Pumpkin Farm

Last Sunday 10/19 the girls and I enjoyed a trip to the pumpkin farm with Aunt Jenny & the boys. This is usually Nana & Papa's annual tradition with the 4 grandkids but since Nana is recovering from surgery at home (Praise GOD!!!), Jenny and I took the kids. It was a beautiful fall day with the leaves changing & fall colors. The 4 cousins rode ponies and bounced along on a hayride, snacked on sugar cookies & popcorn, and picked out their own pumpkins. A very fun afternoon with 5 of my favorite people in the world! :)

Silly girls

I will probably be in BIG trouble for posting these photos but they are soooooo funny!!! One morning on our way to church in the car, Kelly got a hold of my camera and started snapping away. She took lots of hilarious shots and I figured these are the only 2 I could get away with before Kelly sees this. Making funny faces & giggling like crazy, we laughed so hard that morning.

Kaitlyn's first field trip

Katey had her first field trip ever on October 1st. I had the pleasure of chaperoning her preschool trip to the pumpkin farm. I can't believe how quickly she is growing up right before our eyes. She was beaming a big smile all morning. Even though it was a cold, windy day she had so much fun walking around with her little friends, looking at the animals & pumpkins, and going on a hay ride. I had so much fun just watching her and snapping lots of pictures. It was a great day for us together!

Memories of a sweet September

I was so excited to catch 3 Cubs games in September!! Shawn, Kaitlyn, and I witnessed history for my favorite Cubbie Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter on 9-14 against the Astros. Even sweeter since it was at Miller Park. That was the most exciting game I've ever seen! Kaitlyn loves to watch "her Cubs". I have never seen a 3-year-old follow the game & players so much. Plus with hot dogs and cotton candy, how can she go wrong? Kelly chose a sleepover at Aunt Jenny's house instead. Huh???

Then my brother Tommy (decked out in the Brew Crew gear, such ungratefulness for Shawn's treat on the tickets...:) caught a Brewers-Cubs game on 9-27. No photos of that one, but I really enjoyed the extra time with him. I don't think we've ever done that before and it was very nice.

My last game was the following day 9-28 for the final season game, Cubs & Brewers again. Shawn and I took the girls (Kelly was a good sport today and humored us). Katey cheered the loudest, "Let's go Cubbies, let's go!" She was so funny.

So needless to say once the humiliating series after the Dodgers was done, I was in black and mourned for a few days. Then decided to boycott the rest of the playoffs & WS. Who likes Phil. or Tampa Bay anyway? Not me. Poor Katey is learning early on in her little life what it means to be a diehard fan. There's always next year!

Our Nana, saved by God's grace

Wow, what a week we have had. Our precious Nana, my mom has been in the hospital for one week today. Praise God who has given us more time with Nana and spared her life. Thank you to all who have prayed for a miracle healing for Mom. God is so good, He has answered so many prayers for Mom already.

I was thinking earlier about this time last Saturday evening, standing in the hospital emergency room with my dad, my sister, brother, and my grandmother scared out of our minds. I have never seen someone in so much pain, and since it was my dear mom my heart broke all the more.

I feel like these past 7 days have changed all of us. More gratefulness in our hearts, more awe of my parents' unending love & devotion to each other, more devotion to my siblings & grandparents. Our faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has been tested... and strengthened.

An emergency, life-threatening surgery on one of the people you love most in this world has an unnerving, traumatic, reflective persuasion on your priorities. Mom has a long road to recovery ahead of her but I am so very thankful tonight that there WILL be a road to recovery.

Life is fragile. Handle with care. (and PRAYER)