Matheny Creations...

is the name of my new business. I am creating customized photo books and putting together a book of my own work. I'll share more later on all of that. But here are a few pics from todays outing that I thought I would share with you. Enjoy.

We Chose Breakfast Over Church

I'm in the process of creating my first business called Matheny Creations. I'll fill you in on the details later but it has to do with photography and books. Two of my favorite things. 

So we chose breakfast over church today. There is a church a little ways away from our house that I went to last week alone to "check it out" for the family. It was small by comparison to most other churches here but large enough to hide in the back while listening and watching everything that was going on. The worship was fun and reminded me a little of old Apex days. The message was a little ADHD though and I found it hard to understand what the main subject was. But for the most part it was painless and we as a family decided we would attend together this weekend. However, once we got up and started getting ready to go we realized that none of us had breakfast yet and it was already 9:30. (church started at 10.) In the end we took the left turn instead of the right turn and ended up at the near by Denny's having breakfast and talking about Legos, biology, music, and God providing opportunities for growth. We never made it to church, but it kind of felt like we were connected as a family and we were definitely feeling blessed to be together. I find it kind of funny that we haven't managed to get to a church together for the last three years. Maybe we will try again next week. Or maybe we will continue our "gathering" at Denny's. 

I love it!

Only some of you will understand the humor I find in this. But I get a call yesterday that my in-laws need a ride to the airport. No big, I will take them. Later that night I get a call from my dad who also needs a ride to the airport at the exact same time. I think to my self, "now that would be great to see, all three of them in the back of the truck made to sit together for a 30min ride to the airport. Would they behave?" and I laugh real hard with the visual. Reality kicked in though and we worked it out where I will take my father, and Shad will take his parents. Isn't God humorous sometimes though? I love it.

(Back story is obvious. The in-laws and my father do not like each other at all. They have not spoken since the wedding over 14 years ago if they even spoke then which I doubt.)   :)

A Bit of My Story

When I was 4 years old my dad abandoned my mom, my brother, and myself and chose to live a single life. Being that young I really didn't understand what was going on and just loved my dad and wanted him to be proud of me and to love me as much as I loved him. I also didn't understand why he would always have to leave just when he got back home from being away so long. 

Over the years it became clear that my father was never coming home but rather just visiting. It became the norm for me and I adjusted accordingly. However, as I have grown up I have had much difficulty dealing with being around him as I would instantly regress into that child who just wants to be loved by her father, and who wanted her father to stick around a little while. I came to realize that he chose to abandon me and my family. And somewhere deep down inside I felt I must have done something wrong, or must not have been deserving of a father's love.

I share this because my father is currently visiting and I found myself writing in my journal tonight, wondering just why I have been so not myself today. I realized that even after 33 years I still tend to try and regress into that child who wants to be loved by her father. Even worse, I found myself bummed that he will be leaving tomorrow night and feeling like we just don't really know each other as well as we should. 

And then I remembered that the choices he made in his life were his to make, not mine. And even though his choices affected my life in many ways, I was able to find a true Father whom loves me and has loved me all along. Well before I came into this world.

I screw up as much as the next person in life when making choices and living life but this Father never criticises me or abandons me. Instead he continues to love the imperfect me just as He always has. And this brings me a sense of relief knowing that I don't have to be perfect in order to love or be loved. 

And I just felt that I needed to share that little bit of my story tonight. 

Need a job!

Looking for a job. Let's see, it needs to be part time for now, it needs to work with my personal school schedule, it needs to fit around the fact that I home school my kids, and it needs to be something I will enjoy and grow from otherwise I will get bored and not want to do it for long. Oh, and I have to get paid something. Preferably money so I can contribute to our income. Not a lot to ask for right? Any suggestions?

Hailey's Blue Hair!!!

She decided she needed to have her hair black and blue. It is blue under the back as well. She just woke up in this picture so it isn't brushed or anything, but I like it. It's fun to see people's reactions when we go places too. And it is a good lesson in pre-judgement. 

Random things

I found Hot Tamale popcicles! I'm eating one now! Yum!

 Oh and my daughter's hair is black and blue. I'll post a picture soon...

We had a house church reunion type thingy (if you can call it that) the other day. The Carder family was here minus one, and Susie was here! She brought these awesome cookies that I love. (Thanks Suzie!) It was great to finally catch up with everyone. We were missing a few people but it was nice to see everyone that could come hang out. Maybe we can do it again some time soon. 

Pen 15!!! hahahaahahahhaa! I can't get it out of my head.

Dreams

I love my family. However, (you knew that was coming right?) I have a hard time with some of them a lot these days. Some take advantage, others behave like children, and yet more have children that behave like, well, children. (Go figure) So what is my issue? It's more like a question really. Why can't I just love on everyone and them love me back without expectation or manipulation? Why do I have to be drug into the middle of things that have nothing to do with me? "Why can't we all just get along!?!"

Sometimes I just want to move away to a far off island and write books and take photos for a living, eat sea food and drink drinks with little fun umbrellas in them while painting pictures of the sea....very selfish I know. I would need my kids near by of course and my husband as well, and my computer, my dog, well....I guess I would actually be too alone all alone on my island so maybe it's not the best idea. Maybe I should just focus on a nice vacation.

After the Birthday Blues

I had fun on my birthday and now I can't shake the guilt. What's up with that? I mean, I was thinking we never know how many we get for sure (birthdays), so why not start celebrating them and do something fun and actually enjoy them as much as possible. So I did, and the next day I felt guilty about it. Not good. This means I need to start having more fun more often. At least that is my prescribed medicine. 

Home School Lesson

For school this morning we are watching a documentary of the 911 attacks. It brings back all the emotion and sadness, the frustration and confusion. It wasn't my choice for a school subject this morning, it was my oldest daughter's choice. She is interested in what happened as she was much younger when it happened and doesn't really remember it. 

It is crazy how they are able to show what happened in this documentary based on the evidence found. And very sad to see them playing certain shots over and over again. Not the best of memories. But we are learning about many things. For instance how a structure built the way the Pentagon was helped to keep the damage to a minimum (if you can believe it) as there were people who survived and the plane did not go in as far as it could have. And how the blast waves were contained due to the building's design. This saved people who just happened to be standing in just the right spot the moment the blast waves hit. And how bomb proof windows protected people from the fire. The area hit was being renovated so the more than 5,000 people who work in those areas were not there that day. 

Just a peek

So the picture is of our living room and where we slept the first night in our house. It was crazy but fun. Now our home is full of furniture and boxes and is a mess. But it is slowly coming together. I truly enjoy just having a house. 

Moving right along...

Well, this has not been the smoothest transition from one state to another, but we are finally moved in with all of our stuff and I have to admit, it feels wonderful to sleep in a bed and have a fridge. Living in an empty house with an ice chest was fun for a while, but not so much fun after the second week. 

We spent the weekend bringing boxes in and we are still unpacking. And today we went to the DMV and made our residence here official. It's nice to be home. Now we need to start connecting with more friends and family. I'm thinking we do a once a month get together and just invite everyone we know and see who shows up.   :B

The First Week at Home

I am currently sitting in what will be the den of our new house. It has a single chair in it, and my school papers are scattered about with scribbles here and there. There is an almost empty can of paint calling my name waiting for me to use it on the last of the trim work and a bucket with a rag, paint brushes and a tarp, and various other things on the floor. In one week I have managed to live with no furnishings other than air mattresses and folding chairs while using an ice chest for a fridge. It has been fun and interesting as well as frustrating. Some of the comments surprise me though, like "Oh! you have no fridge? How do you eat? How do you keep your food from spoiling?" or "How can you live like that?" Comedy really.

We took this, our first week, to clean the walls and the floors, dust the windows and blinds, wipe cabinets and paint rooms all in preparation for our truck-o-stuff to get here to our newly purchased home. Our truck-o-stuff that clearly we do not NEED but just can't seem to live without.

At night I sit on the floor and log into school and try to make sense of my instructors postings and assignment requirements in order to make some sort of plan on how to accomplish what she wants on the due dates I'm given. I've managed so far. My biggest obstacle is staying focused and remembering I have school because I am so easily distracted with what we have been doing to this house to get it ready. I have worked on it every day since we got here.

Tomorrow I will attempt to get the trim work done without the purchase of another small can of paint, but I am not sure there is enough in the can to get it done. I am feeling lucky though. ;)

I will also be painting polka dots. Like 30 of them. Then I get to take a trip to the airport to drop a couple of my favorite people off so they can help our truck-o-stuff make it here. 

Eventually I will get to see my husband again which I am so looking forward to. I miss him as I have not seen him in over a week. This, our first week in our new home. It's been fun. 

Car Show!

We spend the day at a car show over the weekend. It was fun and I was able to try my had at some funky photos. I plan on using my favorites to decorate the Garage. Enjoy!

More photos!

We went to the beach the other day and I was able to take some photos. I thouht I would share a few of my favorites.

Are You Ready?

What is it about moving to another stated that makes a person look differently at what they have in life? Is it the major change factor that pushes us to realize things we neglected to see in the first place? And why is that? Why do we do that? I have this really deep desire to go out and document everything around me before we move back to Vegas and I was trying to figure out why I would feel the need to do that. It isn't like I will never see this place again, although the experience will be different next time being a visitor versus a resident. But for some reason I long to capture this moment in time of our lives. Interesting. Over our time here I have tried to appreciate what we have been provided and blessed with. Things like cool weather, green everywhere, wild life and just a whole different cultural experience. But I see that this is all about to change and want to somehow capture what we have and take it with us. Am I crazy? That's not the point really so please don't answer that. 

:)

One thing I know for sure is that we are getting a second change to experience and enjoy (in a whole new way) the place we came from in the first place. I have many plans already in the works to help us take advantage of as much as we can of what we took for granted before. I learned my lesson the first time. And it was the move here that woke me up and opened my eyes to it all. The realization of just what we had and how badly we treated or ignored it. Be ready my friends, I will be knocking and calling and planning trying to include you in on my attempt to live and love life to the fullest. Are you ready?

Picture Pages!

A random photo from the river behind our hotel in Oregon. 
One of the streets of San Francisco!
A flower growing in our backyard.

As of late, I have gotten back into photography. I've always been into it as many already know. But lately I can't get enough. I think I will try to take a side class in photography later on after we move. So what do you think, am I any good?

My Baby Girl!

Okay, so I always say that my girls are my babies. I know, I'm in a sort of denial about it all. I'll work it out some day. For now I just sit in awe of how much they have grown. I look at the pictures from just a year ago and it is amazing and a little frightening all at once. We are blessed for sure. We celebrated Hailey's birthday at the park we frequently go to and I caught Hailey staring off over at some trees. When I asked her what she was looking at, she said she was just remembering all of the fun times she has had at this park, and she began to tell me all about where she first met each of her friends and some of the fun things they did. It was very cool for her to share that with me, and a little sad too. They have grown a lot here physically and emotionally. They have made some great friends and have learned a whole lot about the world. Northern California is certainly a different place from all others to live and learn.  We are going to miss it. But don't tell anyone I said that.  ;)

Sunday we will celebrate Hailey's 14th birthday at the park with messy games. It's going to be a lot of fun. Then it is strictly business for the next month packing and visiting with old friends and new to say good byes and swap email and snail mail addresses. This is a picture of friends Hailey will be leaving behind. I know she has been blessed to get to know them and hope they will all stay in touch.

I started my first online class today and I must say, it is way different from what I thought it would be. Lots of work and I am going to have to be very strict with my schedule to make sure I get everything done on time. The good news though is that I finally have a Thursday night off and will have for the next two months. The first time in over 2 years!! Yes! I wouldn't know what to do with myself except for the fact that I have lots of packing and other things to keep me busy. Lucky me!!!

Tomorrow is my last working day. I am both sad and happy about it. Sad to be leaving such an awesome group of people and happy because it means we are that much closer to getting our move over with. As it is I have found good enough reason to get myself and the girls moved two weeks earlier than we planned. If anyone would like to come paint some rooms, let me know. You are more than welcome to help.

The Waiting is Over

Its the house in the SW/SE for sure. Guess I will be doing a lot of driving. 

Oh well! At least I finally know where I am going to live now!

Yippee for me!