Might Sweet!

Rich dark chocolate cake, sweet red strawberries, and a creamy dip to swipe them through.  Very delicious and desirable.  Even sweeter and more desirable is the calling and life my daughter has choosen for the next 18 months as a representative of Christ and missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I will miss your calls, texts, and visits Joan.  But... I am so proud of your decision and desire.  Thanks to all of you who have helped Joan arrive to this place and time.

This is Why I Love Christmas!

I left Chicago for 3 weeks to be with family and friends.  The time flew by and this was the only picture I took!  It is a good thing all of the grandchildren were smiling!  What a sweet treat for me!!!

Thanksgiving

This weekend will be a jewel in my crown for some time.  My heart is swelling with joy and gratitude for my family and specifically my daughter Joan who paid us a visit.  Because Todd and I live in a place that our children have never lived, they do not have close friends that they can visit and socialize with when they come to see us.  Hence, we feel it is important to plan things to see and do to help entertain them.  Although Todd and I are enough reason to visit, we like to sweeten the trip just a bit.

For this visit with Joan, we started by driving over 700 miles to eat Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant that is located in the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters in northern Wisconsin.  This is the location of the shoot out with Dillinger, Baby Face Nielson, and gang with the FBI in 1934.  The restaurant has never replaced the windows shattered during the fight.  Rather, they placed glass on both sides so that the original windows could be maintained.   There are several bullet holes and shattered pains of glass between Joan and me. 

Friday morning after sleeping in, Joan and I hit State Street in Chicago to go shopping.  We had a great time.  We had a surprise 50% off coupon at Sears.  That was fun.

That evening, Todd planned and took us to a dinner show at Tommy Gun's Garage.  This was a continuation of the gangster theme from yesterday.  We had a great time, fun family entertainment.

Saturday morning, Todd and I had the privilege of accompanying Joan to her first temple visit.  What an incredible experience it was to share these times with Joan.  We are so proud that she has accepted a call to serve her God as a missionary in Phoenix, Arizona!  Be aware Spanish speakers, Sister Pickett is on her way!

To end the visit, we attended Les Miserables that evening. Yes, we had fairly high seats but they were not the last row.  (Does anyone remember the nose bleed seats for CATS in Madrid?)  The music was very well done and inspiring.  It was a great way to end a wonderful weekend.  I am so looking forward to Christmas!

A Little Change is Good

Last week I changed my living room furniture around.  I moved the piano where my bookshelves had been and placed my coach where my piano had been.  It really opened up my apartment!  It feels much more inviting.  I like it!

 

 

Welcome Caleb!

My daughter and her husband just welcomed a new baby boy, Caleb, into their family.  As with their other children, Caleb was overdue, more than 10 pounds, and 23 inches long!

 I think lengthy gestations and big babies just run through a part of my family.  When Tara was born, she was over 8 pounds and measured 22 inches long.  I have included a picture of Tara and her cousin taken within a few weeks of their births.  These two babies were born within 7 days of each other.  It is true that Tara was 10 days late and her cousin was early, but look at the difference! 

 Announcing the birth of Tara's babies is always fun.  Both because of the announcement and also for the comments.  My mom said, "She spits them out half grown."  Todd's mother said, "I bet she is glad to have that over with."  In all, however, it think it is just as Tara's doctor said, "That's just the way God makes them." 

Labor Day Ride

I have lived in Chicago for two winters and two summers.  I do not care much for the winter, but I love Chicago summers.  One of my favorite things to do is ride my bike.  Chicago has a great trail along lake Michigan that extends for eighteen miles.  Where I live is located about in the middle.  I have been to the north end of the trail a couple of times.  Not until today, however, had I been to the southern tip.  I took pictures of the sign that marks the beginning/end of the southern trail.  It was a great ride, lots of water, green reserves and just enough other bikers and pedestrians to make the event friendly.

Surprise Visitors!

Today, I just happened to run into my niece Amber from Wisconsin.  When I say run into, I mean run into.  I was standing in a hallway in the Chicago temple when I spotted her walking very quickly.  We greeted each other, also quickly, as she was trying to make the next worship service that was starting in the next few minutes.  Good news is that she made it.  Unfortunately, however, her husband did not.  So, she pulled out to wait to attend with him.  This presented me a great opportunity, I could watch their little girl and her friend while my niece, her husband, and their friends all attended a worship service together.  That is how I ended up with this picture of two cute little girls at my house!