My Dear Friend

A dear friend passed away today. My friend has been struggling for awhile but that doesn't make it any easier when you lose a friend. It has been a couple years of struggles and victories alike. Vonni was diagnosed with lymphoma Cancer. She under went aggressive treatment and chemotherapy for the cancer. She went into remission. I remember the phone call letting me know that she had just gotten back from the doctor and there was no cancer, I remember this call like it was yesterday. She was so excited as any of us would be.
Vonni was still a newlywed, married to a wonderful man she met bowling, his name is Willie. If you knew Vonni she bowled on a bowling league since about 1975! To hear her talk, the bowling was fun... but the margaritas made her game better! Oh.. and no salt please. She was free to live her life with Willie... she was so happy.
While Vonni was in remission for the cancer, she started having issues with her breathing. After many many doctor visits, it was determined that she had congential heart failure due to the agressive medication to cure the cancer. Apparently, this is a known risk and only happens to about 3% of the people who undergo the treatment. Vonni had issues with her heart and she also had challenges with kidney failure. Vonni worked really hard at keeping her spirit up and living her life, but daily it became more challenging. What I remember most about Vonni is how she always made me laugh. She had the best sense of humor of anyone I've ever known. She was always "on"! She loved life and lived out loud! She was so much fun to be around. I was so fortunate to know her and work with her. She was a great partner. I will miss her dearly. I know she laughing again, now in heaven.

A concert, trips with friends and seeing Zack... a great few months ahead!

Time to write, yes folks it is time to write again. I'm not really sure who "folks" are, as I don't believe anyone reads my blog except for Rich and occasionally Bekah. Which is okay with me, I do this for me, if someone stumbles across it and reads it that is okay too. It's a nice record of personal thoughts, events and photos. It is 8:05 PM on a Thursday night, the house is quiet, I can hear the occasional car drive down the street. Rich and Bekah are at the dentist getting their 6 month cleaning and the dogs are laying down quietly. I am sitting on the sofa, first checking out Facebook, then reading email and following up on a couple of things. One annual event that is rather exciting is going to see the Dave Matthews Band concert, I just got done purchasing our tickets! Yeah! The concert is 8/15/09 in West Palm Beach, a great birthday gift for me! This year we are going with a couple that we met 2 years ago in WPB at the DMB concert. Can't believe how time flies. We met them at the bar in our hotel in WPB, went bar hoping until &^%$@ in the morning and had great time. We have stayed in touch, although we haven't gotten together as much as we would have liked, especially with me traveling all last year, we still make it a point to stay in touch. They are wonderful people and a ton of fun to hang out with. This spring is looking to be lots of fun with friends, in March Rich and I are going to NYC with two other couples. I can't wait... we love NYC! Looking forward to the shopping, eating, drinking and laughing with our friends in a fantastic city. Then at the end of March, first few days into April, Rich, Bekah and I are going on a Disney cruise with the Kosiewski Family. This will be our first cruise, so we are really excited! Rich surprised me with a massage beach side at Castaway Cay Island. I can't wait. We have also been invited to go on another cruise in October with more great friends. I 'm ready to sign up... just hoping Rich will enjoy the first cruise. (I know he will, he just wants to be sure)
In the immediate future... next week I am going to San Jose for work, the most exciting thing about going is that I will see Zack over the weekend. He is going to pick me up at the airport in Phoenix. I am going to spend the weekend with him before heading home. Can't wait to see him!
So far so good for 2009! It is shaping up to be a fun filled year!

Practicing

I know.. my writting has gone by the way side with my new hobby! No one reads what I write anyway, it really is just for me. Here are a couple more pages. I need to get back to the class so I can learn more techniques, right now I am practicing what I have learned. I also need to get my scrapbook items organized before I buy more, unfortunatly I got a little frustrated when I tried to use ACDsee, I couldn't stop my pictures from loading. I will try again soon.

These overlays are from House of 3.

Just another Sunday Morning...

I am having so much fun learning to digi scrapbook. I have a fantastic subject too... she makes for some pretty pages! The only problem I am having is that I am not getting anything else done! LOL!

Sweetheart Dance 021409

Tonight Bekah went to EHS Sweetheart Dance. Hair and make-up by Robert. Bekah decided not to go with a date this year, she went with friends instead. She wanted to be able to dance with everyone she said!

Bekah's Style

Holiday Traditions Layout

I like the way this one turned out. I like the techiques used in this layout. I know I haven't been writting too much lately in my blog, I have just been posting pictures. I will soon! I need to get back to writting! :) But until then... here's another picture.

Beautiful

Beautiful you, by Jessica Sprague- Beautiful You kit.

The Good Stuff

I decided to sign up for a Digi-scrapbooking online class. Wow, what a difference it makes to actually watch the steps that need to be taken. It is very helpful. I was searching for an online class and found Jessica Sprague on FB, Google and had seen her layouts before. I decided to try her classes because she has step by step video that can be paused and replayed as many times as needed. I have looked at other website but hers seemed straight forward and easy to follow. So here is my first layout from the class. It is very basic, a little more basic than the one I did of Bekah from "Digital Designs 2" but the nice thing about it is the step by step instructions and really showing an easier way to get the layouts completed. I am getting ready to start my next lesson.

It has been a very lazy day, I can't remember when I spent the entire day in the house? With the traveling this week and the stress of work, I just needed a day to decompress. I didn't even work! I will have to tomorrow some, but for today, I watched the entire season 1 of Lipstick Jungle, organized files on my new laptop and finished lesson 1 in the "Up and Running with Photoshop" with Jessica Sprague. http://www.jessicaspraque.com/. I guess you would say I took a "personal day".

Beautiful, inside and out

Bekah Our Sunshine

I am reading the book, digital designs 2 for scrapbooking. This is where I found the design ideas. I am having fun learning about digi scrapbooking... I can't wait to learn more! 

Special bond between Father & Daughter

Playing with Pictures

I haven't taken a class yet, I'm just seeing what can do with Photoshop Elements... I have a lot to learn but I like the idea behind this photo.  Pictures from Bekah's Homecoming game and dance 2008.  

My Weekend

The weekend is over.  I am happy to say that I was able to accomplish a few things this weekend that I needed to.  I finished cleaning out the computer armoire, I purchased a new laptop online (I can't wait until it comes!), we straightened and swept the house, I bought a birthday present for a friend and sent a Valentine's gift to Zack, went to lunch at Sonny's, went to a movie and did not see it (sold out), came home and watched a couple rentals while we enjoyed popcorn and snow caps.  We bought a new mattress for Bekah, went to the grocery store, took a walk to the local diner for breakfast and watched the Pittsburgh Steelers become the AFC Champions going to the Superbowl. 

 I would say all in all it was a very productive weekend.  

This year my goal is to simplify and organize. Time to get rid of those things we haven't looked at for awhile or used in the last 6 months. Cancel those magazine subscriptions that I never have time to read and start combating all the junk mail.  Time to simplify! 

As I said before in one of my postings, this year, I really want to learn how to do digital scrapbooking.  I started going through some old photos and scanning them for organizational purposes and for safe keeping. It is so much fun going through old photos.  This is all part of my organizational goals this year.  Little by little it will get done.  

It's back to work tomorrow, I am positive that my day will go well. 

This picture is of Rich coming out of the College Park Diner this morning when we went for breakfast.  

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!

I'm really enjoying this year's football season. Rich, Bekah and I have been watching the games together, going out to sports restaurants or watching them at home. It has been fun dressing the part in our jerseys, hats and waving our Terrible Towels cheering on our favorite team! We make sure we text Zack during the game to see if he too is watching! It's a family affair!

Go Steelers!

Our Christmas Tree 2008

Christmas 2008

Another Christmas Season is behind us... well almost behind us, there are still remnants of Christmas decorations, opened gifts that haven't found a home, oh and the Christmas tree is still prominently displayed in all its grandeur. But besides that, Christmas is "almost" behind us. We had a very relaxing Christmas Holiday this year (even though I wasn't able to get away from work). We started with a cookie bake with Lisa and Kyle Broesch, on Dec. 23rd, Rich, Bekah and I went to Disney for the day. We had a great time visiting all the places, eateries and rides that we enjoyed as kids. "Gotta have a pineapple whip... you know from the place across from Swiss Family Robinson Tree House!" We also enjoyed the Christmas decorations, the lights and holiday performances. We jumped on the monorail from Magic Kingdom to Epcot so we can visit the Countries and see their holiday decor. We bought candy in Italy, listened to Santa in Canada and ate a hot dog in America all in one day. We then made our way back to the Magic Kingdom to see Cinderella's Castle light up! It has been a few years, many in fact, since we have been to Disney. We enjoyed the day, taking our time strolling through the park, taking pictures and enjoying each other's company. Christmas Eve was a Mexican Fiesta! Fred, Amy, Katie and Lauren invited us over for a fiesta, we had maracas, sombreros, fajitas, burritos, Mexican decorations to set the mood. We even played "Pin the tail on the donkey" of which Rich proudly won a sombrero wearing rubber ducky. When we got home, Rich and I finished up the wrapping (yes, we were still wrapping) and Rich finished working on his "surprise" for Bekah.

Then alas it was Christmas Day, the gifts were presented beautifully under tree. Rich's surprise was dressed magnificently next to the tree.... okay, so here's the story on the surprise. Bekah was sharing with us how she loved the way we "presented" gifts under the tree. She loved the Presentation! When she was little, presentations were easier to do, we always left one big gift unwrapped under the tree. Whether it was a baby doll or skateboard with all the accessories, the presentation of the gift meant a lot to her. So this year, I asked Rich to make a manikin of sorts! As a teenager, the gifts are usually clothes or electronics, and such which makes it a little more difficult for the big presentation. Clothes laying out on the floor just isn't the same, that happens after Christmas! So Rich built a manikin out of 2X4s and a sign. My resident MacGiver. We dressed the manikin with Lucky Jeans, a sweater and a wrap and hat (to add flair). We contemplated printing a picture of Bekah to paste on a head, but frankly we were too tired! (Bekah said that would have scared her anyway, I think we made the right decision). The manikin looked great! She was surprised all right! The manikin stood between her new jewelry box and the Christmas tree. Now you know the story... I will get back to Christmas Day. It was the three of us Christmas morning. We had a nice leisurely morning. We made Cinnamon rolls like we do every Christmas morning. We were excited to watch each other open the gifts. We missed Zack this year and did talk to him to wish him a Merry Christmas. We were also missing my mom and Bill this year as they were celebrating Christmas in TN with Bill's parents and my sister and her kids. Later that evening, Rich's Mom, Dad and Uncle Rich came over along with my best friend Lisa. We had a nice ham dinner, very laid back and relaxing.

I am so appreciative of all my blessings. I enjoy so much spending time with friends and family. Whether it's a big planned event or just hanging out together.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Bekah with her manikin and Cinnamon roll. Bekah with the outfit on and her favorite gift...a Pippi Longstocking picture! :)

Well it is 4:26 PM and I am really just starting my working day. What I mean is that I started around 8:30 AM this morning, but with all the work I have left to do, it really is only the beginning. I like the financial freedom my job provides, we are not "rich" in monetary standards by any stretch of the imagination, but we do well for ourselves, have had the opportunities take vacations, be entertained, to entertain and provide for our family and not have to watch every dime we spend. It is a good feeling. Sometimes the stress of my job makes me wonder if it the "appropriate" amount of stress? What if I did something completely different, artistic, free spirited... would I be just trading off one stress for another? Helping to provide for our family and live like we are used too for the stress of not knowing if I can pay the bills? I don't know? But what I do know, is my daughter is happy! Where did that come from within this post you may be asking yourself. Well, I'll tell you, no matter what choices I have made or Rich and I have made together, we did right by our children. They are both happy, productive, well adjusted young adults. Bekah tells us often how grateful she is that we are her parents. She enjoys laughing with us, spending time with us and is truly appreciative of the way we have raised her. So, at the end of the day... to me, that is all that really matters! The rest will figure its self out. So for now, its back to work.
(This picture is from Christmas 2007, when we rented a cottage in Savannah, GA for the week)

Thank our Troops

Join My Team, Mills Family and Friends

I started a personal team to help support Child Mothers through an organization called Mochaclub.org. For only $7.00 a month, the cost of 2 mochas, you can help Feed, Educate, Save and Provide for someone in need. There are 5 other projects that you can donate to as well (Education, HIV/AIDS, Job Creation, Orphan Care and Sudan Regrowth).

Gulu, Uganda is replete with people who have lived in fear since the mid 80's. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel paramilitary group in Northern Uganda, has terrorized villages through raids where they are taking children to add to their army, killing villagers, and destroying the village. Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, has denied this. There are many young women in Gulu, Uganda, however, who tell a different story...

These young women are called "child mothers" because they were only children themselves when they were abducted, trained as fighters, and given as sex slaves to rebel soldiers in the LRA. Now that they have escaped or been excused as expendable, the community at large rejects them and their children.

Please join us in funding the "Village of Hope" where nearly 500 of these child mothers can live in a safe community with shelter, a job training center, a medical facility, and a school for their children.

Please visit the site and get the word out!

Link

Thank you.

For volunteering and getting involved closer to home, check out
Hands On Orlando

Link

It is so easy, open the calendar and any activity that has a link there are still spots available. Click the link, sign up and show up! That is all there is too it. Bekah and I have volunteered at the Westminister Care of Orlando and really enjoyed doing crafts with the residents there. Bekah and Zack volunteered at a Special Olympics basketball tournament through Hands On Orlando as well. Our experience with Hands On Orlando has been very positive and rewarding.