Adventuresome Shopping

Chicago must be getting to me, at least the adventuresome part. I broke down on Friday and did something I vowed I would never do. I went shopping the morning of Black Friday. I am happy to report that by breakfast (8:30am) my Christmas shopping was finished and at 9am I was curled up for a morning nap. It was quite an exciting activity. I don’t know if this will be a new tradition for me or if it was just a once in a lifetime thing where I can say, 'I went shopping on Black Friday'! Oh, the joys of the Christmas holidays.

-Shelly

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

'TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,

BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.

I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,

I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -

THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE.

BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION

WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING

IN ANTICIPATION,

THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK

BECAME INFATUATION.

SO I RACED TO THE KITCHEN,

FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR.

AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE

FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING

SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,

'TILL ALL OF A SUDDEN

I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING

FLOATING INTO THE SKY

WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING

AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT I MANAGED TO YELL

AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES

HAPPY EATING TO ALL,

PASS THE CRANBERRIES PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,

MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP;

MAY YOUR POTATOES AND GRAVY

HAVE NARY A LUMP.

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,

MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE -

MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER

STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Lynn & Shelly

Temple Blessings

Last month when my mom was visiting with us, we went and visited one of the Hindu temples in Aurora. The building's outer architecture and the inner sanctuary were astoundingly beautiful. We were humbled and in awe as we watched the Hindu devotees pay homage and love towards their Gods. We had a delightful experience.

Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple of Greater Chicago
http://www.balaji.org/web/home.aspx

There is also another Hindu Temple off of Hwy #59 that I pass by on my way to and from work. This Temple is as beautiful and ornate in other ways as to the one in Aurora. To the side of the temple is a Cultural Building where they worship, dine, learn, and are entertained.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
http://chicago.baps.org/

I also pass by a Budda Temple, which I hope to stop by soon. About 45 to 60 minutes north is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) Temple. I knew I felt like I was walking on spiritual ground, and now I know I am.

-Shelly

Beauty, Right Outside Our Door!

Lynn and I are so fortunate and feel so blessed to be living in such an extroardinary location (Aurora) and state (Illinois). Everywhere we look beauty surrounds us. As an example, here are some pictures of a sunset I took right off our back porch back in July. Every second and minute a new and brilliant masterpiece was created by shedding either darkness, light or a different color on a particular subject. -Shelly

Our Version of Dressing Up

This is our version of dressing up for Halloween. You can see how decked out we (Lynn and I, along with Max and CC) were and the excitement that exudes from our faces.

-Shelly

Get Out And Vote!!!

Several of our family members in states around the country have already participated in our country's civic duty.... And whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent, part of the Green Party or whatever political affiliation you might be … remember tomorrow,

November 4th,

to GET OUT AND VOTE!