Kailtin's Graduation!!! Associate Degree in Culinary with 2 more years to go for the Bachelors Degree

http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/pwp2/view/MemberPage.aspx?coupleid=7455578015563497&pid=8378691

The above link is to Adam and Jillian's webpage on "The Knot"...I think they still have a few things to add but it's almost complete!

http://hazelnutphotography.com/blog/

And, this is the link to some of their engagement pictures...Jillian said the photographer took over 700 photos (the magic of digital) and will narrow them down to about 60 to put on a disc for them...

This morning we all ran the Monument 10k!!!!

Adam and Jillian

Thought I would steal this picture of Adam and Jillian from her Facebook and give you what little info I have on the wedding so far! The wedding is July 16 at a park in Los Angeles. They each have five attendants (Eric is one of Adam's "best men" and Lauren is a bridesmaid on Jillian's side).

They are working on an information page that you will be able to access on www.theknot.com but it is not finished yet! They have secured a hotel with 35 (don't quote me on the number) rooms at a discounted rate. The rooms will be available at the lower rate from Wednesday, July 14 to Sunday, July 18. It is in Pasadena and they have made arrangements to have everyone shuttled to and from the wedding/reception site by bus so we won't all be on the LA freeways! The hotel is about 15 minutes from the wedding site. They or I will be sending more information soon so you can begin to book your reservations.

They have hired a photographer and will be having their engagement pictures taken on April 1st. Jillian's birthday is the 5th of April, by the way! She will be 26, so she is a slightly "older" woman! Haha!

It has been suggested by Adam that the rehearsal dinner be at a Thai Karaoke Bar on Thursday night prior to the wedding on Friday night. Should be fun! More info to come!

Pondered thoughts and words from our Patriarch...

THE PATHWAY

Starting to fill this new vessel.

It is clean, pure, undefiled,

lacking vanity or vile imports.

Like fresh clay from the mold, it is

pliable yet.

Where shall it reside to set its path,

and its character?

Apart from the clamor of the crowd

offering to point the way.

Retreat to the solitude , ponder quietly

upon how and why things came to be.

Ask for power in thought, discernment,

perception of things untainted --

and to link purpose to its goal.

Become staunch in the search for what

can be proved and repeated in truth.

Harden the palm of the hand to turn as a foe

towards the wrongs that surely will come.

Stretch forth that calloused palm to lift

and to aid a burdened sojourner.

Bear the loads wrought by time --

endurance has little to offer but pain, but

perserverance causes gladness that

strengthens the soul in hope.

Hope brings an assurance that lasts

until the clay once again becomes dust,

and the soul sent home

James A. Frazier

October 27, 2009

*************************************************************

LESSONS

Suffering is not the discipline that smelts out

the dross; it is the touchstone that tests the

quality of the Gold.

A severe temptation assails one to do a

dishonest thing. He resists and conquers.

He did not know until put to the test how

much of the Gold of honesty he possessed.

Tribulation is common to all men. To some

it must be endured, but to others it is

persevered with gladness yielding patience

and rendering character. Wince it comes

matters not with justice or no - the test is for

truth and the value of hope.

James Frazier's adaptations from the Bible

80th Birthday Celebrations...

Here are a few pictures from Jim's 80th birthday celebration...Somehow Mark is mysteriously absent from the pictures I have on file!

And then in we had another party for my mom's 80th birthday, which was September 30, 2009!

Ice Carving Charlotte October 2009

Kaitlin and Nic - one of the ice carving teams at the Charlotte Panthers game a few weeks ago in October.

October 2009 Snow...No, we don't usually get this much this early!

Jim and I went snow shoeing last Thursday night after he got off work and before we ate dinner...It was quiet and surreal...just steps from our house. It seemed like we were far away from the neighborhood. Has Jim mentioned lately how much he loves Colorado?

It really is still autumn here...can't you tell by the front door! BUT, it's beginning to look alot like Christmas! Yikes!

I started taking pictures yesterday at 8:00...You can see the progression of the accumulation on the patio table and chairs! The third picture was taken just about an hour ago...and it's still snowing! May have to go snowshoeing this afternoon! It's beautiful! Glad I have plenty of bread and peanut butter to last a few days!

Pictures from Jim's Motorcycle Circuit in September 2009

And, he's off...September 12, 2009
First stop, West Plains, MO to see our friends at Whetstone Boy's Ranch...

Jeremy and Carrie Thompson...Brandon, Laura and Will Maxwell...Love these guys!

Then on the Kuttawa, KY for lunch and a brief visit with my Aunt Norma and Uncle Richard! So glad her health has greatly improved!!!

Next stop...Nashville, TN to see Aunt Bettye and Uncle Don...saw Julie and her daughter and met the neighbors. Thanks, Aunt Bettye for the grits! Yum!

Left Nashville to head to Franklin County...Beautiful Bellegreen house and wonderful family!

Auburn, Alabama...Lots of nostalgia...great friends...more wonderful family and an Auburn football game where both moisture and victory were gained (we had four inches of rain in a little over an hour...causing a game delay and mass chaos!)

Dallas, Texas was his next stop...He drove by our first house (tree has gotten so big) and saw our dear friends, Gary and Candy Gombert and Phil and Diann Garnett...

He had planned to stay a night somewhere in between Dallas and Denver but the weather changed...he got cold...decided to push through! So he was home one day early! Could have posted more but these are the highlights (he took lots of scenery pics but I think ones with people in them are so much more interesting!) Hope you enjoy!