a friend in need...

last friday i was visiting with friends when one asked if i knew charla tompkins. i smiled and said yes that i'd known her most of my life; then i inquired why she was asking. my friend went on to tell me that charla had had an incident that required emergency care and that she'd been diagnosed with cancer.

my heart sank...

charla was my first, elementary school librarian. she and her husband, glenn, built a home across the street from my aunt and uncle and were neighbors with them for years. charla moved on to be my middle school librarian, for whom i was a student-aid. she was a member of the church i joined when i was in high school. and then, when i took katherine for high school orientation, i caught up with charla there to discover that she was going to be katherine's librarian at henderson county high school. charla explained to katherine our connection and told her if she ever needed anything to come see her.

she meant it;
that is just the kind of person charla is!
she is precious:)

i am posting today for two reasons:

first and foremost, i am requesting prayers on behalf of my friend... i know i have wonderful blogging friends all around the world who have joined with me in prayer before and have made such a difference!

secondly, today is charla's birthday. i would so much appreciate it, if you are a facebooker, if you would go and leave her a message of support and encouragement (you don't have to be a "friend" of charla's to leave her a message). i would be so grateful:)

just click on her photo below:




love and God's blessings,
dani xxx

winning...

i knew that as president of her class katherine was going to give a speech at her class' graduation. however, i was surprised to watch her make her way to and be seated on stage with her principals, school board, and superintendent. my little girl was the master of ceremonies at her commencement!

(katherine is seated at the far right.)

after introducing henderson county high school's choir and band, she began her speech...

Reflections.




On behalf of the graduating class of 2011, I would like to welcome all of you who are here for tonight’s commencement. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each of you, respectively, for the part you have played in making us the winning graduates we are today.
It has been my pleasure to serve you, the Henderson County Senior High Class of 2011. As I look out among your faces, I recognize many with whom I started this journey 13 years ago. Honestly, in hindsight, it has been a short journey; but, there were days, weeks, and even months that seemed to go on forever...

In the past 13 years we have witnessed a lot of history in the making and learned many valuable lessons:
• In kindergarten, we saw Pokemon debut; we learned “our courage will pull us through.”
• We saw Y2K come and go: we learned K equals one comma zero zero zero.
• We saw the introduction of the iPhone and iPod: we learned that said gadgets can cost us a lot.
• We saw Kelly Clarkson become America’s first “Idol”; we learned that through hard work anyone can win a title.
• We saw Tom Cruise jump on Oprah’s sofa; we learned that bad manners can cause one’s career to be over.
• We saw Vice President Cheney accidentally shoot a hunting bud; we learned that hunting with Dick Cheney’s like hunting with Elmer Fudd!
• We saw Jersey Shore hit the little screen on Thursdays; we learned Thursdays are no longer Thursdays, they now are called Jersdays.
• Recently, we saw ol' osama go out like a flash; we learned it only takes two shots and a splash!

~@~

which brings us to this evening…


Tonight, my classmates, is only the beginning; for, you have worked hard for your diplomas and are as Charlie Sheen says,
“duh, winning!”

class of 2011, you are special,
you are accomplished,
you are winners!!!



her speech was followed by speeches from the valedictorian and salutatorian of her class. after which, katherine joined her classmates in receiving their diplomas and being pronounced 2011 graduates!



my little master of ceremonies was right, she and her classmates...
are special...
are accomplished...
are very much winners!!!

love and God's blessings,
dani xxx

time...

when i was a little girl living on the lane,
time went by so slowly...
from summer to summer
from Christmas to Christmas.

~@~

now that i am a wife and mother living on the lane,
time goes by so quickly...
by the time we get our pool closed, it is almost time to reopen it;
by the time we get our Christmas decorations taken down and put away, it is time to pull them out and decorate again.

~@~

since the last time i blogged,
much has happened.
it all happened so quickly;
it almost seems like it was a dream.

~~~

katherine was accepted into the university of evansville and was granted a very generous academic scholarship.



we spent spring break in cancun, mexico.



john and i flew to canada where he received a project award from rio tinto/alcan.



john and i went on a wine tasting tour in indiana.



my family said, "good-bye," to my uncle steve.



katherine went with jacob to their senior prom.



john and i marked 21 years of marriage.



john and i attended katherine's student ambassador recognition dinner.



and just last night...

john and i attended katherine's senior honors night at the high school where she received one of only 12 commonwealth diplomas (in a class of over 400 students) and her student ambassador chords...



which she will wear tomorrow night to her graduation ceremony.

~@~

love and God's blessings,
dani xxx

ps. i hope to elaborate on the aforementioned soon:)

seeing purple...

on friday, katherine and i visited
the university of evansville's campus...



~@~@~@~

our experience was great!

kat's admissions counselor greeted us
and went over our agenda for the day,
we then took a tour of the
campus (which was very
informative), had lunch with one
of ue's academic advisers,
met with financial aid, and ended
the day back with her admissions
counselor to debrief.

(katherine awaiting the debriefing)

if all goes as planned,
my kitty kat will be a purple ace
come fall:)



love and God's blessings,
dani xx

adding color to an otherwise gray day...

last weekend was a long weekend off for katherine due to the martin luther king, jr. holiday on monday. so, kat and i made a date to go prom dress shopping. prom isn't until may; but, we knew the earlier, the better selection.

honestly, however, we have been windows shopping ever since the 2011 dresses came off the runway. as a matter of fact, the very first day we were able to view them online, we looked at each and every dress available (over 5,000 dresses) out of which katherine only really liked three.





the first was just a short, fun pick, the second (minus the bolero) was my favorite, and the third was katherine's favorite. i thought they were great choices but told her we should at least go and look at what was in the stores and that it would be a good idea for her to try on some different styles; she agreed.

~@~

therefore, on monday, that is exactly what we did. unfortunately, none of the three dresses katherine had chosen were in the store. but, she did try all of these:









the first was too big,
the second was a maybe,
the third was not lined,
the fourth was a definite maybe,
the fifth was too heavy,
the sixth was only the style she wanted,
and the 7th was just too much dress...

whew!

~@~

in the end, we ordered...



her favorite from the word, "go":)

love and God's blessings,
dani xx

the plan part of my "plan"...

well, i went for my first consultation
and weigh-in yesterday.
i have a good six months of the perfect plan
diet plan ahead of me...
~@~

this plan doesn't require exercise...
but...
in the last 17 hours,
i have been to the grocery store twice,
prepared and drank hot, fresh lemonade,
prepared and baked oat bran muffins,
eaten one of the muffins as well as fruit and eggs,
drunk 20 oz. water, made tofu dressing,
and...
i have baked 8 chicken breasts.

whew!!!

there is exercise involved:P

~@~

i am getting excited though
about the prospect of not looking like a whale
in my bathing suit when we head to cancun
in april:)

(so long, moonpie face!!!)




love and God's blessings,
dani xx

no resolutions here...

however...

i do have a word.

"PLAN"

this is a big word for a procrastinator like me,
but i am calling it mine for 2011.

i am 41 years old and have never had a plan.
so, please, say a prayer for me:)

~@~@~@~

right now, there are only 3 things i plan to do:

1.) increase my family's health.
2.) increase my family's wealth.
3.) and pray... more:)

happy new year, my loves!

love and God's blessings,
dani xx

well, now, let's see...

one tree is up
adorned with lights
and decorated with the baubles
i bought at the pear tree
(i'm not sure how many years ago?).

two more are awaiting
(my getting the living room
patched, sealed, and painted)
one with baubles my mother gave me...
the other with family decorations
that come with 20+ years of marriage:)

~@~

saturday, my kitty kat turns 18!
18?
where has the time gone?
so strange...
but true.

she and 15 of her friends are celebrating
by enjoying a late dinner at the bonefish grill
followed by cold stone creamery cake...
on the lane.

two friends will be missing,
will, who now resides in florida
and...
chase, who now resides
in heaven....

~@~

katherine will take the act
on saturday morning...
for the last time.
she has really been working
to get her score up a couple of points
in order to be in the running for an
academic scholarship from
the university of evansville.

john graduated from u of e
the year katherine was born!

~@~

i've watched only 2 of my new
Christmas movies...
it happened on 5th avenue
and
capote's a Christmas memory...
loved them both:)

~@~

love and God's blessings,
dani xx

adding to my collection...

you are thinking pajamas;
aren't you!!?!?

well, you are partially correct, ha;)

i do have 2 brand-new pairs of flannels
awaiting my donning!

*****

however...

the collection to which i am referring
is my Christmas movie collection.



for the past several years in mid-november,
i've gone online and have ordered various
Christmas movies to add to my ever-growing
collection of vhs's and dvd's to enjoy
throughout the holiday season.

over the years, i have seen many of them
(and many of the classics, repeatedly).
though, thanks to internet i have found
a multitude that i have never seen at all..
never have i even heard of them.

this year i ordered such popular ones as:

Christmas in connecticut
holiday inn
a Christmas carol

a few with popular Christmas scenes:

meet me in st. louis
an affair to remember
love affair

several oldies but completely new to me:

the shop around the corner
it happened on 5th avenue
beyond tomorrow
holiday affair

a newer one i somehow missed along the way:

noel

and last but not least...
the one, which i was thrilled to find:

truman capote's, a Christmas memory!

*****

is there a Christmas movie on this year's list
of which you are particularly fond
(or a rare gem i am missing)?

if so,

SHARE!!!

love and God's blessings,
dani xx