Summer Football Picinic

Summer Update

We have had a wild and wonderful summer so far......we started off with a trip to Puerto Rico that was amazing, then had our daughter, Gabriela come and stay with us for a month. Two days later, my mom and dad from Florida came for a visit and stayed with us. We had a great time with them and my nephew Charlie and his girlfriend Luciana. We also got to visit with many other relatives, some of whom we had never met! Joshua and Jessica are enrolled and ready to start up at Oakland Community College and both hope to be accepted into the nursing program there. Jenna is going to make her high school debut at Walled Lake Northern this year....she made the poms team and has been practicing all summer....she just returned home from Poms Camp this week. Juliet will be entering first grade...and she is more than ready, she has spent the summer playing with her new friends and had her first sleep over too! I will updating the site with photos etc....very soon!!

Puerto Rican VACATION!!!

Princesa Gabriela

What a wonderful girl! We had a great time with Gabriela. She is beautiful, smart and funny. We were even able to watch her on-stage and hear her great voice! Can't wait to see her again!!

Gabby and Pedro

We just returned from our trip to Puerto Rico and had a great time!!! Here is Gabby and his brother Pedro on one of the curves of the mountain......

Random Pictures

Happy Birthday Josh!

Today was Josh's 19th Birthday! Jessie reminded me that I gave birth 19 years ago today! YIKES!!!
We celebrated by going to the Outback Steakhouse and it was great! Josh got a new RAZOR cell phone from us and other small stuff including some cash that I am sure he has already blown! What a kid!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! We love you!!!

Begin with the end in mind.......

I would like to ask you all to think of how you would like to be remembered in this life. Are you kind? Funny? Loving? Amazing? Begin with the end in mind........

These are things I have been forced to think about in my own life as I faced the mortality of a friend. What will be said at your funeral? What will be said at mine? Will they say....'she was just an average person who tried really hard and will be missed'.....Or will they say 'she was generous, thoughtful, caring, wonderful....' For me, I don't think there would be very many people standing up to say what a incredible person I was......and this troubles me. Going through this life, just existing.....grinding through it all, wishing for the day to be done---this is not living people!!! But many days, this is how I live. Perhaps it is time for a change.

This profound and somewhat dreary thinking is based on the life of my friend and former co-worker Chad Goklani. He lead what I considered an amazing life. He was the lead singer and lead guitarist in an alternative rock band (Bullet Proof Moxie and formerly of Blind Shame) and experienced success, with awesome talent and drive. He was a great sales person, graduating from my old school Oakland University and had a supportive and loving family. He was generous and seemed to care more about everyone---- putting his friends and family above himself. A guy who had everything going for him, everyone pulling for him---except himself. After struggling with an undiagnosed illness for over a year, Chad decided to take his own life. I guess that in itself is very tragic, but his method was horrible. Stepping in front of a train. And that was the end of it.

So many lives are affected by this decision....but I guess no one can know what was happening deep inside of Chad. I pray for his family and for his soul.

Crazy faces!

The girls taught me how to do the "me" photos that are super close-up---just like they do on myspace! Always interested in maintaining my waining "coolness"....I went nuts taking wacky photos of me and my tribe. At least we had fun!

Juliet's new party dress

Juliet and Santa

Juliet and mom

Mom and Josh

Hi all. We are still here and hope you all had a wonderful holiday! We have continued to battle some illnesses with Juliet and Gabby had his appendix removed just before Christmas. It has been quite a year! I am so happy that 2008 is here and look forward to a better year this year! Seems like the "even" years are better anyway!

No Pictures Today

Hello everyone! As some of you may know, we have been battling some illnesses recently with Juliet and we are still in seek of some answers. She has been diagnosed with Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) twice and has been very sick since the end of August. We spent much of last week in the hospital with her and many tests were conducted (UTI's were mis-diagnosed). We still don't have many answers but some things have been ruled out. We still have to have some tests done at the hospital that will prove traumatic for Juliet, but we have to get to the bottom of this problem. Juliet is in good spirits regardless of missing her Birthday Party (we have not been able to reschedule because she hasn't been well enough yet) and Halloween. She realized tonight that she really missed it and there isn't a chance for a re-do. I will keep you posted as we go down this path, we are feeling confident there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. It has been a rough journey so far and Jules has missed much of her Kindergarten year. I am sure we have a ton of homework and I am almost afraid for her to go back again! Next post---fun photos!!!!

Fun at the pumpkin patch

Jessie's Senior Homecoming!!!!

Well, this weekend was Waterford Mott Homecoming! Jessie was very excited and had a great time. The evening began with dinner at the Lion's Den and ended at the school for the dance. She has sore feet and legs from dancing all night......but she had a great time!