tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78955196965738882392024-03-12T23:45:52.572-05:00Kathie Lassos the Moon!Pearls of wisdom, a dash of humor, faith, love of family and an opportunity to Lasso the Moon!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-42580909325488698312015-04-24T07:40:00.000-05:002015-04-24T07:40:43.665-05:00God Gave Me You! Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary Joey!<div>
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<b><i>(Click link below to view video)</i></b></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-30683444399743252062014-11-24T12:55:00.000-06:002014-11-24T12:55:13.712-06:00Majestic Sandstone Cliffs at Zion National Park <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ZION National Park in Utah was the first of the canyons we visited on our vacation in September. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"We are surrounded by rock!" was my first impression of Zion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beautiful, massive sandstone mountains, canyons and cliffs of pink and red that towered into the brilliant blue sky! But it was not just the enormous sandstone that captured my attention, it was the waterfalls, unique flowers, emerald pools, chipmunks and chirping birds...I loved it all!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuos2yhsp8PkSOpQH5PZM8P-0aUlfXj3-92KgAZb4YNXERYr0HMXapi_bt78T89U_f28yIG_n-GKzpL2D8rIqXWRcnJSU0J4TJSS2OlpO_8B_t1pUEqDbvpMxnKrdGTrgjue91NgW8aw/s1600/IMG_4940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuos2yhsp8PkSOpQH5PZM8P-0aUlfXj3-92KgAZb4YNXERYr0HMXapi_bt78T89U_f28yIG_n-GKzpL2D8rIqXWRcnJSU0J4TJSS2OlpO_8B_t1pUEqDbvpMxnKrdGTrgjue91NgW8aw/s1600/IMG_4940.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved the hiking at Zion<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaL3dnHclqgs9QDrAh9vxqcRY9waGi-0NZKMlztw8YZiRyH6o3hXOOWJ8wCjfIvngimMI5rqPmo-yoaRYdwT1ARP9aZniX2d7Y9CIPhUQU8ID9m9SyEBekhVRa0G3zpSMaGY7-xp8dAI/s1600/IMG_4939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaL3dnHclqgs9QDrAh9vxqcRY9waGi-0NZKMlztw8YZiRyH6o3hXOOWJ8wCjfIvngimMI5rqPmo-yoaRYdwT1ARP9aZniX2d7Y9CIPhUQU8ID9m9SyEBekhVRa0G3zpSMaGY7-xp8dAI/s1600/IMG_4939.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWdUAEo562gO67zuIW7BWBrBKB7JXdOcQSBtMY8IrdddVBB1ldcBGBez36JdVtM7Rz_rMwMAqSx_x-Sz1kS320hOWkVEfxwxpG0JUUlMSDtkXpUdMSST3QknuI2IdszfyHU2a9YmvjG0/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWdUAEo562gO67zuIW7BWBrBKB7JXdOcQSBtMY8IrdddVBB1ldcBGBez36JdVtM7Rz_rMwMAqSx_x-Sz1kS320hOWkVEfxwxpG0JUUlMSDtkXpUdMSST3QknuI2IdszfyHU2a9YmvjG0/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There are three Emerald Pools, Lower, Middle and Upper. We hiked all three.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe is headed to the Lower Emerald Pools. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Notice the ever so slight mist to the right from a waterfall. There was very little rain this summer, so there was not much of a waterfall, but the spray of water felt good at this point in our day of hiking.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you look closely at the sunflower you can see a bee! I love this lone flower against the mighty Zion Canyon!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe & I hiked to the Middle Emerald Pool -- dazzling scenery!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe at Middle Emerald Pool</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Truly breathtaking scenery while hiking! This is from one of the cliffs along the hiking trail.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS2cDKzX87-xASL21LsLHjehSGzZl7R5zAmXgvbnzXgEHYCx3b2BFVPK07WL66J1VbI8qko52tSXiFmpxiXAA6amjNStp4mldTGPAbrfm2jo79c7FqQ3qyv82kluTbqaT28luwEtccJ0/s1600/IMG_5012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyS2cDKzX87-xASL21LsLHjehSGzZl7R5zAmXgvbnzXgEHYCx3b2BFVPK07WL66J1VbI8qko52tSXiFmpxiXAA6amjNStp4mldTGPAbrfm2jo79c7FqQ3qyv82kluTbqaT28luwEtccJ0/s1600/IMG_5012.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mysteries of Mother Nature, a lone tree, thriving between canyon walls!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sweet little chipmunk looked right at the camera!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The yellow flower that can be found by the Upper Emerald Pool is a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Stonecrop - Sedum lanceolatum</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The weather the first week in September was just perfect. Cool in the early morning hours and warm by noon. We made a point to hike early since we had such warm weather and lots of sunshine! We left Zion Canyon National Park and headed to Bryce Canyon for sunset. Had we known better, we would have made the effort to see the sunrise the next morning and not sunset--but while not as stunning, the sunset was a beautiful end to a wonderful day. If you look closely below, you can see the moon!</span><div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sunset<br />All Photos my Kathie S. Gautille</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I Lasso the beauty at every turn and realize just how small I am compared to Zion & Bryce Canyons! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>God is good all the time!</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-67297546749762798062014-11-01T14:18:00.001-05:002014-11-01T14:21:31.615-05:00Grow Forward & Flourish<a href="http://www.jackiecapersbrownblog.com/#.VFUx9gnI3mg.blogger">Grow Forward & Flourish</a><br />
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Feeling Grateful!</div>
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I want to feature Jackie Capers Brown blog today as we begin the month of November! Her blog <b>Grow Forward & Flourish (Link above) </b>is an uplifting blog! I feel honored that she is featuring why I am Feeling Grateful!<br />
If you would like to share what you are grateful for, I hope you will respond to her questions!<br />
I look forward to reading why you are grateful!<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-59852190578189964022014-09-10T17:13:00.001-05:002014-11-01T14:24:18.267-05:00"Hiking Hoodoos!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Hiking Hoodoos!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Up until last week, I didn't know what a Hoodoo was -- nor did I imagined I would be hiking the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Hoodoos - Bryce Canyon </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo by Kathie Gautille)</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Look like chess pieces to me,<br /> but they are actually <br />Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo by Kathie Gautille)</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From a distance these incredibly odd rock formations look like chess pieces. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have come to learn that a pinnacle left standing by the forces of erosion is a "hoodoo"! Hiking the Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon was awe-inspiring. It was a bit nerve-racking too! These beautiful, yet bizarre rock spires or "hoodoos" -- well let me just say it went against my sense of physics that the rock that sat upon a narrow body of rock wouldn't just tumble down and crush us. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But they didn't--and they were <i><b>magnificent</b></i>! Our pictures and video really don't do them justice! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband and I took a week's vacation to Utah and Arizona to hike and communion with nature at the national treasures of the canyons...from Zion, Bryce to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and several smaller parks in between. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pictured in this blog entry is Bryce Canyon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite National Park, but I must say...and I loved all of them...all for different reasons!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo by Kathie Gautille)</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Natural Bridge - Bryce Canyon</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While at Bryce I met my first "Dark Ranger"! Bryce Canyon is one of the darkest places in the country to view stars. Three times a week throughout the summer and into the fall Bryce Canyon's "Dark Rangers" celebrate the beautiful night sky by hosting an hour multi-media presentation in the lodge. Following the presentation everyone drives out to the visitors center area and the Dark Rangers have 5-7 large telescopes set up outside positioned to enjoy the starry night sky! Each telescope was fixed on a different aspect of the night sky! I don't think I have ever seen so many stars in my life! And seeing the moon surface and the Milky Way up close added to the enjoyment of true stargazing! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I didn't take this picture--credit goes to Alex Cherney from Australia. <br />But this IS what we saw--an incredible starry night!</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Joe at the top of Fairyland Loop </span></b></i><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo by Kathie Gautille)</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">One of the more rigorous trails we hiked was Wall Street.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i><b>In the middle -- between these walls of stone </b></i></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><i><b>grew this </b></i></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><i><b>tree! </b></i></b></span></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Joe was the videographer </span></i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">We stopped long enough to really enjoy nature -- from the flowers and canyons </span></i></b><i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo by Kathie Gautille)</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkH_zonKfobGbVpBDKQne8_pgzZs0SUJNzdKPb3gq8Z5FnrKGJBNri_REeMZhw1jHIdfKhV-Qr3BYsVPTX29Fyw3iuFlcDkoyGoahCTmzcdjVVuT6ifsKSladN2irG_2M3UlWOiD3UAU/s1600/IMG_5052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkH_zonKfobGbVpBDKQne8_pgzZs0SUJNzdKPb3gq8Z5FnrKGJBNri_REeMZhw1jHIdfKhV-Qr3BYsVPTX29Fyw3iuFlcDkoyGoahCTmzcdjVVuT6ifsKSladN2irG_2M3UlWOiD3UAU/s1600/IMG_5052.JPG" height="640" width="436" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo by Kathie Gautille)</span></b></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">...to the deer, pronghorn, chipmunks, squirrels, and mountain goats!</span></span><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo by Kathie Gautille)</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There was no Wi-Fi in the canyons, but I promise we found a better connection! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Throughout our trip, Joe and I often had to stop and ask ourselves...when people see this incredible beauty...how can anyone not believe in God?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Me on top of Fairyland Loop</i></span><br />
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(photo by Kathie Gautille)</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>"The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the works of His hands." </i></b></span></span><b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i>~ Psalm 19</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I Lasso the breathtaking beauty of </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">God's handiwork!</span></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0Bryce Canyon National Park, Hwy 63, Bryce Canyon, UT 84764, USA37.5930377 -112.1870895000000137.1903042 -112.83253650000002 37.995771199999993 -111.54164250000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-36614896362556678652014-07-29T16:59:00.000-05:002014-09-18T12:01:07.222-05:00Defying Gravity Gave Me a New Perspective!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently went from watching my two grandsons (now 3 years old and a 1 year old) - to visiting my 84 year old dad.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwDmFbfW-j6in-N87ypTklxLZXzlCfuwWJKJjD3V17sHZ5QPieY0OeLBDZ60Z8-NhGoVTcvQNl6w35a_c_jrT2cI2fgyAqHVn8Rwmh3qygYSTOthml4apakCwOx7Qw3Kb5KrIvsbYiEs/s1600/Landon+and+Keegan+July+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwDmFbfW-j6in-N87ypTklxLZXzlCfuwWJKJjD3V17sHZ5QPieY0OeLBDZ60Z8-NhGoVTcvQNl6w35a_c_jrT2cI2fgyAqHVn8Rwmh3qygYSTOthml4apakCwOx7Qw3Kb5KrIvsbYiEs/s1600/Landon+and+Keegan+July+2014.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDkQ4uo-Y4Kdr7TWHVo1qQ0NLkoFA3p-P-UbtAFqc3EluYu5sOT7asdV-8OqK3yu2BDwLD8axXCgPJ4WJmXgozPi3kJXrzUB7tDcAuNRqNZf9EXTVBFfscDmMC-uNjEG6r6WFtfciT8o/s1600/Kathie+and+Daddy+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDkQ4uo-Y4Kdr7TWHVo1qQ0NLkoFA3p-P-UbtAFqc3EluYu5sOT7asdV-8OqK3yu2BDwLD8axXCgPJ4WJmXgozPi3kJXrzUB7tDcAuNRqNZf9EXTVBFfscDmMC-uNjEG6r6WFtfciT8o/s1600/Kathie+and+Daddy+2012.JPG" height="400" width="363" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Both experiences gave me pause to consider the fact that I may possibly have 20-30+ years ahead of me in this season of my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I observed that it requires patience and stamina to care for toddlers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It requires patience and stamina as one grows older. Getting old robs one's body of strength and sharpness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This first hand account gave me a stronger resolve to keep in shape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I also realized that I am at a point in my life where I am discerning my next project, or job, or volunteer opportunity. I have been seriously wrestling with a few ideas and possible business opportunities -- some of which are coming into better focus for me. But, truthfully, it's kind of scary to completely change course from what you are comfortable with or work you have done most of your adult life and start over. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I know myself very well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I know how hard I work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I know my personal work ethic can be all consuming. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I know how much I love personal growth and development.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I know a business takes funding.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know a business takes time and energy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I also know how much I love being available for my family. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While going through all of these gyrations back and forth in my little head a friend of mine told me I needed to read Jon Acuff's book: <b><u>START</u>. </b><b style="font-style: italic;">Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, Do What Matters. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well I first got the Kindle version of this book, but found the Kindle version difficult to highlight. ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdACvjU2-AoOgisUVBIZ9mvaEPwTxAvxxOujJazKFWgeU-SrihAvMrmrIo5uHl9OKl6aEpjMjZHRnOjEyxwzWN8IQIFPdanhRk_Cf9FatheNa5hFiuApAMkP9JGh5qUCX_rH27ndMxcNw/s1600/START.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdACvjU2-AoOgisUVBIZ9mvaEPwTxAvxxOujJazKFWgeU-SrihAvMrmrIo5uHl9OKl6aEpjMjZHRnOjEyxwzWN8IQIFPdanhRk_Cf9FatheNa5hFiuApAMkP9JGh5qUCX_rH27ndMxcNw/s1600/START.jpeg" height="200" width="136" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I bought the hardback book--and I am so glad I did. <b>START.</b><i> </i>has helped crystalize what's going on in my head. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr. Acuff mentions in his book that when we reach the point of making decisions some of us <i>"cue the fog machine"</i> to muddy the decision making <i>"and pretend there's a fog of complexity in the way." </i> I believe this is where I am. So, I began struggling with finding the off switch to the fog machine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then a few days ago I was listening to the musical WICKED when I was working out -- okay, I know, strange music to motive you to exercise. Stick with me, I promise to connect the dots! Honestly when the song, <b><i>Defying Gravity</i></b> was playing, it was as if I was hearing the song for the first time. I bet I have sung along with that song a million times, but I am not sure I have ever really <i>listened</i> to lyrics of the song. This time I heard it loud and clear...<i>"It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap." </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZq7nEQ9J9JVbgYV1AiUwIG56DnPZIEva2ZagBJYALsZW9Qsp-Gay00bu3ye6823q_kT6YgrJb6HGx5kMFEAVBR7bLaWQJqgVBFfchzQ3J88TwjDVP4t1YuCK5DyWeyhUTsQYaV3OcZM/s1600/it+time+to+trust+my+instincts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZq7nEQ9J9JVbgYV1AiUwIG56DnPZIEva2ZagBJYALsZW9Qsp-Gay00bu3ye6823q_kT6YgrJb6HGx5kMFEAVBR7bLaWQJqgVBFfchzQ3J88TwjDVP4t1YuCK5DyWeyhUTsQYaV3OcZM/s1600/it+time+to+trust+my+instincts.jpg" height="400" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know people my age are just beginning to think of or starting to look forward to retiring or slowing down--but if I live another 1, 5, 10, 20+ years, is that what I want? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also know many people my age are going back to school or starting new careers...they turned their fog machine off and made a decision to go after a dream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really envy my son, Adam. Talk about going after a dream! Adam has known since he was a sophomore in high school that he wanted to play the trumpet professionally. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Gautille performing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9aFp1WaA8c9uL232GSWeeKDs72BUVQwDAxet28-kwxxl5Xa9Tpa7C9I2VtxeaCaRZPHNjpmEp7NZvBERdf_OMOZnQHphawFQBxvChjaRfhNfHw8Ac35BNbRHnkQkm6vxGUKZA9XiASE/s1600/adam+and+back+bay+brass+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9aFp1WaA8c9uL232GSWeeKDs72BUVQwDAxet28-kwxxl5Xa9Tpa7C9I2VtxeaCaRZPHNjpmEp7NZvBERdf_OMOZnQHphawFQBxvChjaRfhNfHw8Ac35BNbRHnkQkm6vxGUKZA9XiASE/s1600/adam+and+back+bay+brass+2014.jpg" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Adam is a member of <b><i>Back Bay Brass in Boston</i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 13.963635444641113px; text-align: left;">Back Bay Brass, one of Boston's premier chamber music ensembles, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 13.963635444641113px; text-align: left;">delivers exciting and virtuosic performances throughout the Greater Boston area.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 13.963635444641113px; text-align: left;"><i>(<b>Okay, I know, a shameless plug</b>)</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASfUPhee4qpiUW8cqoUrB3_UKc7EqUxca1mFZMFRbg9bvDeW1EAYESJCq65PElK5AjT-Os5rWwnbhfBwNx73IE5cfN_yqM65tsHV95kvNOZXcpPBEfQ-9vI7utbrVvL_ARGy7PCzySJI/s1600/IMG_1603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASfUPhee4qpiUW8cqoUrB3_UKc7EqUxca1mFZMFRbg9bvDeW1EAYESJCq65PElK5AjT-Os5rWwnbhfBwNx73IE5cfN_yqM65tsHV95kvNOZXcpPBEfQ-9vI7utbrVvL_ARGy7PCzySJI/s1600/IMG_1603.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He has been playing since he was in 3rd grade and has been following his passion ever since--from college undergrad to grad school, competitions, auditions. But he did it with his eyes wide open. We explained the competitiveness of the industry, the challenges of making it in the music business. We also equipped him with great mentors. Adam sought out great professors to study under, musicians to take lessons from, as well as became astute at networking, and playing as much as possible--lots and lots of "gigging". </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not to mention the fact that he is an incredible musician and person! <b>No fog machine for Adam.</b> For him it's the strong desire and belief in himself and his God-given talent that keeps him moving forward. It is his strong work ethic and persistence that will help him grab the brass ring. And HE WILL grab the brass ring! I can really learn something from Adam's big dream and his tenacity & persistence! Don't give up on your dream!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for me and my next venture? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I am not as afraid any more. I am blessed to have a deep and profound faith in Christ as a Catholic, so I do fully rely on God. Also, if I am going to gamble on something...why not gamble on myself, close my eyes and leap?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>I Lasso the courage to defy gravity!</i></b></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-91663140788045677702014-06-24T09:05:00.000-05:002014-09-18T12:15:58.972-05:00I Wouldn't be Spoiled if Someone would Spank Grandma!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">As a Nonna I really made a concerted effort to have the necessary items needed to have our daughter and her little family at our home for an overnight or extended stay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the past three years I have purchased diapers, a stroller, pack and play, bouncy seat, jumpers, high chair, car seats. I bought some of the items for a great deal off of Craig's List, and some items I bought new, but Joe and I did this so when the kids came to visit, they wouldn't have to shlep so much stuff--hopefully making it easier to visit more often!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I also love to be able to jump in my Ford Explorer and head down I-35 with my iPod music blasting in the car by myself...listening to the music I want to listen to--for a peaceful 3 hour drive to our daughter's home to help out, see the family, play with the boys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our daughter and son in-law recently sold their first home and bought a new home. Moving yourself with two little ones and no family to help is stressful. So when I received the text message one evening that said, "Can you come down and help me with the move" and I asked when, her reply was "ASAP"--I was in the car the next morning headed south to help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My reward for trek was being greeted by Sara and Keegan in the driveway of their new home. Keegan squealed when I rolled down my window and heard my voice. He then lunged out of Sara's arms into mine to give me an opened-mouth, slobbery baby kiss! This is what grandma's call, "PURE JOY"--to have my almost 1 year old grandson recognize me with this sweet expression of love!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZnKGh881nIgbuy73egpuetKX6_gJG1-8nTDU5SDFSVPZaKHHrAw9bStiWlU9Kz9VswK4goExWnF6eRsw0hSzAsRU6r8oAZPLRYgp-hDbSBWHGHH95qq0kF6XlbhAZekmjJfpNo4rGEU/s1600/Keegan+kissing+Nonna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZnKGh881nIgbuy73egpuetKX6_gJG1-8nTDU5SDFSVPZaKHHrAw9bStiWlU9Kz9VswK4goExWnF6eRsw0hSzAsRU6r8oAZPLRYgp-hDbSBWHGHH95qq0kF6XlbhAZekmjJfpNo4rGEU/s1600/Keegan+kissing+Nonna.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am pretty sure all grandparents fall into "can't spank grandparents" category when it comes to spoiling their grand-babies...I am no exception.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOnJw4PTtJpywCb7Ttq4CXlEDXx0FdEmpPAj2iPDPBDcq8K_VFoSychwpXqUhOeglpEfm9xc3LVEVIQpXs2eXaIwpUcSNXoBZH_YkAob_udG0T5w_jJIvadkLSCEJF7TAf2c8pIy8loI/s1600/spank+grandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOnJw4PTtJpywCb7Ttq4CXlEDXx0FdEmpPAj2iPDPBDcq8K_VFoSychwpXqUhOeglpEfm9xc3LVEVIQpXs2eXaIwpUcSNXoBZH_YkAob_udG0T5w_jJIvadkLSCEJF7TAf2c8pIy8loI/s1600/spank+grandma.jpg" height="588" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Whether it is getting "cozy" and watching a new Thomas and Friends video together...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk1sKnS4FH5CFZKpFyx0-0MhyphenhyphenVYyd8BxOWpk1oiUP_YzsUUKM9HGXNZVKgYxjZgnSPRkg2b4hgEBrc6kbx1MzRIu0BeYkXOg5GN7GxZ5ouSGJdcjdJDzsOyhl0ldxjp4NhB4rFXSKcBQ/s1600/SICK+LITTLE+LANDON,+BUT+COZY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk1sKnS4FH5CFZKpFyx0-0MhyphenhyphenVYyd8BxOWpk1oiUP_YzsUUKM9HGXNZVKgYxjZgnSPRkg2b4hgEBrc6kbx1MzRIu0BeYkXOg5GN7GxZ5ouSGJdcjdJDzsOyhl0ldxjp4NhB4rFXSKcBQ/s1600/SICK+LITTLE+LANDON,+BUT+COZY.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...or building a fort/tunnel and eat lunch in it...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3Irzzkk13BehBDLyOj5JyyLIqrTHdzMsA-B_yl55hb4kujibvcCXeQt6SwJkOlzB0TmrMqvIPGNqtYySUHNm7hUqEiG2xdadmaA0lW9SlqZNG859eAG1ODDRPSg7B2kR-PRgdzvIzxs/s1600/IMG_4461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3Irzzkk13BehBDLyOj5JyyLIqrTHdzMsA-B_yl55hb4kujibvcCXeQt6SwJkOlzB0TmrMqvIPGNqtYySUHNm7hUqEiG2xdadmaA0lW9SlqZNG859eAG1ODDRPSg7B2kR-PRgdzvIzxs/s1600/IMG_4461.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> ...or stay up late with Papa to watch Polar Express...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...or go to the mall to pay a ridiculous amount for a 10 minute ride on the Red Caboose... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpghtlcilqrri4Ui6-iw4zo7wa0DhWjpDsVyBoQBuJ8-XMjXAniDlTzedylNktx17kt4eHaAFYNqNUPS7-IiOUcQdpONDOoU5xpnrUzvI8izFJhq7r1lE6T5FKD4TBBdbYtkUGCciJfnM/s1600/Landon+&+Kathie+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpghtlcilqrri4Ui6-iw4zo7wa0DhWjpDsVyBoQBuJ8-XMjXAniDlTzedylNktx17kt4eHaAFYNqNUPS7-IiOUcQdpONDOoU5xpnrUzvI8izFJhq7r1lE6T5FKD4TBBdbYtkUGCciJfnM/s1600/Landon+&+Kathie+May+2014.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrWl6sY4eW4u82fraLJMW-wO5EvLOl6pfAHiwszhtLg_v0MJ0Tk0aw9eJSNyJ1L00bMM7J5I0uLoTwM5h9xVSsabeP7FEqRZPdTo3EJwlXlvGi6b1WW1IYZoGSQC2bom8p1ycmGTEgIU/s1600/Landon,+Keegan,+Nonna+in+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrWl6sY4eW4u82fraLJMW-wO5EvLOl6pfAHiwszhtLg_v0MJ0Tk0aw9eJSNyJ1L00bMM7J5I0uLoTwM5h9xVSsabeP7FEqRZPdTo3EJwlXlvGi6b1WW1IYZoGSQC2bom8p1ycmGTEgIU/s1600/Landon,+Keegan,+Nonna+in+May+2014.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...or purchase another train to add to Landon's enormous train collection</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-V87P2zeoSpm3UjA3w_G-0vL4V5_-nE-sJuJwwtunaa5ndnqb-UCweonRVCUr_3Ek-ivGLiaXUzyvhQwetxssDnnlM3FatkdX2F2A5rhCe3yAYb9jzPYuJLTT82y7zC1HxoI_-lfCtw/s1600/Nonna+and+Landon+Winter+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-V87P2zeoSpm3UjA3w_G-0vL4V5_-nE-sJuJwwtunaa5ndnqb-UCweonRVCUr_3Ek-ivGLiaXUzyvhQwetxssDnnlM3FatkdX2F2A5rhCe3yAYb9jzPYuJLTT82y7zC1HxoI_-lfCtw/s1600/Nonna+and+Landon+Winter+2014.jpg" height="640" width="356" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...we do it out of love! </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso spending time with my grandsons...and love every single minute of it!</span></i></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-11614356508049000912014-04-20T12:41:00.001-05:002014-09-18T12:14:53.357-05:00God Gave Me You for the Ups and Downs! <div style="text-align: center;">
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<i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">April 27th is my 29th wedding anniversary to my husband Joe.</span></i></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Marriage is not always easy. </i></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Marriage is not always exciting.</i></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>In fact there are days in our 29 years together that I have wondered,</i></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"What in the world am I doing with this man?"</span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There are even more days in our 29 years together that I have wondered,</i></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: white;">"What does he see in <i>ME</i> to love me so much?"</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span><b><i>This video (see link below photos) is dedicated to my husband!</i></b></span></h4>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso through our ups and downs that God gave me you! </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso loving Joe!</span></i></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-485016720401294362014-04-04T21:41:00.000-05:002014-04-06T21:42:58.608-05:00Happy Birthday to my son Adam ... What a wonderful world this is with him in it! <table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-41674402647868782862014-03-14T13:11:00.003-05:002014-03-14T13:11:26.120-05:00Happy Birthday to my daughter Sara and Happy Birthday to my Daddy! Love you both! Love the memories!<h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The song to the video is a song that was popular when Sara was born. I remember trying to get a colicky baby (Sara Kathryn) to stop crying by rocking her while dancing to this song!</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sara. I hope you enjoy the memories! Love you more! </span></h2>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-81374528713430935532013-10-03T12:11:00.000-05:002014-09-18T12:14:12.464-05:00"A Teacher Affects Eternity; He Can Never Tell Where His Influence Stops." -Henry Adams<br />
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Here's to You </h2>
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Here's to Me, </h2>
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Here's to Alpha Xi!</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just returned from a magnificent weekend in Clarion, PA! Fall in the Northeast not only consists of lovely cool days, and clear skies, but no one can deny the beauty of the backdrop, the scenery that surrounds us in the Pennsylvania hills and the gradation of color each tree leaf takes on as it is kissed by the sun.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwW3vEe8EjCGU0BrhcU2iwB5WNTSAbenYFlO_lNRMs2dbgztNw2nXPMLiIhgSp1uoM6UaEEREAwvKQW7zCUTMeX4KatF7J1rOfLOVrOtPU_lY4ZaKUk1NFIGowV8irwHGT9c42Xn8kzsU/s1600/homecoming+alpha+xi+weekend5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwW3vEe8EjCGU0BrhcU2iwB5WNTSAbenYFlO_lNRMs2dbgztNw2nXPMLiIhgSp1uoM6UaEEREAwvKQW7zCUTMeX4KatF7J1rOfLOVrOtPU_lY4ZaKUk1NFIGowV8irwHGT9c42Xn8kzsU/s640/homecoming+alpha+xi+weekend5.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know how I can put into words the overwhelming feeling of love I have for each of these women--women, up until a year ago I had not seen in decades...yet from the moment one squeal of joy is sounded by greeting one another...and the memories pour out throughout the weekend, I realize...part of this overwhelming love comes from the fact that these are the women I truly really grew up with...discovering myself, my gifts, my flaws, and each of us having a great deal of respect for one another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I discovered three years ago that my sorority sisters had been gathering the week before homecoming for about 20 years! It happened that a sorority sister took a composite picture and ran through maiden names on Facebook...that's where I discovered the reunion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can say what you will about social media...I personally love Dave Ramsey's perspective on social media..."Don't compare your everyday life to someone else's highlight reel<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;">." </span><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;"> </span>This is true for all aspects of life...you just see more of it on Facebook, Instagram...keep everything in p</span><span style="line-height: 16px;">erspective. But it was through social media that I found the women from college, who helped shape me into the person I am today!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOFr8iOM8fWn7xW1pN1lEb-KnJ-D8CKoo_B3kxEHgdh2j1lTJJQlFOBEN7mCqi97lL5jDFPuauG_OmpySf5ufq-Me_vwqfEsOsS6CTBeTV8dzr7I88vZFO-ntOhf74ov7RabGcmK1rUY/s1600/alphaxidelta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOFr8iOM8fWn7xW1pN1lEb-KnJ-D8CKoo_B3kxEHgdh2j1lTJJQlFOBEN7mCqi97lL5jDFPuauG_OmpySf5ufq-Me_vwqfEsOsS6CTBeTV8dzr7I88vZFO-ntOhf74ov7RabGcmK1rUY/s640/alphaxidelta.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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Many of my sorority sisters are educators. I had planned to be an teacher when I was a freshman in college, but changed my major 4 times--but graduated in 4 years! Teachers are my heroes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to repost a blog I wrong back in February of 2011. After hearing the working and retired teachers discuss the challenges they face today, I want them to know they make a difference!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So Alpha Xi Delta sisters--I wrote this initial blog after celebrating a mentor and teacher of my husband's when he celebrated a significant birthday. While this was for him in Feb. 2011, this is for you...you make a difference...just as you made a difference in my life over 30 years ago. I am a better person for having known you in my 20s...and I am incredibly blessed to know you now! </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso Alpha Xi's who are teachers</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso those Alpha Xi's who are in other careers...with love!</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"A Teacher Affects Eternity; He can never tell where his influence stops." ~ Henry Adams</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you ever had a teacher, a mentor, a person who had an impact on your life--helped form you into the person your are today?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my favorite books is <u style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesdays with Morrie</u> by Mitch Albom.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdATKaOfQnjuc4WN5YvgHziZk_KQLmYjiURB1X8zzkpAU0OWPNQyInO1ZO23r1soTHzmGOBmlGcrZD6UJ6HTpPnT886FV9sb3t_PgmcEQij2fDdbLc7PsAq9teK4CSsk9UEYVAM1m496c/s1600/Tuesdays+with+Morrie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdATKaOfQnjuc4WN5YvgHziZk_KQLmYjiURB1X8zzkpAU0OWPNQyInO1ZO23r1soTHzmGOBmlGcrZD6UJ6HTpPnT886FV9sb3t_PgmcEQij2fDdbLc7PsAq9teK4CSsk9UEYVAM1m496c/s200/Tuesdays+with+Morrie.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like Morrie, there are teachers who do more than teach a subject...in this book, Morrie is dying, yet continues to be the teacher...he taught life lessons to one particular student. There is a quote in the book that has stayed with me, especially during the 12 years I served as a Board of Trustee for Coppell Independent School District. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The quote came from Henry Adams,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops". </b></i> Teachers are truly my heroes! The most profound illustration of Henry Adam's quote I can really speak to did not happen to me, but rather it happened to my husband Joe and our son, Adam.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe grew up in a suburb of Buffalo, New York...Williamsville! In third grade he started to play the trumpet. As he moved through the school system there was a middle school/high school band director who changed Joe forever. His name--Frank Del Russo or Mr. D. He was a task master...he pushed and pushed his band students to strive to always do their very best. He insisted on doing everything the right way--always. He didn't just expect this from his students, but Mr. D expected it from himself. Mr. D also loved these students. His love and compassion spilled over into every interaction he had with his band, color guard students. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I mentioned, Joe played trumpet. So fast forward twenty some years...Joe always kept his trumpet out, because Mr. D told him if the trumpet is in the case, he would be less likely to take the time to get it out to just play. By now, Joe and I were married with three elementary aged children. One evening, Joe came to the dinner table in a bad mood. After we said grace over our food, he stared at each of our children one-by-one and asked the question in a very serious tone, "Who put the <b>DING</b> in my trumpet bell?" There was silence. Then from the left side of the dinner table our only son Adam, a little third grader at the time, spoke up in tears..."Daddy, I just want to play the trumpet! I am sorry I dinged your horn!" </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8PIhx8V4_wY6VaVei516WqeL9b0TvuMn6_k-yMxddd9LWDBqCbmS-1FH3Kh2V8ShhqZPDzCixHH2llHVWDTEYvU2RoP6jGIgjyBJQdrIvULqo10HS0pazv9msJTkgqq4GWg3b95BCng/s1600/Adam+in+fourth+grade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8PIhx8V4_wY6VaVei516WqeL9b0TvuMn6_k-yMxddd9LWDBqCbmS-1FH3Kh2V8ShhqZPDzCixHH2llHVWDTEYvU2RoP6jGIgjyBJQdrIvULqo10HS0pazv9msJTkgqq4GWg3b95BCng/s400/Adam+in+fourth+grade.jpg" height="400" width="363" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was at that very moment that Mr. D's love, and influence on Joe back in 1960's-- reached into the future and touched our son. Our son graduated from Baylor as a trumpet performance major and is (prayerfully) headed to grad school for trumpet performance in the fall.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9a6hFSqmsvAX0NhKIo3U1-KXEZq5e5OD2y27tk-LkAsTzPTcvi67A15FWpt8ipbUpLzN1_O8kCidEF47Ixwhnc8JVockIhnbz-3URyq9_K54O_5YZZwcm0QCzkLTXHsHMkXJhSKHgWic/s1600/Adam+and+trumpet+new%2527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9a6hFSqmsvAX0NhKIo3U1-KXEZq5e5OD2y27tk-LkAsTzPTcvi67A15FWpt8ipbUpLzN1_O8kCidEF47Ixwhnc8JVockIhnbz-3URyq9_K54O_5YZZwcm0QCzkLTXHsHMkXJhSKHgWic/s400/Adam+and+trumpet+new%2527.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In October of this past year, Joe and I had the pleasure of hearing one of his band-mates, Carol Wincenc, perform at Bass Hall, in Fort Worth,Texas. Carol Wincenc, a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">former student of Mr. D's has since become one of the most respected flute players, having appeared as a soloist with the world’s finest orchestras--and a Juilliard professor. After the concert we met up with Carol. As Joe and Carol were reminiscent of their days in <i>"Bill's-ville"</i> Joe happened to mentioned to her that in February Mr. D will be 80 years old. She exclaimed, <b><i>"We must do something for him!"</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">So at that moment, Joe the pilot </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">became Joe the event planner! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">I love technology...because, between emails and Facebook...one email or connection to a few former </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">middle school/high school band </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">students led to others spreading the word of Joe organizing a luncheon in honor of Mr. D's 80th Birthday. With the help of Mr. D's beautiful wife Claudia--Joe had a co-conspirator to pull off this event. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Eagle House, Williamsville, NY</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">Well, last week, February 12th, 50 former students of Mr. D's gathered from all over the USA to the Eagle House in Williamsville, New York, to pay the highest honor a teacher can receive...students from the class of 1966, 1967, 1968 and one from 1969 came together to show Mr. D that his love, example of persistence, drive for excellence touched each of their lives.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">Throughout the private room of this local watering hole, blue and white crape paper -- Williamsville school colors draped the room. Large photos of the former band students, a young band director covered the walls. And what were once vinyl record albums of a young group of middle school/high school musicians were digitally loaded onto an iPod for background music for this festive event.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mr. Frank Del Russo</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLz0HUCjvspA04FQYvhJ1M0HbUjqbSuZ4BjZP5C0R3Kqr_a3SGv0rwV-jn-2BneL1RzVYOajyeTAqZlLPoWooiSQSZf19YzjXdxfnT20b18XvlbH6mckGMlHctuhYqbCaIvQKQQLnddLA/s1600/yearbook+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLz0HUCjvspA04FQYvhJ1M0HbUjqbSuZ4BjZP5C0R3Kqr_a3SGv0rwV-jn-2BneL1RzVYOajyeTAqZlLPoWooiSQSZf19YzjXdxfnT20b18XvlbH6mckGMlHctuhYqbCaIvQKQQLnddLA/s320/yearbook+1.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="100" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mr. D</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">The moment arrived. Joe, who has always kept in touch with Mr. D, called him two weeks prior to mention that he had a Southwest Airlines overnight in Buffalo and wondered if he could take Frank to lunch. Frank mentioned to him, "You know that's my birthday?" Joe said, "No, I thought your birthday was on President's Day?" Well, Mr. D told him, "No, my birthday falls on Lincoln's birthday...but I would love to see you and have lunch". </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFlDyzsyzFrY7YADsyQai6wuAmfU39hw1nMNauEPDvHpsEyBPU6S53TwLu_ot_GCFms4khP8YxLrunYvY-SLtoeBW2bO3GBE6yYzgeRg8c7KQQj1gW0INT5ZnjQQox01a7lUrv_He7T8/s1600/yearbook+concert+band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFlDyzsyzFrY7YADsyQai6wuAmfU39hw1nMNauEPDvHpsEyBPU6S53TwLu_ot_GCFms4khP8YxLrunYvY-SLtoeBW2bO3GBE6yYzgeRg8c7KQQj1gW0INT5ZnjQQox01a7lUrv_He7T8/s640/yearbook+concert+band.jpg" height="216" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><b>The beloved band director from over four decades ago got the surprise of his life!</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIsa8thb_GThcL8Wt8W-5sYhsToHHn8yC-4-wruJ7aOFFBYZVmwFtd7WwW0aYnvygPss9Mx5EReDpTx2RNpwVUei2Hp3tWSbQBm8oWenHld2SG-rg8Y2itTLi897b0v2CLbb9vcIiHWo/s1600/The+initial+surprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIsa8thb_GThcL8Wt8W-5sYhsToHHn8yC-4-wruJ7aOFFBYZVmwFtd7WwW0aYnvygPss9Mx5EReDpTx2RNpwVUei2Hp3tWSbQBm8oWenHld2SG-rg8Y2itTLi897b0v2CLbb9vcIiHWo/s640/The+initial+surprise.jpg" height="433" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Joe, Frank, John, Suzi</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHHCurIm06q2ltyyvG4kL3C6EAIPCk1QlDYGcER_vG1wXgrwFeU9XXlHH6mQVZWrL6msop6SjXK737VZ7hivFHDxymQ8y0fk2bcY72fKqvX-m-cVO0xpuMYt62wM7JO6uKy0k4je-F8U/s1600/Students+with+Frank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHHCurIm06q2ltyyvG4kL3C6EAIPCk1QlDYGcER_vG1wXgrwFeU9XXlHH6mQVZWrL6msop6SjXK737VZ7hivFHDxymQ8y0fk2bcY72fKqvX-m-cVO0xpuMYt62wM7JO6uKy0k4je-F8U/s400/Students+with+Frank.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dan Teplesky, Denny Brown, Roy and Linda Larson </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT421q0pykGGKeZ4qls-xIhe1JkCV4MRoDDefbRnaKaKy0cd2bd_aPg6t3V5wGbtrwN6nzcXyuv75lQACscGkrKfCtWS-9tmKoF2OZ9YFLXHo_cXs1ht_oQRS9k2t49m5rEhyphenhyphenAuYaqP20/s1600/A+table+shot+of+Frank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT421q0pykGGKeZ4qls-xIhe1JkCV4MRoDDefbRnaKaKy0cd2bd_aPg6t3V5wGbtrwN6nzcXyuv75lQACscGkrKfCtWS-9tmKoF2OZ9YFLXHo_cXs1ht_oQRS9k2t49m5rEhyphenhyphenAuYaqP20/s400/A+table+shot+of+Frank.jpg" height="261" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Claudia, Frank and their children, Kathie & Joe Gautille</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One by one each student shared a personal memory of what Mr. D meant to them. The reoccurring theme of many whom shared was that Mr. D gave each of them love, confidence, compassion, persistence and the pursuit of excellence--and in turn they were able to pay it forward...pass it on to other students, family, friends. Something else was shared, Mr. D gave a great deal of credit to the teacher/mentor of his--Herb Ludwig, who he credited for teaching him how to be the best possible teacher he could be...<b>once again, a teacher affecting eternity.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Carol Wincenc, the one who proposed the idea to honor Frank unfortunately had to be in California for a master class and was unable to attend the surprise luncheon...but by phone she had 50 flutist play Happy Birthday to Frank. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">He received one other call, from Holland, yes...the Netherlands...one of his students, April Eaton Brolsma made sure she called during the luncheon!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not surprising that Frank married a lovely English Literature teacher, who has also touched the future.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">Not many people get to see how they are lifting others, making a difference...I am so happy that this group of students made the effort to trek across the country to tell a wonderful 80 year old man that he made a difference in their lives. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">A movie I have always loved...and actually was one of the reasons I thought I wanted to be a teacher (but I will save that story for another day) is <b>To Sir with Love</b>. "Sir" took a tough group of students in London and taught them life lessons. While Sir was initially despised for his tough disciplined approach to teaching...the video, the song at the end of the movie explains that Sir also touched eternity! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><b>I dedicate this entry to Frank, Claudia, our daughter Sara (3rd grade teacher), our son Adam (who teaches private trumpet lessons) and ALL of the educators that went into the profession to make a difference in the lives of their students!</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>I Lasso the love of teachers who are making difference</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-31882235748430421832013-09-03T01:11:00.001-05:002014-09-18T12:11:55.666-05:00Come Fly with Me, Come Fly with Me--Let's Fly Away! <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fly Me to the Moon!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWioxACivjeJMhRfHXtST6hTy4hnW9iSgbwiTmm5xIeKMaVbeZKje-yMJd1RX5bQVMMPB6VqghlHP6l6LQ2Chp6laHj-g8Qfx7_1VZWX2L_S32diuGoJtxGJdlrcd_LkqNGngX2AEuD8/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJWioxACivjeJMhRfHXtST6hTy4hnW9iSgbwiTmm5xIeKMaVbeZKje-yMJd1RX5bQVMMPB6VqghlHP6l6LQ2Chp6laHj-g8Qfx7_1VZWX2L_S32diuGoJtxGJdlrcd_LkqNGngX2AEuD8/s320/IMG_1688.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">When my husband, Joe proposed to me--he had a very passionate speech prepared. He first just said, "Kathie I am trying to ask you something...will you...will you..." I said, "Will I what?" "Will you marry me?" I enthusiastically said, "You betcha!" Then the proposal continued...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Kathie, I love flying, I mean, I really love to fly! You have to understand that when I go to work--I fly, that means most likely I have to be away from you...I want to fly--I love being a pilot. I want you to be my wife, but I need to know and for you to really understand what it means to be the wife of a pilot!" I still said yes...and he has been blessed to fly our entire married life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe has flown over <b>24,220.5 hours = 2.76 years in the air. </b></span><br />
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This does not include the times we were apart for a corporate trip at which time he would say, "They pay for me to wait, I fly for free." </span><br />
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Which means, unlike SWA having 7 take offs and 7 landings <b>a day</b>. He would have one or two take offs and landings, and a few days later another. He flew to destinations and waited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is one thing to retire when you know it is time. When the job isn't the same, or maybe when the opportunity presents itself as too good to pass up...but it is another thing when you are a healthy and you are not only good at your job--you love your job, and are not ready to end your career. Pilots, especially those over 60 are scrutinized during their medical physicals and simulator training, as they should be...as all pilots who command an aircraft with many souls onboard should be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1960 there was an FAA rule put in place that a commercial pilot, regardless of how healthy or sharp he/she was must retire at age 60. Well, age 60 looks a lot different in 2013 than it did in 1960. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe joined many other great pilots and actively lobbied on Capitol Hill with the Airline Pilots Against Age Discrimination<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"> group and fought for years to have the retirement age moved from 60 to 65. Finally after a unanimous vote both the House and Senate passed the law to extend the commercial pilot's age to 65, President George W Bush signed it into law! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">So through God's grace he was blessed with five more years of flying for the LUV Airline!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">But today, he woke very early. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Got ready for the day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Put on his uniform and his four silver bar epaulets.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">His crew black bag packed and by the back door ready to go...for this morning was the beginning of his last three day commercial trip.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">His final flight is this Friday with family onboard.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">He has been a "high flyer" for Southwest Airlines for many years. Last year he flew 999 hours & 8 minutes. FAA only permitted an individual pilot to fly 1000 hours. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">He has had a great flying career. On Sept. 6th--the day before he turns into a pumpkin on his 65th birthday</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">...he will be pulling chalks for the last time as Captain in command of the 737.</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso the day Joe asked me to "Come Fly with Me...Let's Fly Away"!</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-45343746484495696582013-08-29T16:06:00.002-05:002014-09-18T12:11:05.785-05:00Seriously, What Else Could Possibly Go Wrong ...You Can't Even Begin to Imagine!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seriously, What Else Could Possibly Go Wrong?</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">...You Can't Even Begin to Imagine!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few years ago there was a great commercial that played the song that Andy Williams made famous, <b><i>"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!"</i></b> and in the opening shot, <i>while this song blasts</i> in the background is a dad practically giddy while he is pushing a shopping cart up and down the school supply aisle...yes, it was a STAPLES back to school commercial!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Texas this week school started.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why I randomly thought of this commercial stems from the fact as the summer winds down, so does wedding season. Summers are generally filled with attending weddings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which made me think about <b>my </b>wedding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to share the story about the wedding that was perfect and magical despite the many obstacles that were thrown in our path!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me start off by saying, when I moved to Texas in 1984 from Pensacola, Florida, I didn't know a soul. I had only lived in Pensacola for three years, and when I first moved to P'cola I had one friend from high school that I knew. But now I was moving from a beach town to a metropolitan area, in another state--I had just received a promotion to the headquarters of the software company I worked for and moved to Texas with my dog, Gretel and a few sticks of furniture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three months after moving to Texas I met my husband in a bar, (we tell the kids church)...okay...not really. That story I will save for another blog posting. But our courting and engagement was approximately one month long, and then we were planning our wedding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As with most wedding planning, the church, reception venue and band had to be booked immediately--which we did with my mom's help. We were getting married in my hometown, a suburb of Pittsburgh. So I relied a great deal on my mom for help since I was in Dallas and she was in Sewickley, PA. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe and I went through the church we were attending in Dallas for the marriage preparation classes. Shortly after taking the classes we decided to fly to Pittsburgh to meet the priest who would be officiating the sacrament of matrimony for us. We were excited to meet the priest from the parish since I was in 4th grade, St. James Catholic Church. We also took the marriage preparation paperwork we needed to give him to show we completed the classes. These classes are a church requirement. We had a wonderful visit and were very excited that everything was in motion for an April wedding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In February, our wedding invitations arrived. Joe looked at the invitation which we both picked out and he said, "Kathie, my dad's name is not Peter!" (This is the hazard of marrying someone you have only known 7 months). I said, "What do you mean, everyone calls him Pete..." Joe said, "His name is Anthony Daniel..." My mistake...I didn't have Joe proof the invitation...so we paid to have the invitation reprinted and expressed mailed to us. Fortunately we had separate cards for the reception and the RSVP...they were fine...or so we thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I received a phone call from a Father Dennis Wargo from St. James Catholic Church, where Joe and I were getting married. He informed me that he had just been assigned to St. James and would be performing our wedding ceremony, but he needed our paperwork from the marriages preparation classes we were required to take. </span><br />
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Well, let me just say, this was more an inconvenience that our paperwork was lost. Father Wargo, took time through the course of a few long distance calls to get to know Joe and me a little before our big day. And regarding the paperwork, it took a quick phone call to ask for a copy of our certificate to be mailed off to St. James. Good...box checked...done!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then in early March--just a little over a month before the wedding, my mom called to tell me the reception venue my parents made a sizable deposit on had just gone bankrupt and not only were we not having our wedding reception there (and they lost the deposit), but my mom was having a difficult time finding another place to for the reception. While on the phone with my mom, I was trying desperately to process the fact that the dream wedding reception I was hoping for was gone. </span><br />
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The news kept getting worse...she said, all of the surrounding hotels were booked and with the wedding a month away, the only place that WAS available was the Sewickley Holiday Inn. </span><br />
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The way my mom broke the news to me was if she pulled a pin on a grenade and threw it in the fox hole--she spurted out the words and held her breath for my reaction. </span><br />
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But I couldn't say a word...I just sobbed into the phone. </span><br />
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Joe heard me talking to my mom...when I hung up I was blubbering--not a pretty sight! </span><br />
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He thought by the way I was carrying on that someone had died...to me it was just the childhood wedding dream that died...I did not want my reception at the Holiday Inn. </span><br />
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But Joe, so wise, so smart took me by the shoulders, looked me in the eye and said, "Are we going to be any less married having the reception at the Holiday Inn?" Through my gasping and sobbing, my tear-streaked face I said, "No"...he continued, "Well, Kathie, remember the goal...the goal is for us to spend our lives together..." Honestly, it took me a short time to embrace his attitude. But I realized he was right--the goal was to be husband and wife.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, not even a week later my mom called again..."Kathie, the band we hired just called, they have dis-banded...we need to come up with another band...or consider a DJ." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will be honest, I really want to say that I was not upset...but I was...what more could go wrong--so I had myself a little pity-party and then we hired a DJ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The new invitations had just arrived and yes...we had to have new reception cards printed too...with the Sewickley Holiday Inn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Three weeks leading up to the wedding, I was having my wedding dress altered and having my veil/headpiece made. </span><br />
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I also wanted to get my hair trimmed and have a body wave (yes, this was the 1980's that's what we did ;-/ ) My hair was a little over shoulder-length and my head piece was being made for a long hair style. Why do I share this little detail...because what else could go wrong...</span><br />
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When I went for my hair appointment the hair stylist I always went to was out on an extended leave due to illness. I didn't know this until I arrived for my hair appointment. They quickly recommended another stylist that was able to see me right then--so I had a seat. BIG MISTAKE...BIG MISTAKE--did I mention this was a big mistake?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A trim turned into a layered SHORT hairstyle. Not only that, but the headpiece that my veil would attach to looked ridiculous with this awful hairstyle. Who knew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So two weeks before the big day I went for my final fitting and the redesigned of my veil-headpiece. I went to Francine's Bridal Boutique in Dallas, and told them I had an appointment with Eileen for my final fitting. Let me back up for a minute and explain, this is a very upbeat, classy store. A lot of joy and excitement usually resonates from all corners of this boutique. But on the day of my final fitting it was unusually quiet. Upon hearing me say I had an appointment with Eileen (I remember her name because my sister's name is Eileen)--they burst into tears. All of the employees were quietly crying. </span><br />
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Francine, the owner--she was an older women, came over to me to explain that someone else would have to help me, Eileen had died the night before and they were all in emotional turmoil. I didn't know what to say. She assured me that everything would be taken care of, but to please be patient with them. I explained when I would needed everything and she felt certain they would meet the deadline. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I left the shop so sad. I called Joe and told him what had just happened, he was empathetic and didn't really know what to say, but wanted to make sure I would have my dress in veil in time. But Joe had some bad news for me, the diamonds we bought for my wedding bands were lost (how does this happen?). But the jeweler was going to "make it right" but we may have to use other diamond bands for the ceremony. I just laughed...I said, whatever bands I get married in are the bands I want to keep. I just kept focused on the goal...we would be married in less than two weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I called a few of my friends, who were going to be bridesmaids in our wedding. When I spoke to my friend Judy, she said to me, "Kathie, do you think that maybe God is trying to tell you something?" </span><br />
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I asked her what she meant...she said, "Do you think maybe God is trying to tell you that this isn't meant to be?" I was so surprised by her questions, I asked, "What makes you say that?" And she said, "Kathie...look at how many things have gone wrong?" She said, "I don't know...I mean look at all that has happened this past month!" </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Priest relocates losing your paperwork</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The original reception place goes bankrupt taking a lot of your folks money, you barely find a place to have your reception</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The band you hired disbanded</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your invitations had to be reprinted</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your hair is chopped off by a scissor happy stylist, which requires your veil to be remade</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AND THE WOMAN WHO WAS WORKING ON YOUR WEDDING GOWN AND VEIL DIES THE DAY BEFORE YOUR FINAL FITTING!!!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I added, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Oh, and the jeweler lost the diamonds to my wedding band, just found that out..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judy shrieked. I said, "Judy what do you think God is trying to tell me?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She said, "Maybe you are not to suppose to marry Joe!!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I said, "Oh my gosh, that never entered my head." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She said, "Look at all the signs!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I told Judy--what I had learned in this event planning is that when you plan a wedding it is one of the first thing you really do as a couple to start your life together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Planning this wedding has been more "real" then if everything fell easily into place. We had to face disappointment and frustration...but we both stayed focused on the goal...we were going to get married and be husband and wife...maybe we focused more on the marriage part, and not the storybook wedding I wanted to initially focus on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wedding ceremony was beautiful. Father Wargo was really wonderful, and our families and friends showered us with love and many blessings. I still hated having the reception at the Holiday Inn, but I must admit, it was a great party! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One final comment, I found out after the wedding that the company I used for flowers went bankrupt...and they messed up the flowers--especially for the wedding cake...I asked for all white flowers, & NO DAISIES...my mom didn't even want me to see the cake...because on it was a stinkin' meadow of daisies...we still cut the cake and ate it, and it was delicious! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was over 28 years ago. Just like the wedding planning there are times in a marriage when things go smoothly, they get rocky and disappointing, and sometime down right awful, but I never once thought Joe was not the person I was suppose to be with for life...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when I hear people say I should have seen the signs...I often wonder if perhaps the signs are being mis-interrupted. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-19438741661523403892013-07-29T10:12:00.002-05:002014-09-18T12:10:02.018-05:00Landon's Membership to the "Only Child Club" Finally Expired! Keegan is here!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Thank Heaven for Little Boys!</i></span></h3>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First the Wait!</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our daughter Sara and her husband Ryan just had their second baby -- and he is a beautiful, perfect baby boy! But before Keegan Joseph arrived...we waited...and waited...and waited. While Sara was only one day late from her due date, it seemed <b>so much longer </b>because her OB/GYN thought he was a probably going to be a June baby!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sara asked if I would come down the last week in June to be there in the event she went into labor in the middle of the night -- or really anytime, to take care of Landon. Well, twist my arm! Like any good Nonna, I hopped at the chance to spend quality time with Sara and Landon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the final days of June went by...and no baby, but trust me, Sara was in early labor having Braxton Hicks contractions non-stop. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The baby's unofficial estimated weight by the doctor was at least 8 pounds. Landon came a day before his due date, and was 8 pounds, 8 oz. and 20.5 inches long. So Sara was feeling a little better knowing that all of the horrid comments people would say to her in public "How many do you have in there?" or "Holy Cow, you're going to have a baby!" duh...but Sara has grace, and she would grit her teeth and try to let the comments roll off her back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We thought perhaps he would be a little firecracker and come on July 4th!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Landon watching the Macy's Fireworks on TV!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But July 4th came and went!</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Making the most of the days left with only Landon!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sara is such a great mommy. She wanted to have activities to do with Landon everyday before the baby arrived. So we went to playgrounds... </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>TA-DAH!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Landon is pretending he is a Monkey!<br />I wish this was a video, because he sounds like a monkey too!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we weren't at an outdoor playground, we were at an inside playscape!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Playing at the water table Landon informed me that<br />"Water is wet!" Genius! </span></i></b></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fpO6j_21edvA-MfNCxqUokWOCFUZ429ctkowPRySM6nmm9EiWMwwkkWhatIUPT69M9pw5YNWo0M6N5E15dfJSd1z2hSbgba1KBp8xzm_RSq8xCRfXJ2lWXxmFtFCFQ3q2AcwdM_STWc/s1600/IMG_4215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fpO6j_21edvA-MfNCxqUokWOCFUZ429ctkowPRySM6nmm9EiWMwwkkWhatIUPT69M9pw5YNWo0M6N5E15dfJSd1z2hSbgba1KBp8xzm_RSq8xCRfXJ2lWXxmFtFCFQ3q2AcwdM_STWc/s320/IMG_4215.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEj83Fl55ErRV6R61WEs9smWBhPexDQERo11WA-yk2wU4rywMy8Q7piD78ZS0q61w2Dra29oMINc3VDoHqhX0SDlzp3tVHlv5WgIjs0MR78WRpB2CBtcfSIVliQkdBkPNTiPIG-h077M/s1600/IMG_4211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEj83Fl55ErRV6R61WEs9smWBhPexDQERo11WA-yk2wU4rywMy8Q7piD78ZS0q61w2Dra29oMINc3VDoHqhX0SDlzp3tVHlv5WgIjs0MR78WRpB2CBtcfSIVliQkdBkPNTiPIG-h077M/s400/IMG_4211.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Enjoying the last few days before Landon's "Only Child Club Membership" expired<br />and baby brother arrives. </span></i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nonna & Papa Joe gave Landon a brand new Percy that talks!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Watching Thomas & Friends...or Elmo's World!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Playing on the Island of Sodor with Landon, and his buddies Thomas and friends!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nonna and Landon building towers & bridges for Thomas to go through!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a side note...Uncle AJ & Godfather to the new baby had just returned from a trip of a life time spending a few weeks in Manila. He went with his best friend Clayton and his wife Tala, who is from Manila. At the end of his fabulous trip he decided to come to Dallas instead of going back to Boston--he really wanted to be in town for the birth of the baby! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adam arrived at Sara's house on Keegan's due date...but no baby! The picture below was taken the night Sara went into labor...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Adam and Sara the night she went into labor!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>It's the real thing...time to head to the hospital!</i></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then in the middle of the night, Sara woke me and said it was time to head to the hospital! It was just as we all had hoped--Landon was sound asleep, they slipped out during the night and by the time he was up in the morning he was a big brother! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before they left for the hospital, they went in to see Landon--sound asleep surrounded by his Thomas and friends sheets, a hippo, a well loved doggie, two lambs and a large plush 'Thomas'! Watching Sara and Ryan rub his back and kiss his little head...well, it was one of the most touching moments, filled with sweet "tears of love" for their first born son! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The closer the due date came, the more Sara began to worry about being able to love another baby as much as she loves Landon...I shared my story (one of my previous blogs around Christmas) of how I worried that I would not love our second baby (Adam) as much as I loved her...but I told her, when you have a new baby your capacity for loving increases...and I told her much like the Grinch...your heart will grow...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and it did--for all of us!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArfBNPjPpAKwp_FV6UzaTTbpBzM7ORMGbatPCYMW55ttXH1HoBtnQfRYvl96ascvGa9B19bLkdZHe0Zqa5o276ZCYDeyarknwPc0f8E0tpWifG2speI-KC5EKl5nrMnC6dBHQ1yIC02s/s1600/Grinch%2527s+heart+size+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArfBNPjPpAKwp_FV6UzaTTbpBzM7ORMGbatPCYMW55ttXH1HoBtnQfRYvl96ascvGa9B19bLkdZHe0Zqa5o276ZCYDeyarknwPc0f8E0tpWifG2speI-KC5EKl5nrMnC6dBHQ1yIC02s/s400/Grinch%2527s+heart+size+%25281%2529.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sara gave birth on July 8th at 7:43a.m. to a healthy baby boy! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Keegan Joseph<br />9lbs, 9oz<br />21.5 inches long<br />Perfect in every way!<br />God is so amazing!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>My turn to hold Keegan!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Papa Joe get's a turn!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Sara, Ryan and Keegan arrive home!</i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Landon, Keegan and Ryan at the pediatrician office for the first visit<br />Landon was THRILLED he was not being messed with by the doctor!</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b><i>I Lasso the miracle of love and life!</i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso being a Nonna of two beautiful boys!</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is good all the time!</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All the time God is good!</span></i></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-13863958226333273592013-04-07T17:30:00.000-05:002014-09-18T12:08:50.448-05:00Never Pass Up a Lemonade Stand!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Never Pass Up a Lemonade Stand!</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Springtime has arrived, even if the weather isn't quite cooperating! Before you know it--at least in Texas we will be in the hot days of summer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When my children were little they often had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit and created a lemonade, popsicle stand at the corner of our cul-de-sac. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><b>Jenna's sign for the Popsicle & Lemonade Stand</b></i> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Hot Texas Summer, and no customers for delicious lukewarm fruit punch!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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And like any good mother, I would call my neighbors and ask if they would stop by--not desiring my kids to collect their money, but to feel proud of the work they invested time in to make the stand. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAzq5BDezUdS9stwoFeixgHWsn3iidxNVRE57djZIY1HgH-UWJ-ipgpbWSiARzBTrArqDOqDJlqOubzri2U3GhvEP-pFl05YItPABby7XVMV-BjPGALT6fykyvzzI3fPWiILIwRLCVbk/s1600/kids+lemonade+stand2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAzq5BDezUdS9stwoFeixgHWsn3iidxNVRE57djZIY1HgH-UWJ-ipgpbWSiARzBTrArqDOqDJlqOubzri2U3GhvEP-pFl05YItPABby7XVMV-BjPGALT6fykyvzzI3fPWiILIwRLCVbk/s640/kids+lemonade+stand2.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>We had the best neighbors in the world who always encouraged our kids!<br />We still miss Karen, Allen and their boys!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In turn, my husband and I never pass up a lemonade stand! We will buy a cup or two and give a tip -- which generally depends on the number of kids selling at the stand!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember once passing a kid's stand where they were selling drawings--and as I recall, they were pricy! That time, I only purchased one drawing, and praised the kiddos for a job well done! Leaving them with smiles and standing a little taller!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lemonade stands are often a child's first business!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that my kids are grown, each of them striking out on their own--trying to make their way in the world. And as unique as they all three are, so are their career paths.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our daughter Sara, and her husband who are expecting their second baby, have made the decision and quite honestly the financial sacrifice for her to be a SAHM--stay at home mom. I hear more and more young mothers expressing the desire to be SAHM. And Sara has been blessed with a few of these moms who are mentoring her as she navigates not only parenthood, but having what you need, not always what you want in order to remain a SAHM. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which brings me back to the lemonade stand...and the support other mothers gave our kids when they were young.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many of the new moms are developing their home-based businesses--in the effort to build and keep a nuclear family together, and being able to be there for the majority of the child rearing. This isn't for everyone--being a SAHM, but there are families who are trying to make this work. And now a days, in terms of home-based businesses there are more options than just Avon! There are a variety of products being sold in these home-based businesses--from children's clothing, to bags and purses; from children's educational toys and books, to beautiful jewelry; from skin care lines and make-up to health supplements and protein drinks.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a sampling of the many great home-based companies!</span></i></b></div>
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Actually now that I think of it there are new moms, older moms and grand-moms who have home-based businesses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess I would like you to consider, if you are invited to one of these home-based parties, consider going as a way of lending support or giving confidence to those who are trying to provide a quality product for a genuine need. And much like the lemonade stands versus the drawings...some of the products you may stop and lend encouragement to, some you may make a significant purchase, and some you may only purchase one small item. But you are doing so much more than that, you are giving them confidence. You are rooting for their success. You may think you are only buying mascara, but you are helping someone build a business.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I Lasso the Spirit Behind the Lemonade Stands!</b> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-47480635243411160612013-02-08T18:24:00.000-06:002014-09-18T12:07:30.042-05:00Ladies in Waiting Ministry<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Ladies in Waiting Ministry</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"I prayed for the child, and the Lord granted my request." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i>~ 1 Samuel 1:27</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am at that point in my life--where I have been once before, about 30 years ago. I was engaged and getting married, my friends were getting engaged, getting married--we attended the circuit of all the bridal showers--all of the weddings. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3xX4QVY78ZMGnjcbvLoNtgfDy7JZi3JdW_qHlt6cU4UkWykOpYRSS6MDVkMZzqHN8xZf91MZKqnDaSp9_tg1hvItrvFeckN7zMaiRpwszwrOHg55X_RvsH9zaFaIO7LQrFC-p35ZNSU/s1600/Mom%252C+dad%252C+mom+on+wedding+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3xX4QVY78ZMGnjcbvLoNtgfDy7JZi3JdW_qHlt6cU4UkWykOpYRSS6MDVkMZzqHN8xZf91MZKqnDaSp9_tg1hvItrvFeckN7zMaiRpwszwrOHg55X_RvsH9zaFaIO7LQrFC-p35ZNSU/s400/Mom%252C+dad%252C+mom+on+wedding+day.jpg" height="332" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My mom and dad right before I got married to Joe!</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then many of these young wives were becoming mothers--once again we attended all the baby showers, and celebrated when the new little pink or blue bundle was born! </span><br />
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The difference 30 years later is--that this cycle of engagement, weddings and babies involves the 'friends' of my kids!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was expecting my first baby I learned something about my dad I never knew before. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-RhkdcJMpV6YyzIzzmUnUC05y9lRaWHDnxw163dY4HRgsViWMyjGA2ljC0zvz4zLRnJivOwJmVQCA3GTe1rAq9z4xjaGyBZZI2q7U-P-w-0zdg0e6cXBRuS4DGTnNBwpVPglAj226dI/s1600/Joe+and+Kathie+newlyweds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-RhkdcJMpV6YyzIzzmUnUC05y9lRaWHDnxw163dY4HRgsViWMyjGA2ljC0zvz4zLRnJivOwJmVQCA3GTe1rAq9z4xjaGyBZZI2q7U-P-w-0zdg0e6cXBRuS4DGTnNBwpVPglAj226dI/s400/Joe+and+Kathie+newlyweds.jpg" height="400" width="318" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Joe and me as newlyweds, <br />and expecting our first baby</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My dad was in a prayer ministry since about the time I was born--actually he started this beautiful ministry, and he continues it today:<b><i> </i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ladies in Waiting Apostolate.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ministry is devoted prayer for those who are hopeful and prayerful for a new life! This is an apostolate of prayer for women who want children by conception or adoption.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNLM4YC4qbhnCX5dUef6piHz5_jrug0Lj6lkjBcBMvRi9oDtWF9ZFe72qbMgM06XKks8FnwFnpma4OdFECpKAfreazogbeKTiKVl8UVlIleEStYf0qtl95BX__HXIrj5c9KFgvgDVxhM/s1600/family-iconjpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNLM4YC4qbhnCX5dUef6piHz5_jrug0Lj6lkjBcBMvRi9oDtWF9ZFe72qbMgM06XKks8FnwFnpma4OdFECpKAfreazogbeKTiKVl8UVlIleEStYf0qtl95BX__HXIrj5c9KFgvgDVxhM/s320/family-iconjpeg.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For over 50 years my father and the powerful <i style="font-weight: bold;">The Ladies in Waiting Apostolate</i> (comprised of hundreds of faithful prayer warriors) has been praying for pregnancy, safe delivery and successful adoption. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While he is a very devote Catholic, the Apostolate prays for all women--no matter what their religious affiliation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am blessed to be among the hundreds of prayer warriors in the Apostolate. We have seen many prayers answered. We have seen other prayers go unanswered--which is always heartbreaking. But we continue to pray and while we don't know why, we have to trust in God's plan, and let me tell you, this can be a very difficult task! Sometimes there are very dark times for these couples. But having hope in God's plan during these times of sadness reminds me of something Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars."</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can tell you I have more compassion for women trying to conceive, because like many women, I too had my own dark days of wanting a baby, when Joe and I lost our second baby. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't understand why God would take a baby we planned for, had dreams for...</span><br />
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While I can now fast forward 25 years later--and have clearer perspective, I can honestly tell you that I see God's hand in my life then and now (that's one good thing about getting older, we not only gain wrinkles...we are blessed with a little wisdom too). </span><br />
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When one is so close to the desire and the anxiousness, it is hard to understand or</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Be still and know He is God" </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-- </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you-are-not-He</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">! </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> :)</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The comfort of knowing others are praying for you--and for new life...I believe that's God's grace being poured out for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Apostolate does not always hear about the outcome of our prayers. But this week, we found out that one of the couples that The Ladies in Waiting Apostolate have been praying to conceive--for several years--is happily through her first trimester! The joy of learning the news did our hearts good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daily prayers continue for the hundreds of women who are pregnant--for a healthy baby, and safe delivery. Daily prayers continue for those who are trying to conceive, and for those who desire to adopt.</span><br />
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If you are reading this, and you or anyone you know is seeking to conceive, adopt or is pregnant and would like The Ladies in Waiting Apostolate to pray for you, you can email:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">prayer@theladiesinwaitingapostolate.faithweb.com</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso the power of prayer!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Ladies in Waiting Apostolate </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my dad started over 50 years ago! </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso the love I have for my dad!</span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-91230107406980234412013-02-05T10:56:00.000-06:002013-02-05T10:56:53.482-06:00Adventures of Being a Nonna!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Adventures of being a </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Nonna!</i></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_PQd0evBaIpRNdxOS0LnJZc41ks-Wmw90y7bTq4_sfcCn4tQYf2qaGs4TlFb-CHWkna7geR1KsgJ4rh865gPFVRo7GUoDOcdm2lmN2eyssws6HshyphenhyphenBoMZ8wTYU9QLEwxo2LXqGh8yQ0/s1600/Landon+20+months+old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_PQd0evBaIpRNdxOS0LnJZc41ks-Wmw90y7bTq4_sfcCn4tQYf2qaGs4TlFb-CHWkna7geR1KsgJ4rh865gPFVRo7GUoDOcdm2lmN2eyssws6HshyphenhyphenBoMZ8wTYU9QLEwxo2LXqGh8yQ0/s320/Landon+20+months+old.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">If you follow my blog, you know that I am crazy about my family! I am also crazy about my twenty month old grandson! I love that he made us "Papa and Nonna" -- although my name comes out "NoNo", but you know what, I will answer to <i>whatever he wants to call me</i>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">This little boy has charm, personality and has completely stolen my heart!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">His animated personality is beginning to emerge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">He loves music--what amazes me is he seems to hear music and 'beats' in the simplest sounds...for example when our dogs are drinking from the metal water bowl, and their tags hit against the bowl--he starts to move to the rhythm and beat! When he hears the wind chimes at our house, he stands perfectly still, recognizes the chimes as music and begins to sway! You can only image how he rocks out when he hears real music!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">He loves cars and choo-choos! We were tickled to see his excitement when we gave him a Thomas the Engine Table and trains for Christmas. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYP9d3zfsYWJFj52BxbvN8kG-uJ1SXTr0wFbVIGnihUGb8dntH6xiccX07bi8kpLp2kvQmGQS49G2Kk_L3C-57vcrSHwtqIm33735WInStiA0jXFFikqHPTPS1OZdgfZsp9-d-63A-08/s1600/IMG_4004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYP9d3zfsYWJFj52BxbvN8kG-uJ1SXTr0wFbVIGnihUGb8dntH6xiccX07bi8kpLp2kvQmGQS49G2Kk_L3C-57vcrSHwtqIm33735WInStiA0jXFFikqHPTPS1OZdgfZsp9-d-63A-08/s640/IMG_4004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He notices the face of Thomas and that it sticks out and he can touch! He thought THAT was cool!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0qAR_DCRUqmStlZpXhFmQLXJtJMmk3QyK7LbBT1mincL1iHgV06spfpbl-cA9oPFZkoW9KeFi86JFb9QPyOr-S9xlJnzg-YkMN3KCfYzobr8oM7-kDN9YIM1eeXfaCQaesvDc2RSo-k/s1600/IMG_4005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0qAR_DCRUqmStlZpXhFmQLXJtJMmk3QyK7LbBT1mincL1iHgV06spfpbl-cA9oPFZkoW9KeFi86JFb9QPyOr-S9xlJnzg-YkMN3KCfYzobr8oM7-kDN9YIM1eeXfaCQaesvDc2RSo-k/s640/IMG_4005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdZ4OTxWhQVWUyp_dOv2YuiVVIWGws0hYxm8Dx2if-D1MKd1UB3Ghk0Yct4V_5Fr6UNTm87j-L2YKtYJVcmhMVztJmkyobxDK73PVs-c663HQKGt-HmsIzs68UeOJ8DRStAoAs3JGo1s/s1600/IMG_4006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdZ4OTxWhQVWUyp_dOv2YuiVVIWGws0hYxm8Dx2if-D1MKd1UB3Ghk0Yct4V_5Fr6UNTm87j-L2YKtYJVcmhMVztJmkyobxDK73PVs-c663HQKGt-HmsIzs68UeOJ8DRStAoAs3JGo1s/s640/IMG_4006.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He started to realize there was more to this toy than a Thomas face! He explored more!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtC1lPCfBW6MNQpjuWK1MSKgRG8vPVLDQ6NFtGK1jJanzD8QlbryqO7ycZduJbk7pZ8z901dtag1ApMEhizBOPldxRi_7_W03gb2SGjMosxDvUO6Ujx8Pl5dwND6hXtgDr-Y7hy2eCMk/s1600/IMG_4026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtC1lPCfBW6MNQpjuWK1MSKgRG8vPVLDQ6NFtGK1jJanzD8QlbryqO7ycZduJbk7pZ8z901dtag1ApMEhizBOPldxRi_7_W03gb2SGjMosxDvUO6Ujx8Pl5dwND6hXtgDr-Y7hy2eCMk/s400/IMG_4026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then everyone became a kid playing with Landon! <br />He calls bowls "buckets" or "bucky" -- that's a long story!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9Wj2k7OruSEX4ML3X2nx3uA3DmHZs4RlE5eVBz4tEvH1MZys_YZd35EMrakMLIS4cv8QSznEdoTMWLZ8LQLMqCfUkVEdHnGg3p0c0uJbhPfw0SYbQO9g1wh3emysQVfaQlzQx25yy4A/s1600/IMG_4017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9Wj2k7OruSEX4ML3X2nx3uA3DmHZs4RlE5eVBz4tEvH1MZys_YZd35EMrakMLIS4cv8QSznEdoTMWLZ8LQLMqCfUkVEdHnGg3p0c0uJbhPfw0SYbQO9g1wh3emysQVfaQlzQx25yy4A/s640/IMG_4017.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think Papa Joe looks as cute as Landon here playing!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHntqkjqq5YRgfrG0_Is-hc06hZJL1Xn8Ggl4hNdLPD4s732D7mIPSp98v3U0_uaMCg7QmS3SyZiHB05_9Bng2pJb3BxuTMVof5MNE79iZcA9lJikW192ahfdbdhY8meNl6G4RG31IMHs/s1600/IMG_4033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHntqkjqq5YRgfrG0_Is-hc06hZJL1Xn8Ggl4hNdLPD4s732D7mIPSp98v3U0_uaMCg7QmS3SyZiHB05_9Bng2pJb3BxuTMVof5MNE79iZcA9lJikW192ahfdbdhY8meNl6G4RG31IMHs/s640/IMG_4033.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My turn to play with little boy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz66cBZ3AxmSX3XwkByfBg3hEN3mtijjn9qsNdOwpapvj5lY8q19aGe7NOMwqXDuZs-em8F5_wSrBN8vwDsIrk8EfVHoW4Mz1xrWBfMOPvIg6gIJe4FVq-Xi4-G5k5Nst5K4niZaIKea0/s1600/IMG_4038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz66cBZ3AxmSX3XwkByfBg3hEN3mtijjn9qsNdOwpapvj5lY8q19aGe7NOMwqXDuZs-em8F5_wSrBN8vwDsIrk8EfVHoW4Mz1xrWBfMOPvIg6gIJe4FVq-Xi4-G5k5Nst5K4niZaIKea0/s640/IMG_4038.JPG" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sara captured this darling expression when I showed him that the trains are magnets and can stick to one another! </span><span style="font-size: small;">Way cool!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And while Ryan and Sara were not home for Christmas, they did come home the weekend of the Feast of the Epiphany--so we still had Christmas decorations up throughout the house.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV9o_1AzbhD2cNeNNuytxB88UhQZRPGTtj4OzIAGmvt2bECxmAJRjHqLl00DGNbK4xEtjB0aFHyWiQyD8YA6Kdw7PxDXzIOQ46fth7rfXKQzlCNWQI8CMw0RgCXjmeJS3aPwlzvsit7Q/s1600/IMG_3990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjV9o_1AzbhD2cNeNNuytxB88UhQZRPGTtj4OzIAGmvt2bECxmAJRjHqLl00DGNbK4xEtjB0aFHyWiQyD8YA6Kdw7PxDXzIOQ46fth7rfXKQzlCNWQI8CMw0RgCXjmeJS3aPwlzvsit7Q/s640/IMG_3990.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sara and Ryan at their home</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just some of our Christmas decorations taken with my cell phone, kind of blurry</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">One evening before going to bed--it was dark outside and all of the trees and bannister lights were on...he looked around and he looked up at the bannister lights and Christmas trees--and when he looked up at me he pointed and said, "Wow! Cool!" Okay, it may seem like two simple words to you...but to me, it was magic! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Since they don't live close by, I really want his visits here to be special. I want to create for him, what hopefully we created for our own kids growing up...a feeling that the holidays at Nonna and Papa's house are are very special.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">He is so loved...he is blessed to have wonderful grandparents on both sides of the family--with Gigi, Gumpa, and Mimi. He has truly captured the hearts of us all!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I remember as a young mom, when I was getting close to giving birth to our son, Adam--Joe and I had just gone through our ritual of bath time, story time, prayers and night time song--tucking Sara in for the night-- Sara was almost 2 years old at the time...well from fatigue of being pregnant, not to mention the added adventure and energy needed to chase around a toddler, coupled with the hormones raging, and the anticipation of having "children" I started to cry. Not a weepy cry, but a sobbing cry. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Joe asked me, "Kathie, what's wrong?" and I told him, "Joe it is just too awful to say out loud!" He said, "Kath, you have to tell me why you are crying!" I said, "I am so worried I won't love this baby that we are about to have as much as I love Sara!" Well, Joe, not having hormones raging, fatigue from pregnancy hugged me and said, he couldn't imagine a sillier thing to worry about--especially from me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">But I remember this overwhelming concern and powerful feeling--for me at the time, the worry was real, and such a grave concern. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What I </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">didn't realize was when Adam (and then later Jenna) was born--my capacity for loving grew exponentially! It reminded me of when the Grinch's heart grew three sizes larger.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALZKNv9NhyphenhyphenBEMMhYRFfHXjLc19qINM-wMocdTSeByNae-JqDLoHIH1C5QzKJdJk1Y2BsfEL2o7XH50_4CyZFl7698j-aMjb7aooZ6b6axSkuRP-2bnr_5OmcbEzxDXLZaOG7Mgkx3zCQ/s1600/Grinch%2527s+heart+size.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALZKNv9NhyphenhyphenBEMMhYRFfHXjLc19qINM-wMocdTSeByNae-JqDLoHIH1C5QzKJdJk1Y2BsfEL2o7XH50_4CyZFl7698j-aMjb7aooZ6b6axSkuRP-2bnr_5OmcbEzxDXLZaOG7Mgkx3zCQ/s640/Grinch%2527s+heart+size.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">It also gave me a glimpse of God's love for us! "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." ~ Jeremiah 1:5</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In July, Sara will have her second baby! Yes, Sara and Ryan will have children! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Which means Nonna and Papa, Gigi, Gumpa and Mimi will have another little grand baby to smother with love!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">From where I sit, it is hard to imagine loving another grand baby more than I love Landon, but I know that I will be blessed with my heart growing larger! What a miracle, what a blessing...the gift of life!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>So for now, I Lasso loving one grand baby at a time!</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaUIkDggDV1S8f5j0j-Q4EvP4ISKVJzClqC1cbxzShsrtSXsc3OOT9zEX547GW-hU7gLWZJzxQ7IE2ej5DYwlPz571wm4MSs8EHaZbkgiJxgZVe4sBj7cItRkNAarsKeAUtoBmE75s4s/s1600/kathie+lassos+the+moon+with+landon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaUIkDggDV1S8f5j0j-Q4EvP4ISKVJzClqC1cbxzShsrtSXsc3OOT9zEX547GW-hU7gLWZJzxQ7IE2ej5DYwlPz571wm4MSs8EHaZbkgiJxgZVe4sBj7cItRkNAarsKeAUtoBmE75s4s/s640/kathie+lassos+the+moon+with+landon.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Nonna and Landon saying Good Night Moon! </span></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Seeing the world through the eyes of a child, </span></b></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>it was a complete thrill to introduce my grandson to the moon! </b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Sara, thank you for snagging this precious picture!</span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-70823501220848544172013-01-10T15:44:00.004-06:002013-01-10T18:27:17.001-06:00Superwomen Syndrome, Really?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>My New Normal</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNJyAR9JszoGrYomdzxwNmkoxzKThmmZNoh7rRQpQ9itlPyvmFYzGe53Lx9yCuIoFANr0H_2ROX8Fp1FUuW8dOshuSlqQ5ZxtSsLbpxNFKN6kBg6Rh-cJR5mdLFHOLy1EtdRVMmICrEs/s1600/family+at+chmiel+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNJyAR9JszoGrYomdzxwNmkoxzKThmmZNoh7rRQpQ9itlPyvmFYzGe53Lx9yCuIoFANr0H_2ROX8Fp1FUuW8dOshuSlqQ5ZxtSsLbpxNFKN6kBg6Rh-cJR5mdLFHOLy1EtdRVMmICrEs/s400/family+at+chmiel+wedding.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the weekend we had Sara, Ryan, little Landon home for our last Christmas--or Epiphany for the holiday season. I kept all of the Christmas decorations up since Sara and her family were not able to come home for Christmas. I really wanted Landon to see Papa Joe & Nonna's house at Christmas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, I decorate...I have snowmen, santas and Nativity scenes throughout the house. As Jenna said, "Mom the house looks great! Well, actually it looks like Santa just threw up, but I like it!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, Sunday after church, I kissed the kids good-bye and they headed back to their home--yes, a few tears appeared as the car drove off. Jenna went to work. Adam was cramming in as much visiting of friends while home as he possibly could. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joe and I knew it was time to take the snowbabies, Christmas trees, jinglebells and stockings away until the next Yuletide. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And so it began. I started to get the after Christmas blues. You know...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Naked house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No familiar carols playing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No more macaroni and felt ornaments on an evergreen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No UPS, or FEDEX deliveries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">No Christmas cookies left.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even the whiskey and egg nog were gone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today, Adam left for Boston. I took him to the airport. The entire drive to Love Field I was amazed I wasn't emotional at all. In fact in some regard, </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was quite proud of myself "manning up" and just taking care of business of getting kids to and from... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pulled up to passenger drop off at Southwest Airlines...the airline we </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>luv</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the most...parked the car, pushed the button for the lift gate, got out of the car...and as Adam pulled his trumpet case out of the car a gush of tears fell. Not one or two tears...it was Niagara Falls--complete with erratic breathing. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OH I WAS SO MAD AT MYSELF! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really didn't want him to see me cry...for heavens sake the kid has been out of the house for years...but that "letting go" is still just so hard for me.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WtThsUzG83nS_eFC9YU986M7NSJli5K0FybrsuiFil9fOqTF-MUgEcW8d3l7fTriruGMgoSkunhXv_ve2jIyT3FqKKjeHF2N6t_N4kmO06cMNzdWBN4azm9pt-8YGgGKCedvGT05br8/s1600/Adam+and+Pirate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WtThsUzG83nS_eFC9YU986M7NSJli5K0FybrsuiFil9fOqTF-MUgEcW8d3l7fTriruGMgoSkunhXv_ve2jIyT3FqKKjeHF2N6t_N4kmO06cMNzdWBN4azm9pt-8YGgGKCedvGT05br8/s320/Adam+and+Pirate.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adam and Pirate 12 years ago</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I must invision Adam as a boy, rather than the terrific man he has become!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsK5sHaXxSh4yM_MFTlOLmaKiHcqQT4bh0-y_FAXdF8Vd84vVV0b4BZb1xmO3GLGRqHGsucqMZbrZSayZYJH-BDlzLMbyrOYn1kPlzWrIF3OT2qjpbeBhmu6HYohSBDyAKoKA3YaXMpo/s1600/Kathie+at+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsK5sHaXxSh4yM_MFTlOLmaKiHcqQT4bh0-y_FAXdF8Vd84vVV0b4BZb1xmO3GLGRqHGsucqMZbrZSayZYJH-BDlzLMbyrOYn1kPlzWrIF3OT2qjpbeBhmu6HYohSBDyAKoKA3YaXMpo/s400/Kathie+at+wedding.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adam walking me down the aisle at Sara & Ryan's wedding</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remember my mom having a very difficult time with the whole empty nest thing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and I remember making a conscious decision I would not </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">be like her (I mean that with a great deal of respect, I loved my mother)...but the sadness, and the feeling of being depressed, waiting for the next visit from one of her half dozen--her children were her world! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So early on as a young mother I remember making a conscious decision to be involved with our kids activities, but I also got involved with a career, and then with volunteering...PTO, Sunday School Teacher, Girl Scout Leader, School Board President...</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">then later taking on a high pressure job--something just for me--or so I thought...these activities, while they gave me more of an identity than "Sara-Adam-Jenna's Mom"...were all about the kids. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe told me early in our marriage that he thought I had </span><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The Superwoman Syndrome"</span></i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. I thought he was crazy and making it up, but a woman by the name of Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz actually studied and wrote a book about women who essentially feel they have to be June Clever and Murphy Brown or for the younger audience, Robin Scherbatsky</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> -- rolled into one person. Some women can do it well...I seemed to trip over my cape--<b>a lot</b>! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I really think about it, yes--I do things that I can be proud of that are separate from my kids' activities. But I am really no different than my mom. My children (and Joe) are my world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And at the end of the day, while I am very proud of all my kids...I love my role as a mom, but in reality that "mom" is really gone--which as parents--that's what we pray and hope for...that they are ready and prepared to be launched out into the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The way I am reacting to this new normal has taken me by surprise...so I will have to work harder at letting go. I know that I am so very blessed that Joe and I have three great kids to enjoy when we are all together and miss when we are apart! </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I Lasso loving my kids as adults...or at least I will try to lasso!</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-38191796190454882092013-01-08T09:59:00.000-06:002013-01-08T13:37:31.546-06:00Exciting News! Mama's Due with Baby #2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sara and Ryan surprised us a few months ago--at Thanksgiving--with some exciting news. They arrived at our home during the late morning. As our grandson was brought out of the car, it was the first time I really think he remembered the house, the dogs, and of course...Papa Joe and Nonna! I was more excited to embrace Sara and Ryan and couldn't wait to slowly go to Landon to see if he would come to me...I scooped him up, but noticed he had a cute little tee on...being way too excited to "read", I brought the kids in the house and had lunch ready for them. Putting Landon in the highchair, I kept trying to compute what the tee said. Their son sporting a tee...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">T-shirt read:</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Club "Only Child"</span></b></div>
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<b>Membership Expires July 2013!</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I looked puzzled I'm sure...first I looked at Sara, then Ryan, then the tee again. Finally I said--rather truthfully I squealed to Sara...are you going to have another baby? I jumped up and down, hugged Sara and Ryan and could not stop smiling...Sara can attest to the fact that I did indeed jump up and down with elation!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Papa Joe came home shortly after the kids had lunch and I was trying to keep myself contained...anyone that knows me, knows all too well this can be a challenge for me...I kept indicating that he should "READ" Landon's tee. Joy swept over his face and he immediately had hugs for everyone. Jenna returned home from work just thrilled at the thought of another nephew or niece was on the way. Adam found out by way of Facetime on my iPhone since he was still in the Northeast for school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ryan and Sara were just beaming and said they were so excited--and remarked how hard it was to keep it a secret for a month from us. It was still very early...so they asked that we not share the news with anyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sara and baby are almost 4 months along in the pregnancy, coupled with the fact that Sara literally can't keep the baby news in much longer...as baby #2 has decided to make his/her presence known! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So as we begin the New Year, we have so much to be thankful for...the arrival of a new family member is just the beginning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So July 7th is the ETA for Baby Corl #2.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are praying (and always appreciate prayers) for a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery for Sara and baby!</span><br />
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I Lasso enjoying the amazing joy our grandson brings into our lives! </div>
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I Lasso the anticipation of another grand baby to love!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-83385329940719622972012-12-22T00:29:00.000-06:002013-01-08T09:03:59.365-06:00The Gautille Gazette 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Gautille Gazette Goes Electronic!</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe and I want to extend our warmest wishes during this Christmas season to all of our friends and family! We thought we would go "green" with our family update, and post it electronically on my blog! </span></div>
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Nonna and Papa Joe</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We went to Pflugerville, TX earlier this month to celebrate Christmas with Sara and her family! It was so much fun to see Landon's eyes light up with excitement when he saw the Thomas the Train table and trains!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd8Y072U652NzXPHpKe3NmWQ-BaS8N1o7tgTrACQjC_RcC1cYVIl7ZR9NMZtHnylSw8ucjQ8DcY9ZTYWrh8R6sGbL1DVcPKvNpftSe-NuCzOPE3Z-zzN-Xrhyphenhyphen4fCrM5MBxJTKgB26iXI/s1600/IMG_4020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd8Y072U652NzXPHpKe3NmWQ-BaS8N1o7tgTrACQjC_RcC1cYVIl7ZR9NMZtHnylSw8ucjQ8DcY9ZTYWrh8R6sGbL1DVcPKvNpftSe-NuCzOPE3Z-zzN-Xrhyphenhyphen4fCrM5MBxJTKgB26iXI/s400/IMG_4020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landon Lee Corl and his choo-choo!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a long time since I've stepped foot into a Toys R Us, but it didn't take long before the memories of the Lego and Barbie aisles came flooding back to me from my days as a young mom. Landon is 19 months old and a complete delight!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6OPlrCI38AtWEWCh_x_6lmxr_4LEi1eSvDhNru21lk5RLKzVdaGilF3Q53NcolyxjRaTtgHG-I-9_kMLWbs71iPpqhUCqo-eF8Jl-gXnhDo7K-y16bp2O-ao9sEmDZTdfeCd7mUi8Mo/s1600/SARA+AND+RYAN+AND+LANDON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6OPlrCI38AtWEWCh_x_6lmxr_4LEi1eSvDhNru21lk5RLKzVdaGilF3Q53NcolyxjRaTtgHG-I-9_kMLWbs71iPpqhUCqo-eF8Jl-gXnhDo7K-y16bp2O-ao9sEmDZTdfeCd7mUi8Mo/s400/SARA+AND+RYAN+AND+LANDON.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ryan, Landon and Sara</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87kv38p4uCnol4XYujTEe1F3UEhn8OkuwviHuHkI-RvtXdi5YN6MjI7C18J552bzMWcpEc_UCIXNcqCfu2ztZI3QxtxDTZkPr_hoYXhqCm938IKUdlByPDqormH_BBqSBn8L6kiwYhig/s1600/IMG_3990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87kv38p4uCnol4XYujTEe1F3UEhn8OkuwviHuHkI-RvtXdi5YN6MjI7C18J552bzMWcpEc_UCIXNcqCfu2ztZI3QxtxDTZkPr_hoYXhqCm938IKUdlByPDqormH_BBqSBn8L6kiwYhig/s400/IMG_3990.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sara and Ryan Corl</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love being a Nonna and Papa Joe has also embraced his role as a grandparent! Sara and Ryan make a wonderful parenting team! Sara, a former elementary education teacher has changed her career to Stay-At-Home-Mom. She recently shared that while there are challenges and sacrifices to staying home, there are wonderful nuggets of joy too. One afternoon, after a tough day with Landon, as she gave him his afternoon snack, she watched her son fold his hands and say, "Amen" before he ate his raisins. That little act of faith erased the stress of the day and reminded her why they both made the decision for her to stay home with Landon. Ryan is still an avid golfer, huge Texans fan (although I have tried valiantly to convert him to become a Steelers fan), and continues to enjoy his job in sales at Callaway Golf. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Jenna</b><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><b style="font-size: x-large;">s Corner</b></span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoWSgMkcIq24HQS8YsK_J1lXAHKSbK1bS9Q38bgaEdSkKrHL3oUV6hZjQcdb8hDoTUugIKXSmV6QYwM4NbeMWTXcZsQntqHcsWSCjxt2q_1bliGzVOZR-Y3kNzGl-dU9f3mcGiP7-yjk/s1600/2012-10-18+15.27.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoWSgMkcIq24HQS8YsK_J1lXAHKSbK1bS9Q38bgaEdSkKrHL3oUV6hZjQcdb8hDoTUugIKXSmV6QYwM4NbeMWTXcZsQntqHcsWSCjxt2q_1bliGzVOZR-Y3kNzGl-dU9f3mcGiP7-yjk/s400/2012-10-18+15.27.50.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jenna</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello family and friends and Merry Christmas!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lot has changed since last year, I no longer have to say I am <i>working</i> on getting my Associates Degree...I got it! I graduated in July and have my treasured piece of paper hanging on my wall. I still plan on going to school to pursue being a makeup artist and masseuse. I just need to find an institution that is far enough away that I will have no choice but to move out. The search is on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, I surrendered myself to adulthood, got dressed up and joined the world of retail. I currently slave away at Victoria Secret and New York & Company. I have a lot of fun at both...but I must say I am paid better being a Dog Sitter. I can no longer wear my jeans and graphic tees. I have to wear 'big girl' or as they say, 'professional' clothing now. The nerve. I really had to let go of the Peter Pan Syndrome I had so long embraced. However, they give me discounts so I can buy even more professional clothes. My closet is slowly losing its color and is fading to black (yes, work dress code). And sadly, I can no long wear my super cute heels, at least not at work. No more heels. Flats. Always. When working.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm still very involved at my church in the Young Adult Ministry. It's like my youth group in high school, except we have cars, and no curfews. We discuss our faith and topics that relate to being a, you guessed it, young adult. Many young professionals are part of this ministry, so it's nice to have new friends to hang out with when you are still living in your hometown. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being an aunt is like the coolest thing ever. Landon is super smart. I never thought I would get so excited about watching a baby roll over, crawl, walk and talk for the first time, but amazingly I do. The best part about being an aunt is that I get to spend time with Landon, play and spoil him then give him back only coincidentally the exact moment he gets fussy. He is such a loving boy. I am really lucky I have him for a nephew. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Landon and Auntie Jenna are all smiles at the tree farm!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Landon is as tall as this sweet Charlie Brown Christmas Tree!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I guess that's it. Besides earning my degree, having three part-time jobs, and keeping my room clean 76% of the time, that's about all the changes I have made for 2012. I hope this finds you and your family well and I wish you the happiest of holidays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tune in next year for more updates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yours truly, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jenn</span></div>
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Adam's Turn!</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello and Merry Christmas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I'm in my final year of grad school at Boston University. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I returned to Boston without my best buddy, Ducati because the new apartment I am in has a no animal policy. But I have to say while I really miss Ducati, I was lucky to find a great apartment, along with four great roommates!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the beginning of 2012 I released my AJ Adams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Heart to Give" CD, with all of my original music . My buddy Alex McKee and I had the opportunity perform songs from the CD, along with other music in gigs from New York to LA. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Performing in LA with Alex and Clayton!</span></td></tr>
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Each month of the summer was a special wedding I was honored to be involved. First I played trumpet and sang at my good friend from high school, Jessica's wedding, who was married at West Point. Then I was honored to be the "second" best man at my oldest friend Clayton's (and Tala) wedding. A month later I played at the wedding of two close friends of the family, Spencer (Clayton's brother) and Anna Smith.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So if I am not playing a horn, I am strumming a guitar and singing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In May I graduate from Boston U with a Masters in Trumpet Performance. So now begins the auditions for a real job! Prayers are really appreciated as I continue to pursue a career in music!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wishing y'all a Merry Christmas and Happy 2013!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adam</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joe Heads into the Homestretch!</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, I am inside the last 10 months of my commercial flying career. In September, I have to retire from Southwest Airlines before my birthday. I love my job and mentally I just cannot see myself not flying after 41 years! But, I also look forward to what God has in store for the next adventure of my life with Kathie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I continue to blog for Southwest Airlines and this year I am chronically each month of my last year with a blog column "Ten Months to go for Captain Joe"-- then counting down to the day before my birthday or should I say my retirement on the blog "Nuts about Southwest".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We are so blessed to count you among our family and friends! Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kathie Gets the Last Word</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past year God has blessed us with so many of the beautiful aspects of life! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had the opportunity to have good friends visit us--one happens to be a high school friend of mine, Bill and his bride Mary Ann came from North Caroline for the Restoring Love Event. The other friend was Carol from New York City. Joe has known Carol since grade school--they played in the band together at school, Joe with his trumpet and Carol with her flute! Carol is one of the most respect and acclaimed flutist performing today, and is a professor at Juilliard. It is always wonderful to spend time with people who live outside of Texas!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZiyowCsXSKdbcHGAGM5_Lgl2C3vn50XM1MMDue2w9CjEHV3mGwWz5r0Reou75owNWa1Wsh31T2fEAkB5GjU0lbljbn8tDtVje_JAY2um72CmiUuppdXe1ci9sKysMeXxSPDrgGz0aXc/s1600/Carol+Wincenc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZiyowCsXSKdbcHGAGM5_Lgl2C3vn50XM1MMDue2w9CjEHV3mGwWz5r0Reou75owNWa1Wsh31T2fEAkB5GjU0lbljbn8tDtVje_JAY2um72CmiUuppdXe1ci9sKysMeXxSPDrgGz0aXc/s1600/Carol+Wincenc.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIKstqXNX3T1Z02fVev5vMhJ9nH9BmiIxQUxwJSQl-QxhM9zWTCQVbR3lCZyxO1bxdTiOVKTRHDWSKuKRj96O1pFJ7Saz5eKw8NP5iZfW0JQ8ajhaZlwOecsR6HsBqGpwAa5_pabQ1_s/s1600/2012-06-16+21.15.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIKstqXNX3T1Z02fVev5vMhJ9nH9BmiIxQUxwJSQl-QxhM9zWTCQVbR3lCZyxO1bxdTiOVKTRHDWSKuKRj96O1pFJ7Saz5eKw8NP5iZfW0JQ8ajhaZlwOecsR6HsBqGpwAa5_pabQ1_s/s320/2012-06-16+21.15.54.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A photo booth I set up for Anna & Spencer's Bridal Shower</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Celebrated the weddings of several very close family friends!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4EWDpLzOLQKH8NjkKFiS39IZfEVgxSUR7aX1d71RYyYDpcYeHvd_aDseCHsclcFcchNhK9EMjVPRolsGUGDZ9bDK93w2wi-KCoJU-uJYTpcxMaWhcffi8xW04O8UMTcfFUspxjhER28/s1600/2012-06-16+21.29.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4EWDpLzOLQKH8NjkKFiS39IZfEVgxSUR7aX1d71RYyYDpcYeHvd_aDseCHsclcFcchNhK9EMjVPRolsGUGDZ9bDK93w2wi-KCoJU-uJYTpcxMaWhcffi8xW04O8UMTcfFUspxjhER28/s400/2012-06-16+21.29.59.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Mother of the Bride and Hostesses of Anna's shower</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clayton and Tala's bridal shower</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tala and Clayton</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Enjoyed a First Birthday Party for our grandson, Landon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rejoiced with Jenna earning her Associates Degree!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kathie and Jenn</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Treasured the time I spent with a life-long friend, Diane in Sewickley, PA!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yfVg9xQxK1p62wUTa3bxk8_r0h6AGfLGz1Ubj0rJo5qH2uOym7l9nn2FwxktUb6qTxszF7dOPZVeV96jwyhBb_qGY07yDNc-PFxx5MAqA0TTv1lUq-N7KXOMrLyPHZKUgFu6QtAQsmw/s1600/Diane+and+Kathie+Oct.+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yfVg9xQxK1p62wUTa3bxk8_r0h6AGfLGz1Ubj0rJo5qH2uOym7l9nn2FwxktUb6qTxszF7dOPZVeV96jwyhBb_qGY07yDNc-PFxx5MAqA0TTv1lUq-N7KXOMrLyPHZKUgFu6QtAQsmw/s320/Diane+and+Kathie+Oct.+2010.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Reunited with a group of my Alpha Xi Delta Sorority Sisters at Clarion University, in the hills of Pennsylvania! A joyful time!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUdPGMBCRncg2vw8J_bAE2Wrc_TP3XdNTp-IxPovTKCKlilN_1ycip9trGwRJ4l85ezhOOaSBR73q6uqBw9GmjZVC06z-azXWnYadKmpXhd05ZidME8IS-gwPlQRZ5jEnU8AhKAoghlk/s1600/Alpha+Xi0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUdPGMBCRncg2vw8J_bAE2Wrc_TP3XdNTp-IxPovTKCKlilN_1ycip9trGwRJ4l85ezhOOaSBR73q6uqBw9GmjZVC06z-azXWnYadKmpXhd05ZidME8IS-gwPlQRZ5jEnU8AhKAoghlk/s400/Alpha+Xi0.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessed to be actively engaged in a wonderful church we have been members since we were newlyweds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prayed for dear friends and family members who were struggling with illnesses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Praised God for those whose health is back to normal.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqt4lasWDPC8uACGseksvaU9lv9er0XQaSSfZ6LUtN8Fq-xVyrS_TwYIDBlsrWudM_S_sPfkT7o8pvn49j-593UUalA4M8gVioosi4B7oIFmectwnt6YJWEJkzUT9obdwGbTV_VboDOc/s1600/ellie+and+piper+at+christmas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqt4lasWDPC8uACGseksvaU9lv9er0XQaSSfZ6LUtN8Fq-xVyrS_TwYIDBlsrWudM_S_sPfkT7o8pvn49j-593UUalA4M8gVioosi4B7oIFmectwnt6YJWEJkzUT9obdwGbTV_VboDOc/s200/ellie+and+piper+at+christmas.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't close without mentioning our four-legged family members:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ellie, Piper (our Australian Shepherds)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and Adam's sweet dog Ducati--they bring us laughter, a lot of love--not to mention fur!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1SJ6ldsCc6Kly9cOpf8U8ivAQEmY4BYY0KbR60YuP2edU6_iBzq94puTc6isV1rVDZgwuDuyOTc0bagaPajR1l5HWwKiXCTsYAHcGNrLjAOpPgGSbNhTJ0alLQcSFURrJY4A6DV2GAU/s1600/Piper+and+Ellie+nose+prints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1SJ6ldsCc6Kly9cOpf8U8ivAQEmY4BYY0KbR60YuP2edU6_iBzq94puTc6isV1rVDZgwuDuyOTc0bagaPajR1l5HWwKiXCTsYAHcGNrLjAOpPgGSbNhTJ0alLQcSFURrJY4A6DV2GAU/s320/Piper+and+Ellie+nose+prints.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKiUFxiVNN0u40ALuV6iHhhOuzu4fEpYBI19yh5LREhWI8xuGYHSKKxhTVA7Ap67IUNdNdLwMgdw-uLoJOUq_jICoGT5wjj4qKV1YGVTB18TSqkBcC81rirVPYTat1r5NA0WgLoDoSMQ/s1600/Ducati+on+Piper's+First+Birthday,+July+23,+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKiUFxiVNN0u40ALuV6iHhhOuzu4fEpYBI19yh5LREhWI8xuGYHSKKxhTVA7Ap67IUNdNdLwMgdw-uLoJOUq_jICoGT5wjj4qKV1YGVTB18TSqkBcC81rirVPYTat1r5NA0WgLoDoSMQ/s320/Ducati+on+Piper's+First+Birthday,+July+23,+2012.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adam's dog, Ducati</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As 2012 comes to a close, and we begin to look to embrace the New Year that is upon us, we know we are so lucky to have you in our lives! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We wish you many blessings of joy, good health and hope for a wonderful 2013!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kathie, Sara, Adam, Jenna and Joe</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I Lasso the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ!</span></b></span></td></tr>
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I hope you will stop back at kathielassosthemoon.blogspot.com for more family news!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God bless you and those you love this Christmas!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from the Gautille's! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joe, Kathie, Adam and Jenna Gautille</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sara, Ryan and Landon Corl</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-18519672009616142332012-11-14T12:47:00.001-06:002013-01-08T13:26:40.935-06:00Felt Like I was Back at My College Dorm<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have been meaning to share with you the great weekend I had last month with women I have not seen since 1979 when many of them graduated from college. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn't realize until I connected with a sorority sister last fall that my sorority returned every year the week BEFORE homecoming to have a reunion.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRhDCoElKx74607c0Shysez0ttiCKK1FaUFa3awrgb-TG98xIMLofqnz7758C62T-d8OTEeLyLOCMr-2-LrL4wAgKN4MYjzRQRvnSMyg_cqj8WCa6_V-SkCKmgaq1ykkYw8AXGv8iwg0/s1600/alpha+xi+logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRhDCoElKx74607c0Shysez0ttiCKK1FaUFa3awrgb-TG98xIMLofqnz7758C62T-d8OTEeLyLOCMr-2-LrL4wAgKN4MYjzRQRvnSMyg_cqj8WCa6_V-SkCKmgaq1ykkYw8AXGv8iwg0/s1600/alpha+xi+logo.gif" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Being an Alpha Xi Delta at Clarion University was such a big part of my growing up in during my college years. So, when I saw that they had been having reunions for years and I was just learning about it, made me so excited for this fall to arrive, because come hell or high water, I was going on the weekend to see these wonderful ladies!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I reached out to the sister I connected with on Facebook, Mary Lynne, who graduated a year before me. While we spent this past year following each other on Facebook, and messaging plans to meet up and share a hotel room with another sorority sister Cindy--it never phased me or entered my head, "Would we have anything in common after all of th</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ese years?"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well the weekend finally arrived. I was blessed to have a friend in my hometown to also visit while in Pittsburgh for the weekend, as I now live in Texas. Diane has been my friend since 4th grade! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(left to right) Me and my dear friend Diane </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">She still lives in our wonderful hometown in the sweetest home, with an affectionate dog and a boat load of wonderful memories for us to laugh and talk for hours on end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Diane took me to meet up with Mary Lynne. She asked me if I would recognize her, and I told her I felt sure I would...and we did...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The moment we gave each other a huge hug and squealed with delight of recognizing each other, we were off to Clarion!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The weekend was everything and more than I had hoped for...these lovely women, whom I remember vividly calling me a scumbag during pledging--I found that deep love for them as if we never had been a part.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alpha Xi Delta Sisters with the beautiful back drop of Pennsylvania in the fall!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">More Sisters meet up for lunch at Bob's Sub Shop!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Five of us arrived Friday night! Oh the stories you can tell after one or two Margaritas!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We went on a Wagon Ride of a beautiful property outside of Clarion! Beautiful day!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Big Sis, Cindy surprised us all! I was so excited to see her!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There were times throughout the weekend while we were in our hotel room getting caught up on each other's happiness and sorrow we have experienced in our lives--I envisioned all of us at Nair Hall on the Alpha Xi Suite bouncing into a room and talking about boys, diets, college professors, <b>life</b>...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These women and many more who were not able to come for the reunion this year...really helped shape me into the person I am today. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And as one of the husband's (who also happens to be a friend of mine from college days--his wife is my big sis in the sorority) said to me following the weekend at Clarion when I messaged him on LinkedIn how great it was to see him and my big sis Cindy. He responded, <i>"Thanks Kathie...great to see you as well! I said to Cindy later that night what a great group of women she knows from Clarion/Alpha Xi. All very real, very grounded!" All the best, Mike</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That is how blessed I was--I am--to have big hearts, and loving, real women I not only call Sisters, but call them dear friends...even after 30 years!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>I Lasso Alpha Xi Delta Sisters and a great deal of love!</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-20923507355658720102012-10-02T16:53:00.000-05:002012-10-02T16:53:29.646-05:00Just a Pot and a Colander? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlmlSElqDMnEo2WNPY3AjS3wREB7qQs2sanxjvzccjbQAHRyPt3VUn1h_4dk0jGsRfRl32po50z7dfPx15lmReQTaF-0CBLVWiVtMqF763nvDWOUxElR5WMB0VcGvFr11dP8R1m01GJA/s1600/8d3c7c78076f11e2ace922000a1c9ebd_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlmlSElqDMnEo2WNPY3AjS3wREB7qQs2sanxjvzccjbQAHRyPt3VUn1h_4dk0jGsRfRl32po50z7dfPx15lmReQTaF-0CBLVWiVtMqF763nvDWOUxElR5WMB0VcGvFr11dP8R1m01GJA/s1600/8d3c7c78076f11e2ace922000a1c9ebd_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlmlSElqDMnEo2WNPY3AjS3wREB7qQs2sanxjvzccjbQAHRyPt3VUn1h_4dk0jGsRfRl32po50z7dfPx15lmReQTaF-0CBLVWiVtMqF763nvDWOUxElR5WMB0VcGvFr11dP8R1m01GJA/s1600/8d3c7c78076f11e2ace922000a1c9ebd_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A Melancholy Moment</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlmlSElqDMnEo2WNPY3AjS3wREB7qQs2sanxjvzccjbQAHRyPt3VUn1h_4dk0jGsRfRl32po50z7dfPx15lmReQTaF-0CBLVWiVtMqF763nvDWOUxElR5WMB0VcGvFr11dP8R1m01GJA/s1600/8d3c7c78076f11e2ace922000a1c9ebd_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlmlSElqDMnEo2WNPY3AjS3wREB7qQs2sanxjvzccjbQAHRyPt3VUn1h_4dk0jGsRfRl32po50z7dfPx15lmReQTaF-0CBLVWiVtMqF763nvDWOUxElR5WMB0VcGvFr11dP8R1m01GJA/s400/8d3c7c78076f11e2ace922000a1c9ebd_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I recently returned from Tampa where I had the real pleasure of taking care of my sweet dad. My dad, who just returned to his home after spending 4 months in a rehab center due to several falls. He is trying to navigate his home with a walker and wheelchair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent several days having great talks--many of them were about my dear mom, who died 12 years ago this month. We laughed, we got teary-eyed, but most of all we remember her with great joy. Shortly after one of our conversations about her, I went into his kitchen and started making dinner for the two of us. As I was making dinner I saw these two gems pictures above...and I felt my mom was in his kitchen with me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The large pot cooked many a dinner...I can still see bubbling steam from potatoes or a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup simmering! The yellowed colander held many a pasta meals or lettuce or fruit for washing--while showing their age--like all of us, it was sheer delight to rediscover them and a joyful melancholy moment captured in my heart! Who knew a pot and colander would bring such emotion just at the sight of them? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwp2_JKpiUrcHxpWcD3tkJVa5socMZHQ8KIYNDVvIKoP8ee7Z24-ngd32wthm_mZ7HZNDEje48ENaZABjHZVBkjk5gM5Y_MwXtgOeOQ59BtqRYCV_Lhmd1-x0Ep94wA_v3YNG1_uIB83I/s1600/Kathie+&+Mom+on+Kathie's+Holy+Communion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwp2_JKpiUrcHxpWcD3tkJVa5socMZHQ8KIYNDVvIKoP8ee7Z24-ngd32wthm_mZ7HZNDEje48ENaZABjHZVBkjk5gM5Y_MwXtgOeOQ59BtqRYCV_Lhmd1-x0Ep94wA_v3YNG1_uIB83I/s640/Kathie+&+Mom+on+Kathie's+Holy+Communion.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom and me <br />on the day of my Holy Communion</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I miss you mom, I am so blessed with fond, loving memories of you! God is so good! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Lasso being blessed with a wonderful loving mom!</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-9355571715553672482012-09-20T17:15:00.004-05:002012-09-20T17:15:47.507-05:00Hello Again! I'm Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1dhtw49EznVm9TXZ_egXSMcD_ise6ILyvGuX3KxgHApuW7IlOX62Tb7M5gWz6Erx9_jR_JjpnChqPTc-rQjpLYbz7_19bcIOSWtFi_eptpieYljnUc_KD_wMj7aI31fX0zYevZWp62Y/s1600/Boy+and+Girl+lassoing+the+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1dhtw49EznVm9TXZ_egXSMcD_ise6ILyvGuX3KxgHApuW7IlOX62Tb7M5gWz6Erx9_jR_JjpnChqPTc-rQjpLYbz7_19bcIOSWtFi_eptpieYljnUc_KD_wMj7aI31fX0zYevZWp62Y/s400/Boy+and+Girl+lassoing+the+moon.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
While I have not been blogging, I have had the opportunity over the summer to Lasso the Moon on a number of occasions!<br />
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It was a wild and fast-paced summer!<br />
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Our son, was back from Boston for the summer. I loved this for many reasons--first, I missed him! Second, I missed the music he brings into our home every time he is home.<br />
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He also had several AJ Adams gigs that he played with his talented buddy Alex McKee!<br />
Check him out on YouTube: AJ Adams Music!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-o46UKNL5CwB2lonbzQPC7N_j1Xwr-wBgVUDiOGEFGrTcuL3OaADPSF6XkpzuZrZCYl4lgVoZ_8EKlj8Ylho6kwmpS1rXHHb46NsEoqg-3avZnhlKHiwSCtuthyphenhyphen9EiZ9WQq55Z9G0qaE/s1600/2012-08-10+20.40.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-o46UKNL5CwB2lonbzQPC7N_j1Xwr-wBgVUDiOGEFGrTcuL3OaADPSF6XkpzuZrZCYl4lgVoZ_8EKlj8Ylho6kwmpS1rXHHb46NsEoqg-3avZnhlKHiwSCtuthyphenhyphen9EiZ9WQq55Z9G0qaE/s320/2012-08-10+20.40.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When he left to drive back to Boston I cried harder than I did when Joe and I left him at Waco his freshman year at Baylor U.! I don't really know why I became a slobbering fool the day he left, but I did...when I think it will get easier, darn if it doesn't just sneak up on me and rather than being like the little Dutch boy who put his finger in the dyke to keep Holland from flooding, there was no hope for the gush of tears that fell down my face when I hugged him good-bye! I Lasso the tears of love!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse9eyCuv-b-HVTTGz5wNE5JSy2w3lVKAWhOSUdpx5f9hFJBvjVO08rBFjKUn85NY9z4OpwYpxZrAd3IzTT6gAzpSGnJ4DgHA1IwApA2St4na7rnK2gTI1r8IvKqJvxePjVvK8niwDdmM/s1600/Anna%2527s+wedding+weekend10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjse9eyCuv-b-HVTTGz5wNE5JSy2w3lVKAWhOSUdpx5f9hFJBvjVO08rBFjKUn85NY9z4OpwYpxZrAd3IzTT6gAzpSGnJ4DgHA1IwApA2St4na7rnK2gTI1r8IvKqJvxePjVvK8niwDdmM/s400/Anna%2527s+wedding+weekend10.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
Jenna was thrilled to complete her degree this summer! All of us are very happy and very proud of her! She is active with the young adult group at church...she is always on the go! I Lasso with great joy Jenna's success and new beginnings!<br />
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Joe and I took a wonderful vacation to Bermuda! You know, in the hustle and bustle of life, it is so important to take the time...and yes, even spend a little money and GET AWAY and UNPLUG!<br />
I Lasso being in the moment with the one I love!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNtrQjyNcIP-9mZa9MqEqUc61ho7k0PVDypEdJUGdkuKG4oW4mz9COd-7ppBbErREWB2yZrP0rT24OB5MJ6Fq5Z8dqXeYmlexHG_mRuZlWyHEnR0f51B7R5z87rr1dY4pgjh_n149QXY/s1600/Bermuda+Vacation+104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNtrQjyNcIP-9mZa9MqEqUc61ho7k0PVDypEdJUGdkuKG4oW4mz9COd-7ppBbErREWB2yZrP0rT24OB5MJ6Fq5Z8dqXeYmlexHG_mRuZlWyHEnR0f51B7R5z87rr1dY4pgjh_n149QXY/s400/Bermuda+Vacation+104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, I can't end this entry without mentioning my daughter Sara, her husband Ryan and their sweet little boy, Landon...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOx8S9IVpkZxi5QmlAzmM-IN-xosFL7POisiVE0LsqA-ezCJbXvY-swxEK5CfWHk6Env4BxaMt9hig2QLIAlUSXcfHrgvktQwPwHiVM4KDpZbgiyQifq0Io1cz8w5T0ME-WwC4kA6ytv8/s1600/SARA+AND+RYAN+AND+LANDON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOx8S9IVpkZxi5QmlAzmM-IN-xosFL7POisiVE0LsqA-ezCJbXvY-swxEK5CfWHk6Env4BxaMt9hig2QLIAlUSXcfHrgvktQwPwHiVM4KDpZbgiyQifq0Io1cz8w5T0ME-WwC4kA6ytv8/s400/SARA+AND+RYAN+AND+LANDON.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZK08H4KfUFWhQFXXCGYhfWIHrMhmlwhGafoQ8ATi4WsaRNDrHC5B18KEvOJ7HNseeeVv3vQ186lyBJ-ZkxfTMOCPFwBCYlrc51CC7lXotoqgev7_NajFTsIyfe4aQJXsHvzKAFeLugk/s1600/watertable+&+nonna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZK08H4KfUFWhQFXXCGYhfWIHrMhmlwhGafoQ8ATi4WsaRNDrHC5B18KEvOJ7HNseeeVv3vQ186lyBJ-ZkxfTMOCPFwBCYlrc51CC7lXotoqgev7_NajFTsIyfe4aQJXsHvzKAFeLugk/s400/watertable+&+nonna.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>I Lasso being Nonna! </b></div>
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We had friends visit, attended weddings of couples we absolutely love, and spent time as a family! </div>
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I Lasso the wonderful activities summer brought into my life! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-62965398637221162852012-08-07T10:54:00.002-05:002012-09-20T16:07:08.699-05:00Blogging for Many Reasons!<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Trying to Help!</b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You know, with technology--there have been wonderful opportunities to learn and grow as an individual.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On several great sites like Pinterst, Etsy, Blogs or just Google a subject--just to name a few, there is an opportunity to learn something new or learn more about something...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I blog for many reasons. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To share stories </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the love of writing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To improve storytelling skills</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To recall special memories...have them captured somewhere for the future</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>To try to help and give hope</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am disappointed that something has caused me to rethink how and what I blog...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been asked over the years, and most recently by many, many people, who know about some of the struggles we have dealt with as a family, or I have dealt with as a mother and strongly suggested that I write about: some of the heartache we have had, or the baby steps we have taken, and also the <b><i>victories</i></b> we have experienced that brings hope--and that's what I have been blogging about--until yesterday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a strong belief system. I do things because they have meaning. But unfortunately, the observation I received indirectly yesterday, has changed my thinking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't really know why I am allowing a young adult, with little life experience bother me so much, but unfortunately it does...s</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">o I will be re-thinking HOW I Lasso the moon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks for listening! </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-41828705514485508462012-01-16T11:33:00.000-06:002012-01-16T11:33:59.164-06:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>It's a Wonderful Life for a First Time Mommy & Daddy at Christmas time!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy New Year!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>I have one of my blogs in the wings, ready for posting, but I couldn't help but share my daughter's blog, "It's a Wonderful Life!"</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsRnwPzzYSpwNNuGv07Y_4sOXm9Tbfb3t6xzsps-aq7PcvoXQiX0ny1dJKWahrdkwNB-Dk10IPjszMmmV4DpBU7aLNsHFte7PVwYBzezkh4DnX8R4_LataUDimZy-wFykXrfFgt3KtCM/s1600/Landon+reaching+for+Christmas+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsRnwPzzYSpwNNuGv07Y_4sOXm9Tbfb3t6xzsps-aq7PcvoXQiX0ny1dJKWahrdkwNB-Dk10IPjszMmmV4DpBU7aLNsHFte7PVwYBzezkh4DnX8R4_LataUDimZy-wFykXrfFgt3KtCM/s400/Landon+reaching+for+Christmas+Tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landon's First Christmas too! Joyful, Joyful!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I Lasso the spirit of wonderment and joy of family at Christmastime</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.saraandryancorl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.saraandryancorl.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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</b></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7895519696573888239.post-4788072153066888762011-12-26T21:35:00.001-06:002013-01-08T13:31:51.308-06:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why I Named My Blog:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Kathie Lassos the Moon"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">T'is the season of the year to share the moment I knew I wanted to name my blog: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kathie Lassos the Moon! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's a Wonderful Life</i> is a wonderful story about how, "Each man's life touches other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" ~ Clarence, A-2 (Angel Second Class)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">May your New Year be bright! And may you too lasso all that you love and care about during 2012!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So, I Lasso making a difference in anyone's life...even if it is only one!</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04946497151960730657noreply@blogger.com0