Violet Festival....

The Violet Festival has become a tradition for us. We look forward to going every year. It's your typical small town fair....rides, games, and fair food...yuummmmy! This was our first year without Marissa...it was very strange not having her there...not to mention I couldn't steal her fries with vinegar and ketchup! lol This year Josh and Michaela's cousin Shea came with us...which was great for Michaela because Josh and I don't like the really fast spinny upside down rides so she had someone to ride with. My favorite ride is the scrambler and it's the only ride that all of us like to ride. Josh loves the lemon shake ups and they have this shack called "Bubba's" which have the best sno cones ever! Michaela doesn't have a favorite fair food...she just wants to ride the rides! They each get to pick 1 game to play...Michaela and Shea chose the most difficult one of all. They had to climp a rope latter to win the big prize...I think the furthest either of them got was to the 4th rung....I don't think I would have gotten to the 2nd one! lol Josh chose was popping balloons with darts...he hit every one. On Saturday afternoon of the fair they close down one of the streets and muscle, vintage and modern cars fill it. That is one of Josh and my favorite things to do. My favorites are the muscle cars...I've always had a thing for mopar...Josh likes them all. Maybe next year Chris and Marissa will be back in time to go with us! Josh can't wait to ride this one...can ya tell?! lol

This is one of those fast spinny rides Michaela and Shea love...Josh actually rode it with them! I didn't...someone had to take the picture!

Michaela and Shea love these kinds of rides...Josh and I say no way!

Michaela and Shea waiting to ride the Paratrooper.

Michaela and her cousin Shea riding the Paratrooper.

Muscle car heaven....I love these old cars!

Just liked the color on this one.

Josh thought Chris would like this one!

Professor Randy Pausch....An Inspiration...

Several months ago I was channel surfing when my attention was caught by this man giving a speech. What caught my attention wasn't necessarily what he was speaking about but in the way he was speaking. He was a very eloquent speaker that caught your attention immediately. He was Professor Randy Pausch of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg. Diane Sawyer was conducting an interview with him on Dateline. Randy Pausch was a computer science professor diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in September 2007. Every year Carnegie Mellon has select Professors speak. Randy Pausch's was titled "The Last Lecture". It was so incredibly inspiring listening to this man who was dying speak of his life...to hear him speak of living. I was so absolutely blown away by his words...his spirit...his outlook on life. His love and absolute devotion to his family. I continued to follow his story by visiting his personal website. Whenever I would struggle with an issue, or specific goal I would remember Randy Pausch. Friday July 25, 2008 he passed away at home surrounded by his family and friends. "The Last Lecture" can be seen on YouTube. When you have some free time it really is worth watching...it is so inspirational...it will touch your heart in many ways!

Harrison Lucas

On Sunday June, 22nd Harrison Lucas, age 14 and two of his friends left the Pickerington community pool to eat lunch at their favorite place across the street, Sonic. While crossing the street a driver swerved while trying to avoid the boys hitting Harrison. The driver had the right of way and tried to avoid hitting the boys. Harrison was critically injured and is currently being treated at Children's Hospital in Columbus. There has been an incredible outpouring of support from the community as well as from across the country. As he is close in age to my own son and a classmate of Josh's cousin Kristen Bramlish this tragedy has hit close to home. Harrison's mom Colleen posts his progress on a non profit site called "CaringBridge". I have posted the link at the bottom of my blog. I ask that all who visit my blog to please take a minute to visit Harrison and get to know this incredible little boy and his family. To pray for him and his family.

My first attempt at blogging!

My daughter Marissa has been blogging for several months and I love checking it out to see what's new. I especially love it now that she is married and living in SoCal with her new husband Chris. This gives me another way of keeping in touch and seeing what's going on with them. So when she suggested I start one I had her help me set it up and here I go! Marissa and Chris were married on May 10th at Chris' family home. The day couldn't have been more perfect for them! It was held outside under a beautiful sunny sky in front of family and close friends. Of course once I saw her in her wedding dress ready to walk down the isle I started crying and couldn't stop. I even cried every time she tried it on for alterations! You think about the day your little girl will get married and how proud you will feel, how happy for her you will be but I was not prepared by the overwhelming pride and joy I felt for her! Just when I thought I had the tears under control she began to read her vows to Chris...it was all over then!

Josh is 12, loves cars especially "old day cars" as he calls them, video games, playing his trombone and recently started skate boarding. Reminds me of growing up in SoCal, all the guys we hung out with were "boarders" as we called them in the old days. I guess they call them "skaters" now. He has a bearded dragon named Charlie...we are all pretty cazy about him even though he isn't soft and cuddly!

Michaela is 11 , loves to be the center of attention and wants to be like her big sis but won't admit it. After the wedding sissy got her hair cut fairly short and a week later I took her to get it cut just like sissy's. She wants to start shaving now too. WOW, where does the time go. She is also trying to talk me into a bunny.