Lovin' Warm Weather!

It's been nice to have some mild weather in the spring, although March and April seemed to switch places!  :)  We still enjoy the outside very much! Walking and Parks are great fun!

Spring Break 2012

We enjoyed a nice, relaxing and fun-filled week in Sanibel, FL for Elena's Spring Break, along with Eric's parents this year.  Casa Ybel was beautiful, peaceful and a new favorite!

We enjoyed the pool, the ocean, the shops and of course beautiful ocean life, from dolphins to pelicans to even star fish!

We really enjoyed the long trips to the one and only Starbucks on the island on almost a daily basis...that drive is gorgeous! We found some new gluten free options, too!  Excitement!  We can't wait to go back!

Birthday Girl Turns 7!!! Yes, 7!!!

Can you believe that it's been 7 years since Elena came into the world to grace us with her effervescent and energetic presence?!?!  Sometimes I can't, sometimes, I can!!!  :)

This year we had a family party with "the mouse", then a friend party with "the monkey".  Good times!  I was all in a panic this year feeling behind with so much going on, especially when it came to ordering her cake.  She'd been talking for months about having a specific My Little Pony cake, and the week of her birthday she says to me, "Mommy, I've decided that I really want a T - Mommy Zoomy cake" ...WHAT?!?!?  Translation, Team Umizoomi, a new show on Nick Jr. she has become fond of.  All I can say is praise the Lord for my "procrastination" so to speak.  We were able to get the cake of choice, in time, and had a great day with friends.

We are really grateful for Elena, that God has allowed us to be her parents and see her life as she grows.  She is a light and joy in our lives.  Here's to a new year, little bird!

Nakota's Natural Beauty Pageant

I had the privilege of being one of the judges for the 2nd annual Nakota's Natural Beauty Pageant, celebrating the life of little Nakota, who passed away after suffering from a brain aneurysm, as well as promoting service and acts of  "paying it forward" through each year's winners.  After winning, the titleholders serve their community by raising money for those in need, earning money to contribute to the next titleholder's scholarship (doing for others as you would have them do unto you essentially), and being of service in other capacities the community as a whole may need, such as food drives, tornado relief, etc.

It was a difficult task considering so many sweet ladies with great aspirations and good intentions were ready to take on the new roles.  It was also nice to judge alongside the lovely, Terri Karch, reigning Mrs. Illinois International.  She's no stranger to pageantry, nor service and working for others.  She has an amazing story and even more amazing gifts to give back to many because of who she is and all she's gone through. She has literally turned battles into blessings!

A special thank you to Amy Wright for the invitation as well as taking such good care of everyone, as well as your sweet continued friendship over the years...20!!!!...  ;) , and to Pam Messick for celebrating your granddaughter in such a positive way, as well as being so kind and caring to all you meet.

To learn more about Nakota's Natural Beauty Pageant, you may visit their Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Nakotas-Natural-Beauty-Pageant/195504467148188

To learn more about and/or book Mrs. Illinois International for service appearances see:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mrs-Illinois-International-2012/304518402924495

or

http://www.changingthefaceofdepression.com/

7th Annual Dancing With Celebrities

 Choreographer Amy (in the middle) with Windy City LIVE's Val Warner (and former Dancing with Celebs winner) and me!  Val loved my hot pink blinged heels I wore with my "non-performance" outfit of the evening! :)

http://www.dancingwithchicagocelebrities.org/ for more information and how you can get involved!

Here's to another successful year in downtown Chicago for the annual Dancing with Celebrities Chicago for Susan G Komen.  Celebrating the eveing with Mrs. Illinois 2005 again was especially fun.  I was also honored to be a part of the production, dancing in the Survivor's Formation Dance.  Getting to work with the talented choregrapher/dancer Amy Novotny, alongside the fabulous Jill DeMarlo was a dream come true, and to get to share it with Kaili made it even sweeter!  This is one of the best Susan G Komen events to attend and be a part of.  I can't wait for next year's event already!  ;)

First time Roller Skating

We celebrated Grace's birthday, a friend of Elena's from pre-school, by roller skating with the family and friends!  This was Elena's first time, and mine in many, many years...and funny enough, not much  has changed!  They still play the same birthday songs when I was a kid, and even played a bunch of songs I grew up to and skated along to as well.  Can't decide if that made me feel nostalgic or just really, really old.  ;)  It was still fun either way!

Sorry I've Not Kept Up

I know I have been quite the slacker in keeping the blog up to date.  I'm afraid family and health issues have kept this on the back burner.  With that said, I will be fervent in updating the blog and doing my best to be better at staying current.

I am grateful that "all's well that ends well" after a very scary few months of health problems for me, one of which resulted in surgery.  To make a very long story in a short amount of time easily explained and without much detail, I am on the mend and thankful for clean/negative tests, as well as the many, many doctors I have seen to see me through, encouraged me and worked to get me back and better for my family. My service work means much more to me now having just a taste of what so many less fortunate than myself face, and my family and role as mom are even more treasured.

Thank you to those that were aware of everything and prayed.  Your prayers were answered in great ways!  God bless you.

Now, where were we...yes, back to getting back to things! 

Romans 5:3
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;


2 Corinthians 1:5-7
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Spa-ing with the Ladies, Thanks to the Hubbies!

Our small group girls got to spend a lovely weekend away at the spa in Lake Geneva thanks to the loving kindness of our sweet husbands.  They put together "invitations" for us to open, letting us know we were being sent away for some rest and relaxation, and also put together a gift basket filled with goodies to take to the spa. It also included roses for each of us with love letters attached for us to read when we arrived.  One, two, three...AAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW...

So we enjoyed a private spa room for a bit, followed by services for ourselves and then a terrific dinner.  We capped the night off with a hilarious game Kathy brought asking all kinds of questions.  These girls are lovely, funny, and obviously patient to put up with my goofiness!  :)

Special thank yous to our wonderful husbands for giving us a great time together and for loving us so much!  XOXOXO