Highway 40 Symposium

After several weeks of planning, organizing, stressing out and praying, today was The Highway 40 Symposium sponsored by the YMCA. The idea came after talking with a few of Board Members about how we are going to handle the upcoming Highway 40 closures since our branch is in the middle of Brentwood and most of our members work in Clayton. We figured if we are asking a lot of questions and worrying, other big companies must be worrying as well. WE WERE RIGHT!

We sent invitations to 100 local companies and invited them to come hear speakers from MoDot, The City of Clayton, Missouri Public Transit, and other local experts on traffic and what comapanies are doing about this upcoming issue. We limited attendance to 40 companies... (get it.... 40 companies... highway 40....?) Cheesy I know....

Anyway, we had 40 companies call and RSVP, but since the seminar was FREE, we were not sure that they would actually come. We held the event off-site, served breakfast (donated by Balaban's) and lunch (sold at cost by Applegate's). We had great YMCA materials to share with all of the attendees and gave small leather portfolios with the YMCA logo debossed on them and pen and pencil sets to each company that attended! We were well organized and professional- that made me happy.... and made my boss happy! HOORAY!

So, after we set up and got everything in place, the question still remained.... HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY SHOW UP? I was getting a little nervous...but, would you believe that 40 companies registered and 40 companies SHOWED UP? Wow- God totally answered my prayer! It was great.

The event went very smoothly, and we were VERY excited that Ladue News, the Post-Dispatch and Channel 4 all sent reporters (the Post sent 3!).

I am so thankful that things went so well. I am even more thankful that the YMCA was marketed well, and that we are now viewed as an organization who is a leader in our community who is reaching out to offer solutions to real community issues.

Today was a great day! Praise the Lord!

Congrats!

Congratulations to Jennifer! Today was her very last day of high school! Sunday she will graduate from Ladue, and we are so proud of her... She has come a long way in the last year, and we are thrilled for her. Last night we attended Senior Awards Night at the High School, where Jenn was honored with a Broadcast Journalism Award. Sunday we will watch her as she crosses the stage and receives her diploma... my oh my they grow up so fast. I remember when she was born as if it was yesterday. We love you Jenn!

Congratulations are also in order for Bekah! Bekah will soon graduate from 8th grade and will be headed to High School. She has been selected to sing the National Anthem at the graduation ceremony too... we are pretty excited for her. Also, she learned today that the all-girl Chamber Singers which she sings with received first place among all of the choirs who recently completed at the Middle School Festival. WAY TO GO!

We have been blessed with two beautiful, smart, and talented girls. We are so proud of you both!

Look Alike?

Some people just have a face that is familiar. Some believe that everyone has a twin somewhere in the world. But for my hubby Jason, he hears very often that he looks like a couple of different superstars... For those of you who know Jason, what do you think? Do you think he looks like either of these famous guys?

Joey- From NSYNC

Jeff Supan- Former St. Louis Cardinal

What do YOU think?

Gonna Dance the Night Away...

This week has been an awesome week for our girls. Last Saturday night, Jennifer went to her Senior prom and had a great time. Tonight Bekah went to her 8th grade formal dance and she had a blast too. Both girls looked beautiful for their special events. In fact, they looked so beautiful that a particular daddy that I know and love didn’t really want to let them leave the house without a burlap sack.

Both girls took a digital camera with them, and there were lots of great ones to choose from (including some with a few pretty “cute guys”), but I didn’t want to embarrass anyone TOO much! Here are a few pictures from the dances.

Bekah- leaving the house.

Bekah with a few friends.

Jen leaving the house.

Jen with a few friends.

My, my, they grow up so fast! We have been blessed with two beautiful girls! Oh yeah, and two very EXPENSIVE girls! Do you know how much this stuff costs? Geez… Dresses, shoes, prom ticket, limo ride, jewelry, nails, hair stuff, make-up… and on and on…. Well…. I guess you only graduate from 8th grade, and high school once! They are worth every penny!

We love you Bekah and Jen!

Too Funny

This too funny...

"After12 years of intense therapy, my therapist finally said something life changing, that brought tears to my eyes... He said, "No hablo Ingles!"

Maybe I am the only one in the world who is laughing hysterically, but in my opinion.... that it REALLY funny!

Lemonade

We have all heard the old saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." I thought that this was cool and wanted to share it. Here is a new way to look at an old, familiar saying:

"When life hands you lemons, GOD gives you the opportunity to make lemonade... and if you ask, HE will even provide you with the sugar."

Chicago Pictures

I have a few minutes, and I thought I would post 2 more pictures from Chicago. I had such a great time with my girls! I love you Boo and Jen!

SO SASSY!!!

The Story Behind the Question...

What are your thoughts?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/20/transgender.prom.king.ap/index.html?eref=rss_us

Question

I just read an interesting story, which provoked me to ask you all a question:

Should a girl be able to run for Prom KING?

I know, I know...

I know, I haven't blogged for almost a week. My girls, and a few others have told me that I need to pick up the pace and get to blogging. So, in a few short minutes, let me give you an update:

• I am tired
• Work is going great
• Bekah (aka Rapunzel) is loving theatre and her show closes on Wednesday night
• Jennifer would like you to know that it only 27 days until graduation
• Jason finished the bowling season with a decent average
• The Highway 40 Symposium is coming together nicely
• The bedroom is finally painted and the new furniture will be here Saturday
• My lower back/hip still hurts really badly
• Mikki had the all important surgery and did great
• It is time to start shopping for prom and 8th grade dance dresses
• The plumbing is fixed in the bathroom sink finally
• The cost of gas is insane
• The weather is beautiful
• God continues to bless us

I will try to post pictures soon.

How about you... what are you up to these days?

Say Goodbye Sanjaya- FINALLY!

Ladies and Gentlemen....

He is finally gone! Thank you for voting him off- American Idol is worth watching again!

Girls' Road Trip

The girls and I took a trip to Chicago this weekend. We saw the Sears Tower, the Contemporary Art Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, Wicked, and a million other random things! I have taken a lot of pictures, and I want to share them, but to be honest, I am just too tired tonight, but here is my favorite of the entire weekend!

I love my girls so much! I will post more pictures and comentary on the weekend as soon as I can. I am thankful that we had a great trip and that we have arrived home safely.

The Results are "BACK"

As you know, I had an MRI this week because it was believed that I had a fractured vertabrae or a ruptured disc. Today that doctor called with great news. I have neither of the conditions that were feared. The MRI showed a large amount of swelling in my lower back, which is responsible for the pain that I am experiencing. Praise the Lord!

So, for now I have 2 choices. I can either A.) deal with the pain with pain killers and work through it until the swelling goes down or B.) Go to PT and be tortured and still take pain killers and wait for the swelling to go down.

I have actually opted for a third choice. I am going to take ALEVE instead of pain killers, and use all of my previous experience with PT to make sure that I am stretching and keeping mobile, and wait for the swelling to go down.

Thanks for all of your prayers. I am thankful that I won't have to deal with anything else major when it comes to my back!

OUCHY!

When I asked my friend to pray for me about a "little" issue I was having, I didn't expect it to make the prayer list at church- but I know intentions were good.... so I am not mad or anything. Now I just have a lot of questions to answer, so I thought this was a good venue to do that.

First let me say, Yes, I know that I am stupid.
Yes, I know that I broke all of the rules.
Yes, I know that this is all my fault!

So, anyway... this is what happened. About 8 weeks ago, I was standing on a chair, painting. (I know... bad idea.) On top of that being a bad idea, I didn't have shoes on...only socks (very bad idea). I am sure that I don't have to tell you what happened next... Conni came tumbling down... Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall... and it hurt- A LOT....

So with time, I felt better, although I was bruised. Last week things started to hurt a bit more, and by the end of the weekend, I was experiencing a great deal of pain. With a little nudging... I decided to make a doctor's appointment.

Upon examination it was determined that I likely have either a fractured vertabrae, or a ruptured disc. I guess that explains the pain! So... they sent me for an MRI today, and I should have the results tomorrow or Friday.

I am thinking three things at this point:
1. If it was something really bad, they wouldn't have let me leave the hospital.
2. No matter what it is, I will be fine.... I have dealt with a lot already.
3. I will never stand on a chair again while painting!

Thanks for your continued prayers- God is good.

More Decorating

We had pretty much given up on finding a new bedroom set after searching high and low. We had decided that it just wasn't meant to be. But then.... we stopped in at Ashley's Furniture and low and behold... there it was. It is the perfect blend of what he wants, and what I want. It is just perfect! So, we decided to buy it, and it will be delivered on April 28th!

Now, I guess I don't have a good excuse anymore to wait to get the painting done in the bedroom. I have the new bedding purchased too... so I just need to match colors, and get busy with the roller!

Does anyone know any great little stores that have great decorating pieces? I like Pier One and places like that, but they haven't gotten anything new in a long time and I am kind of getting bored with them! I am betting that there is some little hidden store that has great things that I don't know about.... maybe in Webster or Old St. Charles? (what about an on-line store?)

Anyone have any ideas....??

Easter Ham

I was with a few friends tonight, and we were talking about what we had eaten for Easter lunch. We started talking about how ham is the most common Easter meat, and we wondered why. A few ideas bounced around the room, but I wanted to see what the internet had to say about it, because everyone knows that everything you read on the internet is true! :)

Anyway, I visited several sites, and here is the most common answer to the question-

Why do we eat ham on Easter?

"Because the Old Testament forbade pork, and in Christ's New Testament the old food laws no longer hold. "

Does anyone out there (perhaps a scholar) have another explanation as to why most of us eat Ham on Easter?

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! I pray that you will have a very blessed day remembering the most important thing in life.....HE'S ALIVE!

All glory and honor and praise be HIS for evermore!

The Wizard...

We all know that the Scarecrow wanted a brain, the Tinman wanted a heart, the Lion wanted courage, and poor Dorothy just wanted to go home.
What would you ask the Wizard for?

I love you Cardinals....

... But, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? Do you boys not know that the idea of the game is to get runs? Do you remember what it is like to win? You are the world champions... I know it is early in the season... but come on already.... show us that you want to win again!

It's all Jimmy's Fault

Qdoba Addiction.

Need I say more?