So much to say so little time.....

Tonight we went to Barnes and Nobles to see Ella's artwork that her school and other students had on display there. There really was a tremendous amount of talent in the grade school....Ella is in first grade and her picture below is a "Winter Scene". A child after my own heart....

 March also brought our annual St. Joseph's Sweet Table and Bake sale at church. We began our set up on Friday the 16th, and served after Saturday's 4pm mass and Sundays 8am and 10am. We raised $1220.00 all of which will be given to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society that helps the needy in our parish and area. I had two special helpers that really took their jobs seriously and did a great job..thank goodness for youth...

Ella, guarding the cash...when we said guard the money
she really took that seriously....



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Kathy and Jack drove in for the weekend.

It was great...we finally got to finish or rather begin the lost weekend we started in December before illness threw everything haywire....we just spent time, visiting, shopping and just hanging out. It was a short weekend but did a world of good for refreshing the sole. On Saturday we ventured out to the Resale store to take a peek at what they had inside...we all came away with treasures...I found a table and chairs along with the cutest log looking colored pencils...had to have them. I also found a few rabbits for the holiday season and a blast from the past sewing table to house one of our sewing machines...it seems so long ago that I had one and gave it up for convenience...now I am buying it again for convenience so I do not have to carry it around....go figure...Kathy and Jack found a metal wheel barrel for yard art for the planting area at the base of their driveway along with a vintage tablecloth and other goodies...definitely a place to keep on the radar and visit again in the future...

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March roared in rather pleasantly….which gave the Oakbrook Police and all the volunteers for the Polar Plunge a break….The water was cold but what a great day, for a great cause.

Katie…the organizer, Amy and Eric the helpers (Eric’s the one in the polar bear suit) even Brooke got into the action this year…They raised quite a lot of money and the proceeds went to the Special Olympics…..great time and very proud of them all….Congrats….



Amy...Eric....Katie

Amy and Polar Bear getting a little friendly

Eric and captain Kate

 

Katie and Brooke

Amy and Eric

 

 

As February turned into March, the weather has started to become more Spring like and you can just smell the dirt and blooms. The tulips are up already and I am more than ready to get out in the garden and dig and plant and become grounded once more with the earth. Somehow that grounds me and brings me peace

February ends...March begins.....

 February also came with  Kathy's 65th Birthday...one more step closer to retirement. Here she is enjoying her Archery gift from Jack.....

It also brought the loss of her bud ...Chubbs....he just laid down and died the day before her birthday which really sucked. Chubbs was a good little dog that they rescued and he became her traveling companion, walking buddy and watch dog... Rest in Peace Chubbs ..

 

 

 

 

 

February ended with a Spring concert of Ella's from her school, Salt Creek. The amazing thing about this school is that it is the same school her Mom went to when she was in 1st grade and oddly enough she has her Mother's same teacher. My how time flys...one moment the student the next the parent...

Ella was extremely professional and did a great job...I am very proud of her. Going to this concert was like old home week. I saw many neighbors and friends from the time that we use to attend the concerts for our children...now we are the grandparents attending for our

 

February

December snow 2017

December Snow 2017

February has been quite the month.....we started out with the leftover snow from January which all total was about 8inches....

then February came and with it came 18 additional inches of snow....The last time that had happened was in 1902. We had 9 straight days of snowfall. It was great for the snowplows and ourselves as well. It certainly gives you time to reflect, slow down and bake...what is better than that....the dog was not thrilled...the snow was taller that she is so unfortunately she was unimpressed...oh well.

 

 

 

                                      All things considered it could have been a worse winter season...but we'll take it...






Inside however, was a good time for baking with Grand kids...Here is Ella baking cupcakes for her brother Parker's 5th Birthday....yummmm

Parker's 5th Birthday did arrive on February 11th....he was having a bowling party with his cousins and friends..his theme was NINJA TURTLES....YaYa Gram and I decided we would get him a turtle...not so easy. We did not realize that the small turtles that we all grew up with were not allowed any longer. I have heard it was because of Salmonella reasons...not sure. The ones we saw in the Petco were about 4-5 inches but would grow to about a foot in size...you have got to be kidding...apparently not and they require a 120 gallon tank...that was not going to fly so we opted for a fish and tank with a Ninja turtle figure in it....that seemed to work. Parker was all excited. We did everything the way they told us to do it. Parker never left his fish "Raphael" alone...unfortunately within 24 hours he passed on....back to the Pet store for fish #2...hopefully with better results....

 

 

        

            

 

Jono......We Remember......

    Today marks the 14th year since Jonathan died. It is very surreal to think that in 4 years he will be gone as long as he lived. He was remembered today by many people.

Father Damien, called first this morning to tell me that his mass today will be for Jonathan. A long time ago when Jonathan was making his confirmation, the Religious Education teacher put all the names of the kids in a basket and people were asked to pick a name and pray for that person. Father Damien by chance picked Jonathan's. It was shaking for him when Jonathan died, he opened the church to whatever we needed. He had the staff help with anything that was requested. It was the first time the wake or viewing was done in our church. There was a line of people that stretched from Corpus Christi Hall out the foyer to the parking lot for 6 hours plus. It also was in January and as usual very cold. I try not to dwell on that aspect and to this day there are many details that stay and others I don't remember. Katie wanted a sign that from Jonathan and was very discouraged when nothing seemed to come through. And yet I asked her "do you know how many cars were in his funeral procession?"...She did not.....70 it is the same as her badge number as a Police officer.

...Amy receives signs all the time and today is no different. 

Today at breakfast at Panera, Amy was sitting at the table looking at the artwork and the picture next to her was signed by the artist.....JONO...coincidence????HMMM 

     No more explanation is required....

Sometimes it hurts to know how much time has passed and all that has happened in his absence. The whole he left in his siblings lives and heart. And yet I do believe he is aware of every last bit of it. He has been with us always during special events, babies being born...life lived....and has celebrated as we have, cried as we have and has hope that we will see each other again...as we have. We will always miss your sense of humor, quirkiness......and smile...until we meet again.  

     

             .JT. Love you always and forever.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

       Every year in January, I like to set the theme or pick a goal that becomes my focus for the year. Most of the time it was work related, but this year both work and personal have collided. My theme this year is reinvention of the spirit.....just reinvention of almost every aspect of my life.


       As I head closer to the time of retirement which is mind boggling to begin with as I never thought I'd ever get that old....well surprise...I did....it is now time to get a grip and figure out who I am, where I'm going and renew my spirit...as currently I'm not really fond of who I am.




       For years people kept trying to get me to quit smoking....so I did....and I do not at the present like who I have become. I did not realize the personality change that would occur without my cigarettes. First if I analyze why I smoked I guess you could say that it helped me cope. Cope with life, stress, kids, work you name it. It was my 5 minutes of alone time. I always knew it was unhealthy, I knew it made me stink, I knew it kept people at a distance. I guess that is what I liked about it. Sounds crazy I know. It also was one of the few things that belonged to just me. I could do what I wanted when I wanted and all along I accepted responsibility and quilt for whatever the outcome would be. So oddly enough when I quit it was easy. Its been 6 months...no problem...but there are problems. It seems to be with my head, my attitude, my weight and my personality...they all are out of whack...and I do not like who I see.




         So now that I know, I do not physically or mentally like who I am...it is time for a change. Thus the reinvention of the Spirit. I need to break the chain of bad habits that I have formed that hold me to a particular mold. I need to go beyond what I would normally do and reinvent new things that are healthier for me both physically and mentally. So we began today with walking in the Mall. I do not know for sure how far it was maybe a mile or two...it wasn't at a fast pace yet...but it was the beginning. Instead of talking about it we actually got out and I did it....and I am happy I did. When we got back home I did a fast walk around our block...and it felt invigorating..that is what I am looking for. I am looking for the inspiration that was given to me today to carry me through tomorrow and the next challenge. This year is dedicated to change...and one way or another...I will.

               Welcome 2018!!


                     Happy New Year to All!!!

                             It has been almost 5 years since I posted

last....many changes have occurred...new Grandbabies have

arrived and life continues....this is just a short beginning post as

 we move forward in life to try and re-capture the memories

lost, stories untold and events yet to happen.....

                                 Just testing the waters......

Today..it is snowing and in it's path leaves a blanket of white

covering all the past below it...looking forward to a new year

with some adventures and untold stories....