have a joke for you though--

What concert costs 45 cents?

Fifty Cent featuring Nickleback.  HAHAHAHA!

Words To The Wise.

"Don't buy things you can't afford, with money you don't have, to impress people you don't like"

This Mama Lisa