Boo . . . Trick or Treat!!

Isn't Craig the cutest little treat "passer outer"??

Tonight was a fun Halloween night! :) Craig and I enjoyed passing out treats to the many "brave" little (and big) Trick-or-Treaters! Some came with umbrellas, while others had garbage bags over their costumes to keep them dry from the rain! It was fun to see their happy little faces light up when they received one more treat for their goodie bag! Oh, how I miss the days when our kids would dress up and go door-to-door in the neighborhood! Those were the good ole' days!! Boo! Happy Halloween!!

Pentwater pictures

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Pentwater Weekend

I've just returned from a "perfect up north girlfriend weekend"! My 10 girlfriends and I headed to Pentwater Friday afternoon to celebrate Brenda's 50th birthday! We all stayed together in Debbie and Mark's beautiful home, just a few blocks away from the breathtaking Lake Michigan! During the weekend, we took long walks, ate lots of yummy foods, went to a Bed and Breakfast for a lovely surprise birthday luncheon (red hats and all), picked out the perfect pumpkins at a darling pumpkin farm, enjoyed the beautiful fall colors, shopped, cried, laughed, and ate some more! Our bonds of friendship grow deeper when precious time is spent together. I am so grateful and appreciative for the blessing of these women . . . together we've struck the cords of harmony! They've willingly opened their arms to welcome me into their friendship circle! A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart!! Thanks, Bobbie, Karen, Denise, Marilyn, Brenda, Barb, Meleia, Sharon, Stella, and Debbie for touching my heart!! I love you girlfriends!!

Dance Club

(Steve, Kathy, Mark, Gina, Tony, Sue and Craig and me)

Tonight was a big night! Craig and I got all spiffied up and we went to the Flint Golf Country Club for the Flint Dance Club. We had a delicious dinner and we 'danced the night away'! The big band was fantastic ! We saw a lot of old friends and became acquainted with some new people! As much as I dreaded going, I was pleasantly surprised! It was a delightful evening, getting all dressed up and fancy. Now, the worry begins as to what I'll wear for the next one . . .
ooh la la . . . I'll be puttin' on the ritz!

Windy city . . . :(

Well...my heart is sad, and our house is quiet and still . . . Late this afternoon, Julia headed back to the 'windy city' for another six weeks of classes. I totally enjoyed her company while she was home for the past four days ~ my heart is heavy she has gone back to ONU! We've spent every waking hour together, shopping, talking, eating (ugh...), and just hanging out! My daughter is . . . a joy bringer, a heart warmer, a memory maker. . .my daughter is love! When she is away, I miss her so-so-so much! I hope she knows she puts the sparkle in my eye, the twinkle in my toes, and the song in my heart! I love her and I'm looking forward to our time together at Thanksgiving!!!

Pooped . . .

I'm wondering if it's too late to change careers! How am I going to do this job for 5 more years? I get to school at 7:00am and leave at 6:00pm. I go 60 mph all day, without stopping! When I finally get home, I'm beat, my feet ache, and I crash at the kitchen table only to pull out my book bag and finish correcting the stack of papers that I didn't get to during school! Teaching is truly a blessing and I totally LOVE what I do . . . I just think I'm getting too old to keep up~ too pooped to participate! Sometimes, when the children look at me and say ..."OOOOHH! Now I get it!!!", I'm reminded why I'm a teacher! Say a prayer for me! I certainly need it!

Exciting . . .

Julia is on her way home from ONU for a much needed l-o-n-g weekend! She'll be with us until Tuesday afternoon!! Craig and I have looked so forward to her being back at home with us - - our 'empty nest' will be full of activity once again!!! I hope she has time to rest, relax and hang out! I can't wait to see her!! Maybe she'll say "GNLU" once again!

Gloomy day

Today was a gloomy, chilly, rainy day. It was the kind of day where I'd just prefer stay in bed a little longer or write a long, sappy letter to a friend. Today was the kind of day I'd rather sit by the warm fire sipping tea and looking out the streaked window at the flowers bowing their heads to late autumn days! Today would have been a great day to bake cookies and stay in my pj's all day! Instead, I hopped out of my warm bed and raced to school, hurried to Sam's on my way home, rushed home to fix dinner, corrected a stack of papers, and finally...I'll sit quietly to reflect on my Monday, my "shower" of blessings, day! I guess the old song was true...Rainy days and Mondays always get me down! Tomorrow the sun will shine and I'll be reminded that autumn is just like spring, but every leaf's a flower...red, orange, crimson, bronze, and yellow! Rain, rain, go away! Come again another day!