"We will sing ..."

PICT0112, originally uploaded by Meridith Louise.

I decided to shoot a few pics in black and white during worship time at last night's SST junior high session. I liked the way the cross stood out and was illuminated by the light from behind.

i Hear - It's Super Summer Time!

Today is the official Super Summer Time kick off at our church. I'm volunteering this year with the junior high teens overseeing registration. As you can see from the video, it's a loud, crazy week of fun, music, hype and challenge all designed to reach out to youth who are in desperate need of hope and truth. i hear ... do you?

God Bless America!

Backyard Fireworks, originally uploaded by Meridith Louise.

We're getting ready to head down to the Taste of Chicago with my parents to sample the culinary treats of our city's various restaurants. Later this afternoon, we'll drive out to Indiana for our annual 4th of July BBQ at Darrin's sister's house. More food, swimming and the big fireworks extravaganza in celebration of our country's birthday ... my home sweet home.

Lake Delton ... After the Rains Came

PICT0034, originally uploaded by Meridith

We spent a few days up in the Wisconsin Dells last week and were able to see what's left of Lake Delton. As you may have heard, the Midwest has endured some intense rains and flooding recently. On June 9th, after days of torrential rains, the lake began to overflow its banks, washing away homes and emptying its contents into the Wisconsin River. Here is a link to the photos in my album: http://flickr.com/photos/9968241@N04/sets/72157605799647180/

40

Today is my husband's 40th birthday. Earlier in the day, we spent a few hours at Montrose Beach playing volleyball with the girls and then we had dinner over at his parent's house this evening. This has been a birthday that he has somewhat dreaded because the number sounds so much larger than it actually is. He said to me last night that he doesn't feel like 40, but who can really say what 40 or any age does feel like? Oh sure, your body does shoot off its own warning signs of its impending loss of youth: achy knees, gray hair, slower metabolism, etc.; but, each birthday also gives you an opportunity to look back and look forward ... to see just how blessed you really are. To rise up from your bed after a night of sleep in a safe and secure home, the opportunity to fill your lungs with air, to walk, to see, to smell, to taste, to hear your children laugh, to run on the sand, the ability to live another day ... we will rejoice and be glad in it. Happy Birthday, Darrin!

Clematis

Clematis, originally uploaded by Meridith Louise.

I have two clematis vines in my yard. It has taken four years for the white-flowering one to produce enough flowers to cover the trellis it now covers. Unfortuantely, the blooms only lasted about three weeks. I was able to snap a few pictures earlier this week before they were all gone.

Memorial Day '08

We've marched every year in the McKinley Park Memorial Day Parade since the girls were babies. It's a family tradition. McKinley Park is the neighborhood on the southwest side that we used to live in before we moved and bought our house in West Lawn. It's the 'hood where Darrin grew up and where his parents still live. It was a very sunny and warm morning and according to the VFW Post, they had the biggest turnout in the parade history.

I am proud to say that members of my family and close friends have honorably served our country through the military. My birth father, stepdad Larry and Uncle John all were members of the Army and served during Vietnam. My brother-in-law Larry was a Marine and also did a tour of Vietnam. Darrin's brother David spent time overseas with the Army in the late 80's. My cousin's husband, Ryan, was among the first National Guard members to patrol Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Regardless of where you stand politically, we all need to remember the sacrifices of the fallen men and women from the Revoluntionary War to the present who have died.










"The bugle has sounded
Its notes drift away, this time now belongs to you ...

On this day for one brief moment hear the silence fill the air.

Think of those who walked beside us; Now no longer there.

Then, don't cry, but hear their laughter for their spirit lives inside,
Let the mysic stream of mem'ry fill our hearts with pride!

Make us humble, make us knowing, and reflect on what is done ...

One this day for now, forever
Make this nation one!

On this day, fall all the fallen, make this nation one!"

"On This Day" by: Charles Strouse

"Faces of Women": Caitlyn's 16th Birthday Fashion Show (Part 2)

Darrin had to change out the batteries in the camera, so here's the second part of the show.

"Faces of Women" Caitlyn's 16th Birthday Fashion Show (Part 1)

Caitlyn had talked about doing a fashion runway show for her 16th birthday for a long time. She was able to pull it off with the help of her friends. Details to come ...

Sweet 16

Caitlyn entered the world on a sunny Saturday at 11:38 a.m. 16 years ago today and she changed my life. It's hard to believe that so much time has past since the changing of diapers and here we are now ... edging closer to college. We are so proud of the young woman that she has become.

... mark, get set, Go!

It's too late for me to up on a week night, but my "to do list" for Caitlyn's sweet 16 birthday party is not getting any shorter. I'm multi-tasking at the moment (cleaning up memory cards, uploading photos to Flickr, watching Top Chef and blogging).

We spent last Saturday cheering on Alex at her track and field meet. She did very well, taking first place in the 5th & 6th grade girls 400 meter and 50 meter, as well as placing in the softball throw, running jump and girls' relay.

While at the meet, I had a flashback to the day I raced Monique T. in 9th grade at the Marquette Park track during a youth activity. I remember running as fast as I could and barely being able to catch my breath. I had to beat her because the boy I liked really liked her and, well, you know how those things go. We were neck and neck for most of the race, but I somehow managed to pull ahead at the end. My racing days are long over and I now look forward to running a 5K with Alex this Summer.

Tools of the trade.

Alex holding all of her ribbons.

Free Burma: But Help Myanmar Now!

It is being reported that 22,000 people have died in Myanmar as a result of Cyclone Nargis. The death toll can top over 100,000. CNN is reporting this morning that corpses are piling up because there is not enough fuel to burn the bodies. There is insufficient clean drinking water and food. You want to know why?

The country is under the rule of a military junta (bad people), which is not official recognized by the U.S. and other nations. Aung San Suu Kyi (good), the Nobel Prize winning pro-democracy leader of the Burmese people has been under house arrest since 1990. Last September, monks attempted to lead an uprising, but their efforts were met with brutal force by the military junta. The free flow of news is limited in the country. The military junta has been dragging its feet in granting visas for aid groups and giving clearance for aid flights to land.

Here's a link to an article on CNN updating the current situation: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/08/myanmar/index.html

World Vision is a Christian relief organization that helps people worldwide. They have been providing aid to the country of Burma/Myanmar for 40 years. World Vision currently has 500 aid workers stationed in Myanmar. Surprisingly, according to CNN, the junta has specifically asked World Vision to help provide aid to the survivors of the cyclone. They are in the right place at the right time. I encourage you to click on the title above which is a link to World Vision's website and if at all possible, please give to help the people of Myanmar.

Sights, Sounds, Smells & Calculations

It is a glorious, Spring morning ... if you have the pleasure to be marooned at home on this rainy, first-Friday of May. As I walked up to the 'el station, the air smelled just like it did when I walked through St. Stephens Green last autumn. A certain freshness that envelops your senses and makes you feel more alive, even on a cloudy, gray day.

I am almost at the seven month post-Ireland mark; which, in reality, should probably be defined as "five months to the one year anniversay of our trip to Ireland." I know, I'm a little OCD on these type of things.

The peonies in my garden are growing by leaps and bounds. I placed the ring supports around them last night because they're shooting up rapidly. My Japanese peony will be yielding blooms just in time for Caitlyn's 16th birthday.

Sounds that I like to hear:

• George Harrison's slide guitar towards the end of the song "What is Life";
• a groggy "I'm up" when I call up to Alex on a school morning;
• laughter among friends;
• the good news of babies being born to friends;
• joining along with a few thousand friends singing Psalm 40 ...
  
  
  

What sounds do you like to hear?

"... another beautiful name."

Today I met British chef Gordon Ramsay at Macy's during a promotional appearance for his new book, "Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food". Ramsay's BBC show "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares" is one of the few shows that Darrin and I will sit down and watch together. (Ramsay seemed to get a kick out of hearing that tidbit). My friend Sandra and I made our way through a one hour long que for the book signing, but it was worth it. He was extremely pleasant, charming and chatted with everyone. When Ramsay saw my name on the Post-it for the inscription on the book, he commented, "another beautiful name" in that British accent of his. I babbled on about how it was a pleasure to meet him (hoping in the back of my mind that my words were making sense)and then I shook his hand. Sandra and I said good-bye and then it was over. We stood by the side and giggled like a bunch of school girls. We headed back to the office clutching our new cook book and savoring the moment.


Chef Gordon Ramsay



Sandra couldn't wipe that smile off of her face.


Gordon and I in deep conversation ... too bad I spaced our and forgot to mention that my name was spelled in the Welsh tradition. He's a runner, too!

Earth Day '08: What Can You Do?

A few simple ideas:

• you can begin recycling paper, plastic and/or glass (start with one);
• switch to CFL lightbulbs;
• turn off lights when you leave a room; or instead of using plastic bags at the grocery store, buy some reusable canvas bags (lots of stores are offering them).

My conservation goal for this Summer is to start a compost bin in my backyard. It'll eventually produce rich nutrients for my garden.

Let's all take good care of God's creation ... the earth and people, too.

My best friend, now an international speaker on pediatric oncology, is a tree hugger, too! Here, she's huggin' a tree in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland.

Oprah's Big Give Features Chicago Hope Academy

My daughter, Caitlyn, attends Chicago Hope Academy (http://chicagohopeacademy.com), which is a three-year old Christian high school located on the near west side of Chicago. The founders of the school, Bob & Tina Muzikowski, used to attend our church and had a desire to open a Christian high school in the city for many years. They organized the Near West Side Little League, which grew to be one of the largest little league organizations in the country -- reaching out to kids in the inner city who desperately need avenues like sports to keep them off the streets. It has been amazing to see how God answered prayers by opening the doors to CHA in the fall of 2005. What has been accomplished in these three years has been nothing short of miraculous. Yes, there have been bumps in the road, but God is faithful and He continues to amaze.

Chicago Hope Academy will be featured on this Sunday's season finale of Oprah's "Big Give" on ABC (7:00 p.m. CDT). I'm asking everyone to watch and, more importantly, to pray for CHA and the lives of the young men and women that the school is able to touch in the name of Christ.

Go Eagles!

The Week in Review (So Far)

Well, what a week it was! The city was invaded by a roaming cougar that found his way into Roscoe Village. He met his untimely death at the hands of Chicago's finest. (Photo: courtesy of the Chicago Tribune).

Temperatures finally reached the 70 degree mark and we can now see the layers of Winter grime slowly beginning to fade.

Finally, a 5.2 earthquake centered in downstate Illinois shook people awake up here in Chicago this morning. My mother-in-law told me that she thought it was an airplane rocking the house. I was in a deep sleep, apparently, because I didn't feel a thing. I woke up 45 minutes after the fact and felt very cheated and left out. Ironically, we had a meeting scheduled for the safety evacuation team at work today.

Springtime in Chicago

A tree lifting up its arms in praise of sky blue skies.


The first flowers to bloom in my garden (paperwhites).


Sedum peeking out from underneath the remants of last year's growth.

It was a beautiful day!

40 Years Ago Today ... "Shot rings out in the Memphis Sky"

My First Run in Eight Months

Since coming back to the gym in January, I have faithfully stuck to the elliptical machines. I had wanted to start running in January, but my surgeon told me to continue working on strengthening my left quadricep muscle before I even thought about running. In the back of my mind I knew I wasn't ready, but I did know that I had to get serious about conditioning myself.

Lunchtime yoga on Wednesdays has been a regular part of my post-surgical routine since November. Nathan, my yoga instructor, has told me recently that he has noticed much improvement in my poses, which made me very happy. The women of my family are plagued by tight hips; so, obviously, this plays into our knee and feet problems.

Back to the what I was getting around to say ... I have worked up to a consistent 30 minute cardio cycle on the elliptical machine (2 miles) during the past month. Each day I'm at the gym, I watch in envy as the runners do their thing on the treadmills. I would tell myself that I'd give it a try next week.

This past weekend was the Shamrock Shuffle 8K race -- a race that I have run in for the past 6 years, but I could not run. I wanted to, but could not train. I was not ready physically. My quad was not ready. My knee was not ready. My mind was not ready. My heart was not ready ... or was it?

Since Nathan spent last week hiking throughout Arizona, yesterday's class was spent practicing Warrior II and desert poses. It was a tough class and I woke up this morning feeling the effects of it. I fought with myself to even go to the gym at lunchtime today, but I did go. I decided that this would be the day. I would put aside my fear and just try to run on a treadmill.

I did a 16 minute warm-up on an elliptical machine and then self-assuredly walked over to an open treadmill. It was a newer, gadget-filled treadmill. I put my feet on the tracks to the side and hit "quick start" and off we went. For the first three minutes, I felt awful. I mean, I felt sick because I wasn't sure what to expect ... was my left knee going to explode? Once I got past the five minute mark, I got my breathing into a decent rhythm and calmed myself down. My iPod was cranking "I Will Follow" and everything was coming back to me. I remembered what it felt like and this felt good.

I ran for 14 minutes between 4.5 and 5.0 mph and cooled down for another three minutes. I ran my first mile today in 12:20. I am ready.