Thanksgiving 2007

We are home and have set up the Christmas tree. The house is now ready for the Christmas season! We had a pleasant Thanksgiving; as is usually the case with my family! We arrived at my brother's home in Nebraska late Wednesday night. Everyone was awake and waiting for the hugs and kisses...everyone but little Ella Bella. We began the ritual of making lunch on Thanksgiving day - well...Eric did anyway. The food was fantastic as usual! We all ate way too much...which is the norm. While we were eating lunch, Ella was being just the cutest little thing...as is the usual. I shot a video of her during lunch. You have to watch the expressions on her face...simply priceless!

Lunch complete, we begin to search the ads for the perfect deal and prepare for the big shopping day to follow. Most of us went to bed early Thursday night as 4 AM usually comes around VERY early...

Up and at em! We headed out Friday for a day of shopping and girl fun. We had a blast! Mom, Rosemary, Angie, Danelle, Jeri, myself, Becca, and later June and Ella went from store to store looking for the items we wanted most to serve as the gifts to give loved ones during the coming holiday season. I think everyone got everything from their list; at least no complaints any way. I managed to spend much more than I probably should have - but I guess you only live once, right? Plus I can hardly wait to see the faces of everyone as they open up their new treasures. I hope they all like what I have chosen...

Saturday was a much slower day. We visited very few stores as we were all pretty worn out from the day before. We finished up the weekend making a few bracelets and spending time chatting and enjoying each other's company.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs lost today - but I guess I'm still coming down from the high of such a great and relaxing weekend, that I really am not bothered by the loss. They put up a good fight and played their hearts out so I can't complain.

Right now, Mike is preparing our feast of chicken while I blog and enjoy the Christmas lights. I better go get my plate ready...

C'ya!

BE THANKFUL!

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those whoare also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown.~~

Proud to be a Chiefs Fan

Yesterday, Kansas City took on the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis. Our rookie/backup quarterback (Brodie Croyle) was to take the field against last year's champions. To say that I was nervous about the outcome of the game is an understatement. I expected the Colts, coming off a terrible loss the week before, to be out for blood. I expected the Chiefs to be dig themselves into a hole where they would never be able to climb out. I expected the score to be something like 35 to 9. However, the team proved me wrong. They came out looking fantastic. The defense was on. The offense was in a rythm. The Colts kicker couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. The score at the half was 3-3. Much better than I expected. The Chiefs hung in there. The mistakes were minimal against a really good team. Croyle fumbled but not by any fault of his own which led to the first Colts touchdown. However, the Chiefs responded with a touchdown of their own. The only problem? The team ran out of time. The Colts took it back down the field in the last few minutes of the game and then knelt on it to set up the game-winning field goal. There wasn't a darn thing the team could do but home that the kicker shanked another and the game went into overtime. A chip-shot for the kicker and the game ended on a Chiefs scramble going out of bounds. I'm disappointed that the team lost but I am impressed at a 13-10 loss to one of the best teams in the NFL. I really hope the team doesn't let it get them down. They have found their groove and are playing fantastic. They need to keep the momentum going as the Raiders come to town...

I feel like making some bracelets now...

C'ya!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

That's right! Today, with the weather being near perfect, Mike and I spent the day outside. I got all of the leaves out of the yard while Mike hung the Christmas lights outside. Per the usual, the house looks fabulous! He made a star out of lights and 2X4's that looks wonderful! We still have them on this evening; like to show them off to neighbors. I thought about putting up the tree and everything tomorrow as well. Quite frankly, I'm beat and I know that Mike is as well. I think we will simply have to take tomorrow off and watch some football instead...

...speaking of football, I need to go check on the fantasy team.

C'ya!

I'm getting excited...

A couple of nights ago, my brother started to IM me and talking about our Thanksgiving tradition. I must admit, this is one of my FAVORITE holidays. I like Christmas for the time with family and the joy that the birth of our Savior brings. However, nothing beats the time we (meaning the Lorenz family) have during the Thanksgiving holiday. We get together, eat way too much food, then begin preparing for Black Friday. Looking through ads and talking about THE PLAN for the day. If you don't know what Black Friday is, then you must live somewhere in the back-woods where there are no stores and quite frankly, I feel sorry for you. I guess it probably isn't so much the shopping (although you know I love to spend money I don't have). It is the thrill of the hunt and the thrill of finding that perfect gift for someone. It is also the time spent with my family that often makes me wish I didn't live so far away! I'm starting to get excited and I'm not sure I am going to make it 7 more days...

I have to go pack. I get the pleasure of driving to Wichita, Kansas tomorrow...Two Fun-Filled days in the middle of Kansas - oh joy!

C'ya!

What Really Matters

Every Monday, I prepare the agenda for my team's meeting about the coming week's events. I always open the call with my Monday Morning Inspiration. I almost always try to relate the story to motivate the team for the week making it work-related. However, today I found a story that was more life-related. I really think it is just as important to motivate your team in life as it is at work; they usually have lives outside of work (or at least you should give them the opportunity to have one). I want people to be successful at my place of business but I don't want them to do it by sacrificing their personal lives and affecting the lives of their families. I'll share it with you:

What Really Matters in Life? – Author Unknown
A vacationing American businessman was standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico when a small boat with just one young fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked.

"Oh, a few hours," the Mexican replied.

"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American businessman then asked.

The Mexican warmly replied, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, you can then buy a second boat, a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats.

"Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even LA or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."

Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"

After a rapid mental calculation, the businessman pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."

"And then what, senor?" asked the fisherman.

"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions? Really? What could I do with it all?" asked the young fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, take siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."

The moral of the story is:
Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think.

I couldn't help but chuckle when I reached the end of the story. Sometimes I get so caught up in all of the things that I think I want/need that I forget those things are right here already. Sort of made me re-evaluate a bit what I want out of life. Don't get me wrong...if someone comes up to me and hands me a million dollars tomorrow, I'm sure I can find a use for it to get us closer to where we want to be in life (that Bed & Breakfast in Colorado is still calling our name). However, I am very thankful for all of the blessings in my life. God has given us what we need and for that, I am very grateful!

Well, I need to go work on my Christmas wish list - Black Friday IS coming up...

C'ya!

That Sucked

Our normal Sunday morning routine during Chiefs season - get up at the crack of dawn, work the gate, go to the game, and watch the Chiefs win. Today was not the normal routine. We woke up late (try waking up to talk radio some time...it doesn't work). Not everyone showed to get their parking passes but we waited for them for way to long. We had to work around the bread people at the gate and we had tons of extra stuff we had to hand out because it was Sprint Day at the stadium. We ended up giving up our spots to the game because there weren't enough tickets to cover the number of workers. We should have known that there was no way the team was going to win today - nothing normal about it. We did at least get to stick around and see the Stealth Bomber fly-over during the National Anthem. I got a photo - you can see the Stealth to the left:

I watched the game from my living room sofa while making some jewelry. Mike listened to the game from the deck of a pontoon boat while he fished. It was aweful. I don't even know the final score; nor do I want to know.

Our next game to work will be the Chargers game December 2. Hopefully we can return to normal...

I just got done cleaning the house and I think I am ready to call it a night.

C'ya!

Sloopy Chicken Squirt

This is kind of fun! Follow all of the instructions to get your new name. It's funny what some of the name combinations can be!

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your New first name:
a = snickle
b = doombah
c = goober
d = cheesey
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = dumbo
h = farcus
i = dorky
j = doofus
k = funky
l = boobie
m = sleezy
n = sloopy
o = fluffy
p = stinky
q = slimy
r = doofus
s = snooty
t = tootsie
u = dipsy
v = sneezy
w = liver
x = skippy
y = dink y
z = zippy

2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:
a = dippin
b = feather
c = batty
d = burger
e = chicken
f = barffy
g = lizard
h = waffle
i = farkle
j = monkey
k = flippin
l = fricken
m = bubble
n = rhino
o = potty
p = hamster
q = buckle
r = gizzard
s = lickin
t = snickle
u = chuckle
v = pickle
w = hubble
x = dingle
y = gorilla
z = girdle

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:
a = butt
b = boob
c = face
d = nose
e = hump
f = breath
g = pants
h = shorts
i = lips
j = honker
k = head
l = tush
m = chunks
n = dunkin
o = brains
p = biscuits
q = toes
r = doodle
s = fanny
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = frack
w = squirt
x = humperdinck
y = hiney
z = juice

Alright, I have to get to bed. Need to get up early and head out to the game!

C'ya!

Best Friend

One Artist - One City - 9 Times. That is what the back of my new Garth Brooks T-shirt says. Nine shows in nine nights here in Kansas City. For my birthday/Christmas this year, my best friend got me a ticket to Garth Brooks. I was a little excited about going to the concert but it didn't really suck in until we actually got there. Located in the new Downtown Kansas City Sprint Center, we had the opportunity to see Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks perform. It was AWESOME! I tried to get photos of the event but we just weren't close enough to the stage for you to really see anything. Instead, I have a video:

The show opening - it was fantastic! I have other video but it takes a while to upload them to blogger so I will have to share them with you individually if you would like to see.

To Danelle I must say THANK YOU! That was a great time; much better than the Nelson Twins I must admit. We should really do these much more often!

Back to work I go.

C'ya!

Cheesecake Factory

So beginning this week I decided I needed to be a little more committed to losing weight again. I was well below my goal for quite some time but lately, I have gotten well over my target weight. I know most of it is all on me (lack of motivation to do much of anything for some reason) so I simply had to recommit. No problem! I've done great all week. That is until I went out to dinner with the UOP team from Springfield. They chose to go to the Cheesecake Factory. I did so well when it comes to the actual dinner - had a nice pasta with shrimp, had them box half of it when the food came out so I didn't go crazy (plus Mike would have dinner when he gets home from class). But of course, you can't go to the Cheesecake Factory and not have Cheesecake. I figured I had to get it, right? I chose the one I wanted; knowing it would be high in points according to Weight Watchers. Well, little did I know it was going to be 11 points for the half that I ate. Holy Cow! I just used all of my flex points for the week in one sitting! I will tell you right now that it was worth every bite! I know I just have to work a little harder the rest of the week...The worse part? I left the leftovers sitting outside the restaurant. Mike gets no dinner and no cheesecake. I feel terrible!!

I know...completely random as far as the story goes - but I'm pretty beat today so my mind isn't quite working right. Guess I better wrap it up then, huh?

C'ya!

Photo Fun

Pictures from the football game on Sunday:


This poor girl can't decide who she wants to cheer for!


Kris & Danelle smile big for the camera while working the game.


Mike gets the grill going while everyone finishes up working.


Steph and me 'supervising' the crew!


Danelle & June wait for the food to finish cooking...


Who let the Packers fan into our group??


Sparks & Quigley messing around before the game.


Favre in the huddle...



Look at all of those Packers fans!

A great time was had by all!

C'ya!

I'm Speechless

I have seen some great God-given talent in my time but I found this to be one of the most amazing I have ever seen; a seven-year-old singing the National Anthem:



He looks so passionate as he sings this as well...Awesome!

I simply had to share.

C'ya!

I don't want to talk about it...

Yes - the Chiefs lost to Green Bay 33-22. The game was awesome - up until the last two minutes when Huard made an excellent completion - right to a Packers player. That pretty much sealed the deal. Depressing? A little. I must admit this has to be one of the best games I have ever been to at Arrowhead. #1. The Chiefs. #2. The Packers. #3. Will Shields honored at halftime. #4. The Nebraska Marching Band at halftime. Are you kidding? Four of my most favorite things! I have a ton of pictures from the day and will share those later. For now, check out the Nebraska Marching Band taking the field:

Time for some dinner...

C'ya!

Choices

An email I got today that makes me want to make an effort to make the choice every day to live life to the fullest:

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood I choose to be in a good mood." Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

He continued, "the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'. Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.

I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

A little cold? NO WAY!

Mike and I decided on Thursday last week that we were going to load up the truck with all of our camping gear and head to the South for a camping/geocaching weekend. We are attempting to complete a cache right now that involves finding one cache in every grid square from the Missouri Delorme's Challenge. We started up North on Thursday morning in the Northern half of the state. We had so much fun, we figured we would go ahead and do the Southern half over the weekend; stopping to camp when we got tired (or it got too dark; whichever came first). We had a blast! I have a few photos to share:


I got Sedona to look up at the camera and almost pose; something she NEVER does!


We stopped at a rest area for a cache and some lunch.


We found a Karst window and thought we would do a little viewing of our own. This has to rank as one of the most beautiful caches we have ever done.


Topos sat up and begged for a cache container. Thought it was too cute to pass up on the photo. We refer to the dogs as the Woof Pack. When we cache, we are the KC_Chiefs and the Woof Pack (after the Kansas City Chiefs and the Wolf Pack).


Mike was playing around after a cache we found in a cemetery. If we would have had a rope...

I have photos from all of the caches we did over the weekend. I'll work on getting something fun together for those. For now, that is all you get - I need to keep you coming back for more, don't I?

C'ya!