FLORIDA VACATION

Our vacation plans were changed last minute due to my biological mom wanting me to come and visit her and my biological dad in Pensacola FL. Our plan was to surprise her so I called my biological brother who lives in Pensacola and he agreed to help. Unfortunately, we received the call from my biological mom while we were on our way to Florida that my dad was very ill and in the hospital. We were able to surprise her at the hospital and all worked out very well.

Because our original trip was to camp in Muskegon, we decided to take the camping trip to Florida. It proved to be our biggest adventure ever. We were able to view tons of indiginous animals that include FIRE ANTS!, ALLIGATORS --IN THE MARSH WALKING FREELY--- ACROSS THE STREET!, TARANTULAS!, ROACHES!, JELLY FISH! BLUE HERON! CLAMS!, RATS!, GIANT SQUIRRELS!, LIZARDS!!!!! We only had a few animal-related injuries: Jenna 0 Fire Ants 1, Juliet 0 Mosquitos 1,000,000, Gabby 0 Fire Ants 1, Diane 0 Fire Ants 1, Jessie 0 Jelly Fish 5. The wildlife won all rounds! We saw a tarantula-sized spider (brown) in our shower while we were bathing!!! (We all ran back to camp with only towels on!)

The entire trip was full of challenges and work but it was a very necessary and fulfilling one. I was so happy to finally look into the eyes of the two people who created me. That is something I never imagined I would ever do. I have been so very blessed.

Linda and Diane

Regarding my new sister Linda......(photo omitted per request)!!! She lives less than one mile from my home and we are thrilled to learn of each other!!! Linda and I are approximately 14 years apart in age!! She has welcomed me into her home and family when she didn't have to. Thank you Linda, for being so mature and able to rise above the shock, hurt and resentment to accept me regardless of the past actions/mistakes of my biological parents. You are a blessing and so very gracious! You have helped me believe the old adage "God doesn't make mistakes."

New relationships

After a year or so of silence, and 3 weeks of hiding, I am pleased to announce the discovery of my biological family! I found my biological parents about a year ago and learned of my half-siblings at that time (8 of them all together, one is since passed away). My biological mom decided to tell my biological sisters about me almost 3 weeks ago now and I have since met 2 of my half-siblings in the past 2.5 weeks and it has been a whirlwind! I told my mom of this discovery a couple of days ago and she has since met with my 2 sisters. We went to Linda's house on July 3rd to watch the fireworks on the lake and then spent the entire day/evening there on July 4th! The kids met their new aunts and cousins and everyone had a great time! This is a very exciting, new development and I am pleased to finally meet some blood relatives!

Fun at the McGinnis Pool!

What a great time! We had perfect weather, a warm pool, tons of kids and food and drink. The CPI Pool Party was hosted by Mark and Cheryl McGinnis. Juliet swam for about 3 hours and I am sure she will sleep good tonight. She has lost much of her fear of the water and did great, even jumped in a few times!

CPI Pool Party

Dance Dance Dance

Dance photos

Dance, dance, dance

All those weeks of practice for past 9 months have culminated in this recital today. The girls did very well, especially Jenna. This recital was Juliet's debut and she handled herself very well. We are very proud of their dedication to the art and they were both absolutely beautiful!

Great job girls!!!!!

GRADUATION!

HE DID IT!!!!!!

Today, Josh graduated from Waterford Mott High School (photos to follow). We are so proud of him. He is at he all night grad party tonight and will come home around 5am. Great idea to keep grads off the road on graduation night. "Don't Stop Believing".....CLASS OF '07!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS JOSH!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Diane And Gabby

Daddy-Daughter Dance!

The girls and dad enjoyed the annual daddy daughter dance. This was Juliets first "Ball" and she was VERY excited....except I hear, that she wouldn't let Dad dance with Jenna at all!

Sheri's Surprise

When I answered the phone and heard Andy on the line, I had no idea what a blast from the past we were in for. I was so excited to see my long, lost and best friend Sheri! Andy was inviting us to surprise Sheri for her 40th Birthday!

The evening started early for us. I took off work early...Gabby called in and took the Friday night off....and we proceeded to the meeting place and got on the limo-bus.

After everyone arrived and we were waiting in anticipation......Sheri reluctantly "checks out the limo-bus" and is surprised by a bus full of her friends.

We went on to a sports-bar and had dinner and drinks and visited with everyone. Then we went on to a night club and danced like it was 1999! We were transported to our youth and laughed and cried like a bunch of school girls!

Jessie returns!!!!

After a long trip and a few days extra wait....Jessie returns. Her visit was shortened due to the storms in Denver CO, and she had to get back to school, so we didn't have a lot of time to do anything!!!! We basically, picked her up from the airport 1:30am Wednesday morning, and took her back to the airport Sunday morning....We still we able to have some fun!
I love you Jessie!!!!

Josh gets Senior Pictures

Josh has done well this year, with academics, football and now wrestling. He had his first wrestling meet this weekend and did pretty well considering he has never wrestled before and thought that the WWF was wrestling! He has successfully learned that you can't use chairs on your opponent and there is no "ring" with ropes to jump from.....
Anyway, good job Josh!!!

Josh's Football Banquet

Josh had his football banquet on Tuesday night at the new White Lake Oaks banquet hall.

The hall was beautiful and the event was top notch. The food was great, the coaches were humble and sincere.....and the evening lasted 4 hours. All worth it though....so much fun. So sad that Josh is graduating this year.

More baby pics

Baby Pictures!

Hi everyone! What a day today! Michigan lost it's great coach Bo Schembechler today. We have been shocked by this news on the eve of the BIG GAME. Now Bo and Woody can watch the game together from Heaven. Very very sad.

On another note, I have successfully learned how to scan things with my new equipment....YAH! I have scanned some baby pics with my new knowledge.....here is a pic of me from back in the time of the dinosaurs that is amusing if nothing else.

Work is going great and we had a Bocce Ball event last night that was a complete blast! This company is wonderful! Everyone is very fun and nice. They really know how to throw a party too!!!

Go Blue!!!!!

Ballet

This is Juliet's first year in ballet. So far, she loves it. And is keeping up with it. Jenna has dance again this year as well and will have a solo again in the June recital.

Mott Makes the Playoffs!!!

Mott makes the playoffs by beating Kettering 42 go 21!!! We found out tonight they will be paired against Lake Orion (I graduated an L.O. Dragon!) and L.O. is 9-0!! I don't expect Mott will win, but we can always hope....Lake Orion shut out Clarkston last week and Clarkston has a great team!!! Should be fun! Never thougt I would be saying "Go Blue" against the green.....Friday night will be an exciting night!!!!!! Good Luck Corsairs!!! Go # 15!!!!!

Parents Night (Football)

More Pics!

Homecoming!!!

Josh and Kali went to the Homecoming dance and it was a great success! Josh was told he had the coolest shoes at the dance (borrowed from his step-dad)! Here are some photos of the happy couple before the dance. By the way, Mott lost the game in the last 3 minutes....heartbreaking! But Josh had the entire family there to cheer them on and after the game the Band and colorguard had a special exhibit on the field and then the drummers formed a drum line and showed off BIG TIME!!!! They were awesome!!!!! It was a blast for all of us!!!

Jessie turns SWEET 16!!!!

My little Jessie-up turned 16 this week! September 20th is her Birthday that she shared with her Grandpa and Great-Great Grandma! Jessie.....we miss you!!! Hope you had a great day!!!!!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

New Job

After two months of working the GRIND at the casino, I have found a new and hopefully better position working as an HR Specialist!!! I am thrilled. I start this week and can't wait to have a normal scedule and work in a professional environment and best yet.....Weekends and Holidays OFF!!!! YEAH!!! I am so happy....!!!!

5 Years Ago

A day to reflect on the loss we sustained 5 years ago today. The memories are haunting. So much lost and so much has changed forever. Bless all those souls that were lost that day and bless every American as we mourn and remember with resolve to move forward as a free nation forever......God Bless!

Princess Juliet

Has it been a month?

Wow! Has it been over a month since I have last written?? It is September and so much has been going on. Jessie went to Oshawa (Canada) to visit relatives and will be resuming school in New Mexico in the next couple of weeks. We miss her sooo much! Juliet has FINALLY mastered "pooping" on the toilet. We mark 1.5 months of poopy-free panties! Life is good!!!! Cheyenne is still eating most of Juliets toys so I have learned to stash away the expensive or sentimental ones on the top shelf of the closet for her children to play with someday. We need a bigger house!!!!!!!
I still hate work and threaten to quit every day I work. It is driving Gabby nuts. I am too old to be exposed to such angry, unhappy people. Nothing like being called "the Devil, Satan, and JQIUZZZZZ (must be Arabic for bitch)". I am not used to being so hated by strangers. My thin skin is turning thicker!!!

School has started for the kids and we are already into our routine of "I don't have any homework today".........I understand violence now.......

That is all! Happy September everyone!!!!!!