March 6, 2010, Chicago!

Even though we are in the month of April, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that on March 6, 2010, Lynn and I found ourselves in downtown Chicago. I DO LOVE CHICAGO! To me, Chicago is a breathtakingly beautiful and vibrant city. I can and do see a picture taking moment everywhere much to Lynn's chagrin! ;o) I love Chicago's skyline, the architectural genus that went into the skyscrapers, every structural and colorful facade, and even the parks are picturesque. Chicago has never lost sight of its true gem, Lake Michigan's sea front.

Here are just a few pictures from our glorious day in March!

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Get your own

-Shelly

** TWO YEARS AGO **

Goodness, how time flies! It was 2 years ago, last Monday (Columbus Day), Lynn and I pulled the car up to our new townhouse in Aurora, IL. It was an uneventful road trip from Utah to Illinois. However, the 2 years we’ve been in Aurora has been anything but typical or what we usually call, 'normal'. Maybe, that’s why Lynn and I had to move to Illinois (Chicagoland). Instead of having another ordinary life ---- our lives have had more upheavals along with several roadblocks, but the journey has been extraordinary. And, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Lynn and I are both are at jobs we like (even though mine is a temporary situation), we have met countless and wonderful new friends. My sister, Ami, is 4 to 6 hours away in Michigan and it takes 45 to 60 minutes to drive to my niece, Cori’s, house.

Aurora and the Chicagoland area are wonderful places to explore. My first 18-months in Illinois was spent indoors and not feeling well, but things have changed now. I’m up, feeling healthier and sassier than ever. My exploratory bone is ready to see new things, haunt and hunt down the hundreds upon thousands of museums that surround us. I’m ready to visit and see the exquisite landscapes and parks of the Midwest and the Great Lakes region. The dust is off my tennis shoes since we have several walking and hiking paths close to where we live aching and waiting to be discovered. Everywhere I turn, there is something beautiful to see … whether it’s the sun as it is setting in the west, the innumerable green hues of the trees that dot the landscape, and the wildlife. I am in awe and feel totally surprised and flabbergasted. ** Chicagoland is AMAZING!!!** We are blessed to be living now in the notable and noteworthy state of Illinois.

Lynn and I are strapped down into the rollercoaster of life. We can’t wait to see what the next 2 years will bring!!!!

-Shelly

My Ode To Fall ...

The green leaves outside our windows are once again turning lovely shades of red beginning at the top of the trees interspersed with yellow and orange coloring throughout. Fall is one of my favorite seasons and the thought by Lin Yutang captures my feelings so perfectly.

"I like spring, but it is too young.

I like summer, but it is too proud.

So I like best of all autumn,

because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer,

and it is tinged with a little sorrow.

Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring,

nor the power of summer,

but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age.

It knows the limitations of life and its content."

- Lin Yutang

-Shelly

Great Things Are Happening .... :o)

Lynn and I are so excited. My brother, Todd, his wife Annette, and their three daughters, Julia, Natalie, and Elizabeth, are coming for a visit starting on July 27th. They will leave Chicago on July 30th and head to Utah and Idaho to see our family there. Here is a picture I have of Todd's family, from the summer of 2006, when Lynn and I went out to the DC area for a visit and to be a tourist. Lynn and I have a Chicagoland adventure planned for their visit. I can't wait.

My sister, Lisa, is now on chemo and radiation for her breast cancer. Lisa has been a real trooper with this whole ordeal. I am so proud of my sister. Lisa was extremely nauseated after her first chemo treatment. They are giving Lisa mega doses of the chemo, then after three months, she will get a different does of chemo. The first chemo sessions are the ones that cause hair loss, nausea, and totally wipe the energy out of an individual. Lisa has handled the ordeal so well. Like the angel she is ... she continues to reach out and make those who are talking or visiting with her feel special and reach out with love to her family, friends, other cancer related patients, and her community. I couldn't ask God for a better sister than the sisters and brothers I have been blessed with. Lisa's chemo and radiation treatments will be over by the end of the year. This is a picture of Lisa's new hair cut. I think she looks smashingly well. The new hair do makes her look 10 to 15 years younger.

Another new and exciting thing that is happening in our lives is that, I HAVE A JOB! Yep, a job! The position is a 2-month contract. I will be working with Hartford Insurance. My employment begins at the end of July or the first week in August.

As you can see, Lynn and I have been blessed. Our health is good. We are enjoying our adventures in Chicagoland. We are older and hopefully a little wiser, and having the time of our lives.

-Shelly

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

This has been an interesting eighteen months for me and Lynn. Of course it started off with our move in October (2007) to what everyone out here in Illinois calls "God's country" (Chicagoland/Aurora/Naperville area). It was a year ago May (2008) when I was given a clean bill of health.

We have found in our lovely area wonderful friends, fantastic scenery, and remarkable architecture (both God made and manmade). I have enjoyed traipsing through downtown Chicago and other areas that have a historical and sentimental nature behind them. We have had family and friends who have visited us in our new surroundings.

We have visited our surrounding neighbor states, such as Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin, and plan to have more excursions of discovery, especially to the lower part of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, etc.

Lynn’s contract with the Army Reserve is going superbly. I am still searching for that elusive and illusive job position, which I know is just around the corner.

My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer a month ago and the doctors feel strongly that they have removed all the cancerous tissues. Her chemo and radiation treatments will be completed by the end of the year.

Lynn and I continue to have nieces and nephews that are leaving a remarkable and lasting legacy for their friends and family (such as their Aunt and Uncle) to follow. I have a mother (and Lynn has a mother-in-law, but really she’s his mother-of-love) in my life that I cherish and love with all my heart.

We feel truly blessed and eager, but somewhat anxious, to see what’s ahead for us in the next few years. I know though as I go through this life that I will go forth boldly and strongly because of my sweet and dear companion, Lynn. - - Of that, I have no doubt. Three things are certain in our lives. One, Lynn and I have each other, now and forever. Two, we have a remarkable loving family support system; and three, which is the most important thing to us, is our belief and trust in God.

-Shelly

Red-Wings and Buzzers

Spring has really sprung in Chicagoland. It is evident with the arrival of the red-winged blackbirds and the early cicadas.

I am sure if I was up and more alert at this time last year that I would have seen the beautiful birds and the first infestation of the buzzing cicadas. (A cicada looks similar to a locust, but it has a larger body and is more colorful.

I feel bad for the early cicadas because they will be devoured by the birds and dogs as they venture out of their underground burrows; however do not feel too bad for the industrious and noisy insects. Soon there will be so many of them around, the dogs and birds will be sick of eating them, and then all the male cicadas will sing; and the stereophonic buzzing will sound like a den of rattlesnakes.

I saw my first sighting of a red-winged blackbird a few weeks ago. It was sitting on the tip of cattail and I would have totally missed the little black bird, but it hopped off the plant and I immediately saw the bright red feathers. It was the most beautiful little bird I have seen in a long time. When Lynn and I were driving up to Madison, Wisconsin, I saw oodles of red-winged blackbirds off the freeways defending their small territories. The birds nests in marshes, cattails, fields, etc. They migrate from the Southern states and Mexico around March to the Northern states, including Aurora, IL, in swarms. They will migrate back to their warmer climates in the fall.

It is raining today in Chicagoland. With the arrival of the cicadas, along with the red-winged blackbirds, and the rain, it feels like spring!

-Shelly

Spring and Baseball ??

You can just tell that spring is in Chicagoland’s air. The news topics around here have changed from corrupt governors, Chicago Bulls, and outrageous movie stars to Chicago's real love, which is BASEBALL!!! In fact, the main topic of one of our morning news shows was a poll being conducted on which baseball team, the Chicago White Sox or the Chicago Cubs have the best fan base. If you want to want to place your vote click here http://www.nbcchicago.com/around_town/debates/. So far with 11 days remaining, the White Sox fans are winning the poll!

My niece, Cori, her husband Jeff, and their son,Seth, live about an hour north from us and they have a soft or favorable spot for the Chicago Cubs. Lynn has a more practical approach when it comes to Chicago’s baseball teams. He says the Chicago White Sox are like Rodney Dangerfield, they ‘get no respect’, so that means Lynn leans a little bit farther to the White Sox bench. I like watching both teams. Since spring is in the air and Tuesday’s White Sox opening game is fast approaching let’s stop slinging hash and start playing Ball!!! The pennant and bragging rights are up this year for grabs.
-Shelly

A week with Vali

Last week with Vali (our niece) was wonderful as we toured various parts of Chicagoland. We had a nice time when we visited my sister Ami in Dearborn, MI. I am going through over a hundred pictures (I'm not kidding either) of our outings so I can post some of them, send copies to Vali, and to just categorize them. Here is a picture we had taken of the three of us when we were sampling brewed root beer at Walter Payton's Roundhouse Restaurant. I have more pictures to post or I will put them on a small video at another time.
-Shelly

It is Darn Cold Outside ...

The last few days have been cold in Chicagoland. Yesterday we woke up to a 20 below temperature, with the wind chill Aurora was 35 below. But, this morning we woke up in Aurora at 30 below, you can only imagine how much colder it felt with the wind chill. Never fear though. Lynn and I, Maxwell and CC are all doing well. We are warm and safe. Today’s high temperature (expected in the evening hours) will be 7 above. It is funny when 7 degrees is considered to be warm.

-Shelly

A Strange Turn of Events

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