Cherished Blessings

    Our Christmas Story is no different than yours. The only difference this year for us, is that we were far away from our loved ones and it was somewhat bittersweet.  I could Blog about how wonderful and precious these moments are.  Truth is it was not as cozy as most Christmas years. I couldn't get into the Spirit as much this year. I have not quite put my finger on why, until now.

     I have no excuse, we are blessed beyond our means.  The shift from moving from a beautiful small town, to the city has been really difficult.  There is so much to be said for the support and closeness of dear friends.  As I reflect on that today I am so filled with beautiful memories.  I have those to hold onto.  I don't mean to sounds ungrateful for being here, and what we have accomplished in such little time.  The kids have had some amazing opportunities and have learned so much.

    What I will say is this.  Without the support and love that we had over the years, this would not be possible.  The experiences and the nurturing that we coveted through our younger years in Hollister.  My Mom has been a huge encouragement in reminding me, that I have the best of friends and amazing support.For these things, I am truly honored.  

   What God has in store here, He unfolds very slowly.  I also know that this Odyssey is not going to be met without resistance.  There are struggles and often times, I long to sit and enjoy a moment with Kristy  at lunch or sit in Kara's kitchen and watch her bake a beautiful cupcake.  So many friends that lifted and encouraged me daily. The funny part is when your surrounded and emerged in it you don't  see the amazingness of it all. As I write this I am crying.  These moments are so precious.  Gifts from God that I will never let go of.

     Christmas Eve service, I sat as we sang to God for the gift of His Son Jesus. My arms around my kids listening to them sing from their hearts.  Its then that I realized no matter where we are, our loved ones are with us, in our hearts in our laughter and in who we are.  So I say thank you to all of our dear friends that have been such an amazing part of our lives. May we always cherish what we have and thank God for our Blessings, everyone.

Commercial

    Everett was recently on set, in Disneyland for a commercial.  This was an excellent experience!  So much preparation went into this commercial, it gave me a new appreciation for the industry.  So much goes into a project.  Everett was thrilled to do a job for Disney.  On location there was so much time spent in the park.  One of the interesting things about Disney is the complete care that goes into their business.  There is never a person unattended or a magical secret discovered.  They take the magic of the Kingdom very seriously.  As the kids filmed they were not allowed in certain areas, in case they saw a character without their mask on.  The whole intention of the Disney motto, is to not take the magic away from the children.                                                                                                                 Growing up loving Disneyland, I appreciated this, because the magic was never taken, and the fun of the Park is still there.  Everett did three days of filming and had an experience of a lifetime! He rode the Matterhorn 9 times, each pass getting a different take.   At one point,  he wore a Go Pro to get the riders view.  It is fun to watch all of this take place and watch others stop and seem curious as to what is happening.

    While filming, Everett made friends and saw a side of the park he never had.  The commercial will Air on Disney Channel after Christmas! 

 

Don't Ever Change

   
Laugh with me……..

   Yesterday I was reminded by a dear friend how important and healing it is to laugh.   Is it socially acceptable to be silly sometimes? I don't care if it's not. Yes I don't care.  I'm not the kind of mom who takes life too seriously.  
We need the healing that comes from laughing and letting go sometimes.  
   The other night, I watched my friend wrestle with her 14 year old son on the frosty wet grass.  She could have denied him the chance. She didn't though.  I love to laugh and be silly with my kids.  There is always time for it.  Its real and creates beautiful memories. 
   I thanked my friend the next day for allowing me to see that there are other Mothers that feel the same as I do.   She responded with this simple truth. Life needs moments, like these to balance out the difficult ones.  If not what would make this life enjoyable?  
  Having felt a bit guilty for being to much of a fun mom, I confided in her.  Her response was a gift.  Don't ever change!  Balance the tough days with love and laughter, and be true to yourself.

   

Boys In Hollywood

Boys are more likely……

  Boys are more likely to get a job in Hollywood.  Why??  

Well its because there are simply fewer willing to take that avenue in life.  This was very clear the minute we showed up in L.A L.A Land.  Here is the truth.  During pilot season, there is a huge eruption of children and parents who flood into the LA area to audition. Pilot season, runs the gamut of early January to mid spring.  Its fast and furious.

  Trial by fire we entered the season, with very little understanding of the industry, except for what we had learned while attending AMTC.  I will talk about that in a different post.  With our Agent Jo Ann, by our side we begin submitting and going to every audition the kids were requested at.  This was an enormous job. While cruising the streets of the big city, we learned our way around expeditiously.  Very little time to breathe or even check the stats on each specific job.  The pile of auditions that Everett went on compared to the girls was astronomical.  

  
  After a week of being in Los Angeles, Everett was booked for a feature film.  What an experience!!  As soon as I can find the pictures of that I will blog about it.  He was thrown into Hollywood and the set experience.  Completely surreal, I was made aware that it is a lot about the look.  Not necessarily if you look good or are a stunner. No, its if you look the part they are seeking.  So many factors go into casting a role.  Not really much different that casting for a play.  We had experienced that a few times.  
  
   Everett, has had his share of auditions, and along with that, came rejection.  We never, took an audition with us.  It stayed there.  Meaning, we did not discuss the part or anything after that except to ask how it went.  This seems to work nicely.  We know that if it is not meant to be, God will not put his stamp of approval on it.  The kids are okay with that.  Life goes on and we just keep living it. The girls are mostly understanding that the amount of boys in the industry is less.  Katie has had several jobs, and even a modeling spot, which she loved dearly.  Sammi, was cast in a pilot show, that has turned into an amazing experience, and great friends!  So far our experience has been crazy, but exciting.  Going into our Sophomore year at this, we hope to have our heads on and be ready for the fast pace wild ride... 

Chalk Boards

Chalk Boards

   If only a chalkboard could tell a story..  I dream it could.  I found this chalk boards yard ago in San Juan Bautista, Ca.  It was placed outside my favorite antique store at the beginning of the quaint little town.  I stopped the car, It spoke to me.  Awkwardly placed in the front yard of the       victorian home, it sat amongst other artifacts from days gone by.   With a beautiful oak frame and stand to flip it over once the last lesson had been taught. 

   My mom and I purchased the piece of history and its  tremendous size.  Driving home, I imagined it situated in our school room and the studious children placed in front of it, soaking in the knowledge, written on it.  Sadly the chalkboard was to big and did not fit on the walls of the school room, due to the attic like configuration.  It was promptly taken off the stand and fixed to the wall in Everett's room.  Years went by, and it was a place for encouragement, lyrics and  solar systems drawn on it. 

  When we moved , I pleaded that it not be left behind.  So it was removed and packed up with the rest of the most important things and taken to our home in Los Angeles.  Now it is proudly placed in our kitchen circa 1973.  It stands as a reminder of our last home and the memories and the fun things that were written on it.  It serves as a place for schedules, dedications of love to the latest crush,  a place of encouragement. Displayed is our favorite bible verse or quote from literature.  Right at this moment it reads,  " You have bewitched me heart and soul."  Hopefully we all know what that is from, the beloved and timeless Pride and Prejudice.

    

    The chalkboard is a piece of history, I ponder the children who sat in front of it, or if it served as a chalkboard to young pupils in early California. I love this Chalkboard, but I cherish the things written on it, and the people who visit here and sign their name.  Small cherished blessings we hold dear, as life goes on its merry way.

 

Take a moment as my dear friend would say and breathe…..

Dreamland

SAM and DJDNA

   In August of this year, Sam recorded her first song.  This has been an amazing experience because her Music Producer, has encouraged her in so many ways. As she writes her own lyrics and melodies, I am amazed at how much of her training in music has come into play.  Piano, guitar and voice lessons, are such a crucial part of this.  She has had such beautiful role models of this. Heidi, Mindy, Becky, and Kevin.  Those that believed in her.  Her love of singing has taken her down a path, that will be filled with creativity and endless experiences.

   Writing her own music has been a challenge, but she welcomes it with open arms.  We are proud of what she has accomplished in such a short amount of time.  

The music Video was filmed last week.  DREAMLAND, was shot in three locations.  A park scene for the dream sequence, and a sound stage, and Sam's High School.  It was a very full and crazy weekend!  Lots of shots amazing friends and Crew, put in so much effort to make it  huge success.  We even had some special friends come from Hollister. We love our Hollister Family and feel very honored to have had them.  

   

The Leads Taking a Break

  

We are excited to see the finished product, as Mike continues to edit and make it exactly what he envisioned it to be.  There is so much that goes into a project.  When it is complete we will be able to release the song and video at the same time.  In anticipation we wait…..

Teenage Journey

Being silly at Fresh Brothers

    Watching your kids grow up can be bittersweet.  There are many times I wish I could take a brick and place it on their heads. As if that would even stop the process one bit.  So instead of holding them back, we allow them to spread their wings a bit.  Life is full of experiences that shape us into the adults we were meant to become.       Having home schooled up until this year, the reality of that is all to real.  Public school and all of its glory.  So far so good, but it is a huge learning curve for us as parents. 
     Teens in general are an interesting breed.  Sam is no exception. She is bright, a year ahead and has a over sized heart.  I love her to pieces.  She is determined to succeed in everything she tries.  I admire that about her!   Two months ago she met a boy. We adore him and think the world of him. I am blogging about this, because its part of our lives and part of a teens passage.  This is all new territory for me, although I do remember being this age. It is such a huge transition and quite honestly difficult and fun.  
     Having been a youth leader, I find myself intrigued by the teenage mind.  Emotions!!!!!!! They fill the house everyday, highs and lows.  At the end of the day all they really desire, is love and acceptance.  So many kids struggle with pain and sorrow.  As kids they have seen and experienced a lot!  Guide them on their path, be a voice of encouragement and love.

Sam and Luke
Homecoming 2013

     Take a deep breathe, live in the moment. It's a blessing from God.

OUR HOME

    It was late and we were exhausted, a year ago exactly. November 30, 2012.  I was at the top of the second story of our home, close to Samantha's room. I paused to look around and suddenly an enormous flood of memories saturated my mind.  I felt as if I was watching a home video, so silently I watched. The house was cold extracted form its personal belongings and voices of laughter, shouts of nagging kids, and tip toes to peek over to see the Christmas tree.

Slowly, I drug myself to each room,  looked inside watched the memories like an instant replay, and shut the light out. Room by room I continued this exercise. Tears streamed down my face. I refused to wipe them away, it was like a bath for my soul. It felt cleansing and surreal all at once.  Everett's room where  the kids would spend hours building towns out of Lincoln logs on the beautiful Ash floors. Katie's butter cream yellow walls, and all the times she told me how she wished they were lavender, and the dolls who were dressed up and taken to a magical place. Peeking into Sam's room, I envisioned her on her big white poster bed, reading a book lost in another world. The vacant hall outside the room, where a kiss on the cheek was stolen. 

   Our kitchen where meals were made with my dear friends and family, the warm red dining room filled with laughter and stories never heard. Glancing over I smiled at the grand fireplace and envisioned the stockings and the time Santa left footprints on the hearth in the ashes from the ever burning fire. Chickens brought into the kitchen daily by Katie and the ancient upright piano Sammi happily played in the sun room. The kitchens frequent smell of the latest cupcakes, Everett proudly contrived. Endless mountains of  fresh multicolored eggs resting by the sink ready for a rinse, and the spacious Chopping block where hundreds of jars of jam and pickles were filled by eager 4-H kids. 

 

The parties, the memories, the friends and the family that entered the doors, loved us challenged us and shaped us. Form the moment we moved into the home, I felt God whisper. He told me that there would be no shortage of visitors and love here.  I would have never imagined us leaving here, or the road ahead.  What a huge reminder that, our lives are not our own. That what we think is our path, usually is not. It was our home but as I closed each door I, reminded myself firmly it was walls. Home really is where you make it, cliche as it sounds and this home did not define who we were. It was a gift from God and now it was time to let it go, and embrace a new chapter. 

Going So Cal

                 Malibu, is only a quick drive from our home, so the most obvious
thing to do in So Cal is surf.  Lessons from the beach Bum Dad, himself
were given. While Sammi loves adventure and seeks thrills, this happens
to not be one of her favorite things to do. Still it is an amazing and incredibly
difficult sport. Everett seemed to like it a bit and Katie absolutely loves it!  Either way the beaches in Cali are so beautiful its hard to stay away, so we found ourselves there several times a week, surfing, walking and eating, yes I said eating.  We like to eat, and the fresh seafood here is to die for.  What can I say? We are your typical California kids.  Although Malibu is not the best place to surf, the Paparazzi is really crazy to watch. Waiting hours to get that perfect pic of Matthew Mcconaughey or whoever is paddle boarding that day.  Well it wasn't for me haha!!!  Going to the beach was a great way for us to get away and enjoy the amazing beauty of Gods creation.

The more we  encountered the more we realized that every celebrity

is just a person.  Not any different than you or myself. They want to be left alone and treated like a normal person. Moving to Los Angeles was turning out to be a very eye opening experience in a lot of ways, i could have never expected..... 

TAKING FLIGHT

The Odyssey Begins

January 12, 2013

The car pulls out of Hollister Ca, not free from tears and a huge amount of uncertainty of what the next few months holds. Honestly, I thought by having the home in Hollister we would be back and forth quite a bit. This made leaving a lot less evasive. We had already moved out of our dream home in the country, into a home in town. First time in town with neighbors. Surprisingly it was fun and the kids adjusted easily not having the usual morning chores such as gathering eggs and cleaning the pig pens.   Five hours later we reached our destination; Los Angeles California.

Tired and exhausted from the emotions and the physical exhaustion of packing we managed to get dinner down the street at Islands. Burgers and salads we devoured our meal and drug our bodies back to our new domain. Not a home, yet by any stretch of the imagination. 

The next several weeks and months became a blur, partly due to the fact that I was not thrilled to be away from our familiar.  Continuing to do school the kids adjusted to homeschooling in a smaller home and with a completely offbeat schedule.  NOTHING, was the same.  I began submitting constantly for auditions, and lost myself in the relentless Pilot Season.  Getting absorbed in this, i discovered later kept me from missing home. Although there were several trips home to Hollister during this time period. Which was ducky for me but tore the kids every time we would leave to come back to L.A.  

Homeschooling  had turned into isolation in L.A. Honestly it was not Hollister, we knew no one. I began to think there were no friendly souls in this area.  Having bought an XBOX, for Christmas turned into a blessing even though I had fought it for years. Playing with friends form home and making new ones.  It was clear that going to school would be best the following Fall.  So we kept moving towards our goal and made it through Pilot Season. And then we began to breathe literally......