What A Difference An Electric Mattress Pad Makes

I admit this posting is a bit out of the ordinary. If you know me well, you already know I am ALWAYS cold (even in the heat of summer I rarely get warm)! During the winter months my hands are frigid, my feet are freezing, and the tip of my nose is cold to the touch. Fortunately each night I am enveloped in warmth as I snuggle under the covers in my bed. Who ever invented electric mattress pads should be honored with the Nobel Prize.

I am thankful for inventors who persist, actually "making" something useful from creative thoughts within those wonderful ingenious minds!

OK, so the Nobel Peace Prize is usually given for much more worthy reasons. For you history buffs the 2006 prize was given to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank for their efforts to create economic and social develpment. In 2005 the prize was awarded jointly to the International Atomic Energy Agency and Mohamed ElBaradei for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest possible way.

What A Difference A Visit With Santa Makes

I recently had the opportunity to visit the North Pole and personally meet with Santa. What a wonderful experience this was! Let me tell you that Santa really is a very generous, jolly man. I whispered a little christmas "wish" in his ear. This isn't like a birthday wish, so I can share my wish with all of you and it should still come true. I wished for good health, and the gift of moments of solitude. This time of year reminds me to reflect on the gift God gave us, Jesus. I look forward to celebrating his birthday in a few days... I can hardly wait!

What a Difference "GIRLS" make!

December is always a hectic month for me; working 2 jobs and trying to have a social life is absolutely INSANE. I did take an evening off to enjoy the Girl Choir performance at Lawrence Chapel. What a wonderful event to relax at. Here are some of the "girls" who gathered for a photo opportunity.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls...

What a Difference "Daylight" Makes

My primary care physician recently diagnosed me with "Seasonal Affective Disorder", more often referred to as S.A.D. I've always dreaded the winter months, not just the cold weather but the lack of light. So, it was not really a surprise when I heard the diagnosis. Working for a healthcare organization gives me wonderful reference resources to learn about this disorder.

I feel better already





I am thankful for the gifts of SUNSHINE and DAYLIGHT.

What A Difference A "Noodleini" Makes

Have you ever heard of the Noodleini Race? "Noodles" sponsors a race/run held the first Sunday after Thanksgiving; this year the race was held in DePere. The best part of this event was that for the first time ever, my sister and I ran together! Race day dawned foggy and wet, but this didn't dampen our spirits. After the race we gathered around the posted results and talked about the possibility that one day I would actually have improved enough to win a trophy. Imagine our shared amusement as we realized... that day had dawned. Yes, I won a "Noodleini" trophy; I placed 3rd in my age division. Atop the trophy is a real noodle spray painted gold, the noodle is wearing a little red cape with glitter and sparkles!

I am thankful for the shared laughter this trophy prompted throughout my family and friends. More importantly I am thankful for being able to run with my sister!

Have a BLESSED Thanksgiving Day!

Many of you know I was formerly a faithful "CardioKickboxer". I recently had a relapse and attended a wonderful CardioKickboxing class. (Yes, my muscles were crying in pain a day later.) The instructor is a teacher at a local christian school. The saying in the picture was posted at her school this week. What a wonderful statement to revisit on Thanksgiving day!

"We don't need more to be thankful for...
we just need to be more thankful."

What A Difference A Brother Makes !

I am thankful for the love and support of my brother

The beginning of November found my brother lending a hand in completing the last few outdoor home "chores". For those of you who have the pleasure of knowing my brother you are aware of his persnickity perfectionism. This trait is woven throughout his character; it is a trait that I absolutely LOVE about him. Who else would say to me "you need to mow the lawn again, it needs to be shorter" after I had just gotten done mowing the lawn! Then he says "we need to get all these leaves out of the gutters"! And so it goes on and on and on...

I am blessed to have such a warm caring brother who gives and gives and gives ~ I'd be lost without him.

What A Difference A "Helper" Makes...

Yes, fall is in the air and all the leaves in my yard flutter down at a very fast pace! The golden copper burnished hues of fall in orange and yellow bring me much joy. While this is my favorite season, it brings much added outdoor work. It is bittersweet, knowing that winter approaches... Take a look at the wonderful helper I had with my lawn and leaves last Sunday.

I am thankful for Logan and his enthusiasm to help!

What A Difference Kathy Made In My Life

Caymen Islands ~ 1992

We were two "girls", who became the closest of friends. Kathy and I met while working together during the mid 1970's. There was a 6 year age difference between us, but you'd never guess! She was fresh out of high school working as a file clerk; I was working full time. Our friendship blossomed over a period of more than 20 years. I am who I am today, in part, because of knowing Kathy. She enriched my existence.

On October 12, 2001 she left this world to join God's kingdom. Yes that's five years, yet it seems like just five days or five minutes ago! I no longer question why God took her, but accept.

Kathy, I miss you more than ever. I carry you with me, in my heart every day.

I thank GOD for wonderful, wonderful memories of what I shared with Kathy. These memories give me great comfort and joy.

What A Difference A "Mother" Makes

My Father-In-Law passed away two years ago; at last we put his spirit to rest. And what a beautiful resting spot he has, on the property owned by one of his sons.


It is difficult to find the words to explain my relationship with my former Mother-In-Law. Yes, amazing as it is, I still think of her as a mother. While I am divorced from her youngest son, she welcomes me with open arms and a loving heart. The whole family continues to reach out and surround me with love. What a lucky person I am!


Thank you God for the blessings bestowed upon me by a loving former Mother-In-Law.

What A Difference Being A Mentor Makes

At last, Im a Mentor! While I'm sure this will bring new challenges, it is a step in following my "mission" to help others overcome negative past experiences. Samantha, who goes by "Sam", is an energetic 15 year old. She is very appreciative of me and the time we spend together; her sweet smile and caring attitude shine through. My life has changed because of her...

I am thankful for this opportunity to become a positive influence.

What A Difference A Thunderstorm Makes

I've always had an attraction for thunderstorms; as children my sister and I would go out to play in the rain. When the sky would darken with thunder, and lightning rolled in, we'd get pulled indoors by our parents. Now, as an adult I brave storms and stand as near to the action as possible. I absolutely love the sound of the rain, hail, thunder, and lightning. I take a deep breath and inhale deeply the smell of natures turbulence. The reward which I always watch for at the end of the storm is a RAINBOW. For some reason, whenever I see a rainbow I feel the presence of my dad. This feeling enveloped me again tonight following the rainstorm which ended shortly before dusk. I love it when he is near !

I am thankful for Gods gift of rainbows; and welcome the serene happiness I feel each time one touches my heart.

What A Difference A 5K Race Makes

Saturday, September 23rd, 2006

Remember an earlier blog posting where I referenced my sister inspiring me to run in the Fox Cities Marathon 5K race? Well, here are a few pics after I had completed my first official 5K race! The day dawned a bit foggy and humid, but the sun shone through as we began the run. What a glorious experience; music played and the crowds shouted or clapped as they supported the racers going by along the whole course. I was especially rewarded when I crossed the finish line as I was hugged by a race official who I had spoke with when picking up my race packet the afternoon before. He had told me that I should smile and raise my arms in celebration as I finished the race; after all I had taken initiative to sign up and participate in an event that the greater population between Milwaukee and Appleton had not. I bet you're wondering... how did she do in the race? OK, I am going to "toot" my horn a bit. Of 28 women in my age group, I placed 7th!

I am thankful for god blessing me with good health, and self motivation.

What A Difference A New Friend Makes

I am thankful for new friendships !

I met Shanen in July of 2005; our introduction came while rooming together when attending the Stampin Up! Convention in Salt Lake City Utah. Little did I know then, that we would become such close friends. There is a 20 year age difference between us, although you would never guess this by listening to our conversations. We share many parallel life experiences and enjoy similar interests. One of my favorite things to do is join Shanen, Emma, and Cody for a "walk". We recently walked together, opened our hearts to each other and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. I thank God for the blessing of new friends!

What A Difference A Day Makes...

Remembering 9/11

5 years ago today I had taken the day off from work; I had a very important appointment scheduled with an attorney to begin exploring the necessary process of filing for divorce. You see, my husband had an extramarital "affair" with another woman; I didn't think I could ever forgive him. The appointment with the attorney never took place, she was called into court that day and had to cancel our meeting. Eventhough the appointment was cancelled, I took the day off as a "mental health day". I was at Hobby Lobby when the clerk said to me "Isn't it awful about the plane crashing into the World Trade Center in New York"? I hadn't heard anything about it; I quickly drove over to Best Buy and stood in front of the TV's mezmerized in disbelief.

During the painful days following 9/11, I watched our nation go into a state of shock and I began my own agonizing internal soul searching process. Most of us felt an instinctive need to reach out to loved ones and hold them close. I decided to give my husband another chance, an opportunity for him to turn his life around. Five years later I feel more connected than ever to my soul, to others, and to God. I found the strength to move on, I am now divorced. My life has begun to reflect what I value the most. I found the courage to forgive my ex-husband. I'm not sure I will ever be able to forget the pain and suffering. I imagine many survivors of 9/11 struggle to forget their trauma as well; in that I feel a sense of kinship.

I am thankful for the reason to question priorities I don't need another crisis to take the state of my life seriously. I work daily to honor the priorities I have set:

• I have forgiven those I need to forgive
• I spend time with the people who matter most in my life
• I listen to the voice of my soul so that I make real, honest choices based on what I most want
• If today were my last day on earth, I would feel good about what I am leaving behind
• I am working toward sharing my God-given gifts and talents with others

How about you???

What A Difference A Sleep Over Makes

I am thankful for the enthusiasm of my niece & nephew for doing sleep overs: I recently celebrated my 52nd birthday; my day started out watching my niece and nephew wake up! What a wonderful way to begin a day of celebration. It amazes me that at the ages of 11 and 14 they still want to sleep over at my house. Thank you Jake and Emily for loving me ~ I hope that you never out grow your enthusiasm for spending time with me.

What A Difference A Summer Vacation Makes

I am thankful for the warm memories of past "summer" vacations:

In 2003 my family made a trip to Maryland to visit my sister. It was our first family vacation since the late 1960's or early 1970's. While I have many, many wonderful memories of this trip; one of my favorite memories is of the "Boardwalk" in Ocean City, Maryland. We stayed at a little hotel on the beach and while the weather wasn't the greatest, we had a GREAT time. The sand sculptures were MAGNIFICENT; the ocean was FREEZING and salty; the love and togetherness was PRICELESS. As you can imagine coordinating the trip was a challenge, but it was well worth every effort. I look forward to our next family vacation!

What A Difference Music Makes

I am thankful for the inspiration of music and the gift of hearing

Can you imagine what it must be like to be deaf, or experience a significant hearing loss? There are two people who have shed light on this and shared their experiences with me. A co-worker of mine has a step son who is deaf. She has taken sign language courses, but more often than not struggles to communicate with him. Another friend of mine has a husband who, over the course of the past year or two, has had a significant hearing loss in both ears. He wears hearing aides, but still does not hear much. Thinking of these people I am reminded how lucky I am to hear VERY well. I love music, and realize what a big part of my life it has become. A day without song is a long one. Three songs come to mind today: "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" by the Bee Gees, "Come A Little Bit Closer" by Dierks Bentley, and "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me. My heart is starting to mend, I've been able to come a little closer, and I really can only imagine! Thank you God for blessing me...

What A Difference A Pearl of A Girl Makes

I am SO thankful for Mackenzie!

For a long time I was angry with God for taking Kathy, and leaving Mackenzie without a mom, Mark without a wife, and leaving me without a "best friend". When Kathy was so, so sick I'd wake up in the middle of the night and think I'd had a bad dream that she was going to die. When fully awake I'd realize it hadn't been a dream... it was a real life NIGHTMARE. Later, after she did die, I'd wake up in the middle of the night and think "I should call Kathy and tell her..." only to fully wake and realize I had been dreaming and could never call Kathy again. She will be dead 5 years this October; during this past year I have finally put my anger aside and made peace with God.

It is hard to find the words to explain how special Mackenzie is to me. In her own very touching way she brings me closer to Kathy. Her clear voice lifted in song, her quick smile, her kind/compassionate words, and hugs and kisses remind me that Kathy will live on forever. I find myself smiling up to the heavenly skies, knowing that I will always be "best friends" with Mackenzie.

What A Difference It Makes When You Have To Say Good Bye To A Friend

I am thankful for time spent with a dear friend

July 2006 brought much sadness as I said my final good bye to my dear friend Ann-Marie. She opened a new chapter in her life by packing up her husband, two sons, and moving to Oregon. Pictured left to right are Cathy, me, Ann-Marie, Kathy, and Ginger. We shed no tears this last day, the tears had been shed throughout most of June after she made her announcement to me of her decision, sharing the news of her planned departure. What an inspiration Ann-Marie is to me. Her love and support over the past years have challenged me to become a better and stronger person. Although there are now many miles between us, we are closer than ever.

What A Difference Wilmars Makes

When I began my employment with Wilmar Chocolates in February of 1998, little did I know the significance this would have on my life. There have been few "constants" for me during the past 10 years. Wilmars is one of those few constants! Not only has Wilmars helped me survive, the owners have given me a sense of "being". They continue to give me the opportunity to pursue my creativity, and god given talents. I am convinced this family owned business thrives as a result of how they treat their employees. Thank you Lisa, Liz, and Paul for making such a difference!

What A Difference Old Fashioned Communication Makes

I am thankful for the warm memories that handwritten notes bring me:

I recently came across two letters written to me by my mother in July of 1965, while my sister and I were at "Camp Tekawitha" for a week. I was 11 years old and homesick; the two letters I received that week cheered me up beyond belief. Seeing her handwriting, and the very special messages she wrote, are a treasure to me. In this fast paced world of technology don't forget to take the time to leave tangible visuals. Don't get me wrong, email is a wonderful vehicle for communication. However it can never replace a hand written letter or card! Thanks mom, for continuing to give me little handwritten notes... even today as an adult I treasure them.

What A Difference A Sister Makes

I am thankful for the inspiration of my sister who runs half marathons at the ripe age of 54

Last week my sister sent me an email with a link to a video on youtube.com. The video is about a father, Dick Hoyt, who participates in marathons/triathalons strictly for the benefit of his disabled son, Rick. This story touched my heart; today I registered for the Fox Cities Marathon 5k run/walk. It is my intention to run the 5k on Sept. 23rd and give thanks for my ability to participate as a completely healthy individual. My sister intends to fly in from Maryland to participate in the half marathon. Maybe next year I'll join her in the half marathon and we can run TOGETHER...

What A Difference A Year Makes

My sole journey began in March 2005; I most frequently think of this as my "soul" journey.

Losing a sense of who I was during the previous 6 years forced me to step back, before being able to take any steps forward. I was caught up in "doing" and not "being". During this sojourn I found myself repeatedly counting my blessings, most often for the constant support of family and friends. I dedicate this blog to those who continue to bless my life each and every day. This will be my "Personal Gratitude Journal"...

My biggest life lessons have come during the in-between waiting parts, waiting for direction. By placing my trust in God, and his orchestrated plan, I am following my path day by day. What a wonderful journey I am on!

I am thankful for the inspiration of others who push me towards opening new doors: A new and exciting venture has been placed before me and I plan on seizing the challenge of trying to become a mentor. I hope to have the opportunity of becoming a positive influence on the life of a less fortunate young female. It only seems fitting that I share the strength that God gave me to endure difficult situations, by helping someone else do the same. Stay tuned!