J Cubed

Janet, Janice and Jimmy

I think we all agreed that this shot was taken in 1979 at his house on Martha's Vineyard. It looks better in black and white but I think the funky colors give it age and well, funkiness.

Thank you, Janice, for finding it and scanning it and emailing it so I could post it.

Now, can we talk about 'her' glasses? Mercy! What on earth? How could we have 4 other sisters and not one of them say "hmmmm, maybe those are a little too big for your face hunny, maybe you shouldn't wear those cuz someday just maybe this will come back to haunt you?"

What? You don't like my orange terry cloth outfit? Well! Trust me, it was cool. The shorts were very orange and they had white stripes going down the side and were trimmed in white around the legs. Fashion slave, yes, that was me back in the day.

All joking aside, we are having a delightful time with Jim! We're taking him to an 8th grade basketball game and then out for German food.

A Munchkin

Sarah tried out for and earned a spot in our school's spring performance of The Wizard of Oz. It is being preformed by the high school kids but they needed 3rd graders to be the munchkins. We are so excited for Sarah. Even if she just skips around the stage singing silly munchkin songs we'll be thrilled. Of all of us in this family Sarah is the one who can sing and dance. I've actually thought seriously about getting her into voice lessons, cuz this momma here can't teach no one to sing. :) I'd love it if her costume looked like the munchkin behind the guy in green and to the left. Isn't it cute?

Do you remember waiting every year for the annual showing of The Wizard of Oz? I do. My friend, Stacey, thinks it came on every spring here in Arizona. Those were the days...no TiVo, good old fashioned waiting. Hmmmm, seems like my kids could use a little of that good old fashioned waiting once in a while.

Donna is a HUGE, GIANT, ENORMOUS, CRAZY fan of The Wizard of Oz. I'm sure the reason I know every song by heart is because of her influence. She probably MADE us sing along and then after it was over I'm sure we had to ACT it out and sing some more. LOL.

Here is another picture, just for Donna.



















Enjoy this!

The Eagle Has Landed

Translation: Jimmy's here ya'll!!


















We had a wonderful evening visiting with Jim.

I asked him about The Stunts. I was panicked. He said he hasn't done them in years. Thank heavens.

We reminisced about old times. Like the time his friend flew Janice and I to Martha's Vineyard from Osh Gosh, Wisconsin. And we both threw up in that man's airplane. Were we only 10 or so?

We remembered the fun we had flying over the Atlantic ocean with Jim, looking at sea turtles sunning themselves and humpback whales playing in the water with their babies. And how the next day he had to "crash" land his plane in the ocean. He floated in his raft and watched his plane sink. He was quickly rescued by a helicopter. He reminded me that he was home safe and sound for dinner. We ate crabs that night.

I asked him if he flies famous people around and he said yes but I couldn't blog about it.

That's all for now.

Sister Tour 2008, last leg.

On Prayer

This is from the Valley of Vision.

Found at this web site.

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O Lord, in prayer I launch far out into the eternal world, and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs over all evils on the shores of mortality. Time, with its gay amusements and cruel disappointments never appears so inconsiderate as then.

In prayer I see myself as nothing; I find my heart going after Thee with intensity, and long with vehement thirst to live to Thee. Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem.

In prayer all things here below vanish, and nothing seems important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others.

In prayer all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties disappear, and are of as little significance as a puff of wind.

In prayer my soul inwardly exults with lively thoughts at what Thou art doing for Thy church, and I long that Thou shouldest get Thyself a great name from sinners returning to Zion.

In prayer I am lifted above the frowns and flatteries of life, and taste heavenly joys; entering into the eternal world I can give myself to Thee with all my heart, to be Thine for ever.

In prayer I can place all my concerns in Thy hands, to be entirely at Thy disposal, having no will or interest of my own.

In prayer I can intercede for my friends, ministers, sinners, the church, Thy kingdom to come, with greatest freedom, ardent hopes, as a son to his father, as a lover to the beloved.

Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying.

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Amen

Great Find

Some day we will update our kitchen and add major square footage. Until then, I need to find creative ways to store and organize the stuff we have.

I found this attractive cabinet at JCPenney.com.






















Good news! It is sturdy and level and it only took hubby an hour or so to assemble. Another "plus" is that all the parts and pieces and screws and hinges and blah blah blah were all in the box. I like it when that happens.

Lauren was eager to help me wipe it down and start filling it with the overflowing mixing bowls and other kitchen goodies. I grabbed a few items from around the house to finish off the look.

And so did Lauren.

















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Kari & Kijsa is a new favorite blog of mine.

They are decorators extraordinaire!

And they like Diet Coke.

Nuff said.

And There It Will Stay

Dave and I were cleaning out our bedroom a few weeks ago and right in the middle of it I had to leave to pick up a child from a friend's house. When I came home this is what I found....


















hanging on my wall.

And there it will stay.

I believe it was taken the summer after our parent's passed away. Summer of 1974. Girls, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Nancy became an instant Mom to five girls at the young age of 20. She did what Mom's do, they photograph their family. Here we are in Minocqua at our cottage on the lake.

I do wish Nancy was in the photo but I also understand what she was doing. She was taking care of us girls. Making memories, happy ones.























I see this picture on and off all day long and most certainly before I go to bed every single night. I'm so glad it's there.

I remember the good times and the joy and the blessings of sisters.

Dave, thank you for hanging it on the wall.

Hello Out There

I am high tech now.

I have a counter.

I already have 25 unique visitors today.

No one comments.










People. I live for comments.

Now that I have that off my chest I will go check my stats again.

What? I'm not OCD. Really.

Speaking of Cheesecake

Donna made her first cheesecake last weekend. It turned out well and was photographed beautifully, of course.

She's such a cheese head.













Anyway, I thought I'd share a cheesecake recipe that will knock your socks off and make you gain 10 pounds immediately. Just Kidding. Moderation ladies, moderation.

You can thank my friend Diana for this recipe. Hi Diana!

Fudge Truffle Cheesecake

1 1/2 C. vanilla wafer crumbs
1/2 C. powdered sugar
1/3 C. unsweetened cocoa
1/3 C. melted butter

Mix and press in to the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan.

Beat:

3 (8oz) packages cream cheese
1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 C. semi sweet chocolate chips (melted)
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

Pour into pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour 5 minutes or until set.

Let cool completely and refrigerate.


Does a typical cheesecake serve 8-10? Well, this baby will easily serve 16. I kid you not. It is so rich and heavenly you can really only have a thin slice.

While I agree this is a delicious cheesecake, I have to share with you my all time favorite......























This is White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. It is the best!!

My friend Kelli made me a homemade version a few years ago. Hi Kelli! It was scrumptious. Yoohoo, Kelli. Will you share the recipe so I can share it with my vast audience of internet readers? :)

Now go, and eat some cheesecake.

This and That

Hello! It's been a while so I thought I'd let you know what's going on here.

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Hannah's recovery has been slow and even the doctor was surprised. The swelling is just now going away on her left side. Thankfully, she did not have dry sockets, abscesses or infection but it was a very complicated case as the top left tooth was very high. At least seven people told me their horror stories relating to wisdom teeth and I tried very hard to protect Hannah from hearing those stories. She has missed a lot of volleyball and is looking forward to getting back to that! Oh, and her good looks. teehee

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I have been doing a low carb/Atkins diet for nine days and working out 3X/week. It is going very well. I am not obsessing about the scale. I'm just doing what I set out to do. I know I should think of this as a life-time change and I'm trying....but frankly we have a family wedding (Dave's bro!) on May 3rd and an Interstate convention in D.C. in June....so there. :P My husband drives me nuts....just now we were on the phone and he was trying to convince me to "get some protein" because I had just returned from my workout. He enjoys using words like intracellular triglycerides and such. Blah. Blah. I told him I was getting me some nice, cold, icy, carbonated Diet Coke. Woot!!

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Very exciting news over at Quiet Life! Donna has launched her new photography business website! She is so gifted and I am so excited for her. Now if I could just get her to come to AZ for a little visit. Plenty of subjects and natural light here. Sheesh.

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GO PACK!









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Need a little theology fix? Go visit one of my favorite sites, Pyromaniacs. This is an incredible post by Phil Johnson with great video. And let me tell ya, if he was in Phoenix and on our church property on Tuesday and didn't call me I'm going to be really mad. :-)

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Have a great weekend!

Chippie

Someone in our house had her wisdom teeth pulled.

I won't say who.

This is what she looks like.

Poor dear.

Happy New Year!

Once Sarah's broken nose healed it was time to set out and get a "Christmas" photo. Well, Christmas was one week away and you know, a gal can't get a photo taken, pictures ordered, envelopes addressed, stamps purchased and mail dropped when she has 1000 other things to do before Christmas. So our Christmas card turned in to a New Years card and here it is.

My new neighbor (as of July) is a very sweet and fun and talented photographer. She runs a very successful business from her home so she can stay home with her young family.

Her web page is HERE.

And this is where she blogs about life and photography.

Jennifer is her name and PhotoJenic is the name of her business! Isn't that clever?

I would have preferred this to be all about the kids but my husband insisted this be all about all of us. I begged to take out at least the small picture and he said NO. I 'gave' because, you know, I am the most submissive wife around. ha.

Jen is going to help me do a wall collage for my home. You should see the beautiful pictures she has of her family in her home. She says that is her favorite part of her business. Seeing them huge and on the walls.

Keep Jen in your prayers. She is about to deliver baby #3 and is busy with 2 young boys.

Just for reference and for my sisters....Hannah 15, James 14, Dani 12, Sarah 9 and Lauren 5. Dave and Janet. Never mind.

Here's to a blessed 2008!!

Merry Christmas!

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

Luke 2:8-14

From our home to yours.

May it be blessed.

Santa and Sledding

We were getting ready to go up north last Friday and there was a knock at the door. Look who showed up for a special visit! Lauren was jumping and squirming and giggling and Sarah was quiet but pleased. Santa was visiting the little school in our neighborhood and my neighbor thought that my girls would like to say hi. So there he was, full of life and very real. I, of course, asked him for something from Tiffany's and offered him a cookie. He declined. The cookie, that is. We'll see about Tiffany's. I have not been naughty this year. Really. What?


















Here is a shot of the sledding area. You can see the San Francisco Peaks in the distance. Brrrr. See the wind blowing the snow off the mountain?!


















Lauren Paige. Happy to roll around in the snow and talk to herself.






















I absolutely LOVE this picture of Sarah because it shows in her face and stance how tough she is. Doesn't she look kewl, broken nose and all. At the end of the day she took a jump that scared me half to death and I went running toward her to make sure she was OK. All of the other people sledding actually applauded her jump. Isn't that funny? They were watching her.



















Love this photo.

Go! Now!

I hope you enjoy this.

I think it's a great rendition.

Never a Dull Moment

Sarah broke her nose last Wednesday.

She was jumping from a trampoline to a blow-up bouncer. She had jumped several times without incident but one time her knee met her nose and that was it!

I have never seen my little Sarah in such pain and cry for so long. It was pathetic. But she was very brave and not hysterical, just in lots of pain. The next few days involved doctors appointments, x-rays and a visit to an ENT! Thankfully, the nose was broken but not displaced. No further treatment was necessary.



"Mom, don't put this on your blog"
Day 2



















"Why are you taking so many pictures?"
Day 4


















Sarah's nose is healing nicely and she is back to her regularly scheduled activities.

She has, however, stayed away from THAT trampoline.

PS. Dear Family and Friends, my annual Christmas card/photo will be late for obvious reasons. :)

Lookie What I Found!

I purchased a few magazines for my flight to San Diego on Sunday.























Boy was I surprised when I saw this.....








































Isn't that cool?!

So in true stalker fashion, I emailed her on Tuesday night when I got home. I told her I spotted the article and was surprised and delighted to see her story in Good Housekeeping. Because, you know, she is my pretend, internet bff.

Now That T-Giving is Over....

I'll listen to Christmas music.

This is beautiful.




Just wait till you hear Christmas Day. Mandisa's voice is amazing and Michael's is the same; soothing and beautiful. You'll get the shivers. (Mandisa was on American Idol a few years ago.) She is a lovely Christian lady and can belt it out, I tell ya.

Michael W. Smith has always been one of my favorite Christan singers. Not only has he produced beautiful music, he has remained faithful to the Lord and to his wife and family.

We were privileged to hear him perform at an Interstate Battery brunch a few years ago. Michael and a grand piano.

JOY!

As a side, he said the song "Friends" was the song that would never go away. :)

That's interesting....my daughter's 6th grade class just sang it for their Fall Music Program. hehehe

Follow the link and you can hear several of his songs off the new album.

Go! Buy it. You'll love it.

Give Thanks

Psalm 100

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.

Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.

Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.



For The Beauty Of The Earth
Folliot Sandford Pierpoint


For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For thy Church which evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

Listen here.


Happy Thanksgiving to my family and friends.

Have a blessed day.

Give thanks.

Mackie

May He Rest In Peace


















Our (and Nancy's) precious golden retriever had to be put down this morning. His hip and shoulder joints finally gave out. He was 14 years old. He was a gentle old soul and perfect in every way. We will miss him dearly.

For the first time in my life I think I believe in doggie heaven. ;-) Stacey will be glad to hear I finally have my theology right.

When Hannah and I were saying goodbye to Mack I told the vet I thought Mack was the most beautiful and precious and perfect dog in the world. He agreed (nice man) and gave credit to the breed. That made me feel good.

Some day I will own another Golden.....

We love you Mack.
You brought joy in to our lives.

For now, we are grieving.

Sisters! and Football!

Here we are at James' football game on Saturday afternoon.

It was good to be together.

That is an understatement but I don't have words to describe how special it was to all be together.

We talked and laughed and ate and talked some more. We interrupted EVERY conversation and never finished a conversation or came back to them much later.

I am soooo incredibly blessed by these dear ones.

Thank you Lord for giving them to me.




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Sunday afternoon we had an end of the year football party in our back yard.

We were expecting 120 people and I think they all showed up.

Isn't that grill amazing?

That's my boy getting his plaque. He had a great season.


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Let the weight loss begin.

I went back to the personal trainer and I'm ready.

I'll post updates.