Support For Christi Thomas

January 2012

2012-01-22T08:59:00.004-05:00

I hope this finds everyone well! I've been told I haven't updated for a while, but there hasn't been any news. School and work is going well for all of us. We sometimes have our breath taken away when we ponder about how old Christi would be and wonder what she might be into if she had lived.

Winter hasn't been much of a winter this year, but we've been taking advantage of it whenever we can. I will post some pictures of recent winter activities we have enjoyed (skiing & ice skating).

When Shayla was little she used to tell us she either wanted to be a priest or a ballet teacher. When asked why she would reply, "They only have to work one day a week." It used to crack us up. Now she totally understands that is not right at all. She, alone, goes to dance three times a week and this week she had a bit of a taste of religious life. She asked us if she could be an alter service at church. We agreed and let her go through the training. This week she served her first mass and four additional masses. One day she went straight to dance, church, rosary prayers and then CCD without even coming home from school. I think she now has some sort of idea how hard those in religious life work! (I thought it would be way too embarrassing to take any pictures of her in her alter server attire, but trust me - she's cute!)

Yesterday was very exciting for the one who loves writing. She had been staying after school one day a week for some time as a member of the Power of the Pen Club for her school. She told us she was selected as one of six to serve on the competition team for yesterday's district level competition. We were all so happy for Shayla. At the end of the day, at the awards ceremony, we learned Shayla came in 5th overall for her grade and she will be advancing to the regional competition. God is good!

Meeting Angels on Earth

2012-01-02T13:37:00.001-05:00

Shayla and I spent a few days at my sister's last week. She loved being with her cousins and I was blessed to enjoy "Girls' Night" with my sister's friends. They did so much to help and support my sister, Christi, and all of us during Christi's journey. I felt very guilty knowing how much they'd done and I had never even met them - until last week. It was emotional for me at times. This sweet women painted a gorgeous mural at Christi's school (Bridges) after her death. It's the one place Shayne and I have not yet mustered up the courage to visit, but we want to do so this year. God's people are good!

Our Savior is Born!

2011-12-26T11:38:00.003-05:00

I've now had the time to clean up and to go through our Christmas pictures.

"Today in the town of David
a Savior has been born to you:
he is Christ the Lord."

~ Luke 2:11

I was so touched to look at all of our family pictures and see this one because of the two orbs - one large and one small. It's lovely to think of Christi and my dad, especially on Christmas morning!

Pic: Before mass on Christmas Eve. Our wonderful priest made my day when he told me he shared my message in my Christmas card with others. It basically said to enjoy the day and not clean up all of that wrapping paper; it's a great mess! (Of course, I could not listen to my own words as my sweet mother-in-law told me as I was hustling to clean up the living room quickly because the mess was driving me crazy!)

How fantastic to also have a beautiful grandma join us for Christmas!

My two awesome sweeties on Christmas morning!

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T20:52:00.001-05:00

Emotionally, it's been a very difficult couple of days. We were blessed to have a party for some high school friends one night last week. We enjoyed visiting with other awesome high school friends after mass last night and today we enjoyed going to see War Horse. I read the book on my nook on Friday and I must say the book was better but the movie was very good too. This is my first attempt at posting via my new iPad from Santa. Shayla was thrilled and very surprised about getting a bow and arrow. Lookout Katness from "the Hunger Games"! She also enjoyed the many clothes and other "girly things" she received. I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. We sure miss our giggling little Christi, but we are going to be just fine. Happy birthday to Jesus! I bet the party in Heaven is beyond anything we can possibly imagine! Pic. Christi's last Christmas and sitting on my dad's lap when he played Santa for my nieces

The Tree Topping

2011-12-21T19:49:00.001-05:00

We've just completed topping the Christmas tree with the angel. Of course we think the angel looks lije Christi. Again this year Shayla decorated the tree all by herself.

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Upper's Amazing Lights

2011-12-19T16:25:00.003-05:00

Christi used to love going to Upper to drive through their amazing light display. We are again helping to sponsor this year's display, in Christi's memory. If you get a chance to go, please do so. I think you and yours will really enjoy it!

Last Sunday night, I arranged for a carriage ride through the stunning light display. Shayla took a friend and it was super to be with Shayne, mom and dad enjoying the lights together, without any of us having to drive! We all had a great time!
Thanks for taking these wonderful pictures, mom! You are so awesome!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Our horses were beautiful! It will be tough to go back to viewing them from our car next year, after having this amazing ride!

Tis the Season! Rejoice!

2011-12-18T09:31:00.005-05:00

Oh, a beautiful dusting of snow put us all in the Christmas mood yesterday! Shayla, who despises spending money and shopping, actually wanted to go shopping at the mall in Toledo to buy for all of her friends - so we did! When we hopped into a coffee shop before heading home, the gal behind the counter said, "You look like Christmas!" and we had to laugh and agree, we were dressed in red and green. (See photo.) We listened to a wonderful Christian CD of Christmas music one of my awesome students gave me as a gift on Friday, the day of his final. It was lovely! I have the greatest students!

Graduation was amazing! (I kid you not the professors have more fun than the students! Checking out the graduates' shoe selections and of course "flashing" each other by unzipping our robes back stage before marching in is a riot!) As soon as I heard the announcement, "Please welcome the distinguished faculty of Bowling Green State University" tears welled up in my eyes as I started processing in with hundreds of other faculty members. (Photo: Friday's "Girls Night Out" with one of my favorite colleagues, Dr. Penny!)

Much to my surprise and delight, my two favorite birds were around after the ceremony so I was able to snap this picture. Roll along falcons, and never stop BGing! Keep in touch, sweet students! Because thankfully, none of you were like this student:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVvKnq5XT-g&sns=fb (Need a good laugh, check this out!)

Shayla's Christmas Band Concert

2011-12-08T19:30:00.002-05:00

Love, love, LOVE the "orb" on my jacket! RIP, sweet Christi!

How nice to have Shayla's grandparents with her at the band concert!

Thanks to my awesome mom for taking the pictures for me!

Phoenix Trip

2011-12-05T19:05:00.004-05:00

Shayne had to be in Phoenix most all of last week for work. Shayla and I joined him for about 48 hours this weekend. It was not long enough, but we have been gone way too much. (And trust me we have absolutely NOHTING on the books in terms of travel and I hope it stays that way for many months to come!) As we used to say with Christi, from one of her Berenstain Bear books she loved, "It's nice to go; it's nice to roam, but it's always best to come back home!" Regardless, I'm so grateful we were together for the weekend and that we were able to spend precious time with Shayne's side of the family! They are awesome!

Now this is the way to see the zoo lights! NOT in Toledo or Columbus, Ohio, but in Phoenix Arizona! I remember the time when I thought I put all of the second layers of warm clothes for the girls in the van and when we arrived, in freezing cold temperatures, I realized I had forgotten little Christi's winter coat! Shayne and our Japanese exchange student at the time, took off layers of their clothes and we wrapped her up. Her new sleeves hung way over her tiny arms, but she LOVED the zoo lights. As she got older she became quite scared around Santa. I'm so glad she died still believing in the jolly old elf!

Zoo lights with the best sister-in-law in the world! Aunt V!! I remember flying out to Arizona for a visit when Christi was 1 1/2. We practiced with her saying, "Aunt V! Aunt V!" She had it! It was going to be great when she saw her aunt, but when we landed it was over 100 degrees (August) and all she kept saying was, "Hot! Hot!" It was so funny! Not at all what we had been training her to do on the plane! Chrsiti definitely had a mind of her own!

Shayla thought this was one of the best horse rides she'd ever been on. I really liked it too; I had a great horse, but it was not the very best in my book. That would have to be Bermuda! Oh, of course their was the time we took the girls to lessons and just sat and watched them ride around the ring; now that's the way to ride horses!

An early morning ride through the desert on Saturday morning with a great trail guide. Who knew there really are wild horses in Arizona?! I didn't really believe that until I saw them with my own eyes. We also saw snakes, a jackrabbit and learned there were coyotos nearby too. Amazing!

This lunch went by too quickly! I am grateful I was able to catch up with my cousin while we were in Phoenix! The trip was much too short (as always)!

Aren't these three the cutest little ones?! I love them! We just don't get to see enough of them!

Shayla tried her hand riding on a mechanical bull. She loved it! And since she was asked for her ID in a bar waiting for our table in NYC and also by a TSA agent when we flew out on Friday, Let's keep her out of the bars where I hear they have them too. LOL!

Fluffy (20th Wedding Anniversary)

2011-11-30T15:44:00.001-05:00

Fluffy! That was Shayla's response when I pulled up this picture my mom emailed me last night to say, "Happy 20th Wedding Anniversary!" I showed it to Shayla and she said, "You look the same just fluffy back then. The births of our two daughters, our wedding day and my graduation from Ohio State - truly the highlights of my life and the best decisions I ever made. Shayne wished me a Happy 20th today and said it's been the best 20 years of his life. I told him I hoped we are blessed with 20 more years together. He is a wonderful husband! When we set out on this journey together 20 years ago today, little did we know the ups and downs we would encounter, but I think there was no doubt in our minds about our deep love for each other. We have been richly blessed!

Thanksgiving 2011 (New York City)

2011-11-29T19:51:00.011-05:00

Our long Thanksgiving weekend was beyond fantastic! (The only thing better would have been to have had Christi with us, smile!) The van turned the 100,000 mile mark on what couldn't have been more familiar territory to it - filled with our family on the way to the east coast. Shayne drove Christi (and all of us) so many times back and forth over the years. My sister and her family met up with us and we had a wonderful time enjoying each other's company. We saw a few shows (Rockettes, Phantom and Anything Goes), did some shopping, eating and touring (Chinatown, Little Italy, Central Park, Times Square, St. Pat's - lit a candle for Christi's soul, the Met, Restaurant Row) and caught up with a couple of sweet NYC friends - really more like family! I hope you and yours also were blessed with a great Thanksgiving.

The newest Rockettes - hee hee!

Another highlight of our long weekend in NYC was meeting up with Nitza at the Met. She gave Shayla the tour she's been asking for - Greek Mythology, based upon characters from one of her latest book series (Percy Jackson). Nitza is absolutely amazing - brilliant, beautiful, compassionate and an old soul!

at a pub with my sis

Some families camped out to get a great parade watching spot, others just showed up, hmmmmm! Gotta love my sister's family! THANKS!

Shayne catches up with his brother-in-law in the big apple.

The girls LOVED watching the Rockettes dance at Radio City Music Hall (so did my sister and I)!

Since I have a picture of Shayla with this Pokemon balloon from our parade spot in 2003, I thought I'd better capture another one. The girls used to love Pokemon!

Cousins in Central Park

We actually ran into some friends from our hometown on the street in Times Square - CRAZY!

"The Balloon Blowup" on Wednesday night - crazy!

Fun in Times Square

Cuddling with Shayne

Waiting to catch a subway train.

A Little Update

2011-11-21T09:49:00.006-05:00

Hello! I've been reminded by a few sweet blog followers that I have not updated for a while so here goes and here is why: I've been SUPER BUSY! And after living in a "super busy" world of childhood cancer where you don't have a choice, I love my self-selected "super busy" time. I am blessed! I know I can set my own schedule and stop at any time, unlike those still in the cancer world, yuck! That's not a pretty place to be. Busy by choice is a good place to be - at least for me!

The first weekend of November found me presenting at a national research conference for literacy in Virginia and the following weekend I presented with a colleague at the American Middle Level Educators' (AMLE, formerly NMSA) Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Last weekend I went with two fantastic 7th and 8th grade E/LA teachers (and also one of my current BGSU students) to the National Council of Teachers of English Language Arts Teachers' national conference in Chicago. I did not present at that one so it was just fun to go and learn and catch up with other educators.

I was blessed to spend the evening of my birthday with my family! Shayne and I drove back from Chicago and aunt Marty brought a birthday cake for us. (I was born on my mother's birthday.) We then went to the 10:00pm showing of Twilight: Breaking Dawn.

A manuscript I wrote for a research journal was rejected; however, I was thrilled beyond believe when an article I wrote for a peer reviewed journal of the National Social Studies Council was accepted. I made the revisions, corrected the proofs, worked back and forth with the editor and it will be printed in their Jan/Feb edition. Praise God as this is a mandated requirement for keeping my job, but also becuase I believe my work contains vital information that social studies teachers should be doing in their middle school classrooms to enhance their students' learning.

Shayla continues to do incredibly well and I thank God every day for the healthy and sweet young lady she is. She tells us she's happy and I'm thrilled about that! We love her friends, grades and many activities she partakes in. This afternoon she will be getting braces on her bottom teeth. She's really doing well!

Thanks so much for checking in. I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving enjoying your many blessings!

Shayne and I recently attended our 25th high school reunion. Certainly we are not that old! (I remember when my parents went to theirs and I thought they were old! Hee hee!)

I recently served as head judge for the Miss Maple City pageant - a local preliminary to Miss Ohio and then Miss America. Shayla helped back stage, curling hair, zipping gowns and taking it all in. She's always amazed at how nice the girls are to each other and I tell her that was exactly my experience as a contestant back in the day, funny how I still keep in touch with some of the other girls. I can't say enough about the Miss America Scholarship program - my winnings fully funded my Master's degree. I'm happy to judge and give back; I may be getting more involved in the near future.

Shayne called on clients while I was at my conference and then we squeezed in lots of couple time, enjoying Chicago! Sushi, deep dish pizza, shopping and an incredible suite at the Trump Tower, thanks to a sweet friend's treat! Unbelievable!

After checking into our suite, Shayne and I were sent up a fruit plate much to our surprise and shock. We were treated like royalty. Both rooms had floor to ceiling windows and even a "pillow menu". We have never been put up at such an amazing place before. While in Chicago I was also able to have a fantastic lunch with an amazing woman we met through Christi's journey.

Thanks to mom and dad for taking care of Shayla while we were in Chicago last week!

Shayne hugs her great aunt Marty (and her Godmother)

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Be No Evil! Love those three guys!

Trick or Treat Night 2011

2011-10-30T16:42:00.003-05:00

This was the first year Shayla was not escorted by one of her parents on Trick or Treat night. She had a blast being a "princess" with one of her friends.

Shayne and Grandma Donna had a nice time passing out candy to the little cutie pies trick or treating in the neighborhood. I will fill Christi's "pumpkin basket" with candy and send it around my classes on Tuesday. (Those college kids "need" candy and are too "busy" to go trick or treating these days.) It's always really hard to see the pumpkin with Christi's name on it because she loved trick or treating so much. I think sharing candy with my studnets would be something she would approve of. Here's wishing you and yorus a fabulous week!

Lemonade Thanks to: Dr. Grine, Heidelberg, Donators & Jill of the AT

2011-10-11T06:45:00.004-05:00

PIC: Shayla sits in the chair Christi used to sit in as she reads "Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand" to Dr. Grine's students. It was an emotional day, but only because we loved Christi so much and because we really want cancer to be cured!

http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/541035/Sweet-memories.html?nav=5005

The lemonade stand, held yesterday in Christi's memory, was very nice. Thanks to all who came to donate to Alex's Lemonade Stand Fund and to Dr. Grine at Heidelberg for organizing and supporting this 8th annual event. Our favorite report, Jill Gosche, was there covering the event in the newspaper this morning. I will most more photos later.

Christi's Lemonade Stand - raising $ for pediatric cancer research

2011-10-05T10:53:00.003-05:00

Those amazing friends of Christi at Heidelberg University are doing it again! Please join us if you can! I know Christi would be so proud (and I believe a cure cannot come soon enough)! The fundraiser in Christi's memory will again go to a cause she supported - Pediatric Cancer Research though Alex's Lemonade Stand, started by our friends in Philadelphia.

Heidelberg's stand will be on Monday, October 10th, 11am-1pm in front of the education department. Rain site - Hoernemann cafeteria right across the street.

We hope to see you there! THANK YOU to Dr. Lori Grine and her education students at Heidelberg University!

I love this picture of Dr. Lori Grine, gentle fixing up Christi's hair - so motherly, so sweet, sooooo Lori!

Before and After Shots

2011-09-28T17:01:00.001-05:00

Family Photos

2011-09-26T12:53:00.001-05:00

Of course I can't post new family pictures without including one of Christi. Therefore, I'm posting this one taken in Washington DC after the Egg Roll at the White House, April 2004. Photo by "Flashes of Hope" - providing free photos to families of children with cancer, what a blessing!

Shayla's braces go on this week; therefore, we decided to have our famiy photos taken. We hired one of my awesome former colleagues - Lisa Rombach. It's always hard to do "family" things knowing one of us is not here, but Lisa made it very easy on us! I taught beside or across the hall from Lisa for 15 years. She was Christi's first grade teacher (for ten days) then Christi was diagnosed with cancer and Lisa so kindly came to our home to tutor Christi until we packed up and moved to NYC. Lisa was also Shayla's first grade teacher during that last, terribly rough, year of Christi's life.
I'm so sorry to have dumped on Lisa like we did time and time again during Christi's battle, but she is absolutely amazing and we're thrilled she's now a photographer too!
If you're looking for a wonderful, efficient, organized and inexpensive photographer (and a wonderful person) check out Lisa Rombach photography. You won't be disappointed! (LINK ABOVE IN RED)

Olivia's 5th Christi Thomas Run

2011-09-25T14:54:00.002-05:00

That amazing Olivia was at it again! Despite her own challenges, she was out there running to raise money for Kids Cancer Crusade today and we are so grateful to have a beautiful friend. THANKS, Olivia!

She wrote:

Dear Friends,

Today was the 5th Annual Christi Thomas Memorial Run. I can't say I did as well as I would like-- the severe humidity and my nagging back injury-- made that a little difficult, but with your incredibly generous help, I was able to raise $1,145 to date for Kids Cancer Crusade in honor of the ever amazing Christi Thomas. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Because of you, KCC can continue to send care packages to children with cancer, support their families, hold events for the children and their families to come together and just have fun, honor the many children that have lost their battles, and raise awareness for this important cause. Because of you, we can continue to honor Christi's legacy.

Thank you.

Love & hugs,
Olivia

PS- There is still plenty of time to donate, if you would like: http://www.active.com/donate/christirun2011

Thank you!

Thank you!

2011-09-21T07:32:00.003-05:00

Thank you so very, very much kind and thoughtful bloggers! We made it through the day. The morning was very, very rough. After Shayla went to school, I went to church and then to a coffee shop where I walked in with tears gushing. The poor guy at the counter must have thought something terrible just happened, but I said, "I'm ok. My daughter died 5 years ago today at 9:00 and I just walked over from church." It was about 9:30. He kindly asked for my name so he could pray for me. How sweet! Once again Christi's journey had reiterated my belief that God's people are good and really come through during hardships!

Shayne met me at the coffee shop where we stood, clung to each other and cried and cried, then we picked up Shayla and took her to her first appointment for braces which will go on next week. Shayne and I went to Sandusky for lunch at a restaurant we had not been to for about 20 years (Margaritaville) and then we did some shopping at the mall. That was totally out of character for us, but that's what we wanted to do - something we would not normally do, something that would not remind us of Christi. (The long walk on a new bike trail was out of the picture due to the poor weather and very dreary day.) Besides, our hearts were already breaking that quiet walk made have been too hard. In the evening we attended Shayla's school's Open House and had a wonderful time talking with all of her amazing teachers. We are so lucky to have her alive!

I think it's because Chrsiti was so loved it hurts so much. We wish we could hold her in our arms and hear her little giggle one more time. Thanks for caring, sweet bloggers! I will soon attach a picture of Shayla with her braces; it's hard to believe Christi's little sister is 12 years old and looking so grown up!

My deepest thanks to my sister and the Grants for the gorgeous yellow floral arrangements that were sent. They are lovely - thank you!

The Many Beautiful Faces of Christi Thomas (1997-2006)

2011-09-19T06:10:00.002-05:00

Please keep watching over us Angel Christi, as so many watched over you! We miss you more today, on the 5th anniversary of your death, than ever!

All our love, Mom, Dad and Shayla

Christi's 5th Angelversary

2011-09-18T06:17:00.002-05:00

The day we've been dreading (the 5th anniversary of Christi's death) will be here tomorrow. Shayla will have a morning appointment to be fitted for braces. Shayne and I will do something, but we've yet to decide what we will do. I don't want to go to the cemetery; it's so hard and I know she's not there but in a much better place. We miss her terribly!
I was thrilled when Shayne's cousin sent me these two pictures a few weeks ago. I'd not seen them before, but I remember that family event. She told me Christi was not feeling well that day and I can now see that in these pictures.
Be well, Christi and FLY until we are together again!

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

2011-09-05T13:03:00.002-05:00

September is always a tough one for us: childhood cancer awareness month (oh yes, we're aware!), diagnosis (9/11/02), death (9/19/06). My deepest thanks to the amazing Jennifer for creating this awesome photo and for sharing it with me. Thanks! I absolutely love it (and miss that beautiful girl so much)! THANKS!

Finished the First Week

2011-08-27T20:31:00.001-05:00

BGSU did it again! They gave me the best students! I've now finished my first week of the fall semester and I think things will "roll along" quite well! I have three classes and a total of 72 students and 50 advisees this semester. In addition to my teaching and research responsibilities, I will also be serving as a literacy coach for a small rural middle school again this school year so that's a great boost for my consultant work, my research line and it keeps me in the classrooms working with teachers and students - I am so blessed!

Enrollment was up again at BGSU this fall with over 4,000 new freshman at the university. We have over 5,000 students in our College of Education and 324 faculty members there (about 900 at the university). Because of our growth and the Dean's commitment to using tenure tract faculty members and not instructors/adjuncts, we have 26 new faculty members in the College of Ed (8 new for my division - the School of Teaching & Learning). That is really exciting! (And I remind myself of that every time I cannot find a parking space in the faculty lot - lol!) They have made many improvements to the Education Building; it really looks amazing now! (The rest of campus - with something crazy like 275 million dollars of new facilities is also gorgeous!)

The highlight for me as a professor this week was coming out of class one day and seeing a new freshman (also a Christi Thomas scholarship winner) that I taught when she was a kindergarten student, and also a 7th grader. When she said she was just waiting for her next class I told her to come and hang out in my office for a bit. We had a nice time catching up! I'm so proud of her; she's going to do great things - just as soon as she declares a major (LOL!)

My low light this week was learning that I would have to get a new mentor because my amazing and most fantastic mentor earned an Asst. Dean's position so he's no longer allowed to help me over the next five years as I work toward tenure due to a conflict of interest. (He oversees the tenure process.) He assured me I could pick anyone, I don't need a mentor I'm well on my way, but I took the news very hard. He's absolutely fabulous and someone I really look up to and admire. May God help me find a good replacement who will accept my request and give me really good advice so that I can stay at this amazing institution!

I was very happy to see my article in print (since it's essential to keeping my job) in Middle Ground last week. It's a publication of the Association of Middle Level Educators and has a circulation of about 22,000 educators.

Napa Valley, California

2011-08-26T12:58:00.005-05:00

I was very blessed this summer to join Shayne and three of his colleagues. They flew to Napa, California to attend a conference and I was invited too.
I actually learned a bit of technology that I've been able to implement in one of the sessions, but for the most part I relaxed and worked in the hotel room each day while Shayne was at meetings and went to the social events at night getting to know others in the field and their wives.
Shayne and I stayed on for the weekend and took in about 18 of the 275 wineries in that area. Even though I don't drink, it was a fabulous experience - beautiful, romantic, culturally unique and downright interesting!
Shayla enjoyed precious family time with both of her grandmas, her grandpa and her aunt while we were gone.

First Day of 7th Grade

2011-08-18T08:20:00.002-05:00

Shayla could not have been happier about starting school yesterday. Long gone are the days of easy classes, taking flowers to teachers and of course to having the girls pose together for pictures. I sure do miss those glorious days!

She has a brutal schedule with no study halls, three honors classes and another one she's taking for high school credit, but I'm positive she will work hard and will do just fine.

We'd like to think she was anxious to get right to 7th grade for the learning, but we all laughed about that knowing she really just wanted to be with her friends after a long summer break.
Here's wishing everyone a safe, healthy and happy new school year!

2011-08-10T23:49:00.001-05:00

We had a lovely visit with our Japanese friends! The girls (Shayna - 7, and Anju - 4) reminded us so much of when Christi & Shayla were little. It was wonderful to see the beautiful Japanese girls play with Christi and Shayla's favorite toys I just couldn't part with. Sweet!

Unfortunately, a bug bite caused little Anju's eye and much of the left side of her face to swell shut. We tried out the new Urgent Care in Tiffin where she was misdiagnosed with a sty. Later that day we were in Toledo school shopping so we made a trip to the ER at Toledo Children's hospital where they determinied it to be a bug bite and gave her steroids and benedryl. Shayla was amazing! I was so proud of her! When I praised her about being so wonderful keeping Anju's older sister busy and out of the way, she told me that she knew lots of people did that for her so she thought she could help out. What a sweetie!

Shayla said recently, "I'm going to be so sad when they go back to Japan." I know that's true. We told her whenever she wants to go to Japan to visit them we will put her on a plane and send her there. She was a great teacher and I think out of all of us she got the little girls to speak English better than any of the rest of us. Thanks, Shayla! Fly safe Mika, Shayna & Anju! Until we meet again......

2011 Seneca County Fair

2011-08-02T20:52:00.006-05:00

While the fair ended Sunday evening, I'm still exhausted! Shayla had seven wonderful days of competing in equestrian events with Dusty. She worked so hard and had a fantastic week! We were so blessed with many friends and family who stopped by to watch Shayla. I apologize for how busy we are and for how short we must seem with them. Mika (our Japanese exchange student from 1995) flew in just to stay with us on Tuesday of last week. Her daughters - Shayne & Anju - our namesakes, also arrived. It's been great to have them here! They are all just wonderful!

2011-07-24T09:42:00.002-05:00

The beautiful Olivia is doing it again! Despite the fact her mother was told at birth that she probably would never walk, she's been training with her "Christi Runs" and she will again do a run to raise money for a wonderful organization that was started because of Christi. Please consider supporting Olvia and donating to a wonderful organization started and sponsored by a fabulous pediatric oncology nurse. Thanks everyone for your loving consideration! Go, Olivia! You are amazing!

From Olivia:

It’s that most wonderful time of the year again! The time where I get to tell you that I am preparing for this year’s Christi Thomas Memorial Run for Kids Cancer Crusade. This year the race will take place on Sunday, September 25th.
2011 marks the 5th year I’ll be running in Christi’s memory. Five years. Five years is a very long time. And while I wish I didn’t have a reason to run every year, while I wish Christi could share her own story with you, in the absence of that possibility, I am here to once again, share with you the brilliant wonder that is my dear friend, Christi Thomas.

I was amazed by Christi from the moment I met her. She was 5 years old at the time and unbelievably brave, as all children grow to be when faced with cancer. Despite her young age, Christi was incredibly wise and completely selfless. She took care of the other children in the hospital and was often more concerned about their pain than her own. She always visited her friends and brought them gifts when she went in for treatment. Her love and kindness brought them much needed smiles. Christi was a ray of sunshine in the pediatric cancer wing. From the beginning, Christi inspired me to be a better person—to give more, to love more, to laugh more, to believe more. She still does.

I adored Christi’s love of books and learning. I remember thinking it was amazing that there was someone else out there that loved learning as much as I did. (Even though, Christi was much, much smarter!) Christi is with me every time I enter a library and every time I miss my stop on the bus because I am so engrossed in my book. (This happens more than I care to admit. It seems I have a problem.)
Most especially, Christi is with me on my morning “Christi run”. Some of you have asked me what a “Christi run” is. Simply, it’s how I refer to my 4:30am run. I used to just do a plain old run in the morning until I realized it was much more fun to picture Christi running beside me. At 4:30am, I need some motivation and inspiration to get up when my alarm goes off. Saying, “I need to get up for my Christi run” provides just that! And then, once a year, I participate in a race in Christi’s memory to raise money for Kids Cancer Crusade. And, perhaps most importantly, to have another moment to share Christi with you. Christi deserves to be remembered and this world still needs her wonder shared among us.

Thank you for all of your support and love and kindness over the years. If you could donate again this year, it would be appreciated. Together, we’ll keep Christi’s legacy alive and support the great work of Kids Cancer Crusade. Thank you!

To donate: http://active.com/donate/christirun2011
To learn more about KCC: http://kidscancercrusade.org/

Horse Show Fun

2011-07-18T09:00:00.004-05:00

Despite horrific heat on Sunday, we all had an absolutely fantastic time at Shayla's first horse show of the summer. This was the toughest competition she's ever faced. It was a Tri State show so her divisions/classes were huge. We were so proud of her. It was an absoutely wonderful day!
(Pictures: Ali, Shayla's fabulous horse trainer, puts final touches on Shayla.)

English: Photo by our sweet friend, Jill! THANKS, Jill!
My dad's sister came to watch Shayla ride, too sweet aunt Mary!
Shayla relaxes back at the camper with her Nee Nee

Competing with Dusty (I told her if she gains just one pound I will not be able to zip those chaps on her anymore. They fit perfectly, but it was really pushing it getting them zipped. YIKES!)

Getting a "leg up" from dad (Shayla's stable boy - lol!)

Showmanship Competition (I'm always bias by the girls who were white hats. I think there's nothing better and I got one for Shayla this year. And the white hat nearly stayed white too, wish I could say that for the cuffs. Not quite sure how I'm going to get them cleaned before next week. I just returned home from the dry cleaners who would not touch any of her horse stuff, yikes!

English Competition, interesting picture I thought. (Thanks, Jill!)

I love her smile! Go, Shayla! Looking good, Dusty!

4H Judging Time

2011-07-13T09:22:00.017-05:00

What a treat to run into both Theresa and Kaylyn (Christi's great friends) at judging today. They were some of the 4H assistants and I am thrilled I got to chat with them. I'm sure Christi was smiling down from Heaven! May God richly bless those amazing, loving and wonderful young ladies! They will always be so very special to us. (And check out their heights! Wow, would Christi be so tall now?!)

Today Shayla finished the last of her 4H Judging. There were about 23 in her Sewing Division and about 40 in her Scrapbook Division. Regardless of what the judges decide, she's first place in my book!

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the gorgeous "casual and girl" (her description) blue sundress she made with her amazing 4H advisor (Melody) and my mother. She was interviewed and judged for that last Saturday.

Shayla said the judge loved how she did her seams, but said she should have pressed her zipper better and that the ruffles aren't quite even. She also said she should have pulled out the basting better. Shayla said, "I was afraid if I pulled the wrong string the entire bottom of my dress would fall off, mom!" LOL! Love that gal! So proud of her! So glad we have a seamstress in our home!

This year's scrapbook is not as large as last year's, but she has over 20 pages and they are all fabulous. I will have a wonderful keepsake when she goes off to college!

Scrapbook Interview / Judging

Thanks to the beautiful Grant family for this awesome Christmas gift! Shayla loved this scrapbook! She added her name with mailbox letters and glued flowers to "bling up" the cover. And the flowers brought a lot of humor. It was like she was a flower girl in a wedding. They kept falling off and she kept pushing them back on. She was trying to keep them from the judge by slowly sliding her hand up to the table where they dropped and smashing them in her hand so the judge wouldn't realize her flowers were all falling. What a hoot! Then when the judge told her to leave her book so she could show the other judge and to go sit down disaster really struck (LOL)! As they opened and closed the book AGAIN, more flowers fell off. It was so funny! Then Shayla was dismissed. As she was walking back to me the petals were again falling off. We laughed so hard once we were in the car! She decided it was pretty but definitely not her best scrapbooking idea ever! LOL!

Now that these elective projects are over she can solely focus on her Equestrian Events. She's been working most every day with Dusty and her horse trainer. She cannot wait for the Fair Week to begin. Our deepest thanks to all of the wonderful and kind 4H Advisors and Volunteers! They make amazing things happen for families and we are so very grateful! Here's wishing you and yours a fabulous week! ENJOY!

Testing

2011-07-09T19:52:00.001-05:00

Wondering if I can post this pic and text from my Droid. Shay is enjoying camping with cousins. So nice to hug my sis today.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

2011 Ritz Theater Camp

2011-06-29T20:12:00.004-05:00

Shayla experienced her 7th year at Ritz theater camp last week. Just like Christi always did, She loved it!
This year's play was "The Princess & the Pea". Shayla was a Flower Gardener.

We were happy to again help sponsor the show in Christi's memory. She loved Ritz camp so much! I think it's one of the best two camps in Seneca County for children!

Father's Day 2011

2011-06-20T19:51:00.003-05:00

I ordered the plaque in February. Called in May to see if it arrived and was told yes, but it was too wet to set it in the cemetery. Imagine my shock when my aunt came to the ballet recital last Saturday night and whispered to me, "Did you know Christi's marker is in the cemetery? It looks nice." I had no clue.

We wanted to all be together the first time we saw it so before church on Sunday we headed out to the cemetery. I wanted to take flowers out to my father's grave anyway so it seemed like we were being told it was the day to do this. Not that I think this is lovely at all - it's not. It is actually sickening; however, it really looks better in person than in the pictures and I was very pleasantly surprised that it really is fabulous - if that sort of thing can be fabulous.

I'm certain this is not how Shayne would have preferred to spend his father's day at all and quite frankly I was surprised when he said, "You did a wonderful job, Angela. It looks amazing!" because he had tears streaming down his face the entire time we were out there. I didn't think he saw anything. He polished her marker and Dad's too.

(PIC: Shayla arranges the flowers we bought for her big sister.)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day! Our weekend didn't go at all as we had planned, but we've learned sometimes God throws curve balls at you and you need to just go with it! Our camper was delivered to the fairgrounds on Thursday and Shayne and I were literally jumping up and down so excited to be back in it for the horse show the next day. We got everything all set up out there on Friday and then Shayla's first horse show of the season was cancelled due to weather. Oops!

Instead, we got to enjoy a visit with my grandma who turned 92 the day before and we also attended a lovely wedding on Shayne's side of our family. Sunday was to be Shayne's first triathlon of the year (as he's completed in for the last maybe seven years on Father's Day) and the two of us ended up cuddling at the movie theater (watching a great 3D film - Green Lantern, I guess we don't need Netflicks or the red box completely taking over the industry because the 3D was awesome!). Shayla went to a different movie with a friend. All of that was a complete turn around from our plans, but it was ok! We are blessed! And so far this week all is well: Shayla's in a couple of camps and loving them so far while I've been teaching my online classes and providing transportation as needed. I'm a lucky gal!

We were so pleased to see this from the "Chatty Cathy Club" - Christi's school friends. THANK YOU!Thank you to all of the sweet Christi's supporters for the many items we found out at her grave site. May you be richly blessed for your unbelievable love, concern and compassion. Thanks for making our journey a bit easier by showering us with your love! It may have taken me four and a half years to get her resting place complete, but I did it! And I'm glad that is behind me, finally. All I have left now is that book to write, hmmmmmmm. (Don't cross your fingers. I wrote the first chapter of our journey a year ago and cried for a week. I can't imagine even starting chapter two. Heck, chapter one was just about life BEFORE Christi arrived.)

2011 Christi Thomas Scholarship Winners

2011-06-14T14:37:00.003-05:00

Shayla with 2011 Christi Thomas, Dance Unlimited, $1,000 Scholarship Winner - the awesome Briana!
$200 Book Scholarships go to: Anne, Jocelyn, Marissa and Blanca. (Check out the orb!)

2011 Christi Thomas Dance Unlimited Scholarship Winners

Some of you may remember our little dancer, Christi Thomas, who died at the tender age of 9 after a four year battle with cancer. She was diagnosed shortly after her very first ballet recital here, as a five year old back in 2002 And she died shortly after dancing on this gorgeous stage, with her beautiful little bald head, in 2006. One of the songs she danced to that last year was from the Lion King. A section of the lyrics went, "I've never seen a king of beasts with quite so little hair." Christi, one who could find humor in almost any situation thought that was pretty funny! It’s hard to believe she would have turned 14 last month and would have just completed her freshman year of high school.

We will never know who all helped us during our most difficult days and nights, but I’m certain some of you are sitting right here before me in this theater. We are humbled. We too want to "give back" and help others. One of the ways we decided to give back is by donating a series of scholarships each spring. One of these is this $1,000 scholarship awarded here each year to celebrate Christi and her love of Dance Unlimited. She loved her Dance Unlimited freinds, teachers and directors so much. It’s bittersweet to be here each year, especially as we watch Christi’s former classmates dance. As we sit out in the theatre, clutching hands with tears streaming down our faces, we wonder how tall she’d be, what she’d look like and if she’d still be getting her classmates in trouble for that uncontrollable little giggle of hers that often just “burst out” much to the delight of her friends and I'm sure to the dismay of her teachers.

We felt that some of this year’s applicants were exceptionally worthy, and we really wanted to write EACH of them a $1,000 check; however, that checkbook of ours said “You can’t do that!”. Therefore, we did add some $200 “Book Scholarships” we’ll call them – to note Christi’s love of reading. These $200 checks will be mailed to the recipient’s homes on August 1st . Congratulations to: Jocelyn, Anne, Blanca and Marissa.

This year’s $1,000 scholarship recipient is our 5th annual winner. Perhaps it’s ironic, but as a girl about 9 years old she actually held a fundraiser, asking her peers to donate, to help with Christi’s unpaid medical expenses and our travel costs. I think she raised about $28 all together and about half of that money was her own. And her volunteerism and desire to help others has continued. Each year, together with Heidelberg University and Dr. Lori Grine and her students we continue what Christi started by holding a lemonade stand to raise money for pediatric cancer research. This year’s scholarship recipient attended for years, buying lemonade from Christi, but the past two years she’s been on the other side working the stand.

In her essay she wrote, “About nine years ago, a little girl had an infinite effect on my future. I didn’t know Christi when she was first diagnosed, yet she touched my heart in a way no one else had or has since. Little did I know that our paths in life would cross so frequently because of our love of the arts: dance, theater camp, school. There are people and circumstances in your life that shape who you are. Christi was one of these people in my life. I knew I wanted to be a doctor and help people who were ill because watching her battle made me wish I could’ve done something to change the course of her disease. I became completely set on becoming a doctor so that eventually I can help someone who can’t help themselves. Congratulations, Briana.

Sunday's Dance Recital

2011-06-13T07:42:00.002-05:00

Pictures from Sunday's Recital (I will post the Scholarship Items tomorrow; I promise!)

Shayla with her Grandma Nonee
Ballet "Jealous Man" (On knee, center)
The Thomas Team at the end of the show
What a blessing Traci is to us all!

Saturday Night's Dance Recital

2011-06-12T08:53:00.005-05:00

A year's hard work was celebrated last night at the 2011 Dance Unlimited recital. I was able to sit with a former colleague and I had a lovely time. I must have cried so many times while reading the scholarship applicants' applications and deciding what I was going to say, that - for the first time - I didn't cry while awarding this year's Christi Thomas Scholarship. Every time I read through my script, tears came out of nowhere so I'm so glad I made it through pretty well. (And Shayne made up for my not crying in the theater this year. He cried on the way there, during my speech, on the way home. I think we're even, LOL!) I will post the scholarship information in the very near future. One more recital to enjoy first!

Annual "watch" picture in front of the theater

Shayla with ballet friends (Thanks for the pic, Kim!)

Shayla with one of her dance teachers - notice the "orb". Heather was also Christi's ballet and jazz teacher.

Thanks for coming, Nee Nee!

Shay and friend with Hip Hop outfits on

Time to go home to enjoy our annual "after dance recital snacks", reminiscing and bed!

2011-06-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

I thank God that I was able to finish my 27 page research paper just in the nick of time last week. (I was at Staples having copies made at 7pm Thursday night with a three hour drive ahead of me.) Thankfully, my presentation went very, very well. I've never really waited until the very last minute like that ever before, but praise God it worked out for me - this time. I will try not to ever do that again; it was way too stressful for me. While waiting for my turn to present at the conference I received a email from Shayne checking on me. I responded, "I'm next. There are 200 people here. I'm following a professor from Harvard! Why me?! I'm scared, out of my league and really intimidated now. I did not sleep well at all."

Shayne told me that after the conference I should do something fun, like meet him at the Memorial golf tournament in Columbus where he had two tickets from a client for the tournament including a hospitality tent with food and drink. I've heard of that event at Muirfield so I agree. We had a ball! It was the perfect way to celebrate a huge weight being lifted, with the conference behind me, and to enjoy my sweet husband's company. We had never gone to a golf event together before. It was such a polite, respectful atmosphere; amazing ettiquite and respectable dress. I loved it! Thanks, Shayne!

Shayla took a friend with her to the lake this weekend and we all had a grand time. Well, until our jet ski sucked up the tow rope from the tube the three of them were pulling behind the jet ski. They had to swim themselves back to shore. I watched from my chair on the beach, unable to help - until I waded out with the big knife which cut the tube free. What a hoot! Thank God they weren't too far off shore.

(PIC: Riding out, swimming back!) I think I'm going to have to learn how to drive a boat so I can get out there and help next time. On Sunday, without a jet ski, we didn't know what to do so we asked the girls if they wanted to take the bikes over to Put-in-Bay for the day and of course they did.

We boarded the Jet Express and had a glorious time relaxing on the island. I'm teaching full time this summer, working with some teachers on independent studies and have some other writing projects going on and presentations I'm preparing for so getting away from my work this weekend was a refreshing reprieve.

Recently, I finished reading two great books. Last week: "Unsinkable: A Young Woman's Courageous Battle on the High Seas" by Abby Sunderland and Lynn Vincent and this week: "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent.The first book was given to me by another professor and the second was recommended by a sweet Blogger friend and Christi lover, Sylvia, so I bought it last week in Amish Country. Both books were incredibly captivating; I couldn't put them down. I highly recommend both and I was so amazed that Lynn Vincent helped write both - crazy weird, really! Shayla was so intrigued by what I was sharing with her while reading "Heaven is for Real", she read it from start to finish - 192 pages - in just a day herself.

A very special "THANK YOU" to the awesome aunt Marty for watching Shayla for us last week.

Shayla's first 4H Mounted Meeting of the year went well Monday night. We were hoping this new horse we are leasing would do a good job with the other horses and in a new setting at the fairgrounds. It's like your on pins and needles until you actually observe the horse with the other horses and in the areana. Thankfully, all went well. There is work to be done, but I think Dusty was a good choice for her this year. (Given the fact we had to give her bday present back - LOL!)Christi, we miss you so much! Shayla read there are rainbow horses in Heaven and told me if that is really true, she knows you are riding one! I bet so too! You loved your "rainbow order" and horses; what a perfect combination for you, sweetpea!

This weekend Shayla (black bottom, lavendar skirt and top - practice clothing) will dance in her 8th recital. We will award the 5th annual Christi Thomas Memorial Scholarship at Dance Unlimited and I choke up just thinking about the reason we give the scholarships each year. I wonder if Christi still would have loved dance and what she would have looked like dancing on stage this year as a 14 year old.
I will never know, but I will put on a brave face, share a few words about her and be glad most others will never know the pain of losing a child. While it pains us greatly we feel it's still a good way for us to "give back" as so many helped out in countless ways during Christi's four year battle. We can't pay them back or say thank you, but this makes us feel like we too are helping others.

5th Annual Trip to Amish Country

2011-06-01T20:22:00.004-05:00

Today was one of my favorite days of the year - SCHOOL'S OUT and time for our annual trip to the Amish Country with mom and dad! It was AWESOME!

At the bottom of this entry, I've posted our annual "Buggy Posed Picture" in order from 2007-2011. This year, for the first time, Shayla is TALLER than her grandma.

As usual, Shayla found a friend!

On our buggy ride - amazing!

Shayla found her pattern and fabric for this year's 4H Sewing Project. She's making a sundress (and pretty excited about it)!

Amish Country, 2007

Amish Country, 2008

Amish Country, 2009

Amish Country, 2010

Amish Country, 2011

Again here is our list of favorite things to do and see in the World's Largest Settlement of Amish (Holmes County, Ohio)

1.) Hershberger's (best and most inexpensive baked goods) and their free Petting Zoo
2.) Der Dutchman (for an amazing Amish meal - Shay and I always get Noodles over Mashed Potatoes - so yummy)
3.) Having a Buggy Ride - somewhere, many options
4.) Touring Yoder's two Amish homes and the School
5.) Heini's Cheese (an insane number of free samples - and types of cheese for sale, factory tour, delicious!)

And of course with Shayla's annual "Amish Bingo" it always makes for interesting sightseeing. Last year she planned her game with items for us to find including: a blue ribbon, a house with at least 50 chickens, an Amish person using a cell phone, children selling produce in a yard and many other interesting and intriguing items. This year's included interesting items as well (goat or sheep with baby, pay phone, Amish made purse from China, etc.) Gotta love her!

Memorial Day - Thank you to our Service Men & Women!

2011-05-30T19:14:00.004-05:00

Thanks to my awesome mom for scanning and sending me these two photos! I love it when she shares old pictures! Honoring my personal military heroes this Memorial Day - my grandfather serving in World War II and my dad serving in the Ohio National Guard.

And to borrow my mom's words exactly: May their rewards be great in heaven for their service to our country. Thanks to their efforts we can enjoy a free country.

I was very happy that Cedar Point offered free admission to anyone with a military card this weekend. We didn't have those, but we did have our season passes so we hopped over, after the wicked storm, Sunday night and had a ball. A few times we got kind of mopey - wishing Christi were with us as Shayla and a friend went from ride to ride. Wereminisced about how much she loved Cedar Point, but we did ok. Shayla always cheers us!

The weekend certainly was a great way for Shayla to start off her summer vacation!

I took too long of a break away from writing my research manuscript, but I finished two great books while on the beach watching Shayne and the girls. I highly recommend both of them, "Unsinkable" and "Turtle in Paradise". My research paper must be hand delivered on Friday morning before I present at the national conference - yikes! May God be with me in getting it finished. I'm on page 20 right now, and all is well, but I have three sections to create yet and things always take longer than you'd think.

School is out for the summer!!

2011-05-27T07:49:00.006-05:00

(Pic: First day of school, August 2010, age 11)
(Pic: Last day of school, May 2011, age 12)

From that worrisome first day of school (for all of us) to this final day of school, all I can say is WOW and THANK GOD! Without a doubt Shayla had the very best year of school ever! I wrote a letter to the superintendent and curriclum director yesterday praising their honors classes and sixth grade teachers, administrtators and staff. What a blessing to be at a fantastic and amazing public school! Now I'm ready to have Shayla home for the summer, ahhhh! She's concerned she's going to end up with a B+ in science this 9 weeks, but I told her I could care less if she got a B! She's worked so hard and grades me nothing to me! (I think she's eyeing the all A's free video rentals at the store! LOL!)

2011 SE Christi Thomas Scholarships

2011-05-26T08:59:00.003-05:00

I've been home for days and this research article I'm trying to write is just not coming together and I'm really struggling; therefore, I guess I will take a break (again - cough) and post something positive, amazing Seneca East kids!

On Monday morning, Shayla and I went to Seneca East to present this year's scholarships in Christi's memory. It was FABULOUS to be back visiting at SE! I'd not been to the school since I left teaching there in June of 2009. We ended up giving the $1,000 award and we also added seven $100 awards because we felt there were many worthy applicants. I really would have loved to have funded $1,000 for all of them, but Shayla now has this idea of attending college in NYC so I guess we'd better save more for that too (smile).

Congratulations to these wonderful kids! $1,000 - 2011 Christi Thomas Scholarship Winner, Amanda

And $100 book awards go to: Zach, Kelsey, Heather, Candace, Carly, Jacquelynn & Jared - VERY BEST WISHES to all of them! (It's wild seeing my middle schoolers "all grown up" and graduating now, wow!)

Time to Leave NYC

2011-05-19T21:00:00.008-05:00

With the "Sad Dads" - and their wives, all in NYC for a "Solving Kids' Cancer" fundraiser. Did I mention Chelsea Clinton sat at the table next to us? Amazing! Did I mention how terribly sad I thought the fundraising event was, way too emtional for me, especially on Christi's birthday. I think I cried for 40 straight minutes and ended up getting in a cab by myself and heading back to the hotel; I just couldn't take any more.

With our beautiful friend, Nitza. She was Shayla's "Start with Art" preschool teacher at the Met in 2003. She is amazing!

While at the Met we attended an art class, very interesting!

It's time to go home tomorrow. I can't say I'm ready to leave this amazing city, but I miss Shayne and Shayla so I'm looking forward to seeing them. I've learned so much in the past four days, toured absolutely amazing and wonderful NYC schools and enjoyed incredible foods.

Thanks for making all of our amazing school visits possible, dear Olivia!

Thanks to Olivia for putting all of this together and for making this work for us! I have the greatest friends! When I told my boss about a month ago about this grant I wrote and what I was doing she immediately said, "Can I go too? It sounds amazing!" I responded with, "Absolutely; that would be great!" but I was really thinking, "awkward" - well....it was anything but awkward! This trip was so much better this way.

Since we spent so much time with Christi here in treatment NYC can really be a tough (emotional) city. I'm so glad my boss and another colleague - another middle grades literacy assistant professor and my newest colleague "Penny" came with me. I am so blessed!

2011-05-18T20:09:00.002-05:00

Thanks, mom for sending me these awesome pics of Shayla at her band concert last night. When I talked with her on the phone today she said it went well and she had so much fun with her friends.

I had another AMAZING and educational day here in NYC! We visited an awesome public school in Chinatown (Thanks, Olivia!), and had Chinese food for lunch (Vietnamese yesterday).

It wasn't ALL work and no play. Despite the sprinkles and showers we had a little fun in Central Park. (Photo for Shayla - at one of her favorite spots in the park - with Balto. I treasure the times we took the girls there and they played on the statue! I felt like Christi was with us in the park today; crazy I know, but it really was like I felt her spirit there.)

Day Two in NYC's Schools

2011-05-17T20:46:00.004-05:00

I cannot believe I am missing Shayla's band concert right now, but I had an amazing opportunity so I'm still in New York. I'm so glad Shayla's awesome dad and all of her grandparents are there with her at her school! I've spent the past two days touring some absolutely amazing and impressive schools here in NYC. (THANKS, Olivia!) I'm here with my boss and another colleague and we have learned a ton. We are exhausted, but having a blast!

Where they are from! The children IN ONE CLASSROOM - amazing, so beautiful!

My colleagues with an impressive principal!

A beautiful school, inside and out!

A 5th grade classroom's library - ahhhhhhhh!

Last Week's Bermuda Cruise

2011-05-15T08:34:00.000-05:00

Kings Wharf, Bermuda
Leaving NYC on our cruiseship
High Tea at the Fairmont Princess Hotel, Hamilton, Bermuda (Voted one of the Top 10 places to have High Tea)
Formal Night on the ship
The most amazing trail ride we've ever enjoyed. Thanks, Spicelands Equestrian Center! Fantastic horses and unbelievable views!

With our "Brain Buckets" on, Shayla and I pose before our first rock climb of the trip. Shayla and Shayne had no problem making it to the top, mom never made it!
Snorkeling at Snorkel Bay
Segway Tour of the Royal Dockyard
Shayla at Portofino's - the ship's speciality restaurant
Pool Time!

Happy 14th Birthday, Angel Christi (Forever 9)

2011-05-14T09:48:00.002-05:00

This would not upload on Thursday, May 12th so here it is a bit late.

PIC: Christi's hospital teacher - the great Anne Marie (truly Mary Poppins!) So hard to believe our princess Christi would have turned 14 today. Thanks so much for your loving comments! We miss her soooooo much it hurts. We spent today at the Ronald McDonald House in NYC where we lived for 9 months in 2003, showed Shayla her pres...chool where the director and one of her teachers still remembered her and we also took Christi's amazing hospital teacher she adored so much to lunch. Here's a picture with the great Anne Marie - a women who really taught me how to teach KIDS and not subjects! I don't know how she does it. Five, yes 5, of her students died last week. Tonight we are off to a childhood cancer fundraiser on Park Ave. A cure cannot come soon enough for these precious children. Love to you all, Angela

Spring Concert

2011-05-06T10:19:00.003-05:00

It was a joy to have Shayla's grandparents be able to attend her spring concert last night! She's very blessed! After the concert she gave them a school tour, including a stop by her locker. Happy Mother's Day weekend to all, enjoy!

Waiting on the Grave Marker

2011-05-02T09:11:00.001-05:00

Without a doubt, I'm probably the only person whoever ordered her daughter's grave marker and then changed her mind and 48 hours later ordered a new one, but......that's exactly what I did!

I've been dreading May 1st because that's when I was told her marker I ordered in February would arrive. So far, no word yet, but I'm not exactly on the phone calling to inquire.
The top marker is the second one I ordered. I changed the photo, added that little cat she drew all the time when she was first diagnosed and moved her name down. I still don't really like it and I thought when I had it together it would "wow" me, but I see it and still feeling nothing. While I'm not at all ready to see it out at the cemetery, I do hope it arrives so and we can move on. The pain is still so great some days, especially now as we are nearing what would have been her 14th birthday. Scholarship applications are rolling in for her annual scholarships we will soon award, but I can't exactly say that gives me comfort right now. Quite frankly, I just wish she were here and I were saving for her college tuition instead.

Sweet Endings to a 2nd Amazing Year at BGSU!

2011-04-29T09:52:00.000-05:00

I just taught my last class for the year - wow! Once again BGSU gave me the greatest students ever! I wish them the very, very best and hope they keep in touch. Before class, one sweet student brought me this awesome plate of cookies she made and the sweetest thank you note. I am so blessed!

About two weeks ago we went to church at BG. I wanted Shayla to see where I went to church when I was a BG student and where I used to babysit while their parents went to church. I didn't read the church bulletin until the next day at home. Much to my surrpirse and delight I learned the priest was from Tiffin, one of mys students was leading a bible study and one of my former (favorite) instructors was involved in the church. I sent emails to the three and was so glad to hear back from them! My former instructor is still teaching at BGSU (just published her 14th textbook) and wanted to take me to lunch. She joked, "I can't remember the names of the students I have this semester, but your name sounds so familiar and I think I can picture your face." It was fabulous to spend a couple of hours with her this week! She had forgotten about things we had done in class, but I had too! It was great sharing and except for her hair color, she was exactly the same - soooo cool! I used to love hearing about her teaching, writing, children, husband, experiences, etc., etc. God is good! I wonder if one day one of my former students will contact me as a professor and wonder if we can meet to say hello.

Beat of Their Own Drum - Advertiser Tribune

2011-04-27T14:48:00.001-05:00

Photo by Jill Gosche, Advertiser-Tribune (www.Advertiser-tribune.com)

Shayla thought it was pretty funny her "behind" made the newspaper! (Purple shirt, pink headband) She's having an AMAZING school year! We are incredibly pleased with her school district. The teachers are fantastic! As I recently told the superintendent, she's never learned as much as she has this year. Having three gifted / honors classes has really pushed her and kept her motivated and learning. Currently, she's love, love, loving her phys ed class who obviously has a great teacher. I can't believe all she's learning and doing in there - and in all of her classes. We are blessed!

FROM THE GREAT ADVERTISER-TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER: Tiffin Middle School students participate in a cool-down exercise after a drumming activity in their physical education class Wednesday morning. Jeanie Ritter, an instructor at Tiffin Community YMCA, led the drumming activity, which involves students hitting drumsticks on exercise balls for a cardiovascular workout.

He is Risen!

2011-04-24T17:42:00.006-05:00

(PIC: Christi, 1999, almost 2) Happy Easter, sweet Christi! We are sure you had the most glorious Easter possible celebrating in Heaven! I bet the chocolate bunnies are the yummiest ever. Enjoy, sweetpea! Until I see your beautiful face and hold you in my arms again, Always your mommy

Easter blessings to you and yours! The Thomas team had a fabulous Easter weekend spent with family. We are so fortunate! PIC: Easter morning, 2011

PIC: Shayla's first Easter. Joking with daddy before church.

PIC: Shayla's first Easter, dressed as a little bunny. Today as we walked out of church, I told Shayla how beautiful she was and that I liked her outfit. I told her it was very different than the outfit she wore on her very first Easter. She got a chuckle out of these pictures tonight. She said, "Uncle Gil still looks the same." (But boy has she changed.)

Snuggle with my sweetie, til mom caught us on film - hee hee!

Grandma with her grand kids! It was amazing that we could all be together; "living/working" in three different states right now we were all together in our home all weekend! Ahhhhhh!

Dr. Thomas's New Office - DONE!

2011-04-23T06:34:00.006-05:00

The first week of classes Shayne so kindly spent the weekend moving me into my new office. It has been great having a window and a much larger space! I love working there (perhaps as much as in my home office, actually) and I'm very comfortable! Just this week I finally finished. I know it looks cluttered, but it doesn't seem that way when I'm in it. Shayne and I call it "the corner suite" and it is - SWEET!

A couple of students thought I needed little white lights in my orange netting yet so I just added that. I love having my desk around the corner to give me a little bit of privacy (to make me more productive and less social - LOL!). The past couple of days the office has even "made the tour". Prospective students and their parents have stopped in to say to say, "You have a lot of falcon spirit!" or perhaps they've heard I have chocolates in my candy dish!
Regardless, we have one week left of classes and the office is done, yip, yip, yippee! It will be hard to say goodbye to this semester's students, but I'm ready to get going on my summer projects! They will kick off in a HUGE way in early May, absolutely can't wait! Thank you, dear Lord!

TU Christi Thomas Memorial Egg Hunt

2011-04-22T02:40:00.004-05:00

Wow! Tiffin University did a fabulous job of organizing this year's "Christi Thomas Memorial Egg Hunt". We were very pleased with the great turn out, amazing weather and so many sweet and kind people for sharing their thanks and appreciation. I'm sure Christi thought it was wonderful! We are so blessed that so many remember her. THANK YOU!Our favorite journalist, Jill Gosche, was on hand to cover the event for the newspaper. She has many great pictures on the CU from the paper. http://cu.advertiser-tribune.com/galleries/index.php?id=301146

Here's her article and photo from the paper:

http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/536453/Remembering-Christi.html?nav=5005

Thursday's Egg Hunt is at 3:30

2011-04-19T06:40:00.002-05:00

We are hoping for great weather, but if it's raining, it will be moved inside to the gym. It begins at 3:30. We are happy to make a $1,000 donation to Tiffin University for sponsoring this year's "Christi Thomas Memorial Egg Hunt"! Christi always loved going there, searching for plastic eggs! What fun!

5th Annual Christi Thomas Egg Hunt at Tiffin University

2011-04-17T11:12:00.002-05:00

Please grab the little ones and come to Tiffin Univeristy on Thursday, April 21st for the 5th annual Christi Thomas Memorial Egg Hunt! We'd love to see you there!

2011-04-14T08:24:00.005-05:00

It appears I was too distracted by not being able to find the picture of Pat holding Christi that I totally forgot to add in the current (here and now) shots to accompany the text I wrote about below. Here ya go! Have a blessed end of the week, Angela

Happy Bday Grandma Nee Nee!

Enjoying the Equine Affaire with Traci, the Wonderful!

Shayla shared her presentation on being a "Free Lance Writer" at the middle school's "Imagination Celebration". After much research she opted to do her undergraduate degree at BGSU and her Masters at Columbia. In this shot, she is sharing her work with the school district's superintendent. It was a fabulous family / school event!

2011-04-12T09:22:00.005-05:00

I thought I could put my finger right on it, but no luck! Shoot! After Shayne and I, the very next person to ever hold Christi was Pat Dean - Shayne's neighbor growing up. She was at the hospital that day for appointments, learned Christi was just born and came up with the cutest little white bonnet for her. I can picture her sitting in the chair in the corner holding our new little bundle of joy. I know I snapped their picture from my bed. Last night at the funeral home, her daughter told us they talked with Pat about getting to be with Christi in Heaven. Pat was ready to go Home. She wanted to be with her husband, Ed. What a sweet, sweet lady; she will be deeply missed. While I could not find that picture, I found two others to share: One of Christi's Baptism (June 1997, five weeks old) and the other of Aunt Marty holding her.

We got to overnight with Aunt Marty and Uncle Jeff Saturday night. We had a fantastic weekend: enjoying Shayla's school event Friday night, attending the Equine Affaire in Columbus on Saturday and Sunday along with the amazing Hariett (aka "Traci"), and visiting with Shayne's mom and uncle Sunday night - SWEET! Here's wishing you and yours a great week! Rest in peace, Pat! (And make sure Christi's not playing too many pranks and upsetting the Big Guy!)

Rest in Peace, Sweet Delaney

2011-04-07T10:45:00.001-05:00

March 13, 1996 – April 6, 2011
Ewing's Sarcoma Victim
FOREVER LOVED, FOREVER MISSED!

Oh, I knew this one was coming and I'd been dreading it; I knew it would be tough and it is! Yesterday morning Delaney earned her angel wings. She was diagnosed shortly before Christi (not with neuroblastoma) and she was the first "Cancer Friend" Christi made. (And her beautiful mom introduced us to "Survival in the Children's Cancer World") For years we thought she'd be ok, (She was in remission for 7 YEARS!) but then this terrible curse came back.
The wicked cancer beast is evil! Delaney, you deserve to be pain free and happy! You are so precious! Fly, Princess, Fly! We will NEVER forget you and your amazing mom (You could not have had a better) and you will ALWAYS be in our hearts!

(Delaney Diggs: 1996-2011)

Pictures of the girls playing together: September and October, 2002 - Columbus Children's Hospital) May they be together again doing "Girl Stuff" in Heaven and having fun, FUN, FUN! They deserve that and so much more! I really can't believe she did make it. Cancer stinks!

2011-04-01T19:34:00.001-05:00

Shayla definitely enjoyed her long spring break this week! (And I loved having her around!) She became a falcon and went to BGSU with me two days and spent time with her friends. As you can see from the picture, we also squeezed in a little shopping. Yes, Goodwill $5.00, but she's calling it "The GW Botique" - Girls just wanna have fun and play dress up and the price was right at $5.00!

I judged the Miss Willard Scholarship Pageant last weekend which is a local that feeds into Miss Ohio and ultimately Miss America. That was a lot of fun. When I was called and asked to volunteer I said, "Absolutely! My entire Masters degree was paid for by my Miss Ohio scholarship winnings and I want to give back!" All of the 16 contestants were impressive college gals doing great things and wanting to do more. Shayla LOVED watching the pageant and we had a lot of fun as I shared what happened during the private 10 minute interview they had with our panel of six judges that morning. Of course her favorite thing was a funny one....one of the young women wrote on her application that she works part time at Victoria Secrets. In an effort to be FUNNY and to lighten the atmosphere, I learned forward, scrunched up my face and said, "I've always wondered.....what IS Victoria's secret?" Well, I think she was too nervous, because she went on to explain what the store consists of as the male judge next to me was cringing. And of course that led to my next question about the store's exploitation of women. We all chuckled after she left that she didn't get it and we were sure she was telling the other contestants, "There's a clueless judge in there. She doesn't even know what Victoria's Secrets is!" HA HA HA!

Shayne came home from Vegas on Sunday and left Tuesday for Houston for an oil conference. (His plane just landed - praise God!) Each day he sent me pictures of his amazing desserts from this very fancy conference. Today I had the College of Education Biannual Faculty Meeting at the golf course in BG. Senator Randy Gardner spoke on SB 5 which the governor signed last night. Of course, Randy let us know he voted no.
Anyway, I took a picture of the dessert that BGSU provided for my lunch today and sent it to Shayne. (No dessert, I was just thankful they provided soup and sandwiches. I stopped and bought a candy bar on the way back to my office this afternoon.) Shayne responded to my picture, "You are a funny girl!" Good news for the college of ed, we will have 22 new full time faculty starting in the fall, seven in the School of Teaching and Learning. Enrollment projections show we will be up 9.15% with students from last year and last year we were up. Continuing with QUALITY at a major state university was the Dean's message. Go, Falcons!

We will say goodbye to the horse on Sunday. Shayla is ok! Here's wishing you and yours a fabulous weekend, enjoy!

An Amazing Weekend

2011-03-20T11:28:00.008-05:00

Attending the funeral for one of Shayla's 4H friend's moms last week, once again put a lot in perspective for us. Gayla will be missed! She always had a camera around her neck was always so sweet to Shayla; Shayla wanted to go to the funeral home when she was asked. The death of a 45 year old was yet another wake up call and reminder for us to embrace loved ones and to live and enjoy life with family while you can.

Shayne and I definitely did that this weekend with an early 20th Wedding Anniversary weekend in Las Vegas. I booked a plane ticket for Aunt V to come and take care of Shayla and Shayne arranged for us an incredible room with a fountain view at the Bellagio (see picture). He also booked our tickets to see "O" on Saturday night. I've seen a lot of shows, but never one as amazing as that. We are both still in awe! Thanks, sweet Aunt V for giving us some much needed couple time!

(Check out our incredible desserts at the Bellagio! They wrote "Happy 20th Wedding Anniversary" on our plates - amazing!)
I was recently asked by my boss and my "boss boss" to apply for something very exciting going on in teacher education at Stanford University so I did that on the plane (fingers crossed). Before taking off for the weekend I received word that I grant I wrote to study middle grades ELL students (English Language Learners) in NYC was approved for funding so I'm totally psyched about that! It's an area I only have "book knowledge" about and my awesome BGSU student deserve more than that from me. I called sweet Olivia right away and said, "I'm coming to see you!" because of course I will squeeze that in too! Boy am I blessed! Thank you, Lord Almighty!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T16:05:00.011-05:00

(PIC: Age 4 - Shayla, on Shayne's shoulders, March 17, 2003 enjoying the St. Patrick's Day Parade in NYC) What an incredibly lovely St. Patrick's Day here in Ohio! Of course I can't think of St. Pat's Day without reflecting upon March of 2003 when we were living in the Ronald McDonald House in New York City. Christi was to be in treatment that day, but we did not know it - until they called looking for her about 3PM - oops! Now I'm glad we spent the day enjoying the parade and some Irish food as I realize that one extra day of harvesting her stem cells, she never ended up needing, would have just been one more worthless day spent in the hospital when we had a glorious one that day in NYC! (And she did get in enough treatment days. In fact, she still has her stem cells in storage at CHOP. Actually, I really like knowing a little bit of her is still alive, even if its in the freezer. It was those stem cells which were to "bring her back" if she ever became cancer free. And somewhere in my warped mind I think about cloning her and having her here with me - LOL! Just kidding! I'm not serious, but I'd give anything to have her back in my arms!) Regardless, once you have a loved one fighting cancer you realize how very precious every single day is and I'm glad we spent that day outside of the hospital - March 17, 2003!

(Pic: Shayne explains the United Nations to Christi) All is fine here! Shayne and I have been cuddling up enjoying some great movies each weekend. "Dinner for Schmucks" and "Tenure" are just a couple of the videos he's recently brought home after work the past few Fridays that we really enjoyed. We are looking forward to getting away together in the near future. Can you believe it's almost our 20th wedding anniversary?! Shocking! We've decided to celebrate early and often!

(Shayla on St. Pat's Day 2003 in our little Ronald McDonald House room where we lived for over 8 months - yes, two twin beds. Shayne and Shayla spent every night sleeping on the floor.)We've decided not to keep the horse. The folks at Lane of Dreams told Shayne many times how brilliant it was of him it was to arrange for a one month lease with intent to purchase instead of just buying this stubborn mare. "Slick Assets" has been anything but that. She's still unable to be saddled up. She makes me incredibly nervous when Shayla is with her and the trainers at the barn can't believe she is so bad (rearing, striking, unlikable). Shayne sent me a text one day saying, "If she were only as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside." (I think he was talking about the horse - hee hee!) Shayla has grown tremendously as a result of this. She realizes the horse isn't safe, not only for her, but for others who may be at horse shows or the fair. This has been an excellent learning experience for her; I'm just very sad it didn't work out and she will not own a horse. She's looking to lease "Dusty" for the fair. Shayne took lessons on him last year and we know his previous owners. We're all disappointed, but think it's for the best. Sadly, there really isn't time to try to find a new horse for her and to make a commitment. With 4H rules, she has to declare her horse by May 1st.

My deepest thanks to a colleague who helped me "wrap up and get out" a research proposal I was stumbling on. When I recently shared with my dad what I thought to be my weakest area of work for the university, he said, "Can you ask a friend to help you? Find someone who's really good at what you need to do and I bet with a little guidance you'll master that too." Well, I asked for help - and got it! I'm a lucky lady! Hopefully, the reviewers will identify my proposal as one worthy for them. Fingers crossed! Thanks to a sweet BGSU professor for picking me up, pumping me up and helping me out!

Our prayers continue for the tragic situation in Japan and for our dear friend, Lori, recovering from a horrible surgery. May God help heal these situations quickly!

We are meeting friends later to celebrate this day! We don't get to spend enough time with FRIENDS - people who have known you forever and who love you just because! Like Becky (pictured here) who came to help out in NYC! I can't wait to see her tonight!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and yours! Enjoy!
Angela O' Thomas

Praise God! Our Japanese Friends are OK!

2011-03-13T13:50:00.003-05:00

PIC: In Japan with Miyuki, Christi & Mika (Make a Wish Trip, July 2003)

Whew! What a tremendous relief! Shayne and I have been watching the TV news coverage about the horrific quake, tidal wave and nuclear disaster with intent, so worried about our Japanese friends. With Miyuki's response back, we have now heard from the three former Japanese exchange students and exchange teachers we love and still keep in contact with. (We lost contact with our other two years ago: Hidenori and Mariko. I pray they are ok too!) Although Saiko is without power and aftershocks continue for her, she is ok - they all are! THANKS for letting us know, beautiful Miyuki! We were so worried about you. We are so sorry! May God help our sweet friends recover from this horrific disaster.

(PIC: Christi and Saiko - Tokoyo Disney, Make a Wish Trip, July 2003)
(Christi & Miyuki, July 2003)

Heidelberg University $1,000 Christi Thomas Scholarship

2011-03-12T15:15:00.001-05:00

Just a friendly reminder to any Heidelberg Juniors who may yet want to apply for this year's Christi Thomas $1,000 Scholarship. Applications are due today!

Thinking of You - Miyuki!

2011-03-12T15:14:00.000-05:00

All our love to you and yours.

Praying you are ok,
Angela

2011-03-10T16:53:00.000-05:00

That was the perfect break for clearing my mind and resting my body! My deepest thanks to mom and dad for talking with me, listening to me, praying with me, sharing their thoughts, guidance and wisdom and as always helping me. I don't know what I'd do without them! I am richly blessed!

As it turns out the young mare wasn't quite what we thought she was. Now that the old mare (smile) is back home, the young mare is about to be kicked out of the barn!
Needless to say, there's been some stress!

A New Addition

2011-03-07T20:11:00.005-05:00

Perhaps Shayla is one of only a few 12 year old girls to ever ask for a horse for her birthday and actually get one. For her 12th birthday, we bought her a horse, an 8 year old quarter horse. She’s 14 hands. Slick Assets is her registered name and I’m not sure what Shayla will rename this girl, (let us know if you have a good name) but perhaps that will happen once her feet hit the ground. Shayla is well aware of that fact that this is a one month trial. If the horse doesn’t work out, get along with the other (nearly 30) horses in the barn where we are now boarding her, or she isn’t the horse we think she is, we will return her to the owner.

Shayla learned of this amazing news on her 12th birthday. Aunt Marty brought her birthday cake over with a picture of Slick Assets (Roamy) on it. Shayla looked at the picture and thought it was one of Aunt Marty’s horses, then Skeeter, THEN she got it and when she got it I said, “And do you know why there might be a picture of Roamy on your birthday cake?” She knew and hugged her daddy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this works out for her. Her safety is my only concern. Time will tell if this horse will stay or head back to Findlay.

I had a ball today with mom and dad, enjoying the Florida sunshine and the wonderful animals and shows at Busch Gardens. I also submitted my first grant proposal through BGSU this morning (Whew, what a learning experience. Thankfully, all positive, the folks in the Dean's office and Research & Grants office are amazing! We will see if I nail this grant for the univeristy, or not. Fingers crossed.) To the students in my online course, I promise to grade your assignments you submitted yesterday tomorrow! I hope you are having a fabulous spring break!

I continue to hope and pray my sweet friend's recovery from her surgery will be uneventful. My deepest thanks to her sweet daughter for texting me throughout the day with updates regarding the surgery. May God completely and fully restore her body to good health. She is truly a Saint and should not suffer!

2011-03-06T15:38:00.003-05:00

I couldn't take any more. After driving through a cold and wicked rainstorm yesterday afternoon, I boarded a plane to spend some of my spring break in Florida. While we were deicing, and I was afraid I wouldn't get to take off, the captain told us it was 75 and sunny at our destination. The plane broke out in thunderous applause. Shayla texted me this morning and said that there is snow everywhere at home. I'm thankful I got out just in time. Something about being in mom's care always makes you feel better!

I went to the most amazing Catholic mass I've ever been to this morning. I know why mom loves her church! After church I lit a candle for a struggling woman from home. This week will be a difficult one for her and her family. May God grant her wellness, peace and happiness.

Update

2011-03-05T10:12:00.002-05:00

It was a crazy week, unlike no other. Finally, Friday came! Shayla took a friend to the Art Museum with her last night. We had a lot of fun! There was a ballet performance - based on museum pieces, an Egyptian exhibit to go along with what the girls are studying in school and an art participatory experience - sweet!

(PIC: I can't believe how big she's getting!)

I am so blessed that Spring Break has finally arrived! Just like last year, I told my BGSU students, I was their mother speaking: "May the choices you make today be the ones you can live with tomorrow." I hope they all return rested, safe and ready to continue working hard when they get back to campus.

Here's wishing you and yours a great week! We have very exciting news coming! Shayla is nearly bursting out of her skin!

Wrapping Up Shaylauray

2011-02-26T08:14:00.002-05:00

As the waiter at Applebees greeted us on Tuesday, he asked what brought us in. We told him it was "Shaylauary". He looked confused. Shayla and her friend giggled. Shayne jokingly asked him where he was from that he didn't know what Shaylauary was then he explained to the waiter that Shayla is so awesome she needs more than just one day to celebrate her life; she deserves a whole month. At the end of the meal, our awesome waiter brought her a big ice cream sundae and wished her a happy Shaylauary - LOL!

Not only did the girls enjoy another awesome Snow Day on Tuesday, but Shayne received free box seats to see "Madagascar Live" in Toledo so after dinner at Applebees, we went to the Stranahan Theatre and enjoyed the show. It was a bit young for Shayla; however, everything is awesome with a friend we've recently discovered. As you can see, they had a blast!

Pic: Buttercup, Christi's cat, "helping" me with my work. She's so funny! Every time I drop a new pile of papers on the floor to start working through she comes and "rubs her fur" over them. I remember, the summer before Christi died, she told me her biggest fear was of Buttercup dying. Now that the cat is older, I have actually started having the same fear. It's like one of the very last "Christi Connections" I still have. I don't want to lose it, yet I know I will one day.

Shayla enjoyed another marvelous Snow Day yesterday. (And can you believe my university - a residential university, was actually closed too due to poor weather, crazy! I cancelled my class and gave my students an online assignment and then five minutes later the text came in that the university was closed. I was laughing at the remaining texts telling us which dining halls were open and that they were opening up the Rec Center. Ahhhhh, to be young and in college again and to only have those worries! LOL!) In the afternoon I took Shayla up to the Sandusky Mall to meet our "condo friends" for dinner and to send Shayla off with them for the weekend. It's really odd that one of her very best friends isn't from her school, but someone she only sees in the summer. Now I can't imagine how they'd live without texting each other every day (smile), but I'm glad she has this very sweet and very special friend. I know she's having a great weekend - finally getting to see her friend's "real home" and celebrating this beautiful young lady's 13th birthday too! Shayne and I are enjoying some couple time in the midst of trying to catch up on a lot of things that are going on right now with work for both of us - all good, really good, just eating up a TON of our time! Please take care of you and yours; have a fabulous weekend!

A Kalahari Kind of Bday

2011-02-21T20:52:00.004-05:00

Thanks to sweet Grandma Nee Nee, Shayla had a FANTASTIC bday celebration! I was selected to present a session for middle grades teachers at a conference at Kalahari and it just so happened that Shayla did not have school that day either. We thought that was the perfect mix for a party: babysitting by grandma at a waterpark with mom to take over at the end of the day, sweet!

Shayne came up both days after he was finished at work. He was AWESOME surfing! I had a blast taking pictures of him!
Kalahari - an AMAZING indoor water park!

All of the girls had fun trying to "surf" on the Wave Rider. (Pic: Shayla)

The six girls really enjoyed our large condo we rented for two nights. Grandma and I cooked up some delicious meals and treats. Shayne created a wonderful Scavenger Hunt and the 6th graders enjoyed fixing each other's hair and putting on make up. Ahhhhhh, to be twelve! HAPPY SHAYLUARY!

Thank you!

2011-02-13T16:46:00.004-05:00

Thank you so much for all of the kind birthday wishes! She had a great day - and she's having a great "Shaylauary". Driving home from the airport she had no idea there was a surprise in store. Aunt Marty and Uncle Jeff drove over to have a birthday dinner celebration! It was great! She opened presents and we all watched "Secretariat" on DVD.
Thanks, sweet Aunt V! You are so thoughtful! She loved the new car for the train you've created for her every year! THANKS!

Thanks for a great Surprise Birthday for Shayla!

A couple of orbs appeared in a couple of the bday pictures! In this one, it was time for the traditional "Hold the Baby" picture - we've done it every year. An "orb" showed up on Shayla's leg - amazing, simply amazing! Christi, sweet Christi, I have goosebumps!

How about her new show clothes?! She loves them - purple this year! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet 12 year old Shayla!

Showmanship (bottom picture), and Horsemanship outfits for 2011! I just need to buy her a white cowboy hat and boots yet and she will be all set to compete in Western events! Cowgirl up!

12 on the 12th!

2011-02-12T07:51:00.007-05:00

Happy 12th Birthday to our sweet child, Shayla! At this time 12 years ago, I met her for the first time. Little did we know she would become an only child seven years later. And I knew she'd need me, but little did I know I would need her, really need her to keep me going through the tough days and dark nights. I am so thankful for this most beautiful, precious and awesome gift! I do not deserve her! Happy Bday, Shay Shay! I love you so much! (PIC: Last night with grandparents)

My training was fantastic yesterday! I observed in seven different classrooms (grades 5, 6, 7 & 8) and learned from about 14 amazing teachers! I have some new teaching techniques and strategies to incorporate in my classes and to share with the teachers I work with every Monday and Tuesday. I have some research and related information about what I saw to read on the plane today.

Shayla's day was also fabulous! She returned to Busch Gardens (with her season pass - thanks mom and dad) for another wonderful day with her grandparents!

Last night she was so surprised when she learned they had a birthday cake for her. (There's another surprise in store later on today.) I love this gal so much! It's a blast to surprise her and make her happy!

And to my students who may be reading this (since I know some of you do "stalkers" hee hee), my GA told me your test scores from yesterday were very good (and she also said you got a bit "salty" with her.....something about expecting "treaties" - hmmmmmmm, can't imagine what that was all about, hee hee, LOL!) I'll post your scores as soon as I get back to campus. Do something nice for someone else today; you may not get a tomorrow! Take care, I'll see you Monday!

2011-02-10T21:09:00.004-05:00

Can't even describe the glorious day I shared with my family! It was wonderful! Our flight to Florida yesterday was uneventful and it was incredible to see mom and dad again! Ahhh! I wish we could stay so much longer, but there's this little (big) thing called "work" - darn (smile)! It was wild this morning to be awakened by a text from a school I work with back home saying school was delayed due to wind chills of -18, yikes! I'm so blessed to be in Florida now. Shayne said it's brutal back home.

Shayne - since you're not here, I had to ride the roller coasters with her! Oh, my! Missing you (smile)!
Shay said this was a "baby rollercoaster" but I screamed the whole time! You'd be very proud of me! Miss you!

Science Exploration at Heidelberg University

2011-02-09T11:14:00.002-05:00

I found these pictures on the School Website. Shayla had a blast recently when her 6th grade honors science class went to Heidelberg day and learned A TON about science!
Here's wishing you a great rest of the week! Shayla's thrilled to be turning 12 "on the 12th" in just 3 days - I can't believe it! (And she's not going to believe her 12th birthday present!) The two of us will be flying south soon, very soon! I wish Shayne could go along too!

Weekly Update

2011-02-06T11:41:00.002-05:00

Shaylauary continues to go very well for the little miss. She's enjoyed more "snow days" home from school and staying with friends. (PIC: Yes, she is actually ice skating on our drive. She also skated up and down the road and IN our yard. On top of all of that snow was a nice layer of ice which allowed her to do that - what a hoot!)

I'm tired of the cold weather so Shayla and I will very soon put an end (or at least a little hault) to that. It is Shaylauary ya know, and this sweetie needs spoiled I think! And her mama needs some warm weather - all in the name of education, of course!

While Shayla has been with friends, Shayne and I have also had some couple time to enjoy our friends too - ahhh! Her first 4H meeting from her other 4H club meets today so she's excited about that. She plans to take just sewing and scrapbooking this year. (And of course "the horse" for her other 4H club and speaking of "that horse" - I may have news soon, news Shayla would like. We'll see)

May you and yours have a blessed and fabulous week! Be safe!

Shaylauary!

2011-02-01T19:37:00.003-05:00

Thanks so very much for your kind and lovely words regarding Christi's grave marker! That was very loving and helpful - thank you! (Of course, today we made a small change, but......LOL! I KNOW Christi would be laughing thinking that was hilarious! "Tell 'all the world' you ordered my marker, show everyone and then add a couple of details".....Dear God, I miss her!)

Shayla could not have been happier about the official start of Shaylauary! For whatever reason, her alarm clock did not go off so she slept in and was greeted by a large piece of paper I left outside of her bedroom door: Closed! No School! Happy Snow Day! I cooked her sausage gravy over pancakes (instead of biscuits - crazy, I know, but she loved it) and then looked up her grades only to find that her math grade was up to a B+ - MUCH BETTER than it had been one week ago. She did a lot of scrapbooking and talking with friends. (She also donated the majority of her "soapies" collection for me to give a group on campus collecting soap for low income families. It's called "Soap for Hope" and Shayla said she no longer was interested in her soapies so she might as well give them to kids who would like them and who needed them. She's such a sweetie!

With ice pelting our windows and power probably soon to be lost, I just cancelled my classes for tomorrow and gave my students an online assignment instead. This is definitely a "Monster of a Storm" - may you all be warm and safe! We're off for a family game of "Risk" soon! Happy Shayluary to you all - hee hee!

(PIC: Sunday's amazing Japanese Flute Performance at the Toledo Museum of Art)

2011-01-30T11:51:00.004-05:00

Received back the revisions and with the exception of the quotation marks going the wrong way, we are fine with it and we've ordered it. I didn't want to put it on here until Shayla saw it first. Shayla approves! I hope Christi does too!

Shayla has been quite the busy young lady with activities and slumber parties. We snagged her this afternoon for a trip back to the Toledo Museum of Art for Japanese flute playing, amazing! Shayla said the plaque was fine. We cried a little. I hope Christi would like it too. When I told the gentleman, who suggested pink, for the stone that Christi didn't like pink, but I thought it was perfect for a little girl - heck I used it for her whole "funeral color scheme" despite the fact a seven year old Shayla told me at the funeral home that Christi liked teal blue and Chrisi wouldn't like all this pink. The monument guy told me, "It can also be called Mountain Rose" so I said, "Yes, we'll go with that!" It's not pink, Christi, it's "Mountain Rose" and I love and miss you sooooooooo much, sweetpea!

Weekly Update - all is well!

2011-01-23T08:11:00.003-05:00

Glassworks Class at the Toledo Museum of Art! All is well here! I hope you and yours had a great week too! Shayla took a friend with her to the Toledo Museum of Art Friday night where they attended an amazing art class and we enjoyed watching glassblowing. Another friend joined her again on Saturday when we went to BGSU, caught a planetarium show at the university and then spent hours rearranging / fixing my "corner suite" in the Education Building. I believe I'm finally settled and I absolutely love my new office. Ahhhhh!

PIC: Shayla with the glass instructor. The girls did a fantastic job trying their craft of melting glass rods! It was amazing! And we only came away with one burn - Shayla's hand (because Shayne got involved trying to help her - oops!). She's fine!

Sketching in the "Glass Pavilion" at the Toledo Museum of Art

As the semester is now "up and running" again at BG, I think about my new students - a lot. I hope and pray that they will be the wonderful, fabulous and absolutely amazing and compassionate teachers like Christi was so blessed to have with her 4th grade teacher (and Shayne's 4th grade teacher and later Shayla's 4th grade teacher) in Caroline. I love this picture of her welcoming Christi to school. What a great year she made it for Christi - and all of us! God bless her!

Shayla dressed Buckeye in an American Girl Doll outfit Christi's Chemo Angel made. GO BUCKS!

RIP Sweet Ylaria, Find Peace Sweet Friends

2011-01-17T09:46:00.006-05:00

Ylaria Cazares (2005-2011)

Since Christi's death in 2006, we've really not allowed ourselves to become close to other neuroblastoma families. We've shared information when asked, but have not followed others' journeys as we know the end result of this horrific childhood cancer. If you have NB stage IV and you are over 2 years old, you really don't have a chance of surviving. After having been down for so long, we knew this was a world we needed to walk away from and we have. It's just too painful for us.

While I've tried not to get to close, due to a sweet friend, I've been following this awesome little gal's journey with NB - from California to New York City. Sadly, her battle ended this weekend. My thoughts and prayers are not just for her family, (gotta love teacher parents!) but also for all who have been supporting and loving her over the years. I know they are grieving too and my heart breaks for them. You'd think some progress would have been made in nueroblastoma survival rates since Christi was diagnosed in 2002. Unfortunately, that is not the case and the evil disease still robs so many family of their precious children.

We enjoyed a lovely weekend! On Friday I received an email from my secretary telling me my new office was finished and I could move in any time now. I "IM"ed Shayne on my Blackberry who said, "You have many great qualities, but patience is not one of them. How about I move you in tomorrow morning?" Oh, gotta love that sweet man of mine! We spent MANY hours on Saturday at BG getting my new office arranged. Shayla took a friend and they had a blast! Shayne not only moved my desks, book cases, and filing cabinets, but he also painted a bookcase for me so that all of my furniture matches. Shayla LOVES the view from out my new office window and I think, when I put the final touches on everything, it's going to be amazing. I didn't realize it was also bigger than my first office. Shayne calls it the "corner suite" - it's not THAT sweet, but really, really nice! I'm so blessed! And it was hard too. With most every pile I carried down the hall and over to the other offices, I had to pass a colleague's office. One who has been there longer than I and who probably feels should be getting the new office with the window. BGSU takes very seriously the "publish or perish" document you sign and also weighs in heavily those student evaluations of one's teaching and the service you provide (or don't). It's hard to believe in October I will be turning in those docs to see if I earn a second 3 year contract - or not. I've been working very hard getting ready my 2nd year review narratives, documents and portfolio evidence which are due at the end of the month (justifying my existence, hee hee). I'm sure I'm fine, (I've actually been called the "Poster Child for a new Professor" hee hee!) but time is flying and I really want to stay! I've never been happier or felt a job was a better fit for me than this one. At this time next year I will know whether I have earned a second 3 year contract or not.

We were also able to squeeze in ice skating while on campus - what an amazing ice rink! Shayla also invited another friend over and we went cross country skiing on Sunday afternoon. Shayla overnighted with a friend last night and I'm being very productive today. Ahhhh!

A sweet blogger recently asked about Christi's cats - Buckeye and Buttercup. Yes, they are alive and well! Shayla takes such great care of them; it's precious! The Siamese literally "cries" when she's not here. She will go looking for Shayla - it's the cutest thing. I keep telling Buckeye, "The one who loves you is at school. It's just me here and I don't have time to play."

Enjoy your week!Angela

One Last Holiday Blast

2011-01-09T19:47:00.007-05:00

New pic (very bottom) just for you, Lisa D., after reading your post.
Out of all of the weekend pictures, one orb appeared - and I love it! Oh, Christi loved her daddy! In this picture, Shayne just paid for Shayla's new bike. (Orb on his chest)

I head back to work tomorrow (and quite frankly I'm soooooo excited and truly can't wait!). Over the weekend, we went to visit our sweet friends, Eric (Webby) and Alicia. Shayla got a new bike, and got to enjoy both downhill and cross country skiing. She also enjoyed cooking with Mrs. Cook.

Mom and dad - check out my new photos! I used some of your Christmas money to buy myself a new camera - THANK YOU!

Of course notice that one of the Cook's sweet "Golden's" made it in this picture - just a bit. Shayla feel asleep cuddled up with Ryder last night, precious. This morning he work her up by jumping on her bed and licking her face - she loved it.

Each time she fell while cross country skiing, (which was often) Eric would say, "Go help her, Ryder!" and the doggie would go over and lick her face. She giggled and giggled and giggled!

Happy 2011

2011-01-02T16:57:00.002-05:00

Happy 2011! It was a new experience for us. Shayla (nor Christi) had ever had a slumber party before and I'm happy to report that we survived Shayla's New Year’s Eve slumber party! (Whew, it was close – hee hee. Picture attached, Shayla – far right in pink. After the chocolate fountain "festivities" and running around outside in the 50 degree temps and the mud, the middle schoolers all had to change into Shayla’s clothes – What a hoot!)

I’m now ready to begin the spring semester, one more week to wait though! At least I get to share my "Love of Literacy" with a HS and MS Faculty tomorrow for their "Wavier Day". I have some great sessions planned. I hope they learn a ton and enjoy it; I've absolutely loved my weekly work with their teachers and administrators this year! May your 2011 be filled with an abundance of happiness, peace and good health!

New Year's Eve 2010

2010-12-31T21:31:00.009-05:00

(Pic: Fall 2005 - Christi joking with Jason at COSI) Our deepest thanks to Traci's friend Jason! A while (quite a while, actually) he gave me a CD with many Christi pictures on it. For whatever reason, I didn't save them on my computer at that time. Since we've been home a lot lately, I've had time to get caught up on many things, one of them being organizing my CDs. Low and behold, I popped the CD in and saw pictures of Christi I had never seen before. God is good! Thank you, sweet Jason - we miss you!

In this series, Jason took 12 pictures of Christi in this same spot at her last dance recital (June 2006). Much to our shock and delight, we saw she squeezed a (very quick) little "hello" into her dance routine (middle picture in the series). All three of us laughed in a big way over that one. We didn't think Christi had it in her to be mischievous, but she sure did! (wink)

"Hello!"

2010-12-30T07:35:00.004-05:00

Wow, sweet bloggers - THANK YOU! I did not catch the orb in our family Christmas Morning picture. I'm so glad a few of you pointed it out to me, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I'm sure it's a bit of dust on my camera lens, but it gives me great comfort as I tell myself Christi "flew in" to celebrate Jesus's birth with us!

We did donate to "Upper's Winter Fantasy of Lights" again this year in Christi's memory. We will not be making it over to Upper Sandusky to see the light display this year, but I've heard it's lovely. Please make a trip if you can! Christi LOVED going there and seeing the gorgeous light display.

I didn't realize that I created a blog entry for Shayla's choir concert and then never published it so I will do that here today. We are having a FABULOUS week! Praise be to God! I've been very productive in terms of work - writing, preparing for my spring courses, my annual review, submitting some conference proposals, and reading. I was also able to visit my grandma in the nursing home yesterday. Shayla's having a fabulous week. She's had many friends over, gone shopping, seen Gulliver's Travels, gone ice skating and to the YMCA, and done some baking and scrapbooking, and finished up a school research project on her future desired career - a free lance writer. She's really looking forward to Friday night - I'm not sure I'm ready! I will update after all of that hoopla!

The sixth graders sing four songs at the middle school concert.

Close up shot of Shay Shay, blurry, but that's what I get when taking photos in a gym.

One of Shayla's ocarinas. She played this one for the group gathered with an 8th grade partner.

Shayla loved being with the older kids and participating in this incredible art program. She was thrilled to learn because she was identified, she will get to participate next year - and they may make jewelry, cool!

Christmas Day 2010

2010-12-26T17:52:00.011-05:00

Our Christmas Day Hike - simply gorgeous! I never checked my phone during our hike at the park. Getting ready to drive back to our home I pulled it out and was surprised to find out that my sister and her family had driven three hours to our home and we weren't there. We never really set up a time so I thought they'd arrive much later. What a hoot! We weren't there! Thankfully, we were just ten minutes away.

Shay had a glorious time with her three awesome cousins! My sister and I even talked the others into going to see "The Tourist" with us again so that we could watch it a second time. Shayla and all of the females in the group loved it!

"Santa" arrived!

It was so nice that Nee Nee could join us on Christmas morning!

Opening her stocking on Christmas morning.

Family Picture: Christmas Morning 2010

Shayla received some Cupcake Supplies, including this apron.

Pre Christmas Update

2010-12-25T09:13:00.008-05:00

(Pic: Christmas Eve 2010) It's definitely been a different Christmas this year with Shayla knowing what she does. I told her it really has taken the pressure off of me and she said I took things way too far and didn't need to do so; she never would have figured it out (different wrapping paper, writing on gift tags with my other hand, setting my alarm to get up in the middle of the night, watching Santa's path on the website, etc., etc.). While she was at school one day I wrapped the presents and put them all under the tree. I had never done that before and it was wonderful not to be sitting on the bathroom floor where I always wrapped the presents late at night! This was way too easy, ahhhh!) Speaking of sweet and easy, we didn't make any cookies/treats for Santa and I actually took her shopping with her awesome cousin to pick out some of her own gifts. As soon as she wakes up this morning, we'll see if she's surprised with her new clothes she picked out last week - wink!

The icy morning we took off to go to church and visit grandma and didn't make it, I said to Shayne and Shayla, "I just wonder if we missed the last time we will ever visit grandma at her home," due to her age - she's in her 90s. Well, little did I know.

Last Friday night was graduation at BGSU and I can't even explain what an amazing feeling it was to be sitting with faculty. I had to brush away tears a couple of times as I reflected back to how I sat in the student section just 12 months ago. I've truly had the best year of my life; I can't believe I'm a faculty member at BG and I am so blessed. After graduation, I took off to pick Shayla up from a friend's home and a call came in my car. It was from my sister. "Did anyone call you yet?" Oh, now that made my heart fall. I just knew something had happened to grandma. She told me grandma fell. Our aunt found her and an ambulance had transported her to the hospital. Thank God she was ok; however, what we had been talking about happened. She was put in 24 hour care. Perhaps because she's my only grandparent left and my only connection to my deceased father, I've taken this pretty hard and keep having bad dreams. I know it's the best place for her safety, yet it breaks my heart knowing what's ahead. Shayla and I visited with her this week. I had to blink away tears as I "played" ball with her (with a balloon) during a therapy session, thinking back to days when I was younger. (Grandma and Grandpa were our neighbors so I walked to and from their home countless times.)

On Wednesday of that week, the monument company emailed me a picture of what they designed for Christi's grave marker. I'm typically the "open up an email the moment it pops into my Blackberry" type of gal, but instead I finished some work, ran some errands and then emailed with a friend - a friend we never would have met had Christi's body not been filled with cancer; strange isn't it?! What a blessing friends are sticking with us, getting us through what continue to be some days very difficult ones. Finally, I clicked it open. I LOVED the lettering, absolutely gorgeous, then I scrolled down and did not like any of the rest. I kept thinking, "I don't know what I don't like about it, but I don't." Truly, it's not the fact that I don't like what it is, I will know what I like when I see it and this just wasn't it. I waited until Shayla went to bed and then showed it to Shayne. He didn't really care for it either - but he thought Christi would have thought the " going the wrong directions was hilarious! I just couldn't quite find the humor. The next day I contacted the company with our suggestions for improvements and asked for it to be redone. (I just don't think the ballet slippers should be bigger than her face, right?! Smile.)

It was an incredibly busy for me. I got all of my online course components set up and running for spring semester which begins Jan. 10th. I emailed all of my students so that they could obtain their books and materials. Revised my syllabus for spring semester and I prepared for some professional development sessions I will be conducting for some middle and high school staffs in January. I love it, but it takes a very long time to get everying all set up exactly the way I want it. Additionally, I submitted a manuscript for publication. I'm very pleased with it; however, I just don't know if it's good enough. Fingers crossed! Of course it really hasn't been "all work and no play" this week; I've gotten in a lot of great reading and I rented five "new release" movies (a splurge for me) and watched them all in a week - ahhhh!

We were able to spend last weekend at my sister's home. It was great! We are thrilled they are coming to spend this weekend with us! Shayne went to the Bengals/Browns game and we had "girls time"! Check out the movie, "The Tourist" if you can. I want to see it again!

We were also able to all see Shelby earn her yellow belt, very cool! (Of course, we asked if she was getting shoes and a purse to match her new yellow belt, but she said she's not. - hee hee!) We also got to watch Will's basketball game!

We went to "midnight" mass at 10:00pm last night. (Shayla thought that was pretty funny, midnight mass at ten!) The decorations were gorgeous and Shayla squeezed my hand and told me, "I love you so much, mom," three times. What did I do to deserve this wonderful child?! Absolutely nothing; I don't deserve her. She's such a gift! Thank you, dear Lord!!

(Check out the orb! The only orb of the evening's pictures!)I thought since she now knows the reality of "Santa" we started a new tradition. "Now that she knows" she can open one gift on Christmas Eve. She thought the new tradntion was a fabulous idea! After our steak dinner (Shayne grilled outside, brrrr! So sweet!) Shayla carefully went through each and every package under the tree and picked one. I was really disappointed with her selection, but let it go. She proceeded to open up a box of beef jerky - BEEF JERKY! She liked it, but I couldn't help but think, "Out of all of the amazing gifts under the tree, she opened THAT one!" Oh, Christi was probably giggling her beautiful little angel face off over that one.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours! I will update after our celebration here!

An End of Innocence / Childhood

2010-12-15T08:33:00.010-05:00

I knew this day was coming. Quite frankly, I thought it was long overdue and I had been suggesting to Shayne that we sit Shayla down and have that talk - no, not "that talk" we had that one years ago and continue to bring it up and purchase reading materials for her. You know, the "other talk" - the one about Santa.

My BG students knew it had been bugging me. I am always in my classroom early and make small talk with them as they drift in or hang after class. "She's so bright. She CAN'T POSSIBLY believe in Santa Claus, right?" and "I feel like she's never going to trust me or come to me about anything else because she now thinks I'm a liar letting her believe in Santa." My students shared their experiences with discovering the truth over the past couple of weeks with me and basically what they told me boiled down to two things:

1.) She knows, but she doesn't want to tell you she knows because she thinks her gifts will get cut in half at least.

2.) She doesn't know. When the other kids her age were talking about Santa on the bus, she was still riding to and from school with you. Now the middle school kids talk about sex on the bus so she totally missed it and she still believes.

I even had one young woman track me down after the final to say, "Just wanted to let you know that when I was in sixth grade, I still believed. I had no idea it was my parents until they told me after my sixth grade Christmas. Let her believe until she comes to you. It's ok. She'll be ok."

I think perhaps because I learned the evil truth about Santa (smile, it's really ok!) when I was only five years old, before my kindergarten Christmas and because that was so shocking and sad, I wanted my own children to enjoy and believe for along as possible. I was so happy, when Christi died, that she still believed. It just seems to me that once you know about Santa, a part of your childhood, your innocence, is forever gone and I wanted to postpone that for as long as possible.

(Shayla and Shayne - December 1999, 10 months old)

For the past couple of days, whenever "Santa" has come up, Shayla has been saying, "Santa - you mean you!" Hmmmmm. I didn't know how much she knew and I didn't want to ruin her life (wink) by talking about it. Oh, what to do. (At one point she asked, "Are you going to have me email my list to 'Santa' again this year because if so, I'm emailing you." I didn't respond, but I soon got an email on my Blackberry containing her list. So after that little confirming stunt, we had that Santa talk.) She said she didn't really believe last year, you know about flying reindeer and stuff, but she still thought there might be a guy bringing presents. This year she knows it's all your parents. And she did consider not confessing because she thought we might not have a really good Christmas or get her any presents if she told. Oh, my students were right on the money about that one (and I'm still really thinking hard about that middle school bus conversation - ohhhh my!)

The girls with Shayne, 2000: Shayla, 1 1/2, Christi 3 1/2 yrs old

Well, I knew this talk was coming and I was ready. I knew she'd have an absolute blast learning that Shayne, her awesome daddy, use to be the Santa who would come to our home before Christmas. When Christi died that made me sad, knowing I'd never be able to show her the picture of her sitting on Santa's lap and crying her eyes out and telling her it was her loving daddy - who was just as shocked that she reacted that way. So, praise be to God, I got to share those awesome, wonderful memories with Shayla. We stayed up way too late talking about it all and sharing pictures with her last night. When she asked how the tradition started, I shared that my father used to dress up for us and then for the grandchildren until he died. Then Shayne took over. Oh, what a hoot! Now "Little Miss Christmas" wants Shayne to start dressing up and going to people's homes again like he used to do because SHE wants to play the role of Santa's Elf and go in and help! God love her!

Shayla laughed and laughed at this last night saying, "If she only knew it was her own Dad, that is soooooo funny!" I know, Christi would have tried to pull off his beard and kiss his face all over. Oh, she loved her amazing daddy!

THE PICTURE at the very top of this entry is the last time Shayne played Santa for the girls, December 2001: Shayla 2, Christi 4 She was diagnosed before the next Christmas and Shayne knew he'd look at Christi, with her bald little head, and absolutely break down and sob. He knew he could never do it again - and he didn't.

2010-12-14T11:28:00.006-05:00

No news here! Shayla's band concert last week was fantastic, 140 students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade bands. I was surprised she was first chair flute, but she said it was no big deal. Regardless, I was impressed. I love to hear her play. Tonight is her choir concert and also her gifted art academy event. Thanks to the sweet blogger who emailed me while we were at Disney that Shayla's picture was on the front of the school website. I had no idea! Here it is! THANKS! Shayla really enjoys her pull out art program on Tuesdays. I think there are 12 students; she was the only sixth grader selected. We of course emailed our friends from the MET in NYC and thanked them for giving her such a great start with art!

We were planning to visit my grandma after church on Sunday; however, seeing cars in the ditches along the way made us turn around and head home. We cleaned the basement, cooked and read instead. Shayla enjoyed a snow day yesterday and spent most of it cleaning and scrapbooking. I couldn't make it to BG for a thesis defense so they Skyped me in. It was actually quite comical. They emailed me not to try to drive they'd Skype me in. I said, "That would be great! What time?" Of course, I had never Skyped before so, the first thing I did was put make up on and change my top! THEN I downloaded it and called Eric and my GA to see if the could practice with me since I had about 15 minutes left before the meeting. Whew! It is EASY! My colleagues most likely never knew it was a brand new experience for me (and I'm sure they were glad I put some make up on and changed my shirt) - what a hoot!

We went to take another look at "Roamy" - that horse for sale. We took along one of Shayla's horse trainers for a professional opinion of whether it is a good horse for Shayla or not. She thought the horse was great. It all went MUCH better than any of us expected. Shayla was even able to ride too; I was so comfortable with the horse after their trainer, than our trainer rode first. Shayla knows not to get her hopes up, but she really likes Roamy.

The Sixth Grade Band

'Tis the Season

2010-12-06T08:15:00.001-05:00

Last weekend it was time for the annual tree topping! Ya know, Christi and Shayla used to fight over who would get to place the angel on the top. Now Shayla has the honor all to herself and in a heartbeat she'd gladly let Christi do it, if only that were an option. I loved the "orb" that shows up on this picture. It's the only orb that was in the photos I took of our decorating last weekend. Fly, Christi, Fly! (This year Shayla decorated the tree all by herself and I couldn't have been any more please about that. She made the popcorn balls and then strung popcorn. I think it's simple, yet classy. I never got out a single ornament and since some of the Christi ones 'Baby's First Xmas 1997' 'Mom to Be, 1996' etc., etc. always make me so sad, I really lucked out. Again and again Shayla is huge blessing! I love her so much!)

Note the orb - I tell myself Christi was with us in spirit at our little party and poetry reading last night. Christi (like all of us) loved her aunt Marty and uncle Jeff soooooooo much! And she definitely would have loved the fact that I asked everyone to bring a favorite poem or two to share before dinner. (Jeff even wrote a poem, yet passed it off as Robert Frost's work - too funny! And for my students, who most likely think I'm a wee bit crazy anyway, I laugh at what they would have thought when we were all reading about Paul Revere's ride together - it was AWESOME discussing the poetry (and insulting some each other's selections) with each other! After dinner we played my favorite game, Scrabble!) I wore a pair of Christi's socks so that she'd be there too. What a lovely evening with lovely family we don't get to see often enough!

Marty started an amazing tradition when Shayla (her godchild) was little. She bought a huge (and very expensive, I'm sure) nativity set. Each year she wraps up one piece of it for Shayla. Now the set is nearly complete. Shayla is totally in to her Nativity Set. This year I relocated my Dickens Village so that she could have the entire window. Wow! I'll never forget Christmas of 2002 - shortly after Christi had been diagnosed. I caught the girls playing with my Nativity Set. Typically, I would have said, "no, no, no!" but given all that had happened to us that year, I thought it was precious they were moving the statues around and playing with the scene and I let them play. (They didn't even break anything, amazing!) My other great memory of Nativity Scenes is of Shayla opening the baby Jesus piece and saying, "Oh, Jesus!" and then realizing what she said and starting to apologize while we all laughed hysterically.

Here's wishing you and yours a fabulous and blessed week! ENJOY!

Misc.

2010-12-03T11:52:00.011-05:00

Pic: Shayne & Shayla at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge's pool where they swam every day we stayed there - too sweet!

"Florida" written by Shay, age 11 Pic above: 2004 in Florida. Shayla (5), Christi (7)

After the plane baggage pick up and getting a car, I can't help but wonder what the heat will be like here. Staring out the car window of the black PT cruiser, I find out. Full sun rays pour down upon us. It isn't hot, but a feeling of warmth gingerly brushing by. Soon it is gone and the glimpse of a promise for warmth is gone too. A cloud flutters over the sun, crushing our attempt to flee the cold's bite in Ohio. I rip my eyes from the sky and focus my mind on my surroundings. From the front seat, my mom and dad droned on in their definition of a "lighthearted" conversation. They aren't and won't be talking to me so I reposition my focus. I settle for looking at the trees. The trees! So green and not many the "palm trees" like Florida has a reputation for having. To me, they look like a civilized jungle complete with Spanish moss adorning the trees. Berries are ornaments beaming from steamy lands. And we're off to explore this new world!

(Pic: enjoying a rollercoaster with Shay Shay at Magic Kingdom)It was a very busy week here and I found myself reflecting back upon last week's - a LOT! In addition to all three of us reading "Catching Fire", Shayne and I both read Condelezza Rice's new autobiography too. We both LOVED it, thinking it was more of a "how to raise a single child" book than a political book by a former US Secretary of State. I was particularly interested in her parents, both classroom teachers and then her "Daddy" going to work at the university. I found her launching her career into higher education as a new professor to be equally exciting. I did not know she lived in Birmingham in the 60s - wow! We couldn't put it down - well, except to catch the bus to a Disney park (smile). I also read a heartbreaking and eye opening book "I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced". There is much work to be done!

Shayne had to fly back to Orlando again this week (for work this time). Shayla's thrill of the week was attending the middle school dance, a slumber party and enjoying both grandma and grandpa babysitting her one night while I was working late on campus. It's hard to believe I only have two more classes to teach yet before break. I have so much to do yet - yikes!

Pic: My birthday - celebrating this one at Planet Hollywood. On my birthday night, at EPCOT, Shayne surprised me with the Disney waiters singing to me and putting down a cupcake, I cried. It was so much better than the one I spent alone in 2003 in the Ronald House in Philly. I am so lucky!

Speaking of lucky and blessed, Shayne came home on the night of our 19th wedding anniversary this week with a huge bouquet of gorgeous red roses. Later we learned he just dropped by the flower shop on his way home and they didn't have any flowers available. He talked them in to giving him the bouquet they had waiting for another anniversary wife's husband to pick up the following day. I sure hope they were able to make more before he arrived. Shayne kept saying he was sure the other couple was getting a divorce because he bought that guy's flowers for his wife. Too funny!

Our Thanksgiving Holiday

2010-11-27T18:54:00.013-05:00

The night I ordered Christi's grave marker, I didn't sleep well. At one point, I went to my computer and pulled up Facebook. Imagine my surprise - the very first thing I saw was a few pictures of Christi I don't believe I had ever seen before posted on the site of Traci (aka "Harriett") just a couple of hours earlier - wild. I found it very comforting. I told myself it was the sign from Christi saying, "You did it, mom! Yes! I'm finally getting a marker!" (Christi absolutely adored everything about the wonderful Traci so it just had to be my sign!)

Ironically, Traci also posted a few of our pictures taken together at Disney World in 2004. Little did Traci know that in a matter of hours the Thomas team would be heading back there for Thanksgiving. Thank God for Traci and for the many blessings of comfort I've received over so many years! Thank you!

Waiting for the Electrical Light Parade to begin, December 2004

With Mickey Mouse!
Thankfully, Traci's stomach could handle the tea cups - and boy can that girl spin a fast teacup! Impressive!

My birthday was sweet! Thursday after school Shayla asked me to drop her off at the Christian bookstore. (Thanks to Shayne cluing me in, I agreed to do so.) I parked on one side of the street and she had to cross the street (by herself) to get to the store on the other side of the street. Shayla had never crossed the street by herself before and as I sat there watching her walk to the light, wait and then cross I just kept thinking how we've protected her and now she was probably going to get hit and killed by a car. We protected and cared for Christi just as much and yet she died too. Oh, watching Shayla take such a big step, right before my eyes, was really odd. Because we were flying to Florida very early Friday morning she wanted me to open my gift Thursday night so I did.

She drew me an awesome picture and gave me a wonderful bible saying, "See mom! I am giving you love letters, hundreds and hundreds of them from God!" For weeks she had been asking me what I wanted for my birthday and I continued to say over and over, "You know I love your writing, and there's nothing more personal or that I could ever treasure more. Write me a letter. Write me a love letter."

Months ago I learned my proposal to present a session at the National Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (NCTE) was selected. What was thrilling to me was that the conference was to be held at the Walt Disney World Resort and that it was incredibly close to Thanksgiving break. Shayne agreed to go along and we spent an incredible time soaking up the sun and really enjoying each other's company. It was amazing, definitely one of the very best vacations we've ever had! What a blessing! I hope you enjoy some pictures!

Taking a break during my NCTE conference and relaxing at the resort with sweet Shayla. While we had been to Disney about six times, we'd never stayed at a Disney property before. Thanks to this conference we did! And we loved it! (OK, throughout the week all three of us took turns reading "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins so we pretended Disney was the Capital and we couldn't escape - we were trapped (wink). What fun my family is! (OK, a bit warped too, but it's ok by me!)

With Jack Gantoz (author of the Joey Pigza books)

Meeting one of her favorite authors, Margaret Peterson Haddix author of "Found" "Sent" "Among the Hidden" and others Shayla has read, loved and recommended to my college students.

(With Gennifer Choldenko, the author of "Al Capone Does My Shirts" and a few others) This is her new book.

Shayla got to meet another one of her favorite authors, Ally Carter. Shayla was incredibly surprised to see her. She said, "I was just reading 'Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover' last night in my bed and now here you are!" (I thought she was very young and incredibly beautiful. What an awesome inspiration for Shayla to get to meet her as she's pondering careers.)

I'm really not sure who enjoyed my conference more! hee hee! For the little writer wanna be it was awesome! As she visited many of the exhibitor's booths with me she made a great analogy, "This is like Trick or Treating for teachers." I too was surprised at how many free books were being given away by various publishers. I actually mailed over 23 pounds of free books back home - amazing! When we saw Gordon Korman (author of Swindle, Zoobreak, and many other hilarious books), our mouths dropped as we said, "Gordon Korman!" She also got to see Lois Lowry (Author of "The Giver", "Number the Stars" "Gathering Blue" and probably others). I told Shayla many teachers go all their careers without meeting more than a few authors and there we were, author after author after author of many of our beloved books, too cool!

Shayla enjoyed swimming in the Coronado Resort's pool with her awesome daddy.

Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM) Shayla enjoyed this attraction so much we had to do it twice - what fun for her!

Happy Thanksgiving, Mickey Mouse!

Waiting for the parade and enjoying some Mickey shaped ice cream, so special!

with Donald Duck

Our last day at the hotel, a beautiful rainbow formed over the pool. Shayla reminded us that it was the sign for God's promise.

When my awesome conference ended, we moved to Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort - wow! This was the view from our balcony! Each morning we woke up and enjoyed the zebras, etc. right from our balcony. It was amazing! Christi would have absolutely loved staying there too!
At EPCOT Shayne enjoyed sharing his love of history with Shayla. Then we proceeded to tell her the story of when we were in college, the traveling exhibit came to Columbus. We scraped together our money and went. At the gift shop, we wanted to purchase one of the little replica terra solider for sale. We didn't have the money then. We told her how we even looked in the tub of the broken ones because they were cheaper, but we just didn't think we should spend any money on that. Then of course we did our usual, get good grades, get in to a good college and get a good job and life is much eaiser talk. Poor Shayla, she's so tired of hearing about our poor college days I think.

Animal Kingdom

Enjoying our Segway Tour around Celebration - Disney's planned community/town. We all loved it!

Shayne took Shayla to a shooting range where she shot a pistol and a machine gun. She's not yet sharpshooter Olympic caliber, but she wants to learn more about the sport and to try again. "Oh" I said, trying to be an open minded (yet totally freaked out) mother.

Shay with Mickey and Minnie Mouse (Sadly, she did not remember any of the previous times she had been to Disney with Christi. We were really surprised and she kept asking questions and questions, "Did I ride that with Christi?" "Did I like the parade?" It was really interesting (and heartbreaking at times) to say the very least.

On Thanksgiving night we got her a turkey "holiday" meal at the hotel. It was very awkward. Other than sharing what we were all thankful for, (health, family/friends, work) we ate in silence. Sometimes we just miss Christi so bad it hurts. I think going away for the holiday helps, but she's still not with us. After dinner we went to Downtown Disney and took in "Tangled" - a hilarious movie we all enjoyed.

Close

2010-11-18T05:23:00.004-05:00

Despite bile rising, I made it inside the monument store and tried my best to order Christi's grave marker. I'm "close" - just a few things they are checking on for me. I really didn't want to have to ever go back in there again, but I will.

The gentleman told me I was in a different state of mind than when I was there before. (Thank you, but I didn't exactly need that reminder; I remembered myself and my behavior quite well without that comment.) He also apologized for not being able to get me a price quote for a few days. I responded, "No problem. It doesn't appear that I'm in any kind of rush now, does it? I've put this off for four years and two months, what's a few more days?!" At least I had him laughing at that one.

Then back in the car I knew I was going to get sick. I pulled over and talked with Shayne, telling him my stomach was a mess. He so kindly told me I was so brave and it must have been so hard.

(PICTURE: March 2006 at CHOP with awesome Traci and Jenn)

A Real Big Step For Me

2010-11-16T08:24:00.005-05:00

You most likely wouldn't think the English teacher in me would like this funny little kitten graphic, but I do! (And since this is about Christi and she LOVED kittens, I really do!)

I JUST MADE A REAL BIG STEP FORWARD! You'll never believe it! On Sunday, while Shayne cooked an awesome brunch, I made the final decisions on Christi's grave marker. Shayne said, "That's great! I'm really proud of you, Angela. I couldn't ever do it." On Monday, I called the monument place and made an appointment for Wednesday morning to order it.

The poor guy remembered me from when I was in his store four years ago, sitting at his desk. I burst into tears, got up, took Shayla's little hand and walked out. He said something like, "Oh yeah, it's coming back to me now. I know who you are; I remember you." At least he didn't come right out and say, "Oh, yes, you were the sad, crazy, wacky, rude lady who just got up and walked right out the door as I sat at my desk looking up prices. Now here you are four years later actually coming to order this puppy, well the price has gone up - a lot!"

Seriously, I'm very, very happy with myself. I can't believe I did it! I'm ready - well, not really, but...... Now let's just see if I actually go through with my Wednesday morning appointment. Don't let me down now, dear Lord! I really don't want to do a repeat performance! That was quite embarassing and precious Christi deserves a lovely marker at her grave site memorializing her life.

Another Little Update

2010-11-14T08:20:00.006-05:00

All is well. Another busy, yet normal week here. I picked Shayla up a bit early from middle school one day as she wanted to speak to my classes and tell them what they should and shouldn't do as teachers. She is amazing! She put together a 45 minute PPT featuring her favorite books and other items she thought future reading teachers should know. My classes absolutely loved her - truly one of the best classes "I've" (cough) ever "taught".

I absolutely loved how she told them everything I do. I think it was just more meaningful coming from a sixth grader. "You have to work hard to really engage your students. Get them interested and excited about learning. Don't give them worksheets to do while you sit at your desk and read your email. We don't learn best like that. Remember not everyone learns the same way so present your information in various ways." Oh, it was PERFECT! My 40 students, in two classes, asked her wonderful questions. I was very proud of everyone. After classes ended, I treated the "little professor" to ice cream for her payment. (Good thing BG doesn't pay me in ice cream - hee hee!)

Shayla enjoyed overnighting with a friend Friday night while Shayne and I saw one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. "Morning Glory" - we both really liked it! A great "Date Night" choice. If you get the chance, see it!

This week we also enjoyed the gorgeous weather in the 70s. Shayla had a few two hour fog delays so it was nice she was able to sleep in a bit. One more she woke up on time and said, "Were you cooking breakfast today? If so, what's for breakfast?" I said, "Bob Evans!" She thought that was a grand idea so we enjoyed a breakfast out before another late school start. I was also able to join a beautiful friend one day and an awesome husband another day for lunches outside - at TJ Willies, wow! It's November, just doesn't feel like it. God is good!

We will be heading to the Latin Mass later today. As we enjoyed our lunch (Shayne BBQed on the grill) outside on the picnic table yesterday, Shayla said, "What? It's all in Latin? I won't be able to understand any of it." She's been learning Greek & Latin roots with her amazing English teacher so we think she'll be able to figure some things out. We told her that masses were indeed said in only Latin when her grandparents were her age. She was shocked.

CONGRATS to Tiffin Columbian Football who won yet another state playoff game. It's been so much fun for our town. Shayla is convinced if they make it to the state final game, school will be cancelled so we can all go to Columbus - hee hee! Dream on, honey!

Here's wishing you and yours a fabulous week! ENJOY!

Little Update

2010-11-07T14:24:00.007-05:00

No worries, all is fine here! We are blessed!

Shayla's school won the first round of state football playoffs so that has been very exciting. Go, Tiffin!

We visited the cemetery yesterday and Shayla gave me a very hard time (as she should have) about not having a grave marker down yet for Christi. I told her I'd order it by Christmas. (Oh, God help me get it selected.)

Shayla enjoyed a birthday party this weekend while Shayne and I went out for a quiet dinner.

I spent part of last week in Baltimore where I presented with two Ohio State Professors a literacy session at the National Middle School Association's annual conference. Our session went very, very well - standing room only with over 100 in attendance. It was so nice to also have BGSU colleagues and about six of my students at the conference too. I picked up many wonderful ideas! My highlight though was spending an entire evening with a former high school classmate I don't get to see enough. He took me to an incredibly swanky, classy and chic place for dinner. It was absolutely amazing and we talked and talked and talked and talked! Any SE classmates who may be reading this - Kip is doing great and he will be coming home for our 25th class reunion this summer (can't wait).

This weekend we went to see a horse that just happens to be for sale. I loved the name "Slick Assets" (registered name) "Romy" for the name-name. Shayla loved the horse. (Imagine that!) Shayne is having someone else, who actually knows about horses take a look at it for us. Hmmmmmmm. We'll see what this all means. I continue to say we have Christi's two pets - no more pets! Two is plenty. This one though would at least be housed elsewhere (Or should I say barned?). I guess "boarded" would be correct.

Got new boots for the little one (Thanks, Grandpa) and new ice skates, specially molded to fit her feet, as skating lessons start back up this week. Grades were great: all As and a B+ in Honor's Math. When we asked her teacher about the class and how she was doing he told us that only the top 8% of all of the kids in her class (over 200) are in that highest level math class. (There are two advanced levels) so we thought that was great. Regardless, Shayla was still disappointed with the B.

I've often heard that when you see your name in your very first publication, there's nothing like it. You will always remember where you were and who was with you. Well, I'll never forget!

The book my former OSU professors asked me to write a class vignette in arrived. I was standing in the kitchen with Shayne and I tore the box open as soon as I realized what it contained. I found the page, skimmed it and told Shayne. He didn't stop but said, "That's really nice, honey." That was three weeks ago and he still hasn't read it, but my sister really did it up right.

She stopped everything. Sat down and read it right in front of me. Aren't sisters grand?! (Or maybe it's just a girl thing?!) I don't know, but regardless, I'm happy! And next time I will write the whole book and ask my former professors to just write a little piece in my book (he he heheee!) Oh, I can always dream!

Our weekend highlight was our Book Discussion held yesterday at a coffee shop in town. Last Saturday, on our way to BG, Shayla asked for a really good book to read, one that she could do a book chat on for her Advanced English class. I immediately responded, "The Hunger Games" - it's all the rage with middle school students (and adults too). It's really a different concept and not your preferred genre, but I think you could give it a try." I told her a little about the book and that I wanted to read it too. She agreed so we stopped and bought the book. One chapter in to the book and I knew Shayne would enjoy it too so he also started reading it. The next thing we know we are all hooked, but there is a big problem - one book, three readers. Thankfully, Shayne took the 2-4 am shift. Shayla took it with her to school so she could read between classes and while waiting for things. We only wished our sweet friend Olivia would be reading it with us and we joked about it all week. (However, we weren't going to invite her to our book club because we knew she'd finish it and the two sequels too before we finished the first one - hee hee!)
Over 300 pages, we all finished in seven days. Shayla asked if we could go someplace really special to discuss the book together since we had never done anything like this before so we did. What fun! Shayla claims it was the best book she's ever read. I found the concept to be a bit gruesome, but very thought provoking. Definitely not the best book I've ever read, but near the top of my list.

Here's wishing you and yours a fabulous week!

Trick or Treat Night 2010

2010-10-28T20:26:00.003-05:00

Grandma Donna was up for the annual trick or treat night festivities. Actually, we were just glad Shayla still wanted to go because we get such a big kick out of walking around her neighborhood seeing the darling kids and their costumes and visiting with all of the adults for a couple of hours. It was cold, but wonderful!

I took Christi's "pumpkin basket" filled with chocolate bars to my classes and passed it around for my "poor college students" thinking Christi would somehow be with us in Halloween Spirit that way. (Plus, I just can't think of parting with her pumpkin basket.) Shayla decided she was too old for that this year and instead took one of her favorite pillow cases - one given to Christi that she really likes (purple & horses).

Shayla wanted to go with a friend. Shayne took them to buy costumes one night this week. They decided to be "Flapper Girls" (I thought we had enough dance recital costumes in the basement, but I decided somethings it's just best to keep my mouth shut over so I just smiled and nodded and kept on grading papers.)
Shayla had a ball trick or treating with her friend. Grandma and I did too! Oh, how I remember Christi LOVING trick or treat night!

Baptism

2010-10-24T10:00:00.008-05:00

We flew to Phoenix early Thursday morning for the weekend's Baptism festivities. We had a wonderful time visiting with Shayne's family. Shayne's nephew, Josh, and his girlfriend had two of their children Baptized. We are still talking about all of the cultural differences and what a fantastic visit we had! It was fabulous to see Shayne's sister too and Nee Nee and Shayne's dad also flew in for the Sacrament - truly a very special and glorious time! (The priest trained outside of Columbus - small world!)

Godparents picture with sweet Diahanni

Godparents picture with precious Rosemarie

May the dear Lord forever bless these beautiful girls and keep them safe in His loving arms. They are so amazing!

Rosemarie

Diahanni

Enjoying the view from the top of Camelback Mountain

Relaxing, playing ball and catching up!

Enjoying a visit with my cousin too! Sweet!

Girls' Trip

2010-10-23T08:45:00.006-05:00

At Wright Patterson Air Force Base outside of Dayton. Joking upon boarding President Kennedy's Air Force One - and then I got really sad. Reading/seeing where they cut into the inside of the plane because they didn't want President Kennedy's coffin to ride in the cargo hold, but in the back of the plane and seeing where Jackie sat beside the coffin on that long ride home from Texas and standing where the signing in of the new president actually took place was just so sad. (And we can totally relate to not wanting Christi's body to be flown back from Philly in a cargo hold too. I was so relieved when we learned our funeral director - who also served as Christi's Angel Flight pilot a few times, would fly to Philadelphia in his private plane and bring Christi back for us was such a comfort. I've had my luggage lost by the airlines before and I didn't want that to happen to precious Christi - ugh!)

Enjoying downtown Indy with my sister, mom and aunt - ahhhhh! A gorgeous weekend!

Finally getting a tour of campus with my sweet niece and Goddaughter! I'm soooooooooooo proud of her! Go, Boilermakers!

Our 450 square foot "Penthouse Suite" upgrade at our downtown hotel was really neat, all one bed and all!

I didn't realize Purdue has about 38,000 students. It was awesome! We got our personalized tour which included where my niece takes her classes, visits with friends, studies, sleeps, stayed last year, etc., etc.

We even took in the Homecoming Parade - and what an amazing sight to see a locomotive leading off the parade - Boiler Up!

Indy Motor Speedway - very intersting

We enjoyed our "Lap Around the Track"

A Ride Into History

2010-10-18T14:08:00.007-05:00

"A Ride Into History" written by Shayla age 11, about our favorite experience while in Gettysburg on fall break (Thanks, Shay Shay!)

When we first arrived at the campgrounds, we had to check in at the office area. We filled out the forms and walked around the gift shop. Then we got mom fitted for her helmet and walked over to the barn.
There was a holding stall area for us and I sat down in front of the rules. After being shooed away from the rules so that she could explain it to everyone, we went into a shabby barn. The only light came from the holes in the ceiling and the other wall that wasn’t there.
We were given our horse’s names and told that those names would be ours for the next two hours. Mom was freaking out because she got the horse named Chance because it was your last chance to turn around. It was really funny because dad got a horse named Joy which we could tell mom would much rather have had.
Mom and dad got led to their horses and I was still standing there. Finally, my name was called and I heard that my horse’s name was Bailey. I walked towards the back of the barn with a wrangler and there was a really pretty white horse with black spots. I really wanted to be on that horse and there was an open stall. I got led into that one. My horse, Bailey, was all the way in so I didn’t see her sticking out. She was a tanish color with a blackish colored mane.
The horses were eating in their stalls as the wranglers led us up to them. Once I was up, I examined my surroundings.
I saw mom a little bit in front of me and dad off to my right. Dad’s horse, Joy, was huge and black, unlike it’s name. Mom’s horse was medium sized and pretty brown colored. Once everyone was mounted and we all had our headphones on a voice came from what seemed like nowhere. It was from the headphones which had a microphone system so that the person could talk and it spread to everyone’s headsets. The voice turned out to be a person who used to be a park ranger and who knew a lot about the civil war. She rode in the middle of our group of 22 horses and told us about what we were seeing.
Once everyone was on their horses we stepped out of the barn and started riding towards the road. We crossed the road and got on a small tail that led through some brief trees and on to the battlefield! We rode past houses where you could see that cannon balls went through, and shells. We saw fences that were made out of stone with wood across the top and lots of unfarmed fields. At the half way mark we came to a big circle and had our pictures taken. Then we started our long trip back.