We'll be out of town next weekend

I got this call from Aaryk last week and he asked if I was interested in going on a Marriage Enrichment weekend. I said SURE! So we are off to Myrtle Beach South Carolina for 3 days of fun, sun, and tools to improve our marriage.

We'll be staying at the Hilton, and according to the schedule, we'll have plenty of time to get out and see the sights.

I'll make sure to take lots of pictures (of course), and I'll even try to post some of them!

We ended up being able to go because one of the other guys (a newlywed) got in trouble and wasn't going to be able to go. I always ask for your prayers for us, but would you also pray for this couple? I feel bad that they can't go, and worry that they may have needed this weekend more than us.

Thanks all!

My trip to Chicago and other things

I went to Chicago for about two weeks the end of January through mid February. Had a wonderful time with my folks and brothers. The main reason for the timing of the visit was to go to The Berghoff restaurant one last time before it closed it's doors on February 28.

The Berghoff was my very favorite restaurant to go to in downtown Chicago. Not that I got there very often, but every time was associated with such good memories. The Daily Herald asked people to send in their memories of The Berghoff, and mine were printed here- Auf Wiedersehen to the Berghoff .

Here's a couple of the pages I made for the pictures I took in the restaurant-

Berghoff 1

Berghoff 2

Being at The Berghoff was the culmination of a wonderful day in the city. The folks had also gotten tickets for all of us to go see Wicked at the Oriental Theatre that afternoon. Wow. What a fantastic show! Jeff bought the soundtrack (and some Emerald City sunglasses) at the theatre, and bought copies for Mom and I before I left. Wicked is WAYYYY up there in my favorite musicals of all time list, and from me, that's saying something!

So in all, it was a wonderful trip, I got to lead a jewelry making class for the Ladies Nite Out group at the folk's church, we went and visited with my Aunt Marion for an afternoon, I scanned TONS of family pictures and documents, the folks and I went to the Wade Center at Wheaton College to see all of the CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien exhibits (including Lewis' old wardrobe, an inspiration for the one in his Narnia books), and Mom and I did a quilt Shop Hop and I caught the quilting bug! With all that, it was still a very restful time and I enjoyed every minute of it!

I'm not going out to Phoenix in April after all, but I don have a couple of friends who are planning trips to come see me this summer!

Things here are moving along nicely, Aaryk is now the clerk for the motor pool, which he doesn't like nearly as much as being a mechanic, but it's something he's good at, and the Army needs him there.

We bought me a bicycle, and I'm trying to get out and ride for my exercise. The goal being to be able to bike into town and back so I can get a part-time job! (well, and get in shape...that's the first goal!)

Well, this update has gone on long enough I think. Thanks for your continued prayers, we do appreciate them!

Before You Go

I got this in an email today and just wanted to pass it along, it was really moving-

Before You Go


Two Naval Academy graduates, Bierstock, Class of 58, and John Melnick, Class of 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, have written a song: the mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.

"If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "Every ethnic minority would be dead. And the soldiers are now dying at a fast rate every day. I thought we needed to thank them."

The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren.

Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web.

They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.


Now, here is the link

http://www.managedmusic.com/beforeyougo.html




Not much new going on here, we passed Aaryk's one year anniversary in the Army a couple of weeks ago on Friday 2/24. One down two to go!