Happenings

My life in pictures...

Last month, Rick and Lizzy invited Jack and I to their place

where we enjoyed delicious food, great fellowship,

and some pretty intense game playing! :)

Spring break doesn't necessarily effect me, but I certainly enjoyed

getting to spend some more time with my sisters

We enjoyed getting our nails done together one Saturday...

And then the next Saturday, one of my best friends came home on

her spring break, and we hit up the Lighthouse mall for some deal shopping!

Somewhere in there I got a package in the mail with the traveling bracelet;
wearing it always makes me feel close to my besties...

My parents' evenings have been filled with countless games
of Scrabble, in which sometimes I have to referee...:)



I have also been enjoying every opportunity I get with Jack...
of course!! :)

I was able to go down twice and thoroughly enjoyed myself both times.

Spring came early to Indiana and we definitely are not complaining about that!

Watching the sunset at the Dunes is always a summer tradition,

and I was happy I could spend the first one of the season with my special someone...

Pin It Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

openings in the sky...

Perhaps they are not really stars,but rather openings in heaven

where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us

to let us know they are happy.

When we were younger, she would visit and sing us the little ditty,

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?

So, she developed the name of Grandma Cookie...

She was one the most unselfish, sweet, giving people I know.

She was on top of those birthday cards.

I could always count on a card several days in advance to my birthday.

I was always a little apprehensive in writing her thank yous though

because she would without fail, send back a thank for my thank you enclosed with money.

That was the type of person she was.

Every single letter I ever wrote her she always sent back another with money...

She was just that giving.

I did not get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked, but I feel like I know her so well.

You see, every Saturday without fail, ever since I can remember,

my Dad would call her up.

He would have her on speaker and I would listen in as he told her about his service in the nursing home, 

how the family was doing, and that we loved and were praying for her.

Her voice is one I will never forget.

Her sweet spirit is one that I hope I have inherited.

She lived a long good life, but it was time for her to go home.

God called her and she went with arms outstretched.

She was not getting around like she used to and she had to be on oxygen...

It is such a comfort to know that she is no longer in need of that tank.

She is walking on streets of gold, looking down upon us.

And when I close my eyes I can still hear her voice singing,

Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?

Nicole stole the cookie from the cookie jar.

Who me?

Yes you.

Couldn't be.

Then Who?

Pin It
Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Italian Stew

I am a huge fan of crock pots...

I don't know about you all, but I just love being able to throw something in

it in the am and then  8 hours later come back to a finished product!

This particular recipe for Italian Stew comes

from a dear friend of our family

Ingredients::

• 2 1/2 lbs mild Italian sausage
• 1 medium green pepper
• 1 onion
• 2 c of carrots
• 7 c of beef broth
• 1 6oz can of tomato paste
• 4 c tomato juice or pureed stewed tomatoes
• 1 T seasoning salt
• 1 t garlic powder
• 1 t basil
• 1 t oregano
• 1 bag of frozen cheese tortellini

Chop your vegetables

Cook the sausage and then add peppers and onions

and seasoning salt

Drain grease from sausage and vegetables

Combine the rest of the ingredients into the crockpot and add the meat and vegetables

Cook on high for 2 hours and then set on low for remainder of the time

About 30 minutes prior to serving add the frozen tortellini

Top with mozzarella cheese if you desire

Bon appetit!

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Happy Valentines!

My wonderful day in pictures...

These were some extra special things that made my day:

strawberry truffles from my boss,

chocolate covered strawberries from my coworker,

&

free Jimmy Johns...

Could 

a 

day 

get 

any 

better??

Yes, it can!!

Especially when I am blessed enough 

to have a pretty special, thoughtful man in my life.

Aren't they the most beautiful flowers ever?!?! :)

Roses, Chrysanthemums, & Alstroemerias = Perfect

 I couldn't have had a better day...

Rewind to last Valentines...

Let's just say that I do recant, and this will always be a very special Valentines for me!

I hope you all had as wonderful of a holiday as I did;

Happy Valentines!

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

a month gone by

I have been a horrific blogger as has been pointed out by some sweet friends of mine (you know who you are, ahem!), but living life has just gotten in the way of my posting as often as I would like.  So, before I reach the one month mark of not blogging I thought I should get up a post and let you all know what I have been up to!

Those of you who know me well or who read my blog would be able to list things I regularly blog about and it would be similar to something like this::
(Not in order of importance here...)
1.  Photography
2.  Crafting
3.  Family
4.  Cooking
5.  Reading
6.  Friends
So, I shall try to let you know what all I have done in each of these areas...

Photography:  I do use my camera every day although my work hours do not permit me to get outside and take as many pictures as I would like as it is dark when I get off.  (So, looking forward to spring! Itching to go for a walk and get some nature shots)  I am trying to keep up with a P52 project hosted by my3boybarians, you can view what I have submitted on my photography blog.  I have a few senior portraits that need to be scheduled but we are waiting on either some more snow or the arrival of an early spring...fingers crossed for either soon!

Crafting:  has been limited to
turning my-----

      {Thankful Tree}                                            to                      {Winter Tree}

to...

{Valentine Tree}

Family:  my sisters are both back into the swing of college.  Brooke is finishing up her final semester, which I can hardly believe.  And Lauren is finishing up her first semester.  Lauren also started up a blog, so be sure to follow her over at Seek Ye First...  With school back in session the girls are constantly going separate ways or busy working on projects.  It is nice when we can gather round the living room at the end of the day and discuss and usually laugh about our eventful days...

Cooking::  I  really enjoy making new things that I find on Pinterest.  One thing that I made for a game night at Jack's was Italian skewers.  They were good and I thought them so fun and colorful that I had to take some pictures...after all food makes for great photography subjects! ;)

Reading:  I made a list of books to read in 2012, but unfortunately I have not been able to cross one off yet. These are two of the four I am in the middle of:

Does anyone else read more than one book at once??  I suppose if I just tackled one book at a time, I would finish them in a more timely fashion...

Friends: Liz came to IN, not under the best circumstances, but I was glad for the time we had together.  She was also thoughtful enough to bring back a special bracelet that I have enjoyed taking my turn with...

{Liz, I love you girl and am praying for you!}

Also, this month I have enjoyed spending some more time and getting to know a certain special young man. (Insert large smiley face here...)  Jack hosted a game night and Brooke and I had a great time meeting more of the McDonnell family as well as the Thackers.

I also was glad to have Jack up after we received a significant amount of snow. 

And although it was not good for packing, we still had fun as you can see from our snow covered attire! :)

 {If you notice Jack is more covered in snow, because I have better aim...} ;)

This past weekend I was able to meet a group (and Jack) in Illinois for some ice skating.  I was rather nervous about skating as I have only been twice and the most recent time was 6 1/2 years ago.  However, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to another opportunity to do it again!

And so concludes my busy month of January.  Hopefully I will blog again before March comes...:)

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.