I'll be back soon.....

I apologize for not keeping up with this blog. I'll be back to the swing of things in a few weeks. I've been extremely busy with work, conferences, etc. and any amount of time I've had outside of that really needed to be spent with my family. I promise I will be back soon. Hope you are all well and enjoying the beginning of the holiday season. Take care!

Nolan and his buddies....

New Jersey Lighthouse Tour

The New Jersey Lighthouse tour with the girls in the family was AWESOME! We all absolutely love lighthouses, especially Cape May Lighthouse, where we spent many of our summer vacations with the extended family. We actually vacationed in Sea Isle City but always went up to Cape May.

It was so relaxing to spend a weekend with the girls. My grandma is such a whipper snapper and the life of the party each time we're together. It was so nice getting to spend so much time with my aunt and cousins, who I don't get to see as often as I'd like. I'm very blessed to have such a wonderful family and I truly enjoyed and cherish my time with them.

My Aunt Teri planned the trip. She is so disgustingly organized! She made a cute little binder with the itinerary that literally documented hour by hour what we'd be doing, where we were going, etc. She had pics of all the lighthouses, little facts, etc. She's pretty amazing when it comes to organizing stuff like that.

My favorite lighthouse was the Twin Lights...very unique. My all time favorite remains Cape May, of course. So many wonderful memories of family vacations....just an all around feel-good type of weekend. Lighthouses are just so neat!

We are already planning for the Long Island Lighthouse Tour in the Spring and I cannot wait! I just can't wait to spend a weekend with the girls again. We will most likely extend the trip and go into NYC, as well. Our last trip to NYC was a blast and we'd all love to do it again.

If you like lighthouses, I highly recommend doing one of the regional weekend tours. You won't regret it.

Beth Moore Fans???

I know this isn't until next year, however, I will definitely be going. I'm spreading the word and hoping to round up many friends and family members to go along, as well. Hope to see you there!


http://www.lifeway.com/ev/events_detail_mainpage/0,2232,E%253D39%2526M%253D200979,00.html

Harvest Season

Ahhhhh......my absolute favorite time of year! God's presence in my life and on this earth is magnified ten-fold during the Harvest Season. It's just such a peaceful time in my life...a time when I allow my days to be about savoring those moments that I talked about earlier. A time the overwhelms me by the beauty of the earth and reminds me that this is just a tiny little sample of what awaits me in the Kingdom that I am promised as a believer. Amazing. God is truly amazing. I stand in awe at the gift I'm given in just the beauty of the earth alone. Truly amazing.

One of my favorite passages of the bible is found in Ecclesiastes 3:

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?


I know that it was a long one but I just love Ecclesiastes 3 and I read it over and over many times throughout the year, esp. during the Harvest Season. I am so thankful for such a loving, caring, protecting and forgiving God who never ceases to amaze me by surrounding me with His presence and His love.

I hope that each of you are able to take some time out to enjoy ambiance of Autumn...the warmth in the color of the leaves, the pumpkins patches, hayrides, scarecrows, yummy candles and, of course, Starbucks hot caramel apple cider :)

Summer's End

Unbelievable that summer is already over! We enjoyed a lot of fun times over summer. Kennywood, Idlewild, OCMD, swimming, picnics, playing in the yard...what more could one ask for? A longer summer, longer weekends, shorter work week....that's my wish! Sometimes I'm so caught up in the rush of "life" that I don't take time to sit back and savor the moment. Conversations between my friends and family always surround the same age old issue of how life is so crazy and how we have such minimal time to sit back and enjoy the "small" stuff in life. So sad but so true. My mom and grandma are such wonderful reminders to me when it comes to enjoying and appreciating the more "simple" things in life. I've observed both of them over the years doing just that all while teaching us along the way to do the same. We've made some wonderful memories this summer and we look forward to many more in the years to come.

Light the Night Walk 08

We participated in the Light the Night Walk, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, again this year. I became passionate about the walk when a good friend of mine, Mandy Claypoole, was diagnosed with leukemia. Mandy is a Physician Assistant that I worked with in Butler. I've always been involved in supporting charties and I wanted to have Nolan involved as soon as I could. We started last year with Light the Night and knew right away that it was a walk we'd always be involved in. To me, it was different than any other charity walk/fundraiser I've been involved in. It takes place in the evening hours b/c during the walk the participants carry illuminated balloons. There are big screens that play on each end of the field that have patient profiles/stories playing during the walk. They also have survivors speak before the walk. Senator Richard Kasunic is the honorary speaker for the Fayette Co. chapter of Light the Night and he does a fantastic job. This charity is also very personal to him as his wife, Laura, died of leukemia. My parents went to school with Rich and Laura and I went to school with his son Rich and his wife Laura (interesting that they both married Laura's, huh). All are very nice people.

Little did I know when we started this walk last year that I would also be walking in honor of my mom, Sandy. This year, in April, my mom was diagnosed with a Plasmacytoma (proliferation of malignant plasma cells) on her spine. A plasmactyoma is often a precursor to a much more serious illness known as Multiple Myeloma. My mom had radiation treatment at the Arnold Palmer Pavilion in Greensburg, PA. So far, she is recovering well and grateful for the wonderful staff of medical personnel at Arnold Palmer. She is looking forward with hope and faith in God for a long and healthy life ahead. Her next follow-up appointment is in Oct. and I will be sure to keep you posted. I will also continue to update you on Mandy, who is now in remission.

I would like to encourage each of you to become involved in some sort of charity work. There is so much out there one can do to help another. There are endless opportunities for volunteer work that won't cost you a dime but in turn will make you feel like the richest person on earth as your heart fills with overwhelming positive emotions.

I am so thankful and so very blessed that I was able to start participating in volunteer work at such a young age through my church and through Kids and Company in Connellsville. I am also very grateful that I was raised in family that encouraged me to help others and to truly see how much more rewarding it is to give than to receive. Any of you who know my mother know that she's our very own "Mother Theresa".

Reach out and touch someone....pick up the phone, write a letter (not an e-mail) or pay a visit. You will be amazed at how fruitful life can be when you open your heart to others.

My baby is 2!!!

How can it be true? Time really flies with this little guy who took over my heart from the day I knew I was pregnant with him! Nolan Michael Blaze....ahhhhh.....the apple of my eye! I can still remember my 26 1/2 hrs. of labor with him, which really wasn't all too bad. I only ended up pushing for 45 min. He was 9 1/2 lbs. and 21 inches long. Born at 0118 on Aug. 31, 2006. I will never forget those 26 1/2 hrs. of sitting in the hospital room watching my mom and Mike eat snacks (remember, I was only allowed ice chips) and Mike drinking Mt. Dew. I was so desperate for a drink of ANYTHING that I would let the ice chips melt and drink the 1/2 ounce of H2O at the bottom of the cup! Mike and my mom went over...and over....and over baby names. Mike wanted the perfect name for our little bundle of joy.

I remember when I first saw Nolan....he looked like a little Sumo wrestler all sprawled out in the isolette! I remember thinking "wow....that is one big baby". First and foremost, we were so happy that he was healthy. He had tons of little rolls and creases on him and just a little bit of peach fuzz hair. I will never forget when my nephew Justin saw him and immediately gave him the nickname of "Tank".

Our Nolan has brought so much joy and happiness into our lives. I don't think I ever realized how much I could possibly love another human being. Not that I don't love Mike from the depths of my heart, it's just different when you have a child...I think all parents would agree with that.

There are so many wonderful things about Nolan. He's always been a very happy baby...very animated, very spontaneous (to say the least). He has tons of personality and can light up a room in an instant. He loves to eat (the apple doesn't fall very far from the mommy tree there) and is unbelievably curious about everything (that would be the apple from the daddy tree). I'm amazed when I watch him play and explore...when I listen to him talk to us and have conversations with him as if he's a little adult.....and when I watch him give his unconditional love to others, even strangers (he loves to blow kisses to just about anyone...even men)!

We are so blessed that we have a lot of family to enjoy him and love him like their own. I could go on and on about how much I love Nolan, how wonderful he is, etc. etc. (like any other gushing mother) but I think you already know that. I will just spare you all the sappy stuff and continue to update you and post pics of my baby boy! And hopefully in the next year....we'll expand our home by two more feet!!! God-willing :)

P.S. Nolan had a "Cars" party at Aunt Jen and Unlce Joe's and and "Arthur" party at Grandma Sandy and Pappy Jack's. He had two parties b/c Mike's family is all in PGH and mine is Fayette/Westmoreland Co.

Pics to come very soon!

OCMD Baby!!!

As always, we had an awesome time in OCMD. I really missed my parents not being there but I'm sure they'll make it back with us next year. My mom is still getting back on her feet from the radiation, etc. so this year they took a break (although, they've been busier than ever if you ask me!!!).

This year we went with Mike's brother Scott and his son Devon and we took along my nephew Justin. We stayed at the Sea Watch in rm. 1419 and had an excellent view of the ocean from the balcony. The boys had a blast and felt like they were king of that hotel. They loved drinking chocolate milkshakes and spending time in the gameroom when they weren't on the beach. Both bought new boogie boards (pappy Jack's just weren't cutting it this year for Justin) and loved the ocean.

Nolan absolutely loved the beach this year and he did so well. The boy loves to swim and had no fear of the ocean at all. I think he only got a mouthful or two of saltwater so that wasn't too bad. He still loved the pools at the hotel, also. We also got his pics done professionally at the beach since we didn't get 2 yr. pics at home. He did really well the entire vacation.

We dined at the usual hotspots....Big Peckers, Bull on the Beach, Dumsers, Anthony's and The Bonfire. The guys did the miniature golf and go-carts, of course, and we also road the OC Rocket, which is a speedboat that got us totally soaked. Poor Nolan...he got soaked the worst...even with us shielding him! He was a good sport the entire ride.

I'm so happy that we got to enjoy a vacation with Mike's brother, Devon and Justin. Scott just finished up treatments for his cancer and really needed a vacation away with his son. Also, Devon and Justin had a blast and kept eachother entertained the entire trip...I'm so glad they both got to go. I think Justin thought it was so cool to go on a vacation without his parents!

All in all it was an awesome trip with perfect company and fantastic weather and we all look forward to a return trip next year.

P.S. I got an AWESOME bracelet made of Roman coins...very cool. Any of you who know me know that the way to my heart (well one of the ways, anyhow) is a new bracelet.

Weekends fly....

The weekends just come and go so quickly. I wish I could say the same about my work week. I dread Monday...esp. after being off for a 3 day weekend. I'm sure I'll go back to a lot of phone messages and e-mails. My nephew, Justin, turned 11 on July 9. Talk about weekends flying!!! I cannot believe he's 11. Yesterday we got to spend the day swimming in his new pool and eating his awesome "prince" cake from Seven Springs. That's the cake he chose this year so my S-I-L made the trip up to get it. We do not dare to call it a "princess cake". Justin, Greg and my mom will be heading out to Harrisburg Thurs. night to go to Hershey Park with the rest of the family on Fri. He'll have a blast and I'm excited for him to experience it....esp. the Chocolate Factory, which is my favorite part. I can remember going there shortly after my Aunt Teri and Uncle John moved to Harrisburg and I've loved it ever since. Nolan is still a bit too young for Hershey Park so we will not be making the trip out. Can't wait for our trip to OCMD in August! Nolan did very well last year. We will be staying at the some place this year b/c it has an indoor and outdoor pool! Ahhhh.....the beat goes on. Have a wonderful week!

I've had very good intentions over the past 6 mos. (or more...) of getting this blog up and running. It's just so much easier to blog and post pics in one place where all of our friends and family have easy access. The problem is that we're both so busy and this blogging thing really isn't something I see Mike getting involved with so it'll mostly be me! However, any of you out there who know me also know that I'm a HUGE procrastinator and that I have VERY little spare time to check e-mail let alone keep up with a blog. I'm going to try my hardest to post weekly. We'll see. Until next time.......