I’ve been trying something new while trying to learn who I am! Enjoy the birthday mud pie!

For more inspiring photos be sure to check out:
Shanamama, Better in Bulk, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Momblog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist, High Impact Mom, BrainFoggles, The Centsible Life, Rachel Ferrucci, Lil Kid Things, Resourceful Mommy and Zensible Mama and don’t forget to link your own photo stories!
Tag you are it! What have you done recently that is new?

Remember how I told you I was busy finding myself over the past few months? One thing I found about me is that I actually DO enjoy learning technology and trying it out! This past spring semester I had a class at the college called Emerging Technologies. It was all about the different types of technology available and how to use them. One thing they shared was how to use Windows Movie Maker. I used it to say thanks to my friends and family for making me laugh!

Now hear me all of you advanced users, I know there are other programs to use. You can skip to the comments and tell me what they are! This one however, I think is a great stepping stool to the more advanced programs.

Did you know most of us with a PC that have Microsoft Windows software actually have Windows Movie Maker? Oh and it is so much fun! To find it on your PC go to your START menu and either “search” for or find Windows Movie Maker.  If you don’t have it and you would like to download it go to the Microsoft Download Center to get it. You will need to know which Windows your PC is running and download the appropriate one. Anyone can do this even if you are not good at technology! If I can do it you can do it!

7 Steps to make a quick and easy Windows Movie Maker file:

1. Pick some photos you would like to include. A good hint our teacher told us was to copy them to a new folder because if you are anything like me, you have thousands of photos in your “My Pictures” on your PC.

2. Open your Windows Movie Maker and add your photos. Click on Add Photos or Videos. You do NOT have to download a video to use this movie maker!

3. Choose what photos and videos you would like in the movie.

4. Once you have them open, you can move them around in the order you want them.

5. You can now add a title, caption and/or credits to your movie. You can also trim  the video’s you opened, fade in and out, add music and a lot more!

6. Play around with it. Learn how to use the animations, visual effects and tools it provides!

7. When you are done, I would personally make a copy for your file first. Then you can publish to DVD, YouTube and others. Make sure to share with others!

Here is the video I made. It really was easy and I had a blast doing it! (It also gave me all sorts of ideas!) Please take a moment to watch it because I’m thanking you and of course there are some funny photos in there!

Tag your it! Have you ever played with Windows Movie Maker? Do you have any recommendations for other types of movie makers that are similar?

 I am not getting paid in any way, shape or form for talking about this Windows product. I just enjoyed learning how to use it!

On Monday I shared how I’ve been away because I’ve been busy finding myself. One way to do that is by taking time to find yourself in the garden!

Find yourself by trying something new! Look Mom I didn't kill something that grows in dirt! ha!

Find yourself by stopping to smell the roses!

But beware of snakes!! Oh my... I about had a heart attack!

Snakes and bugs are not my friends. My sissy pants come on and automatically want to stay inside! This usually keeps me from spending much time outside at this time of year. However, I really saw the beauty of it this season until I saw the snake and then I was scared to walk around the house again!

Tag your it! Do you like to garden? If not, why?

For more inspiring photos be sure to check out:
Shanamama, Better in Bulk, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Momblog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist, High Impact Mom, BrainFoggles, The Centsible Life, Rachel Ferrucci, Lil Kid Things, Resourceful Mommy and Zensible Mama and don’t forget to link your own photo stories!

I know what you are thinking, where the heck have I been?! I am alive and actually doing pretty well. I feel lost without writing these past few months but I still have to take care of my family and myself first. This is why I have not blogged in months. October was the last time to be exact! I can’t believe I made it this long! However I also have been busy finding myself, kind of like a long road within my soul. I’m back now!

“Nobody can teach me who I am. You can describe parts of me, but who I am – and what I need – is something I have to find out myself.”
― Chinua Achebe (Author)

My four year anniversary on The Bona Fide Life is this month. As you see I have changed my site design. Thanks so much to my friend Heather who does work for Expand Social Media!! I re-branded to be exact. You will see some things change and others stay the same. No longer will I feel like I have to be and do a certain way. Feeling as though I need to be because that’s how people know me or how they want me to be and even me trying to fit in with every other blogger. I will be me. I will be authentic for myself and for my readers.

From here on out I will be myself by not wondering who I am being compared too. Without worrying about if you like me the way I am or the way I share my life. Or even if I offend you even though you may just being vain and think this song is about you! Bona fide is being authentic.

I’ve found a lot out about myself and why I struggle sometimes to share with you. I tried so hard to be authentic before but something kept stopping me from sharing certain things. I found that it was because I want people to like me (don’t we all?). I want to fit in everywhere because I truly love everyone I meet and know. I don’t want to hurt feelings. I still don’t but I need to stop worrying how others think about what I’m putting on my blog.

Who am I really? What do I want to do with my life? What can I do to help my family live easier? All of these things and more went through my head these past two years especially since October.

After my many “coming to Jesus moments” in the past two years, I’ve found myself. Who I am, want I want to be and that it is okay that I’m not like you or even you over there.

In the coming weeks I will be sharing some of the things I found out about myself that I liked and didn’t like. I hope you will join me and maybe even try finding yourself as well!

Tag you are it! How often do you feel the need to find yourself? How do we accomplish this?

I always wanted to be a cheerleader but I never made the cuts. My Mom, my children’s Nanny, was a cheerleader! My daughter absolutely loves it! I’m thankful because she was trying to follow in her two older brothers footsteps by playing soccer but I talked her into trying cheerleading. She is enjoying it much more than she did soccer! My only girl is actually doing something girly! Ha-ha!

For more inspiring photographs, head over to The Bona Fide Life, Better in Bulk, Shanamama, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Momblog, The Divine Miss Mommy , High Impact Mom, BrainFoggles and Zensible Mama and link your own photo stories!

Link up your Wordless Wednesday post below as well!

Hi everyone! I know it’s been awhile. So thought I’d share an update on me. Most of it is exciting and fun except this first thing.

I’ve had a lot going on these past weeks as you know. Some of you don’t know that I had to take my 15 yo to the emergency room last Friday for a lump on his neck and had trouble swallowing. They treated him for the symptoms, got his swelling down and sent him home. I took him to his Pediatrician on Monday and because the hospital gave him a steroid to bring down the swelling, she wants to put off more testing until next week. Steroids mask results. She did say it was his Thyroid but we don’t know what. So if you pray, please pray for him and Mama! I wouldn’t wish these thyroid issues on my worst enemy… definitely not on any of my loved ones.

I am over at Type-A Parent today talking about The Day Facebook Screwed Up, would love to hear your thoughts over there!

Speaking of Type-A… I was also asked to speak with Cecily, Anissa and Erin on the Type-A Parent Track at Blog World Expo in Los Angeles! Oh my goodness I’m excited and honored! However, that means I have to get on a plane by myself and fly from the East Coast to the West Coast (where I have never been). I’m going to LA, pass me the xanax or wine will do.

I have to add this link in here. I read this amazing post by Josh at Dad Street yesterday. It is so authentic and has got me thinking differently! Thought maybe you would like it. Now it does have a curse word in it but you’ll get over that, it’s not often through the post. Go check out If We Can’t Say, “No” our “Yes” Don’t Mean Shit.

Talk soon!

Chele

Back on September 11, 2001 my husband and I were on our way to work, we heard on the radio that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. When we go to work and turned on the TV, it was just in time to see the second plane hit. All I wanted to do is close my Dad’s restaurant and go back to the daycare to pick up my four and five year old boys. Go home and hold them tight.

I remember and I will NEVER forget.

This weekend, my daughter had her first football game to cheer at. They held a memorial for 9/11 and I wanted to share some photos with you. The ones of the firefighters staring up at the half-staffed flag…. some with closed eyes turned my eyes to tears. It was an amazing site for me. So I decided to share these photos instead of my daughters first game.

 “For more inspiring or fun photos, check out: High Impact Mom, Better in Bulk, Shanamama, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Momblog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist,  Brain Foggles, Resourceful Mommy and Zensible Mama and link your own photo stories”

WARNING! I may be a little bit woe is me but my point is to share the real stuff, how I feel and hopefully help others by me being bona fide about my life in this moment.

When life becomes difficult, how do you cope? 

How do you move forward again?

I’m asking these questions a lot lately.

This past year has been very overwhelming physically, mentally, and spiritually. First, as most of you know I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer last year, had my thyroid removed, and had treatment done all within 6 months time. Then in July at a routine ob/gyn appointment I complained of a lot of pain at that time of month. They checked me with an ultrasound and found a mass in my uterus. It had to be removed because of my cancer diagnosis. They wanted it out quick. I had my hysterectomy about 5 weeks ago. The mass was NOT cancer! Thank you God!!

We also are going on about 4 years now of my husband being laid off once or twice a year which is causing some financial troubles to add to the problems we are having. It’s no fault of his, he is the hardest worker I know! We are both getting weary of it at this point especially on top of everything else. I’m also having some personal issues with attending church, I’m working on it with God’s help but it’s a work in progress. My faith has not changed but my views of church have a bit but I know God will help me through.

I’m healing slowly mentally, physically and spiritually. However, in one month’s time I’ve had my second surgery, kids starting back to school, I starting back to college and my husband’s Father passed away. It’s been overwhelming to say the very least. I had to get myself on an anti-depressant because I realized I needed it. I couldn’t get back up on my own.

Now I’m done woe is me.

I believe getting on this medicine has made for a step forward and a way to cope with all that has happened. I usually can handle things positively and pick myself back up but I think it was too much. Way too much too fast.

Like any human being (believer or not) we ask the questions “why” and “how” when we have life changing events happen. I still am asking both because quite honestly I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel right now. I need some fun and joyful times with my husband, kids, family and friends. I need to write more. I need to be helping with the finances. I need to see the forward motion. I need to no longer cope but move on.

How do you cope when life gets so down? What about ways to move on and see that light at the end of the tunnel?

Blessings to you,

Chele

It’s been awhile since I’ve done the bona fide promotions. Thought I should continue doing it since I love helping others the best I can! So if you have a post you would like to promote (nothing wrong with a little self-promotion!) please add it to the link up below!

Here are my favorite posts from this week…

• Last week I wrote this post about some depression issues I have been having. So when I read this from my friend Amy over at Freaky Perfect, it gave me some perspective. Go check out The Rainbow Says So. Especially if you are having some down times right now!
• Need some inspiration? I sure do! My friend Ang England wrote some Inspirational Quotes for bloggers You Can Tweet or like me I use quotes for inspiration on posts a lot!
• Kadi over at Our Seven Seeds has 140 Must Follow Moms on Twitter posted. Yes I am on that list but there are 139 others that you must follow if you are on Twitter!! If you are not on Twitter well you can find their Twitter URL too!
• Things I Have Learned Since Doug’s Layoff was posted last week by Jodifur. I can totally relate with everything she says! Lessons can always be learned by things we consider a bad thing in life.
• Do you have Ineffable plans and faith issues? I do! My friend over at It’s my life… shared how sometimes it’s hard to be what we want to be. Things change, sometimes our faith isn’t holding us up. Absolutely loved this post and the authentic nature of it!
• Last but definitely not last! My friend Robin wrote a post over at Incourage this past week. It is an amazing post that anyone who is married, divorced, remarried, getting married or having a troubled marriage needs to read! So another words any woman needs to read Just…breathe…!

*Disclosure – I am doing this link up for you to promote a post of yours you would like others to read. If the material is offensive (i.e. disrespectful to others or unethical) I will delete the post from the list. The posts in the linky do NOT reflect my own opinion.

My baby boy starts Kindergarten next week. I will officially have all four of my children in the school district. Bittersweet!

Here are some photos from his graduation from Preschool this past June! Isn’t he just adorable! (I’m a little bias though, lol)

However, I will always remember this moment right before his graduation. Priceless and precious!

This boy is so precious. Never ever will I forget this photo and this moment. I have never had a photo that I cherish as much as this one. It is an unforgettable memory!

“For more inspiring or fun photos, check out: High Impact Mom, Better in Bulk, Shanamama, From Dates to Diapers, Not Your Momblog, The Divine Miss Mommy, Colorado Moms, Rajean Blomquist and Zensible Mama and link your own photo stories”