Time out from reading 30 days...

I know I was supposed to have finished the book my parents got me for my birthday by now and enacted a lot of it. And I will finish it... but I have been distracted by other reading material in interim.

I finished re-reading a Dean Koontz book...

A friend of mine gave me two great books I haven't been able to put down...

Plus it's summer and it seems like no matter how hard we try to stay home and chill, every weekend brings something to do.

Yesterday was fourth of July and we went to a friend's house by a lake to celebrate. He had quite the party. From his 20' high man to the band and the caterer, you really couldn't ask for more. We left a little early and took our niece home with us. I was surprised by how well she and the dogs did together.

Today we are going to a German restaurant with B's family. I know we are celebrating Father's Day but we might be celebrating my birthday and B's today as well. Hard to tell.

And tonight we want to go to Trev's T-Ball game since before we know it he will be done playing already.

So anyway, that's why I haven't finished the book. Lame? Yes. But truthful? Yes.

Instead of a roller coaster...

Question for today: Instead of a roller coaster, what symbol or metaphor would you choose to describe what your life would look like if you were fully engaged?

The book recommends coming up with something "as unique as you are." But nothing can match me! J/K of course.

Hmmm... first thought was a full summer festival, not just the roller coaster. My life should look like it all - from the face painting booth to the fried oreos and all the fun in between. But not from an adults perspective... my life should reflect the festival from a child's perspective.

Imagine... walking into the festival for the first time. Can you imagine the grin on your face when you see the goldfish prizes? The clowns with their poodle dogs? Imagine smelling the fries, the corndogs, and the popcorn. Imagine holding a afresh squeezed lemonade with the lemon at the bottom. Imagine the small carousel and the sound of the other children laughing while their parents stand grinning at their side. Imagine the joy. The excitement. The awe.

THAT'S IT! My symbol is a child standing in joyful awe at the world in front of them.

What five things would you change?

My parents gave me the book "One Month to Live" for my birthday. I am just through reading the introduction and already they pose that timeless question:

"As quickly as possible, without thinking too hard or too long, make a list of five things you would change about your life if you knew you only had a month to live..."

Here's my initial thoughts:

1. Get new lush carpeting for the whole whole and enjoy walking barefoot on it everyday

2. I would still work but I think would work only three days a week and stop working from home. On my two "extra" days I would nap and be lazy with a book / TV  all day. The other day I would go out and "do" something... visit a museum, drive through the park systems, find new restaurants, and finally know my way around the east side!

3. Eat healthier and enjoy cooking at least 3 nights a week

4. Re-train my dogs in obedience

5. Write love letters to everyone in my family for them to read and be comforted by when I was gone

Wow. Some of those came out of no where. Your supposed to choose at least one to begin changing today. I suppose all except for reducing the work hours is possible, huh?

I will keep this blog posted over the next 30 days. 

"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why."

Eddie Cantor (1892 - 1964)

April Showers

This past weekend was cold and rainy but I was very blessed to have good friends to see! After a gloomy start to Saturday I ended the day feeling bright and sunny!

After shopping for my nephew's birthday presents, I met my good friend Diane (below) at Olive Garden. We celebrated her sister's birthday with her family and friends.

Afterwards I got to see my childhood friend, Emily, and her daughter, Ellie (below). I always enjoy going to her parents house to see her because I grew up across the street from them... it's like going back in time!


Now it's Monday morning... still cold and rainy. I am hoping that this week brightens up and that Trevor has a great day for his birthday this weekend!

03/25/08 - Easter Pictures

EASTER EGG HUNT!!!!

MY WONDERFUL HONEY-BUNNY

My sister and Miss Morgan

More pictures are online at the "My niece and nephew" website mentioned to the left.

03/24/08 - Life's little updates

Here are some of life's little updates:

1) I have been promoted!! Formerly JUST a Sales Coordinator, I am now the Executive Assistant to the President AND the Sales Coordinator. I know, I know... yes, I am as crazy as that sounds. But I think so far the transition has been pretty smooth. I am not sure if the salesforce agrees but for me personally, I am happy with where I am.

2) Morgan (my niece) turned 3 a week ago and my little man, Trevor (nephew) will be FIVE next month. I couldn't help but stare at him during our Easter dinner yesterday. He really is growing up.

3) Mom Hetman had surgery on her tummy and after a couple of rough weeks it sounds like and looks like she is finally feeling better and adjusting to half the stomach she is used to.

4) Kodak is going to be EIGHT in a couple of weeks... our baby isn't a baby anymore. And although he is by no means old I don't see the puppy in him nearly as often anymore.

5) Brian is now employed by Edge Distributing. His company, Arrow, merged with one of their biggest competitors to become a huge force to be reckoned with. It has kept him busy but he is handling it very well. As always, he shines and I am so proud of him.

I think those are the updates for now!! I hope you are well!!
Jodi

Updated Pic of Chloe

I just adore this picture of our new niece:

February 2008

tagged!

It's been almost a month since I posted... I am almost as bad as Lori! Although I suspect more people check her blog for kid updates than people check mine for generic updates.
- - - - - - - -
I have been tagged by Lori

The rules are to link the person who sent this and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours~Post the rules on your blog~Share 7 strange/weird facts about yourself~Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and link their blog~Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my strange / weird facts:
1. I majored in Rhetoric and Communication... and always get that stare when I tell people that I am actually a trained bullshitter.
2. I talk to my dogs as if they were really children. And even carry Bear around on my hip.
3. I live in a house with a mortgage and land and real responsibilities... I never imagined I would get "grown up."
4. I have two tattoos and alternate between wanting them removed and wanting one more. I like the idea of them... but not the actuality of them.
5. I am 31 and addicted to playstation. And I am actually more attracted to my husband because of how well he plays COD4!
6. I am insanely jealous of people with young children and yet soooo thankful that I can nap whenever I want to.
7. I am infamously good at everything and not great at anything.


OK, now I tag: Brian
But I doubt he'll update his blog again anytime soon. :)
Sorry - I don't even know 7 people who blog! One of my pastors does but I doubt he'd appreciate getting tagged by a member he doesn't even know!

Beautiful Baby Girl

Chloe-Renee Margaret is out in the real world now! She tried to stay in as long as possible but they induced delivery yesterday. After almost 12 hours, though, she still didn't want to come out so they brought her into the world via C-section. Mom and baby did great and we are Aunts and Uncles again!

Everyone was beaming when she came!

New Addition

The newest addition to our family is about to be born. Well, any day now. Chloe-Renee Margaret was due yesterday and everyone is waiting anxiously for the call to say the process has begun.

It really is amazing that our bodies can create this little life, grow it, and nurture it in a womb, and then 9 months later push it out into the world.

I know my sister in law is excited to see what she looks like. Will she have her eyes? Mouth? Nose?

Brian and I are already blessed with a wonderful nephew and niece. This next niece is a blessing and a surprise and we can't wait to meet her. Pictures will be posted as soon as she shows herself! :)

New Year's Eve

At the start of every year our pastor warns us that we will all face trials in the coming year. For some it's financial. For others it is a loss. Maybe the loss of a job or a loved one.

Every year during that sermon I pray it won't hit us. I think of it like a storm. More specifically, like a tornado. It can hit one home and completely miss the one next door. Not that I wish the bad stuff on my neighbors or strangers... I just pray selfishly that the spiraling mass of chaos will skip us.

Compared to some, we still got off easy this year. But I have to admit, looking back, this was a tough one. I found we had to be strong for a lot of people and in the very end, it meant being strong for ourselves.

Some of the low lights of the year that we stood witness to included watching our neighbor struggle with breast cancer and our hearts breaking for our dear friends who lost their infant child.

On our own, we struggled at work. Brian continues to grow in his abilities but the company is changing and that means hard work and long hours. Add school to that mix and its stressful and exhausting. I personally struggled with my own ability at work as we, too, went through some changes that lead to chaos and confusion.

And just recently, Brian and I held tight to one another as we saw a dream of ours slip through our fingers.

These loses and trials were hard. And so I force myself to count my blessings:
- we have a great roof over our head
- our families are blessed with love for one another... and children who make us laugh
- we have jobs and we are fortunate enough to enjoy them
- our animals give us great pleasure of loads of affection
- although money can be tight we are never left wanting

I think this year when our pastor warns us of what is to come I will still be praying that our house will be skipped. But one thing I guess you could say I've learned is that we will prevail. Our faith is strong and our love for each other is like a rock. In that, we are truly blessed.

So to you and yours and to us, I wish everyone a Safe, Healthy, and Blessed new year. I hope 2008 is a good one.

'Tis the Season to be Busy!

Saturday morning was a busy but fun one! B and I headed out early and started making the rounds to see people we hadn't seen in awhile. First we visited with friends who had twins in September.

This cutie is Ava. She had the most adorble blue eyes and loves her Daddy!

And this sweet one admiring B is Paige. Definitely the quieter of the two...

I think she was noting how red and orange shouldn't be worn together. Smart girl!

And then last, but certainly not least, we visited with my sister and her family. Morgan shows us here how "beautiful" she looks when she is wearing a dress.

This is what the Christmas season is all about - seeing our friends and family and just enjoying the joy that comes into our hearts as we think about God giving his son for us.

12/5/07 Christmas Spirit

I just watched videos of my niece and nephew singing at their Christmas Concert... I will tell you what, they ooze Christmas Spirit. Between the wonder of Santa Claus and the joy of singing for Jesus, kids just GET it.

Christmas is about laughter and joy

Christmas is about family and friends

Christmas is about celebrating the best Birthday ever... with gifts and praise!

I can't wait to have those two over the weekend before Christmas. Even though they leave us exhausted, I always have tears on my cheeks when they go. Nothing is as sweet as a child hugging you, loving you, and trusting you.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!! The Christmas Spirit is in the air!

11/27/07 Post Anniversary Thoughts

B and I celebrated 7 years of marriage on Sunday. Seven years already... I am in awe and in love with that. He is truly a great man and I have enjoyed all seven years immensely. I thought I would take this time to share with you what marriage or my hubby himself have taught me:

1) Your spouse should be your best friend. Without that, what do you have to build on?
2) Always give more love today than you did yesterday. We are told we still act like newlyweds... every day still feels like the day I said I do.
3) Thank God for your spouse daily. I know B was part of the plans He has for me.
4) Find your spouse's strengths and learn from them. B has taught me patience. He lives in each moment without worrying about the past or dwelling on the future. His calm is slowly becoming my calm. And on the flip side, I think perhaps my dreaming about where we will be in years to come is slowly rubbing off on him. :)
5) Apologize when you are wrong. If we didn't do that I think we'd have so many caverns in the past 7 years that by now we may not have had enough rope to bridge them.
6) Praise your spouse. Nothing lifts me more than B's love and approval. And nothing feels better than when I can tell him I am truly proud of him.

Marriage is awesome. I am so sad to see people in love and in marriage fall out of it. Personally, we made a promise in front of our families and God and it is one we will always honor. Before we even said "I do" we agreed that "divorce" wasn't in our vocabulary. And over the years we have fought and I have been unreasonable... :) but we are in this together and in love forever. I wish that same feeling for everyone. Because trust me, nothing feels better on this side of Heaven.

11/11/07 - HCC Visit

Sunday morning we went to church with little Maddie's parents. Her mom said that she wanted to go to be closer to Madeline. I am so glad they came.

I am not sure if there are windows in heaven or not but I like to think so. And I am confident that when we talk to God about our loved ones who have already joined him, they hear.

I wonder about what heaven is like a lot. I know we won't be physically the same and yet we recognize one another. That is something we have to have faith on because I wonder how we find each other. Not just recognizing faces but how do we find each other in the large mass of people and angels? Is it over-crowded? Are there apartments? Do you get to fly with angel wings to visit someone who lives the next block over? :)



Dear Lord,

I pray that T&R continue to have strength to face each day. As you have already done, show them your love and goodness despite their tragedy. Hold them close to you, Lord, and protect them as they think about having another child.

Please watch over B and I , too,. Hold my hand these next few weeks and keep us strong. With the holidays approaching, life tends to go to fast and I don't ever want to look back and wonder if I made the most of every moment you give us here on Earth. I may wonder about Heaven, Lord, but I don't think I am done here yet.

Thank you for all your blessings you have given me.
In your son's name, I give honor and praise.

Memorial

We said goodbye to Madeline tonight. It was sad but there were words of hope. Madeline is in the arms of Jesus now and we can take comfort in that. And we know that we will see her one day again in heaven... until then she will be Todd & Renee's Guardian Angel.

Pray for Madeline's parents

Madeline Rose

Madeline Rose, four week old daughter of Todd and Renee died at Akron Childrens Hospital, Thursday, October 25, 2007, from heart related complications.

Although she was only with us for a short time, she will be in our hearts forever.

Madeline was born on September 27, 2007, at Barberton Citizens Hospital.

Pray for Madeline

This is Madeline. This sweet baby girl was born a month ago and now needs your prayers. She is in the hospital for a heart surgery. I cannot imagine being in her parents shoes. Just one week ago she was doing great and now they are sitting by her side at the hospital waiting to find out when she will be strong enough for surgery. There can't be any other fear like it.

Please pray with me for this little girl and her parents.

Dear Lord,

Please watch over Madeline and make her whole and well. Lay your gentle hand upon her heart and give her parents peace of mind. They need you know more than ever and I pray they are turning to you for comfort. I know, Lord, that you do all things for a reason and I don't doubt that is the case now. Just help us to see your plan and to know your always beside us.

In Your Son's name we pray.

This Blog Will Be A-Changin'

Thanks for stopping by once more to check in on me. I will be changing the format and topic of my blog at some point in the near future. Despite still walking occasionally at lunch and on Saturdays, my blisters are no longer the central part of my life. I am still getting them and definitely still dealing with that bad toe but it's time to move on to other things.

So for now:

8/30/07 - Post 3-Day Pampering

I am not sure how much longer I can write about the 3-Day Walk but this really does tie in. I work with JK, who thought that I would look good with some darker color in my hair because of my complexion. After discussing it with my hubby, I decided to try it when the leaves and temperatures started turning ...

The timing worked out great. Now, just two weeks after starting the 3-Day, I got to spend the day at the salon getting pampered.

Here is a before picture:

And here are a couple of pictures afterwards:

I think it looks very natural. My girl did a great job of not going too over board since this is the first time I have done anything like this. If you know me, you know my hair regimen consists of shower, brush, go. This adds a new element to it, though, and I really like it. It's subtle but not invisible.

Thanks to JK for pushing me out of my comfort zone... but I am just telling you now, I don't think I can ever do the make-up thing. That'd be going too far!! :)