Creativity

As I write this the Twins are ahead. They MUST win this game (or the Sox must lose). Here's hoping for the best!

On Friday we had a double date and went to the new Hudson movie theaters to see Lakeview Terrace. The movie was alright and the theater was awesome!

Yesterday I had my high school girlfriends over for a craft day. 10 hours of projects and laughs. Here is a shot of some of the tree skirts I made for Nicole's shop.

Today we'll make another run to Joann's for fabric before heading to Donatelli's (mmmm) for dinner and my sister Sam's 22nd birthday. Troy LOVES shopping at Joann's with me so I'll send him over to Dick's Sporting Goods for a bit...

My next project is Lucy's Halloween costume:

Bath time

Update: I posted this in a hurry last night without explanation. You can either think a) someone had a "blowout" and needed to go immediately in the tub, b) Lucy is so smart that she bathes and washes her clothes at the same time, or c) I was running the bathwater and went to go get her pj's and 10 seconds later came back to this...

Stuff

Kris Tierney passed away this morning. Read my previous posts on how you can help this family. Just so sad. I can't imagine losing a child and a spouse within 6 months of each other. There is some comfort in knowing mother and son have been reunited. ugh...

What is new? Let's see here...I am going back to school to get certified as a medical transcriptionist. It kind of combines my love of the medical field and my technical background. It is an opportunity to work from home as well and I'm thinking more and more about baby #2 these days. It wouldn't be a hard transition after all the crap that has been going on at work either. Anyway, it is an online program through a local community college, completely self-paced. You have up to 6 months to complete it (just in time for baby) but I think I'll have a leg up with my surgical tech classes. Stay tuned!

Lucy has her first ponytail in her hair today. I think this will be her new look as she tends to remove barrettes right away. We took a nice long walk around the neighborhood and spent some time at the park. Abby found a big stick and Lucy kept running away with it. Simple pleasures.

What else? Hmmm...we had another Open House last Saturday and nobody came! I mean it's great reason to have a clean house but ugh, St. Joseph is not working! It is getting harder with Troy being on the road so much commuting, I can't imagine what winter driving is going to be like on top of that.

This is Lucy's favorite thing to do, sit in the fridge. And her favorite thing to gnaw on while sitting? The top of the tabasco sauce bottle! Out of everything, that's what she goes for. It would figure as I loved all spicy things when I was pregnant with her.

Take care everyone! This weekend I'm off to a Caribou Coffee date with girlfriends tonight and to the Marine on the St Croix Art Fair with the family tomorrow.

Let's Do This!

In regards to my previous post, the Tierney family needs lots of prayers and our financial help. Please go to http://www.kyletierney.com/fund to see how you can help. From their caringbridge site today:

Dear Friends,

As many of you are painfully aware, the Tierney's are being faced with yet another tragedy.

My best friend from high school, Rick Tierney and his family need your help and prayers.7 and a half years ago they had a baby boy and named him Kyle. When Kyle was just two years old he was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. After a 5 year battle, Kyle passed away on March 27, 2008 and the age of 7. Kyle has a little brother Ryan who just started kindergarten last week. Kris was expecting another baby in October. Due to a catastrophic stroke last Saturday September 6th they took the baby by emergency c-section. Baby Luke Kristopher(named after his mom) was born about 8 weeks early with a hole in his lung. As of today baby Luke is tube free, and is doing well. The outlook is looking good for Luke!As for mom the stroke has left her with no brain activity, and very little hope for survival.(pray for a miracle)

Many of you have asked: What can I do?

There are 3 things we can do!

1. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
keep the Tierney and Katzmark families in your prayers.

2. give them TIME
Goal- $36,000 (this will help to cover medical expenses not covered, and house payments for one year)
Rick will need to be away from work for some time. Rick has exhausted all of his time off from work during Kyle's final days.
Let's band together to give them the TIME they so desperately need right now, without the fear of where the next house payment
will come from.(if we can find just 360 people to donate $100. we will achieve our goal)

3. FORWARD this to everyone you know

May God Bless you for your thoughts and prayers
May God Bless you for your generosity
and
May God Bless the Tierney and Katzmark families at this most difficult time.

Prayers please!

A fellow HM classmate of mine and his family have gone through such heartbreaking tragedies these past few years. To read the story of his son - www.kyletierney.com. When Kyle passed away earlier this year, his wife Kris was pregnant with another son, due this October. The old saying goes something like "in death there is new life". Well, Kris ended up going early and delivering last weekend at 32 weeks and through a series of unfortunate events, it doesn't look like she is going to make it (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kristierney). It just breaks my heart!

September!

We're getting a bit of fall weather lately which I LOVE. It could be autumn all year for me. It's my favorite clothing season (sweaters, comfies), I love the changing colors, baking with apples, decorating the house, the holidays, scented candles, hot cider, hitting the craft shows, making soups and baking....

The flu has hit the Lovestrand households big time the past two weeks. Paul ended his vacation by coming home with the flu, then Lucy had it for a quick spell, then Troy had it over the weekend, and now I'm afraid it's hitting me. Thankfully Lucy has been accomodating to her mom laying around today!

Last weekend was the long holiday weekend. We had a couple bonfires out back while enjoying Troy's favorite pumpkin bars. On Saturday Troy and Vicky painted our old office (used to be a dark red) to a neutral beige. If the house doesn't sell soon that will become Lucy's little girl room. We spent the rest of the day trimming up all the bushes around the house, maintaining our reputation as the only house for sale in Baldwin that actually keeps itself maintained! I think it's time to bury St. Joseph in the yard.

Saturday night Troy woke up with the flu, enough said. We were supposed to be worship assistants at church so Lucy and I headed out without him. Good thing we showed up as the other assistants didn't! We gathered volunteers and everything went well and Lucy had lots of babysitters in the back row! Sunday afternoon we headed to West St. Paul to my uncle Wes and aunt Darla's home for a Labor Day Weekend picnic. It was a great afternoon gathering in their shaded backyard with tons of good food and the entertainment of the two little girls (Lucy and her 11-mo-old cousin Kieryn).

On Monday Troy was feeling well enough to head to Chippewa Falls for Fantasy Football League sign up. Lucy and I and Vicky headed to Stillwater for a little shopping. We got some cute fall decorations and had ice cream before heading home. And Tuesday it was back to the 'ol grindstone!

This upcoming weekend we are headed down to Cedar Valley Resort in Lanesboro, MN to a very large cabin with all of the Hill families. The weather sounds like it will be perfect and I'm anxious to check out this little town!

Last but not least, the picture above will most likely be recognized in March 2009!