Through Jens Lens

Issues

2010-06-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've got issues...oh, you already knew that?!?! Is that because everything I feel comes out of my mouth...see just one of my "issues".....

I would rather sit and read other people's blogs for hours rather than clean my house

I would rather eat chocolate frosting than chicken and veggies for dinner

I would rather sit on the couch and read than feed my family

I would rather play Fantasy Football than sew or crochet

I would rather relax by the pool with a People Magazine than study history or something else intelligent

I would rather take pictures of people or things all day than get a real job

I would rather sit on the beach all day with this view than run errands

I want to be a good wife and mother with a spotless house and place beautiful healthy meals on the table and never raise my voice...BUT....this is just not reality for me!!! God bless my poor family......

My oh my, how life changes

2010-05-20T15:58:00.001-07:00

I have not been on my blog since the beginning of school year and now we are about to be at the end!! It is amazing how working full-time can suck the life out of you. But, I now am a broke-at-home Mom...I mean stay-at-home-Mom so I have to have my outlets or I go crazy...hence my attempt at getting back to blogging. I always feel better if I blog rather than sit and read other people's blogs for hours at a time until I am cross-eyed and Sophia is pretending she has a broken leg just to get my attention. I want to write a novel, but the pregnancy has left me with only two brain cells in which to work with, so that will just have to wait.

So, hopefully the three of you out there that read my blog, including you Mom, will appreciate that I have returned. Here is how I look now.....no, that is not one too many slices of cheesecake!

Back to School...in the desert!

2009-08-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, it is that time of year...back to school. For most of you this means, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, buying cute sweaters to stay warm, looking forward to the turning of the leaves and then soon after your first snow......

For us, it means hoping your crayons don't melt on the way to school, frozen water bottles so you don't get heatstroke at recess, that is if you can even play outside due to a possible heat advisory, wishing you could wear your bathing suit to school so you could plop yourself in the water fountain, and wishing the entree for the school lunch was a popsicle.....it is that time of year again.......back to school in the desert!!

The men in my life are good Dads

2009-06-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

All of the men in my life really are great fathers. My Grandpa, my Dad and Michael have all provided for, cared for, loved, and supported their children and grandchildren. I have wonderful memories with these men and they have helped form me into the person that I am. Fishing with Popo, running with my Dad and raising beautiful children with Michael. Obviously, I could name hundreds of other memories with these men (good and bad), but the common thread is that they have always been there for me, they are present, creating a security I could have never known without them. Thank you God, the number one man in my life, for providing me with so much fabulous testosterone!!

Since you've been gone.......

2009-06-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

I have been gone a long time from the blogs...missing them very much!! Since I have a few months of my job under my belt I am hoping to get back to some of the things I really enjoy. So....here is an attempt to bring back the blogging baby!! Now if I can just get past this writer's block.........

What does this tell ya!

2009-03-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

Last Monday Sophie and I cleaned and organized her room, because it was atrocious!

When I put her to bed she was pretty quiet so I thought, "I am going to get to watch the Bachelor in peace". Sophie is known for taking a good 1-2 hours to fall asleep with numerous requests for drinks, food, medication...as well as walking downstairs with night light and blanket in hand claiming she is sleepwalking, or she almost heard a dog bark. So, last night after about 40 minutes into the process she calls me up and I am like Sophie, "what is wrong, I thought you were asleep". So, she tells me the usual "I'm scared". And I say, "Scared of what?" and she says, "well,my room is so clean it is scaring me!!"

Bad Mom.....

Why?

2009-03-06T09:40:00.001-08:00

It is easy to look to God and ask, "Why is there so much poverty in the world? Why is there so much hurt, so much inequality and unfairness, so much destitution?" I bet He would ask us the same thing.
-Katie-kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com

I loved her first book

2009-03-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

I loved this book, it was one of my all time favorites

so, I can't wait to read her new one......

I will let you know what I think!

I just can't help myself

2009-02-27T10:20:00.000-08:00

There are things in my life that I enjoy and love to pass onto others: names of good books, movies I loved, great running songs, and my most important obsession, fabulous blogs and websites!! The Pioneer Woman has held the esteemed position of my favorite to pass onto others, especially women....she is funny and we can relate to her in some crazy fashion, although I often find myself saying, "Is this woman on crack, how does one have so much energy in a day". To this, Michael says, "it's called a staff Jen"....which of course shatters my entire self deprecating act of wondering why I can't be as great as her?!

Anyway.....I have found a blog (and I am late on this bandwagon let me tell you) that makes me happy...just gives me a smile and a good laugh. I have been holding off on putting it in my links section due to, well lets just say, some controversial Mormon opinions....but, if I could pull this woman out of her living room (not her kitchen because she only knows four recipes) and put her in mine to hang out with her for a day I would. So, those of you not already aware of dooce.com (pronounced like duece)...here is the link on my sidebar....enjoy!!

I have more than enough!

2009-02-24T13:08:00.001-08:00

Okay, I have been busy and lets just say a tad bit overwhelmed which essentially causes me not to blog or photograph, or write....or do much of anything except sulk. So, this morning I have the ultimate "woe is me moment" and actually cry so hard I think I might puke (sometimes a girl just needs a good cry right)...well, wrong...I continued to walk around the house cranky and ineffective. So, I made myself some comfort food (homemade mac and cheese-full of fat and calories...yum) and sat down to read kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com for a reality check. AND, that is exactly what I got. This young girl is such an amazing, mature, God loving and fearing woman and she just takes my breath away...literally, because I cry when I read her blog.

I am always amazed that when I am needing some insight, God always has the ability to get me the information I need exactly when I need it. And it took the Sunday entry on this blog to snap me right out of my self centered mode. I wish I could articulate and provide insight and scriptures that would describe to you what she was teaching, but I just can't. I just know that I really needed to hear her message on appreciating what you have because it is probably more than enough. If you want to read about this spectacular woman and all that she accomplishes on a daily basis through God you will just have to go her blog and read it. No matter how busy you are, or what other tasks you can distract yourself with, or how intimidating her long prose is IT IS WORTH IT....trust me.....read her blog.

Just to make it super easy here is the direct link (you can also get to her blog through the Amazima site I have marked on my sidebar):

http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Have a great day everybody and remember....chances are if you are reading this blog you probably have MORE than enough.

Pour me a big glass of "whine"

2009-02-04T09:35:00.000-08:00

Why is my daily life like this.....

and not like this?

Why is my daily view this.....

and not this??

Our Entrepreneur

2009-02-03T09:56:00.000-08:00

First of all, I had to use an online dictionary and still had trouble spelling the title of this blog entry without looking at the correct spelling three times before I got it right!!

A couple of weekends ago we were outside working on a step for our balcony (okay, Michael was working and I was sipping a diet coke and spying on my neighbors). Anyway......Sophie was enjoying being outside riding her bike and her scooter, kicking her soccer ball, basically being entertained without my assistance, bliss! So, I sneak inside and get on the computer...no, I was not on facebook, well maybe for a few minutes I was. I heard Sophie come in and out a couple of times, but did not really pay attention to what she was doing, don't worry, she is 6 and she is a girl so rarely is she "up to something" bad. Then a few minutes later Michael comes in and says you have to see this, so I grudgingly go back outside. But, the interruption was worth it-she had set up a table with a sign and was actually selling her stickers to the neighbors, there were two cars parked out front and people were giving her money, she even made a tip!!!!It was so cute and I could not help but feel proud of her (and thankful our neighbors were kind enough to stop and buy tiny penguin stickers).

I had to go back inside after taking pictures because this is totally out of my comfort zone....I want to sanitize the money she is being given, I want to protect her from the rejection of the sales process, but Michael just waved me away.....Sophie is constantly coming up with these ideas to sell things to make money and she often creates decorated boxes and fills them with items and wants me to ship them to Mexico and Africa for the kids that don't have anything. I love it because she really challenges me....in a good way!

Sophie as a target audience

2009-01-30T16:34:00.000-08:00

My lovely, smart, tv watching daughter is the perfect audience for infomercials. She gets so excited with these products, pausing the television and making Michael or I watch them as she demands the products by the end of the day or for her birthday. If she had a credit card.....watch out!! For her Birthday all she wants are these:

(benderoos, snuggie-blanket with arms, hangers you can bend)

and this for Dad because he is good at fixing things:

She actually obsesses over these items daily, she got that characteristic from Michael by the way.

He really is 16, thoughts on Tiler

2009-01-30T09:45:00.001-08:00

Tiler turned 16 this week. It is one of those things that seems like it took forever, but yet went by so fast?!? Here are some recent pictures of him playing soccer and some thoughts on Tiler. Although, he is the teenager I have been complaining about, there are plenty of great things about him.

he is very laid back and in a family of intensity this is often a breath of fresh air

he is a morning person and I have never once had a hard time waking him or getting him off to school, in fact since about second grade he has gotten himself off to school on time without any help

he loves to be on the go and have fun and he has a ton of energy-enough for several people

he is athletic, no matter what sport he played we were never the parents in the stands going "that's not my kid" (unless he was throwing a fit)

he loves his sister and can be very sweet with her, he doesn't do anything to antagonize her (she on the other hand gives him a run for his money!)

he is very smart and through the years have not had to fight with him about homework (unless it was a project he forgot about until the last minute-this still happens) and he has always been on honor roll

to this day he will hug us goodnight, thank us for coming to his games and treat his Grandma with love and respect

he is just downright cute with beautiful blue eyes

Happy Birthday Tiler!! Driver's license here you come.......

Barbie and Ken

2009-01-29T14:57:00.001-08:00

Another day in the life of Sophie's Barbies. Here is how I found them after her bath the other night.

Then I noticed that their clothes are off (see they are by Ken's head as if he ripped them off himself) and so I took a peek under there and sure enough they are naked! This post really needs no more words other than I DO NOT let her watch the playboy channel!

Thoughts on turning 40

2009-01-26T11:30:00.000-08:00

Here are some things I feel have come with turning 40:

contentment
peace
knowledge
comfortable in my own skin (even if that skin on the back of my arms flaps around when I wave)
spirituality, a wonderful relationship with God
maturity (don't laugh, I am more mature now!!)
love for all others (even you Lance)
quality friendships
ability to laugh at myself
loving, forgiving relationships with women instead of competing with them or comparing myself to them
knowing what unconditional love feels like (my children have given me this gift)
a totally sick sense of humor that I just can't get rid of
and of course wrinkles, bad eyesight, and random unwanted hair growth

turning 40 wasn't so bad after all!

My marathon experience

2009-01-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

Most of you have probably read about the marathon on my facebook page, but I thought I would write a little more detail here. Something strange has happened though. Since the marathon I have been so tired I can't even put words together and have not had an ounce of energy to write or get anything done. I even left Sophie at school without lunch one day this week....I know this is very scary, because that is just not like me. I had no idea I would be this tired, sore, and just plain "out of it" the week following the marathon. The big question is....would I do another marathon...my answer is yes, but would I train for another one....ummm...not so sure.

The marathon experience was great, from the expo, the anticipation, running in such a big group of people and experiencing the run along with them as if you knew them as more than strangers, the outhouses (well not so much those-I was the only runner that took antibacterial wipes into the porta potty before the race).

The last three miles were excruciating and had I not been a runner when I was younger I am not sure I would have been able to keep running through the pain, I was barely able to manage the stairs in my house this week, I was nauseous for two days, I just popped a blister under my toenail that spurted across the room (may lose that nail), BUT it really was worth it. I was finally able to work hard toward a goal that I completed and since becoming a Mom this was the first thing that really was all about ME!! Thanks to everyone that supported me through this journey especially my pit crew handing me Gu, water bottles, shoe inserts, Ibuprofen and running beside me. And, of course, to my running partner who truly was responsible for getting me out the door-Lyric!! Dad....now what are you going to say since you can't say "you better run a marathon before I die"??

Why run a marathon

2009-01-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

-my Dad has always wanted me to (and he won't get off my back until I do)

-I can eat whatever I want during training (like the two whole cream cheese poundcakes my Mom made during the holidays that I hid in the back of fridge so my family wouldn't find them and ate them entirely by myself)

-when I turn 40 this month I will hopefully know that I can at least run far even if the rest of my body is falling apart and I have to hold things way out in front of me to read them

-Michael ran one and I can't let him hold that over my head (noooo, I'm not competitive)

-I have a great excuse to get out of my house away from my kids and listen to my IPOD for hours at a time (this is my favorite reason)

-I get to buy cute new running clothes without guilt because I am actually running in them

-I get to show up ay Sophie's school in the morning in sweats and a hat with the excuse that it is a running day (even when it's not)

-it's is the only way to spend time with Lyric because she has like a thousand friends

and just because I wanted to see if I could.......

I am a Martha and a Mary

2009-01-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

This is my photo for the day....

I started writing things down in this book that come into my mind, mostly weird things, because thoughts go in and out so fast I can't remember them hours later and it drives me crazy!! I also am a list maker because I am an "organized ditz", so without lists I am a mess and drive my other personality, the anal retentive one, absolutely nutty. I was writing my ideas down on Costco receipts and junk mail that I leave in my car and then couldn't find them because loving husband sometimes just has enough of the mess in my car and throws everything away! Enter- cute book, excuse to spend money. And, as you can see I always like to have a cute colorful pen (in pink or purple) to write with. I will avoid all other writing utensils in the house and race around to find one of MY pens just to sign the pizza delivery receipt. Weird, quirky, can't believe I am even admitting it to you. Anyway......

One week in a previous Beth Moore (my idol) Bible study, oh, we are not supposed to have idols...I think I learned that in one of her lessons?!? She is my savior...oh no, that's not good either.....anyway I like her a lot! Anyway....we were supposed to get in a line and the Martha's were supposed to stand on one side and the Mary's on another (if this is not making sense to you , you MAY want to pick up your Bible once in awhile, I mean, please reference Luke 10:38-42) So, I had total confusion, but I stood more toward the Mary side because in my heart I know that is where I belong. My friends looked at me like I was on crack because they totally remember the themed, color coordinated, every child has to have a cute prize from the games and everything MUST be perfect Birthday parties I have thrown. After class that day I really put a lot of thought into that little exercise and I realized that I am a Mary, but I was thrust (ok I put myself) into a life of Martha. Somewhere in the course of my life I decided "I need to be in control and control everything around me to make sure everything goes right". I believed in God, but was way too worried about what others (meaning mere mortals) thought and making sure each one of my hairs was in place (I used to throw the curling iron if my hair did not look good, I have a little temper too but let's not bring out all my faults in one day) and seriously get anything other than an A in school, unheard of!! Then as an adult I was totally focusing on and worrying about the wrong things.

What I have come to realize, and this process was a painful and still ongoing one, I am really a Mary stuck in a Martha world of my own making, but the more that I have turned over to God, putting Him rightfully in the place of leading my life, the more peace I find. For the first time in my life I have no headaches (well, I do have kid and husband induced ones occasionally since I am trying to be honest here) and no stomachaches. I still worry and have to fight my "people pleasing" tendencies every day, but I know that it is okay to be a Mary, put God first, not clean my house and order take out!! I know you were wondering how I find so much time to be on the computer.......

It is marathon week.....People!

2009-01-14T09:18:00.000-08:00

The countdown is on, the obsession is peaking, I'm a teensy beensy (is that even a word) stressed....okay, I am freaking out inside and wiping down every germ known to man on the outside-shut up, I know I do that no matter what. Seriously, the running taper as we call it (decrease your mileage down to practically nothing which should be sounding pretty sweet by now) should actually be called the running "tamper" because it is tampering with my psyche, as in getting psyched OUT! Lyric and I have hardly put in any mileage these past few weeks after our big 22 miler, not because we are lazy, but because we are supposed to t-a-p-e-r.....

So, this is what happens:

Jen's inside her head scary voice:" you are getting totally out of shape"

logical voice (I do have a logical voice...sometimes): "you need the rest, you are old and have 4 injuries on one leg alone"

scary voice: "I have forgotten how to eat (ok, slurp) GU while running"

logical voice: "you are a professional eater, you can eat anything, anytime especially since GU is chocolate flavored

scary voice:"I don't rememeber running over 4 miles at a time, what if it was a dream that I ran far"

logical voice:"what about getting stuck putting water on the bottom of your Costco cart with your crack showing because your knee is locked up from your 22 mile run seems like a dream"

I know I trained, I know that I am in shape, I know that I am mentally capable (barely) to run for hours at a time...I know I can do it...right?!? I better go run around the block and make sure I rememeber how to tie double knots in my shoelaces.

Here are some of my pictures from 365 project I took at the running store yesterday, where they were out of GU, the week of that tiny little local marathon that thousands of people are running....who on earth is responsible for that smooth move? (Don't act like you don't think that when the store is out of your needed food item.)

In Da Club and more.....

2009-01-13T08:07:00.000-08:00

Most of you know that I have the greatest running partner, Lyric, who puts up with my whining with a smile and positive encouragement, works around my inability to get up early unless forced, and basically gets us out the door for our runs. Without her I would just be a stay at home slug getting hyped up on coffee all day and watching Ellen and Oprah until it was time to pick up my drama queen from school. But, I do have another running partner, she is my IPOD. I could not run without her......

Early in my runs I listen to praise and worship, this makes me happy and lets face it, I have to have Gods help with this marathon thing, I am not managing this on my own. Then, I move onto artists like Jordin Sparks and Colby Caillat singing of love, life and bubbles because I can still breathe and speak at this point so I can relate to joy. As I enter into the middle phase of my run, tired, bored and beginning to feel my toes fall asleep I have to pump it up a notch to P!nk and Evanescence, or any man hater song here will do! I have to say I love running to P!nk, if I could chose only one angry singer to run to, it would be her.

BUT, then something ugly happens......those last miles are the toughest, I am tired and hurting and wondering how a groin that could manage childbirth can't make it through more than 10 miles without making me want to lie down on the sidewalk and cry...so I gotta bring in the big guns..literally. I play no music in those last miles unless it is sung by a black man who grabs his crotch and raps about niggas, hoes and bloodshed, oh yeah and lollipops!

So a shout out to all of those artists bringing me sick music for those last miles of torture, bleeding toenails and pain and for helping me keep it all in perspective! (Okay, I have been watching way to many award shows.)

Teenagers

2009-01-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

I thought I would post a list of things I love about raising a teenager:

...........yep, that pretty much sums it up!

My supportive husband

2009-01-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

loving husband: "The Eagles won so the Cardinals play at home next Sunday, so I would like to have some of our friends over for the game"

Me: "Honey, that is the day of my marathon?!?"

loving husband (voice escalating): "Well, exactly what time does it start, how fast can you run it?"

Me: scowl at loving husband and try hard not to raise middle finger since as previously stated in my blog no longer appropriate at my age

loving husband: "as soon as you cross the finish line we are going to have to get right to the car and get home fast!

Me: pretend in my head raising middle finger

Picture a day

2009-01-11T12:08:00.000-08:00

This is how I look to my family most of the time, which of course brings about a lot of whining, "moooommm are you done taking pictures yet?!?" Despite the lack of enthusiasm from the kids (mainly Sophia) I am going to step up the picture taking. I received some photography magazines and books from Michael and the kids for Christmas so I am going to try some new things with my camera and the only way for me to keep doing something more than twice I need a goal. So, I am going to copy the ole "picture a day" concept and then I am going to bore you all with them. I am sure some of them will be hideous (this is Sophie's word for everything) because I am going to practice with natural light and I truly suck at that. I may have to tape my flash shut so I will not be tempted to use it. Here is my first picture of the day and it is of my little fashion guru after she did her hair herself.

Blogs, blogs and more blogs

2009-01-10T09:41:00.001-08:00

I have been hit with something this week, an irrestible urge to read strangers blogs for hours at a time. I have to admit I am mostly drawn to the ones written by women as I know their pain, their triumphs and their fears as my own. I am also loving some of the photography blogs and sites I have found out there. There are some seriously talented writers and creative people out there in the world..some days I feel like the world is just filled with a*&ho*&@, bad drivers, and incompetent fast food employees. So, I am rejuvenated by the creativity I have found this week, along with completely overwhelmed with all that it has inspired..I mean I would not be me if I wasn't going to somehow turn this into something to worry about! I have added links to some of the sites I have found and will add more as I go.

For all of my friends and family of the female variety take a look at the joy unexpected blog and see a video she has posted of Kelly Corrigan the author of The Middle Place. It is a wonderful look at women and their strengths and Candice for you even a shout out to driving while texting!

Blog Frustration

2009-01-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

I have changed my mind again about my blog....it just wouldn't feel right if I didn't do that a few times in the process of creating something. But, I do apologize for my indecisiveness and hope it did not cause any inconvenience. After trying several options for my blog, shedding a few tears (of anger), pounding my enter key a little too hard (100 times in a row), and there may have been some throwing of objects...I have now decided to stick with blogger...for now. The blogging tool I attempted to use had a lot more options, but with more option come more problems. Michael says it is a user issue and I just roll my eyes, because raising my middle finger is just not an option after this many years of marriage. So, here is my new blog in which I will begin with a picture of how I found Sophie's Barbies after her bath. Should I be worried?