*** Fox River !! ***

It has been very cold in Eastern Aurora (IL) this season. We had a temporary thaw about a month ago which caused some flooding in Chicagoland. Aurora was spared. Some of the Naperville residents that lived on the Dupage River had water coming into their homes because of the rapid amount of rain we received. Once again though it has turned bitterly cold. I think December and January's high temperatures have been 10 degrees above zero and lower. Many days we woke up to below zero temps. Here are a few pictures a photographer on the Internet took of the Fox River in Jan. 2008. (The Fox River flows through downtown Aurora breaking the city into Eastern Aurora and Western Aurora. Lynn and I live in East, East Aurora. We border the Naperville/Aurora bounderies.) I loved the pictures. The snow we've accumulated this year though is deeper than the pictures indicate. We drove over the Fox River on Friday and the ice is pretty thick and snow covered in many places.

-Shelly

Dust Ourselves Off!

..."We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. ..."

President Barack H. Obama
1/20/2009

Good Things

I am back on the unemployment line again. I was hoping to work with the Samaritan Counseling Center http://www.samaritancounselingnwsub.org/sam.htm for at least a few years. However, wishing and actually ‘doing it’ are two different things. During these difficult and hard times, individuals, along with families, need the professional help they will find at the Samaritan Counseling Center. For me, there are no hard feelings since I learned so much from those I worked with in just a short amount of time. Experience is my greatest teacher.

I am doing fine. I have filed for unemployment, along with nearly a quarter million other folks in the United Sates. I am back with Kelly Temps and I am registered with JobFox, Monster, LDS Employment, etc. I know things will work out for the best.

Lynn received a bit of ‘good’ news this week. His Commanding Officers wants to try and make Lynn’s position with them a “civilian” job rather than a contracting position. The procedures for a change like this may take a year or so, or not happen at all. But, I think the Army Command Center Lynn is with now has found out how valuable he is as a team member. So, to keep the position from not being renewed or even moved to another area, they want to create a position just for him.

Good things are happening to us and God continues to bless us every day.

-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

More Snow ...

At least someone in our family is enjoying the snowfall we're receiving. Our snow started early Friday morning, tapered off for a few hours and then resumed in the late afternoon. We have around six inches of snow on the ground in Aurora. According to the weather folks we're to continue the accumulation until this evening.

Our cat, CC, truly enjoys the snow on our deck. She jumps in it, tail flying everywhere. CC will try and grab the snow in her paws and does something like a belly flop into the deeper snow banks. Then she'll move to drier ground to warm and prep up (at least that's what I think she's doing) and then starts the fun all over again. CC is really humorous to watch. If Lynn or I throw a snowball, she'll chase after the snowball. If the snowball is on the ground she'll move the snowball all around until it's crumbled to pieces. It is fun to watch her. Our other cat, Maxwell, looks at the snow from the safety of the doorway. We do enjoy watching both of our cats antics and quirky personalities.
-Shelly

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Lynn & Shelly

Happy People Dancing

As we are ending the year 2008, I thought I would pay tribute to one of my favorite links of all time. They are 3 semi-short videos from Stride Gum. It is of Matt’s Place. The entire website is dedicated to ‘happy people’ dancing. Despite political boundaries, cultures and customs, we are essentially the same. We want peace and enjoyment out of life.

http://www.stridegum.com/#/mattsplace/. [Once on the website, click on the 2008 picture, you will then be able to move through the three videos by way of the right and left arrows.] No one can stay angry or mad if they are dancing with all their heart. One of the ways we display happiness is by dancing. Look at the joy in each person’s face as they exhibit their enthusiasm and vigor.

Lynn and I hope 2009 will bring all of us, despite our vast differences, plenty of tolerance and oodles of love.
-Shelly

A Strange Turn of Events

Merry Christmas from Lynn & Shelly!

For our other special friends, Happy Hanukkah!

And for all of our other brothers and sisters who live on this planet who share their deity holidays on days other than December ... It is our wish that we all can find peace and happiness in 2009 and beyond.

Decked up!

We have 'decked up our halls' with the festivities and lights of the season. Lynn and I started decorating the day after Thanksgiving. We were surprised when we received an outdoor angel from my mom and dad, which we placed on our balcony. I'm sure the planes landing at O'hara and taking off from Midway airports can spot our beacon of light. Our little place in the world brightens up the area. Actually, most of our neighbors homes are decorated ... it's a nice warm feeling driving up to our house and seeing all the pretty colored lights and feeling the spirit of the season.

-Shelly

From The Heart

A marvelous thing happened to me today while sitting in church. We were just finishing with the opening song in our Sacrament meeting and listening to the announcements when a young girl, probably 3 years or younger decided to use the bench space next to me as her working table. She was very busy drawing some remarkable pictures. She noticed me looking at her drawings. I leaned over and whispered to her that the picture she was working on was very pretty. She took the writing tablet, went over to her dad and had him help her tear the page out of the book. Then she handed the picture to me. I gave her a hug and told her thank you for the picture. I asked her if she could write her name on the paper. She was too young for that, so her dad wrote her name on the top.

Her small gesture touched me so much. At this time of year it seems we are so connected to the hustle and bustle of the Christmas and holiday season that we forget that it was a child, a baby boy, whose birth many of us celebrate this time of year that changed the world. It is children that continue to grow up and change our society.

Here is Colette’s picture. Colette has never met me or Lynn, so this is the first time she has laid eyes on us; yet, she was so willing to share her talents and love with a perfect stranger. “And, a little child shall lead them …” and so has a child touch my heart today.

-Shelly

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!

Halloween Greetings!

Lynn and I wanted to wish all of you a great, wonderful, and thrilling Halloween season. Lynn wouldn't let me dress up our cats (Max and CC) so I had to do the next best thing. :)

Shelly

A Circle of Love

My sister Lisa came out to visit with us, her daughter and son-in-law (Cori & Jeff) and to meet with her new grandson, Seth Min Cheol, last Wednesday and left to go home two days ago. :( It was fun to have my sister stay with us at night. Since both Lynn and I were working we would take her to Cori's house (in Glenview, IL), where she could spend the day playing with Seth and do the motherly thing with her daughter that only a mother (or a special woman) can achieve, and then after work I would pick Lisa back up from Cori's and would bring her back to our house (sisterly chatting all the way) for the evening.

It has been an amazing few weeks. During the last part of September Lynn and I went up to stay with my younger sister Ami (who lives in Dearborn, MI). While at Ami's, we picked up my mom and then she spent a week with us. Lynn and I have been wrapped up in the arms of love and feel so blessed and grateful to have the families we do. Here are just a few of the pictures of generations of moms with and tons and tons of LOVE for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren:)

Helicopter crash in Aurora

We had a bit of excitement the night before last. At around 12:30 AM a medical helicopter ran into a radio tower and crashed in a field nearby. You may have heard about it on the news. The tower is only about a quarter of a mile away from where we live. As a matter of fact I can see it out the back window. They have started dismantling it today around 5:30 PM. If you look close at the picture you can see people on the tower It is raining a little bit today. I would not like to be the one on the tower undoing the bolts.