Happy Birthday Matt!

It has been 27 years since my little brother died, yet it feels like it was yesterday. Matt was 12 ½ when he died - too young. He was a great kid, a sweet and loving soul, my airplane seat partner, sleeping buddy on stormy nights and cuddle bunny with a bowl of popcorn in front of the TV. It was a devastating loss to me and my family. I have the upmost respect for my parents - They carried on. They called on their faith to get them through and they continued to be parents to their three remaining children. Having a 13 year old myself, I just don’t know how they coped! Even after 27 years, my brothers and I still upon occasion have a hard time dealing with the loss. But, it is just the nature of grieving and loss. We recognize special days with calls to one another – the day Matt died, the day of his birth, the day Matt punctured my brothers waterbed with needle nose pliers (sorry Tim, I just couldn't let go of that one). We don’t ignore his memory and we heal through sharing.

Today is Matt’s 40th Birthday! As my oldest brother says “He will be forever young in our minds!” Well he might be forever young to us, but sorry Matt, you still would have been 40 today – so, we decided to celebrate! I baked a cake, we lit the candles and together, Rick, Tim and I, with our families, wished Matt a Happy Birthday and blew out the candles! Mom and Dad, sorry you were not here to celebrate with us. We love you and were thinking about you. Moral of the story: Don’t forget to tell the ones you love, you love them and celebrate everything!

There Is No Place Like Home

In the words of Dorothy, “There is no place like home!” Boy was I glad to get home! It is so much fun to be away, see the country, and visit with friends—but there is something about walking into your own home after being away. I arrived home just in time to hit the ground running: unpacking, doing laundry, sorting through piles of mail, weeding flower beds, returning emails, shopping for food, and all of the unglamorous activities a woman on the move confesses she must do in order to keep the household running. But for fun? Playing nurse to Daughter #1! She had 4 wisdom teeth dug out last week. What a great few days—Pain meds, swollen cheeks and ice packs. Meanwhile Daughter #2 is at camp having a great time dissecting goat feces. Life is good!

Answer To Where Am I? #2

Well, we have a winner! But . . I don't know who you are! The person who won, appeared as anonymous and the blog won't let me reply! So, the person who replied with Racine, WI needs to emails me on aroundtheworldphotos@yahoo.com with their name!

I spent a beautiful morning in Wisconsin! I wrote down directions from the Internet because i didn't have a map here in Chicago. Thank goodness, I studied the map on line because I forgot the directions! I was almost to the second lighthouse before I couldn't remember directions! I guess the Alzheimer's isn't as bad as I thought!

I traveled to two lighthouses. The lighthouse in the picture was in Kenosha and the second lighthouse was north of Racine. The lighthouses were completely different in style, color and placement. I was thrilled with my choices!

Where Am I? #2

It is Wednesday and this Woman on the Move is indeed on the move. Where Am I?



I will send a gift to the first person who answers correctly! Tell me the state and the place!!!



Good luck to all!

P.S. Watch for my new card line of Light Houses this fall. You can find my cards at http://www.shellydoddsayers.com/. If you are having problems with Pay Pal - please let me know.

4th of July in Michigan

Happy 4th of July to everyone! What a great day. The sun was hot, the breeze was cool and the sky was a beautiful blue. I am in Michigan with my parents and we traveled to Ludington to enjoy the 4th of July! I love the 4th. I love the patriotism, the fireworks, the food and the family gatherings. Everywhere I turned today families were together laughing, talking, sharing ice cream cones and hanging out. Red, white and blue were the colors on young and old a like. We had a great time sitting curb side watching the famous 4th of July parade. We enjoyed lemonade and cookies provided by our B&B host as we watched the parade for over an hour! The evening was spent sitting on the beach of Lake Michigan watching the fireworks exploded overhead. What a glorious way to end the 4th!

We came to Ludington to celebrate my cousins 25th Wedding Anniversary. What a family gathering. My mom came from a family of nine kids: one boy and eight girls. It is something to be one of the Hubbard Girls. I love to see my Aunties together laughing and talking, however, sometimes they are hard to control!

I am on the move again!