Just Because...I love you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDm2AIw7Myo&feature=related

Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday, Jaimie!!!

It's my sister Jaimie's birthday, so a special nod for a Happy Day!!! ;)

Since it is Halloween, the gym had a costume day for the kids. Elena dressed up in her costume again, found another princess to play with, and was enamoured by one of the teacher's costumes. She LOVED the pig snout...so much so that when I came to pick her up, she was wearing it. Very funny! :)

That's Why I Love You...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUsKIApTewQ&feature=related

1 Timothy 4:4"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,"

Psalm 26:3"for Your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth."

Psalm 36:7"How priceless is Your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings."

Just a few more shots...

Can you tell how cold we are?!?!

Trick or Treating...

Here's some shots of us out visiting neighbors. We went with our friends from Small Group that live a street over from us and their kids. Anna was a cat and Joshua was a fireman. Dave went as Pickle Man...we had to quit saying that after a while...we were afraid of what the neighbor's might think, especially if they hadn't seen the Adam Sandler skit on Saturday Night Live...just not the same kind of funny...

More shots of Elena waiting for trick-or-treater's

Cinderella, Cinderella, Night and Day it's Cinderella...

Elena wanted to be "seen-dah-wewah" for Halloween...and "Sweeping Dooty", Belle, "Ah-wee-ole", and "Jazz-meen", too...hehe...but we finally settled on Cinderella. She was so excited for the trick-or-treater's she watched for them in the window, swung the door open before they got there with hands full of candy hollering "Happ-eeeee Ha-yo-weeeeen!!" Then she would thank them for coming, follow them out and say "See yew, sooon! Have fun! Good job!!" Too funny! So here's some shots of that! By the way, it was SO cold, we had to put her costume over a dress, tights and extra socks, then bundle her up when we went out!!! Also, by the way, I would have done just about anything to have that costume with THOSE SHOES back in the day! Anyone remember the polyurethane plastic costumes that you tied around your neck that had a printed picture of a dress and a plastic face mask that looked like Cinderella - or Casper, if you were Sal - with the eye holes in it, and you would get the inside all wet with either slobber from candy or your breath condensation from the cold?!?! Times have changed!!!

Gramama and Grampapa come to visit!

Mares and Bobby came up to see us this past weekend which is always a super treat. And of course since we had so much fun, I didn't get many pictures...too much talking!!! ;) We shopped for outdoor flowers and tea and had some great meals and visiting. Way too short of a visit! Can't wait to see them again!! So here's some pictures: new flowers for the front, Marilyn, Bob and Eric after dinner (and enjoying carrot cake!!!), and Elena enjoying a monster cookie from Lovin' Oven where Mare's loves the cream puffs and where we got our wedding cake from...awwwww memories!!!

Pretty Fall Pictures to Uplift Spirits

2 Corinthians 12:9 'But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.'

Grandma

Love you, Grandma. We'll miss you... March 24, 1925 -October 26th, 2008.

"Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging - it's a progressive and fatal disease. "

http://www.breastcancer.org/

http://www.alz.org/index.asp

Where Does Your Beauty Lie?

"I've met a lot of beautiful women, and after I get to know them they're not so beautiful..." Crystal Stewart, Miss USA 2008


Proverbs 31:30"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. "

There's an interesting story about the Queen Mary I'd like to share:

"Commissioned in 1936, the RMS Queen Mary was the most awe-inspiring ocean-going vessel in the world. She was 1,019 feet long, at 81,237 tons displaced twice the tonnage of the Titanic, had 12 decks (the promenade deck was 724 feet long), and carried 1,957 passengers attended by a crew of 1,174. Transformed from a luxury linter to a troop transport in World War II she carried 765,429 members of the military to and from the European war zones. The Queen Mary was retired from regular passenger service in 1967 after making 1,001 Atlantic Ocean crossings, and is presently harbored in the port of Long Beach, California. Even today, her magnificent and gleaming exterior cuts a beautiful profile against the blue waters of the Long Beach harbor. But when the Queen Mary was retired from active passenger service, it was discovered that part of her gleaming exterior was hiding something far less attractive and substantial.

The Queen Mary's three elliptical smoke stacks?36 feel long, 23 feet wide, and ranging from 70 down to 62 feet in height-were made of sheets of steel over an inch thick. During her decades of service, at least 30 coats of paint had been applied to the massive smokestacks, forming a shell around the steel interior. But when the smokestacks were removed for maintenance after her decommissioning, it was discovered that they were nothing but shells. When lifted off the liner and placed on the docks, they crumbled! Over the years, the thick steel of which they had been made had turned to rust from long exposure to heat and moisture. The beautiful exteriors of the smokestacks revealed a rusty, crumbly interior that spoke not of beauty and elegance but of deterioration and decay. The external appearance was hiding the internal reality. . . .

2 Timothy 2:20-21 "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."

Hebrews 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

1 Corinthians 3: 10b - 15 "...But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. "

We are uniquely, beautifully created for a specific purpose on this earth. No two are the same. We have talents and gifts that no other can match exactly. Yes, there are those that seem prettier, more proficient, better accomplished and just "have more" but that is neither what is important nor what defines us (at least it shouldn't or we're in for real disappointment!). It is not about seeing what we have not but rather what we have, appreciating it, and doing something with it! And what God will get from what we have and do with it will ultimately be the only thing that will matter and last.

Ephesians 2:10"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Proverbs 11:18"The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward."

Psalm 139:14"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

1 Peter 4:10"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

Song of Solomon 6:9"but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her."

Real, authentic beauty reflects the light and splendor of God's creation and perfect work in us. It displays humility, graciousness, and compassion. It is NOT perfect in man (or woman). It asks for forgiveness and provides forgiveness. It is more than skin deep. May we all see the great beauty God has bestowed on and all around us, may we praise Him for it, and may we never waste an opportunity to be beautiful to others for Him. Blessings.

It's called Layering...LAYERING!!!!

Whelp, bright and early yesterday morning, I worked with the American Cancer Society for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Chicago. Beautiful view of the Lake...and FREEZING!!! 3 shirts, a jacket, and a sweatshirt later and I was STILL cold! But it was worth it. I was assigned to the survivor tent and then the Dedication Wall where we collected donations and put up names of anyone touched by breast cancer. My partner in crime for the day was a beautiful girl named Jennifer who has a Grandmother who is a survivor, a cousin a year older than her who was diagnosed at 26 and passed away just before her 27th birthday, and she herself who just turned 26 has been diagnosed - on her birthday! She is a trooper and a ray of light. You'd never know what she's been through the way she cheered people on and kept up the pep to keep the rest of us going all day. She's pretty amazing! Here's pictures of two other gals that worked with us, Jamie and Tiffany (Jamie lost her mom to BC when she was just 7), and as it turns out I scanned their tags as a volunteer at the end of their 3-Day Walk for Susan G. Komen (Small World!!) along with our team leader Melissa, a "night shot" of us at check-in...that's 6:30am in Chicago, folks!, a crowd shot of walkers warming up (the baby in the center was a hoot!), and a couple that hung 76 - 76!!!!!!!!!! - ribbons to honor BC victims, sufferers and survivors. It's things like this that make me so glad for the health and grace that God has blessed me with.

Happy Fall!!!!

Just posting some photos of the leaves and trees from our backyard. My favorite time of year is Fall...actually all of us love it! :) Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary!

Not today, last Monday! October 13th is the best day of the year because that is the day I married Eric. This past Monday we celebrated 7 years of wedded bliss, so today is 7 years and one week. I say Bliss because it truly has been, in good and bad, he is still at the end of it all my best friend, my love, and the one I knew I always wanted to be with since I saw him for the first time at age 10. God has taken us through many different phases and paths, and thankfully they all have led us here together. So Eric, I love you, Forever and For Always.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om4s71i0J5Q

This video played on the plane when we went on our very first cruise and has been a favorite of mine ever since. Each time it plays we smile at each other if we happen to be together. Happy song! :)

Catching up...

Way off on timing, but everyone gets that way. Here's the photos that Eric took from his weekend in Danville with Family...I'm thinking I'm going to have to get more from the family!!! ;) Here's Mike and John, and Mare's (another MOM!!!) and Bobby hanging out in the kitchen. They'll be here this weekend! YEA!

Have you Spread "Son-Shine" Today?

No pictures since Eric has the camera...hope to have some great ones of everyone from this weekend. We're missing you all!!!!

I thought I would simply post some postive thoughts.

Romans 12:8 "if it is encouraging, let him encuorage;if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully"

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing"

Philemon 1:7 "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints"

Hebrews 3:13 "but encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Still Happy...

Well, we've all been sick and thought we were done, then little bird caught a nasty cold which is keeping her and Mommy home...we were supposed to have a big family gathering in Danville with Eric's side...so I'll have to send the camera with him for pictures of that. Until then, we'll be here. Despite how Elena is feeling, she is smiling and singing Doodle Bops tunes. I wish I had that attitude on a regular basis, let alone when I'm sick! She is SO joyful!!

Psalm 19:8 "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."

Reality Check

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

AMEN!

A little late, but better than never!!!

My dear friend (and sista' queen...ahhhh cruises) Rena came up for a visit in September for a day trip here and a weekend in the City, and I got to go there to see her before she left one more time. On the train, by myself for the first time! I'm a big girl now!!! HAHA! She sent chocolates and pictures as a thank you...thank YOU, girl!..and so I finally have the pictures from her scanned (thanks, Eric) so you can see beautiful Rena and some pics she took of Elena at Cheesecake Factory...We call them "Laid Back", "S'up Dog?", and "HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY"...bet you can guess which one is which! Also, if you ever get the chance, you can see Miss Rena as the Reigning Ms. US Continental at...

http://www.msuscontinental07-08.blogspot.com/

Stunning!

By the way, that picture of the two of us is after a day full of rain in downtown Chicago and Rena being so kind as to walk me to the train to make sure I got on the right one. HEHE! Awwww Union Station! Love ya, girl!

And here's why I had to get home...

We have a new front door!!! Eric stained it to the color we wanted and everything! I even helped this time! (Although, considering my part versus what he did, I feel a little like Baby in Dirty Dancing "I carried a watermelon!!!") Good job on a beautiful new front door honey. And don't be too upset about all the photos with you in it, ok? You look really good and I am very proud of you! Thank you! :)

Walk For Hope '08

Well, the rain held out this time around (thank you, Lord!) for a good walk for a great cause this year. Walk for Hope was held in Glenview, IL this year, and boy was it tempting to shop the beautiful area afterward, but I needed to get home for some special events there (I'll show you soon enough!) I hope you enjoy the pictures, and I hope they make you think of loved ones and how you can be a part of helping others.


Matthew 25:40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'



By the way, I love the last shot of these two little girls walking in front of me once the walk started. They held hands the whole way.