BELIEVE

It is a rare occasion that I am left speechless, if you know me~ I realize you are thinking "yeah right" ... Today, I can't put my thoughts into words, but I can put them into pictures~ these are not photos I've taken, but photos that tell a story...for me and a very special friend who has shown me that there is reason to always BELIEVE and that finding or being found by an old friend is sometimes something you can't put into words, but what an amazing thing when you don't need words to share it....

You are never too old to enjoy a good box of Hot Tamales or be silly with a friend....

It means everything when you listen to the stories one shares.....and recognize how important the little things are....

Bridges bring friends together when they least expect it

It only takes admitting you goofed it up....not a life time of making up for it

There is nothing more wonderful than the hand of a friend

Under the great big sky, it only takes looking up to realize how small the world is as you look at the same star....

My Hero, Blake Ryan

My son Blake is an amazing kid. He isn't only an outstanding athlete, student, friend, family member, person but he is sincerely the world's most loving son. He thinks of others before he thinks of himself in nearly all situations. He thinks more with his heart than his head. He is a Straight A student~ he has the desire to learn, the discipline to do his school work and the ability to remember everything he has ever been told.... aside from his mother asking him to not leave dishes in the sink, towels on the floor or drink glasses in the family room. Those minor things aside the kids is incredibly focuses!



He has the patience of a saint with his sister. She is a real firecracker and she knows how to push his buttons! In a crowd, he consistently has one eye on her, ready to come to her rescue if needed. The bond they share is amazing.


It doesn't matter if he is on the basketball court, soccer field, baseball diamond or riding the bench, he has the best sportsmanship! He is quick to praise his team mates and lift them in a crisis. He holds his chin up and fights through the rough spots and hopes for the highs. His focus isn't simply winning the game, but coming out of the game as winners. He knows that walking away a good sport is far greater than walking away with a trophy...Ohh don't get me wrong! When he is playing, the kid is OUT TO WIN IT & will do that to the best of his ability!



The kids only intention is to make others smile and feel good about themselves. To believe in themselves & have faith in their ability- he tries to inspire others by being a good person with a fun witty and silly personality.



Blake is a great kid from the inside out, his smile radiates joy and happiness, and sincere love for life. I'm so proud to be his mother- he inspires me to be a better person. Blake truly is, my hero!

Mom & Me Adventure 2008

A Mom & Me Adventure
Charlie Mae and I took a Mom & ME Adventure to Michigan for a week.. We went to visit Gamy & Gampy, also known as the world’s most AMAZING grandparents! They live in the Baby Food Capital Fremont, Michigan. Home of Gerber Baby foods, where my grandfather worked for his entire career. We arrived on Sunday night and spent the evening in Grand Rapids. We woke the next morning to retrieve our rental car, the car that would take us on our adventure through Eastern Michigan and down into Ohio. An ORANGE CHEVY HHR . Yeah, ORANGE. It was almost comical when we walked up to the car, we had joked about getting some sporty little number that would make us look totally cool, and was zippy. Well, I don’t know if we could have looked any sillier in an ORANGE ….ok, maybe Copper would be a better description, Car! But it was zippy! We made our way North to Fremont- small glitches along the way, but we made it! We arrived to just meet my grandparents arriving home. They looked great- they have looked the same to me for many years, and only in the past few has it occurred to me, that not only are they getting older, but I am getting older as well. We made our way inside and began catching up. Always enjoy that!!
We had dinner out at Moon Dance a fun little café in Fremont. Quaint little spot, and the chicken was great! When we arrived home, Gamy and Charlie Mae escaped to our room to read books. I sat with my grandfather & we talked about the political candidates and the new law in California legalizing gay & lesbian marriages…these are not conversations we’d have in a group of people, and I appreciated him sharing his views and a few stories with me as well. After we solved the problems of the world, I snuck up the stairs to listen to my grandmother read. I’ve always shared with my children that when I read, to them or to myself even, I hear my grandmother’s voice. It is one of my fondest childhood memories, having my grandmother come to town and read to us, and play games. I love to listen to her. She has an accent. A Michigan accent and the way she says things is just sweet. It made my heart melt as I watcher my daughter cuddle up to my grandmother, her great grandmother and listen to read her stories, enjoying my grandmother as much as I did (and still do!) when I was little. Tuesday Charlie Mae wasn’t feeling too hot, so she spent the day lying on the couch in the sun room ~ my grandmother and I spent our time playing cards. Spit and Malice. I WON five out of 6 games. THIS IS HUGE in our family, Gamy is QUEEN OF THE CARDS. We love to play cards with her!

Wednesday Charlie Mae woke with a bit more energy. She was set in her ways that she wanted Gamy to do her hair, not having any curly head children, her fingers weren’t sure how to cope with all the curls. Though they tried for braids, it was two darling pig tails that held her hair in place. She looked adorable and my grandmother was thrilled to have the opportunity to do her locks up nicely.

I had decided that it might help her if we could get Charlie Mae out & moving, it was COLD outside, so we opted to hit the local McDonald’s, of which was a first for my grandparents!! They were in awe of all the fun a kid could have in plastic tubes with slides and peek out ports. Fun to watch them watch her. With her energy back in check, we made the drive up to Campbell Lake, where the family cottage is. It is by far one of my most favorite places in all the earth. So peaceful, so beautiful and within the walls of those trees a place where my family was molded. The stories that are shared about events and happenings that have taken place at the cottage, the card games, the baths in the lake, the cook outs, the fires down near the lake. It is just a wonderful spot, and truly as close to heaven as I’ve ever been. The water being too cold, Charlie Mae was only able to dip a finger, but that was just fine with her, as she saw lots of “stuff” in the water and wasn’t sure about that anyway. Lilly pads and leaves from the fall sitting on the tops and bottoms of the water.

We returned home to go to dinner at the Ramshorn~ after dinner it was off to get Charlie Mae’s pink glove and ball out to share with her great (awesome really) grandparents. She and I went into the back lawn and it wasn’t but moments later that Gamy stepped out to try her arm at a game of catch. Not easy with a three year old and an almost 86 year old! But they gave it a good girl try and had fun doing it!! It began to cool quickly, so we scooted inside to sit with Gampy on the porch and watch the deer near the golf course. Amazing how much entertainment deer and birds can be…and a goofy neighbor too! We rose early on Thursday to spend the morning together. It was wonderful to spend time with my grandparents alone. Not that I don’t appreciate the rest of my family, I DO! But when you have them all to yourself, or sharing them with your child- it is amazing how much you learn, how much they share with you, how much you love them even more that you did before you arrived. Typically when we part ways, I get that lump in my throat and well with tears, how nice that this time I was able to say “See you in a week”….We’ll be sharing my (yes I said MY!) grandparents with the rest of the family as we all get together for a week in Alaska, to celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary as well as celebrating our family. You know that saying “My Family Tree Is Full OF Nuts” …. I am most certain that a distant relative must have required the invention of such a quote!

AVA VIOLA February 12, 2008 Ava Viola Hafner was born to Cory and Emily Hafner, also known as my cousin Emily! We were BLESSED with the opportunity to drive to the Buckeye state to meet the precious blessing while we were on the East side of the states. What a beautiful little girl, and such a wonderful set of parents!!

Charlie Mae told EVEYONE and ANYONE who would listen that she was going to see her new baby cousin Ava “Biola”- and couldn’t hardly stand the drive from Fremont to Perrysburg Ohio. When we pulled into the drive to find Cousin Emily, Aunt Kim and AVA VIOLA …she couldn’t un do that seat belt fast enough! And once inside, she wanted that baby in her arms, she didn’t want to look at someone else holding her! We washed her hands and Emily took a deep breath as she laid Ava Viola on Charlie Mae‘s lap. BIG GRIN spreading across Charlie Mae’s face & smiles from Ava Viola. Beautiful baby girl, and her parents…. Doting and proud of course. Her grandparents, they melt just looking at her! And her daddy, puddy in her hands! Very sweet to see how the family transitions from being Just people to people who make silly faces, silly noises and regress back to a day when they too couldn’t speak!!

Uncle Thad and Aunt Kim took Charlie Mae and I to a local park where we stretched and played. Aunt Kim and I catching up & Uncle Thad showing that he is more than equipped to handle all the fun that will come his way once Ava Viola is old enough to venture on to the park with him. I’m suspecting that park will be renamed Grumpa Frankin Park

Friday the GIRLS had lunch in downtown Perrysburg, after a mini photo session for which I was positive that after 75 photos, there would be at least 5 of which could just as well grace the cover of any magazine looking for the worlds most beautiful baby (or baby girls) and although my Aunt Kim doesn’t think she takes good photos, I thought she looked beautiful with HER GIRLS and with MY GIRL TOO

As for Emily, that smile upon her face, it is permanently there…she is SO proud to be a mommy! And after only being with her for 24 hours I am telling you she is already an amazing mother- she has a wonderful example after all!! Charlie Mae and I ventured back up North in our Copper car, to return the car, grab a quick snack and take some time to play in the pool. At the end of the day, all I could do was smile and thank the lord for the wonderful blessing of family, and the extra special blessing in being Charlie Mae’s mommy =)

First Hershey Track Meet

Charlie Mae participated in her first Hershey Track Meet. No, she did not run for chocolate.. oh but wouldn’t that have motivated her!! ME TOO It was a meet to qualify the older children for the Hershey track meet in Pennsylvania. Blake ran this meet when he was her age, and as I stood at the finish line camera over my eye cheering from behind it, my heart sank. I could see my little boy running toward me again like it was yesterday- only to lower the camera and look up (he was standing behind me cheering his sister on) and see that little boy has grown into an amazing big brother.
She ran very well, and she ran fast! She was more excited to find her friends when it was over than actually being apart of the event, she wanted to tell them “good job”…such a good sport she is! Her friend’s Classen & Corrisa were there, as was her cousin (and good buddy) Tanna. The kids had fun telling one another good job and “RUN RUN RUN” and the parents had fun watching. Charlie Mae was SO excited to win a blue (participation) ribbon and tell everyone she ran at the track meet. I was so proud to see her work so hard, but more proud to see her have so much fun! She is all about being a supportive friend, making sure she tells everyone HELLO and GOOD JOB! I’m also very proud of her for that!
And that little boy who ran toward my camera almost 10 (uggg) years ago, he and I had a race to see who was the fastest. What a riot! We raced in Uncle Bryan’s back yard, perfect for a mini dash. Blake won the first race yeah Blake…..ok really, whoopee!?!? I WON the second race!!! (yippee yahooie for me) and the third race we threw out, as he was tackled half way down the line and I clearly beat his socks off…unofficially =P It is fun to have active kids, often a task to try and keep up, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! I’m a winner hands down when it comes to wonderful kids!

Lemonade For Sale!!

Charlie Mae had her first official Lemonade Stand on June 14th, 2008 A tradition that began when her brother was much younger and spent his Saturday mornings at work with mom at Picket Fences. She was SO excited to have her own spot and her OWN customers too!
Blake showed her the ropes and gave some very helpful advice: always say HELLO and ask HOW ARE YOU. If they don’t buy anything, still tell them to HAVE A NICE DAY. If they do buy something, tell them THANK YOU and HAVE A NICE DAY! The advice worked- after two hours and about a dozen plus patrons, Charlie Mae had made her first twenty dollars and fifty cents! She paid mom back for the ice, lemonade mix and cups, and paid her brother $2 for his help in manning the post.
At one point she needed a potty break, and didn’t want to leave. I offered to watch the stand for her, and she gave me this bit of advice “mom, I can’t go potty, if they don’t see a little girl sitting there they aren’t going to stop and buy it. They don’t like to buy it from mom’s” She had to make a fast get away in between customers to return to Uncle Jake, Aunt Cathy, Dale, Aunt Shannon, Uncle Bryan and Uncle Darren with Brooke! The place had standing room only!! The girl made bank =)

Something Surprise!

My children are spoiled- I don’t need to be the first to admit it, as I’m fully aware and YOU are too if you’ve met them. Spoiled WITH LOVE mostly!! So, every now and then I will ask them “would you like me to get you anything” and instead of a “yeah mom could you grab me a……” they BOTH reply with “Make me a something surprise” I guess it began when Blake became more picky and I had to sneak healthy into his diet. You know, like Ants On A Log (Celery with peanut butter and raisins) or when I add yogurt and mixed berries with a scoop of ice cream and he thinks it is only a fruit milk shake =) It use to be that I would go into the kitchen and they would WAIT on the surprise, but not with Charlie Mae. She wants to HELP with the something surprise. This particular morning I took wheat rolls and we created (for Blake) DONUTS! Coating the rolls in butter, rolling them in sugar and then poking the middles before baking them. They were simply melt in your mouth yummy, not so healthy, but sometimes that is OK. So I got creative on morning and really out did myself on an English muffin…really I think it is one of my best works of art TOOT TOOT (that would be my own horn) It is fun creating this silly things, and

fun to think someday they might say to their own children “would you like me to make you something my mom use to make for me, it is SO silly but SO yummy”…icing on the cake, carrot cake that is with low fat cream cheese frosting!

Siblings In Sun Valley Idaho

The FIRST ANNUAL DONNA, DARYL, RIKKI SIBLING GET-A-WAY… Great title and appropriately so as we had a GREAT TIME! My sister suggested that she’d like to take a vacation with JUST SIBLINGS. Humm we all thought, and then why not! You hear all the time about sisters taking trips together, brother’s going hunting why not a brother & sisters get-a-way? I don’t know that my sister in law (my brother’s wife) really understood how incredible the idea was, being that she is an only child. Oh the fun in being a SISTER or a BROTHER. Only if you have siblings do you understand that only YOU can call them names, pick on them and poke them in the nose. A sibling is a branch of you, and you a branch of them. When the going gets tough, your siblings are there to pick you up, lift you and take you through whatever the journey may entail. Siblings are an incredible extension of yourself, of your parents…of the family tree in general. My family tree- FULL OF NUTS! But that’s ok, we work through it.
So, we venture into the unknown- three grown adults leaving their families and responsibilities behind for a weekend of nothing but, silliness really. We made the trek from Pendleton to Nampa my brother and I. My brother who is two years younger than I and almost a foot taller =O Didn’t stop him from dwarfing back to when we picked on each other, joked and laughed. It was great! Pull my finger and “you are not normal” were common phrase on the way to Nampa as Nickel Back played over and over and over in the CD player…I wanted to send the CD on a ride out the window, however it seemed to be the theme music for the trip- so we really needed it. We picked my sister up, took in my nephew’s baseball game and we were off… heading down the road….destination SUN VALLEY, ID.
We arrived at the condo, a nice spot… if those walls could speak, they would tell all who entered to have the time that we did. It was great!! Being the oldest, I made sure to use my status and I got the BIG ROOM with the COZY bed =))

Awwww how sweet it was. I had the bathroom to myself as well. Really though, it didn’t matter where I laid my head, because what really mattered took place at the dining room table, where we sat and played cards, laughed and giggled about things we’d forgotten and things we’ll never forget. GOOD TIMES!

We ventured into Sun Valley to see the sights- not a lot happening in Sun Valley that weekend, but that didn’t bother us, we made our fun! We visited the SV Resort and viewed the photos of the famous who had been there before us. Along the drive we found an old Union Pacific Rail Road Bridge, which had obviously not been used for many years, as it was paved ( or attempted to be) over and worn out. Oh the goofy laughs as we portrayed the tourists that we are in such a fun display of red neck fashion. My sister with her camera and my brother and I with not a care in the world- it was a perfect combination
THE MINT also known as Bruce Willis’ bar was there- we were excited to be apart of something so “Hollywood” however, it was under construction, aside form the owners who were busy cleaning up the place the place was empty and NO sign of Bruce. No problem, we made our own fun using the marquee to note DARYL was the main attraction for the night
We played, we laughed, we laughed some more. We had some great meals and we laughed some more. It was one of the best times with my brother and sister and one I look forward to topping next year- that is if it can be done, we’ll give it a whirl. I’m blessed to have my siblings & I hope that my children have the same love and silliness with one another that we share. I shared with my son, who is the oldest, how wonderful it is to have one another & that I hoped that some day he & his sister would celebrate their friendship as we did.