family

Real Talk

Real talk, how many of you have gone through hardship in silence?

How many of you went through said hardship and felt alone?

Now, how many of you think that if you would have just said something to someone who loved you you might have felt less alone?

Some of us experience loneliness by choice. Some of us get so wrapped up in our life and it’s situations that we forget that there are people outside of our household that sincerely love us. We become so laser focused on how to fix things ourselves that we lose sight of the big picture. I know this because I’ve fallen victim to it myself. By choice.

I don’t know if it was pride, insecurity, or what. I do know that I dealt with certain things alone and I now know that I never had to. I know that in my loneliness I was tempted to reach out. Countless times I convinced myself not to pick up the phone. Countless times I’d answer the question “how are you?” With “great how are you?” When things weren’t always so great. I did it as a safety mechanism I assume. I figured the less people I let in the less hurt I could feel. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case. I myself did enough hurt to myself. You see, by not asking for help when I needed it it caused me to suffer for a longer time. Sure, I recovered. I sought Christ and he always met me where I was. However, looking back I could have overcome some of what I have gone through if I just trusted the ones I love more. I’m blessed to have learned this lesson sooner then later. I now know that it’s ok to talk. It’s ok to ask, and it’s ok to not look like you have it all together. All of us are going through something and some of us might be doing it better then others. That’s ok. Just don’t forget you’re not alone. If you truly have no one to talk to feel free to reach out. I may not have all of the answers but, I have a listening ear, an open heart and I know someone who does have all of the answers.

I pray you are encouraged today, encouraged to ask for help if you need it. Encouraged to not be lonely. Encouraged to love yourself enough to seek love, and peace through Jesus.

In his love,

Mrs_Noso

Happy Anniversary!

Hello beautiful people!

Today, my husband and I are celebrating our 12 year wedding anniversary! We’ve been together for 17 years and married for 12. I must say its been a journey so far and I’m looking forward to the next 17+++++ years.

As I sit here sipping my coffee I remember when we celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. A colleague of mine had asked me how we managed to stay together for so long. I was actually taken back by the question. I personally didn’t think 10 years of marriage was long. So, I answered honestly, with the first thing that came to my mind. All I said was, “well, he’s my best friend”. That’s it. Before my husband and I started dating we were just friends, inseparable. After we started dating that feeling never changed. Whenever something great or terrible would happen he’d be the one I’d want to tell. When he wasn’t around I wanted him to be. It was never and has never been complicated with us. We make each other laugh, we’ve made each other cry, we talk, we argue, we love, we compromise, we learn and we grow. We do all of those things together. It’s never been an option to just not be together and I pray it never becomes one. As parents now to 3 amazingly cool kiddos we constantly remind each other that we are on the same team. That one day our babies will grow up and have their own families and we’ll have each other. We remind each other not because we don’t value the time with our kids but, to keep our relationship in perspective. To help each other remember that it’s us as one strong unit.

You see, our life isn’t perfect. We’ve stuggled financially, we’ve struggled with trust, with God, with family, health, attitude, etc. But, all in all we never promised each other a perfect life. We promised each other commitment to the life we’ve created; together, with Christ as the center. Because of that, our life is perfect for us. I wouldn’t change where we’ve been or what we’ve gone through. In each season we’ve grown together and in each season to come we will continue. (In Jesus name)

So, to all you newly married couples, keep going. Yes, the odds might be stacked against you but, with Christ at the center it’s possible. Go back to basics if you have to. A date night, a hand written note, a simple reminder of your friendship. You can do it. Remember marriage doesn’t have an expiration date. Xoxo

To all of you married veterans. Thank you for your example. Thank you for your hope. Keep going!!! We are routing for you

In Love

Mrs_Noso,

Chameleons they are NOT

I love all things comedy. If you can make me laugh we can be best friends. It’s really that simple.

So when my husband and I first starting talking he could make me laugh until I cried! He still can. His humor is a huge reason I fell in love. Now, after almost 12 years of marriage and three kids later, I’ve got my own comedy routine at home. Put him and my kiddos together and I’m laughing until I’m running to the bathroom peeing on my self (I know TMI).

Now, the only problem with them being so funny is that our sense of humor isn’t always appreciated by everyone. Don’t get me wrong; we’re not mean or anything! It’s just not everyone’s cup of tea. Sometimes, when my daughter cracks a joke around other family members or friends she gets a stare. When my middle child makes a funny it sometimes goes unnoticed (he’ll usually say it under his breath). When my youngest does it he just drops the mic. Each of them at the end of any given day can tell me about a joke they cracked through their experiences and how the person was so lame that they didn’t get it. That’s right, if people don’t get their humor the kids aren’t the problem the people are. (I’m a bit biased lol)

You see, my goal isn’t to raise chameleons. My goal is to raise proper humans that aren’t jerks and know how to laugh and have fun. All while serving the one and only Son of God Jesus Christ. Life isn’t a popularity contest. It’s new to all of us. We need to enjoy being who we are with our individual sense of style, humor and personality. I’ve noticed to many parents comparing their kids to others instead of embracing who they’ve been raising. I am not the perfect momager I promise! But I am the perfect one for them and they are perfect for me.

If your kid is trying to brighten someone’s day and attempts to make them laugh…..let them. It might not be perfect comedic timing but, it’ll give them the opportunity to learn who their audience is and who might not be. Either way there should be a learning in every laugh.

In his love

Mrs_Noso

Usually

I usually have something to say about any topic. Whether I know about the topic is a totally different conversation. You see I’ve worked 15+ years in customer service. While working in the customer service field you learn how to have small conversations with anyone that is in front of you. Now, most conversations do not contain much substance, but they are conversations non the less. For example, a client comes in to conduct business and my job is to make them feel all warm and fuzzy while finding out lots of fun stuff about them. Once I find out the fun stuff I can eventually get to the meat and potatoes of the visit then we explore our options from there. While on this conversation journey I am at times introduced to topics that I’m not to familiar with. For instance, I have never gone on an actual hike, but if my client is an avid hiker I would simply say ‘WOW hiking is an incredible way to stay fit! Is that your secret?’ If a woman of course……. if a man I would say something like ‘WOW hiking is such a great way to escape the mundane! what else do you do for fun? (Now, you might wonder why I change my approach; and the quickest way to answer is because I’m married and I do my best to consider him. If I ask a man about how he stays fit it may seem flirtatious and I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole.) Any way, I know how to make small talk. Now, on the other hand there are people in my life that I see regularly and I just can’t figure out what the heck to say to them. We just do not click! I mean, I want to click, I want to make small talk, or long talk, or even end up as besties but it just does not happen. Now, these individuals are close to people that I love dearly. I mean, I see them a few times a year and would even be able to call them distant relatives and still nothing! Nada, Zilch ZERO! I have examined myself, I have spoken to to my husband, I have tried to figure it out and after years of wondering I’m just deciding to let it go. We are just not meant to be friends and I am ok with that! I really don’t even care for their personalities (no offense) we really just don’t click! I officially have decided to stop trying to fit a puzzle piece into my life that doesn’t fit. In me doing this I truly believe it’ll show my kids that they don’t have to entertain people that they don’t want to. If they don’t click with someone it’s ok. They don’t have to force it, or fake it. They don’t have to feel bad or wonder why. They can simply say hello and good bye.

If you find yourself sticking around people that you just don’t click with and you are tired of trying you can just stop. Yeah, I said it stop trying to make the piece fit into your puzzle when it doesn’t belong. At the end of the day as long as you are still being a light in the midst of darkness you don’t have to be everyone’s friends. Let them go and let God handle the rest.

In his love

-Mrs Noso

3 Square Meals

The Lord answers prayers!

Thursday is the day my husband and I have off together. So, I wake up bright and early and take care of most of the household chores. Since my husband works evenings he sleeps in and I get started bright and early. Usually, by the time he wakes up everything’s done. But, for some reason on Wednesday night I was overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed by the thought of my to do list. So like any good and tired wife I sent the list to my husband Chris and asked for some help……….and I quote “Please pick a few items from this list that YOU will take care of for CasaNoso minimum of 4 and send me your response 1.Publi 2. Bjs 3. Vet @ 3pm and PetSmart 4. Laundry 5.breakfast 6.lunch 7.dinner 8.homeschooling 9. window qote @ 1pm.” His response: Vet, PetSmart, Window guy, publix………………….i thought it was all of the easy stuff………….nonetheless, it was on the list, and I’m thankful that he played along. So, as I stared at my to do list I just kept thinking I really DO NOT WANT TO COOK . I just don’t. I know that once I get in the kitchen it is so hard to get out………but……..he didn’t pick any of the meals. It was now up to me to make it happen. So I told God…..I don’t want to cook. And I went to bed.

Now, it’s 8am Thursday and I am ready to go Walmart (I decided against BJs.) I text my sister in law just to see if she needs anything. Instead, she offers breakfast. I say no. I said no, because I still had a bunch to do, and I just didn’t have the time to stop. Does she listen? NO. And I’m glad she didn’t. Without realizing it, God was using her to answer my prayer. You see, She didn’t just bring me breakfast but, she packed breakfast for my entire family and delivered it to my house. That is an answered prayer! That was one less thing I had to do. I immediately felt some much needed relief.

Now, it’s 1pm. and Chris is holding up his end of the bargain. He’s dealing with the “window guy”. Here I am, in the kitchen, trying to figure out what to make for lunch. Out of no where, the door bell rings. It just so happens to be one of my favorite guys. MY DAD!!! So, I open the door and he hands me a plate of food. Weird right?? Apparently, Chris had been asking my mom for bacalaitos for months. She just so happened to decide that Thursday, the day after the Wednesday, that I felt overwhelmed, would be the day she would make them. Oh, and have them delivered! I WAS OVER THE MOON! Now, my dad leaves and minutes later the door bell rings AGAIN!!!!! It’s my mother in law………..she missed cooking for us and brought us DINNER…………….DINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!! 3 square meals, just like that. They were cooked with love, and delivered free of charge. WHAT A BLESSING!

For you that might not be a big thing, for me, it was an answered prayer. I’m not going to sugar coat it, life is not always gum drops and rose buds. It can get overwhelming, tiresome and stress filled. Work is hard. Managing a home is hard. Trying to stay healthy and keep your family healthy is hard. Being alone is hard. But, as I tell my kids all of the time. YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS. I can handle everything that comes my way and so can you. These 3 square meals were a reminder that God meets me where I am. I don’t have to go to the mountain top and be alone with him for him to hear me. He meets me in the kitchen. He meets me at the grocery store. He sees my every need and he finds people to bless me. He can do that for you too. Stop making excuses and just let God meet you right where you are. In your stress, in your sickness, in your lack. Reach out to him. It’s worth it. When you are faithful he will use people to bless you.

With love,

Mrs_Noso.

There you have it!

This morning, like so many other, I woke up to dishes in the sink. Just so you know, I hate waking up to dishes in the sink! Every night after I put the kids to bed I do a last run through of my kitchen JUST to make sure there are NO dirty dishes! However, there’s one exception. Now, that my husband works at night (and has been for over 1 year now) I always leave his plate on the stove wrapped up neatly. So, when I wake up I expect his plate, cup, fork, knife, and sometimes his dessert plate in the sink. I’m ok with that (JUST THAT THOUGH). Every morning, I wake up, I feed the dog and I wash the dishes………today, I decided not to. ……Today, I decided I was going to tell my 10 year old to do it. Along with washing the dishes, I reminded her to make her bed, and clean up her room. She on the other hand decided to make her bed, clean up her room, and wait until after her school work was done to do the dishes. I let her. I figured she was trying to play me. I figured she knows how much I hate dirty dishes that she knew I would give in. NOT TODAY. I was DETERMINED! All day those dishes kept piling up. One by one, each of us added to the pile of cups, and plates and forks. One by One, all of the dishes glared at me with their ugly little food particles smudged all over, taunting me in the sink. ALL DAY! To some of you it might not seem like a big deal, but to someone who is task oriented like myself I was living a nightmare. So, right before dinner time here comes my curly headed little beauty and here I go ready to shoot out at the mouth.

Me”Zoey, you see, if you would’ve done it when I asked you, you only would have had a few dishes to wash but, now there’s a mountain”

Zoey “Yea, it’s ok this was my plan. I don’t want to touch the dishes so I’m gonna load them in  the dishwasher”

Me “Oh, well why didn’t you do it earlier”

Zoey “cause you had yesterdays load running this morning”

Me “Oh, well, thank you for doing it without having to be reminded”

Zoey “No problem mom”

And there you have it. I was bothered all day by dirty dishes when there was a plan for them the entire time. When I realized how ridiculous it was I began to think about how God must see us and our short comings. We ask God to just get rid of things that we are dealing with not realizing that there’s more coming and He wants to rid us of ALL of our infirmities, ALL of our sins, ALL of our dirt. We stare at what seems to be overtaking us instead of focusing on God who agreed to take care of it ALL. WOW! I thank God for enlightening me. I thank God for knowing what’s ahead of me and already having a plan for it. I encourage you to take heart and trust in the almighty creator because he will never leave you or forsake you. And just because he’s not moving in your time doesn’t mean he’s not moving.

Be Blessed

Mrs_Noso

Just Maybe

I have tried so many things in my life and quit.

  1. Piano…….Quit
  2. Karate…….Quit
  3. Volleyball…..Quit
  4. Diets………Quit, Start,Quit,Start
  5. Books……..rarely ever finish them……Quit
  6. Walking………Quit …….

I could go on and on but you get the gist. Out of all of these things I’ve quit I don’t regret starting them or quitting them.  Just because I stopped a good behavior doesn’t mean I can’t start again if I wanted to. Don’t get me wrong I’m not going to be a black belt or play in a symphony but, there’s a few things in my life I wouldn’t mind giving another chance……. and that’s OK. Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t (idk yet)

You see, there are so many things that we as people just give power to. Because of that we quit some really great things. We allow distractions and opinions to hold us back. We listen to the voice of doubt and insecurity, laziness or just plane frustration. This causes a lot of us to retreat (I know, I’ve been there). But, could you imagine a world where you could have the courage to just start over again? Where you could wake up one day and say today is the day! Today is the day I’m going to restart! WOW!!!!! Do you believe that you live in that world??? It’s true! You do!! You can restart anything you want. It’s up to you. You are what’s in your own way. You could literally right now decide that you are going to learn a new language. With hard work and determination you could!  All you would need is the courage to mess up, potentially quit, and start again if necessary until you’re successful . I know!!!! CRAZY RIGHT??!!

Look, all I’m saying is that I’m not the only one that has quit something and been afraid to start again. And, I’m not the only one that can start again and be successful at it. YOU CAN too.

Go for it! Become the volleyball star. Lose the 10 pounds, start that book…..talk to God……It’s never to late to start over!

For Hope is the anchor to our souls. Hebrews 6:19

With Love,

Mrs_Noso

Jelly beans, Breakfast and Bulletin points

I was the Perfect parent before I had kids. I mean, I had it all figured out. From Breakfast and house keeping to temperament and tantrums.

  1. My kids would eat all organic and home made

2. I’d be home full time to care for them. Doing so would prevent any and all tantrums. It would also  guarantee that all 2 or 5 of my children would have perfect temperaments.

3. I would never yell

4.  My house would be spotless at all times! Inside and out.

LOL……………..PRETTY COMICAL RIGHT!!! (at least for me. If the above list is you congrats! but this isn’t about you) Moving on……

My Life played out a bit differently.

  1. I married for love. My husband is without a doubt a hard working provider and I wouldn’t change him for the world. With that said. We eat fried non organic and I work because love doesn’t pay for extra vacations and eating out at will.
  2. We had 3 kids! yup not 2 or 5 but 3! So, there’s the one that makes the rules, the one that the rules were made because of,  and the one that ignores the rules. (got it from a t-shirt….it’s true though)
  3. I yell!!! BOY do I yell. Not even when I’m mad, or when something is wrong, but to simply be heard and understood. You see, my kids don’t have “perfect temperaments” they have whatever temperament they want to have that day. It is my job as the mom to mold those sweet little temperaments. I have chosen yelling as my weapon of choice. (don’t be so judgy….. they are OK! and they’ll be oK! lol)

So, in this short little list of my “What I thought it would be and my what it is” I have to say I love what it is. Sure, I let my kid eat jelly beans for breakfast the other day. So what! He stopped saying mom repeatedly…..I take it as a win!! Sure, I let my other son say a bad word when he’s mad. It prevents a blow up!….(fyi: he asks for permission and the word was hate) I  MAKE IT WORK! I don’t read parenting books or magazines. I don’t ask people for parenting advice unless I’m willing to listen to it.  My house is not perfect. I am not perfect. Honestly, on any given day the beds will be unmade, the counter littered with blocks and toys, the kids are rolling around on the floor and couch. It’s madness! It’s unorganized and it’s fun! It’s us!! My house can be loud and chaotic but, it’s filled with love, peace, and lots and lots of hugs and cuddles. It’s ours!

I hope that you make your home YOURS! Not the one you think it is suppose to be, not the one people tell you it should be, but the one you and your family are happy to be in. Remember, Jesus loves you, and he sees you. He wants you to be happy in season and out of season. So, let the kids eat jelly beans for breakfast once in a while, don’t  make the bed and enjoy the day! I promise you the world won’t end because you did.

Lots of love,

Mrs_Noso