Feast or Famine

One thing we have learned from Brad working in commercial and residential construction is that the work comes in cycles; either he is so busy that he doesn't know how he will get all the work done, or there is no work and we wonder how we will pay our bills.  It has taught us how to manage our time and money so that in the slow times, we are prepared.

Cole and I are discovering that show business also falls into the same category.  Cole is either so busy that we don't know how we will get everything done or there is nothing going on and we are both going crazy with boredom.

This past week was no exception.  We started off on Monday with nothing planned and by Friday, we were running all over town like a wild hyena.  Oh well, I did enjoy one whole day of laying by the pool catching up on my reading.

Sunday night, we went to the LA Short Film Festival where Cole and Freya's film "Sticks & Stones" was shown.  We had so much fun but I am definitely getting too old to stay out late.

Coppelia, Kate and Cole.

Spencer had a quiet week last week too and it drives him crazy!  Thankfully, this week is full of plans for him.  I am counting down the days until he comes out here!

Love, love, love this picture of Spencer and Gigi.

Cole's friend, Robert, flies in tonight and will be spending the week with us so we will be doing all things touristy.  

Hope you all have a great week.

"Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

~Proverbs 16:3 

Another Wrap & Fun with Friends

Last week passed with a blur and I can't believe this weekend is already over.

Cole wrapped his new Pilot Thursday night and we got home around 12:30 a.m.  I had grand designs on sleeping in Friday morning but it was not to be...Cole had an audition that he had to put on tape and then a commercial audition in Santa Monica Friday afternoon at 3:30.  For those of you who don't know, the drive to Santa Monica is never a good drive but it is even worse on Friday afternoon.  Oh well, it only took us 4 1/2 hours to drive the 17 miles there, have the audition and make it back home.

Spencer has been keeping busy in Little Rock thanks to some awesome friends.  My friend, Karen, picked him up Friday morning and took him to her house to love on her fur babies...

so much fun.

Thank you, sweet Karen, for providing a fun outing for Spencer.

Coppelia and Freya finally returned to the condo after a long holiday in England.  We haven't seen them since the end of April so we stayed up late catching up on everything going on in our world and theirs.  

Saturday, my friend Sean whom I haven't seen in 25 years (!), was in town so Cole and I spent the afternoon with him and his fabulous friends.  We ate and told stories from high school; I could have stayed all day and all night but someone had a script to learn and plans with friends (not me).

Finally, today was a true day of rest.  After church this morning I donned my swimsuit, grabbed a book that has been calling my name and spent the afternoon either sleeping or reading by the pool.  I didn't lift a finger to do anything (Freya made dinner!) and it was definitely what I needed.  I finally feel energized enough to start back exercising tomorrow but, of course, we'll see what my body thinks when the alarm goes off in the morning. ;)

We have a relatively quiet week and I am hoping it stays that way.  I am so ready for Brad and Spencer to make their way to the West Coast but looks like I will have to wait another month.  Boo.

I hope you all had a great week and a fabulous Father's Day. 

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers."

~Psalms 103:13

Challenged

I constantly find myself challenged in all aspects of my life: being out of my comfort zone in LA instead of AR; trying to juggle being a wife and Mom to half of my family in AR and half of us in LA; and, finally and one of my biggest challenges, being directionally challenged.  As in, I get lost EVERY DAY!

We have been at the Fox Studios this week and it is a huge complex. Every building looks the same...like a Brownstone walk-up in NYC.  Today, I walked around for 42 minutes looking for Cole's set.  When I finally located the building, I realized this picture was on the side...

Ah ha!  Now, all I have to do is look for the picture and go in the door directly under Marilyn's shoes!

A fun "challenge" we have this weekend is taking care of sweet baby Kenna...

Ninety pounds of pure muscle and lots of love.

And the quickest tongue in the West!

All he wants to do is chase squirrels and have his tummy rubbed.  I sure hope he wants to sleep with Cole tonight and not me because he is definitely a bed-hogger.

It is 9:05 p.m. PST and Cole is diligently working on school work.  Our weekend will be full of walks in the park, chasing balls and studying for finals.  Guess which one will be Kenna and me and which one will be Cole?!  Do you have a busy weekend planned?

"I am at peace and even take pleasure in any weaknesses...for the sake of the Anointed because when I am at my weakest, He makes me strong."

~2 Corinthians 12:10

A BIG Surprise!

Most of you know that CBS made the decision to cut Cole's role on "The Miller's", the pilot he filmed in April.  And, most of you know how devastated we all were when we heard the news.  But, as time went on, we looked at the situation as a total learning experience and made decisions about what to do and what not to do in the future.  One thing we decided was that when Cole booked another Pilot, we would not say anything until the Pilot was picked up by the network and he was guaranteed to be on the show.

Well....we have been back in LA for one week and guess who has booked another Pilot?  Yep, Mr. Cole.  And guess who is NOT giving you any details about it until it is picked up by the network?  That's right, even if it is picked up, I still may not say anything until the show has been on air for one year (just to be safe)!

This past week has been crazy, crazy, crazy.  Between Spencer having finals this week, Cole having finals and auditioning, booking and taping the Pilot, this chick is one tired Mom.  Thankfully, Spencer finished school on Monday and he finished strong with two A's and two B's.  We are so proud of him!  Cole's last day is next Tuesday and Thursday, the Pilot will film so I am planning my nervous breakdown for next weekend.

I follow Pastor Rick Warren and this was his quote tonight on Facebook:

"Delays are as much a part of God's plan as answered prayers.  He wants you to trust him."

Thank you Pastor Rick for that reminder.

  

Observations of a Traveler

Since our maiden voyage to California in July 2011, Cole and I have driven (not flown) approximately five times.  That's five times from California to Little Rock and vice versa.  During these long, sometimes excruciating journeys, I have come to some conclusions and/or observations that I would like to share:

1.  Shouldn't it be a requirement that every person on the interstate use cruise control?  If I have my cruise set on 75 mph and you keep slowing down and speeding up and giving me dirty looks, is that my fault?  I think not.

2.  Don't truckers these days know the universal sign for "honk your horn"?  Obviously not, since Cole could only get one truck to respond.

3.  People who are driving that are talking on their phone while eating a hamburger and trying to put in their contacts (not kidding) need not drive next to me.  You are going to kill yourself or someone else and I would rather not be in your path.

4.  Why does Arizona have signs that show a 10 point Elk that says, "Next 20 miles".  Honestly, I have NEVER ever seen an elk and I think I will sue them for false advertisement as I would love to see one!

5.  I love to get books on tape at Cracker Barrel to listen to while driving but there are no CB's in California.  The last Cracker Barrel (when heading West) is in Kingman, AZ which is 364 miles from our condo which translates into six hours being left to my own devices to entertain myself. 

6.  Why is it that I can take a potty break right before we head into the desert (there is a 55 mile stretch with n-o-t-h-i-n-g) but as soon as the gas station is out of sight in my rear view mirror, I have to go.

7.  Why am I always so hungry while driving?  I'm not doing anything to exert any energy.  By the end of our trip, I feel like a busted can of biscuits.

8.  Does the person who posted the "Land for Sale" sign in the middle of the desert get any calls?  There is nothing for miles.

9.  Is it a requirement that all gas station attendants be creepy?

And, number 10:

I sure will be happy when Cole is finally old enough to drive so I can bug him like he does me!

So thankful for a safe trip.  Let the craziness begin!

"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax."

~Proverbs 24:33

Hello LA

My plan was to stay in Little Rock for another couple of weeks but when Cole's agent calls with an opportunity, our plans change immediately. 

Cole and I will be leaving Little Rock Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m. and will hopefully arrive in LA late Thursday night.  Cole has an audition Friday at 4:15 p.m.  I'm sure after the long drive Cole will still look fresh as a daisy.  I, on the other hand, will look like death warmed over and will probably need to stay in the car so as not to turn anyone to stone.

Since Spencer just had his PICC line removed this morning, he will forgo the crazy car ride and fly out in a couple of weeks, once we know his immune system is back to 100%.

The hardest part of leaving?  My family.  I wish I had been able to spend just one more day with them before we leave.  There never ever seems to be a good time to go.

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives.  So don't be troubled or afraid."

~John 15:27

Memorial Day

The Ewing work ethic is, "Work until it gets done, even if you think you might die."  I was raised that way and I think it is a great lesson to teach the boys.  However, as I get older my body thinks otherwise.

Since we spend a majority of our time in LA, household projects in Little Rock get done within a four-week span instead of throughout the entire year.  We had so many projects on our list that I was beginning to think that none of them would get done but I am happy to report that most all of them were accomplished and we are all still alive!

Friday morning, this face woke me at the crack of dawn.  He must have seen our to do list.  Ha!

We started by clearing our rock garden of a year's worth of leaves, dead trees and limbs.  I was so surprised that Brad let me burn the rubbish instead of hauling it off.

Then came the task of cleaning out Brad's storage locker that he has for his building projects.  Since he is no longer building spec houses, we were able to donate the building materials to Habitat for Humanity and give up the lease on the locker.  I love being able to save $150/month!

After three hours of swinging a sledge hammer, I am convinced that construction work would not be the job for me but Cole did a great job!

   Next, I sanded, stained and sealed our wood furniture and our front door (I'll post a picture later).  They turned out great.

While Spencer planted a tomato plant and some flowers,

Cole, Brad and I dug up and transplanted a huge Forsythia bush from the front flower bed to the side yard in front of our propane tank.

I love the rock flower bed around it.

The beds look so good

and I have my first Hydrangea bloom!

I made it through three and a half days of yard work before spotting my first critter.

Spencer said it was a Speckled King Snake.  To me, it looked like a Speckled King Cobra Boa Constrictor Black Mamba!

After four full days of hauling 20+ loads of rocks in the wheelbarrow, putting out 1 yard of topsoil and 2+ yards of mulch, mowing, weed eating, trimming, raking, staining and demolishing we were very proud to step back and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

We also remember that Memorial Day is not about taking time off to do chores, but remembering the ones that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

My Dad, William "Bill" Shelton, United States Air Force.

"But as for me, I will sing about your power.  I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love.  For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress."

~Psalm 59:16