Whittaker Woman

This Always Happens!

I am dead to the world. Enjoying my warm cozy bed in the depths of the night then it hits, MOMMY! MOMMMMYYY! I GOT TO GO POTTY! I GOT TO GO POTTY! (cry here and there) I get up and take Sohaila to the bathroom. I keep all lights off and feel my way around. Unlike Carlos who can lay back down and within seconds his snoring resumes, I am one of those who it takes a while to fall back asleep. We do business I lay back down and then it happens. My mind woke up. Its running, racing. It is in so many places I am getting tired. But I don't know what to do. I just lay there. Waiting for the race to slow down. It doesn’t. What am I going to pack for Vegas, Ooo its still raining I wonder when it will stop,  I need to mop the kitchen, Will those black boots look good with my new dress? What hotels are a must to see. I wonder if I will have lunch with my aunt. I need to pack. What time will Carlos get home today? What time will we leave? I need to call the school, I need to clean the car. When is Carmen going to get here? AHHH make it stop. I get up to see what time it is. 5:30 by the time I settle myself it will be light and there’s not going back when the sun rises I make the decision to stay up. I have to find a time to sleep or Starbucks here I come. Vegas or bust.

esday.

We are headed to Vegas Tuesday.  How much cash should Carlos be allowed to waste at the craps table?  Tell Me.
H

Take a bite out of crime.

FamilyWatchdog.us
I saw this on Oprah a few months back and never got around to looking at it. I know we have all heard of if not looked at one of those maps that put a red flag on a location where a sex offender is living. What drew me in for hours to this sight was the pictures that came along with the flag. You can click on flag and the picture of the offender is displayed. Kinda trippy. Some offenders look just like the image  you think of when you hear rappist, others look like your neighboor, dad or doctor. Just remember we all fall short of the GLORY of God. They are all humans who are just lost in pain. But without a doubt I want to be aware of the people who I am around. There is a man who lives on my parents street who was convicted of sex with a minor. Ouch. Check it out you'll get hooked.

Yesterday was my Uncle’s funeral. He passed away last Saturday. As a child I was close to my Uncle Larry. He was my dad’s only brother and as often as I would visit my dad I would see my uncle. After my dad passed and time went on my relationship with my uncle was lost. I think I saw him 2 times in the past 4 years. What is wonderful about life to me, is that people (family or not) are apart of your lives for a period of time. Some longer than others but during those moments the memories that you create will travel with you for the remainder of your life. This picture of my uncle and me sums up my wonderful memories of my uncle.
We would go out deep-sea fishing, Those memories of the boats, the smells and the experience will always be with me. I will cherish those moments with my Uncle Larry forever.  Thanks Uncle Larry for the moments we shared. H

Family day

These are the days I live for.  My girls, my man, the mountains, and the cold there is nothing else that would describe a better day. Well ok add Starbucks to the list but besides that it was a perfect day.

 
    

STORM WATCH 2006!

Today was the second day of the second “storm” of the season. Yes it is almost the first of March and Riverside has seen three days where it has “rained”. For those of you who are not from So Cal our definition of rain is when three drops of precipitation hits the windshield. When there are light showers the news cameras spread out all over the LA Basin on street corners showing what rain looks like. To me its all the same but for some reason light rain means STORM WATCH! God forbid an actual storm comes through and it rains all day.
Sometimes I think that my children have experienced the little things that I did when I grew up. Rain for example. I was raised in Fresno where rain is a weekly occurrence in the winter.  You don’t  think about it, it just happens. No big deal. Well today it hit me that my babies will see life differently than me. They are being shaped by the Inland Empire. You see this morning we were getting ready for church. The rain came down for about 25 minutes then it cleared up, but when we went outside the ground was still wet. My was freaked out that the ground was wet. She stood on the porch  yelling “Ground Wet, Ground Wet” She refused to walk on the ground. I had to carry her to the church. Did I mention it was because of the rain. I laugh at the new reporters who are making such a bid fuss over the rain yet in my very own  house I have one.  Life makes me laugh.

There's nothing that scream "I'm a mom" than cleaning up puke! and I dropped Sohaila off at school  then headed out to look for shoes. We stopped by the drive through of Chick fil A when it happened. "I gonna shrow up " She cried from the back seat. Then if flowed, twice, followed by screams. I am in the drive through so I could'nt do much. Once we pulled thought i stopped and shook out the blanket that had yogurt chunks covering it.  As I cleaned up the vomit of another person I rejoiced in my motherhood. Truth be told I know there will be a day where I will long to be cleaning up a childs puke. I treasure every moment.

Girls just wanna have fun!

Theres just something about being with girl friends. A day shopping, chatting and then having a wonderful West Coast Christian girls night really made my day. My man was great and will do the world for me. I am so lucky. Random thoughts for a special day. Thanks girls for the fun! H

Do you have days where you keep writting than deleating, writting than deleating? I am drained, and tired. My kids worked me over today and i cant think of anything to write. Instead I'll ask for some thoughtless advice. We are planning a trip to Vegas, Does anyone have any good tips.  Does anyone have any suggestions for  any great resturants on or off the strip? What about dance clubs? Good shows, or secrets that you know about sin city? Please let us know. We have the hotel booked and that is it. Help me! H

Week 6

Nothing exciting for two weeks, I want to see some sticks go up!

Nashville to Newport

I am living the life. One day in Nashville the next on the waves of the pacific. I went sailing today with some good friends Jim and Martina.  We went off the coast of Newport in search for some wild life which we saw none, but none the less it was a wonderful peaceful day. My man played Mr. Mom which was great. He even gave them a bath! I know ladies, but its to late he's mine!

Our Crew

Jim and Martina are so great! Thanks for such a great day!

My Proper Pastors Wives.
Joey and Jamilla, if you don't know their story click here. 

Jason and Melissa came too. She is a kick, Passionate about life, politics she is full of joy and would never hurt anyone.

Look at some of these homes.
This house reminds me of some homes in the south. Just Californiaized.


Yeah the house to the right is our summer vacation house. :)
 

I found a true southern house straight out of Nashville. Brick and all.

New pics for an old blog

My friend Rachel sent me these pictures. I posted them on the day they happened but i loved them so i am posting them again.

Eggs, toast, grits with cheese and sweet tea all at 6am. Yummm.

We spent two hours in the Dwarf House (the first chick fil a) and had a wonderful time. Rachel me and Angela We were asked if we were sisters. When I am with Rachel alone i get the same question, and once and awhile with Angela alone we get asked, but today it was all of us. " Are Ya'll sistas?"

  We had a great time for two days. I am so greatful for Carlos and his life in Georgia. My life is so full with so many people i would have never known.

We're home...

Ok so maybe we went over board. I decided to make bread with the girls.
And Carlos made a castle in our closet where they read about princes and dragons. Did we try to buy their love today. Maybe but it was worth every hug and kiss we bought.

My man

We touched down around 11 this morning in the good ol' IE (Home). It has been a wonderful week even thought it was jammed packed. I loved going to a conference where I am able to meet other woman who fill the same shoes as I do. I love be reminded that God is pleased with all styles of Worship. But what I love the most is seeing my man get full, challenged and excited to push harder. Not many people know how to challenge my man in a way that he responds to. Many try and try (including myself) to make him reach farther, to dream bigger and to use what we know he has, but we fail. I saw this weekend what i already knew. He is relational. When people BELIEVE in him he BELIEVES in himself. He gets excited, he wants to manage, change things and thrive. I love it. So often people (including myself) remind him over and over, we ask him over and over, we plead with him over and over yet he does not change, reach or dream. Why? Well that was answered for me this weekend.  When we remind, ask and plea in a manner that tells him that we (I) don't believe in him, and so he doesn’t try.
This week was full of other men Believing in my man, and he began to dream. If you only saw the list he was making on the plane ride home. He stopped playing his PS2 to write a list. Yeah you heard me right. He was so excited. So ready to move and change that he had to get it on paper. I love to see Carlos his fullest. It’s sexy. I am in love. He is my man. I know that with him this full Satan is going to try to bring him down. Pray Pray with me for Gods Child to use what he has discovered this week.

First response.

This is my question.  When you see these what do you think? Whats your first response? I have driven from Atlanta to Nashville, from Atlanta to Savannah, Atlanta to Miami. I have experienced highways and explored back-roads, and each time I am here in the South I question one thing. What's with the Steeples? We  all know the hand motions to "Here's the church, heres the steeple, look inside and see all the people." But I don't understand them. The people here don't think twice about it. They see them everyday, it's part of their culture, its normal. But I am not from here. I am born and raised Californian. And so each time I travel around the South I wonder why are the steeples so stinken Huge?  Why does every church have one. Its like they are boys comparing "Mines bigger than yours" They just are bigger and bigger. I dont get it. Where do you stand? What's  your initial response. Are they normal or do they look like mormon churches? Look how big this one is. See the second telephone pole that one is in front of the church. See it in comparison it is tiny. 

34 hours and counting

It has been 34 hours since my head hit a pillow, but what a beautiful 34 hours it has been. Carlos and I took a red-eye flight to Atlanta last night. Once we landed in Atlanta Carlos took another flight to Nashville while i got off and had my WONDERFUL friend Angela pick me up. She was going to drive up and visit us in Nashville so i decided to get off and ride with her. We went to the original Chick fil A for breakfast with my other Dear friend Rachel. We spent two hours catching up and just enjoying each other. Then Angela and I began the four hour car ride. Angela (Terriblespeller.blogspot.com) and her husband Eric (double3.com) lived their first two years of marriage in Nashville so I got a personal tour of the town. We had such a wonderful day. The culture here is so different. The houses are so beautiful and full of history. I wish i could take the richness of the culture and past to Cali. But i would not ever leave the West coast. I'm a California Girl true and true. And this California girl is going to bed...

How does disney do it.

We need to learn from Disney somehow they have been able to captivate my daughters minds to be sold out for Cinderella, Bell and Sleeping Beauty. They have spread the good news of castles and fairytales and my daughters have converted. They are born again princesses. It came to its head this weekend. This past week Carlos got another tattoo.  ( for more info on it visit his blog at los.typepad.com) Anyways Sohaila came to  him and said "Daddy when i grow up I'm going to get a princess tattoo" Disney she is ready to committ. She is ready to ink herself and stand bold, proud of her beliefs. Disney how do you do it?

This is for you Nate

It was about a month ago when my friend Nathan asked me what my top 10 songs were. I took some time listening to all my itunes, and narrowed my list to 64. What!  I tried to pick my absolute favorites but I guess I had more work to do.  This was going to take some time. I had to weed out some great songs, but after all the debating I present  my  top 10 song list.
Nate this is for  you. 

The Dance  by   Garth Brooks   
Besides the beauty of the piano in the beginning, this song makes me happy. It takes me home. If you don't know this I grew up in Clovis which is a small town connected to Fresno. If you are from Clovis you might not agree with me here, but I grew up in the country. The Boondocks. I am a cowgirl at heart so the 3 minutes and 41 seconds that this song plays I am back in Clovis the country.  Another reason I love this song is because I went to my first  dance with my friend Chad, and they played this song.

Black Water    by    The Doobie Brothers    
I love classic rock. I grew up listening to it. This one song for what ever reason sticks out to me. After my dad died I heard this song and it just reminded me of  him so i hold it dear to my heart.

Bellagio    by    All Too Little 
If you have never seen this water show you have missed part of west coast culture. It is breath taking. The main song of the water show is Bellagio it is just as breath taking as the show. Carlos knew i loved this song so one night he bought it for me with out me knowing and set up our stereo to have it blaring  as the alarm the next morning. It was just a wonderful surprise.

The live version of Callin' Baton Rouge    by  Garth Brooks   
Now I only love the live version. It moves me. Garth Brooks is defiantly in my top three of favorite artists. This song makes me want to be there. Engulfed in the passion of his music.

Like a Virgin    by    Madonna   
Come on it's Madonna . She rocks. I know the song says "touched for the very first time." But get over it. I love it. How can  you not bust a move to this song.

The Power of Love    by    Céline Dion   
Ok I know Cheesy. But there is an explanation. This song was popular in 1994.   I was a teen full of emotions dealing with death and love at the same time. This song just reminds me of those moments in time.

Roller Skates    by    Steel Pulse   
I love this CD.

He Didn't Have to Be    by    Brad Paisley   
Tears fell the first time I heard this song. Not only is it a beautiful song it's my life. I have been blessed to have two dads. One dad didn't have the choice but one did. My dad chose me. Not only did he choose me he loved me,  loved me in a way i never felt anything less  than his own child. Thanks Pa for showing me true love.

Thief    by    Third Day    Contagious   
Carlos first introduced me to Third Day. This is my favorite song. God's Grace.

Senorita    by    Justin Timberlake
I love Justin! We blasted this song right before we climbed Half Dome two years ago. I can smell the pine trees, feel the cool mountain air and see the beautiful Yosemite Valley out my window. Thanks Justin.

I know some songs are weird. Most are because of the memories they bring. But its my list.
Whats yours. If you can't give me all 10 give me your top 3.

My 25 year old

I had a burst of energy and an inquisitive spirit when my cold feet hit the ground this morning.  The Whittaker Girls decided to play beauty shop. was the victim.

She was born with bone straight hair.                 

It wasn’t until her first birthday that we began to see a slight curl.

One year later we have this...

On a good hair day the curls fall perfect and tight.

Her hair keeps growing and growing but it never gets any longer. Its stuck at her shoulders. Today as she took her bath I took notice how long it was, it fell past her mid back. Did you hear me. Mid back. Wow how did I miss that? Anyways that is when the beautician rose up and I decided to blow dry her hair. And this is what we got. A 25 year old trapped in my 2 year old.