Happy Halloween from Zorra!

Lily Grace takes Spanish three times a week and loves it!!!  Her Spanish has grown so much.  She's intrigued by many aspects of the Latin/Hispanic culture.  Recently, her Spanish teacher introduced the class to Zorro.  As you can see, it left quite the impression.  Gracie calls herself, "Zorra," the female Zorro.  

Wrapped in Love

Growing up, my grandmother, Honey was always crocheting.  While I can no longer do it, I can remember Honey teaching me to chain stitch and how to join the stitches.  She is very talented and her beautiful work never ceases to amaze me.  
Lily Grace adores Honey and loves spending time with her which we don't get to do very often with the distance between us.  
On our last visit, she and Lily Grace promised to be pen pals and write and keep in touch often.  Writing, what a lost art in the world of technology. I love that she and Honey share this special bond.  She gets so excited to see letters from Honey arrive.  She in turn puts great thought in writing her replies.  Occasionally, they send each other something special along with their letters.  
Last week, Honey sent Lily Grace a most special creation.  She crocheted a lovely little wrap for Lily Grace.  Gracie was thrilled and we've even talked about how one day, she can pass it on to her little girl.
Thank you God for the blessing of grandmothers who fill our heart with love.  

Two Lily's, One Lindsey....all in Louisville

Lily Grace still loves playing the violin and still loves her favorite violinist, Lindsey Stirling.  Lindsey Stirling released a new album a couple of months ago and embarked on a new tour.  Lily Grace loves the new album and has desperately wanted to go and see Lindsey in concert again.  Our first concert took us to Chicago two years ago and this time we headed down to Louisville, KY for the weekend to catch her latest concert.  
Lily Grace has even introduced her friend Lily B. to Lindsey.  The two of them are working together on a Power Point presentation which they will present to their class on Lindsey Stirling and her unique sound for thier Genius Hour.  
We all piled into the car on Friday after school and headed down to KY.  Gracie has been beside herself with excitement.  With seeing Lindsey in concert again and then having a friend come along for the weekend, she could hardly contain herself.  
Before the concert on Saturday, we hit a few attractions.  Who knew that Louisville had such a glass culture?  The girls got to blow their own glass at Flame Run.  They each made an ornament with colors they selected.  It was so hot down on that floor but super cool to watch the artist and even get to participate.  
We also made sure to get in a picture with the large Louisville Slugger Bat.  
To wind down our afternoon the girls enjoyed a little time in the hotel pool.  
Once we all got dressed for the evening, we attended mass at a beautiful church.  St. Louis Bertrand happen to be celebrating their 150th anniversary.  Wow!  It was probably one of the most special masses we have attended.  
The concert did not disappoint Saturday night.  It was really good!!!  I love it that at both concerts she took a moment and spoke of how God works in her life and how you should be your own unique you.  However, I do believe the best part of the show was the beginning.  Gracie and Lily B. got quite the treat.  After the opening act, the crew set up for Lindsey to take the stage.   As the music began in the dark, a silhouette appeared on the stage that appeared to be Lindsey and then it happened!!!  The spotlight shined back our way lighting up the isle by Lily Grace a bit and there she was, she was actually standing and playing in the isle by Lily Grace and once the lights rose enough for everyone to catch on she ran down the isle up to the stage.  IT WAS AWESOME!!!  I have to tell you, once I realized what was happening I was screaming and squealing and even Matt got a little amped for Gracie.  Lily Grace was shaking and near tears she was so excited.  Her face had to hurt from smiling so big.  It truly was a priceless moment.  
After the concert, with our hearing gone and the girls with their concert t-shirts in hand, we headed back to the hotel and all piled into our beds to enjoy a little ice cream before calling it a night.  
Thank you God for the blessing of family, friends and fun memories.  

Rebecca was so sweet and thoughtful and put together this special road bin for the girls.  They had special little packages to open at different points in the trip.  She also put together a basket of snacks for our 3 1/2 hour road trip.  We didn't make it 10 minutes down the road without breaking into it.  ha! 

 

At our hotel all loaded down

Waiting on Matt to come down on Saturday morning to walk us to glass blowing, the girls used the time for some photo ops.  

There are no words...ha!

Getting directions on blowing their glass

Prices of colored glass and the beginning of what would become a round ornament

 

Expanding the ball of glass by blowing into it as glass artist Whitney shapes it

Look at those red cheeks, it was so hot down on the floor around all the ovens. That's glass artist, Whitney with the girls. 

When we arrived at Flame Run, this artist was working on a piece.  That little orange glow of glass would eventually become a very large angel statue.  We loved watching it change shape over the time we were there.  And can I just say, we learned that working with glass is not only hot but very labor intensive.

Louisville Slugger Museum

Concert Ready

Hitting Fourth Street on our way to the Palace Theater

Two excited girls- as you can see, the girls had the isle seat which made it perfect for seeing and of course, for that chance encounter with Lindsey Stirling

Gotta love daddy- he stood in a massive crowd of people (the concert was sold out) to get the girls t-shirts and then honored their request for a glow drink.  

And there it is...that priceless moment when Gracie realized that Lindsey Stirling was right there at her.  

So excited for her- what an amazing experience!!!

On her feet, dancing, singing and cheering, right to the very end!!  

We're an Easily Entertained Bunch!

The latest apple software update offers a new markup tool and we have all taken a turn at getting some laughs from each other.  Yes, we are an easy bunch!

In between checking homework, I tried to lighten the mood for Gracie and started it all.

Lily Grace then sent this hilarious number to Matt while he was away on business and it gave us all a good laugh.  Made me laugh so hard that I set it as my screen saver. 

Matt returned the gesture to us and created this while awaiting flight take off.  He sent it to me during Lily Grace's violin lesson.  I nearly fell out of the chair laughing, all while trying to keep my composure and not disturb Gracie's lesson.  Afterwards, when I showed her, she let loose with laughter and we both agree that he totally outdid us.  Hilarious!  

What can I say?  We just threw her in for fun and started Matt's morning off in Raleigh, NC with a laugh!  

He's a Boilermaker! His First Day of School- Again!

Matt was very blessed in landing a wonderful job right out of college.  He has moved up quickly over the past 20 years and loves what he does.  His job has provided many opportunities for Matt and our family.  We are beyond blessed and thankful!
One thing Matt has always wanted is his Executive MBA to go along with his engineering degree.  Matt brought up to his company how they should consider sponsoring executives to do just that at a great university and on campus.   They heard what he said and offered to send him along with another colleague.  They joked with Matt and told him it was going to be the Matt S. Scholarship program since he started things in motion.  Again, we are blessed by his wonderful job!
Well, Matt wanted to do more than an online program as I mentioned so he applied with both Notre Dame and Purdue to attend their EMBA program.  He was invited to both universities and in the end he chose Purdue.  He did so mainly because the program schedule worked out best with family life but he is quite pleased with his choice.  
We are only a couple of hours from Purdue.  He will have to periodically attend both one week and two week sessions on campus and attended his first starting today.  
Lily Grace had a few questions about how this worked.  She wanted to know if he would have a locker?  Would he have a homeroom teacher? Would he ask to go to the "lavatory" if he needed to use the restroom during class. (As if using "lavatory" is a more grown up college way of asking) We tried to explain to her how very different and independent college is from elementary school.  She just couldn't imagine just walking out of class if you had to go to the bathroom, or having to take all of your belongings with you in your backpack.  In the end, she simply asked if Matt would have Mr. Eric take his picture with his teacher on the first day.  Clearly, she still didn't get it, but boy I got a big laugh out of the thought of that.  In the end, Matt tried to satisfy her request and sent her a selfie of he and Eric on their way to their first meeting.  Too funny! She got a really big laugh from that.
While the next 18 months will be crazy busy with school, Matt's job, business travel and day to day life, I know we will make it as a family and again, what a blessed opportunity!  Matt's already received emails today from work wishing him good luck and telling him not to stress about things while he's on campus, that someone from the office will pick up any slack.  Well.... I know Matt.  He will do great at school and will still work to do all at the office he was doing before school started and still manage to make family time feel like the most important thing.  That's just the way he is and always has been. He has a discipline that is beyond me.  
As he walked out the door yesterday afternoon to pick up Eric for the drive to Purdue for the week, Gracie yelled out to him what I say to her each morning, "Go be the best you and make yourself proud!"  Matty, you will do great and you have certainly made us proud just by being you!!  We love you!  OH!  Don't forget, all A's!

Matt and Eric at Purdue on their way to their first meeting.

A little Decorating

Gracie was able to decorate her locker yesterday.  She hasn't gotten her photos into her magnet frames yet, but she certainly has some sparkle going on with those crystal magnets, pink and gold mirror with rhinestone decals and a pink caddy covered with pink stones.  

5th Grader!!!

Lily Grace started 5th grade today!  I still can't believe that.  She was so excited!  We've had a wonderful summer and kept busy enjoying every minute of it.  She's become quite the cook this summer and along with shopping, pedicures, swimming, summer trips, hanging out with friends, going to the movies and a slew of other activities, we've made the most of it.  
This year she has her closest friends including best friend Lily B in her class.  Oh mercy! She also got the homeroom teacher she was hoping for.  This year she starts changing classes with the other fifth grade and how could I forget to mention, LOCKERS!!!!  She and her friends have been beyond excited knowing that this year they enter the world of lockers.   
She was all smiles this morning and we met up with Lily B and Rebecca to start the first day.  
It still tugs at my heart each year when we send her back to school.  I cherish our time together and savor every moment.  As Matt and I dropped off that cutie sporting silver glitter Converse, we left as two proud parents of one amazing 5th grader.  We love you Gracie Cakes!!

It may have been rainy first day this year but it certainly didn't dampen the excitement,  

Precious...inside and out!

What's better than starting the first day of school with your BFF?  Having your BFF in your class again this year!!

Gracie and Mrs. Bowman 

Gracie Cakes...official 5th grader!

She's been Promoted

Gracie went out to check the mail today and got a special surprise.  
Her cousin Mason is getting married in April. Sarah, Mason's fiancé sent Gracie a cute dress shaped invitation in the mail asking her to serve as her Junior Bridesmaid.  Well you have never heard and seen a little girl so excited.  She was beyond thrilled.  According to Gracie, she's been promoted.  (She has served as a flower girl up to now.) She also informed me that the best thing about being a Junior Bridesmaid are the beautiful dresses and that she looks good in any color.  Lucky for Sarah.  HA! HA!  The girl is just too funny.  
Thank you Sarah and Mason for making one little girl feel quite special.  

23 Years

Mark 10:8"....and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. "

Today marks mine and Matt's 23rd wedding anniversary.  We have spent over half our lives together.  We were merely teenagers when we met back in college.  When I think about our time together, it's this picture that Lily Grace took of us in MT that sums us up.  Matt and I had no idea she had taken it until she shared it later in the day.  Matt had come out to help me wade back to shore as I had gotten a little "stuck" in the current.  This picture is so representative of  marriage.  Sometimes we get stuck, and can easily get swept up in the current of day to day life, but I know that Matt is always there for me and I him, no matter how big or small.  It's being able to count on each other and being vulnerable in front of one another that makes us stronger and truly one flesh.  We have seen and been through a lot over 23 years and thanks be to God, we are more in love today than the day we met and so blessed by each other. We have grown in our faith, in offering forgiveness, in saying I'm sorry, in learning not to worry about the small stuff,  in what's truly important, in love, as parents and as a couple. We aren't perfect by any means, just getting better as we tack on the years together.  
Gracie often talks of when she gets married one day and it really fills my heart with joy to hear her talk about how she sees Matt and I as a married couple and how it's what she seeks.  *On a funny note, Gracie and I had gotten Matt cards for his birthday in July.  She asked if she could read what I had written inside my card.  I told her that she could.  After reading it, she asked if she could save that card after her daddy's birthday.  I was curious about why and she informed me that she would like to put that up and write that same thing to her husband. She said that it was so sweet and so good that she wouldn't have to put any thought into the one she wrote her own husband.  First it touched me that she could read the heartfelt sentiment in what I had written.  I was also happy that she could see the love between her daddy and I and that she had that example of love and marriage.  However, it gave Matt and I quite the laugh at how she thought it would be good enough to just "pass along" to her own husband.  That poor man!  No worries, I have already started praying for him, whomever God may send along for her. 
Special thanks to you Gracie for this very sweet picture, what a beautiful surprise!  I adore this picture and daddy and I love you to pieces.
Thank you God for the blessing of our marriage and for the examples of unconditional love that you have given us throughout the ages.  Gracious Lord, please continue to bless our marriage and guide us as the head of our lives together.  

Part 9: Goodbye Montana

*Note: This is one of nine posts on our recent trip to MT.  You may want to start with the first one which is on the previous page.*

This morning was our last day in MT.  We woke at 5:45.  Matt and Lily Grace wanted to spend one last hour on the river just like last year.  While they were gone, I gathered the last of our things and made breakfast. 

We are now at the airport for our layover in Minneapolis on our way home with memories and laughs to last a lifetime. 

Thank you God for this blessing of vacation and time with one another.  Thank you for the beauty that has surrounded us the past nine days. 

Precious!  

Their last morning on the river was a very chilly one.