I Mean, Look What Happened!
Psalm 128
Quinn G. Caldwell
Fear God, and everything will be perfect. Love God, and nothing bad will ever happen to you. Simple! Except, of course, that every one of us knows it doesn't work that way, that good people and bad things happen to each other. The Psalm is gorgeous, but the theology seems simplistic, too easy, too naive.
I mean, look what happened to Jesus! He surely feared the Lord, surely walked in all God's ways. And they crucified him! So much for "it shall go well with you."
Then again, even while he was on the cross, he did keep praying to God. Even when the worst of things happened to the best of people, he did keep his faith in God. And in the end, Jesus was resurrected. So maybe the Psalm isn't as much about direct cause-and-effect relationships as it is about hope. Maybe it's not so much a prediction of exactly how things go as it is a description of how life with God feels. Maybe it's not about being a realist but about refusing to lose hope in a hopeless situation. Maybe being a Christian is about believing that life with God will be good in the end, even if life now isn't. I mean, look what happened to Jesus!
Prayer: God, grant me wisdom enough to praise you even when it doesn't make sense, strength enough to follow you down every path, and joy enough to sing your praises even in adversity. Amen.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Another day off!!
I have a three day weekend..woohoo!!!!
Thanks to President's Day. I had thought about going into work but then I decided to have another lazy day. I'm liking those!! ;-)
Thanks to President's Day. I had thought about going into work but then I decided to have another lazy day. I'm liking those!! ;-)
Lenten Devotional
Way to Go!
Genesis 12:1-4a
William Green
The Lord tells Abram (later Abraham) to go... God knows where. "To a land that I will show you." There "you will be a blessing"--or, rather, in the original Hebrew he's given a command: "Be you a blessing." His example and influence are to be for the good of the whole world. And so Abram set out, not knowing where he was going--and not at all sure of himself, as we soon see.
We have come to associate faith with self-confidence and a good sense of direction, as though it were a prayer-mounted GPS. Instead, it's a way to go amid uncertainty and self-doubt when our direction is unclear and apprehension can run high, as with Abram.
God can't steer a parked car. Moving ahead in faith doesn't mean having a map and knowing the way. It means getting unstuck. Once we start moving, sometimes simply going out on our best hunch, we will be shown where we're meant to go and how to be a blessing, to others and ourselves, too.
Prayer: Almighty and merciful God, inspire in me the trust of Abram. Grant me the assurance that amid all I don't know, you go with me, showing me the way in the spirit of Christ. Amen.
Genesis 12:1-4a
William Green
The Lord tells Abram (later Abraham) to go... God knows where. "To a land that I will show you." There "you will be a blessing"--or, rather, in the original Hebrew he's given a command: "Be you a blessing." His example and influence are to be for the good of the whole world. And so Abram set out, not knowing where he was going--and not at all sure of himself, as we soon see.
We have come to associate faith with self-confidence and a good sense of direction, as though it were a prayer-mounted GPS. Instead, it's a way to go amid uncertainty and self-doubt when our direction is unclear and apprehension can run high, as with Abram.
God can't steer a parked car. Moving ahead in faith doesn't mean having a map and knowing the way. It means getting unstuck. Once we start moving, sometimes simply going out on our best hunch, we will be shown where we're meant to go and how to be a blessing, to others and ourselves, too.
Prayer: Almighty and merciful God, inspire in me the trust of Abram. Grant me the assurance that amid all I don't know, you go with me, showing me the way in the spirit of Christ. Amen.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Lenten Devotional...
The Tie That Binds
Luke 7:1-10
William Green
It is easier to think of a widow and her meager offering (Mark 12:41-44) as an example of faith than anything coming from an agent of oppression--like a centurion in service to Rome. It is easier to look at those who seem to know and serve Jesus best than to newcomers or outsiders.
Here as elsewhere the idea of difference and diversity is appealing, just as hot dogs are a nice break from sushi. One of the most popular television commercials of all time was the 1971 Coca-Cola ad that had all different kinds of people on a mountain-top singing about how they'd "like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony." Not so popular, no doubt, would have been an ad about teaching the world how to argue. Harmony and tolerance are not the same as diversity and respect. Difference is not simply a matter for resolution but relationship.
Different from the disciples though he was, the centurion could relate to Jesus and Jesus to him. "I also am a man set under authority." The centurion knew that Jesus didn't have to appear in person and only had to say so and the servant would be healed. Amazed, Jesus declared, "Not even in Israel have I found such faith."
What inspires healing and respect, and draws us together amid difference, is the overriding authority of God's love.
Prayer: God of us all, may I look again at what I find strange or different and find your healing love in the spirit of Christ. Amen.
Luke 7:1-10
William Green
It is easier to think of a widow and her meager offering (Mark 12:41-44) as an example of faith than anything coming from an agent of oppression--like a centurion in service to Rome. It is easier to look at those who seem to know and serve Jesus best than to newcomers or outsiders.
Here as elsewhere the idea of difference and diversity is appealing, just as hot dogs are a nice break from sushi. One of the most popular television commercials of all time was the 1971 Coca-Cola ad that had all different kinds of people on a mountain-top singing about how they'd "like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony." Not so popular, no doubt, would have been an ad about teaching the world how to argue. Harmony and tolerance are not the same as diversity and respect. Difference is not simply a matter for resolution but relationship.
Different from the disciples though he was, the centurion could relate to Jesus and Jesus to him. "I also am a man set under authority." The centurion knew that Jesus didn't have to appear in person and only had to say so and the servant would be healed. Amazed, Jesus declared, "Not even in Israel have I found such faith."
What inspires healing and respect, and draws us together amid difference, is the overriding authority of God's love.
Prayer: God of us all, may I look again at what I find strange or different and find your healing love in the spirit of Christ. Amen.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Lenten Devotional...Feb 15
From Where Does Our Help Come?
Psalm 121
Martin B. Copenhaver
This beloved psalm is a psalm of pilgrimage. It reflects the thoughts of the pilgrim as he travels to a holy place. At the time it was written, pilgrimages were often dangerous journeys. It was not uncommon for pilgrims to be attacked or robbed along the road, so the pilgrims often would be accompanied by sentries who would perch in the high ground and give warning of any approaching danger. Perhaps the pilgrim who wrote this psalm is looking up into the hills and sees one of the sentries, which prompts the question, "From where will my help come?" And the answer is a resounding statement of faith: "My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth." Contrary to what politicians might claim or what the recruiting ads for the military might promise, ultimately we cannot be safeguarded by any human force. So our ultimate confidence cannot be placed in what other human beings might do to help and protect us. Rather, our help comes from the God who "will neither slumber nor sleep," the God who stands in faithful vigil over our lives, watching over us in every circumstance.
Prayer: Dear God, please stand vigil over my life. Watch over me in ways that only you can, particularly as I face danger or uncertainty. Amen
Psalm 121
Martin B. Copenhaver
This beloved psalm is a psalm of pilgrimage. It reflects the thoughts of the pilgrim as he travels to a holy place. At the time it was written, pilgrimages were often dangerous journeys. It was not uncommon for pilgrims to be attacked or robbed along the road, so the pilgrims often would be accompanied by sentries who would perch in the high ground and give warning of any approaching danger. Perhaps the pilgrim who wrote this psalm is looking up into the hills and sees one of the sentries, which prompts the question, "From where will my help come?" And the answer is a resounding statement of faith: "My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth." Contrary to what politicians might claim or what the recruiting ads for the military might promise, ultimately we cannot be safeguarded by any human force. So our ultimate confidence cannot be placed in what other human beings might do to help and protect us. Rather, our help comes from the God who "will neither slumber nor sleep," the God who stands in faithful vigil over our lives, watching over us in every circumstance.
Prayer: Dear God, please stand vigil over my life. Watch over me in ways that only you can, particularly as I face danger or uncertainty. Amen
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Quiet Day
I've never been real gung-ho on Valentine's Day. We had a nice quiet evening...we were going to cook dinner together, but ordering out seemed just as good, if not better! :)
Lit a fire and watched tv...nice relaxing evening!
Lit a fire and watched tv...nice relaxing evening!
Lenten Devotional
Let Me Be Your Valentine
2 Timothy 1:3-7
Ron Buford
It may seem strange for a church publication to speak of Valentine's Day in the midst of Lent, but then again, why not? Is not all love God's gift to be celebrated?
Paul probably knew that this would be his last letter to Timothy, writing as he was awaiting execution for preaching about Jesus. Paul tenderly calls Timothy to continue the work--despite the risks.
The Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. and Dr. Benjamin Mays, then president of Morehouse College, tried to dissuade the younger King from going back to the Montgomery boycott because of violent threats. King the younger heard but lovingly rejected their requests, setting his face toward Montgomery--despite the risks.
King would not come face to face with death this time, but he would come face to face with hatred, resistance. Armed with the demonstrable love of his dad and Dr. Mays, he had unbending resolve. Dr. Mays, himself a son of freed slaves, would later have to make good on a mutual promise he and Martin Luther King, Jr. made to each other--the promise of the longest survivor to deliver the other's eulogy.
Jesus said, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friend." Now that's love! Happy Valentine's Day!
Prayer: Gracious God, let no one and nothing turn me away from you, from your clear purpose for my life. May I never, ever give up - despite risk, persecution, setback, and past failure. Amen.
2 Timothy 1:3-7
Ron Buford
It may seem strange for a church publication to speak of Valentine's Day in the midst of Lent, but then again, why not? Is not all love God's gift to be celebrated?
Paul probably knew that this would be his last letter to Timothy, writing as he was awaiting execution for preaching about Jesus. Paul tenderly calls Timothy to continue the work--despite the risks.
The Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. and Dr. Benjamin Mays, then president of Morehouse College, tried to dissuade the younger King from going back to the Montgomery boycott because of violent threats. King the younger heard but lovingly rejected their requests, setting his face toward Montgomery--despite the risks.
King would not come face to face with death this time, but he would come face to face with hatred, resistance. Armed with the demonstrable love of his dad and Dr. Mays, he had unbending resolve. Dr. Mays, himself a son of freed slaves, would later have to make good on a mutual promise he and Martin Luther King, Jr. made to each other--the promise of the longest survivor to deliver the other's eulogy.
Jesus said, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friend." Now that's love! Happy Valentine's Day!
Prayer: Gracious God, let no one and nothing turn me away from you, from your clear purpose for my life. May I never, ever give up - despite risk, persecution, setback, and past failure. Amen.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Lenten Devotional...February 13th
The Little Ones
Matthew 18: 10 - 14
Anthony B. Robinson
"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of the Father. . ." Who are the little ones?
Children? New Christians? The poor? The unsophisticated? The disabled or disfigured? The little ones have few, if any, influential friends or allies in the centers of earthly power, yet it turns out that these same little ones have influential friends, angels even, in high places not of this world, in the presence of God. The celebrated founder of the Catholic Worker movement, Dorothy Day, was speaking with a homeless man in the kitchen as the night wore on. An impatient reporter, eager to interview Day, paced outside, indicating in every way he could that he was tired of waiting and that he took precedence over Day's homeless guest. When Dorothy Day had finished her conversation with the man who was homeless, she turned to the reporter and asked, "With which of us did you wish to speak?"
Prayer: Holy One, help me to know that those who appear to have no connections, status or clout, are in truth deeply connected, connected to You. Amen.
Matthew 18: 10 - 14
Anthony B. Robinson
"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of the Father. . ." Who are the little ones?
Children? New Christians? The poor? The unsophisticated? The disabled or disfigured? The little ones have few, if any, influential friends or allies in the centers of earthly power, yet it turns out that these same little ones have influential friends, angels even, in high places not of this world, in the presence of God. The celebrated founder of the Catholic Worker movement, Dorothy Day, was speaking with a homeless man in the kitchen as the night wore on. An impatient reporter, eager to interview Day, paced outside, indicating in every way he could that he was tired of waiting and that he took precedence over Day's homeless guest. When Dorothy Day had finished her conversation with the man who was homeless, she turned to the reporter and asked, "With which of us did you wish to speak?"
Prayer: Holy One, help me to know that those who appear to have no connections, status or clout, are in truth deeply connected, connected to You. Amen.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Lenten Devotional...
Boldly to the Throne of Grace
Hebrews 4: 14 – 5:10
Donna Schaper
Are you a dot com or a dot org? Are you a not for profit or a for profit? Are you somebody who takes or gives?
The writer to the Hebrews wants us to approach the throne of grace with boldness. Which way is best if we try to do that? Do we make a profit or create a loss? Do we diminish or do we add value?
What if the answer to all these seemingly opposed questions was "yes"?
Boldness going to the throne of grace means you know you were really invited. The throne has asked you to come and wants you there. It wants you to discern when to make a profit and when to take a loss. It wants you to both take (you were invited after all) and to give (perhaps you want to bring a guest). Grace surely has no time for ignoring the invitations. Because we are invited so surely to the throne of grace, it is appropriate that we go. There we both receive and give--and both are our RSVP.
Prayer: When I answer “yes” to the invitation to go to the throne of grace, let me answer with vigor. Amen
Hebrews 4: 14 – 5:10
Donna Schaper
Are you a dot com or a dot org? Are you a not for profit or a for profit? Are you somebody who takes or gives?
The writer to the Hebrews wants us to approach the throne of grace with boldness. Which way is best if we try to do that? Do we make a profit or create a loss? Do we diminish or do we add value?
What if the answer to all these seemingly opposed questions was "yes"?
Boldness going to the throne of grace means you know you were really invited. The throne has asked you to come and wants you there. It wants you to discern when to make a profit and when to take a loss. It wants you to both take (you were invited after all) and to give (perhaps you want to bring a guest). Grace surely has no time for ignoring the invitations. Because we are invited so surely to the throne of grace, it is appropriate that we go. There we both receive and give--and both are our RSVP.
Prayer: When I answer “yes” to the invitation to go to the throne of grace, let me answer with vigor. Amen
Monday, February 11, 2008
Took a pass
on the Auto Show...we're both enjoying a lazy day around the house. I wasn't feeling the greatest this morning (something I ate didn't agree with me) plus with the really cold temps and snow, I wasn't looking forward to going. Oh well...there is always next year!
PLUS...we also spent the day with dealing with a flat tire...MAJOR pain...ugh. So glad we didn't get into the city and then had that problem!!
PLUS...we also spent the day with dealing with a flat tire...MAJOR pain...ugh. So glad we didn't get into the city and then had that problem!!
Lenten Devotional...2/11
A Voice in the Desert
I Kings 19:1-8
David M. Powers
Elijah was fleeing for his life, running as far away as he could into the desert. With a price on his head, he was paying the price for being bold. But way out there, with nobody for miles around, things looked bleak. Elijah began to indulge in a first-class pity party—"I might as well be dead"—when suddenly he felt a tug on his sleeve. Then came a voice: "Get up and eat."
This season of Lent is about the desert. At the least, Lent invites us to face the metaphorical wilderness of painful experiences, those times when you or I are stuck with a sense of abandonment, loss of direction, heartache, emptiness. Lent is about who we are when there's nobody around to prop us up.
Elijah discovered that even in the most parched and painful place God is already there, saying, perhaps through a loving, totally unexpected voice, "Take care of yourself. I care about you."
Prayer: When my days feel too hard, remind me, O God, by a touch or a whisper, that you are really with me, still speaking and still loving. Amen.
I Kings 19:1-8
David M. Powers
Elijah was fleeing for his life, running as far away as he could into the desert. With a price on his head, he was paying the price for being bold. But way out there, with nobody for miles around, things looked bleak. Elijah began to indulge in a first-class pity party—"I might as well be dead"—when suddenly he felt a tug on his sleeve. Then came a voice: "Get up and eat."
This season of Lent is about the desert. At the least, Lent invites us to face the metaphorical wilderness of painful experiences, those times when you or I are stuck with a sense of abandonment, loss of direction, heartache, emptiness. Lent is about who we are when there's nobody around to prop us up.
Elijah discovered that even in the most parched and painful place God is already there, saying, perhaps through a loving, totally unexpected voice, "Take care of yourself. I care about you."
Prayer: When my days feel too hard, remind me, O God, by a touch or a whisper, that you are really with me, still speaking and still loving. Amen.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Lenten Devotional...Feb 10
Temptation Strikes the Best of Us
Matthew 4:1-11
Lillian Daniel
Temptation strikes the best of us, truly. Even Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. He had been fasting, so what do you think the devil came up with? Food, of course, and, later, earthly power. The devil knew what Jesus would be tempted by.
The UCC is a church accustomed to taking on and debating the hard questions about the key issues of our day. Yet in the personal moral struggles that we face in our day-to-day lives, we may not be as bold.
There are two situations that lead to doing the wrong thing. The first is perplexity, when we truly do not know which is the right course to take. The second situation is temptation. We're simply tempted by something we want so much that we are willing to do the wrong thing to get it.
We human beings don't want to admit that we are in that second category of mere temptation. So what do we do? We mistake temptation for perplexity. We say we had no idea what to do, or what we were doing, when really we were just tempted.
Prayer: Dear Lord, when I am faced with an important moral decision, help me to know the difference between perplexity and temptation. When I truly do not know what to do, guide me. And when I am merely tempted, guide me with a little firmer hand, please, so that I don't fool myself. Amen.
Matthew 4:1-11
Lillian Daniel
Temptation strikes the best of us, truly. Even Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. He had been fasting, so what do you think the devil came up with? Food, of course, and, later, earthly power. The devil knew what Jesus would be tempted by.
The UCC is a church accustomed to taking on and debating the hard questions about the key issues of our day. Yet in the personal moral struggles that we face in our day-to-day lives, we may not be as bold.
There are two situations that lead to doing the wrong thing. The first is perplexity, when we truly do not know which is the right course to take. The second situation is temptation. We're simply tempted by something we want so much that we are willing to do the wrong thing to get it.
We human beings don't want to admit that we are in that second category of mere temptation. So what do we do? We mistake temptation for perplexity. We say we had no idea what to do, or what we were doing, when really we were just tempted.
Prayer: Dear Lord, when I am faced with an important moral decision, help me to know the difference between perplexity and temptation. When I truly do not know what to do, guide me. And when I am merely tempted, guide me with a little firmer hand, please, so that I don't fool myself. Amen.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Lenten Devotional - Day 4
Just Start
Isaiah 58:1-12
Quinn G. Caldwell
Many of us will fast this Lent. We will give up chocolate or red meat or American Idol, so that when we feel the craving for these things, we will be reminded of God's craving for us. Isaiah, writing long before the first Lent, says that while this kind of fast is OK, it just isn't enough.
He suggests a different kind of fast: one from all injustice and oppression. Oh, sure, Isaiah! No problem. For most of us, the only injustice we're part of is systemic: it's in the institutions and cities and countries where we live. How are we supposed to give up that? Move to Antarctica?
It's not simple, but maybe we can just start. Maybe there's a way to take a "journey-of-a-thousand-miles-begins-with-a-single-step" approach. What if we began with fasting from just one piece of injustice: from non-fairly-traded coffee, from stores that don't compensate their workers fairly, from driving when public transportation is available? What if we just start?
What change might we create in the world, or in ourselves, with such small steps? Would it be enough? For Isaiah, who is known for being unyielding, probably not, frankly. But for God, who is known for being merciful and loving? Almost definitely.
Prayer: Dear God, I want to be close to you. Save me from easy fasts and from believing I have to save the whole world. Teach me the fast you desire, and give me the strength to just start. Amen.
Isaiah 58:1-12
Quinn G. Caldwell
Many of us will fast this Lent. We will give up chocolate or red meat or American Idol, so that when we feel the craving for these things, we will be reminded of God's craving for us. Isaiah, writing long before the first Lent, says that while this kind of fast is OK, it just isn't enough.
He suggests a different kind of fast: one from all injustice and oppression. Oh, sure, Isaiah! No problem. For most of us, the only injustice we're part of is systemic: it's in the institutions and cities and countries where we live. How are we supposed to give up that? Move to Antarctica?
It's not simple, but maybe we can just start. Maybe there's a way to take a "journey-of-a-thousand-miles-begins-with-a-single-step" approach. What if we began with fasting from just one piece of injustice: from non-fairly-traded coffee, from stores that don't compensate their workers fairly, from driving when public transportation is available? What if we just start?
What change might we create in the world, or in ourselves, with such small steps? Would it be enough? For Isaiah, who is known for being unyielding, probably not, frankly. But for God, who is known for being merciful and loving? Almost definitely.
Prayer: Dear God, I want to be close to you. Save me from easy fasts and from believing I have to save the whole world. Teach me the fast you desire, and give me the strength to just start. Amen.
Friday, February 08, 2008
TGIF
What a crazy week...getting back on my feet after being sick all of last week. Another crazy snowstorm that dumped another 8-10 inches and allowed us to have a half day at work!
Tomorrow is weigh in day and then I'm headed into work to help get others caught up. In the evening, celebrating with Marcy for her birthday dinner!
Sunday, is our Sunday to play bells at church and then probably just relaxing for the rest of the day! Monday is a VACATION DAY...as dh and I are headed down to the Chicago Auto Show!!
Tomorrow is weigh in day and then I'm headed into work to help get others caught up. In the evening, celebrating with Marcy for her birthday dinner!
Sunday, is our Sunday to play bells at church and then probably just relaxing for the rest of the day! Monday is a VACATION DAY...as dh and I are headed down to the Chicago Auto Show!!
Lenten Devotional..>Day Three
Hope When It's Hard
Psalm 51
William Green
Martin Luther said, "Who fears hell runs toward it." We have to face down our fears and let them lead to confidence in the saving power of God. "Give me... the gladness of your rescue and with a noble spirit sustain me," pleads the psalmist (v. 12, Robert Alter's translation).
The real problem is not fear. We have reasons to worry. For all that is good and makes us happy, the world is an alarming place. The problem is that it's hard to tell hard truth. We are broken people. We are often at odds with God, each other, and ourselves. One way or another we know this. So we are afraid and running toward different kinds of hell. We need not guidance but redemption--not therapy but grace.
God transforms "a broken, crushed heart." (v. 17) Love is naïve and faith beside the point if there's nothing that breaks our heart--from all that tears the world apart and makes life impossible for millions of families and children, to disturbing issues right at home and on the job that seem to have no resolution. We can be realistic about what we face because that's exactly where God's love finds us, restoring hope and confidence when all seemed lost.
Prayer: Gracious God, in confessing all that breaks my heart and makes me afraid, may I find the greatness of your grace and the realism of your love. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Psalm 51
William Green
Martin Luther said, "Who fears hell runs toward it." We have to face down our fears and let them lead to confidence in the saving power of God. "Give me... the gladness of your rescue and with a noble spirit sustain me," pleads the psalmist (v. 12, Robert Alter's translation).
The real problem is not fear. We have reasons to worry. For all that is good and makes us happy, the world is an alarming place. The problem is that it's hard to tell hard truth. We are broken people. We are often at odds with God, each other, and ourselves. One way or another we know this. So we are afraid and running toward different kinds of hell. We need not guidance but redemption--not therapy but grace.
God transforms "a broken, crushed heart." (v. 17) Love is naïve and faith beside the point if there's nothing that breaks our heart--from all that tears the world apart and makes life impossible for millions of families and children, to disturbing issues right at home and on the job that seem to have no resolution. We can be realistic about what we face because that's exactly where God's love finds us, restoring hope and confidence when all seemed lost.
Prayer: Gracious God, in confessing all that breaks my heart and makes me afraid, may I find the greatness of your grace and the realism of your love. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Lenten Devotional...Day Two
Seeing What We Are
Jonah 3:1-10
William Green
What do we do with what we don't like about ourselves? Criticize others for the same thing? How much of what disturbs us is really something we can't accept about ourselves? Think of what makes us angry, impatient, or afraid, or times we don't feel loved and appreciated.
During Lent we're called to repentance in preparation for the new life we celebrate at Easter. Repentance is not just remorse but acceptance and turning toward the more complete life God makes possible. This begins with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves, all those imperfections that we don't even want to look at. A clenched fist cannot give or receive a gift, and a clenched psyche cannot grow.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name" (Psalm 103:1). "All" includes more than we're comfortable accepting. This, too, is taken into God's love--"the night is as bright as the day" (Psalm 139:12).
For Jonah "all" gets reflected in the arch-enemy of God's people, the Ninevites, who Jonah hates and God ends up accepting. Those "pagans" prove more capable of repentance--as does God himself who repents and changes his mind--than does Jonah, who can't accept and come to terms with his anger. And what about us?
Prayer: Your judgment is mercy, O God. Knowing this may I more completely accept myself and others, serving you in the spirit of Christ. Amen.
Jonah 3:1-10
William Green
What do we do with what we don't like about ourselves? Criticize others for the same thing? How much of what disturbs us is really something we can't accept about ourselves? Think of what makes us angry, impatient, or afraid, or times we don't feel loved and appreciated.
During Lent we're called to repentance in preparation for the new life we celebrate at Easter. Repentance is not just remorse but acceptance and turning toward the more complete life God makes possible. This begins with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves, all those imperfections that we don't even want to look at. A clenched fist cannot give or receive a gift, and a clenched psyche cannot grow.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name" (Psalm 103:1). "All" includes more than we're comfortable accepting. This, too, is taken into God's love--"the night is as bright as the day" (Psalm 139:12).
For Jonah "all" gets reflected in the arch-enemy of God's people, the Ninevites, who Jonah hates and God ends up accepting. Those "pagans" prove more capable of repentance--as does God himself who repents and changes his mind--than does Jonah, who can't accept and come to terms with his anger. And what about us?
Prayer: Your judgment is mercy, O God. Knowing this may I more completely accept myself and others, serving you in the spirit of Christ. Amen.
Lenten Devotional...Day One
Since are now in the season of Lent, I thought that I would share the daily devotionals that are being sent to me!
Where Your Treasure Is
Matthew 6:16-21
Martin B. Copenhaver
If we are not careful we might read what Jesus says with a kind of scriptural dyslexia. We might remember him saying, "Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also." That would make ready sense to us because, after all, much of the time our dollars follow our heart's lead. We give to what matters to us. But that is not what Jesus said. Jesus says something more profound and more hopeful than that, affirming that wherever you put your treasure, that is where your heart will end up. To be sure, how we spend our money does reveal something about the kind of people we are. But Jesus seems to affirm that how we spend our money determines the sort of people we become. "Give from the heart," people say. But Jesus speaks of a different dynamic: Give where you want your heart to be, and then let your heart catch up. If you want to care more about the kind of car you drive, buy an expensive one. If you want to care more about property values, remodel your house. If you want to grow in your relationship with God, bring an offering to God. Wherever your treasure is, your heart is bound to follow.
Prayer: Dear God, during this Lenten journey, help me hold on to you so closely that I do not hold on to anything else too closely. Amen.
Where Your Treasure Is
Matthew 6:16-21
Martin B. Copenhaver
If we are not careful we might read what Jesus says with a kind of scriptural dyslexia. We might remember him saying, "Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also." That would make ready sense to us because, after all, much of the time our dollars follow our heart's lead. We give to what matters to us. But that is not what Jesus said. Jesus says something more profound and more hopeful than that, affirming that wherever you put your treasure, that is where your heart will end up. To be sure, how we spend our money does reveal something about the kind of people we are. But Jesus seems to affirm that how we spend our money determines the sort of people we become. "Give from the heart," people say. But Jesus speaks of a different dynamic: Give where you want your heart to be, and then let your heart catch up. If you want to care more about the kind of car you drive, buy an expensive one. If you want to care more about property values, remodel your house. If you want to grow in your relationship with God, bring an offering to God. Wherever your treasure is, your heart is bound to follow.
Prayer: Dear God, during this Lenten journey, help me hold on to you so closely that I do not hold on to anything else too closely. Amen.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
miss america 2008
marcy and i got together to watch the miss american pageant a few weeks back. of course, the night wasn't complete without wearing a princess tiara!!!!
ok, so you had to be there, i guess.
ok, so you had to be there, i guess.
annoying
it's an annoying kind of day when:
- your car is stuck in the snow from yesterday, requiring 4 maintenance men from the apartment complex to help get me out.
- my jeans were soaked because I had to climb my way through snow drifts.
- my pants keep falling down and the undies keep going up!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Another snow day!!
Ole Man winter dumped another 6-8 inches earlier today. our office closed early...WOOHOO!
I had plans to go to Ash Wednesday service tonight, but we cancelled that as well. I'm sure the good lord will understand that the health and safety of our church members is more important!
I had plans to go to Ash Wednesday service tonight, but we cancelled that as well. I'm sure the good lord will understand that the health and safety of our church members is more important!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
2 years ago today
Bill's Aunt Mary lost her battle with cancer. She was his godmother, his favorite aunt and I loved her too! At her funeral, they played "When I get where I'm Going" by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton. That song speaks to me everytime I hear it.
Like a sign from above, they played the song on the radio on my way home tonight.
Loving you and missing you Aunt Mary!
Like a sign from above, they played the song on the radio on my way home tonight.
Loving you and missing you Aunt Mary!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Musical Monday: May I have this Dance?
What was your theme song for your Senior Prom?
Wonderful Tonight, Class of 95 Senior Prom
Wonderful Tonight, Class of 95 Senior Prom
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Super Bowl 2008
Congrats to the Giants for their win! I have to say, I wasn't really into the game this year, but I did want the Patriots to lose only because I can't stand them and their perfect season.
Anyone else watch the game?
Anyone else watch the game?
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Gilmore Girls...
I now own seasons 4-6 on DVD...YEA!!!!
In the spirit of that...here are some funny quotes...
Lorelai - Tell me something happy.
Sookie - I can't make the strawberry shortcake!
Lorelai - Wow you suck at this game!
Rory: CHINESE!! GO. ORDER. NOW!!
Lorelai: Right!! No time for full sentences!!
LORELAI: Enjoy Wisteria Lane, you major drama queen!
Lorelai: There goes my little girl, off to rule the world!
Rory: Paris will be ruling the world, I will be holding the keys.
Lorelai: Wow, you're pretty, you're smart. Now all you need as a drunken relative behind the scenes embarrassing you with every move they make.
Rory: Will you get on that?
Lorelai: I'm two steps ahead of you.
Lorelai: Hey, I have kind of a crazy idea.
Rory: Those are never comforting words coming from you.
In the spirit of that...here are some funny quotes...
Lorelai - Tell me something happy.
Sookie - I can't make the strawberry shortcake!
Lorelai - Wow you suck at this game!
Rory: CHINESE!! GO. ORDER. NOW!!
Lorelai: Right!! No time for full sentences!!
LORELAI: Enjoy Wisteria Lane, you major drama queen!
Lorelai: There goes my little girl, off to rule the world!
Rory: Paris will be ruling the world, I will be holding the keys.
Lorelai: Wow, you're pretty, you're smart. Now all you need as a drunken relative behind the scenes embarrassing you with every move they make.
Rory: Will you get on that?
Lorelai: I'm two steps ahead of you.
Lorelai: Hey, I have kind of a crazy idea.
Rory: Those are never comforting words coming from you.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Applebees...Love the Food, Hate the Carside to Go idea
Because it doesn't work!!
Since I have been feeling so crappy this week, cooking was just not in our cards tonight. So, since Applebees has WW menu, I decided we should do that for dinner. Placed the order over the phone and made my way over there. First off, some MORON parked in the Carside parking only and went inside to eat...then I waited some 15 minutes before I headed inside to find out where my food was. Told the immature high schoolers what my situation was and they just chuckled. I should have asked for the manager right then and there.
Got home and they messed up Bill's order completely...UGH. He ended up calling back to the restaurant and they re-did his meal at no charge plus gave us $10 off for the next time we dine in the restaurant. Yea, we won't be going to that one!
Since I have been feeling so crappy this week, cooking was just not in our cards tonight. So, since Applebees has WW menu, I decided we should do that for dinner. Placed the order over the phone and made my way over there. First off, some MORON parked in the Carside parking only and went inside to eat...then I waited some 15 minutes before I headed inside to find out where my food was. Told the immature high schoolers what my situation was and they just chuckled. I should have asked for the manager right then and there.
Got home and they messed up Bill's order completely...UGH. He ended up calling back to the restaurant and they re-did his meal at no charge plus gave us $10 off for the next time we dine in the restaurant. Yea, we won't be going to that one!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Slogan Generator
Found this on Lisa's blog...thought it was cute!
The Coolest Jenn on Ice.
Generated by the Advertising Slogan Generator, for all your slogan needs. Get more Jenn slogans.
Think Once, Think Twice, Think Jenn.
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You Can't Top a Jenn.
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Don't Leave Home Without Jenn.
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Home once again...
Went back to the doctor this morning because my eye is still really swollen. Turns out, I'm allergic to the eyedrops. FAN-FLIPPIN-TASTIC!! So, I'm on new meds, including an oral antibotic. Yuck!
And it looks as if we'll have a snow day tomorrow too!
And it looks as if we'll have a snow day tomorrow too!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Still sick
but I went back to work today. then came home and slept for almost 2 hours. LOL
My eye still hurts and it's swollen...grr..
My eye still hurts and it's swollen...grr..
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Game Plan
watched this movie today...very cute!! :) the little girl and the ROCK...mmm good.
cute line...
Peyton Kelly: My mom says that she fell in love with you because you played guitar and you sounded like Elvis.
Joe Kingman: Really? [Elvis voice]
Joe Kingman: Well what do you think?
Peyton Kelly: I think my mom was tone deaf and you sound more like an injured moose.
cute line...
Peyton Kelly: My mom says that she fell in love with you because you played guitar and you sounded like Elvis.
Joe Kingman: Really? [Elvis voice]
Joe Kingman: Well what do you think?
Peyton Kelly: I think my mom was tone deaf and you sound more like an injured moose.
Monday, January 28, 2008
I'm 30 years old
and I am home sick with pink eye.
THIS BITES!
I've had a cold for the last week and apparently I caught it in addition to my code. I've already washed all sheets and I will be sleeping out on the couch tonight, so I don't pass it on to dh. Called everyone who I have been in contact with...but this sucks!
Jenn
THIS BITES!
I've had a cold for the last week and apparently I caught it in addition to my code. I've already washed all sheets and I will be sleeping out on the couch tonight, so I don't pass it on to dh. Called everyone who I have been in contact with...but this sucks!
Jenn
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Week 3 Weign In...
Another 3.5 lbs lost...bringing my total to 7.5 lbs in 3 weeks!
We had dinner with my SIL tonight...she has a stability ball...must get one of these! I sat on while watching TV and you can totally feel it working your core muscles and calves and thighs!!
We had dinner with my SIL tonight...she has a stability ball...must get one of these! I sat on while watching TV and you can totally feel it working your core muscles and calves and thighs!!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
There she is....
Miss America!!
Now that the song is in your head, I watched the Miss American pagent tonight. My friend Marcy and I got together to watch it and well...um...make fun of the contestants. LOL
Congrats to Miss Michigan!
And may we all wish for world peace!
Now that the song is in your head, I watched the Miss American pagent tonight. My friend Marcy and I got together to watch it and well...um...make fun of the contestants. LOL
Congrats to Miss Michigan!
And may we all wish for world peace!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
What kind of donut are you?
| You Are a Glazed Donut |
 Okay, you know that you're plain - and you're cool with that. You prefer not to let anything distract from your sweetness. Your appeal is understated yet universal. Everyone dig you. And in a pinch, you'll probably get eaten. |
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Schaumburg, IL
where i live now!!
Schaumburg is a village in Cook County and DuPage County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 75,386. As of 2005, the population slightly dropped to 72,690 according to the Census Bureau. A special census conducted by Schaumburg in 2007 shows it had actually increased to 75,936.[1]
The village has the headquarters of Motorola. One of only two IKEA stores in Illinois is in Schaumburg. It contains the Woodfield Mall, one of the largest malls in America in terms of shopping area [2]. The village is also the home of the Schaumburg Flyers, a Northern League baseball team whose ballpark, Alexian Field, is located near the Elgin O'Hare Expressway. Schaumburg's transition from a rural community to that of a suburban metropolis began with Alfred Campanelli's first large scale suburban-style development in 1959 and Woodfield Mall's opening on September 9, 1971.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²), of which, 19.0 square miles (49.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
History
19th century
The Village of Schaumburg was incorporated on March 7, 1956, but the heritage of Schaumburg dates back to much earlier times when the first inhabitants of the area were members of the Sauk, Fox, Pottawatomie, and Kickapoo Native American tribes. By the mid-nineteenth century, settlers first began to arrive from Germany and the eastern United States.
Legend has it that one of the earliest settler was Trumball Kent from Oswego, New York. Kent, a "Yankee," as settlers from New England were called in the west, farmed property in the northeast corner of the township. Another Yankee was Hoarace Williams, who owned substantial lands but lived in the hamlet of Palatine in Palatine Township. Ernst Schween settled in 1835 not far from what is now called Olde Schaumburg Centre, in what was then and is now known as Sarah's Grove. Another early settler in Schaumburg Township was German born Johann Sunderlage. According to one legend, Sunderlage was a member of a survey team that divided Cook County into townships around 1833 or according to another legend, worked on a survey team on the Joliet canal. He liked the area so much that, upon completion of the project, he returned to Europe and brought his family and friends from Germany and settled in the area now known as Hoffman Estates in Schaumburg Township around 1836. His home still stands in its original location.
Sunderlage and his family occupied their land in the Township until the federal land sale of 1842 allowed them to purchase the property and obtain the deed. Sunderlage and Kent represented the predominant groups that settled Schaumburg Township in its early days. In 1840, 56 percent of the Township households originated from the eastern United States, while 28 percent were German-born. By the 1850s, the population mix had settled to 28 percent “Yankee” and 48 percent German.
By 1870, Schaumburg Township had become completely German. Land records show that most of the property in the Township was owned by German immigrants or their descendants. This pattern emerged as many Yankee 'settlers' continued to travel west for the promise of newly opened lands on the Great Plains. The land they owned in Schaumburg was then purchased by German-born immigrants.
Schaumburg Township remained almost exclusively under German ownership until the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Depression caused the foreclosure on some German-owned farms which were then purchased by non-German individuals and companies. Nonetheless, German heritage remained important in the area. German was the first language of the majority of households until the 1950s.
St. Peter Lutheran Church, the community's oldest church held services in German as late as 1970. The church remains as a museum, as does the second church of this congregation. Services were first held at the Rohlwing-Fenz store at the Southwest corner of the intersection of Schaumburg Road and Roselle Road until their first church building was completed in 1847. The pastor was Francis Hoffman, who walked from the Bensenville area to hold services in Schaumburg. He was later to become a Lieutenant Governor in Illinois and when he retired from the ministry, moved to Wisconsin where he operated an experimental farm and was editor of a German Language Newspaper addressing the issues of farming. Other names, dating from the 1840s were: Quindel, Winkelhake, Moeller, Fenz, Kastning, Lichthardt, Meyer, Rohlwing, Thies Scheiderling and Freise.
Schaumburg Township was originally known as Sarah's Grove. This name was derived from a grove of woods that ran through the northwest portion of the Township, which was named for three young women whose families lived adjacent to the grove: Sarah McChesney, Sarah Frisbe, and Sarah Smith. However, the name was never made official and the family names have yet to be accounted for in any documentation. Until 1851, the area's official name was Township 41. At the 1850 Township meeting, residents discussed two names for the Township; Lutherville and Lutherburg. In the middle of the discussion Frederick Nerge, a prominent German landowner, put his fist down on the table and called out, "Schaumburg schall es heisen!" (It will be called Schaumburg!). With this statement, a consensus was reached on the Township's official name.
This chosen name derived from Schaumburg-Lippe, the part of Germany where many of the Township's residents originated. The majority of German settlers were from the Hesse-Kassel or Hanover districts, but apparently those from the Schaumburg area had more influence in the community's affairs.
Schaumburg Township prospered during its early days. The area's main occupation was farming, with potato growing, dairy products and raising cattle as main sources of income. The land was a very large meadow surrounded by extensive wilderness. Wildlife such as geese, ducks, quail, prairie chickens, rabbits, pheasant and deer were very abundant.
In 1858, a small market area emerged at what is now the intersection of Schaumburg and Roselle Roads. Schaumburg Centre functioned as the central service district for the surrounding agricultural producers. It included two general stores, four cheese factories, a cobbler, a tailor, a wagon maker, and a blacksmith.
Most of the early growth in the Northeast region of Illinois occurred along the Fox River Valley and the major rail lines. Since neither of these transportation networks served Schaumburg Township, the Township remained rather isolated. Few roads existed, and several were often impassable. To reach the market, Schaumburg farmers had to travel 27 miles (43 km) by oxen or horses to Chicago, which only had about 35,000 inhabitants at that time.
20th century
In 1900, during a period of German nationalism, a 50 year anniversary brochure reported the following account: "Schaumburg has, as an important 'English daily newspaper' said: 'The reputation of being the model community of Cook County. Also, the town of Schaumburg is an example of a community for all other towns in Cook County and probably in other counties, too. Schaumburg is prompt in the payment of its taxes; it supports churches and schools; it has also the best roads in the land and - Schaumburg has never had a jail.' Finally, it is not just for the settlers only, but also for foreigners."
In 1925, O. D. Jennings, the founder of what was once one of the largest manufacturers of slot machines in the United States, purchased a house in the village. It would be his and his wife's home until his death in 1953. On the death of his widow, the house and its surrounding park lands were denoted to the village, and used as the Village Hall until 1971.
This isolation was broken, however, as the automobile became the primary means of transportation. Two projects, the expansion of O'Hare Field into a major international airport in 1955 and the construction of the Northwest Tollway through the farmlands in 1956, and the presence of technical and business people at Pure Oil Company put Schaumburg in an ideal location for suburban growth. In response to development pressures, the area encompassing what was known as Schaumburg Centre, was incorporated in 1956. At the time of incorporation, the Village consisted of two square miles and a population of 130 residents.
Incorporation enabled the village to control its growth and development. Early village leaders are credited with the foresight and planning that has made later economic growth possible. The original comprehensive plan adopted by the Village Board in 1961, reserved large tracts of land for industrial, commercial, and office development. Growth in these sectors has made the village a major area employer and the State's second largest retail center.
Schaumburg's expansion during the 1960s changed the character of the community dramatically. Schaumburg was no longer a quiet rural community. In 1959, Alfred Campanelli began construction of the first large residential subdivision in the Village, known as Weathersfield. The subdivision now contains several thousand single-family homes built in 22 stages over two decades. In all, Campanelli constructed over 6,800 housing units or approximately 20% of the Village's housing stock. In 1967, the International Village apartment complex opened as Schaumburg's first multiple-family housing development. The following year, Motorola began to construct its corporate headquarters in the community on a site located adjacent to the Northwest Tollway.
During this time, country singer Bob Atcher ("You Are My Sunshine"), who had become known on the old WLS Barn Dance, became Schaumburg village president. He held that position until 1975.
The 1970s saw a continuation of the tremendous growth that took place in the previous decade. By 1970, the village population had grown to 18,730. That same year, a second expressway, Interstate 290, opened on the eastern boundary of the village. This provided another link to Chicago and further enhanced its stature in the eyes of the region's many developers. The following year, Woodfield Mall shopping center opened in Schaumburg. During the remainder of the decade, Schaumburg experienced phenomenal commercial, office, industrial and residential development.
In 1978, the Village Board formally established the Olde Schaumburg Centre Overlay District to preserve the character of the area generally located at the intersection of Schaumburg and Roselle Roads. The Olde Schaumburg Centre Commission, also established in 1978, reviews new development and restoration projects in the District to ensure the continued historic appeal of the area.
By 1980, Schaumburg had expanded to 18.3 square miles (47.4 km²) of land area, and its population had swelled to 53,305 residents. During the early and mid 1980s, development focused on large corporate office buildings and the emerging Woodfield Regional Center along Golf Road. The late 1980s was characterized by the vast expansion of small manufacturing and warehouse uses in the industrial and business parks in the village's northeast and southwest quadrants. Other development such as large manufacturing facilities, commercial retail centers, and large suite hotels boomed in the 1980s. Schaumburg was profiled in Joel Garreau's 1991 book, Edge City, as a suburb conforming to a new form of urban development in which large concentrations of jobs exist, though outside the traditional downtown city centers.
By 1990, Schaumburg's population was increasing at a slower rate as land available for residential development was rapidly disappearing. The population in 1990 had risen to 68,586, an increase in 15,281 persons since 1980. Although this was still an impressive growth rate, it was apparent Schaumburg was nearing residential build-out and that future increases would be diminishing.
Office development in the 1990s had also slowed. The once booming office market slumped due to the large supply of office space in the northwest suburbs and the limited demand by typical users in the financial, insurance, and real estate sectors. Yet, the Schaumburg commercial market enjoyed substantial expansion during this period. Since 1990, Schaumburg has witnessed the development of 2.0 million square feet (180,000 m²) of commercial space including a variety of retail uses. One Schaumburg Place, now known as Streets of Woodfield after being redeveloped, and Woodfield Village Green were built in the early 1990s. A bright future was also reflected by the Woodfield Mall expansion which included approximately 500,000 square feet (50,000 m²) of commercial space to accommodate Nordstrom department store and several other retail stores. IKEA, an internationally known home furnishings store, opened a 458,000-square-foot (42,500 m²) facility in the Woodfield Regional Center in the late 1990s.
The mid 1990s also experienced an influx of retail food establishments. Pizzeria Uno, Outback Steakhouse, Chevy's, Boston Market, Champps, Chandlers, Hooters, Rainforest Cafe, Joe's Crab Shack and Maggiano's all opened in the village during this time.
In the fall of 1993, the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway opened. This expressway connects Schaumburg to neighboring communities to the southwest and Interstate 290 to the southeast. It also provides convenient access to Spectrum Industrial Park and the nearby Schaumburg Regional Airport, which the village purchased in 1994 and expanded in 1995.
The village finalized the purchase of the Town Square shopping center in 1995, clearing the way for the complete redevelopment of the property. The 27 acre site at the southwest corner of Schaumburg and Roselle Roads has been transformed into a diverse development offering a few stores including Dominicks, the township library, restaurants, general retail development, and a public amphitheater. The new development was designed to respect the historic character of the Olde Schaumburg Centre, providing late 19th century and early 20th century architectural design and a park to entice residents to casually walk the area and stop at the various establishments.
Minor league baseball came to the village in the spring of 1999. Alexian Field, the 7,000 seat baseball stadium, was built in partnership with the Schaumburg Park District just north of the commuter rail facility. Alexian Field acts as home to the Schaumburg Flyers, a member of the independent Northern League.
[edit] 21st century
In 2000, the village purchased 45 acres of land at the northeast corner of Interstate 90 (Northwest Tollway) and Meacham Road. The purchase was made to reserve the last large parcel of property for possible use as a convention center, hotel, and performing arts center. Schaumburg has been working for over 15 years to bring a convention center to the village that would bring new jobs, new visitors, and significant new economic activity.
In July 2004 a groundbreaking was held for the Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center and Hotel on a 45 acre site at Meacham Road and I-90. The showpiece of Schaumburg, this new hotel/convention center propels the Village of Schaumburg into a new realm of commerce and tourism. This mixed-use complex opened on July 29, 2006 and incorporates a convention center with over 100,000 sq ft (10,000 m²) of exhibition space and a 500-room hotel. Guests are expected to enjoy a high level of personal service and amenities including a business center, health club, pool and whirlpool/spa, fine dining and a 15th floor penthouse level executive club with an outdoor terrace. The design is under the direction of John Portman & Associates, known for its vision, creativity and understanding of the human response to space, nature, and light.
As Schaumburg reaches the 50th anniversary of its incorporation, continued expansion is expected albeit at a slower rate than in years past. With a population of 75,386 in 2000, minimal residential growth both in the single-family and multiple-family market is expected as little residential land remains. Office development activity in the Woodfield Regional Center began to increase in 1997 after almost a decade of absorption. Nearly 2 million square feet (180,000 m²) of office space has been added to the Woodfield Regional Center in the last five years. Industrial development has remained steady throughout the 1990s with activity increasing in 1996 and 1997 during a period of economic boom. The majority of industrial development is expected to occur in the Spectrum Industrial Park, Woodfield Business Center and Copley Center. Finally, future redevelopment should also occur around the proposed Suburban Transit Access Route (Metra) transit stop, proposed to be located south the Walden International PUD and north of IKEA and Windy Point Office Park along the Northwest Tollway.
Schaumburg is a village in Cook County and DuPage County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 75,386. As of 2005, the population slightly dropped to 72,690 according to the Census Bureau. A special census conducted by Schaumburg in 2007 shows it had actually increased to 75,936.[1]
The village has the headquarters of Motorola. One of only two IKEA stores in Illinois is in Schaumburg. It contains the Woodfield Mall, one of the largest malls in America in terms of shopping area [2]. The village is also the home of the Schaumburg Flyers, a Northern League baseball team whose ballpark, Alexian Field, is located near the Elgin O'Hare Expressway. Schaumburg's transition from a rural community to that of a suburban metropolis began with Alfred Campanelli's first large scale suburban-style development in 1959 and Woodfield Mall's opening on September 9, 1971.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²), of which, 19.0 square miles (49.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
History
19th century
The Village of Schaumburg was incorporated on March 7, 1956, but the heritage of Schaumburg dates back to much earlier times when the first inhabitants of the area were members of the Sauk, Fox, Pottawatomie, and Kickapoo Native American tribes. By the mid-nineteenth century, settlers first began to arrive from Germany and the eastern United States.
Legend has it that one of the earliest settler was Trumball Kent from Oswego, New York. Kent, a "Yankee," as settlers from New England were called in the west, farmed property in the northeast corner of the township. Another Yankee was Hoarace Williams, who owned substantial lands but lived in the hamlet of Palatine in Palatine Township. Ernst Schween settled in 1835 not far from what is now called Olde Schaumburg Centre, in what was then and is now known as Sarah's Grove. Another early settler in Schaumburg Township was German born Johann Sunderlage. According to one legend, Sunderlage was a member of a survey team that divided Cook County into townships around 1833 or according to another legend, worked on a survey team on the Joliet canal. He liked the area so much that, upon completion of the project, he returned to Europe and brought his family and friends from Germany and settled in the area now known as Hoffman Estates in Schaumburg Township around 1836. His home still stands in its original location.
Sunderlage and his family occupied their land in the Township until the federal land sale of 1842 allowed them to purchase the property and obtain the deed. Sunderlage and Kent represented the predominant groups that settled Schaumburg Township in its early days. In 1840, 56 percent of the Township households originated from the eastern United States, while 28 percent were German-born. By the 1850s, the population mix had settled to 28 percent “Yankee” and 48 percent German.
By 1870, Schaumburg Township had become completely German. Land records show that most of the property in the Township was owned by German immigrants or their descendants. This pattern emerged as many Yankee 'settlers' continued to travel west for the promise of newly opened lands on the Great Plains. The land they owned in Schaumburg was then purchased by German-born immigrants.
Schaumburg Township remained almost exclusively under German ownership until the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Depression caused the foreclosure on some German-owned farms which were then purchased by non-German individuals and companies. Nonetheless, German heritage remained important in the area. German was the first language of the majority of households until the 1950s.
St. Peter Lutheran Church, the community's oldest church held services in German as late as 1970. The church remains as a museum, as does the second church of this congregation. Services were first held at the Rohlwing-Fenz store at the Southwest corner of the intersection of Schaumburg Road and Roselle Road until their first church building was completed in 1847. The pastor was Francis Hoffman, who walked from the Bensenville area to hold services in Schaumburg. He was later to become a Lieutenant Governor in Illinois and when he retired from the ministry, moved to Wisconsin where he operated an experimental farm and was editor of a German Language Newspaper addressing the issues of farming. Other names, dating from the 1840s were: Quindel, Winkelhake, Moeller, Fenz, Kastning, Lichthardt, Meyer, Rohlwing, Thies Scheiderling and Freise.
Schaumburg Township was originally known as Sarah's Grove. This name was derived from a grove of woods that ran through the northwest portion of the Township, which was named for three young women whose families lived adjacent to the grove: Sarah McChesney, Sarah Frisbe, and Sarah Smith. However, the name was never made official and the family names have yet to be accounted for in any documentation. Until 1851, the area's official name was Township 41. At the 1850 Township meeting, residents discussed two names for the Township; Lutherville and Lutherburg. In the middle of the discussion Frederick Nerge, a prominent German landowner, put his fist down on the table and called out, "Schaumburg schall es heisen!" (It will be called Schaumburg!). With this statement, a consensus was reached on the Township's official name.
This chosen name derived from Schaumburg-Lippe, the part of Germany where many of the Township's residents originated. The majority of German settlers were from the Hesse-Kassel or Hanover districts, but apparently those from the Schaumburg area had more influence in the community's affairs.
Schaumburg Township prospered during its early days. The area's main occupation was farming, with potato growing, dairy products and raising cattle as main sources of income. The land was a very large meadow surrounded by extensive wilderness. Wildlife such as geese, ducks, quail, prairie chickens, rabbits, pheasant and deer were very abundant.
In 1858, a small market area emerged at what is now the intersection of Schaumburg and Roselle Roads. Schaumburg Centre functioned as the central service district for the surrounding agricultural producers. It included two general stores, four cheese factories, a cobbler, a tailor, a wagon maker, and a blacksmith.
Most of the early growth in the Northeast region of Illinois occurred along the Fox River Valley and the major rail lines. Since neither of these transportation networks served Schaumburg Township, the Township remained rather isolated. Few roads existed, and several were often impassable. To reach the market, Schaumburg farmers had to travel 27 miles (43 km) by oxen or horses to Chicago, which only had about 35,000 inhabitants at that time.
20th century
In 1900, during a period of German nationalism, a 50 year anniversary brochure reported the following account: "Schaumburg has, as an important 'English daily newspaper' said: 'The reputation of being the model community of Cook County. Also, the town of Schaumburg is an example of a community for all other towns in Cook County and probably in other counties, too. Schaumburg is prompt in the payment of its taxes; it supports churches and schools; it has also the best roads in the land and - Schaumburg has never had a jail.' Finally, it is not just for the settlers only, but also for foreigners."
In 1925, O. D. Jennings, the founder of what was once one of the largest manufacturers of slot machines in the United States, purchased a house in the village. It would be his and his wife's home until his death in 1953. On the death of his widow, the house and its surrounding park lands were denoted to the village, and used as the Village Hall until 1971.
This isolation was broken, however, as the automobile became the primary means of transportation. Two projects, the expansion of O'Hare Field into a major international airport in 1955 and the construction of the Northwest Tollway through the farmlands in 1956, and the presence of technical and business people at Pure Oil Company put Schaumburg in an ideal location for suburban growth. In response to development pressures, the area encompassing what was known as Schaumburg Centre, was incorporated in 1956. At the time of incorporation, the Village consisted of two square miles and a population of 130 residents.
Incorporation enabled the village to control its growth and development. Early village leaders are credited with the foresight and planning that has made later economic growth possible. The original comprehensive plan adopted by the Village Board in 1961, reserved large tracts of land for industrial, commercial, and office development. Growth in these sectors has made the village a major area employer and the State's second largest retail center.
Schaumburg's expansion during the 1960s changed the character of the community dramatically. Schaumburg was no longer a quiet rural community. In 1959, Alfred Campanelli began construction of the first large residential subdivision in the Village, known as Weathersfield. The subdivision now contains several thousand single-family homes built in 22 stages over two decades. In all, Campanelli constructed over 6,800 housing units or approximately 20% of the Village's housing stock. In 1967, the International Village apartment complex opened as Schaumburg's first multiple-family housing development. The following year, Motorola began to construct its corporate headquarters in the community on a site located adjacent to the Northwest Tollway.
During this time, country singer Bob Atcher ("You Are My Sunshine"), who had become known on the old WLS Barn Dance, became Schaumburg village president. He held that position until 1975.
The 1970s saw a continuation of the tremendous growth that took place in the previous decade. By 1970, the village population had grown to 18,730. That same year, a second expressway, Interstate 290, opened on the eastern boundary of the village. This provided another link to Chicago and further enhanced its stature in the eyes of the region's many developers. The following year, Woodfield Mall shopping center opened in Schaumburg. During the remainder of the decade, Schaumburg experienced phenomenal commercial, office, industrial and residential development.
In 1978, the Village Board formally established the Olde Schaumburg Centre Overlay District to preserve the character of the area generally located at the intersection of Schaumburg and Roselle Roads. The Olde Schaumburg Centre Commission, also established in 1978, reviews new development and restoration projects in the District to ensure the continued historic appeal of the area.
By 1980, Schaumburg had expanded to 18.3 square miles (47.4 km²) of land area, and its population had swelled to 53,305 residents. During the early and mid 1980s, development focused on large corporate office buildings and the emerging Woodfield Regional Center along Golf Road. The late 1980s was characterized by the vast expansion of small manufacturing and warehouse uses in the industrial and business parks in the village's northeast and southwest quadrants. Other development such as large manufacturing facilities, commercial retail centers, and large suite hotels boomed in the 1980s. Schaumburg was profiled in Joel Garreau's 1991 book, Edge City, as a suburb conforming to a new form of urban development in which large concentrations of jobs exist, though outside the traditional downtown city centers.
By 1990, Schaumburg's population was increasing at a slower rate as land available for residential development was rapidly disappearing. The population in 1990 had risen to 68,586, an increase in 15,281 persons since 1980. Although this was still an impressive growth rate, it was apparent Schaumburg was nearing residential build-out and that future increases would be diminishing.
Office development in the 1990s had also slowed. The once booming office market slumped due to the large supply of office space in the northwest suburbs and the limited demand by typical users in the financial, insurance, and real estate sectors. Yet, the Schaumburg commercial market enjoyed substantial expansion during this period. Since 1990, Schaumburg has witnessed the development of 2.0 million square feet (180,000 m²) of commercial space including a variety of retail uses. One Schaumburg Place, now known as Streets of Woodfield after being redeveloped, and Woodfield Village Green were built in the early 1990s. A bright future was also reflected by the Woodfield Mall expansion which included approximately 500,000 square feet (50,000 m²) of commercial space to accommodate Nordstrom department store and several other retail stores. IKEA, an internationally known home furnishings store, opened a 458,000-square-foot (42,500 m²) facility in the Woodfield Regional Center in the late 1990s.
The mid 1990s also experienced an influx of retail food establishments. Pizzeria Uno, Outback Steakhouse, Chevy's, Boston Market, Champps, Chandlers, Hooters, Rainforest Cafe, Joe's Crab Shack and Maggiano's all opened in the village during this time.
In the fall of 1993, the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway opened. This expressway connects Schaumburg to neighboring communities to the southwest and Interstate 290 to the southeast. It also provides convenient access to Spectrum Industrial Park and the nearby Schaumburg Regional Airport, which the village purchased in 1994 and expanded in 1995.
The village finalized the purchase of the Town Square shopping center in 1995, clearing the way for the complete redevelopment of the property. The 27 acre site at the southwest corner of Schaumburg and Roselle Roads has been transformed into a diverse development offering a few stores including Dominicks, the township library, restaurants, general retail development, and a public amphitheater. The new development was designed to respect the historic character of the Olde Schaumburg Centre, providing late 19th century and early 20th century architectural design and a park to entice residents to casually walk the area and stop at the various establishments.
Minor league baseball came to the village in the spring of 1999. Alexian Field, the 7,000 seat baseball stadium, was built in partnership with the Schaumburg Park District just north of the commuter rail facility. Alexian Field acts as home to the Schaumburg Flyers, a member of the independent Northern League.
[edit] 21st century
In 2000, the village purchased 45 acres of land at the northeast corner of Interstate 90 (Northwest Tollway) and Meacham Road. The purchase was made to reserve the last large parcel of property for possible use as a convention center, hotel, and performing arts center. Schaumburg has been working for over 15 years to bring a convention center to the village that would bring new jobs, new visitors, and significant new economic activity.
In July 2004 a groundbreaking was held for the Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center and Hotel on a 45 acre site at Meacham Road and I-90. The showpiece of Schaumburg, this new hotel/convention center propels the Village of Schaumburg into a new realm of commerce and tourism. This mixed-use complex opened on July 29, 2006 and incorporates a convention center with over 100,000 sq ft (10,000 m²) of exhibition space and a 500-room hotel. Guests are expected to enjoy a high level of personal service and amenities including a business center, health club, pool and whirlpool/spa, fine dining and a 15th floor penthouse level executive club with an outdoor terrace. The design is under the direction of John Portman & Associates, known for its vision, creativity and understanding of the human response to space, nature, and light.
As Schaumburg reaches the 50th anniversary of its incorporation, continued expansion is expected albeit at a slower rate than in years past. With a population of 75,386 in 2000, minimal residential growth both in the single-family and multiple-family market is expected as little residential land remains. Office development activity in the Woodfield Regional Center began to increase in 1997 after almost a decade of absorption. Nearly 2 million square feet (180,000 m²) of office space has been added to the Woodfield Regional Center in the last five years. Industrial development has remained steady throughout the 1990s with activity increasing in 1996 and 1997 during a period of economic boom. The majority of industrial development is expected to occur in the Spectrum Industrial Park, Woodfield Business Center and Copley Center. Finally, future redevelopment should also occur around the proposed Suburban Transit Access Route (Metra) transit stop, proposed to be located south the Walden International PUD and north of IKEA and Windy Point Office Park along the Northwest Tollway.
Champaign, IL
Following up on Jess's idea...here is some info about the town I was born and raised in.
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located 135 miles south of Chicago and 124 miles west of Indianapolis, Indiana. Though in many respects Champaign is still a farm community, it is notable for sharing the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with its sibling city of Urbana. Thanks to the university and a number of well known technology startups (see below), Champaign is often referred to as the hub of, or at least a significant landmark of, the Silicon Prairie.
As reported in the 2000 U.S. Census, the city was home to 67,518 people. The city held a special census in 2007 that showed that its population had grown to 75,254.[1] The mayor is Gerald Schweighart, whose term will expire in 2011.
Champaign was founded in 1855, when the Illinois Central Railroad laid its rail track two miles west of downtown Urbana. Originally called "West Urbana," it was renamed Champaign when it acquired a city charter in 1860. Both the city and county name were derived from Champaign County, Ohio.
On September 22, 1985, Champaign hosted the first Farm Aid concert at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium. The concert drew a crowd of 80,000 people and raised over $7 million for American family farmers.
In 2005, Champaign-Urbana (specifically the University of Illinois) was the location of the National Science Olympiad Tournament, attracting young scientists from all 50 states. The city also hosts the state Science Olympiad competition every year. The University of Illinois is next expected to host the National competition in 2010.
[edit]
Famous people from Champaign
Bonnie Blair, olympic gold-medalist speed skater
Bob Richards, olympic gold-medalist pole vaulter
Bill Geist, CBS News correspondent
Matt Herges, major league pitcher
Michael H. Kenyon, nicknamed the "Enema Bandit"
Alison Krauss, bluegrass singer
Ludacris (Christopher Bridges), rapper
Vashti McCollum won a U.S. Supreme Court case against religious teaching in public schools; her son Dannel would later be a mayor for Champaign three terms
Poster Children, rock group
Jerry Sanders Founder and former CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) W. J. (Jerry) Sanders, graduated from the U of I's Electrical Engineering Department (now Electrical and Computer Engineering Department) in 1958.
Lewis Hastings Sarett, inventor of synthetic cortisone
REO Speedwagon, rock group
James Tobin, laureate of the Nobel prize in economics(1981)
George Will, political columnist
Col. Lee Archambault, Astronaut (University of Illinois)
Commander Scott Altman, Astronaut (University of Illinois)
Jimmy John (Founder of restaurant Jimmy John's)
Starcastle, rock group
Hum, space rock/alternative rock group
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located 135 miles south of Chicago and 124 miles west of Indianapolis, Indiana. Though in many respects Champaign is still a farm community, it is notable for sharing the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with its sibling city of Urbana. Thanks to the university and a number of well known technology startups (see below), Champaign is often referred to as the hub of, or at least a significant landmark of, the Silicon Prairie.
As reported in the 2000 U.S. Census, the city was home to 67,518 people. The city held a special census in 2007 that showed that its population had grown to 75,254.[1] The mayor is Gerald Schweighart, whose term will expire in 2011.
Champaign was founded in 1855, when the Illinois Central Railroad laid its rail track two miles west of downtown Urbana. Originally called "West Urbana," it was renamed Champaign when it acquired a city charter in 1860. Both the city and county name were derived from Champaign County, Ohio.
On September 22, 1985, Champaign hosted the first Farm Aid concert at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium. The concert drew a crowd of 80,000 people and raised over $7 million for American family farmers.
In 2005, Champaign-Urbana (specifically the University of Illinois) was the location of the National Science Olympiad Tournament, attracting young scientists from all 50 states. The city also hosts the state Science Olympiad competition every year. The University of Illinois is next expected to host the National competition in 2010.
[edit]
Famous people from Champaign
Bonnie Blair, olympic gold-medalist speed skater
Bob Richards, olympic gold-medalist pole vaulter
Bill Geist, CBS News correspondent
Matt Herges, major league pitcher
Michael H. Kenyon, nicknamed the "Enema Bandit"
Alison Krauss, bluegrass singer
Ludacris (Christopher Bridges), rapper
Vashti McCollum won a U.S. Supreme Court case against religious teaching in public schools; her son Dannel would later be a mayor for Champaign three terms
Poster Children, rock group
Jerry Sanders Founder and former CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) W. J. (Jerry) Sanders, graduated from the U of I's Electrical Engineering Department (now Electrical and Computer Engineering Department) in 1958.
Lewis Hastings Sarett, inventor of synthetic cortisone
REO Speedwagon, rock group
James Tobin, laureate of the Nobel prize in economics(1981)
George Will, political columnist
Col. Lee Archambault, Astronaut (University of Illinois)
Commander Scott Altman, Astronaut (University of Illinois)
Jimmy John (Founder of restaurant Jimmy John's)
Starcastle, rock group
Hum, space rock/alternative rock group
Hey there Delilah
I love this song! I never knew that it was written specifically about a girl named Delilah.
From the TODAY show.....
"As a nationally ranked runner and an Olympic hopeful, Delilah DiCrescenzo is used to being chased — but by other athletes, not by pop singers from Chicago. But, she said on Wednesday, she doesn’t mind the attention the chase has brought her. “What I really hope through all of this is that it spotlights track and field, and it gives the sport a face, which is really important to us athletes in an Olympic year,” the woman who inspired Song of the Year nominee “Hey There Delilah” told TODAY co-hosts Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer on Wednesday.
It’s been a long chase both for her and for Tom Higgenson, lead singer for the Plain White T’s, who wrote the song five years ago after being introduced to DiCrescenzo by a friend. Higgenson was smitten and even though she had a boyfriend, he told her he was going to write a song about her.
“I thought he was just being flirtatious and leading me along,” the 24-year-old athlete told Lauer and Vieira. “I had a boyfriend at the time, so I really didn’t believe him.”
Higgenson and his band played the song for years at club dates and concerts, and it became a favorite with their fans. But it wasn’t until last summer that it broke out into the mainstream and began climbing the charts until it was the nation’s top single. That was when Higgenson performed the song on TODAY and told Ann Curry the story of unrequited love that had inspired it.
DiCrescenzo, meanwhile, remained all but anonymous. A graduate of Columbia University, she had returned to her native Chicago to work. A good but not great runner in high school and college, she gave the 3,000-meter steeplechase a try in 2006 and found that she was good enough in the grueling race to think about trying to make the Olympic team this year. To pursue that dream, she moved to Conshohocken, Pa., where she trains full-time while working as an assistant track and cross-country coach at Bryn Mawr.
She kept casually in touch with Higgenson, mostly through e-mails and instant messages. When the song was nominated for a Grammy as Song of the Year, he called and invited her to come to the Feb. 11 ceremony with him. With her boyfriend’s blessing, she accepted and found herself in the spotlight.
She said it’s something of a relief to go public with her identity and to clear up any confusion about her role in a love song whose lyrics seem unequivocal:
Hey there Delilah, I’ve got so much left to say
If every simple song I wrote to you
Would take your breath away, I’d write it all
Even more in love with me you’d fall, we’d have it all.
“I knew it was fictionalized, and I’m glad that I finally get the opportunity to say I do have a boyfriend and it is romanticized,” she said. “The song means so much to so many different people. I’m just happy that it’s had so much success, and I don’t mind playing along with it.”
Her boyfriend, who did have bouts of jealousy when the song came out, is also relieved. “He’s a lot happier now that I get a chance to clear up the confusion,” she said. “He’s been a good sport through the whole thing.”
She hasn’t gotten a dress for the occasion yet. “I’ve been concentrating on my training for the Olympics,” she admitted. Her event, the steeplechase, is contested over hurdles and a water hazard. For the first time at this year’s Olympics, it will be run by women as well as by men, and DiCrescenzo will compete in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in June. The top three finishers at the trials will go to Beijing in August.
Asked by Lauer which would be more exciting, seeing Higgenson win the Grammy or making the Olympic team, DiCrescenzo chose to be diplomatic.
“I want both,” she said.
From the TODAY show.....
"As a nationally ranked runner and an Olympic hopeful, Delilah DiCrescenzo is used to being chased — but by other athletes, not by pop singers from Chicago. But, she said on Wednesday, she doesn’t mind the attention the chase has brought her. “What I really hope through all of this is that it spotlights track and field, and it gives the sport a face, which is really important to us athletes in an Olympic year,” the woman who inspired Song of the Year nominee “Hey There Delilah” told TODAY co-hosts Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer on Wednesday.
It’s been a long chase both for her and for Tom Higgenson, lead singer for the Plain White T’s, who wrote the song five years ago after being introduced to DiCrescenzo by a friend. Higgenson was smitten and even though she had a boyfriend, he told her he was going to write a song about her.
“I thought he was just being flirtatious and leading me along,” the 24-year-old athlete told Lauer and Vieira. “I had a boyfriend at the time, so I really didn’t believe him.”
Higgenson and his band played the song for years at club dates and concerts, and it became a favorite with their fans. But it wasn’t until last summer that it broke out into the mainstream and began climbing the charts until it was the nation’s top single. That was when Higgenson performed the song on TODAY and told Ann Curry the story of unrequited love that had inspired it.
DiCrescenzo, meanwhile, remained all but anonymous. A graduate of Columbia University, she had returned to her native Chicago to work. A good but not great runner in high school and college, she gave the 3,000-meter steeplechase a try in 2006 and found that she was good enough in the grueling race to think about trying to make the Olympic team this year. To pursue that dream, she moved to Conshohocken, Pa., where she trains full-time while working as an assistant track and cross-country coach at Bryn Mawr.
She kept casually in touch with Higgenson, mostly through e-mails and instant messages. When the song was nominated for a Grammy as Song of the Year, he called and invited her to come to the Feb. 11 ceremony with him. With her boyfriend’s blessing, she accepted and found herself in the spotlight.
She said it’s something of a relief to go public with her identity and to clear up any confusion about her role in a love song whose lyrics seem unequivocal:
Hey there Delilah, I’ve got so much left to say
If every simple song I wrote to you
Would take your breath away, I’d write it all
Even more in love with me you’d fall, we’d have it all.
“I knew it was fictionalized, and I’m glad that I finally get the opportunity to say I do have a boyfriend and it is romanticized,” she said. “The song means so much to so many different people. I’m just happy that it’s had so much success, and I don’t mind playing along with it.”
Her boyfriend, who did have bouts of jealousy when the song came out, is also relieved. “He’s a lot happier now that I get a chance to clear up the confusion,” she said. “He’s been a good sport through the whole thing.”
She hasn’t gotten a dress for the occasion yet. “I’ve been concentrating on my training for the Olympics,” she admitted. Her event, the steeplechase, is contested over hurdles and a water hazard. For the first time at this year’s Olympics, it will be run by women as well as by men, and DiCrescenzo will compete in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in June. The top three finishers at the trials will go to Beijing in August.
Asked by Lauer which would be more exciting, seeing Higgenson win the Grammy or making the Olympic team, DiCrescenzo chose to be diplomatic.
“I want both,” she said.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
In memory of a great man...
Today, we celebrate this man with either a day off of school or work, no mail, and no banks. I'm attaching the speech that we all associate with him. We have come along way since this speech, but we still have so much more to go!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
music man
probably one of my favorites...this is from the 2003 version with matthew broderick and kristen chenoweth...love this scene!!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Weigh In...week 2
Still a loss, but not as much as I would have liked. But like I said...a loss is a loss!
0.6 lbs, which brings me to 4 lbs total! I talked with the people there and got some ideas from my sister, so I just need to work on those for next week! :)
Since I did have a loss, I treated myself to a cinnamon melt and a yogurt parfait! First time to McDonalds in almost 2.5 weeks! :-) The cinnamon melt was a splurge but the parfait wasn't too bad at only 3 points. Plus, I got some dairy and fruit out of the deal!
0.6 lbs, which brings me to 4 lbs total! I talked with the people there and got some ideas from my sister, so I just need to work on those for next week! :)
Since I did have a loss, I treated myself to a cinnamon melt and a yogurt parfait! First time to McDonalds in almost 2.5 weeks! :-) The cinnamon melt was a splurge but the parfait wasn't too bad at only 3 points. Plus, I got some dairy and fruit out of the deal!
Friday, January 18, 2008
TGIF!
The title says it all...this week has been CRAZY!!!
This weekend is a three day weekend thanks to Martin Luther King! Tomorrow, I have my WW meeting, which I'm a little nervous about...I hope to see a loss. A few times this week, I was under my points for the day, but I wasn't hungry. I'm going to have to ask about that. Then, I was eating, but it was late at night. The next morning, I felt like crud.
After the meeting, I'm heading to my sisters and will be having a sleepover with the nephews! :) My sister has a girls night out and my bil is working until Sunday morning.
I'll try and update what I hear from Weight Watchers!
This weekend is a three day weekend thanks to Martin Luther King! Tomorrow, I have my WW meeting, which I'm a little nervous about...I hope to see a loss. A few times this week, I was under my points for the day, but I wasn't hungry. I'm going to have to ask about that. Then, I was eating, but it was late at night. The next morning, I felt like crud.
After the meeting, I'm heading to my sisters and will be having a sleepover with the nephews! :) My sister has a girls night out and my bil is working until Sunday morning.
I'll try and update what I hear from Weight Watchers!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Oh, the Places I've Been....
Borrowing an idea from Jess, thought I would put my list together of where I have lived throughout my life. I'm not as traveled as she is though...I've never left the state of Illinois!
1. Champaign, IL - I was born there in 1977 and lived there until we moved in 1989.
2. Schaumburg, IL - moved there in 1989 and lived there until Bill and I were engaged. We got an apartment about 6 months before we were married in 2000.
3. Rock Island, IL - lived there between 1995 and 1999, while I attended Augustana College.
4. Plainfield, IL - First place where Bill and I lived. Were there from 2000-2003.
5. Oswego, IL - Moved there in 2003 and stayed there until we moved in 2006.
6. Schaumburg, IL - Moved back to our hometown. We both grew up in Schaumburg so it was nice to be back home.
1. Champaign, IL - I was born there in 1977 and lived there until we moved in 1989.
2. Schaumburg, IL - moved there in 1989 and lived there until Bill and I were engaged. We got an apartment about 6 months before we were married in 2000.
3. Rock Island, IL - lived there between 1995 and 1999, while I attended Augustana College.
4. Plainfield, IL - First place where Bill and I lived. Were there from 2000-2003.
5. Oswego, IL - Moved there in 2003 and stayed there until we moved in 2006.
6. Schaumburg, IL - Moved back to our hometown. We both grew up in Schaumburg so it was nice to be back home.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Random Questions
What is the highest and lowest that you typically will set your heat at in your home?
During the winter, we keep the heat anywhere from 65-68. It may seem cold to others, but being in a third floor apartment, the hot air rises from the other two floors. I also love the feeling of being a little chilly and cozing up with a blanket (and dh of course)
During the summer, we keep it cool as well. I can’t stand being hot or overheated!
How much do you typically spend on groceries per week?
I’d say about $50 a week, but it depends. We just shop a little bit here and there…so it’s hard to add up.
What is your favorite kind of bread? Do you eat the ends/heels of a loaf of bread? Or do you toss them?
My new favorite is Weight Watchers 100% Wheat Bread! LOL Normally, we just go for the generic brand at whatever store we are at.
Are you hoping to have any more children? Or for those of you who haven't had a child yet, are you hoping to start a family soon?
I can honestly say that my answer changes from day to day on this one. I love kids and I want to have children, but, dh and I are still pretty selfish and we still struggle with just the two of us. I don’t know if adding kids into the mix is a good thing at this point...but ask me tomorrow!
Have you read anything good lately? I'm always on the hunt for a good book to read.
I don’t read as much as I should. It’s not that I hate to read, I just don’t make the time for it. And when I do read, I either fall asleep in 5 minutes or I stay up TOO late because I can’t put it down.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who are always complaining, but not willing to change their lives or situations.
Have you ever bought something from the Home Shopping Network, or the like?
I think I’ve bought scrapbooking stuff and I also bought the Tae-Bo videos way back when.
Do you prefer paper or plastic bags at the grocery store? Why?
I tend to prefer paper, but mostly end up with plastic. We end up resuing them for the garbage can in the bathroom or carrying our lunch “stuff” in.
During the winter, we keep the heat anywhere from 65-68. It may seem cold to others, but being in a third floor apartment, the hot air rises from the other two floors. I also love the feeling of being a little chilly and cozing up with a blanket (and dh of course)
During the summer, we keep it cool as well. I can’t stand being hot or overheated!
How much do you typically spend on groceries per week?
I’d say about $50 a week, but it depends. We just shop a little bit here and there…so it’s hard to add up.
What is your favorite kind of bread? Do you eat the ends/heels of a loaf of bread? Or do you toss them?
My new favorite is Weight Watchers 100% Wheat Bread! LOL Normally, we just go for the generic brand at whatever store we are at.
Are you hoping to have any more children? Or for those of you who haven't had a child yet, are you hoping to start a family soon?
I can honestly say that my answer changes from day to day on this one. I love kids and I want to have children, but, dh and I are still pretty selfish and we still struggle with just the two of us. I don’t know if adding kids into the mix is a good thing at this point...but ask me tomorrow!
Have you read anything good lately? I'm always on the hunt for a good book to read.
I don’t read as much as I should. It’s not that I hate to read, I just don’t make the time for it. And when I do read, I either fall asleep in 5 minutes or I stay up TOO late because I can’t put it down.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who are always complaining, but not willing to change their lives or situations.
Have you ever bought something from the Home Shopping Network, or the like?
I think I’ve bought scrapbooking stuff and I also bought the Tae-Bo videos way back when.
Do you prefer paper or plastic bags at the grocery store? Why?
I tend to prefer paper, but mostly end up with plastic. We end up resuing them for the garbage can in the bathroom or carrying our lunch “stuff” in.
Monday, January 14, 2008
In honor of a good friend....
a little men bashing for the day!
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth - at least that's what they say - he created the birds of the air and the beasts of the field and he looked at his creation and he saw that it was good...
and then God created man and it's been downhill ever since.
Dr. Miranda Bailey
Grey’s Anatomy
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth - at least that's what they say - he created the birds of the air and the beasts of the field and he looked at his creation and he saw that it was good...
and then God created man and it's been downhill ever since.
Dr. Miranda Bailey
Grey’s Anatomy
Sunday, January 13, 2008
thank goodness it's temporary...
but dh is working the third shift over the next few nights...HATE sleeping by myself...UGH!
another lazy day
haven't had one in awhile and this one felt good. i had church in the morning, with our handbell choir performing. both groups did REALLY well!
our new organ ROCKS...i could have listened to it for hours! especially since the guy who was playing it just is a wonderful musician as well! (also not bad on the eyes as well)...too bad he's gay :-( lol
so yea, our church is an open and affirming church, we means, we basically accept all who come through our door. we have several members of the gay community (couples and singles) as well as a few members of the transgender population. still not 100% comfortable with the whole transgender way of life, but the people who we have are amazing, so it's good.
sorry...rambled there for a sec.
ugh...i need another day off! lol
our new organ ROCKS...i could have listened to it for hours! especially since the guy who was playing it just is a wonderful musician as well! (also not bad on the eyes as well)...too bad he's gay :-( lol
so yea, our church is an open and affirming church, we means, we basically accept all who come through our door. we have several members of the gay community (couples and singles) as well as a few members of the transgender population. still not 100% comfortable with the whole transgender way of life, but the people who we have are amazing, so it's good.
sorry...rambled there for a sec.
ugh...i need another day off! lol
Saturday, January 12, 2008
lazy saturday...
i had these aspirations this morning to get so much done...and........
i didn't do a damn thing!
I had my first WW weigh-in...I lost 3.5 lbs! I had planned on going into to work, but chose to come home and be a couch potatoe. Watched a chick flick and napped...just started a load of laundry for tomorrow...
i may try the working thing again tomorrow...we'll see!
i didn't do a damn thing!
I had my first WW weigh-in...I lost 3.5 lbs! I had planned on going into to work, but chose to come home and be a couch potatoe. Watched a chick flick and napped...just started a load of laundry for tomorrow...
i may try the working thing again tomorrow...we'll see!
Friday, January 11, 2008
TGIF
Thank goodness it's Friday.
This week was weird and long...probably because it's the first full week after the holidays.
Nothing big going on this weekend...just relaxing! Going to my second meeting tomorrow at WW and I'm hoping to see a loss!! I've been really good about my points this week!
Have a good weekend everyone!!
This week was weird and long...probably because it's the first full week after the holidays.
Nothing big going on this weekend...just relaxing! Going to my second meeting tomorrow at WW and I'm hoping to see a loss!! I've been really good about my points this week!
Have a good weekend everyone!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A new blog
Of course I'm still going to keep this one, but come on join me on my weight loss blog.
Last Saturday, I joined Weight Watchers. Several friends and family have had success on this and it's about time I start myself!
Last Saturday, I joined Weight Watchers. Several friends and family have had success on this and it's about time I start myself!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
I Rule!
To quote my brother-in-law...lol
Why do you ask...well, i'll tell you!
last night, we had a "oh so fun" church meeting. we've been dancing around a particular issue for two months and we are getting no where quickly. our pastor majorly lacks leadership skills...she likes to "major in the minors". it's been very frustrating and the negativity in that church is at an all time high.
so, this meeting started out the same discussion...finally, i had the nerve to speak up and guess what....WE MADE PROGRESS!!
One of the ladies told me last night "you are your parent's daughter".
once again, say it with me now...i rule!
Why do you ask...well, i'll tell you!
last night, we had a "oh so fun" church meeting. we've been dancing around a particular issue for two months and we are getting no where quickly. our pastor majorly lacks leadership skills...she likes to "major in the minors". it's been very frustrating and the negativity in that church is at an all time high.
so, this meeting started out the same discussion...finally, i had the nerve to speak up and guess what....WE MADE PROGRESS!!
One of the ladies told me last night "you are your parent's daughter".
once again, say it with me now...i rule!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
scrapbook goals for this year
i'm the nerd who sets goals for how many pages I want to create this year as well as books i would like to work on...so here goes for 2008 (5 years since I started scrapping by the way!)
*Finish 2006 scrapbook (almost done...just a few pages left and need to organize)
*Finish 2007 scrapbook (still have about 20-25 pages left for this book)
*Complete Gansch Family Reunion scrapbook (we've done a family reunion on gma's side of the family since 1987...Gma had everything in photo albums, including the magnetic albums (shudders)...want to get that into a book for all to share!
*Start on work on scrapbook from birth-high school.
*Re-do Disney Honeymoon Album (this was one of my first books...VERY basic and they have come out with cool stuff since!)
*Make a book for Bill and his sister with their family pictures
My page goal for 2008 is 150 pages...I've already done 35!!
*Finish 2006 scrapbook (almost done...just a few pages left and need to organize)
*Finish 2007 scrapbook (still have about 20-25 pages left for this book)
*Complete Gansch Family Reunion scrapbook (we've done a family reunion on gma's side of the family since 1987...Gma had everything in photo albums, including the magnetic albums (shudders)...want to get that into a book for all to share!
*Start on work on scrapbook from birth-high school.
*Re-do Disney Honeymoon Album (this was one of my first books...VERY basic and they have come out with cool stuff since!)
*Make a book for Bill and his sister with their family pictures
My page goal for 2008 is 150 pages...I've already done 35!!
Monday, January 07, 2008
Quotes from favorite TV Shows...
I also have Facebook and they have fan pages with quotes and trivia...thought I would share some favs of mine...
Gilmore Girls
Rory: Hey, who are the rosary beads for?
Lorelai: They're mine.
Rory: What do you need rosary beads for?
Lorelai: They're cute.
Rory: They're for prayer.
Lorelai: Well, pray they match my blue suit?
Rory: They have just upgraded you to a queen-size bed, Jacuzzi tub, junior suite in hell!
7th Heaven
Matt: What's wrong with Luce?
Mary: God hates her.
Matt: Still? You'd think after 13 years he'd move on to someone else.”
Grey's Anatomy
Meredith: "O,o on the table keep me draped, too many people have seen me naked already. I'd like to keep whatever dignity i have left. McSteamy, MCSTEAMY! Whohu!"
Mark: "O, so thats what your callen me now, McSteamy."
Meredith: "Yeaaa, but i don't think your suppose to know that!"
Mark: "Hows my favorite dirty mistress?"
Meredith: "Haven't you herd now, Im an adulterous whore."
Gilmore Girls
Rory: Hey, who are the rosary beads for?
Lorelai: They're mine.
Rory: What do you need rosary beads for?
Lorelai: They're cute.
Rory: They're for prayer.
Lorelai: Well, pray they match my blue suit?
Rory: They have just upgraded you to a queen-size bed, Jacuzzi tub, junior suite in hell!
7th Heaven
Matt: What's wrong with Luce?
Mary: God hates her.
Matt: Still? You'd think after 13 years he'd move on to someone else.”
Grey's Anatomy
Meredith: "O,o on the table keep me draped, too many people have seen me naked already. I'd like to keep whatever dignity i have left. McSteamy, MCSTEAMY! Whohu!"
Mark: "O, so thats what your callen me now, McSteamy."
Meredith: "Yeaaa, but i don't think your suppose to know that!"
Mark: "Hows my favorite dirty mistress?"
Meredith: "Haven't you herd now, Im an adulterous whore."
Sunday, January 06, 2008
is it january....
or is it april?!?!?!
today, we hit temps in the 50's or 60's...the snow that we had on the ground from Monday and Tuesday....gone. Below zero temps and windchills...gone. That part I'm ok with, but I miss the snow....only because the ground is muddy and disgusting. Throw in a cloudy day and i just want to be a couch potato!!
today, we hit temps in the 50's or 60's...the snow that we had on the ground from Monday and Tuesday....gone. Below zero temps and windchills...gone. That part I'm ok with, but I miss the snow....only because the ground is muddy and disgusting. Throw in a cloudy day and i just want to be a couch potato!!
I need another weekend!!
Because the other got away from me!
Yesterday was a scrapbook day (which I needed)...thanks to DH for "letting" me go. Not that he wouldn't let me, but he knows that I enjoy it and he supports me, so it's all good!
Today was church, which started our new schedule. afterwards, came home and had lunch and a quick nap (it felt like 5 minutes). Then, we headed over for an engagement dinner with Melissa and her fiancee and the meeting of the families! It was a nice evening. Mel and Kev are buying a house just down the street from us, so YEA, they will be close!
time for bed...work tomorrow...blech
Yesterday was a scrapbook day (which I needed)...thanks to DH for "letting" me go. Not that he wouldn't let me, but he knows that I enjoy it and he supports me, so it's all good!
Today was church, which started our new schedule. afterwards, came home and had lunch and a quick nap (it felt like 5 minutes). Then, we headed over for an engagement dinner with Melissa and her fiancee and the meeting of the families! It was a nice evening. Mel and Kev are buying a house just down the street from us, so YEA, they will be close!
time for bed...work tomorrow...blech
Saturday, January 05, 2008
already on a roll with my scrapbooks
5 days into 2008 and i have completed 35 pages!! WOW.
The first 20 pages were an 8x8 for my SIL. Late Christmas gift for a scrapbook of her pets! She's had a collection of cats and dogs over the years...so this will be a place for her to put the pictures in!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappyjenn/sets/72157603624817660/
This evening, i went to a crop at archivers and got another 15 pages done!! WOOHOO!
The first 20 pages were an 8x8 for my SIL. Late Christmas gift for a scrapbook of her pets! She's had a collection of cats and dogs over the years...so this will be a place for her to put the pictures in!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrappyjenn/sets/72157603624817660/
This evening, i went to a crop at archivers and got another 15 pages done!! WOOHOO!
Day One...
Of Weight Watchers. I tried doing it online last spring/summer after seeing my sister's results...but no luck. I need to face the music and go into the meetings. Also, I signed up for Discovery Health's National Body Challenge which equals a free eight week membership to Bally's Total Health!
I'm just hoping for a healthier me! I'd like to see me under 200 lbs, but one day at a time!
I'm just hoping for a healthier me! I'd like to see me under 200 lbs, but one day at a time!
Friday, January 04, 2008
What's Your Name Hidden Meaning?
| What Jenn Means |
 You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. |
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
100 Things About me...Part 1
Items 1-20
|
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
1 post down...365 to go...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Hope the start of 2008 has been good to all of you so far and that everyone had a nice NYE.
Two of my friends came over for a night of ice cream and alcohol...yea, don't ask about the combo, we didn't do it at the same time! :) Hubs went to bed early, as he had to work this a.m. at 6...yuck.
just relaxing in front of the fire watching the rose bowl! GO ILLINI!!
Hope the start of 2008 has been good to all of you so far and that everyone had a nice NYE.
Two of my friends came over for a night of ice cream and alcohol...yea, don't ask about the combo, we didn't do it at the same time! :) Hubs went to bed early, as he had to work this a.m. at 6...yuck.
just relaxing in front of the fire watching the rose bowl! GO ILLINI!!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
In 2008, be it resolved to...
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy . Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should *not* be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, 'WOO HOO what a ride!'"
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single-malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy . Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should *not* be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, 'WOO HOO what a ride!'"
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
ABC Fun
Found this on Sarah's blog from a few years ago...
A is for age: 30 (gulp)
B is for birthday: October 15
C is for career: Customer Service for a test publishing company
D is for your dad's name: David
E is for essential items to bring to a party: Camera
F is for favorite song at the moment: Home by Daughtry
G is for favorite game: Apples to Apples
H is for hometown: Schaumburg
I is for instruments you play: flute, piano, oboe and handbells
J is for jam or jelly you like: strawberry or grape
K is for kids: no kiddos yet...but i like connor for a boy and liliana for a girl
L is for living arrangements: apartment with hubby
M is for mom's name: Nancy
N is for name of your crush: Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Ty Pennington
O is for overnight hospital stays: for my thyroid removal and follow up radiation treatment
P is for phobias: Bugs!
Q is for quotes you like: We put the fun in disfunctional!
R is for relationship that lasted the longest: Husband, married for a little over 7, together for almost 10 and have known each other for almost 18 years!
Best friends w/April since we were in kindegarten
S is for sexual preference: I'll take anything ;)
T is for time you wake up: between 6-7am
U is for underwear: Yes, i wear underwears!
V is for vegetable you love: Broccoli w/cheese
W is for weekend plans: celebrating mil's and gmas birthdays
X is for x-rays you've had: teeth (a couple times) and chest (during surgery)
Y is for yummy food you make: fudge, fruit pizza
Z is for zodiac sign: Libra
A is for age: 30 (gulp)
B is for birthday: October 15
C is for career: Customer Service for a test publishing company
D is for your dad's name: David
E is for essential items to bring to a party: Camera
F is for favorite song at the moment: Home by Daughtry
G is for favorite game: Apples to Apples
H is for hometown: Schaumburg
I is for instruments you play: flute, piano, oboe and handbells
J is for jam or jelly you like: strawberry or grape
K is for kids: no kiddos yet...but i like connor for a boy and liliana for a girl
L is for living arrangements: apartment with hubby
M is for mom's name: Nancy
N is for name of your crush: Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Ty Pennington
O is for overnight hospital stays: for my thyroid removal and follow up radiation treatment
P is for phobias: Bugs!
Q is for quotes you like: We put the fun in disfunctional!
R is for relationship that lasted the longest: Husband, married for a little over 7, together for almost 10 and have known each other for almost 18 years!
Best friends w/April since we were in kindegarten
S is for sexual preference: I'll take anything ;)
T is for time you wake up: between 6-7am
U is for underwear: Yes, i wear underwears!
V is for vegetable you love: Broccoli w/cheese
W is for weekend plans: celebrating mil's and gmas birthdays
X is for x-rays you've had: teeth (a couple times) and chest (during surgery)
Y is for yummy food you make: fudge, fruit pizza
Z is for zodiac sign: Libra
Friday, December 28, 2007
Busy weekend
Tomorrow, we are heading out to the inlaws to celebrate mil's birthday. Then, we're heading back towards home and going out to dinner with grandma and the family. Grandma is 90 on Sunday...so it's dinner tomorrow night and church on Sunday. We'll have cake and coffee after church on Sunday!
Then, a half day at work on Monday and it's partying for New year's with my friends marcy and nancy. Dh is going to cook us spaghetti!! I'm looking foward to it!!!
Then, a half day at work on Monday and it's partying for New year's with my friends marcy and nancy. Dh is going to cook us spaghetti!! I'm looking foward to it!!!
Crockpot Apple Crisp
Ingredients:
6 cups apples, sliced
4-6 ounces 100% apple juice
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup dry quick cooking oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup whole-wheat flour
4 tablespoons trans-fat free butter spread
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4-1/2 cup chopped toffee bits
Directions:
Combine apples and apple juice in crockpot sprayed with non-fat cooking spray. Use a teaspoon to spoon peanut butter over apples. Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours
6 cups apples, sliced
4-6 ounces 100% apple juice
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup dry quick cooking oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup whole-wheat flour
4 tablespoons trans-fat free butter spread
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4-1/2 cup chopped toffee bits
Directions:
Combine apples and apple juice in crockpot sprayed with non-fat cooking spray. Use a teaspoon to spoon peanut butter over apples. Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours
Picture fun!
I've been playing with Microsoft Digital Image Suite...thought that I would share some of my "creations"
Bored...
It's so quiet around work this week. We thought that we were going to be slammed with getting everything in before the end of year, but it seems like we're in a good position.
I'm actually bored and fighting to stay awake. It was nice the first day, but now I'm fighting to stay awake!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
What's yours Theme Song?
| Your Karaoke Theme Song is "Since U Been Gone" |
 You are a very expressive and genuine person. You're not so emotional that you wear your heart on your sleeve - but you're not afraid to show how you're truly feeling. Whether you're singing along in the car or singing on stage, your favorite songs make you get a little carried away. You're definitely the type most likely to dream of becoming a rock star! You might also sing: "Livin' La Vida Loca," "I Will Survive," or "Hollaback Girl" Stay away from people who sing: "I'll Make Love to You" |
Recipe for my Personality
| The Recipe For Jenn |
 3 parts Understanding 2 parts Intellect 1 part Moxie Splash of Mania Finish off with a little umbrella and straw |
Blog 2008!
In November, I participated in NaBlPoMo, where you had to post every day in the month of November.
I'm going out on a limb here....in 2008, I'm going to attempt and post EVERY SINGLE DAY!
Anyone care to join me?
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends!
I realize that it's the day after, but I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas, no matter how you spent it!
Last week I was in a holiday funk. We had some friends who are in the midst of a little bit of bad luck and it was difficult getting into the spirit of Christmas because of their current struggles. Thursday and Friday, I finished up the last of my shopping and frankly, I'm ok with it. I'm not a big shopper, who needs to start in June...that's just not me. I make out a list and I am able to get it done in just a few hours.
Saturday, we headed into the city to spend Christmas with my side of the family. My BIL made awesome pizzas...YUM! We opened up gifts with my parents, grandparents, sister and her family. The kids were so excited about presents and were able to quickly tell which presents belong to them!
Sunday, I had stopped by Grandma's to deliver her Christmas gift. Later that evening, dh and I went out to the movies and saw National Treasure...GOOD! After we got home, we finished wrapping Christmas gifts for the inlaws.
We got up on Christmas Eve and headed out to Plainfield...spent the afternoon with my inlaws, just relaxing and enjoying the peace and quiet! Later in the evening, we went over to dh's aunt and uncle's house and had Christmas with them. I drank a little too much (me like white russians!) and sang along with American Idol on playstation. All in all, it was a fun night!
Yesterday, we woke up at Bill's parents and ate breakfast before heading downstairs for presents. I got the game called Apples to Apples, a new flatware set, some CDs and DVDs, some gift cards!
I can't believe that it's over so fast. This Friday, we have our last performance of our cantata and Saturday and Sunday will be birthday celebration weekend with Grandma and MIL! Fun fun fun!!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Musical Monday...part two...
Just because I can't decide!!
Maverick: "She's lost that loving feeling."
Goose: "She's lo..."
[catches up]
Goose: "No she hasn't."
Maverick: "Yes she has."
Goose: [objecting] "She's not lost that lo..."
Maverick: Goose, she's lost it man.
[walks off]
Goose: [to Mav] Come on!
[to himself]
Goose: Aw sh... I hate it when she does that.
Maverick: "She's lost that loving feeling."
Goose: "She's lo..."
[catches up]
Goose: "No she hasn't."
Maverick: "Yes she has."
Goose: [objecting] "She's not lost that lo..."
Maverick: Goose, she's lost it man.
[walks off]
Goose: [to Mav] Come on!
[to himself]
Goose: Aw sh... I hate it when she does that.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
scrapbook for the nephew
Here is my christmas present for my 3 year old nephew...still have a few more pages left to do!!
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