Throw Back Thursday Vacation
Miami 2005

Day 302

February 27, 2014

Team Zybko

We could all use a nice vacation right about now. Winter has certainly gotten the best of most of the country. No more cold weather and snowy mixes, please. Everyone could use a get away, not just me.

Calgon take me away, please.
 I am tired of making the doughnuts.
Can I get a uh-huh?

 As the two youngest kids take a mini school break, my mind wanders to a city far away. With only memories and 7 pictures hung neatly on the plain eggshell colored wall, this girl resorts to dreaming. Even if it's for a short 6 minute indoor recess, I'm going. So here I sit, far from any island breeze, reclining chair or beach and reminisce the good times spent in Miami, Florida. 

A beautiful place covered in warm white sand, blue skies and super stylish locals and tourists alike. Cool art deco hotels and water so clear you can focus and appreciate your perfectly hot pink pedicured feet. City blocks filled with fast paced music and killer beats your smooth, tanned legs can't help but salsa like Shakira down the well lit excited streets. Strong Cuban coffee sipped gingerly from artsy cups and placed gently back on the matching saucer creates a vacation caffeine buzz like no other. Fancy expensive cars zoom......  

Mom!
Mom!
Wake up.....
Mom!
Drexel ripped the head off my Barbie....again.
Huh....what?
It was an accident mom, really.

Break over. I will see you another day Miami. 
For now it's 3rd grade spelling, phonics and long division.

Ok, Drex....let's talk.
But mom
About Miami son....about Miami.

School is Out

Let's go Fishin'

Day 303

February 27, 2014

Team Zybko

We caught leaves but no fish.

We were too noisy for sure.

We soaked up the right amount of vitamin D.

We learned how to cast.

We were close to being hooked by the new student.

We made our own bamboo rod.

We made up songs about a good day fishin'.

We may have driven the other fisher lady crazy.

We had the best recess ever.

We will have pasta for dinner instead of seafood.

We will go back soon.

 

Friends You Can Count On!

Day 301

February 26, 2014

Team Zybko

I needed a favor.

2 hours separated me from doing it myself.

So I picked up my phone and sent a short long text.

In hopes of a quick reply.
I got one and the favor completed with a smile.

In this life you need people you can depend on.

To trust.

For big and little jobs to help you out.

Thank you Heather!

I knew I count on you.

I miss your swirly hips and love you to Studio 2 and back!

This picture is crazy fun :)

    

Season Your Words to Taste

Day 300

February 25, 2014

Team Zybko

Colossians 4:6

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I'm working on this. At times I fail to let my thoughts marinate long enough before they come out and speak volumes to people. Honesty is a wonderful thing but don't fail to season your words first. Although I am a french press girl now I can't help but picture a form fitting coffee filter attached to the front of my soccer mom face.

 This verse has proven useful in teaching my younger kids as well. A simple salt shaker sign language at any point during the day reminds them to be sweet to others. Our conversation to one another should be spoken to taste. Yum. 

Hearts From Heaven

Day 299

February 23, 2014

Team Zybko

We see hearts everywhere we go. Instant messages of love as we go about our day. Some are more prominent than others. Even when the heart shaped figures are outlined less than perfectly we know they are indisputably sent for our eyes. A few are taken with my phone so please excuse the clarity. 

These beauties are made of dirt clumps, clouds, leaves, trees, soda tops, pepperoncinis, rocks, bread, chipped pavement, paint smudges and modern art meant to be something else.
Thank you God for your eternal love and the small signs in real life that always bring a smile to my face.

Deuteronomy 11:13

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—

Revelations 1:3

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

1 Peter 1:22

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Psalm 20:14

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Acts 2:26

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Deuteronomy 15:10

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

2 Chronicles  4:16

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Colossians 3:13

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

 Luke 6:45

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in hisheart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Psalm 31:34

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

Because I Was a Fat Kid
And Other Reasons I Bother to Blog
Day 298 
February 22, 2014
Team Zybko

Seriously, why do you spend so much time blogging? Putting your life and dirty laundry out there on the Internet for everyone to see. That's kinda weird dontcha think?

{{Insert a Twix, need a moment?....here}}

Why do I blog....hhhmmmm....do you have a minute? Or several. Ya see, it's not a one sentence answer nor may it be anything you even care about finding out the answer to.
Maybe you accidentally clicked on this link and couldn't give a rats tootie fruitie about why I do what I do, maybe you continue to scroll to fight off insomnia, maybe you are procrastinating scrubbing the toilet or getting dressed for work, maybe you are looking for love in all the wrong places (love that song) maybe I'm an over thinker, maybe run on sentences don't bother me, maybe I'm only talking to myself here, working through some hidden childhood issues or something, who knows. So by chance if you happen to still be swiping down with your thumb on your smart phone as you sit contently on a park bench in Anywhere, USA catching your breathe from the day while ignoring your happy children throwing wood chips at each in a made up friendly game to entertain themselves well, then let me mull it over a minute.

Why do I blog....why do I blog?
Yep, yep. I got it.

 Cause I like it, that's why.

 I think I hear your mom calling you.

 Leave me alone poopie face

Just kidding, I am way more mature than that. 
Duh. The truthful, heartfelt answers to follow.

 I was a fat kid that's why.
 Really, no joke, that's one of the reasons and it's true. Unfortunately I have pictures to prove it. A homemade bowl hair cut coupled with a less that hip wardrobe = not thrilled about how that decade and a half of photo albums played out. 

See, the thing is, when you are an overweight child you receive something the other skinny kids don't.
A special diversion magic wand.
In addition to plus size jeans, friend dates during prom night, baby powder to prevent chaffing you are also conveniently issued a special magic wand to divert attention. Anything to take the eyes away from the Lane Bryant clothing tag and muffin top. My particular wand was run on humor and pixie dust. Not like  Tinkerbell magic pixie dust but the crazy candy powder that came in paper straws. So if you have ever laughed while reading here you can thank the sugary potion and the way I have learned to write my feelings instead of eating them. Better out than in, as they say. Actually, that isn't entirely true but the genius of the Internet is I could have chocolate icing all over the key board and no one would ever know.

I am a Baby Book loser 
I often wonder about those moms who are up to date with baby books for each kid. Are they for real? How do they do it? It' simply crazy talk that's what it is. I bet they actually use their garage to park their car, get laundry put away the same day it hits the washer, never leave the house in their sweats and also alphabetize their pantry. Freaks. Although, I totally and now, not so secretly admit I want to be in that elect group of moms, I am not. I do however have a baby box containing a couple baptismal candles, snack size Ziploc bags stuffed with random hair, all about the same color and a few unmarked, first lost teeth. So kids, if you happen to be reading this after I die. Please stop spending your precious time looking for your very own, super special, no one has one like it, my mommy loves me best baby book. It doesn't' exist. This blog, right here is your documented childhood. Yep, you are welcome.
Pppsssstt..... kids, just for funzies I have hidden my gold tooth in the flour container I used for baking, the one with the blue lid. First one to find it can cash it in. Again, you are so welcome

So out of town family can keep up with us
Unfortunately, I don't actually have much data to support this reason. Maybe no one checks it for updates. Oh, well. I do however want to give a shout out to my Uncle Bill. He is awesome. He is my favorite. I think he reads what I have to say. Uh, hello...Bill. Are you still there....?

I wanted to be Dave Barry when I grew up
Each Sunday I would fight my dad, it wouldn't take long yet it  definitely wore me out as I struggled to win. Shamelessly putting him in a choke hold so I could grab the section of the paper containing Dave Barry's article. Every week I'd find myself excited about my future and lack of school work needed. How cool! You can make big bucks, have fun and an honest living just by being a goof ball? Pretty sure you don't even need to study for that or score high on the SAT's. Write a few paragraphs, make fun of yourself, eat chocolate cake while typing, oh yea, sign me up for that gig. Be careful what you dream and wish for. My SAT scores stunk but I have succeeded in life as a professional goof ball, I just don't get paid for it. Dave Barry made it look so easy.
(To my ex-Marine I mean, always a Marine Dad, don't worry, no one actually believes I beat you up. Thanks for continually allowing me first dibs on the comics too. Love you.) 

Blogging clears my head. 
The feeling of accomplishment and freedom mentally awarded after de-cluttering a messy closest can be a natural high. Cleaner, more organized and less containers of junk is liberating in life. My brain and thoughts aren't much different than boxes of old papers, small mom jeans from a skinnier season and the stack of self help books bought but never read. At the end of the day it feels good to purge the feelings and random items in my brain. Passing along stuff that rolls around and takes up space. Maybe someone out there reads it, relates to it, laughs, understands or even sheds a tear with me. Then again, maybe not. Either way, I have made room for another day, another bunch of memories and space to hang up a size pant that inspires me to eat healthier. 

A place to dump my pictures
I haven't printed out and assembled a photo album in years. Blogging is way less expensive and way more convenient.

Finally, last but not least.
Sharing scripture God has placed on my heart
What inspires me spiritual I want to share. God's word is amazing! He speaks volumes to me through His promises and love letters. Hungry for scripture everyday, first thing in the morning, craving this food even more than chocolate cake. Way more satisfying to the soul too. The best texts I ever get are from friends letting me know a verse posted was exactly what they needed to read.   

Snaps of Real Life

Keeping it Simple

Day 297

February 21, 2014

Team Zybko