Halloween Dance

Only my son (a farm boy who shows pigs) and his girlfriend (a farm girl who shows pigs) would go to their school Halloween costume dance dressed as a man who shows pigs and his prize winning pig. LOL

I do have to admit that while he looked the way I see him dressed most days (jeans, boots, Heeren Farms jacket and hat), she looked so cute! She was most proud of her pink slip on "hooves" that she found for $1.00 at Target.

Channeling My Inner Witchiness

My daughters and I have a Halloween tradition where we watch the 1993 movie "Hocus Pocus" together. If you've ever watched this movie, you know just how silly and funny it is! It's a spoof on what are supposed to be these three scary sister witches brought back to life, but they are just dim-witted.

We have the entire move memorized and we say our favorite parts along with it, as well as sing the songs. It starts Bette Midler, so you know the singing is great! Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are also in it and Kathy is the nuttiest of them all and totally cracks me up. For example, someone steals their brooms so they are forced to improvise, and Kathy gets stuck with a vacuum. LOL

Anyhow, this year, to get ready for the movie night, I bought a witches hat. But of course, not just any hat would do. I would wait until all the decent looking hats are gone, so there is just one more left in the dismal pile of ugly stuff no one wants in the Wal-Mart Halloween section. The one with big ugly flowers on it, and a small piece of net that goes straight out the back. Oh yea, that's a scary one. (insert rolling eyes here).

My daughters arrived and laughed at my hat (not the reaction I was going for but oh well). They took a picture of me looking as scary as I could, but later they said I looked more constipated than scary.

After we enjoyed the movie they caught me in action with a little toy.
 

What? Doesn't every Halloween witch play a scary tune on their uber-scary melody maker?

Have a fun and safe Halloween!!

Poor Jay

Jay and I celebrated out 23rd wedding anniversary yesterday, and on Saturday we went out for the evening. Before leaving I enlisted Ashley's help in taking a picture of us. Anyone that knows me knows that I can't stand having my picture taken. I have been this way for as long as I can remember (no matter what age or size), so you are getting a rare treat to see the pictures taken.

The main reason I am sharing them is because you have got to see what my poor husband has had to deal with almost every single day of his life since he said "I Do" all those years ago.

For starters, I hate always being the shortest one in pictures, so I decided to have Jay sit on my stool that raises and lowers. Bad mistake. As we worked to get the height just right, one height became just right for me to say "Hey look...we're a totem pole!"

Ashley had us pose like that again so she could get a picture, and when she showed me Jay's expression, it set off a fit of never ending giggles. No matter what I tried, I could not stop giggling.

Ashley suggested trying a more serious pose to see if that would stop the giggles. It would have been a nice picture except for the fact that it's a little blurry, and Jay appears to be studying a game on tv instead of enjoying this special bonding time we're having. *Not to mention the fact that my forearms appear to be channeling my inner Popeye - what is up with that???*

The giggles finally ended and just as Ashley went to snap the picture, Chelsea said something and the giggles returned. This picture shows Jay thanking her for helping the situation. By this time I had tears running down my cheeks.

I tried to stop, I really did. But as you can see here, I was not having much luck, and poor Jay kept saying "what is wrong with you?" Even Ashley was cracking up by this time, which is why this shot is so blurred.

I finally pulled it together for one last shot. It's not the greatest picture of us, but if you look closely at my expression, I am just about to lose it again and Jay was not about to let us keep trying.

Happy Anniversary Jay. Thanks for putting up with me all these years!  He really does deserve a medal. LOL

Memorial Day

We're headed out to the lake for the weekend. Have a great Memorial weekend and remember the real reason we have this holiday. God bless our soldiers!

Happy Birthday Austin!

Happy 17th birthday to my son Austin. It's hard for me to believe that my "baby" with the bluest eyes I have ever seen is almost a man, but I couldn't be more proud of him.









 He is very smart, caring, and has always had a silly sense of humor that never ceases to crack me up. I love being his mom and we're so blessed to have him in our family.

As a toddler and young child, he was almost always called "Buddy". As he got older, he allowed his dad and I to continue that, but we had to shorten it up to "Bud". lol

So, happy birthday Bud. I love you so much, and hope you have an awesome day!!

What My Mother Taught Me

What My Mother Taught Me

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC. "Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION . "Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until your Father gets home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING . "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT . "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE . "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you."

Happy Mothers Day Mom! Thanks for all you taught me!! :) I love you!

Birthday Celebration

This past Friday evening we went to our favorite BBQ place to celebrate Ashley & Chelsea's 20th birthdays. We also celebrated our niece Jenna's 14th birthday at the same time, as her birthday was just a few days earlier. Here's a few pictures from the evening.

The girls were very surprised to find that a bouquet of flowers had been delivered for them from Anna, the host student we had from Spain. We took this picture to share with her.



I had teased the girls that with the economy I was going to have to do their birthday shopping at Kum & Go, so to continue with the tease, I did do some shopping there. I got them each a beef jerky stick, K & G koolee, Iowa magnet, Advil, First aid set, super cheesy cheap necklace and a tire pressure gauge. I put the items in little bags and used tissue instead of tissue paper. We all had a good laugh, and this picture shows Chelsea holding up all the items.



Here is a shot of Jenna, Chelsea & Ashley with the cake we had for them.



We did a cousin shot before leaving. L to R is Ashley, nephew Jacob, niece Jenna, Austin & Chelsea. Jenna & Jacob's dad is Jay's brother.



I will be uploading more of them on Facebook, so if we're friends you can see more there.

20 Years? Seriously?

I can't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that it has been 20 years since our identical twin daughters came into this world. Even though they were almost 2 months early, they have made themselves known since day one. Those 2 months of having them in the NICU were scary, but it showed me how strong these two little girls were, and I knew that strength would take them far.



Even from the beginning, the differences between them were very apparent.


























Ashley:

Ashley is a sweet caring young lady, who has a sharp wit and a sarcastic type of sense of humor that just cracks me up. She's always been silly and never worries about what others think of her. She is very creative and a "color outside the lines" kind of girl.

She is head strong and determined, and loves so deeply. She has a magnetic personality and she loves spending time with the very young, all the way through to the elderly patients she works with.








































Chelsea:

Chelsea is more reserved, shy (until she knows you well), follow the rules, and is a "I want to do what I'm supposed to do" kind of a girl. However, when around those she feels very comfortable with, she can be as silly as her sister can. She has a deep love for animals and young children.

She is also extremely stubborn. If we had a debate team at our school, I have no doubt she would have been the captain. But that strong will has given her the determination to not fall to peer pressure (which is not an easy thing to do at a large university).







































When they were little they loved bows in their hair - the bigger the better. To this day their teachers even remember that. They also went through a phase where they would only wear dresses, and then a much longer phase where dresses were "gross".

Being in a small community, they were very well known and very well liked. They were also often compared, or referred to as "the twins", which caused a lot of struggles for their own identities when their teen years hit. Oh the arguing and fighting those two did. I used to cry because I'd hear of other twins who were very close and loved doing things together, and yet mine appeared to hate each other.

I didn't need to worry. When they went off to different colleges they grew to realize how lucky they were to have that someone who has been with them literally since day one. Someone who shares that special unique bond that only twins can share. Someone who didn't judge them, or expect them to be a certain way. Some who would let them be different...and yet alike.



As a mom, I couldn't be more proud of my daughters. When they used to ask why they were twins, I would tell them "God made you as one little baby girl, but there was so much goodness, love, and special qualities about you that it didn't all fit into one little body, so he decided to share it all between two beautiful little girls".

And in my opinion, he got it just right.

Happy 20th birthday Ashley & Chelsea. You're all grown up now, but to me you'll always be my little girls, and you have my heart. I love you!

Happy New Year!

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.
~Martin Luther

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One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. ~John Burroughs

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We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

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May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions. ~Joey Adams


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People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas. ~ Author Unknown


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My New Years Wish For All Of You


"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11


I wish you all a blessed future full of hope in 2010.

But I Want More

That was the statement our children used to say at each birthday and each Christmas. When they were done opening presents they always stuck out their bottom lip to be sure we knew how sad they were. Their shoulders would sag and they would proclaim "But I want more".

I remember thinking "How do we change this? We are raising horriby selfish children!" While I did/do love shopping for gifts for them, I don't believe they are over-indulged in any way. Yet, we still heard "I want more".

Last night Ashley & Chelsea and I were talking in the living room and the conversation went like this:

Chelsea: Well, that's it. Christmas is over.
Ashley: Yea, I wish there was more.
C: I know. It's never get enough.
Dena: Are you serious? Not enough? Shall we examine what you got for Christmas? You really think it's "not enough"? If that's true, then we've failed as parents."
C: Wow, Mom, chill.
A: Yea, just relax. That's not what we meant.
D: Oh Really? Then explain it to me. What did you supposedly mean?
C: Just that now that it's over, we go back to school and work.
A: Yea. I love school and all my friends there, but I like being home here too, and I wish it could last longer than just a couple of days.
C: Yea. We want more. Not more presents, but more time at home. More having fun together and none of the stress. Get it?
A: Even when we were kids. You get all excited about Christmas coming...the time with family, relatives, food, and presents, and then all too fast it's over.
D: I get it and I'm really sorry for thinking differently.

I did get it, more than they knew, and it made me smile to know they got it...even as kids. It's wasn't about the presents at all.

And as I stood at the door this morning waving good-bye to Ashley who was headed back to work (and staying at her dorm), I couldn't help but stick out my bottom lip and think "But I want more".

Merry Christmas

I am going to take the next couple of days to spend with my family, and I pray you and your family has a wonderful blessed holiday.

The Nativity Story

Luke 2:1-38 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor in Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David.) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

~~~~~~~Merry Christmas~~~~~~

Christmas Miracles

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.....a special time when everyone believes miracles can happen.

I've seen lots Christmas miracles recently:

1. I took Tucker & Molly to be groomed. I can do the other 2, but these guys aren't the easiest to groom, so I let someone else deal with them, I mean, delight in their uniqueness.

Honestly I was in a grumpy mood before I left. Not sure why, but I didn't want to feel that way all day, so when I was driving I asked God to help me get in a better mood. When I got the grooming salon, the girl at the counter was beyond excited. "Oh my gosh! Hi!" and she proceeded to give me a hug. Wow...I thought....friendly place, but they're kinda freakin' me out.

Way back before any of my kids were in school, I coached junior high and high school cheerleaders, and it turns out this girl was one of my junior high girls. Her next comment is where the miracle comes in... "Coach. O.M.G. can I just say that you don't look any different than you did all those years ago. I knew you right away when you came in because you look just as young as you did back then! How do you do that?" She might have just been bucking for a fat tip, but I was instantly in a great mood, so it was a miracle none the less.

2. I went to 4 different stores while the dogs were being groomed, and as I left the grooming salon, I said "Lord, I know we're not supposed to pray for material things, but with my back and foot issues, scoring a parking spot close to the entrance of these stores would be so awesome. Can you help me out with that?"

No lie.....every store I went to, I pulled into an open parking spot right by the front door. That doesn't happen to me even when it's not busy, but that's unheard of at Christmastime! And no Jodi, I didn't park in any handicap spots. :-P

3. The woman at Wendy's said she gave me the biggest baked potato they had because I was one of the few rare customers who had smiled and been friendly to her so far.

4. A young man held the door open for me, instead of just walking in ahead of me and letting the door fling back in my face.

5. People have hummed, smiled and said "Merry Christmas" as they walked by.

6. I was in Pier One Imports and I knocked a vase off the shelf as I was reaching for something else....I actually caught it before it hit the floor and broke. A lady nearby said "Whoa...now that was lucky." I said "Nope, just another Christmas miracle."

It's the most wonderful time......of the year.

Holiday Eating Tips

10 Holiday Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat step #3.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello!

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table--like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa--position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over. But hurry--January is just around the corner!

Christmas Is Going To The Dogs

A Lot To Be Thankful For

What a fun Thanksgiving and weekend. We alternate holidays with my family since we are all so spread out, and this year we were together on Thanksgiving. My mom is an amazing cook and as usual, she had an awesome spread! So good! We spent the day with my brother, his wife, and their 3 kids, my sister and her husband, and my other sister, her husband, their 2 kids, their 2 foster kids, and their dog.

It was a noisy, crazy house, but so much fun!

Honestly, Thanksgiving has never been one of my "favorite" holidays. It always seemed odd to me that we had to declare a holiday to remember to be grateful. My thinking was "shouldn't we be thankful every day?" Of course, that never stopped me from enjoying all the good food. ha!

This year, I secretly challenged myself to find things to be grateful for outside of the normal ideas of family and friends, although I am very thankful for those. I've been thinking about it for a couple of weeks and here is what I came up with....

1. I am thankful for our soldiers, who sacrificed their Thanksgiving holiday to protect me so that I could enjoy mine. To go along with that, I am also thankful for our police officers, fire-fighters, and EMTs who also sacrifice their holidays to protect and help us.

2. I am thankful to be living where I am. In spite of all our problems, I wouldn't want to live anywhere other than in America. I can worship and pray to my God. I can celebrate a holiday that revolves around my God and no one can deny me that right. "They" don't have to agree with it or like it...but they can't stop me. I just pray that never ends.

3. I am thankful to have what some consider "luxuries" - food, clothing and shelter. I've never had to live in my car or under a bridge. I've never had to dig through a dumpster for a shirt without holes, or for my next meal. I can lay my head down without being afraid of what tomorrow will bring.

4. I am thankful for a little foster boy named "M". When at my parents house, we all went around the room telling what we were thankful for and M put it plain and simple: "I'm thankful that this is my best Thanksgiving ever." Which made me thankful for the lump in my throat.

5. Which leads me to the last thing on my list, and the thing M reminded me of....I am thankful for love. I have never had to know the sadness of feeling unloved by everyone around me. I've never had to know what it was like to have people who were supposed to love and care for me, fail at that. I have never had to know the fear in being taken away from all I knew...no matter how bad it was. I have never had to know what it was like to be handed over to complete strangers. And, I have never had to experience true love from strangers who accepted me for me... and willingly embraced me. I have never known the hunger for that kind of love. A small child reminded me of that, and for that I am truly thankful.

God Bless You M. I am so thankful for you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Random Dozen

Head on over to Linda's @ 2nd Cup to join in!

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous? We are getting together with my family this year (we alternate) and my mother is VERY into traditions. If turkey was good enough for the Pilgrims, it's good enough for us. They usually provide the main staples of the meal, and the rest of us bring extra fill-ins...as if any are needed, which they aren't because my mother makes enough for a small army.

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.") I am thankful for my children. With all our fertility troubles that we had, there was a time that we didn't think we'd ever get to enjoy being parents.

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for. Faith. Without it, there are days when I wonder if it'd be worth getting up in the mornings. Faith in a better future for my children/grandchildren, faith that there will be medical miracles, faith that we all have the promise of everlasting peace.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory. It was the first Thanksgiving for my girls and they were 9 mo old. They were used to baby food, but being a holiday we decided to use Grandma's blender and puree the traditional Thanksgiving food for them to eat. Well, their poor tummies weren't used to the spicy foods and one threw up all over the floor. On the upside, having that happen so close to the buffet table did help most of us to not go back for seconds.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year? My family will start talking politics. Not just on Thanksgiving, but everytime there is a get together.

6. Do your pets get any left-overs? No, but I do buy them each a raw bone from the butcher to enjoy while we are gone for the day.

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying? With my family we all stand together and say the general table prayer. With Jay's family they either sing a table prayer (and I say "they" because we all know that I can't/don't sing), or his Grandfather will say a Norwegian table prayer.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing? We will definitely have football on, but as stated before, the political discussions will start, which will send Austin and his cousins into the other room to play the Wii we bring along, and my girls will go off to entertain their little cousins. Those of us who opt out of the discussion will usually go to a different room to visit.

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing? Well, for starters, I have never heard of putting oysters in the stuffing - what is up with that? Must be a regional thing. But, since I don't like stuffing at all, I really don't care what you add to it. LOL

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving? Sort of. I know the basic story that we all learned in school, but I do have an interest in knowing more.

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying? I'm not a fan of pie, but if I do have any it would pumpkin.

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!) I would if they were smart animals, but they honestly are so very dumb, and they are clueless as to what's going on with them. Did you know they are dumb enough that if they are outside when it's raining, they will look up at the sky as if trying to figure out what that is falling on them, and they will literally drown themselves. Now THAT's dumb. LOL

Happy 32 Anniversary

Happy Anniversary
to my mom and dad.

Have an awesome
day...and Go Cubbies!

Love ya bunches.

We'll Be Busy With Family Tomorrow, So......

Happy 22nd Anniversary Jay.
I love you with all my heart.

July 11, 1987

Grow old along with me.
The best is yet to be.

How I Met My Mr. Right ~ Part 3

In late October, Jay came to pick me up to go to my parents home so they could meet him. I was so nervous! My dad hasn't ever been too fond of any guys I have dated, and since I really kind of liked this one, I didn't want my dad scaring him off.

I greeted Jay at the door when he arrived. There he is standing there in his old high school basketball warm-up pants. They are wide vertical stripes of maroon, black and white. AND he is wearing a BeeGees t-shirt. He looked very similar to the collage I put together over here on the right. I still shudder when I think of it. One thought came to my mind: My dad is going to eat you alive!

I rode back to his apartment with him and helped pick out something else for him to wear and off we went to my parents. I was still very nervous, but I'm totally serious when I say that within 30 minutes my dad and Jay were having a beer and talking golf and getting along great. I had nothing to have been nervous about...although, I was still glad I had made him change.

On Christmas Eve 1986, just 3 short months after we started dating, Jay got down on one knee in my living room and proposed to me. Without any hesitation I said yes. God had answered my prayer. I had met my Mr. Right. I remember looking up on Christmas night, just 24 hours later and saying "Thank you God, but whew....we cut it pretty close there. 1986 was almost over!"

This is a picture of Jay and I on the night we got engaged. Oh my goodness, we look SO young!