06 July 2012

05 July 2012

family time

Yesterday was a cooker...isn't every day like this lately in IL?!  When will the heat relent?
Our Miller & Schlipf family was brave enough to come on over, watch the kids enjoy the water & heat and hang out outside.  It was great food, great food, and great conversation...thanks fam!

































































04 July 2012

I wonder...

The history teacher in me loves reflecting about the founding of our country during this fabulous summer holiday...the American Revolution was my favorite time period of American history to teach.  While most teachers would spend about 3-4 days on it, I usually spent a good week-8 days.  I mean, what other time period of our country's history was a blank slate, decisions, and opportunities in front of our framer's?  The history teacher in me also likes to remind any students out there of another very important happening on July 4th...except this happened 50 years after the signing of our Independence from Great Britain.

Two great men, John Adams & Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4th, 1826.  Both men had political careers at the same time and actually had very different ideas of how government should be created and run.  Yet when their last breathe was breathed, both had reconciled and had a deep respect for each other. 



I wonder...

what both of these early leader's think of our country today?

what would they be proud of?

ashamed of?

what would they think of what being a "politician" means today?

Most of all, I wonder if their ideology of separation of powers is what they pictured it be in the 1770's?  Is this the country the dreamed of?

Happy Fourth of July!



 

02 July 2012

summer evening

This past Saturday evening we hosted some friends for summer evening get-together.  While the weather here has been exhaustively hot & humid, Saturday evening was a bit cloudy and actually not too bad to sit outside, kid-less and enjoy great appetizers, good friends & many laughs!

Thanks again for coming friends...we were honored by your presence & blessed by your friendship!






 the beautiful flowers are complimentary of my mother-in-law's gardens!







29 June 2012

Friday's Funny ~ the 4 door-new-weirds!!

Last weekend we got to spend some time with my Mom's family as her sister's flew in from Phoenix.  These are the two sisters that ALWAYS keep things lively & we love them dearly...click here for a trip down memory lane with these two!  We not only celebrated a reunion but also celebrated my Mom & Uncle Butch's birthdays as 63 years ago, Grandma Doorneweerd gave birth to the twins, Linda & Lynn.

I'll let you see what similarities you can find in the below pictures!

 Aunt Lavonne

Aunt Lois

 Uncle Butch (given name Lynn)

 his twin sister & my Mom, Linda








the four!


28 June 2012

Wulf Reunion 2012

Last weekend took us to Iowa for a Wulf Reunion.  My maternal grandmother was one of 10 ten Wulfs and we had about 150 people attend~3 originals are still living + 33 first cousins + the rest of us :)

Enjoy the slide show...