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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sandi's 20 Year Reunion Smile Box Creation
Sandi is celebrating her birthday tomorrow but celebrated her 20 year high school graduation reunion a couple weeks ago. She put together the following Smilebox slide show which was shown on Friday night ... thought I would share it here.
Happy Birthday, Sandi!!
How well I remember when I found out I was pregnant … thrilled beyond words since we were beginning to wonder whether that might happen at all. While as you know the pregnancy was difficult at times, anything is worth the birth of a child!! Other moms had told me that you cannot drink anything during the delivery process and I had these visions of being so thirsty I couldn’t stand it .. but since the doctor chose to sedate me throughout much of the labor and delivery, I just remember one thing vividly.. someone asking me if I wanted a drink of juice! I was wide awake!! They immediately brought you to me … and our family became a family of four!!
You were shy during those first years hiding in the folds of my skirts so afraid to talk to anyone. Roxanne talked for you – she talked early and seemed to be able to translate what you wanted into words easily. I still love the relationship the two of you have had through the years! Unlike Roxanne and Teri, you didn’t want anyone looking at you .. and might burst into tears even when Dad looked at you. You were not anxious to go to school at all … and decided not to talk at all there, it seemed. (I know, hard to believe now! lol!) After some speech therapy, I’m sure the therapist was a little shocked at your comment, “It’s not that I can’t talk, I don’t want to!” Your stubbornness there has developed into determination over the years which has carried you through many ups and downs of life!
Fourth grade was to change your life – didn’t Mr. Bellich place a portable microphone system on your desk so he could hear your answers audibly? Little did we know that his input into your life that year would change your life forever. The election … you represented Ronald Reagan and launched a pretty successful campaign in your mock election at the school. Going from class to class, you learned to project your voice through that microphone as you answered campaign questions and I think your headquarters were set up at our house .. well, sort of. Since you were all of about 10 years old, I think your vice president had to hold down his ‘fort’ at his own home but I remember the phone lines buzzing all night as you watched the real life election.
You started directing birthday parties when we lived in Greenville PA … although I have a feeling you did it long before then, too, and we just didn’t recognize what you were doing. I still remember the Strawberry Shortcake birthday party on our porch. We laughed that you had Roxanne invite her friends since you were a loner of sorts – usually only having one or two close friends. What an awesome job you did .. little did we know that you were preparing for the future when you would direct many, much larger events!
I was always amazed at your intelligence .. you listened and learned. You were a great student .. like a walking encyclopedia .. wonder where you got that from. (Not too hard to figure out!) You read the newspapers and could take in lots of data quickly. I see that in Tyler now!
I remember you and Roxanne went off to Jamaica on a mission trip with other teens and adults. I was hesitant since you were my homebody but you did well except for the one time you called me and you were quite homesick. But, what a life changing experience that was, too. Funny stuff as well as serious … didn’t you get pushed off onto the floor while you were sleeping in the van?
Tim has been in your life for a long time … if I remember correctly, you were about 12 when you became interested in him more than just a friend. (Wasn’t that around the time of the Jamaica trip or shortly after?) Even though you were apart for two of the years we lived in Salisbury, he visited faithfully and it was very hard for me to let you go when you moved to Indiana following your graduation from high school. I think I knew I was saying ‘goodbye’ to life as it had been. Since you were the homebody, you were usually at my side much of the time and we made numerous trips to the library for books. I couldn’t imagine going to the library without you … now I take you to the library as a mom taking a mom getting books for her child (Tyler). Well, then again, many of the books are for you … don’t you read like 30 books a week at times? Along with all your other responsibilities.
Since Tim loved sports, you began to study just that .. more sports stats than I could imagine and you still look at me a little oddly when you start talking about a particular player and I say, “Who?” I enjoyed watching your enthusiasm when you followed Steve Allford when he played for IU. Your room was decorated with IU stuff and the teens of West Morris Street had a high ol’ time riding downtown around Monument Circle the year IU won. (They did win that year, right? Remember, I’m a sports challenged mom!)
I began to truly realize your abilities in organization, etc., when you handled all the housing for one of the large Bible Quiz Tournaments at West Morris Street. You may have been in your sophomore year in high school and worked for me there at the church when I was secretary / administrative assistant for Don and Iris Riggs. You took a list of 250 kids, found homes for them all, and coordinated them being picked up by their host families, brought back to the church, etc. I was in awe .. that wasn’t something that didn’t come natural to me but you had it down pat. That was just the beginning ….
From planning your own wedding to Tim to managing a bridal shop to directing weddings, to running youth camps etc., your skills in not just organization but wisdom in handling personality differences has always been something I have admired. When you had to handle difficult moms of brides and even working with difficult pastors, you found the words to calm the ruffled feathers and as you told them, “Remember, all that matters is at the end of the day, you are married.” And you would grab your trusty fanny pack which had everything from needles and thread to bandaids and the weddings would come off without a hitch – as far as everyone knew. You may have soothed a brides hurt feelings, quieted a difficult mother-in-law, exchanged out candles that wouldn’t light, or told a pastor when it was time to go and “did you know your microphone is on and everything you just said was heard by all”. In it all, you did a great job with grace and confidence. Oh, the stories you could tell!!
Motherhood was not in the cards it seemed, for years. But, I will never forget the Mother’s Day celebration where you gave Dad and me a card … when we read that we were going to be grandparents in December (although Tyler came November 22nd), my mind could hardly grasp it!! Thrilled beyond words .. and your sisters said you changed! We never did send in the video of you telling Roxanne with one sister on a phone and another one in front of her … the shriek when she said, “You’re pregnant” could almost be heard throughout our neighborhood! And what a special little guy Tyler has been … you have definitely proven yourself to be an awesome mom! Tyler always surprises you with his witty comebacks and we have all learned to look up something in the dictionary or online before discounting something he has told us. He’s usually been correct. Wonder where that came from … heredity, for sure!
Your abilities in leading the conference youth camp for the Free Methodist was awesome to watch. No one knows the hours you put into planning each year – from the facility to who was going to speak, workshops, counselors, coordinating teams, dealing with youth issues that most people never even know about .. on and on … each step was thought through and prayed over and when the youth finished camp changed spiritually, you knew that God had used you and Tim again!!
It’s exciting to see what God is doing through you and Tim this summer at Clearwater First Nazarene. To watch these young people grow spiritually is inspiring!! And I’m glad I get to be a part of it .. whether taking you somewhere (since you’re not a driver, thankfully .. lol!) or helping you finish up something on the computer. I am blessed by that.
These past couple years have been filled with changes and challenges .. but one constant has always been there … your consistency .. in your spiritual walk and in your commitment to Tim, to Tyler and to us. When I would hit a low point, you would walk me through it … giving me perspective which comes from the wisdom you inherited from your dad. Each of you girls has your own strengths and I am so glad they are different .. It’s what makes truly a family.
Thanks for being a wonderful daughter … loving, dependable, trustworthy, willing to stand up for what you feel is right … I am truly blessed that I am your mom!!
You were shy during those first years hiding in the folds of my skirts so afraid to talk to anyone. Roxanne talked for you – she talked early and seemed to be able to translate what you wanted into words easily. I still love the relationship the two of you have had through the years! Unlike Roxanne and Teri, you didn’t want anyone looking at you .. and might burst into tears even when Dad looked at you. You were not anxious to go to school at all … and decided not to talk at all there, it seemed. (I know, hard to believe now! lol!) After some speech therapy, I’m sure the therapist was a little shocked at your comment, “It’s not that I can’t talk, I don’t want to!” Your stubbornness there has developed into determination over the years which has carried you through many ups and downs of life!
Fourth grade was to change your life – didn’t Mr. Bellich place a portable microphone system on your desk so he could hear your answers audibly? Little did we know that his input into your life that year would change your life forever. The election … you represented Ronald Reagan and launched a pretty successful campaign in your mock election at the school. Going from class to class, you learned to project your voice through that microphone as you answered campaign questions and I think your headquarters were set up at our house .. well, sort of. Since you were all of about 10 years old, I think your vice president had to hold down his ‘fort’ at his own home but I remember the phone lines buzzing all night as you watched the real life election.
You started directing birthday parties when we lived in Greenville PA … although I have a feeling you did it long before then, too, and we just didn’t recognize what you were doing. I still remember the Strawberry Shortcake birthday party on our porch. We laughed that you had Roxanne invite her friends since you were a loner of sorts – usually only having one or two close friends. What an awesome job you did .. little did we know that you were preparing for the future when you would direct many, much larger events!
I was always amazed at your intelligence .. you listened and learned. You were a great student .. like a walking encyclopedia .. wonder where you got that from. (Not too hard to figure out!) You read the newspapers and could take in lots of data quickly. I see that in Tyler now!
I remember you and Roxanne went off to Jamaica on a mission trip with other teens and adults. I was hesitant since you were my homebody but you did well except for the one time you called me and you were quite homesick. But, what a life changing experience that was, too. Funny stuff as well as serious … didn’t you get pushed off onto the floor while you were sleeping in the van?
Tim has been in your life for a long time … if I remember correctly, you were about 12 when you became interested in him more than just a friend. (Wasn’t that around the time of the Jamaica trip or shortly after?) Even though you were apart for two of the years we lived in Salisbury, he visited faithfully and it was very hard for me to let you go when you moved to Indiana following your graduation from high school. I think I knew I was saying ‘goodbye’ to life as it had been. Since you were the homebody, you were usually at my side much of the time and we made numerous trips to the library for books. I couldn’t imagine going to the library without you … now I take you to the library as a mom taking a mom getting books for her child (Tyler). Well, then again, many of the books are for you … don’t you read like 30 books a week at times? Along with all your other responsibilities.
Since Tim loved sports, you began to study just that .. more sports stats than I could imagine and you still look at me a little oddly when you start talking about a particular player and I say, “Who?” I enjoyed watching your enthusiasm when you followed Steve Allford when he played for IU. Your room was decorated with IU stuff and the teens of West Morris Street had a high ol’ time riding downtown around Monument Circle the year IU won. (They did win that year, right? Remember, I’m a sports challenged mom!)
I began to truly realize your abilities in organization, etc., when you handled all the housing for one of the large Bible Quiz Tournaments at West Morris Street. You may have been in your sophomore year in high school and worked for me there at the church when I was secretary / administrative assistant for Don and Iris Riggs. You took a list of 250 kids, found homes for them all, and coordinated them being picked up by their host families, brought back to the church, etc. I was in awe .. that wasn’t something that didn’t come natural to me but you had it down pat. That was just the beginning ….
From planning your own wedding to Tim to managing a bridal shop to directing weddings, to running youth camps etc., your skills in not just organization but wisdom in handling personality differences has always been something I have admired. When you had to handle difficult moms of brides and even working with difficult pastors, you found the words to calm the ruffled feathers and as you told them, “Remember, all that matters is at the end of the day, you are married.” And you would grab your trusty fanny pack which had everything from needles and thread to bandaids and the weddings would come off without a hitch – as far as everyone knew. You may have soothed a brides hurt feelings, quieted a difficult mother-in-law, exchanged out candles that wouldn’t light, or told a pastor when it was time to go and “did you know your microphone is on and everything you just said was heard by all”. In it all, you did a great job with grace and confidence. Oh, the stories you could tell!!
Motherhood was not in the cards it seemed, for years. But, I will never forget the Mother’s Day celebration where you gave Dad and me a card … when we read that we were going to be grandparents in December (although Tyler came November 22nd), my mind could hardly grasp it!! Thrilled beyond words .. and your sisters said you changed! We never did send in the video of you telling Roxanne with one sister on a phone and another one in front of her … the shriek when she said, “You’re pregnant” could almost be heard throughout our neighborhood! And what a special little guy Tyler has been … you have definitely proven yourself to be an awesome mom! Tyler always surprises you with his witty comebacks and we have all learned to look up something in the dictionary or online before discounting something he has told us. He’s usually been correct. Wonder where that came from … heredity, for sure!
Your abilities in leading the conference youth camp for the Free Methodist was awesome to watch. No one knows the hours you put into planning each year – from the facility to who was going to speak, workshops, counselors, coordinating teams, dealing with youth issues that most people never even know about .. on and on … each step was thought through and prayed over and when the youth finished camp changed spiritually, you knew that God had used you and Tim again!!
It’s exciting to see what God is doing through you and Tim this summer at Clearwater First Nazarene. To watch these young people grow spiritually is inspiring!! And I’m glad I get to be a part of it .. whether taking you somewhere (since you’re not a driver, thankfully .. lol!) or helping you finish up something on the computer. I am blessed by that.
These past couple years have been filled with changes and challenges .. but one constant has always been there … your consistency .. in your spiritual walk and in your commitment to Tim, to Tyler and to us. When I would hit a low point, you would walk me through it … giving me perspective which comes from the wisdom you inherited from your dad. Each of you girls has your own strengths and I am so glad they are different .. It’s what makes truly a family.
Thanks for being a wonderful daughter … loving, dependable, trustworthy, willing to stand up for what you feel is right … I am truly blessed that I am your mom!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Bok Tower / Gardens
This little squirrel gave us a warm welcome (a little to close for the Marley, Regan and Bailey) to Bok Tower. What a neat place to spend an afternoon or a day .. or an evening. One of our first visits was back in 1991 when Bob and I went to hear a Christmas Concert of the carillon bells on Christmas Eve. The rest of our family had already traveled north and we were leaving the next day. Of course, it was quite a change to sit in fairly warm weather and not the typical snowy evening of the north!Yesterday afternoon, Marley, Regan, Bailey & Rudy headed to Bok Tower / Gardens for a picnic lunch. Rudy slept through lunch but awoke in time to play some 'baseball' .. he's a good little pitcher!! We also got to hear the carillon bells while we were there! What a neat afternoon .. the photos speak for themselves!
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