Takin Care of Business

Hi Friends! Time to get caught up on the past week! It's been busy, but super wonderful!

Irvine Football has started up again, which keeps my pretty busy. This year I have a lot of responsibility which is perfectly fine because my school schedule is very light right now. I  purposely made it that way because I love football so much, I never want to miss it! ;) Anthony is playing both JV and Varsity this year, so I am going to 2-3 games a week if you count the Freshman games. Though, that's nothing new to me. When Anthony was a Freshman, Armand was both JV and Varsity, so I'm used to it! So, JV played on Friday in South Torrance and lost 21-3 which was a bummer, but they played their hearts out, so it was a great game to watch! Anthony played both OL & DL, so he was exhausted by the end of the game. Thank goodness Carrie Whitsell brought snax for them to eat on the bus ride home!

Saturday was the 1st Varsity game of the season and I am now in charge of coordinating the pre-game meals, so I was at the school from 1:00 til about 11:00pm. There are a select group of us moms and dads that devote our time and energy to the program and are willing to make sacrifices, even if it means we don't get to enjoy all the bells and whistles. The satisfaction on our boys' faces makes it all worth it. So, our 1st meal was tailgate style and we grilled burgers and sausages for the boys. It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun! Then we had family pictures, which I cannot wait to see! Sadly, Armand had to miss it though because of work. :(

I got a partial delivery of the football garb...aka spirit wear....that I get to rummage through this evening and sort them out according to orders taken. There are already 5 boxes full and that's only about 1/5 of everything. Pretty soon my living room and dining room will look like football vomited in my house! Love it! This year is a bit sad for me though because I need to find a replacement. It's been 5 years since I started running garb and it's like my baby. But, Anthony's gonna be a senior next year, so I want to find someone to shadow me this year so that I can give them the reigns and actually watch my boy play for his final season. So far, I've got no takers though. uh-oh...looks like I might just have to stay! ;)

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of 9/11. At church we had a short little memorial and I lost it. I haven't cried that hard in an really long time! Then, pastor mentioned that as a result of 9/11, my baby boy Armand was saved! I remember it so clearly. The 3 kids were downstairs watching Cartoon Network and I was in the boys' room watching the news footage from the attacks. I was sobbing not only at the realization of all the hurting people in the world who had lost loved ones, but at the realization of the thousands that had lost their lives without a chance to trust the Lord. Armand came upstairs and saw me crying and immediately tried to console me. He was rubbing my back and asking me what was wrong. I shared with him why I was so sad and we discussed what it meant to be a Christian. He asked Jesus into his life at that very moment. 9/11/01 will never be forgotten, but neither will 9/12/01.
After church I came home and crashed hard until 7:30 when Anthony came in and asked me for dinner! I'm guessing I needed the rest!

Today after school, I went and applied for Healthy Families and found out that I qualify! I am so excited because I can finally get Anthony back on his medication, Amythyst can get her teeth fixed and Armand can get new glasses!! Hoorayy! No insurance for me, but I'm totally okay with that. The kids are priority 1! So excited! God is good!!

Well, that's all I have time for right now. Catch you up later when I'm done takin care of business!

TTFN~kel

Enjoy the Silence

Well, today was back to school for Irvine High! So, I got up early to send my little munchkins off to their first day! Anthony as a Junior and Amythyst as a Freshman!

I have always been the one to protest back to school, kicking and screaming because I know that when school is in, I have to be the meanie mom and force them to do homework and get to bed early and so on and so on. Well, today was not like any other first day of school! I got up and got the kids to school and gave Armand the car so he could get to work and it suddenly dawned on me! I was home alone and had HOURS to be just me! WHAT?!?! That's impossible, or so I was beginning to believe! The first day of school instantly became my new best friend! Don't get me wrong, I love my babies and there is nothing in the world that could ever make me love being a mom any more or less than I do, but peace and quiet has become a precious commodity around this place!

Sooooo....here's what my day looked like: I moved all the furniture and vacuumed under it and sprayed for fleas (ick!), then I did 3 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned out the hallway closet, sorted out some clothes to give away, played around on facebook for a minute while enjoying some coffee and handled some football business and BAM! Just like that, the alone time was done! But it was the perfect amount of time for me!

Then I went to Irvine High School to sell some garb at the Freshman football game! Dang, can those boys play! Irvine beat South Torrance 44-6! It was very exciting! I sure hope that is an indicator as to what the season's gonna look like across the board! Tomorrow is the JV game and it's away. Thank goodness for teammates that are willing to carpool!

Amythyst had a great first day of high school, aside from getting LOST twice! OY! But she had a wonderfully chipper attitude when I picked her up and she is in her room doing homework right now! Anthony had a great day as well. They had the wings ceremony tonight for football! (that's when they put the stickers on their helmets) We had an amazing dinner and now, we're all chillin!

I hope tomorrow's a little bit cooler! Catch ya on the flip side!

Back to Reality

Well friends, this is it! Armand and I have been in school for a couple weeks now and it's been a slow transition. Armand and I have been sharing the car and it is working out just fine. I invested in a cheap little cruiser so that I can ride my bike to school on the days that he has to work early. I am taking 12.5 units and Armand is taking 8.5 units. Classes were hard to get into this semester because there is a massive influx of students since the universities are turning students away due to budget cuts. Two of Armand's professors are ones that I also had my 1st semester, so that is very exciting!

Amythyst and Anthony start back this Thursday!! I am normally not a fan of back to school season, but this year has me pumped! I'm ready for a steady schedule, even if it's busy, at least it will be consistent.

Football Season is upon us and I couldn't be happier!! Anthony will be playing both JV & Varsity this year, so he is very excited for those Friday Night Lights! He recently collided with a teammate and busted open his eye. He had to get 7 stitches, and now has a real pretty scar below his left eyebrow! Yay! Bragging rights! *sigh* He got Megan Brophy for his cheerleader and I just adore her! He will be a junior and is ready to take school seriously. I am hopeful that this will be a transitioning year and he will be able to make huge strides toward graduation.

Amythyst is ready to start High School! She has been working hard at who she wants to be. She has been experimenting with make-up and is doing a beautiful job. She also got Violet colored contacts! :O She has incorporated combat boots into her wardrobe this year and, I must admit, she looks adorable. We will be dying her hair black this evening. I am hopeful that she will find something of interest in high school. My biggest fear as a parent is not being able to prevent my kids from making the same poor choices I made. So far, so good, I just don't want this to be the year that everything falls apart. Wish me tons of luck and say lots of prayers....I need em!

Well, that's all for now! Talk soon!

TTFN~kel

He Got It!!

Hooorayyyy!!! Armand got the job!! He went for his interview and his boss already knew right away that he was gonna offer him the job! So so soooo proud!

2nd Interview

So, this afternoon my baby boy will have his 2nd job interview at Chick-fil-A! His 1st interview was sort of a panel interview! Call me crazy, but that's a whole heck of a lot more than I would have EVER guessed or expected from a fast food chain! I am so thrilled for my boy that he is getting this much exposure and experience just from one job prospect! GO ARMAND!

Last night I received the package I've been waiting for!! Armand and Meg's "Scenic" Senior Portraits!! Hoorayyy!! They all came out so beautifully! I created a Graduation Announcement and will be sending them out next month! Here is a sneak peek.....

Awwwwes....my handsome baby boy is growing up and getting all manly on me! I <3 you Armand!

Anthony's band auditioned for Irvine High School's benefits concert and guess whaaaat??? THE MADE IT!! Yayyyy!! They will be playing an 'Explosions in the Sky' song during intermission! I'm so proud!! Way to go Anthony....you sooooo ROCK!!

I've got a feeling that 2011 is going to be a GREAT year! We're already off to a wonderful start! Hooray for SPRING!! My favorite season! <3

Found a Precious Gem

I have found that as I get older, it gets harder and harder to make friends. If you don't have friends that you have been friends with for a lifetime, it becomes more and more difficult. I mean, I am a personable person and have many many acquaintances, but true friends are few and far between. I have 2 or 3..well no, maybe 1 or 2 people that I can pour my heart out to. Unfotrunately, 1 of the 2 is out of state. Once and a while, someone will come into your life that you know was hand delivered to your doorstep by God. That has happened to me this month. I have met a few women that I've been able to bond with, but one of them I had lunch with today and just know in my heart of hearts that I have found a precious gem of a friend! I can sense that we are going to be friends til the end! We will be BFF's til we die. Our stories are so similar it's frightening. We were finishing eachother's sentences, we wept and laughed and both kept getting goosebumps from God's presence! I can't wait to see what transpires! I just may have found my business partner, too!! Thank You Lord!

Prayer for today...received this in my inbox

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day ("who really ought to get a job") is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day That of all the gifts you give us Lord, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. 

It's all happeninnnng...

Well friends, it's all happening for my baby boy. He's growing up right before my eyes. We enrolled him at Irvine Valley College (IVC) on Thursday and he took his placement test this morning @7am. Then, he got a message from Chick-fil-A that they want to schedule an interview with him for sometime on Monday! YIPPEE!! I'm so excited for him! He also put in an app for Best Buy, but with Chick-fil-A, at least he will not have to request Sundays off...he has no choice! HAHA!! I'm so super excited for the boy! I know he really truly wants that job, so I really truly want him to have it. Best Buy would be more cool and fun, but hey, he can always look elsewhere once he gets the experience he needs!

GO BUBBA! I am soooo proud of you! xoxoxox

Work and work

Armand is applying for a JOB!!! He's filling out the online application for Best Buy right now!! Oh lord, please hear our cry and open doors for this boy! Lead him where YOU want him to be. Thank you! <3

Life is good

So much is going on that I find it hard to get it all out in writing! Oh well, *deep breath* here goes.....

Well, since my last post on Friday...I ended up staying up until 2am preparing for my first outside Scentsy party. There was just so much to get in order! I enjoyed doing it, but it made me realize that I am a workaholic....no if's and's or but's about it! I realize I need to monitor my working hours and work strategically so that I am working smarter, not harder.  

Anyways, the party on Saturday was more successful than I had anticipated, so I am thrilled about that. There were more guests than we had originally anticipated and some of them really did some shopping! My girlfriend was elated! After the party, I stopped by my mom and dad's house. Both of them have been sick lately and the outlook is not so sunny for either of them. Dad just celebrated his 90th Birthday, and mom is not far behind him. They are not my birth parents. I lost them many years ago. In fact, I was 1 when my dad died and 19 when my mom died. My pseudo parents adopted me into their family when we met at church. That was nearly 9 years ago. I don't call them anything other than mom and dad although they are old enough to be my grandparents. My kids get to enjoy them as grandma and grandpa, so for that I am eternally thankful, since they don't have any birth grandparents. Anyways, mom fell in October of 2010 and cracked hear skull. Aparently she has fluid on her brain that caused dizzy spells and she would just faint. She was in the hospital and in therapy for what seemed like forever. Her daughters were here with her at the hospital and refused to let outside visitors come and see her...especially me because I pose as a threat to them, I guess. At the time all of this was going on, my dad was recovering from chemo and radiation treatments and was very weak, so he was struggling just to get through the motions of the day, let alone taking care of his wife that was hospitalized. In the midst of all of this, my dad's brother decided to pass away leaving dad to have to take care of funeral arrangements and settling the estate! My poor dad was in a whirlwind with all this stuff going on! Of course if you asked him how he was doing, he would give you his standard answer of "mean as ever" which is a comical answer because he doesn't have a mean bone in his body! Anyways, it has been a very difficult couple months and it was wonderful to spend time with them!! Dad's cancer levels are off the scale bad, so mom is worried that he's not got much longer. Be strong dad..I love you! <3

Sunday was church and it was such an amazing time!! Band practice went very well in the morning, then it was time for Sunday School. When I walked into the room at 9:05, Jeremy (our prospective new youth pastor) was already getting the class underway and by 9:10 we were already in opening prayer!! HALLELUJAH!! The lesson stayed right on topic and I never once had to reel him in! He dug right into the lesson at hand and brought it in such a way that was totally relevant and youthful and funny and serious and challenging.....EXACTLY what I have been praying for! With this man in charge, I never ever EVER have to worry again that this youth group is not getting what they need! They need to be fed and that is exactly what they got yesterday! God is so GOOD! On top of that Jeremy and Katie went forward and joined the church family!!! *tear* I am so excited! God is faithful and answers prayers...always! Thank You Lord!

In other news, I was excited at church because the man that I suspect God has delivered for me came to church. He has been there a few times and then disappeared for a couple weeks, so I was kind of bummed. But....when I saw him yesterday, I was so happy! I introduced him to mom and dad and welcomed him into the family! HAHA! Oh...also, Emily Powell was here for a visit! She will be here all week and we're all so excited!! She cane over last night and we hung out for a bit and we're all going to meet with the entire youth group at Chik-fil-A on Tuesday night! YAY! Then she'll be there for Wednesday night Fuel and then she leaves on Friday ={ We love and mis you Emily Powell! Life is not ever gonna be the same without you! OH!! I almost forgot! I am super duper stoked because I found out last night that Emily will be coming back for VBS in July!! HOOORAYYYY!!!!

Today has been a lazy day so far, but I am stoked to be able to work from home! I get to close out my friend's party from Saturday and I've been able to create some customer letters and help one of my recruits and all kinds of stuff....it's been good! But now....it's time for a shower!! TTYL!

Amazingness!!

This has been a great day so far! Getting business done with Scentsy, had a lunch date with another football mom at the most amazing fresh Mexican restaurant called Sharkey's at the District in Irvine! YUMMO!! We bonded over lunch and have come to the conclusion that we are both SURVIVORS of circumstance!! <3 Then, I went to my Scentsy sponsor's house and got a bunch of business building documents that are going to help me jump start my bizz!! YAYY!! Then, I came home after a few hours out to discover that my MEG (my son's girlfriend) was acceted to Azusa Pacific University (APU)...the college she has been waiting for! The college that she has poured all of her time and energy into! The only college she even really cares about being accepted into. She has spent so many hours praying and crying and reminding herself that she needs to wait for God and that He would work it all out for her! Trying so hard to not be anxious about anything! In fact, we had a meeting just yesterday and spent some time in prayer and we talked about how she needed to let go and let God! Then today she gets the news!! That to me is just so incredible!! God really is so good and still answers prayer!! I also found out that our prospective new youth leader is going to hang out with my boys tomorrow so that his wife can come to my Scentsy party at Leora's!! That is so awesome and exactly what I have been praying for! Someone that is willing to invest their time in our kids and build relationships! YESSS!!! Again, God is good and still answers prayer!!

On a totally unrelated topic...I got a sneak peek at Armand's Senior Portraits that we took in Lake Forest with Adam Howard! I can't decide which one I like better...but from what I've seen, it's between these two for Graduation Announcements:

So there you have it..which one is your fave? I'm torn between the two, but apparently I will be receiving a disc with over 100 photos!! Eeegads!! What am I gonna do then?!?!? HAHA!!

Okay, now it's time to go take care of some more business! I'm leading my very first Scentsy party on my own tomorrow! So much to do to prepare! Later Gators! <3

My Side Of The Closet?

Welcome to my side of the closet! When I was a teenager, I lived with one of my friends and she used to wear my clothes all the time. When people asked her where she got her outfit, she would simply reply "Kelli's Side of the Closet" and that stuck with me all these years! I have multiple blogs that are dedicated to specific aspects of my life. But not this bog...no sirree....this blog is wholly dedicated to the life and times of the Kellgirl. Wanna know what my favorite color is? It's purple. Wanna know what my favorite tyoe of shoe is? TOMS adn Dr. Martens. Wanna know what my favorite band is? Duran Duran and mewithoutYou. Wanna know what I did today? I lazied around and enjoyed my day off. Wana know what I'm stressed about? Sending my baby off to college. These are the types of ramblings you will find here! A little bit of this, and a little bit of that! YUP! That about sums it up!

Oh....btw....does this Green Monster Paramore t-shirt look like Totoro to anybody else? Jussss sayin....