Can Marriage Counseling be Tax Deductible?

Seriously. I am sure all the divorces in this country cost us so much money.

Schooling is tax deductible, let's get marriage books, counseling and seminars to be a tax deductible too. Blah. A happy marriage really does make this country a better place. :)

That's why despite the non tax deductible status of marriage books, I will spend some money on buying yet another book. I'm doing it for the country, you know, right?

**This picture is from Flickr. 50th Anniversary. "50th Anniversary. 50 Years coming to this lake each summer. 7 kids. Big Celebration. Big Kiss." By Birdznest Photography

By George, She's Got It

Oh, I've got my Rain in Spain. My diction, my song.

I've been asking for clarity and direction for so long and I think I've found it. This is excellent! I have an idea, for how I could get my Masters, be a Stay-at-Home-Mom, stay in my field of interest and make a positive difference in the world.

Now, I don't know if it will work. But, it might. It just might. I am very thankful to my Father in heaven.

It feels very much like a, "By George, She's Got it" moment.

WOW

LOVING MONDAY!!!!!

I'm just happy for the week to start.

Did you know when Oscar is stressed, he goes on a long run or he cleans up the house.

I LOVE that.

I think its rubbing off, a TINY bit on me.

And I LOVE that even more.

Ok, now, I have to attempt to wake that boy up for school. (meaning my husband) Wish me luck.

*****Oh, and the reason why I am so happy is because I slept in. I've been waking up at 6, but today I slept in until 8 and it was HEAVENLY.

Wine and Cheese Weekly Update

- What has happened this week? I got both of my recommendation letters, God willing that the professors follow through.

- I've worked less (due to one of my kiddos being on vacation).

- It has rained cats and dogs and there has been a bit of flooding and mini tornados in a couple cities over here. (None of it effected me in the least). To me it was just a normal rainy day, but for 6 or 7 days in a row.

- Oscar worked less due to his clients being on vacation.

- We hosted a wine and cheese party for some select friends (picture below). It felt like a smashing success, and it was nice to hang out w/ old friends.

- And I followed the brussel sprout salad recipe from La Grande Orange and it tasted delicious.

- Oscar and I watched the 5th and 6th Harry Potter movies (at his request), but I enjoyed them. I may even read the 7th book again..... tonight. :)

81 Years Old - Thanks Martin Luther King Jr. - Weekly Update

What a wonderful day to celebrate!!!!!!! This man made a great difference in America. He looked at segregation as not just a moral problem, but as a sin problem. He lived his faith and our country is a better place because of him. I am grateful and inspired by his life.









Oscar and I went to go see a tribute to him on Saturday night (after we took Ravi out to a local restaurant). It was quite an experience. We almost didn't go. We were having such a good time with Ravi... I had already bought the tickets online though. So, I borderline "rushed" us out of the restaurant. We were still running really late. Oscar and I decided to drive safely and if we made it, we made it; if we didn't, we would go see a movie.

We were about 10 minutes late. I had never been to this theater before and did not realize it was in a primarily black section of Los Angeles. The surrounding area was low income housing as well. As we were running (yes, we ran) to the theater, some good sumaritans asked us if we were ok or needed any help (mmm, hmmm - it was that kind of a neighborhood, we worried them). We assured them we were fine, just trying to make the play and kept going.

There was a line of people outside trying to get tickets, but since we bought ours online, we went right on in. There were only 4 seats left. We got two of them. It was a wonderful experience. They had six actors who gave different speeches from Martin Luther King Jr. and a gospel choir who sang songs from the time period. It was simply amazing and inspiring. He was a man who lived his faith.

WEEKLY UPDATE
Sunday was a rainy day and we lounged around inside, which was fun. This week had been a stressful one for me and I had been really looking forward to the weekend.

It is getting to the point in the application process where it doesn't seem like I will get any academic recommendation letters. I will give it some time and then I will contact the school to see if exceptions are ever made. It is actually a relief to have the emails all written and be in the waiting process. Now it is time to work on my letter of intent and get all my transcripts mailed in. Golly, this is expensive. But, at least I'm trying. There is no harm in it and it may open up a new chapter of my life (whether I get in, or not).

I would love to update you on other details of my week, but I guess they have blurred. I can't think of any other updates.

Until next week.

Cheerio!

UPDATE: I GOT ONE ACADEMIC RECOMMENDATION LETTER!! :) YAY

Drowning myself in Fluff

It is my horrible avoidance mechanism.

Another word for it is procrastinating. I don't remember if I did it so successfully when I was younger. But, I see very clearly now, that as soon as I become overwhelmed, I feel a strong urge to watch mindless tv shows or romantic comedies on youtube.

It is fluff. It is not a good habit. My hope is that one day I'll be able to switch over to reading the Bible when I'm overwhelmed. OR just doing what I need to do. Maybe that day is today. Will power!!

Bah. This application thing is stressing me out. I don't know if it will come together, but I am going to do as much as I can before Feb. 1st and turn it in regardless. We will see what happens. The clock is ticking.

Have a wonderful Thursday!!

I'm not ready to go.....Weekly Update

My Grandma tells me all the time about her talks with God. She tells me that she tells him she's not ready to go yet. She wants more time with her family.

Well, I sure hope she gets it. I talk to her on the phone several times a week (on a good week).

Her Birthday party was this past Saturday. She is 93 years old. Oscar was sick, so couldn't go. It was Hawaiian themed and really was a wonderful party. My sister made a slideshow with old pictures of my Grandma and family, up until recent years. It was very special for everyone and most of us had tears in our eyes at one point or another.

I talked to her tonight about having kids. Haha. Cheski, I told her about you - how you were pregnant. Asked her how much information I should send you, etiquette wise. I asked her about her pregnancies. How long she waited, what made her want to have children. She said her husband (my Grandfather) never wanted to have kids. But, how wonderful for her that in her old age she is the matriarch of a family. I don't even know what will happen to us when she is not here. She holds us all together.

Anyways, moving on. Here are some pictures.




















From the Party:
On another note: I guess, I will continue my update. I've been applying to Grad School. The application is due Feb. 1st. So, I am trying to get everything finished and in (last minute, of course!).

I've also been listening to my Rush Hour Spanish CDs in the car, which put Spanish words into fun little songs that I can sing along to.

Reading Baby books.

And.....knowing desperately that I need to do more eHow. But, also workout, read the Bible and pray more. Working out just hasn't happened ONCE since the New Year (unless you count me moving the furniture in the house around).

I am still cooking dinner form scratch nearly every night though.

Oooh, Time. Oooh, 2010. Right now, I am loving you so. Don't pass by too quickly, or change too dramatically.

Until the next post, or until next week. Francine

New Years Weekly Update

I've been dreading this update.

mmm, that's a bad way to start. How about this............HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I've been looking forward to 2010, since January 2009, and now that it is here, I am not sure what to do with it.

To be completely honest, I approached it with a bit of trepidation. However, 2009 became 2010 without a hitch and I am past that now. I just had a feeling that this may not be the year of hope so many people want it to be. I wanted so much to look forward to the new year, but had a feeling of impending doom. Fear. That's what it is called - FEAR!!

Moving on..........

Oscar had a guys' get away for New Years in VEGAS!!! It looked like a lot of fun (Oscar took LOTS of videos). I guess on New Year's Eve everyone crowds outside and there are fireworks and a huge countdown. I could feel the energy through the camera.

Anyways, while he was gone, I had the time of my life. I hate to say it, but I totally did. I ate junk food and spent way too much time soaking in a hot bath with candles, curling my hair, doing makeup. All the stuff, people typically do when they get to be completely and utterly selfish. It was so much fun.

The morning of New Year's, I drove over to the Rose Parade and saw the floats before they went on the parade route. It was absolutely beautiful - like Disneyland. And the best part is that, really, only the locals (or at least few select people) knew that we could walk among the floats before the parade began and take pictures (just 5 feet away).

Unfortunately, Oscar had my camera and I left the disposable at home. We paid to go see the floats up close a couple days later when Oscar came home though.

What else? mmm. I bought a couch. By myself. Without asking Oscar. Then redecorated our living room. It finally looks cozy and nice (at least partially). Oscar and I both love it. It was quite an adventure getting the sofa here without a strong man to help me. I felt very independent and strong. :)

Since the weekend madness, I've cooked an old Mexican Shrimp dish that was Oscar's Dad's recipe and Orange chicken, our kitchen plumbing leaked and got backed up which led to shrimp shells, onions, etc. floating in our bathtub and bathroom sinks (which led to me meeting a very nice plumber). I've been studying Spanish (a goal, not necessarily a New Year's Resolution), and trying to get unsoar from carrying the sofa in and moving the furniture around.

Oh yes, and Bella escaped. We are letting her go. Unless she decides to come home to us. I miss her, but feel relief that she is gone. Here are some pictures to match up with the update. :)