New Year's Eve 2011 ...

Busy year:
* New job
* New house
* Henry turned 1, Kaylee turned 2, and Mark turned 21
* Bad leg

Christmas Day, 2011 ...

Ho, ho, ho, ... we had a GREAT get-together yesterday (Christmas Eve) at Kevin and Janet's house with Janet's extended family. Everybody got at least one present (I think) and Kaylee and Henry were doubly (quadruple-ly?) blessed. We had goodies, ham, meatballs, and I had a glass of mead (my first ever) that was brewed by Janet's brother, Bryan.

Ryan drove up to Elgin last night after work and he, Lila, Mark, and I opened presents. I got a shirt, a leaf vacuum/blower a scarf, and some Old Spice cologne. Ryan and Mark got video games, Ryan got a blue tooth plugin for his computer, and Mark got a Rubic cube and a shirt. Lila got a coat, cookie trays, and a couple of DVD's. Lila and I agreed that the biggest and best present was our new house in Elgin.

We plan to attend services at Calvary Lutheran Church this morning. Kevin and Janet may drop out to Elgin today to see Ryan before he returns to Springfield.

********************** MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL *********************************

Ooops ... church started 30 minutes early today due to the holidays so services were half over when we showed up. We backed out the door and returned home ... it will be our little secret, OK?

Two days till Christmas ...

* We plan to put up the tree either today or tomorrow ...
* I go back to work on Dec 27.
* Ryan's coming up on Christmas Eve (tomorrow).
* We will celebrate Christmas with Kevin's family on Christmas Eve then perhaps at ome in Elgin on Christmas Day.

To any who read this post ... MERRY CHRISTMAS ...

Seven days till Christmas ...

Did 3 hours of Omron homework yesterday and then spent the day at the Brookfield Zoo with Lila, Kevin and his clan.

Ten days till Christmas ...

Signs of Christmas ..
* Lila has baked many batches of cookies ...
* Went to Advent services last night ...
* Our old Christmas lights are up on our new house ...
* Work is in the end-of-year rush mode ...
* Mark just finish semester of English Composition course at ECC ...
* Lila is attending Christmas At The Zoo on Saturday with Kevin's family ...
* Lila has a tree in the garage to be put up and decorated ...

Deleted blog posting from May ...

I deleted a blog posting from May of this year of which I was ashamed. At the time, Lila and Mark had just moved into the Gale St. house from Springfield. I was afflicted with obesity and "arthritis" (actually a deep vein thrombosis) in my knee. Over time I had developed a bad habit or reading postings on infidelity-recovery blogs as a form of "soap opera" entertainment as well as catharsis. In my deleted blog I implied that my bedroom performance was under par and feared that Lila might seek a new lover. This was a terrible aspersion to her character for which I am deeply ashamed. Lila is and has always been a perfectly loving and faithful wife for which I am forever grateful. I am ashamed that I sullied her character is this manner. Lila, and any readers out there please accept my humble apology for having slighted this great and wonderful woman in this way.

Note that I have subsequentlyly sworn off of reading "soap-opera" infidelity recovery postings from any forum or web site. Lila and I are deeply in love as we have been throughout our twenty three years (and more) together. I pray that our remaining years are long that I can enjoy her company.

-Steve

Survived yesterday ...

New boss at work ... two meetings with him yesterday and maybe one today ... I'm very afraid that I may not get Rev B modules to Brazil in time ... Lord, Thy will be done... Bless my wife please - we love her...am afraid of failue and shame. In Jesus' Name.

December prayers ...

Dear Lord,

Please give me strength and faith to endure the uncertain employment and economic circumstances that I and my family are in. While we are presently comfortable, potential challenges force me to trust in You completely for out Daily Bread. Please continue to bless us in every way. Lord, we have no intrinsic value but the value that You imparted to us by our creation and by the gift of forgiveness and grace that Your Son imparted to us through His perfect life and atoning death. Keep us mindful of this so that we do not love this world too much. Lord, in this season of Advent, while I focus on my sinful short comings, please continue to remind me of Your gift of grace through Christ. In Jesus' Name, amen.

The last day of November ...

Today is the last day of November. I woke Lila up for some Sambuko (I'm fighting a cold) and gave her a cold pack and aspirin for her arthritic knee. My prayer list for today:

In Jesus' Name, please grant us blessings:

* Myself: For health and work

* Lila: For a teaching job and health.

* Mark: For motivation, health, and a B in English.

* For Jack's health.

* For Janet's health

* For Nick's employment and help with new baby.

* For Ryan to have a full life.

* For Paul to trust in Christ and have a wholesome life.

* For Anne to cope with all of her life issues.

* For health and love for Eddy Jet.

* For world peace and prosperity and for Christians everywhere.

* Cary and Roxanne in there lives.

* For faith in Christ for all.

Amen.

Still Alive and kicking ...

Two days remain before I am old enough to collect Social Security. Next Thursday is Thanksgiving. Hopefully Kevin, Ryan, and Mark will be here. I am struggling with preparing an automotive window control feasibility sample at work. Lila and I will watch Kevin's kids (Kaylee and Henry) this afternoon.

Fall again

Worked overtime for 2-3 weeks. Lila & I had a Steve-and-Lila only day yesterday ... fished and visited garage sales with Lila.

A Sunday afternoon in July in Elgin

I'm on the screened in patio (that we call the "porch") at my house in Elgin with Mark and our dog Leo. Mark is working on assignment number three of four Assignments for his English 101 on-line course. I am obviously typing this text but I also watching Harry Potter too. It's about 90 degrees outside but we are comfortable with the fan on us.

Lila is in Springfield for the weekend helping Ryan put his house and the backyard pool in order. Lila and I call each other every few hours or so ... I think that we are addicted to each other.

Above is the master bedroom in the new house in Elgin.

And here I am in the hall ...

The above site greeted me upon opening my garage door on Wednesday morning at our "new" house in Elgin, IL after a massive overnight blizzard across the midwest. I spent all day shoveling a path through the driveway out to the street. As yet, I have not touched half of the drive, the sidewalk, access to the street mailbox, and the walkway to the house.

My update weight chart below is a monument to "limited success", eh?