I am Blessed.

This weekend was one of the best weekends I have spent in a very long time. I laughed, I caught up and I realized how blessed I am to know the people I know and have the friends I have. Sunday's are about the spiritual side of me. Spiritual does not always equal just religion. It is also the recognition of what and who God has blessed you with. It is funny that my job this week and a home town celebration are what it takes to bring me to the reality of what I have.

Work was a bit stressful as those I care about were rocked this week. My co-workers and I come from different back grounds and different age groups. We have our different beliefs, ideas and ways of thinking about things but at the end of the day.....I like to think we have each others backs. This was tested this week as one of us went through a major struggle which affected us all. Luckily.....the worst did not happen, but damage was done and I am not sure it can ever be the way it was again. Still we faced the storm and survived and I do have a greater appreciation for those I work with and the job that I am blessed to have. This job and the people who I work with were strictly a God thing. He knew what He was doing when He put us all together and gave me what I needed to fill a void in my life both financially and emotionally.

Then there are those friends of mine. It is really funny over the years the people that I have acquired as friends. It is never more evident than at Old Settlers. We laugh and we talk and even though we all had a similar back ground at Mulvane High School....we each have different stories. Each year I learn so many new facts about people I "thought" I knew....and this year I even learned about a few things that happened at my house growing up that I never knew. I am thinking though....the statute of limitations has run out after 30 some years. It was so much fun though and it gives you a feeling of closeness knowing that no matter how far people go, they can still come home and Mulvane will always have a little piece of their heart.

Yes...God is good for even though He has given me trials in life, He has balanced it with a wonderful family, a good job and good co-workers and the best friends a person could ever have. And I would like to give a special shout out to Chris and Allen Landis who graciously extend their home and hospitality every year so that we all can get together and reminisce and have a wonderful time. I truly hope they know how much this means to all of us....and how much they mean to all of us for doing it. They are wonderful friends and I am lucky to know them. Thank you so much guys!

Here's hoping that your weekend was as wonderful as mine and that your Sunday is relaxing....restful and helps you get ready for the coming week.

Happy Old Settlers Everyone!

It is Old Settlers! I am having so much  fun and enjoying all that the event and spending time with friends has to offer. In light of that....I really am too happy to "rant" this week. So instead.....I have decided to leave you with one of my old and I am sure long forgotten blog pieces. However....I will be back again tomorrow. Here is Getting Old Ain't for Sissy's. I hope you enjoy it. Oh and .......Happy Old Settlers Everyone!

Motherhood for Dummies....The Do's and Don'ts

So about last night.........BEST NIGHT EVER!!!! Okay....maybe not ever, but it was so much fun. My wonderful friend Marni and friends Steve and Benny were in from out of town and old friends from school were everywhere not to mention the usual suspects who frequent Thursday night karaoke with me. Z as usual knocked out some really great songs and David even got to come watch his brother sing a few. After the kids were kicked out, it was time for adult conversation and fun. Perhaps remembering that I hadn't eaten since Wednesday night would have made having more than a few kernels of popcorn a priority. However.....it didn't and it wasn't, so today may not be very pretty. Sad thing is.....tonight will simply be a repeat and tomorrow you will see me in sunglasses with my head in my lap watching the Old Settlers Parade. I so hope I survive this weekend!

Today is Motherhood For Dummies day.  In light of the fact that I am feeling well....a little....well...you know,  I really didn't think an in depth conversation on the subject would work. So instead....I decided to give you some of my vast....if not completely correct knowledge on the do's and don'ts of motherhood.

First the Don'ts:

Don't wish your child's life away by trying to get them to do things too early. Independence comes all too quickly and before you know it......they are grown and gone.

Don't cuss in front of your children. That always comes back to bite you...usually in church at a family gathering or in front of your husbands boss.

Don't try to make your child fearless. Fear at times can be a good thing and sometimes help them  to make better choices.

Don't say anything to your young child that you don't want your priest, the Avon lady or the greeter  at Walmart to know.

Don't try to reason with a four year old. You will never win!

Don't ever call your child's teacher a negative name in earshot of your child.....unless of course you want a call from said teacher about said name!

Don't ever make light of your child's problems. While they may seem trivial to you....to them they can seem insurmountable.

Don't ever wash any of your child's clothing without first checking the pockets. Rocks will ruin a washer.

Don't ever say the words, "My child would never......." because that is the time you will find out that not only did your child do it, but they also got all their friends to do it too.

Don't feel bad when after you get them out the door on the first day of school after summer vacation......that you do the happy dance. Three months is a long time to be with your kids 24/7.

Don't worry when your kids no longer want to kiss you, hug you good bye or even be seen with you in public. It is just a phase and someday they will regret every missed opportunity they had.

And finally....Don't worry when you open your mouth and your parents words fall out. It simply means that you have come full circle and you are doing something right.

The Do's:

Do keep in mind that children are much better at following what they see than doing what they are told.  Lead by example.

Do get used to your child thinking that ketchup is a vegetable.

Do keep an extra set of clothes in your car at all times.

Do love your child enough to discipline them. If you don't....at some point in time, someone else will.

Do praise your child often and let them know when they do a good job.

Do dance with your child, sing with your child and laugh with your child....for you will be building memories they will never forget.

Do allow your children to learn to make their own decisions. If they don't do it under your supervision, then how will they ever be able to do it on their own?

Do treat others they way you want to see your children treat others.

Do set boundaries, but don't fence them in.

Do keep yourself open to all music options because you will find yourself humming the theme to Sesame Street on your way to work.

Do get used to Spongebob, Barney and Elmo....they will become like family to you.

And the final do.....Do kiss your children whenever possible, hug your children often and never let a day go by that they don't know just how much they are loved.

So there you have it. The Do's and Don'ts of motherhood....as I see it. Motherhood is the toughest job you can ever have. You have to be both tough and soft, loving and threatening, fun and feared. You have to laugh with them, cry with them and often times.....ground them into the next millenium. You  love them and worry about them and often all the thanks you get is an eye roll or a door slam. And still we do it and never give up on them and  never quit loving them. Guess that is what sets us mothers apart from the rest!

Here is hoping that this is the start of a wonderful weekend for all of you and what is left of a fantastic Friday!

Craving the Genghis

You know....today would be very easy to go with a list a mile lone of "dislikes"....as life has been full of them lately. Not so much for me (well some for me....but that is another story) but for several people around me. Let me just say right here and now.....DISLIKE! DISLIKE! DISLIKE! But even with all of that, I think I will go with a "like" today.

A couple of weeks ago, Z and I had a rare day out....just he and I. When we have days like that, one of our favorite things to do is try new restaurants, so we decided to go to Genghis Grill. I had been there one other time a year or so ago and liked it, so I wanted to see what Z's opinion was. He didn't just like it.....he loved it. Our outing that day was a success. I am not going to say that the reason was solely because of the food.....but it sure didn't hurt. And since that day....I have been craving Genghis Grill. I have been trying to think of a legit reason to go back. So far I have been unsuccessful. Yes....I need a reason to go out to eat as our budget requires more than just a "I am hungry for that kind of food" reason to go out. I need an occasion and so far I got nothin'!

Why do I like Genghis Grill so much? Well, first of all I love stir fry and I like all the veggies, chicken, beef and seafood that are offered on the GG bar. Second....I like the ambiance (very upbeat and lively) and finally I love the way you yourself put your meal together and then take it to the grill chefs to be cooked. If you are scratching your head and wondering what I am talking about, then you undoubtedly have not been to one of the new Asian type restaurants where everything is prepared on a grill right before your eyes. It takes buffet to a whole new level.

When you walk into GG you are seated and then asked if you have been there before. If you have then you already know how it works, if not....the waitress gives you a tutorial on how to proceed and takes your drink order. You are given a fairly large bowl and then directed to the buffet/raw food bar line. First you choose your meat. There is beef, chicken and various forms of seafood (including but not limited to calamari, shrimp and scallops). After you have added your meat to your bowl, you then move to the veggies. They have everything from mushrooms to green beans and bean sprouts to cabbage. You then move onto sauces. You have many to choose from and you can mix and match them as you add them to your bow. By this time your bow is about to overflow. You then proceed to the grill where you hand them your bowl and they give you a number and ask if you would like one of a variety of rices with you meal or noodles. You then go sit down with your number and your food is brought to you by the waitress when done. It usually only takes 5-10 minutes (depending on the number of people in front of you, but the grill is large enough that it can cook about 8-10 bowls at a time.) If you really want to be entertained...it is also fun to stand to the side and watch the grill chefs work their magic on your food combinations. They work very quickly and very methodically preparing your dish so that it is served to you.....literally fresh off the grill.

I have to say that honestly the sauces make the food. They have everything from a mild sweet chili sauce, to a hot Thai sauce. They have something that would please almost any taste bud. And for those who think they might not know what they want or know what foods might compliment other.....they have cards to help you out. They tell you how to make certain bowls and what sauces go together. It takes all of the fear and monetary stress of worrying that you will pay for something you can't actually eat out of the picture and gives you a pleasant and tasty eating experience.

For lunch time, it is not an expensive choice. Z and I both ate and had something to drink and it was under $20. Now I have never gone in the evening so I don't really know if they raise their prices for dinner, but as lunch goes....it was quite economical. So as I was saying....I am craving GG and like it or not, I am going to have to think of an occasion to go back. If you haven't tried it...I highly recommend it. If you have.....I would love to hear your opinions and comments.

Well...now you know just one more thing that Lisa likes. I am sure you are thrilled right down to your toes. Lisa also likes that she is off for the next two days....so all is good in Lisaland. Here is hoping that all is good in your neck of the woods. Happy Thursday everyone!

Ch..ch..ch...Changes!

As of late....I must really have changed because I have had several people tell me, I have known you forever, just to find out I don't know you at all. Of course that was paraphrased, but you get the gist. Apparently I am changing or metamorphosing into someone that people either don't recognize or maybe just didn't realize I have always been. I really don't know....maybe what is actually going on is that I am just now letting the world see different sides of me that up until now have been more on the down low.

One thing that I am still getting comments about is my tattoo. It appears that this one singular act of art has put several people over the edge where I am concerned. I think they are worried about what I am going to do next. One person told me....."It seems like you have just gone wild!" The funny thing is....I have always had a wild side. When I was a kid my mother did her best to keep it under wraps, but once I was legal....she might as well have been talking to a brick wall. For the most part....my wildness was pretty tame by most peoples standards....although occasionally I would come out of my shell and surprise people (sometimes even myself). In fact...you really have to have known me well to fully understand the rebellion and wildness that I have shown through certain acts in my life. Now though....I can only be so wild and I only want to be so provocative. I do like surprising people from time to time, but not unless there is something in it for me. I mean you can only pierce your ears so many times before it just starts to look......well.....awful and I wasn't about to pierce anything else, but a tattoo is always something I thought I might like. As I have gotten older...the desire to change and to do something that made a statement kept gnawing at me. Eventually....it just became such an overwhelming desire that I decided I had to do it. Thus was born Mr. Piglet on the side of my foot.

Now I know that many will laugh and even scoff at the fact that my first tattoo was a pig. However, anyone who knows me well.....knows that a pig was the perfect choice for me as a first tattoo. It made a statement, had meaning for me and was something close to my heart. It is actually all the things a first tattoo should be....and more. And of course....I am not through. There will be others and I am sure with the reaction from the first one, the next one I get will probably end up putting someone in the ICU over the sheer shock of me getting not one....but two tattoo's. I just have to laugh. As mid life rebellions go.....mine are pretty boring and yet some find me just one step above a Jezebel. Oh well!

The whole thinking about dating thing has also got some people riled. I guess I was suppose to grow old and never think about romance or anything else along that line again. I was in fact told the other day by someone I know quite well, that I just needed to not even be thinking about that kind of foolishness (meaning dating) as I was way to old to do that. I was dumbstruck and found myself somewhere between wanting to laugh out loud.......and wanting to punch the person in the face. I did the former and was greeted with a stone like stare....with this person not seeing anything wrong in what they had said. I should have gone with the punch in the face. Others have had similar if not such volatile reactions to my thinking about dating. It is almost as if I had told them I was going to set my hair on fire and run naked through the streets. Apparently me dating someone is not deemed a good change in some circles. I guess there are those that would prefer to see me grow old with a bunch of cats rather than with a man.  And at this point...they have little to worry about because aside from thinking about dating....that is pretty much as far as it has gone. Again though.....I guess another change that people just didn't see coming.

Other things that seem to give people pause about my life....I grew my hair long and have colored it every color under the sun.....unbelievable! I not only paint my fingers and toes.....but I put designs on them too.....shocking! I painted my room bright pink....scandalous! I wear huge earrings.....outrageous! And are you ready for this.....I bought a push up bra and wear it on a regular basis! I am sure someone somewhere just fainted. So I guess this is why people think I have changed. The reality is that I am still me and the stuff that is deep inside me will never change. My kids, my family and my friends.....they will always hold my heart, but sometimes.......you just gotta shake things up a bit. And yes....for those of you wondering.....one day I will likely be one of those ladies in the purple dress with the red hat. You will however be able to tell me apart from the rest, because I will be the one wearing a push up bra, huge earrings and sporting a tattoo of a little pink pig.

By now you are probably thinking you know a little too much information about me. That's okay though, cause today is all about me....and the story of my life. Hope your day is a good one and I wish each and everyone of you.....a perfectly wonderful Wednesday!

Dating 101 or How to Find a Man in Lisaland.....The Second Time Around

In the last week in Lisaland and those in Lisaland adjacent, I have been witness to several bad/sad breakups. I saw a couple with  over 20 years under their belt.....fall apart and disintegrate right before my eyes. I saw two young couples... one with less than a decade together and another under the five year mark also go down in flames and I saw a couple in its infancy turn sour before they even had a chance to grow. I also watched several couples walk the relationship tight rope and honestly....the verdict is still out on whether they will survive or not. Relationships...at the best of times can be challenging, but when one or both are not pulling in the same direction, they can be down right brutal.

In my past, I have had several relationships. Some seemed to have potential, but went south for no obvious reason. Others were destined to fail from the first "hello!" It wasn't until I met my husband that I found a relationship where we were both on the same page. Even with that though....there were hurdles and obstacles and life situations that didn't make us always see eye to eye or make the relationship easy. Sometimes life just worked and other times we had to fight to keep what we had, but always we saw each other and our life together as worth it. We learned the fine art of compromise and found out like all long term couples do, that no relationship is ever 50/50 and that the only ones who think they are....are people who have never actually been in a relationship.

When I married my husband, even though life was not always smooth sailing, I remember feeling very lucky every day of my life. The reasons were many, but the important ones were that I had finally found someone who accepted me as I was....warts and all and I loved and accepted him just as he was. One of the other reasons was that I was so relieved and thankful that my "relationship" days were over. I had moved onto the "real" stuff and I was never going back. Remember what they say about never saying "never?" So here I sit....wondering if I am ready to put myself back out there into a world of maybe's, no ways, and near misses. And I can't help but wonder if relationships aren't for someone who is a whole lot younger, has a whole lot more estrogen and a whole lot less attitude about everything?!

Thinking about putting myself back out into the dating/relationship world is quite scary to me....especially at this stage of my life and after being on my own for so long. I worry what the men in my age group are like now. Whose out there? Am I looking at men who are multiple times divorced and looking for their next conquest/wife, or men that have never been married and are finally deciding that hitting the half century mark is a good time to get hitched? And what about those men who like myself, have suffered the loss of their spouse and are broken in ways that they never dreamed possible. Can two broken people ever make a whole relationship? Also...what about romance? Are the guys out there at this stage of life beyond romance and just into growing old with someone or is there someone out there that still feels young at heart....if not particularly in body? Would you laugh if I told you that I still want butterflies? Is there an expiration date on butterflies? At this point I have no idea.

I don't think I have given up on love nor given up hope that someone can love me. After all....I do believe in miracles. What would be truly wonderful though..... is to feel flushed because someone touched my hand......or feel that fluttery butterfly feeling in the pit of my stomach all the way to my chest because his lips touched mine. I know....I am a grown woman, way past the age of blushing and butterflies, but in my heart I still long for my prince charming and all that that implies. So yes...I still wish on stars and sometimes when the moon is full and beautiful, I wonder if there is someone out there for me? I wonder if he is watching the same moon I am......wishing on the same stars and hoping that love might be possible for him too, the second time around?!

So now that you have seen the sappier side of me, I guess there is nothing left to do....but wish you a very wonderful Tuesday!

Lovin' The Crock Pot Day

And so a new school year begins. I would ask.....where did the summer go, but I actually know where it went. It went to work, and MO, and the pool, and Thursday nights at RD's watching Z sing. It went to really hot days, and new jobs, and new friends, and some actually really fun times. This summer I just can't complain. For once in a really long time....it was a summer. And although they say the temperatures are going to head right back up after our little cool off, it just seems more like fall now that school is about to get underway.

David is ready to head back and for the first time maybe ever....I don't think he lost much over the summer. Thanks to his para Niki and his daycare provider Lindsay....they kept him on his toes, kept him in line with all of his therapies and made sure that there was no lapse in his learning. David too had a pretty great summer and I think he will really like getting back into the swing of a daily routine.

Z is more than ready too and since he started working....his life already has routine.   Hopefully he will find that what was negative last year has been changed to a positive and hopefully his sophomore year will be his best one so far. Yep....there is change in the air.

So with school starting and busy evenings of carting kids back and forth to sporting events, church events and other extra curriculars, sometimes having time to make a home cooked meal is easier said than done. That is why I LOVE (and I can't say LOVE enough) my crock pot. With your crock pot you can throw everything in of a morning and by the time everyone gets home....dinner is waiting to be served.

My favorite crock pot meal is Dr. Pepper Roast. Someone told me about this years ago and I was really skeptical. They swore up and down if I tried it, that I would never fix a roast any other way. Much to my surprise...they were right. The trick to this is that the Dr. Pepper breaks down the meat so it is not tough. You can use just about any type of roast in this recipe and they all turn out juicy, tender and delicious. So here is Dr. Pepper Roast:

5-6 quart crock pot
Any kind of roast big enough to feed your family
1 pkg. Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 reg. size can of mushroom soup
1 12 oz can Dr. Pepper or Diet Dr. Pepper
Potatoes (chunked) optional
Carrots (chunked) optional
Celery (chunked) optional

Place the roast in the crock pot. Sprinkle the top with the onion soup mix. Take mushroom soup and put in a bowl and whisk to break it up a bit. Pour over the top of the roast and onion soup. Add potatoes, carrots and celery if desired.  Then take the Dr. Pepper and pour over the entire roast. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours and then low for 2 hours or if you are gone all day....just cook on low for 6-8 hours. When you come home your house will smell wonderful and you will have a tasty roast. There are usually leftovers at my house and I use them for sandwiches, veggie beef soup, or roast beef hash the next day. I really love this roast, but other than the person who gave me the recipe and my kids...I have never gotten any other feedback on it. If you try it...please let me know what you think. I would love to hear from you.

Recipe two today is my own brand of chili. Now this chili would not win any chili contests because it is not overly spicy. It does however have a lot of flavor and is something my kids start craving right about this time of year. The recipe comes from a mixture of three different recipes that I have come across over the years and has some unique ingredients such as mushrooms and refried bean. It is a thick chili that fills you up and is even better the second day. Here is Lisa's Chili:

5-6 quart crock pot
2 lbs ground beef (can also use 2 lbs. ground turkey or 1 lb turkey/1 lb ground beef) Have even used 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb bulk sausage.
1 reg. size can refried beans
1 can chili beans (undrained)
1 can ranch style beans (undrained) (I like the onion flavored ones)
1 med. size onion (diced)
1 can. diced tomatoes (undrained)(if you like more tomato...use the big cans)
1 pkg. Williams chili seasoning
1 med. can/jar mushrooms (undrained)
1 tbsp. red pepper
1 tsp. crushed garlic
1 small can tomato paste
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar

In a skillet cook onion until tender and meat until brown. Add garlic and mix. Transfer into crock pot. Add all remaining indgredients and mix thoroughly. Turn crock pot on low and let cook. It will be ready after about 4 hours but can be left to cook 6-8. If you like a spicier chili...you can add jalepenos, cayenne pepper, or other spices of your choice. Once done you can serve with sour cream, cheese, green onions or just by itself. If you have any leftovers....the second day makes for great chili dogs or nachos.

So there you have this weeks recipes. Hope this helps you with the new school year rush and those up and coming cooler temperatures. Okay...maybe that is wishful thinking now....but they will eventually get here. I just know it!!!

Here is hoping that your Monday is a new beginning instead of the normal pain in the tookus. Happy Monday and happy eating!