where to begin?

Wow, I thought keeping up with my blog this year was going to be easy. Apparently not so much seeing the last posted date....

But as of last week, I have had some free time dropped in my lap. So maybe now I can get back to the world of blogging!

According to my calendar - I have been doing some traveling.... :) Oh and the fact that the suitcase has never been completely unpacked since January.

I have been traveling to the scrapbook conventions across the country with Boxer Scrapbooks. We have been to Costa Mesa, CA, Portland, Louisville, KY, Pleasanton, CA, Collinsville, IL, Mesa, AZ, Manchester, NH, Novi, MI, Arlington, TX, Chantilly, VA, Des Moines, IA, Puyallup, WA, Valley Forge, PA, Santa Clara, CA, Charlotte, NC, Tulsa, OK, and Virginia Beach, VA!!!! Those last 5 were right in a row - making August a total blur. We have 6 more for the year. A little behind on the postcards apparently. I found a few collections from a few destinations that never got mailed... Might have to send those this month as I don't have any travel in September. I won't be going to Ohio this week so have the weekend off. Not sure what to do with myself... Oh but I will get over it.

Between Manchester and Novi, I got to spend a couple days in Chicago with Kathy Jo and Tony. That was so much fun. Got the express day tour of the city and even taught KJ to make chicken enchiladas one night. :) Have the photos to prove it!

Spring Break - Tom and I took the boys and a couple of their friends to a beach house on the Oregon Coast. Was nice to just get away and relax.

I continued to work full time with Hot Off the Press until last week. I got a call notifying me that my position had been eliminated due to cut backs. That was and still is hard to take. So not really sure what the next step is as far as the work thing. Might have to think of a new adventure....

Lucas is cleared for football this year. He has been participating in the summer conditioning all summer and now they are in full swing practice. First game is this friday and he is excited and I am camera ready! I can't wait to see him on the field. It has been two years since he has suited up and a rough two years with all that he has been through.

Jake played lacrosse this spring and also a short summer league. He had a great spring season. He had several buddies from school on the team and even made it into the penalty box a few times - proud lacrosse mom moments. :)

Today, the boys are back in school. Lucas started 9th grade - wow, high school already... And Jake is in 8th grade. One year again of two schools and two different schedules, but somehow it all works out.

So think that brings us up to date.... Life is a crazy ride and I am just hanging on. Hope to be back here on the blog again soon!

Til next time...
Laura

a new year...

so time to keep up with the blog again.... it has been so neglected. This just might be a resolution I can keep up with.

so today was a day filled with outings... I met up with friends for bagels where I often met Shauna for our playdates.


Sherry and I. She is such an amazing person that I am blessed to have her as a friend.

Then from the left, Paris, Sue, Shanna and I. Paris and Shanna: I met both online about 10 years ago. And Sue, I only met last week as we put programs together for Shauna's service. But because of Shauna - I know these beautiful souls and can call them friends.

Then Shanna and I stopped one more time at the cemetery to visit Shauna. SB was off to the airport so it was time for one more picture. Paris gave me the hat that I gave Shauna at the hat shower just before she started chemo and would lose her hair the first time. So it was appropriate to wear. Shauna looked much cuter in the hat than I did though.... But she was such a fighter I may just have to make this a regular hat for me... be perfect for set up days at the conventions this year....
I also had more tests today. MRI to look at the discs pinching the nerves in my back and an ultrasound on my thyroid. Should have results in a couple days. 2010 is going to be a good year, right? I keep telling myself that - I hope to believe it soon.

So now Lucas is waiting to teach me how to play some video game - probably because he can beat me.... But hey, if he wants to hang out with Mom - that is ok with me.

'Til next time....
Laura

today I celebrate the life of my friend, Shauna...

On December 3rd, my friend, Shauna Immel, lost her battle to cancer. I can't even begin to say how much this girl has effected me - especially over the past 3 1/2 years. She showed me an inner strength a person could have. She showed me that life is a privilege and we should cherish each day. She showed me to tell people how we feel about them every day and every time we see them. She showed me how a person can touch another's life, just in an instance. She showed me a zest for life through the sparkle in her eye and and ever bright smile, no matter how terrible she was feeling. That smile was there. She showed me a beauty through her talent of writing and amazing photography. She showed me an artistic talent of scrapbooking that not only was spectacular design, but all of her heart into each project.

I met Shauna online through a scrapbooking group about 10 years ago. She was always there to chat no matter what time of night or day. I can't remember the first time exactly we met in person. It was either at a crop or a scrapbook store event. But she wasn't one to share her talents with anyone. If you asked her about something on your page, her response was in a soft voice, well what do you think would be good? After a terrible shuttle driver experience, she became my driver to and from the airport for my trips. She was an avid contest contestant. She would finish her projects just in time to make it to the 24 hour post office at the airport to have it postmarked by midnight. I made a couple of those runs with her. So when I was offered a position at HOTP, I was thrilled to get the chance to work with her daily, even if it was just supposed to be for the summer. But shortly after that, she was diagnosed with cancer. I ended up working at her desk due to space and it was such a hard spot for me. It was never my spot, and to this day, even though someone else sits there, that is her spot to me. I always held out hope that she would be coming back and sitting at that desk creating her masterpieces. But instead of working beside her, we became playdaters! Meeting for coffee at Borders, grabbing a funny movie at Bridgeport, bagels at Noah's and happy toes at V & V Nails. She was never to busy to meet up - it just took a quick text to her to see if she was up for it. Because of her, I had to increase my text plan! She had a way of making you feel like you were the only friend she had whether you just met her or have been friends for 10 years.

I could go on and on.... she touched my life in such a special way that I will cherish always. Today we celebrate her life and it is going to be a happy day through so many tears. We have a bright star looking over us with her smile watching over us. She will forever be my guardian angel.

I have come across the lyrics for this song by Toby Keith.... Really sums it all up.

Cryin' for me
Got the news on Friday morning, but a tear I couldn't find
You showed me how I am supposed to live
And now you showed me how to die.

I was lost 'til Sunday morning, I woke up to face my fear
While writing you this goodbye song, I found a tear.

I'm gonna miss that smile, I'm gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up, I'd do it all again
So play it sweet in heaven 'cause that's right where you wanna be
I'm not cryin' 'cause I feel so sorry for you, I'm cryin' for me

I got up and dialed your number, and your voice came on the line
With that old familiar message I heard a thousand times
It just said, sorry that I missed you, leave a message and God bless
I know you think I'm crazy, but I had to hear your voice I guess

I'm gonna miss that smile, I'm gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up, I'd do it all again
So play it sweet in heaven 'cause that's right where you wanna be
I'm not cryin' 'cause I feel so sorry for you, I'm cryin' for me

So play your upside-down, left-handed, backwards bass guitar
I'll see you on the other side, superstar

I'm gonna miss that smile, I'm gonna miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up, I'd do it all again
So play it sweet in heaven 'cause that's right where you wanna be
I'm not cryin' 'cause I feel so sorry for you, I'm cryin' for me
I'm still cryin', I'm still cryin' for me, I'm still cryin'.



Thank you, Shauna, for your lessons, your kind spirit, your bright smile, and most of all your friendship. You will always be in my heart. I miss you.... Today we will stand up and celebrate your life because you fought tough each and every day for it. You loved your family and friends with all you could give. Live sweet in heaven, my friend.

Laura