Anniversary...

Today is hubby's and my 32nd Anniversary!  It seems like just a year or so ago that we celebrated our 'silver' anniversary ~ wait, didn't we just get married????!!!!  It's mind boggling to drift back into the memories and wonder where has the time gone?!   Four absolutely wonderful kids later, two great son in-laws and two absolutely adorable grandchildren with another on the way ~ life is good!!!  

We were young when we married ~ I was 19 and hubby had just turned 21.  But we felt 'grown up' and ready  ~ we were in love!  We had dated for almost 3 years ~ I had already lived on my own for a year and we both had good jobs.  What was there to wait for?!!!!   

The day of our wedding, April 29, 1978,  was an absolutely beautiful spring day!  The sun was out and the birds were chirping when I woke up at 6:30 a.m. ~ I know, I know,  it was early!  I was just so excited that the day had finally arrived!  We had a daytime wedding with the ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, and the reception at Plentywood Farm, at 12 noon.   One hundred thirteen family and friends gathered in the 'log cabin' at Plentywood ~ it was charming!  We had hired a three piece band with a live singer ~ there were no dj's yet!   Prime rib was served for dinner and everyone enjoyed themselves dancing and just visiting with one another.   Hubby and I truly felt that the day was perfect and apparently so did are our guests because they talked about it for months!

So, where has the time gone??  I guess when you are so busy starting your life together and then a family, it just slips away ~ leaving a lot of truly wonderful memories....

Craft show

It's a gloomy, rainy, Sunday so what could be better than go to the craft show in search of a present! I would usually go with the "girlfriends" but because I was on a mission ~ I dragged hubby with.  I had this idea for something special and of course the crafter wasn't there but we did manage to get his name and website.  In a couple of weeks our first grandchild will be turning "1" and even though we can't be there in person our love and wishes for a Happy 1st Birthday will be!  Hopefully, the "special" gift will be there in time as well...

At the craft show I did manage to stop and admire the goods in the P R Gallery booth, formally known as just Pat Richter's booth!  A sweet couple bought her company and Pat still paints the beautiful pictures that she is known for. I love what this woman does in the way of prints that include Longaberger baskets ~ which by the way is another one of my favorite things!   I have several Pat Richter prints and managed to find a little one today that's perfect for a spot in the bathroom that needed a little something. 

One thing always leads to another ~ cause now I need to repaint a blue shelf to black to match!!!

I've been going to craft shows for many, many years now ~ I truly love seeing what is new and of course the old time favorites.   I still have many of the things I've bought over the years and could most likely tell you who I was with or even a little story about when the certain item was bought!   Our mailbox is a wooden mailbox that was purchased 20+ years ago, but I still love it.  It was made by Pat Richter's husband before she became popular with her prints!!!    Two very crafty, creative and artistic people...

                                                   

  

My all time favorite Pat Richter print which I found on Ebay

Lilac Time in Lombard...

                                                     

                                                                         

 Even though "Lilac Time" in Lombard doesn't officially start until May ~ someone forgot to tell the lilacs! All of the lilac's throughout town are in full bloom. So today I decided I'd stop off at "Lilacia Park" to capture the gorgeous blooms.  The fragrant scent was so inviting!

As you enter the park you are greeted
with commemorative bricks that one could purchase during a fundraiser for the Park District, who by the way, just received the prestigous National Gold Medal of Excellence in Parks and Recreation award that you see in the picture!  Look a little closer and you'll see our family brick!  When hubby was President of the Park District board we purchased one and they so kindly placed in right there in front!  100 years from now someone will read all of the bricks and wonder....

There was a lot of activity within the park ~ a woman was painting a picture while a couple watched, moms with their children were enjoying a special outing ~

     

  

While many, who come from all over the Chicagoland area, were just enjoying a stroll through this fabulous park on a beautiful day!  While passing by a woman who was enjoying the scent from a lilac bush, she commented "another year lived to enjoy another spring!"   It was heartwarming that this woman was truly enjoying being able to witness yet another year, another spring, another Lilac Time and all the wonder it has to offer...

                                                   

          

Stay tuned ~ for on May 1st the tradition continues when the 

80th Lilac Queen

will be announced on this very platform...

                                       

Babies and puppies...

Babies and puppies are such an attraction to so many people ~ mainly the female gender!   If you're a guy ~  then having a puppy or baby in tow surely brings about the girls!  Just like the commercial where there is a stand that rents puppies to single guys!!!   At least I'm assuming they are single!  My hubby will go out of his way if the newest puppy on the block is out!   Yesterday, one of the ladies from work brought her Golden Retriever to the building.  As I was crossing the foyer I noticed a little crowd , all women, outside the front door and saw the most adorable 18 week old Golden ~ he is beautiful!   So soft and fluffy, huge paws and so very gentle.  A perfect dog!  I can't wait to see him again next time he's brought to visit ~ he's going to be big!!  I know I've said that already but if you could have seen his paws...  He's gonna be HUGE!!! 

The same reaction happens whenever a baby enters the building ~ a crowd of ladies can be seen around the little one!!  All admiring how cute the child is.  One of the ladies in my section just became a Grandma, for the first time, last Saturday and it has become the topic of conversation between us!!!  I still consider myself a "new" gramma even though our third grandchild is due in October!   There is nothing like being a gramma!!!  I'd been told by my friends that previously were grandma's that it's the BEST thing.  I agree and have found myself telling others the same thing!

It amazes me to think about how the topic of conversation changes with each of life's milestones.  From pregnancy to starting school to High School graduation to College, marriages, and then those darling little ones that start popping up!!  They steal your heart and rightfully so ~ they truly make having raised their parents that much more worth it!!! 

Having four children of my own I can only hope for lots and lots of those special little people to adorn our family tree...

 

Shopping the house...

Remember when I wrote about doing away with our landline?   Well, when we did that we were left with this not so pretty site...

Someone suggested for me to get a shadow box.  So I decided to shop around my house to find one and sure enough I did!  

This shadow box previously held a beautiful hand made card that I received from my son in-law Casey's  mom when I had surgery a year ago. 

Then because the card was horizontal I needed to change it out so that the frame could hang vertically.  I decided to go through the silver that my grandmother had given me before she passed away and I found the perfect item!  This lovely spoon...

So I got busy ~ found the perfect paper from my scrapbooking stash for the backdrop and then I tied a ribbon around the spoon and stuck it to the paper.  

 Now I have this beautifully framed spoon that holds a sentimental memory for me...

And covers up that unsightly phone jack!!!

Pre-deployment party

Last evening hubby and I, along with our son Dan, attended a pre-deployment party for Matt, the son of friends of ours. Dan and Matt have grown up together ~ they went through elementary school, middle school and high school together.  Even played football together!  They've remained friends even though both have gone a different route in the adult world.  Seeing all the "kids" together brought back memories of the innocent days of their growing up.  They have grown into such wonderful adults and even though they are all busy working to make their place in the world ~ they will always have a special connection with each other.   

Matt has chosen to serve our country ~ the most selfless act of courage and bravery.  Our friends, his parents, are so very proud of him!  Although, I can't begin to imagine how they are feeling knowing that soon they will say "goodbye" to their oldest son for a period of time.  Matt will be deployed on May 10 for Afghanistan.  When Matt was in college he began his journey with ROTC and has advanced to 1st Lieutenant in his division of the US Army.  He has always shown great leadership skills ~ one of my favorite memories of Matt was when he gave the 8th grade graduation speech. before his peers and their families.

There is no one that will miss him more than his loving family ~ but there are so many others that have watched Matt grow and love him.  There is no act greater than serving our country and for that we "thank you" Matt!   We wish you to be safe and to always, always know that you are loved dearly.  Know that you will always be in the thoughts and prayers of many.  When your duties are finished in Afghanistan and you return home ~ there will be just reason to have another party ~ one of celebration on your return to your family and all of your friends back here in your home town ~ Lombard.  

Be safe....

 

Phones...

Several months ago we decided to get rid of our landline phone service.  As weird as it sounds I was a bit sad.  The phone number that we had I had gotten when I moved out on my own at 18.  That's a long time to have the same number ~ one that all the kids diligently learned before going off to school, one that all our family and friends had, all the businesses that we deal with had.  sniff, sniff ~ I'll never forget that number...

We made the switch and managed to notify most everyone by email of the change and what each of our cell numbers are.  Thank goodness ~  imagine that in the "old days" we would have had to either call everyone or send cards out by snail mail!!!!  

Hubby has an iphone and I've been using a hand me down cell phone from my son in-law that truly is on the way out the door!  Well ~ today my oldest daughter, Cara, called me to tell me that Amazon.com was offering the Blackberry Curve for ONLY a penny!!!  I was in the car at the time and couldn't wait to get home to go on line and check it out.  Cara & I were planning on going to go to the A T & T store on Monday to look at them anyway ~ so this offer came at a great time!   After a few phone calls to Cara and my friend Yvonne, who had also just purchased the same phone, I was on my way to pushing the "click to submit order"!!!!  Click!!!  My new phone is on its way as well as a case and screen protectors.  Hopefully by Thursday I will have joined the rest of my family when it comes to having an updated phone.

So, we are no longer a one number household ~ there's no fighting over getting to use the phone...  Oh, wait, that was only when the kids were teenagers, and then only up until they each got their own cell phones.  Times are forever changing and sometimes it just takes a little time to accept those changes and in this case ~ then having to learn to operate the new phone!!   I have found that now I have to bring my cell phone to bed with me. "No",  it's not cause I'm that attached to it either.  I do this so that it's within reach in case of an emergency during the night and because it serves as my alarm clock.  Kindof a pain having to remember to have it with me at all times ~  although we may very well become the best of friends as time goes on!!!

New life...

I've mentioned that my husband has not wanted to recognize his birthday since the death of my two grandfathers.  Well, on April 4th, Easter Sunday and hubbies birthday a good friend's daugther gave birth to her second baby ~ a healthy baby girl who weighed in at 9lbs 15oz!!!   Also that same day, my oldest daughter's  friend gave birth to her second baby ~ a healthy baby girl!   SO... now with the birth of these two sweet little girls that arrived on his birthday/Easter Sunday there is no reason for him to relate his birthday with death.  It's time to celebrate life and enjoy the sweetness that it offers.

Welcome to the world to these two darlings ~ can't wait to meet you in person!

Roxi & Mia...

We have two, very territorial, miniature dachshunds that are half sisters.  They were born a day apart from each other and will be celebrating their 9th birthday this month.   They definetly are very different in their markings as well as their personalities.  Roxi is very young looking and Mia looks very, very old lately.  It's hard to imagine that they are the same age. 

Mia has always been very hyper up until about a month ago.  She's been sick with something and just doesn't have the spunk she once had.  :(    She's graying where Roxi is still solid red in coloring.  No color job for her!   Even though Mia has been the spunky one  ~ her bark is worse than her bite.  In the past when Roxi who is afraid of the remote control and newspapers, and NO! we've never spanked her with one, has gotten  hold of a squirrel ~ Mia will bark and bark but back up at the same time trying to get away!  It's the funniest thing to watch. 

It's hard to watch Mia grow old and not be well.   Animals tend to work their way into our hearts and we wish we could make whatever is ailing her better.  She sleeps way more than she used too and doesn't eat hardly anything.  Although she loves peanut butter!!!  She's been to the vet and they can't seem to find a problem.   It makes my youngest daughter Nikki and I nervous because Mia is always going down to the basement by herself or hiding in my closet or under the desk while I'm on the computer.  The only time she ever would go to the basement is when we would go down. We are fearful that she is trying to find a place to curl up and pass on....

We hope that it's just a spell of bad health and that one day soon she'll be running outside like she used to.  We are giving her extra care and love in the meantime ~ Roxi too!  Just like little children ~ "mom" needs to be fair with the attention given.  One can't have more than the other!!

Roxi      Mia

Spring...

According to the calendar Spring arrived 2 weeks ago but "spring" weather is truly here! Yesterday was beautiful during the day with a spring thunderstorm in the evening. The rain was needed and the lightening that accompanied it helped turn the grass even greener. I love thunderstorms! When I left for work this morning the tips of the grass were covered with dew giving it a touch of plushness! It was beautiful! The Magnolia tree that is right outside my front window is in bloom. I've taken pictures of it each day since it started to bloom. Magnolia's do not last long before the tree leafs up so I love to have "proof" of the beauty that the flowers give.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Our Easter/Birthday celebration went well ~ dinner was delicious as were the desserts! I'm still drooling over them! There's lots of ham left over but that's okay cause we love ham! Being able to celebrate with a little one in the house again was truly special ~ can't wait to be able to "play" Easter bunny next year....

Here are pictures of the two special little ones on their 1st Easter

Easter and Hubby's Birthday...

Tomorrow is Easter as well as my husband Dan's 53rd birthday. We are having the family here for dinner to celebrate both. The weather is suppose to be beautiful! All those having Easter egg hunts for the little ones will enjoy being able to be outside in the sun! I'm already looking forward to next Easter when we, as Grandparents, can prepare an Easter egg hunt for the little one(s)! I always put the (s) because I never know if our daughter, son in-law and their babies will be in town. It's always hoped that they will be ~ but with two little ones, at this time next year, 17 months apart I'm thinking their travel days are numbered. I can only hope that one day they will move back into the area closer to the families...

I've mentioned that tomorrow, April 4th is Dan's birthday. He doesn't like to celebrate the occasion too much and it stems from both of my grandfathers having passed away, a year apart from each other, on April 4th. When my grandpa Arnold passed away it was also Easter Sunday. I remember going to church feeling as if we were pretty disheveled. My son Danny who was 11 at the time had on the worst tennis shoes and I was hoping no one noticed! I was just thankful that we made it there in what was a very sad start to the day...

Happy Easter to everyone ~ and even though he doesn't like to acknowledge his day ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAN!!! Enjoy the day that we'll be spending with family!

Good Friday...

Today is Good Friday. The weather is beautiful ~ although a bit too windy. I helped my good friend Tammy deliver Meals on Wheels this morning. This is one of many projects that Lombard Junior Woman's Club actively participates in. Up until August when I started working again ~ Tammy & I had always worked together in delivering the meals. I would drive and she would take the meals up to the houses. We had a system and it worked well!!! Tammy's been doing it on her own and she's refined the system even more ~ She even takes it up to a house that she would never have before! It's always a concern when someone doesn't answer or they say they aren't feeling well. Most are elderly and/or disabled and on their own. Some have nurses that either stay with them or stop in to check on them. Today Tammy had to inform the staff at the Township that one of the ladies wasn't feeling right. They in turn will call that persons emergency contact. Hopefully she is alright...


The biggest reason I have always loved helping with Meals on Wheels was because my Grandparents benefited from it when they were alive. They lived in a rural area in Wisconsin where the houses were spread out over the countryside, where our stops are relatively close to each other. Even as a young adult I always felt that the person who delivered the meals to my grandparents was "wonderful" because they would spend a second or two to chat with them. Sometimes that person would be their only outside contact for the day. Even though I can't help out with the project like I used to I'm entrusting that Tammy will continue to pay it forward and that hopefully, someday if needed ~ we may benefit from someone bringing us a meal. But most importantly ~ stopping for a second or two to chat...

The Beginning...

Today is the first day of my blogging life! When I decide to do something it tends to happen at that moment as did this blog! I live in Lombard, IL, known as the Lilac Village! This is why I've chosen Visions of Lilacs! I'm the mom of a 2001 Lilac Princess and was co-chair of the Lilac Princess Program 2002, 2003 & 2008. We co-chairs were referred to as the "Queen Mums"! It is beautiful around this time of year when the Lilac bushes start to bud ~ it is always wished that the blooms don't open until closer to the Lilac Parade which is the 3rd Sunday in May. People from all over come to visit ~it's always a fun day!

I'm a wife, mom to 4 wonderful adult children, mother in-law to 2 fantastic son in-laws and gramma Cathy to 2 granddaughters!!! A third grandchild is due this October! There is nothing better than being a "grand"parent!!!! It certainly makes having gone through all the trials and tribulations of raising their parents all the more worthwhile!!

I have lived in Lombard now for about 40 years and always wonder where the time has gone. This month my husband & I will be married 32 years. Hubby is currently looking for a job ~ we were set to move to Denver where he had a position but when it came down to it ~ I just couldn't leave the family here. We'd had our house for sale since January 6th and even though there were people who came to look ~ no one was buying. Over the years we've put a lot into our house in order to make it a "home"! It speaks "us" in every corner and the memories that have been made here are forever etched in my mind. The feeling of grief is what I was experiencing at the mere thought of leaving and even though my husband doesn't have a job here we decided this is where we needed to stay. Everything is for a reason or it wouldn't happen...

I love to volunteer, do crafty things, decorate my house, read (when I pick up a book) and nap ~ but mostly spend time with the family and dearest of friends. I love to shop ~ although that is pretty limited at the moment! I've learned to shop around my house for things so that I can create changes to what already is.

My creation of this blog is to share a bit of my life through my thoughts and feelings to be shared at some point down life's path with my grandchildren....