Friends and Taking the Heat

I love GCC. I have some really great friends there. My air conditioner isn't working so I called my good friend Butch for some diagnostic advice. Butch is a great guy that is married to one of my best friends from high school. We have an interesting history and this couple means the world to me. So after figuring out what might be wrong and equipping me with the right questions to ask, I am now ready to call someone to come out.

Then this morning, I was going to go work out with my good friend Lori but due to no sleep because of the heat I just couldn't get up early this morning. Lori's husband Bob (these two are the best friends ever) texted me that Lori couldn't go either so it worked out well. In a text exchange about companies to call, Bob said the funniest yet profound things.....and I might add that I broke out laughing because it was so funny.

Me in referring to the heat "boy am I grouchy lol"

Bob "Heat can do that to a person.....good thing Jesus saved us from hell"

My friends.....I love em!

Memorial Day & Memories

Thank you to all the brave men and women serving in all branches of the service both past and present. You are always in our prayers!

Memorial Day 2007. Just the beginning to fun times at Silver Beach and many of the other beaches in Michigan. Seems like they are the perfect spots to chill, read, sleep, play in the sand, play in the cold water, eat icecream, and spend some good quality time with family and friends both old and new. Funny how the "Florida" sun gave just a good base and the "Michigan" sun kinda of felt like I was in a Fry Baby....cuz I am a little toasty and red after a full day. We finished with Music & Lyrics, a fun film with Hugh Grant and one of my favorite actresses, Drew Barrymore. Great Fun!

Shiver Me Pictures!

Lindsay at the Beach!

We are on a flower kick!

The rest of the Three Muskateers!

Playing with our icecream is so much fun!

Superman Icecream...does it get any better?

Arghhhhhh...."ello poppet"

What a great time we had in the land of Mickey. I must say that this trip was my favorite for many reasons. I discovered amazing information about this amazing place, I now have a deeper love of and committment to the dream of Walt Disney. Here are some of the highlights:

• Got to spend quality time with the most wonderful daughter in the world

• Learned so much about Walt Disney, Disney World, and spent a great deal of the four days interviewing folks, talking to guests, and video taping, taking pictures, and learning for a presentation I am doing for work.



• Went on Tower of Terror four times in a row. Went on Expedition Everest for the first, second, and third time. Best ride at Disney by far!



• Spent time reading "Be Our Guest" and also hanging out by the pool



• Had dinner with one of the actors that played one of the main pirate roles in Pirates of the Caribbean. His significant other, Katie, and their personal Disney VIP Guide, Kimmy, and us enjoyed an hour and a half conversation. Check out Lindsay'site for more details and pics. What a great time we had.



• Got to come home to the best little guy in the whole world after his week with his daddy. Wow, we missed him so much. We couldn't even watch the parade because he wasn't there with us.

So as you can see, it was a memorable few days. How I love that place and the man that had a dream and worked hard to see that dream come true, and how his memory creates memories for all of us. God Bless Walt Disney.

What do I Take On Vacation?

Well, you have heard the television commercial that asks, "What's in YOUR wallet?". Packing for vacation has to be strategic and well planned. It starts way in advance. You buy the travel size items like toothpaste, the little fold up tooth brush, the iddy biddy bottles of shampoo and mousse and the list goes on and on. Then you pack the clothes and repack about eight times until you get the absolute perfect combination of outfits in case you are having a bad hair day, feel sloshy from drinking too much water, or long sleeved shirts in case you get fried and have to cover up to maintain any layer of skin at all. Oh yes, then you prepare your itinerary so that you can have as much fun as you possibly can in the shortest amount of time. That is about it, right? Wrong. That is, in my case it is wrong because you see, I am very social and love to talk to people so I am sure to bring the one thing with me that is a sure fire, proven magnet for people to make their way to me so I can socialize. Can you guess what that might be?

I will give you a hint. She is about 5'8" tall, has long brown hair, big hazel eyes, a smile that melts butter, and well, she is just a magnet for all that is good in Disney. You should get one for yourself, oh wait, there is only one like her and she is mine so you are on your own. Having a great time. You should be here with us in this very magical place!

I Feel Like I Am Home!

My trip to Disney is quite different this time as I am on a mission. I'm here to experience Disney but this time, I am here to document it for a presentation in August. My son and I will be bringing the "Magic" to our Indiana team in a way that hopefully will inspire, encourage, and motivate each and every leader. There are a lot of familiarities between Disney and U.S. Cellular. I am the "woman on the street" as I attempt to uncover the magic behind the magic. All I know is that as the car approached the Disney area, my expression pretty much told the story. More to come!

Ahhh.....Kelly Clarkson....

So, I have never had to worry about my eyebrows or tweezing or anything like that growing up. My eyebrow hairs seemed to know where to grow and in what direction to grow in. Being fair skinned, the little darlings are very light so even stragglers would really go unnoticed unless you got up close and the light caught them just right. So why am I telling you this?

Yesterday was a day in history for me. I got my eyebrows waxed for the very first time in my life. Now, though it doesn't seem a problem to some, I was noticing that I was getting asked a lot if I was mad, or sad, or worried, or frustrated, or well, you get the picture. I was none of those things but somehow my facial expression seemed to spur on those questions. Then I figured it out. Very discreetly over the years, my little blond stragglers started having friends....enough to fill in under my eyebrows to the point that they were creeping down on my eyeballs at a good rate of speed. This gave me the appearance of being less than excited about life in general. So bravely, I approached "the" chair....you know the one that sits by the hot wax and the TAPE. I started wringing my hands and fighting with the urge to just accept my ticked off look and run out the door. So the nice little Vietnamese girl came over and assured me that it would only hurt for a little while. THAT made me feel bunches better. She leaned my head back and drew like an artist with a brush a line of hot sticky wax along the underside of my left eye. Then she pressed the tape of death over the hot sticky wax and then RRRRIpped it from my face.....and I thought to myself....Yep....should have run like a felon out that door. The left eye and the right eye were tolerable....and then it happened. The middle of my eyebrows down to the bridge of my nose was targeted for removal. I am surprised they didn't put little orange cones around it. They painted the entire area with wax and I started thinking to myself that that entire area was about to be removed. The tape was applied and......then............she removed everything including some freckles and I am sure a layer of skin and the only thing that came to my mind was the 40 Year Old Virgin and his chest being waxed.....because I too felt like yelling........AHHHHHHH.....KELLY CLARKSON.

I don't look ticked at the world anymore, however, so until the next time.......um....well, maybe!

My Mother's Day Blessings!

What a very nice day.....Mothers Day. I would not be honest if I didn't say that this day always is bittersweet for me. I lost my mom in 1985 and honestly, it seems like yesterday to me. She was the most beautiful, amazing, sweet, fresh, sincere, and loving woman in the world. A bit of me died when she took her last breath. We had that very special mom/daughter friendship that most just dream of having. To find that once is lucky but re-finding that again with my own daughter is not only God's blessing but also the highest form of tribute to my mom. So, the beautiful relationship I have with Lindsay carries on my mom in so many ways. So...to you mom, I love you and miss you more than my words or heart could ever express and on this day and all days, I honor you.

Today is a wonderful celebration of three very different children and the little one that also holds that high place of honor. Jon is the most personable and great guy that has the gift of making anyone he meets feel better about themselves. He can bring out confidence and talents out of anyone he is friends with, works with, or is acquaintances with. He married a very strong woman, Elena, who has the work ethic that stands higher than most. I hold her as the champion and example of being a strong woman. Ej is an amazing soul. He has a sense of Christianity that doesn't have anything to do with church but truly is a relationship that he defends and honors. His drive for goodness and for his music career inspires many. He has been with me the longest and warms my soul with each call. I miss him.

My little girl is my connection to my own heart and soul. Her little one is the extension of who she is and what she stands for. I am so very blessed to have Lindsay in my life. Her loyalty, depth of ability to love, her patience, and commitment ethic is phenomenal and an example for me in my Christian walk.

Here are my children today...... Ej is in California and we had an awesome conversation this afternoon and as always, the tears welled up as we said goodbye.

Elena Me and Jon
Linz Elena and Jon
Linz Dawson Elena and Jon

Elena and Jon

Dawson and Lindsay

Andrea & Justin...I Do....

What a beautiful day to get married and that is exactly what Andrea and Justin did today. Andrea is a very special young lady. She was a student of mine and has even shared those famous "Wasik Disney trips" with us. Her two sisters (also a part of the wedding party, were my cheerleaders (yes I coached cheerleading for 13 years) and danced for me for several productions throughout the years such as pageants, fundraising events, and other occasions when production numbers were needed.

Andrea was radiant and I have never seen her look so stunning. Justin's reaction to her walking down the isle reflected the same. There were some giggles during the ceremony when the pastor called Justin James. We could see Andreas shoulders shaking from laughter. He finally corrected him and all was well. (this could have been called Andrea & James...I Do) The fuchsia theme carried over to the reception where a good time was held by all. After dinner, one of my favorites was watching Andrea's dad, Mark, boogie down on the floor. He was having a great time. During the sentimental Father/daughter dance, Mark exchanged silly faces with Dawson with every revolution. Debbie (aka mom of the bride) looked so pretty and her dress was stunning. I gave Dawson the point and shoot camera and told him to get some shots. The cake topper picture at the beginning is his work, untouched or cropped, just compressed. He did a great job and had fun looking for shots to take. I will share a couple more of his shots.

Congratulations to Andrea and Justin. They took a leap of faith today and judging by their little giggles and inside jokes, their life will be filled with humor and love. They will face hills and valleys but they will face them together.

Wedding Memories

Dawson's doodles "the elephant"

The Grand Entrance!

All Dressed Up!

Lindsay and Dawson

I Do!

Dawson took this one of Lindsay and bells!

Taya and Linz

Another shot by Dawson

Slow dancin' at the reception!

Another shot by Dawson...talented isn't he?

These eyes,,,

How I love the owner of these eyes. How beautiful is the soul that shines through them. How precious the heart that beats and powers the passion that exists within the owner of these eyes. The understanding and depth of compassion that lights up these eyes is amazing. I was there when these eyes opened and embraced life the first time. I watched them as they looked and watched and searched for meaning as they matured. I saw the look in these eyes when they looked in their little son's eyes for the first time. I have seen them fill with tears and emotion and I have seen them fill with tears from laughter. I love that I can use my eyes to watch the amazing owner of these eyes.

Have you ever had a day.....

Have you ever had a day when you are so full of mixed emotions that you really feel confused at whether to be happy or sad? I had one of those today.

First of all, I worked today. I attended a store meeting in NW Indiana, then visited two of my locations. I can tell you that the meeting and store visits lent to the overwhelming happy feelings. I have such a good relationship with the retail side and my territory associates and when I get to spend time with them, I rejoice at how good I have it working with such incredible people and accomplishing such incredible things together as a team.

I then came back and attended church. The music was awesome, and I met two of my very best friends there and had the pleasure of sharing the service sitting with them. My fantastically talented daughter was the I-Mag Director (cameras) and watching her put the shots together so artistically made the experience memorable. The message was a solid message but yet as I watched it, many memories came flooding back and I felt very emotional and drained afterwards to the point of feeling that if I spoke one word, the flood gates would open and I would lose total control. I recovered by using our "appreciative inquiry" exercise which meant that I found those that did a great job and told them so. One of the vocalists came my way and i made sure I told her how well she did...always smiling and having fun while singing. I found the drummer who did a phenomenal job tonight and told him so. I told two of the couples featured in the media that they really did a great job speaking from their hearts and sharing the success of their marriages.

I left wishing that things in my life would have been different and that I wanted to feel all those things the other couples said they felt. I felt empty. I felt sad.

I also thought of the opportunities that have blessed my life recently. New friendships have given me hope and filled my life with joy and happiness. I love my friends and love what we share and the laughs and giggles and yes, even the text lesson during church....Mona Lisa would be so proud of me. (that my friends, is an inside joke ) I have a home and am learning to do things I never thought possible like buying a pump and wet/dry vac and draining and filling my own hot tub without calling for help thanks to the encouragement of one of the new people in my life. I love my little grandson more than words could ever say. The second his little hand is in mine, I am a billionaire and when he says he loves me with that raspy little voice and hugs me so close, I am the luckiest person in the entire world. When I look into my daughter's eyes and see that gleam she sometimes gets, I see my mom and all the wonderful things she was. My boys make me smile, laugh, and I am so proud of what they are accomplishing. After thinking about all of these wonderful things, I realize that I am not so empty but full of happiness over today, hope for tomorrow, and an appreciation of the power of God in my life.

Who knows, maybe years from now, they will put me in a media at church to offer words of encouragement to others about what life has meant to me.

It was just one of those days today!

Love in the Perfected State

I found this on my friend's MYSPACE and love the words and the meaning so much. I think it sums up LOVE between a man and a woman perfectly. I wish this for those I love.