Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

The inside of St. Patrick's Cathedral (Árd Eaglais Naomh Pádraig). It is the largest church in Ireland, founded in 1191. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travel's was the dean of this cathederal from 1713 to 1745.

This stone was uncovered below the surface of the traditional site of St. Patrick's Well. Tradition holds that the first converts to Christianity were baptized by St. Patrick there.

Go mbeannaí Dia duit -- May God bless you!

All photos taken in October, 2007 in Dublin, Ireland by Meridith ©

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Picture taken 10/10/07 in County Clare, Ireland by Meridith©

This portal tomb is one of two located in The Burren in Western Ireland. These large stone tombs were built throughout Western Europe during the Neolithic or New Stone Age when the practice of farming was first becoming established.

A New Guitar

"Three cords and the truth."






I think she liked her surprise.

Girl's Best Friend

We have finally reached the end of February. This Winter has been a long, cold & snowy one. I've been sick for most of this month, but I'm hopeful that the first peeks of crocus popping up and the potential of 40 degree plus weather this weekend with rid my body of what ails me.

Despite the congestion and on-and-off cough throughout this month, I managed to keep up with yoga class on Wednesdays, but I ditched the gym up until yesterday. I figured it was time to get back into a schedule; so, I did 20 minutes on the elliptical machine and called it a day.

We had Brody neutered two weeks ago. He still acts crazy ... and he loves the snow.

"I'll see you again when the stars fall from the sky and ...

the moon has turned red over One Tree Hill." One Tree Hill By: U2

My attempt to capture the lunar eclipse in February with my digital Minolta set up on a tripod in our frozen backyard in a star-filled, Winter sky. It was intensely cold, but beautiful to behold.

Seeking God

Our church is doing a 40-day prayer focus leading up to Easter entitled "Seek God for the City 2008." Today's passage just happened to be "Seeking God ... to rescue people enslaved in spiritual darkness." I thought that this picture captured today's theme perfectly ... it's framed in complete darkness, but the light brings forth the hope that is to come.

"And I will appoint you as ... a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison." Isaiah 42:6-7

"Jesus said to them, 'For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you.'" John 12:35

Walk on.

Stained glass window panel; picture taken at Christ Church Cathedral, in Dublin, Ireland, October, 2007 ©

Happy Valentine's Day

PICT0047, originally uploaded by Meridith Louise.

Irish Hydrangea from County Cork. I took this picture while strolling the grounds of Blarney Castle in October, 2007.


"... the greatest of these is love." I Cor. 13:13

Last Weekend ... in 3D

I've been battling a cold for the past two weeks; so, that is my defense for the lag in my posts. I did muster enough energy to make it to down to Navy Pier last weekend to see U2 3D with Janice. It was an amazing way to see the band perform ... would've been so much better if the crowd was more into it, but very cool nonetheless. At one point, it seemed like I was going to get hit upside the head by Adam's bass guitar during one song. I also liked the over-head angle they shot Larry playing drums because it gave you a very different perspective that you don't get to see in regular concert DVD's. Two thumbs up!

I also ended up taking my daughters to see the Hannah Montana 3D movie (because I promised). Caitlyn & Alex are really more fans of the Jonas Brothers, but they seemed to like the whole concert ... Miley Cyrus and all.

Back to this weekend ... we were with Alex down in Crete today while she was cheering at a basketball tournament for the boys' basketball team. (Bruins won 1st place!) Caitlyn is working her first real job this weekend at one of the concession stands at the auto show. Winter refuses to cut us some slack. The high temperature tomorrow is supposed to be 4 degrees with windchills -20 degrees. I'm ready for a little sun ... and a good night's sleep.

"Where you live should not decide whether you live or whether you die ..."

We survived a weekend of below zero wind chills and the AFC and NFC Championship games. Although we were rooting for the Packers to win, we will gladly cheer on the Giants against the Patriots when Super Bowl Sunday rolls around in two weeks.

I actually made a real sit-down meal after church yesterday: baked lasagna, salad and garlic bread. Janice came over to catch up and share some stories from her recent medical missions trip to Haiti.

Last week, I discovered the show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America. I love it! Basically, award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay goes to a failing restaurant and works as a troubleshooter there for a week with the staff in an effort to turn things around. It is not pretty because he calls it like he sees it. If the head chef is lazy, he's not afraid to say it to his or her face. He gives them ideas to change their menus. Ramsay makes a return visit to each restaurant a few months down the road to see how they have fared with the changes. He drops a lot of F-bombs, but they are beeped out. It's very British and great to watch.

Goals for this week: elimination of migraine triggers, make it to the gym three times this week (plus yoga class)

Til Tuesday

The view southbound on Inner Lake Shore Drive, taken on a CTA bus, Jan. 8, 2008, 1:30 p.m.

I'm sitting at work listening to the end of "Creep" by Radiohead and watching the rain fall over the CNA building and the Field Museum. I just read on the Chicago Tribune website that another 15-year-old was shot and killed in Logan Square last night. Does it ever end? Violence continues to perpetuate around the world. God's heart does ache.

1:15 p.m. I leave my orthopedic surgeon's office for what will probably be the last time. There remains a 2 cm. difference between my left and right quadricep muscles. Dr. G is glad to hear that I'm back at the gym and laughed at my holiday excuses because he did the same. He encouraged me to keep working on strengthening the quads and to hold on running until I notice some definite improvement. I'm to follow-up with him in six months if I'm having any problems with the knee at that time. It has been a little over four months since surgery. It seems like I lost a huge chunk of time from July 27th (the day of the final, fateful run) up through physical therapy, but that is now all in the past and I'm ready to make another go at it.

On the way back downtown, I saw a camel while riding the No. 151 bus through Lincoln Park.

"I'm here to make you happy."

It's the 7th day of January and it is officially 60 degrees in Chicago at 9:48 a.m. It may be odd, but I won't complain -- grey street grime and all. As I walked in this morning, I was blown away by the view of the lake front from my office's reception area. It reminded me of that scene from Forrest Gump where Forrest and Capt. Dan are out on the boat in the Bayou during sunset (where Capt. Dan thanks Forrest for saving his life in Vietnam). Lake Michigan was calm and still and framed by pinks and muddled blues.

Today will be my first official day back at the gym (I tagged a membership onto Darrin's Bally's membership). My goal: 10-15 minute warm up on the elliptical machine and then weight training. I'm putting running off until I notice some definite strength improvement in the quads. Wednesday is yoga and I'll repeat again on Friday. Baby steps ...

U23D

Looking Back 2007

2007, December. The days are getting shorter and the nights colder, while flannel sheets now grace our beds. Autumn came and went without any effort to get the garden ready for next Spring. Lots of our plans were put off ... not purposefully, but, sometimes, life just happens and we still can find the beauty in the remainder of the day.

"The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty. Let all the earth rejoice, All the earth rejoice.
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide and trembles at His voice, trembles at His voice."

The year was filled with the usual day-to-day activities and a few unexpected events. Caitlyn completed her freshman year of high school at Chicago Hope Academy – go Eagles! She’s now firmly entrenched in her sophomore year, with classes including chemistry, Spanish II and world history. Caitlyn made the volleyball team again and is working hard being a Student Ambassador. In July, she had an incredible opportunity through school to spend a week working in Ensenada, Mexico by helping to assemble pre-fabricated homes for some very needy families. The project was part of the Arial Home Initiative, in conjunction with Youth With a Mission. (Here’s a link to pictures and info on the build: http://www.arialhome.org/Past%20Builds.htm;
click on the July 26-26, 2007 link).

Alexandra is now a 6th grader and in the junior high youth group. She participated in each and every sport offered during the school year and has just begun practice for the upcoming basketball and cheerleading season at St. Andrew. Her new passion is skateboarding and before it turned cold, she spent a lot of time in the backyard practicing "ollies" and "pop shove it" off the ramp that Darrin built for her. Alex took 2nd place in the storytelling division of the Chicago Area Lutheran Association’s annual forensic competition in November during her performance of "The Three Silly Billies".

In June, we spent a week out in California visiting Darrin’s sister Dawn and her husband, Larry. We spent a day up at Zuma Beach in Malibu. While the girls and I were out in the surf, Darrin relaxed under the partial cover of an umbrella, but he still managed to get a second-degree sun burn on his ankles. We finally made it down to Orange County to visit Knott’s Berry Farm. The girls got a kick when just the three of us took a drive up through the Hollywood Hills, Brentwood, Beverly Hills and down Rodeo Drive. We wrapped up the week with a trek down to Huntington Beach with Dawn & Larry where we staked out a fire pit near the ocean, swam, ate, made smores and relaxed. The sunset was breathtaking and we were able to watch porpoises feed in the water about 150 feet out.

In September, Darrin and Alex fulfilled their dream of owning a dog by brining home a Maltese puppy which we named "Brody". Lottie is slowly warming up to the new addition to the family. Sometimes it feels like our house is a zoo with everyone running up and down, in and out and away and after each other.

I started noticing pain in my left knee late last year, which I thought was just runner’s knee. I was able to run the Shamrock Shuffle 8K with Darrin and Caitlyn in March, but took two long breaks up through July. During my last attempt to run in July, I made it only three steps before I felt a horrible, ripping-type pain shoot down my leg. An MRI confirmed it was a lateral tear of the left medial meniscus. So, on a Friday in late August, I underwent an arthroscopic surgical repair on my knee. My orthopedic surgeon (the best ever), discovered I also had the start of a tear on the anterior meniscus as well. Darrin, Janice and the girls took exceptional care of me at home and I was able to return to work (with crutches) the following Thursday. I only had six weeks to recuperate from the time of my surgery to the day Janice and I were scheduled to leave for Ireland; so, after a few weeks of physical therapy, I was physically ready to make the journey with Janice to the Emerald Isle to celebrate her 40th birthday.

IRELAND. I’m still thinking about the sights, sounds, people, places ... it was magical, it was beautiful, it was exhausting, it was adventurous. We started in Dublin, staying at The Clarence (Bono’s hotel) across from the River Liffey and near the Temple Bar area for two nights. Lots of walking down Grafton Street, a tour of Trinity College, a viewing of the Book of Kells, took in an evening song service at Christchurch Cathedral and a tour of St. Patrick’s. * A three hour train ride took us to Galway on the west coast. We took a tour of The Burren in County Clare (home of megalithic tombs and portal dolmens) and the Cliffs of Moher (breathtakingly beautiful). The King of Belgium just happened to be on an official state visit and stopped by the Cliffs while we were there. Every county that we visited was different (especially dialects). * Cork had a different feel; a bit edgier than Galway, but very urban. We found our way to Blarney Castle and made the trek up to the top to kiss the Blarney Stone. The view of the estate from the top was worth it, especially with all of the trees in their autumn splendor. * Another long bus ride took us back east, down to Waterford, where we did the Waterford Crystal factor tour. You really get to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into each piece. Janice and I had to make an Amazing Race-type dash to catch a train back up to Dublin for our final two days. * Back in Dublin, we did more shopping, toured the Guinness Brewery and walked around O’Connell Street. We cheered along with visiting Brits while watching the English beat the French in World Cup Rugby during dinner one night. * Ireland is so rich in history. A history that is worth learning about. Our guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol (jail) left me speechless. You can read about the 1916 Easter Rising to get started. This trip made me appreciate refills on coffee, ice, the 16 oz. beverage size, good signage and transit maps that actually show you which direction you’re heading to. * I’ve posted all of my digital pictures on flickr, which you can view at your leisure at: http://flickr.com/photos/9968241@N04/sets/72157603498499246/.

"Age to age He stands and time is in His hands, Beginning and the end, beginning and the end. The Godhead Three in One, Father Spirit Son, the Lion and the Lamb,
the Lion and the Lamb."

And I remember ... the beauty of freshly fallen snow; early morning prayers with a friend; the joy of freshly brewed coffee at 5:30 a.m.; walking through St. Stephen’s Green; Evening Song in Christ Church Cathedral; Dublin mornings; parents who pray; yearning to run when I couldn’t; a better year of growing hydrangeas; the Danes vs. the Brits at Oliver St. John Gogarty and the "With or Without You" sing-a-long; Looptopia; catching the girls’ sporting events; the climb to the top of Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone; hearing Stewart Copeland’s familiar drumming as The Police finally took the stage at Wrigley Field; watching a sea lion in the water off Zuma Beach in Malibu; body surfing with Alexandra in the Pacific; running with Caitlyn during her first race; the beauty of the Cliffs of Moher and the roar of the Atlantic Ocean below; watching Alexandra chase Brody around the backyard; the noise from the MRI; celebrating the first of the "40th" birthdays of friends; hugs from the 4's & 5's on Sundays; expanding my garden in the patio; the porpoises of Huntington Beach; cicadas; lunchtime spent in the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park; getting the news that Chicago has a chance to host the 2016 Olympics; fish & chips at McDonough’s in Galway; the excitement and letdown of the Chicago Bears; catching up with old friends during our mini 20th high school reunion get together; walking through the damp and dark cells in Kilmainhim Goel; being wheeled into a cold room and feeling the burn of the anesthesia in the IV; hearing a voice that’s still whispering; the stillness of the Burren; the ability to fill my lungs with air to breathe and muscles that continue to propel this still 30-something body; and just how good God is.
"Name above all names, Worthy of our praise, My heart will sing How great is our God."

2008. May the new year bring you much love and peace. I pray that your celebration of the Savior’s birth will remind you of all that He has done for you in giving His life as a ransom for all "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Thank you for being a part of our lives.

"How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God, and all will see how great, how great is our God."
"How Great is our God " by Chris Tomlin

These are Days

PICT0011, originally uploaded by Meridith Louise.

West coast of Ireland, near The Burren.

I'm Thankful For ...

... so much. My Bo, the girls, my family ... the gift of sight, the pleasure of taste ... gifted doctors and modern medicine ... pets to care for, mouths to feed ... friends that pray, a God that hears ... .

May your Thanksgiving Day celebration be filled with all the people that you hold dear.

"Snail" shot at the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland, October, 2007

Marathon Weekend

This Sunday will be the final running of "The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon". Bank of America has just completed its take-over of LaSalle Bank; so, next year there will be a name change for this premier event.

There's nothing like standing on the sidelines cheering on all of the runners. We used to stake out a spot near U.S. Cellular Field -- around mile 19 -- and watch the elite runners (including Catherine Ndereba, Khalid Khannouchi and Paul Tergat) go by first. I'd shout out "Jambo!" as the Kenyans and their rabbits flew by.

There is such an incredible feeling of excitement and energy as all of the runners pass by. You get a chill from seeing the Team in Training and World Vision runners who are running to raise money for cancer research or to help African families and children affected by HIV/AIDS. The rest of the field is made up of different men and women from all walks of life ... young and old, first time marathoners and 10-year veterans trying to set a new PR ... middle-aged women with their names written on their t-shirts who smile brightly and pump their hand up in the air when you shout out their name for encouragement... men wearing pink t-shirts declaring that they are running in memory of a loved one ... bodies with less than 20% body fat to Clydesdale runners. They all pound the flat, fast pavement snaking through Chicago's vibrant neighborhoods -- each destined to reach their goal to justify the months of training.

At lunch today, there were lots of people walking back from the marathon expo with their race packets slung across their shoulders. The sun was shining brightly and there was a definite feeling of hype in the October sky.

I wish I could run. I have a few months to go before I'll feel comfortable enough to get back out there. My knee is continuing to heal and I'm grateful that I finally got it taken care of. I'm placing my sights on running in next Spring's LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K ... wait, I mean the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle.

So, to Barbara P., Michelle S. and the 40,000 other runners who will line up Sunday morning ... run strong!

Hebrews 12:1 "... let us run with endurance the race that is set before us ..."

Two Days

Janice and I will be flying to Ireland to celebrate her 40th birthday in two short days. After physical therapy tonight, there'll be some last minute shopping and then one last day of work. This will be my first trip to Europe ... I'm so excited!

Bits & pieces from the last month:

• began physical therapy three weeks ago and it has helped to strengthen my leg; my surgeon gave me the green light for the trip and asked me to bring him back a picture of my knee on the Blarney Stone;
• inched closer to 40 myself by turning 38 on September 5th; Darrin and the girls gave me an iPod because he was embarrassed to see me with my portable CD player;
• Dawn & Larry left California and moved back home to Chicago;
• the girls are in the midst of volleball season and doing well in school; and
• the garden is winding down; the sedum and pansies are the last bits of color; had lots cucumbers and there are a few tomatoes left on the vine.

I'm determined to be more regular in my posts. Expect lots of pics from the trip.

Introducing the Newest Member of Our Family ...

Brody the Maltese

Alexandra's long wish has come true!

"They say it's your birthday ... "

Today is the beginning of my 38th year of life. I survived the surgery and the awful affects of anesthesia. The knee is getting stronger and the limp is slowly disappearing. I'm so thankful for family and friends, cookie and flower bouquets, my beautiful daughters, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from my garden and answers to prayer. "It is well with my soul."

IT'S GOOD TO BE ALIVE! (Compliments to Mr. Lin Brehemer)

Clinical Indications:

"Pain and swelling since November of 2006 in this 37 year old runner. There is horizontal tears of the posterior third of the medial meniscus extending to the inferior articualr surface. Articular cartilage surfaces are intact without osteochondral defect or bone marrow edema. The lateral meniscus is intact as are the cruciate and collateral ligaments. There is a small knee joint effusion. Alignment of the patellofemoral joint is preserved. The quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament are intact. Impression: medial meniscus tear. Otherwise intact knee."

I met with an orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon earlier this week. He went over the MRI films with me and we talked about how to handle things considering that the Ireland trip is now eight weeks away. He feels that I will be in good shape four weeks post-op; so, I went ahead and scheduled surgery for August 24th. The doctor said I will be able to run again ... it was music to my ears! I'll undergo some physical therapy before the trip to strengthen my quad and I'll be good to go. Now, I have to focus on getting the girls ready for the start of school on August 20th & 23rd. Lots to do, but happy we've got a plan.

It's another hot and humid day in the city. Darrin won't have a day off until next Friday. Caitlyn is up in Michigan at school camp and Alex is spending the day at the beach with Dalia. It's Friday and I'm glad to be alive.

Survey Says ...

Endured an MRI at 6:45 a.m. today in order to find out if I have a torn meniscus or a torn medial collateral ligament. I'm hoping for the MCL diagnosis because physical therapy is the prescribed treatment.

The Last Weekend of July

On Friday, I decided to head out for a lunchtime run. I've taken a running hiatus since the end of May. Monday evening yoga has been the extent of my physical activity as of late, which definitely shows through with the increasing numbers when I get on the scale. Anyhow, I walked over to Millennium Park and started a half-hearted shuffle ... as I hit my third step, I felt a horrible pain shoot from the inside of my left knee down toward my calf. I stopped immediately. This was a much different pain than what I had been experiencing. I walked through the park and over to Columbus & Monroe. It was probably more of a limp. I attempted a show shuffle again, but I stopped after a few two steps. My self-diagnosis earlier in the year was per aersine bursitis, but I'm not quite sure what's going on now. I cried Friday night when I went to bed because I want to run (and my leg ached so much). I'm fearful that I might have tore a tendon, but I'm hoping that my doctor will be able to see me tomorrow so that we can find out what's going on in the leg. I know that God can heal.

Caitlyn is wrapping up the build project with Arial Homes in Ensenada, Mexico today. They'll be driving back up to San Diego later this afternoon. I miss her, too.

Our Summer So Far ...

"somebody spoke and I went into a dream ..."

The Beatles' album "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" was released 40 years ago today. WDRV just played the vinyl album from start to finish. It was recorded at Abbey Road on a four-track recorder. The sound is amazing. It drove Brian Wilson further down. The echo-y harmony on "Lovely Rita" is classic pop. A "Day in the Life" is one of my favorites.


Of course, many Beatles' tunes bring back memories. It was Steven Duckinew's Beatles belt buckle in 6th grade that made a real impression on me. He loved the Beatles! Then there's Mom's ultimate story of seeing the Beatles play at Comiskey Park in August, 1965. (You noticed I wrote "seeing" rather than "hearing" because the screams of the teenage girls drowned out the music from their little amps. The tickets were $4.50 each). I am still blamed to this day for losing her ticket stub on one of my attic souvenir searches. Dancing with Imo to "Twist and Shout" at the Jukebox Saturday Night stage at Taste of Chicago. A boy who I shared a class with in college who sang to me "Please Please Me" along with his acoustic guitar. But, nothing tops taking my mom and the girls with me to see Paul McCartney during the "Driving Rain" tour. The look on my mom's face said it all. It was surreal ... from the opening of "Hello Goodbye", to the story behind "Blackbird", "Band on the Run" and all the way through to "The End".
Paul even played the Hofner bass. This was Caitlyn & Alexandra's first concert ... we set the bar high.


"There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all"

In My Life (Lennon, McCartney)

In These Shoes

During yesterday's lunchtime run (which I should have not done since the knee had taken quite a pounding with consecutive day runs), I came across the exhibit "Eyes Wide Open: An Exhibition on the Human Costs of the Iraq War" at the corner of Jackson & Columbus. Over 3,000 combat boots, representing the lives of the U.S. soldiers that have been killed in Iraq, were layed out in neat lines in the park. Each pair included a tag that included the name of a soldier, their age and hometown. Some boots were the actual boots worn by that fallen soldier. Others had copies of pictures, momentos, flowers and news articles from the local paper attached to them. There were state flags and U.S. flags. It was humbling and moving; it left me sad and proud. Some of the men and women were only 18, 19-years old; others were in their late 40's.

After walking through the rows, I made my way back to Jackson and began the final stretch north down Michigan Avenue. The sky was blue and laced with humidity. I lifted a prayer up for the families of all those lost. See, I still have the freedom to run and pray openly without fear because the price for that freedom was paid by the men and women who lost their lives in wars battled throughout the history of our country. I am not worthy to even stand in their shoes.

Pictures and a Paragraph -- Part II

O.F.C.A. Class of 1987: The Unofficial 20-Year Reunion

I had a wonderful time at our Friday evening get-together at Gino's East in Orland Park. I was a bit nervous earlier in the week, but all that passed away as soon as I sat down at the table with my old friends. Just saying "20 years since my high school graduation" is mind blowing. Although many of us are separated by thousands of miles, once we're together, the stories flow colorfully and fondly. It was so good to catch up with one another and hear about what other people in our class are up to these days. My daughters wanted to come with, so they sat on the end and listened tentatively to the tales of old (they love hearing about things we did as kids).

So, Paul, Bryan, Jeff, Zack and Mark ... you each have grown into amazing men who still follow after God's own heart. Thank you for accepting this northside girl in the fall of '86 and making me a part of your class. Words fail to express the appreciation I have for your friendship.

Go Patriots!

Pictures and a Paragraph -- Part I

Alexandra competed in her first C.A.L.L. Track & Field Meet. She won first place in the 5th & 6th grade girls' 400 meter; third place in the 50 meter sprint; third place in the 4 x 100 relay; and fifth place in the softball throw. Our school came in third place overall. It's hard to cheer on your daughter and take pictures at the same time. I was blown away by her 400 meter run.

Conqueror Evil With Good

My heart aches for the parents of those young men and women killed at Virginia Tech on Monday. You cannot imagine the pain and suffering that they are experiencing. The questions that run through their minds ... the "what if" scenarios ... the last conversations shared ... the sweet smell of their children as they were cradled in their arms not so many years ago. I am in awe of the Holocaust-survivor professor who looked Evil once again in its eyes and sacrified his life so that his students could escape. CNN showed video last night of VT students gathering on the lawn where many were in prayer circles lifting up petitions to God. Black, white, Asian, men, women -- all crying out to the Creator of the universe.

"And I believe You’re here now
Standing in our midst.
Here with the power to heal now
And the grace to forgive." ("I believe in Jesus" by: Marc Nelson)

Stir Your Soul ... CHICAGO GOT THE BID!

The official announcement was just made minutes ago by the U.S. Olympic Committee ... Chicago will be the U.S. city put forward for consideration to the International Olympic Commitee for hosting the 2016 Olympics. This is an unbelieveable opportunity for the entire city and state. We'll still have two years of proposals and hoops to jump through, but at least we beat out L.A.

We are a city of neighborhoods. Edgewater, Streeterville, Wicker Park, Hyde Park, Garfield Ridge, Bucktown, Garfield Park, Austin, Englewood, Lake Park, Canaryville, Auburn Gresham, Saughanash, Little Italty, Pilsen, Humboldt Park, Logan Square & West Lawn. Our histories are colorful, sometimes a little dirty; but strong and woven together to create this fabric of Midwestern life that is much more real than you'd find anywhere on either coast. Welcome to our 'hood ~ welcome to Chicago ~ welcome home!

Resurrection Sunday

"Now behold the Lamb, the precious Lamb of God. Born into sin that I may live again. The precious Lamb of God.

Holy is the Lamb. The precious Lamb of God. Why you loved me so Lord I shall never know. The precious Lamb of God.

Even when I broke, broke your heart
My sins tore us apart
But I'm standin' right here in the midst of my tears
I claim you to be the Lamb of God
New life can begin, yeah
For you washed away, washed away everyone of my sins
Whom the Son sets free is truly free indeed
I claim you to be the Lamb of God

Thank you for the Lamb. The precious Lamb of God. Because of your grace I can finish this race. The precious Lamb of God."

"Now Behold the Lamb" By: Kirk Franklin

First Day of Spring

It's the first full day of Spring ... finally time to put away the wool coat and swap it out for a jacket. I was tentative about yoga class today because of my knee, but it turned out to be a good class afterall. I was able to get up into a headstand, with a little bit of help from Nathan. The stretching really helped my left leg in general and I feel much better. The race is four days away and I've decided to not run again until then. I'm confident of covering the miles (8K = 4.9 miles); it's just the time that I'm concerned with. My goal is to finish under 60 minutes. I'll be running alongside my 14-year-old daughter and 20,000 plus other runners. As long as it doesn't rain and my knee holds up, it'll be doable.

Friday Night is Alright for Fighting

Too much coffee has been consumed in the course of the past three hours. I went way over my carb limit for today (the soy latte with sugar-free vanilla is what set things off). I was able to get a few things accomplished tonight. The race is next Sunday and my knee took a beating this week after three 40 minute+ runs. During Wednesday's yoga call, my instructor said I have "runner's groin." I had to ice the knee after each run with Sandra (our quads were killing us, too). Ibuprofen is our friend.

I ran into a few old friends this week. One at a wake and the other at a Starbucks. It's was a bit surreal to play catchup in a 10-15 minute window with people you haven't seen in over ten years ... but so good nonetheless.

"And there's peace and unity and we can be happy everafter."
Happy Everafter by: Julia Fordham

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Spring Fever

I have been battling a cold for the past two weeks. Winter has dragged on for far too long here. We are desperate for a little more sun. Such direct statements for a Thursday night post. I need to run outside. The Shamrock Shuffle 8K is coming up in two weeks and I've only run four times in the past month. If it breaks 50 degrees tomorrow, then a long run is in order for this weekend. I must finish under 60 minutes. Caitlyn is running with us. I think we can.

The Best Coffee Maker Ever

There's nothing like having a pot of freshly brewed, hot coffee made within 3 minutes of pouring water into your coffee maker ... especially on below-zero mornings. My mom turned us on to the Bunn coffee makers way back when. We have used this Bunn since '98 when I bought it at Marshall Field's with a gift card; but, it had seen better days. The coffee wasn't very hot. We weren't getting a full 10-cup pot. As a thank you gift for doing their taxes, my in-laws purchased us a spankin' brand new, sleek-stylin' Bunn. It was sad to decommission the old Bunn, but the time had come. Oh, the memories and conversations shared over coffee made with the old Bunn could fill a book or two; but, here's to a new chapter of overflowing mugs of caffeine and cream. I'm sure it will be just as good ... even better.

"... we're just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle!"

The city is awashed in blue and orange today. We are two days away from our home team's first appearance in the Super Bowl in 21 years. It's just as cold today as it was that day Yvonne and I huddled in Daley Plaza in '85 to await the arrival of the team for the ticker tape parade the day after they clobbered the Patriots in New Orleans. Payton. Hampton. Singletary. The Junk Yard Dogs. McMahon. Butler. Gault. Wilson. Dent. Bortz. Richardson. Ditka. Ryan.

It's funny how an entire city can perk up and join together in fervent anticipation of another championship. Chicago is so diverse, yet so united when it counts. Grossman. Urlacher. Gould. Kruetz. Davis. Jones. Benson. Lovie. Hester. Briggs. Rivera. Muhammad. Tait. Vasher. Briggs. Garza. Berrian. Clark. Hillenmeyer. Mannelly. Ogunleye.

GO BEARS!

No. 151 Sheridan

It is one of the most beautiful days in January I've ever experienced. It would've been a great day for a run, but mommy duties have me pointed in another direction.

We have begun to notice that it's not quite as dark when we leave the office at 5:00 p.m. I swear I even saw some crocus popping up last weekend. Winter is still heavy upon us, but I feel hopeful that Spring is not too far away.

And I remember ...

2006, December. The invisible list of things to do in my brain is bigger and more overwhelming than the scribbled notes on a wadded-up piece of paper shoved somewhere in my purse of gifts to buy and cookies to bake. Despite this ever growing to do list, I am determined to not let it overwhelm me. Seriously.

"Together in this place of worship, Your greatness we proclaim.
We stand as one in giving You all glory and acclaim. To You our hearts are open, to You our hands we raise ... come take the place of honor in our lives"

The year began sadly as Kennedy’s struggle with her feline diabetes became worse and in February, we had to put her to sleep. It was a very emotional experience for the four of us as Kennedy has been a part of our family for close to13 years. I still slip and call our crazy cat Lottie "Kennedy". For the girls, it has been a year of moving forward. * Caitlyn wrapped up the grammar school chapter of her life when she graduated as class salutatorian. We hosted an open house in June to celebrate the occasion with family, friends and her classmates. * The Summer went by too quickly. Before we knew it, August rolled around and it was time to head back to school. For the first time, the girls are in different schools. Alex is taking every advantage of participating in team sports at St. Andrew as she has finally reached 5th grade eligibility. Basketball and cheerleading are in full swing. She scored 8 points in the first two games they’ve played. Although she is the smallest on the court, she is not intimidated and plays her heart out. Even the referee has commented to Darrin about her basketball skills. * Caitlyn is a freshman at Chicago Hope Academy (http://www.chicagohopeacademy.org),/ which is located in the Near West Side. The first quarter was a bit of an adjustment for all of us, but she is doing well and has made many new friends from around the city. We have been very impressed by the teachers and staff at CHA and know that this is where Caitlyn is meant to be. Caitlyn even made the "A" volleyball team this fall. We enjoyed hanging out in the bleacher and watching the games.

"See the praises of our Saviour rise to open skies, with the dawning of redemption Your glory will arise. For You along are worthy, here in Zion You are praised ... our Lord and King forever, You will reign."

And I remember ... shoveling snow and thinking that this is the year we’ll invest in a snow blower; early morning prayers with a friend; hearing the official tornado sirens wail as a late Summer storm darkened the city; the joy of freshly brewed coffee at 5:30 a.m.; familiar walks; hot chai tea with skim milk; parents who pray; Caitlyn’s salutorian speech; a yellow rose bush that would make Grandma Josephine proud; lunchtime runs through Grant Park with Sandra; the view from the Orange Line as it crests above 18th and State Street each day; falling asleep next to Alexandra; witnessing the unfortunate destruction by fire of two Louis Sullivan architectural gems; continued attempts to grow hydrangea; Caitlyn’s much improved volleyball skills; Coldplay and Bon Jovi; the privilege to watch our friends’ children grow up with ours; a Thanksgiving Day Eve run with Caitlyn in Marquette Park; watching Alexandra at the top of a cheer leading pyramid; family birthday celebrations; hugs from the 4's & 5's on Sundays; working in my garden; meeting Andy Summers from The Police; the autumn leaves of brilliant reds and yellows that frame Millennium Park; moving forward; hearing a voice that’s still whispering; the ability to fill my lungs with air to breathe and muscles that continue to propel this 30-something body; and just how good God is.

2007. May the new year bring you much love and peace. I pray that your celebration of the Savior’s birth will remind you of all that He has done for you in giving His life as a ransom for all –"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11); "for, Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"Emmanuel, our God is with us. Prince of Peace, Mighty One, the Ever Living God." "Emmanuel " by Raymond Badham

You Can Steal Our 6' Spiral Green Light Up Outdoor Christmas Tree, But You Can't Steal Our Christmas Spirit!

Went outside today at 6:50 a.m. to notice that our outdoor Christmas tree was stolen from the front of our house. The deed was done sometime after 10:30 p.m. last night, right under the lighted American flag. Our neighbor's holiday display a few doors down was also tampered with. Christmas in the city ...

Welcome to December ...

Still Crazy After All These Years

I grew up in an apartment filled with lots of music, which explains my vast and scattered listening preferences. My mom had lots of LPs ("albums") in her collection. She loves to remind me how I ruined her Gene Pitney album when I was little. One LP that I remember vividly was Paul Simon's "One Trick Pony," which is the soundtrack to the movie by the same name. The song "Late in the Evening" is probably the most familiar track. I'm not saying that this LP is what caused me to be the fan of the music of Paul Simon/Simon & Garfunkel that I am. Perhaps, your life becomes cemented together with memories influenced by the background music that is filling your life at that moment of time. Three years ago, my mom and I sat up in the nose-bleed section of the United Center during a Simon & Garfunkel concert. We got the chance to hang out and listen to the two old friends harmonize together again. What songs make up the soundtrack to your life?

"The first thing I remember, I was lying in my bed
I couldn't've been no more than one or two
And I remember there's a radio, coming from the room next door
My mother laughed the way some ladies' do

Well it's late in the evening, and the music's seeping through."

Do The (Red) Thing

Only in Chicago! Yesterday, Bono and friends kicked off the (Product) Red campaign here in the U.S. By purchasing red branded products (Gap, Converse, American Express, Motorola, Emporio Armani and Apple), you can make a difference in the lives of people affected by Aids in Africa. The Gap is donating half of the profits from their red products to Aids organizations that support women and children. The campaign is also helping to create new business opportunities in communities affected by making a portion of the (Product) Red collection in Africa. (I am now the proud owner of a Desi(red) t-shirt made in Lesotho).

Although the Windy City has played host to Bono twice in the past three weeks ... we've missed him each time. I did get a chance to brush past actress Penelope Cruz and Bobby Shriver on Thursday. It was cold and flurry-filled day, but the air of hope and creativity surrounded the city ... not because a bunch of celebrities were in town, but because we were reminded that each one of us can make a difference.

Random Thoughts

Well, I've decided to get a little more serious with my photography. Last weekend during our girls "day o' fun," I came across a photography center on the northside that offers classes. I've been interested in learning more about exposure, composition and lighting, but have not really pursued it. The Chicago Photography Center offers 8-week sessions, including darkroom/lab sessions, that start every seven weeks. Darrin gave me the green light. I'll probably wait until after the holidays to start.

I also came across a blog last month of a photographer whose work is absolutely amazing! Her name is Davina Fear and you can view her work at http://illltakeapictureofthat.blogspot.com/. I emailed her with a few questions and she graciously responded with some ideas as well.

Anna and Philip's wedding is next weekend. This will be my first solo wedding. I'm nervous, but excited. Hopefully, I can use some of the photos from this wedding for the beginning of my official porfolio.

Enjoy the colors and coolness of your autumn weekend.

School Bells

We did it! We somehow managed to leave the house on time and make it to the near west side by 7:30 a.m. Today is my oldest daughter's first day of high school. She began her day with an indulgent 20-minute shower and then headed up to her room to get dressed and listen to her Fray CD. Where did my little baby girl go?

Surprisingly, I was not emotional. It has been much more of a relief than anything. I am confident that Caitlyn is ready for this new season in her life. She has a solid foundation and has been, in essence, groomed to get to this point academically, socially ... spiritually. I am confident that God will keep watch over her and protect her everywhere she goes. It's time for Caitlyn to spread her wings. I am confident that she will succeed. She is ready to fly. I am confident of that, too.

It's Hot in Here!

I'm pretty sure that today is the hottest day that I've ever experienced in Chicago. It's currently 98 degrees with a heat index of 106. Walking up Randolph to the AON Building and over to the farmer's market was brutal. I've been zapped of any energy ... unmotivated ... fussy ... sticky ... . I snuck in a quick 20-minute run late Sunday night because I was too lazy to get up at 6:00 a.m. to beat the blazing sun for my usual Marquette Park weekend run. The Nike Run Hit Remix 5 mile race is coming up in 2-1/2 weeks. I'm hoping that the temperatures will have dropped down by then because, if memory serves me correctly, 88 degree late night runs and me do not mix well. Keep cool.

Trouble Sleeping

I am craving a straight 7-hours of sleep right now. It would be oh so nice to find a comfortable pillow combination. My body is definitely "adapting" as I slowly merge into 40's. (Hey, we're talking a few years still). Anyhow, there are changes and I'm beginning to log them ... I'll spare you the gory details for now. Good night ... sleep tight.
Coneflowers from my garden shot in black and white.

One Day I'll Be a Gardener in Heaven

Peony power! It took three years for my peonies to finally flower and once they did, the flowers lasted only two weeks. Maybe God will let me be a gardener in heaven one day. No more dirt under my nails.

Make a Difference

Be nice to me ~ I gave blood today

There's a strange feeling to be had when you're sitting partially inclined on a hospital-type chair with the feeling of your own warm blood running through tubes lying across your arm and into a collection pouch. It was lunchtime and I had no where in particular in go; so, I stumbled into the LifeSource Center in the Thompson Building and donated some O+ positive blood.

Help save a life ... donate today!

Take My Hand, Precious Lord

Sometime yesterday afternnon around 3:15 p.m., the attorneys with south facing offices noticed a large fire engulfing a structure. The flames were vibrant oranges and reds and were gaining in size. It took a while to find any news, but as WMBI gave a traffic report, they identified the structure as the Pilgrim Baptist Church located at 33rd and Indiana in Chicago's historic Bronzeville neighborhood. The building is a complete loss. This is a significant loss for the history of our city.

Pilgrim Baptist Church was designed by the renowned Louis Sullivan and his partner Adler. It originally was home to a Jewish temple, but Pilgrim purchased the building in the early 1920's. Pilgrim was the place where Thomas Dorsey introduced the world to Gospel music. The walls witnessed many greats: Mahalia Jackson sang inside; Aretha Franklin's father taught music there; the funeral for boxer Jack Johnson was held there; and Dr. King also spoke at Pilgrim.

It is a sad day not only for the members of Pilgrim, but for their brothers and sisters around the world.

Midnight Mass

It's raining right now over Chicago. Only remnants of snow are left in patches along grassy areas. We just drove home from our Christmas Eve celebration at Ralph & Mary's in Tinley Park. It's a surreal drive to their house because we usually head out there about the time all of the stores are closing. You see all of the last minutes shoppers scurrying out of the shops. Everything closes ... even White Castle ... but the church lots were full.

I received a call from a former co-worker this afternoon. Victor is a dear, older man who worked at the firm years ago. I've kept in touch with him through our annual Christmas card and letter. He called to say that he received this year's card and was so glad that I've kept in touch with him. He's 81-years-old and just had some type of surgery on his legs. This man is one of those people who is just genuinely kind and brillant the same. David once told me that for a living Victor would translate patents into different languages (he spoke five plus languages, I believe). It was a short call. Victor said that our family is a very rare one to find these days. We wished each other a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. It was nice to hear his voice again.

On Thursday afternoon, I stumbled into Three First National Plaza. An instrumental ansemble was playing Christmas songs in the lobby. It was a good reprieve from the hustle and bustle all around. I've been running around hurriedly, succumbing to the pressure to "find the right gift" for everyone on my list; but, in that moment, just hearing the carols caused me to stop and listen ... to reflect. For what occurred in a stinky, cold stable more than 2,000 years ago changed my life. God, in flesh, allowing himself to be born as the baby Jesus in order to redeem all of humanity. What love He has for me ... what sacrifice was given ... His grace bestowed on me.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed. The little, lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay; the little, lord Jesus asleep on the hay ... Be near me lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay; close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care and take us to heaven to live with thee there.

The Letter

2005. I find myself in the same place as I was this time last year ... eight days into December with so much left to do, so much to avoid doing. The unseasonably cold weather that now hovers over the city caps off an unusual summer of drought and heat in the Midwest. To say “unusual” is an understatement, as the country — the world — endured a series of weather and geologic catastrophes on a scale never before seen. We have witnessed destruction that yielded much sadness and tears; called some to surrender, others to lend a hand; and taught us that what we think are “problems” in our own lives, pale in comparison to what people around the world and in our own country deal with. I read a story in the paper recently about women and children in Pakistan who were sleeping at night in large bird cages in an abandoned zoo. It was the only place they had to stay which was safe after an earthquake decimated many of the villages. Imagine.

“I waited patiently for the Lord. He inclined and heard my cry.
He brought me up out of the pit. Out of the miry clay.”

Caitlyn is in her final year of grammar school (8th grade). If all goes as expected, she will start high school next fall at Chicago Hope Academy, which is located in the city’s medical district on the near west side (check out the school at: chicagohopeacademy.org). Alexandra is now a 4th grader and is looking forward to next year because she’ll finally be able to participate in sports. She is still interested in becoming a veterinarian. ✳ In June, we took the girls down to Florida for their first Disney visit. We were on the go the entire time, but we thoroughly enjoyed the time together (Space Mountain rocks!) ✳ After a year spent putting his vast carpentry skills to use, Darrin completed the basement remodeling project in November. It has given us some extra space which has become the family room/home office area. Since we’ve moved things around, the girls now have their own bedrooms and they’ve been busy decorating them. ✳ I spent some time this Summer training for my first 10K run, the Nike One Hit Wonder. It was staged on a hot, September night down along Lake Michigan and featured bands throughout the course. It was one of the most physically challenging thing I’ve very done, but I’m glad that I completed the race and I’ve got a medal to prove it!

“I will sing, sing a new song ... How long to sing this song?
How long, how long, how long ... how long to sing this song?”

And I remember ... a long, dry summer; the joy of freshly brewed coffee in the morning; familiar walks; hot chai tea with skim milk; early morning prayers with a friend; farewells to our hermit crab; lunchtime runs through Grant Park; the births of babies and the passing of old friends; the view from the Orange Line as it crests above 18th and State Street; singing Happy Birthday to Bono outside the Park Hyatt; Florida in June; early Sunday morning runs up to and through Marquette Park; reconnecting with old friends; new attempts to grow hydrangea; singing along in the name of love; chance photographs; hearing a voice that’s still whispering; pictures of the destruction caused by the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina; Caitlyn’s final softball and volleyball games of grammar school; Darrin & Alex surprising us by playing “Amazing Grace” on guitar; One; the privilege to watch our friends’ children grow up with ours; family birthday celebrations; Sunday mornings spent with the 4 & 5-year-olds in church; sprinting down Columbus toward the finish line; working in my garden; moving forward; the autumn colors at the Morton Arboretum; egg white omelets with mushroom and spinach; the ability to fill my lungs with air to breathe and muscles that continue to propel this 30-something body; and just how good God is.
“You set my feet upon a rock and made my footsteps firm. Many will see, many will see and hear.”

2006. May the new year bring you much love and peace. I pray that your celebration of the Savior’s birth will remind you of all that He has done for you in giving His life as a ransom for all –“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11); “for, Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

“I will sing, sing a new song ... how long to sing this song?”
Lyrics from the song “40" by U2

Givin' Thanks

I'm thankful for (in no particular order)... Tootsie Rolls; healthy children; Darrin's warm hands that hold onto mine; cars that function; my mom and dad; the ability to fill my lungs with air; the colors of God's creation; my in-laws; a job; eyes to see and ears to hear; worship at Armitage; chocolate; lunchtime spent at the gym; legs and muscles that keep me running; Ben "Batman"; the testimony of Robert Malnati; summer vacations; our tomato garden; perennials; U2's Vertigo tour; a best friend to pray with each work day morning; the joy of new born babies; our finished basement; God's sustaining grace and mercy; spaghetti; Kennedy and Lottie; my parents' example of hard work; and my salvation.

Lord you are good and your mercy endures forever.

The best tall, skim chai tea ever!

The city has been invaded by various non-urban types. I ran over to Fields at lunch to splurge a little on myself with my multiple leftover gift cards that I've accumulated between last Christmas and my birthday. Prescriptives and Clinique were my benefactors today. I even picked up ornaments for the yearly hope Christmas tree gifts for my nieces and nephews. They are silver, mini picture frames with 2005 etched on the bottom with a dove charm. I have the traditional green Marshall Fields gift boxes to put them in ~ very appropriate since Fields' day are numbered thanks to the clueless Macy's executives.

Take the Long Way Home

The drastic change in weather brought about our first snow yesterday and a 16 degree commute to work this morning. The skin on my fingers is already dry and cracking. My yellow rose bush which yielded three new blooms this past weekend is now supporting limp and shriveled petals today. Ah, autumn in Chicago!

We'd make our annual trek down to Turkey Run State Park in Indiana about this time each year. Actually, we would head down the day after Thanksgiving and spend the rest of the weekend hiking the trails on the other side of Sugar Creek. A buffet breakfast in the park and dinner at the Pizza Hut. I heard Supertramp this morning on the radio and it brought these memories to mind. Steven falling off of the cliff. The wrestling matches between Jim, Phil and Kevin in the cabin. Non's first hiking experience. Covered bridge festivals and icy creeks. Just being together and laughing out loud.

"When you look through the years and see what you could have been oh, what might have been, if you'd had more time."

Two after 10

My youngest child turned 10-years-old on Monday ... at 8:32 p.m. to be exact. She came into this world on a cold, Tuesday evening at St. Joseph's Hospital overlooking the lake. The contractions began soon after we arrived home from a doctor's appointment and ate a meal featuring gyros. I managed to get my contacts out and answer the standard questions by the nurse as my contractions rapidly fired out. It was my parents' anniversary and they were present to receive this gift. She was born within an hour from the time we arrived at the hospital. The residents on call told me not to push as they scrambled to get things ready. My doctor was on his way from Evanston, but he would not make it in time. Darrin was right by my side offering support and a strong hand to hold on to. I prayed aloud -- a specific prayer for only 2 or 3 more contractions -- because I was doing this as naturally and drug-free as this free spirit could handle. He heard my prayer and within a few minutes, our dark-haired, feisty daughter tumbled out and made her big appearance. There are some things you just do not forget ... nor should you.

Cock-a-doodle-do!

I generally encounter the usual array of city animal critters (squirrels, birds) each morning during my walk to the 'el station at 35th Street. Today's walk brought me to one my most unusal encounters. As I headed down Leavitt on this glorious Friday, out of the corner of my eye I noticed the movement of a brownish-redish figure in a gangway a few feet ahead. I figured it was just a cat, but, as I walked by, I turned my head to see what it was and there stood a BIG rooster. I think he was startled by me as well because he turned around and headed toward the back yard of the home he was trespassing on.