Life in Southwest Florida

The Out-Laws............NOT

2011-10-30T03:55:00.000-07:00

It is strange to think how two people can change your lives forever. It all began when I went home with Debbie Frizzi one weekend to take a break from Ball State University. Her parents took the both of us out to this beautiful restaurant and made us feel like two queens. Unknowlingly, several years later, they became my parents. Now they are my children's grandparents. Hank and Ann Frizzi continue to bring joy in my life and always make me smile. God knew what he was doing when he arranged for Debbie to be my college room mate.

3 years later

2011-10-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

After a sleepless night last night I realized I needed to reconnect with my blog. At 3:00 a.m. I found several blogs that inspired me to collect my thoughts. Immediately I called this girl who is pasted on this post. I call her my Kell-Kell. She always motivates me to try new things, new places, step out of my safety box, and use technology. When I am with her I always feel like I am worth a million dollars. Thank you for your friendship. (Is Lily still peeking out the door?)

Hello new camera!

2008-12-01T18:49:00.000-08:00

Can you believe this? I have always felt stronger and could beat my kids at most games...........but not any more. This girl, Erica, is so strong in the pool. I watched her and was amazed at how easy swimming appeared as she so naturally glided across the water... Wow, and I do mean DOUBLE WOW!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CLARITY IN THESE PICS??? Thank you, Kelly, for continuously pushing me to take the next step in photos...

Bragging about my brother

2008-07-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

My baby brother worked on research at Indiana University. He helped research in the following Science Daily article. We are all very proud of Jared Winkelman!!!

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/

KNEE HIGH ON THE 4TH OF JULY

2008-07-01T04:33:00.000-07:00

ON A WARM SUMMER NIGHT, MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY YOU COULD HEAR THE CORN GROWING! IT IS HAPPENING IN THIS HOUSE TONIGHT, I SWEAR. AS I GO IN ERICA'S AND NATE'S ROOMS I THINK I CAN HEAR THEM GROWING. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEIR HANDS, FEET AND BODIES.!!!!!

Dear Edwina

2008-06-29T16:53:00.000-07:00

Is it worth the daily drive, money spent, and time away from home? Erica spent one month practicing for the musical Dear Edwina. Many times I asked myself if it was worth it.............Well, after watching the show and being able to hear this angelical voice the answer is.........Most definitely YES!!!

2008-06-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

New Frizzi Boat

Change in Sails

2008-06-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

This is the motor boat we have used for 10 years. I have enjoyed every inch of this fine boat...........BUT...........Today we came home with this boat.........

Memory of a Lifetime!

2008-06-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

These pictures brought tears to my eyes. Erica's friend, Allison, invited Erica to go to Miami SeaAquarium. Erica, Allison, and their two Dads drove them over, went snorkeling in the Keys, and then experienced the memory of a lifetime. Thank you Allison for this great opportunity.

To My Mom: Bike $10 Memories Priceless

2008-06-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

Getting into the Groove

2008-06-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

After 2 weeks of summer break I feel like I am getting into my groove.....Walking the beach, reading a book, thrift shop trips, and napping are only some of my favorite things to do......As a child I could never nap. I only discovered what napping was about a couple years ago during the summer. Maybe it is age. But there is nothing like it...Going into my bedroom, reading my steamy book, and slowing drifty away!

Eric's Sister----Any resemblance?

2008-06-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

Now you know that I am not very vain to post this picture of myself in college. My Grandma always made me get PERMS! Look at the Hair!!! All you can see is my forhead!!! Look at that dress. I rememember thinking I was so hot in that. What was I thinking? Those eyebrows are plucked just perfect!! Many ask how I met Eric.................Well here it is..............Debbie...................She was my college roomate at BSU.......This is Eric's younger sister. When Debbie married I walked down the aisle with Eric.......If you want to hear more of this story I will tell you.........It has to do with sailing trips, staying on his sailboat, driving hours to Ohio to see him (and, oh yeah, my college room mate, Debbie).............XOXOXOX

My sisters

2008-06-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

I am cracking up!!! I just found this picture today that my sisters had taken 15 years ago!! Look at the hair. It is bigger than their heads....Sorry Jeni and Jodi, I just couldn't resist. Actually, they look pretty cute, uh?

Nathan's Summer Job

2008-06-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

I must make sure there is turkey, tomatoes, lettuce, french bread, strawberries, pretzils, and popcorn. He could live on these ingredients every day. Throw in Target breakfast sandwich, Subway, and an occasional Pizza. BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE...... THERE IS ALWAYS COUNTRY TIME LEMONAIDE MADE FRESH BY MY FAVORITE TEN YEAR OLD.

2008-06-17T04:57:00.000-07:00

Eric is a man who likes to go to the same restaurants, order the same food, wear the same type of clothing (t-shirt & kakhi shorts), and drive the same car for years and years. For Father's Day we gave him the choice of going ANY where he chooses. I knew it either had to be Pinchers, Fish House, or Daruma. After long discussion he decided The Fish House! The beer is cheep on Sundays ($6 pitchers) and the walk is short! You gotta love this man!!

Happy Birthday Cheryl and Ann

2008-06-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

Fun begins at 45! An entire day spent at Ft. Myers Beach celebrating birthdays! Many fond memories: Enjoying the backseat of a convertible, playing volleyball, laughing with friends, sitting at the Cottage while it rains, looking out at the blue Gulf of Mexico, dancing on the beach, celebrating flag day....

Watching New Mommy Kelly and Kelle

2008-06-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

Today Erica and I had lunch with Kelly, Kelle, Lily, and Lainey. I watched in amazement as these two new mommies took care of their miracle babies. Nothing frazzled either mom as they enjoyed their little girls. Life continues to change, move on, and add new wonderful human beings. I left my lunch feeling so happy knowing that these two special mommies are so happy and content with life. I am so fortunate to know them.

2008-06-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

Downtown Naples in June. I get the pleasure of picking Erica up daily from Sugden Theatre. I love driving down this road.

2008-06-06T04:21:00.000-07:00

Thank you Scott for sending me the Rhubarb for this most delicious pie. I am not kidding you. This is the best pie I have ever eaten.

TRUE LOVE

2008-06-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

This is the present I got in the mail today from my brother who lives in Wisconsin. It cost him $32.00 to send in the mail. He has loads of this in his back yard. It is called Rhubarb. If you go to Publix you can purchase this for $4.50 a pound. When I was a child I grew up eating Rhubarb. My mom used to make pie and we would all fight over the last piece. Usually it was gone before the pie cooled. Now that I live in Florida I enjoy eating key lime pie and lemon pie. I am anticipating the taste of this glorious fruit (stem).

Stress tips for the summer

2008-06-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

Get Up 15 minutes earlier
· Write down appointments
· Do it Now- procrastination is stressful
· Plan ahead. Buy stamps, full tank of gas, groceries….
· Get rid of things that are broken
· Carry a book in case you have to wait
· For every one thing that goes wrong, there are 50 blessings. Count them.
· Turn needs into preferences. Our basic needs are food, water and shelter. All else is a preference.
· Simplify, simplify, simplify
· Make friends with nonworriers.
· Create order out of chaos. “EVERYTHING HAS A HOME!” Make sure a and put it there.
· Add an ounce of love to everything you do.
· Eliminate destructive self-talk: “I’m too old to….I’m too fat….”
· Take care of the todays as best as you can and the yesterdays and the tomorrows will take care of themselves.
· Do one thing at a time. When you are with someone, be with that person and with no one or nothing else.
· Do “unpleasant” tasks early in the day and get it over so you can be free of anxiety.
· Delegate responsibility to capable others
· Forget about counting to 10. Count to 1,000 before doing something that could make matters worse.
· Have a forgiving view of events and people.

Football Camp

2008-06-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

You can barely tell which camper is Nate. He is in the front center. He is soaking in every moment of this camp. Watching the big boys exercise. I found him last night doing push ups in his room........He now wants to make smoothies every morning because they are HEALTHY.

The Philharmonic

2008-06-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Jennifer, for taking a picture of Erica during the Golden Apple. I couldn't see her face from my seat.

Taking Risks

2008-06-04T07:58:00.001-07:00

Taking a Risk: We always preach to take risks in life. This makes our life more rich and meaningful and allows us to discover new passions. This week Erica and Nate signed up to do camps in Naples. Nate chose (with the help of mom) to do a Barron Collier football camp. Erica chose a theatre camp in Naples.

Nates first comments when he got in the car were "I am not going back to that camp. The coaches are mean, the kids swear, and I have to eat lunch by myself."

Erica's first comments were teers. She noted that she doesn't have a speaking part, the kids were not friendly and she felt akward all day.

My reaction was not good. I thought to myself that I spent hundreds of dollars while driving everywhere. Of course as a mother you feel every emotion. So I did not sleep that night and felt every anxiety they were feeling.

The next day as I dropped the kids off I told them to stand tall and believe in themselves. They both looked miserable. I prayed continuously for God to help them. When I picked them both up they were smiling and said "Ok, I like my camp."

Eric's Birthday

2007-10-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

A great place to celebrate is Daruma's Steakhouse.

Sunday Morning with Nathan

2007-10-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday morning at 7:50 a.m. Nathan and I head for Target. Erica and Dad usually enjoy this morning to sleep in and have some peace and quiet from the “early birds”. Since he has been two he looks forward to the egg sandwich that cost $1.99. I get my usual cup of coffee that I can take shopping looking for the red bargains of the day. As he has grown into a handsome nine year old, he now asks for two egg sandwiches. His friend Maria, a friendly long-term employee of Target, knows exactly how it is to be cooked: toasted white bread without butter, eggs not touching anything, and crunchy bacon on the side. She always serves it with a smile and sometimes throws in an extra piece of bacon. Nathan has grown to appreciate Maria and looks forward to his ritual Sunday visits. No need for Nathan to explain how he wants his breakfast cooked!

For the past couple months we have been working on the house and unable to go to Target. This morning at 7:15 a.m. he tells me that we have 35 minutes until it is time to leave. “Ten more minutes mom! Come on get ready,” says Nate. Finally, we get in the minivan and head North to target. “Buckle your seatbelt, Mom. Mom, where is our list of things we need? Can we look at the toys?” He hooks up the I-Pod and searches for some music. He looks at me with a smile and plays our favorite song by The Frey. For the next hour I watched him in admiration as he is content with our old routine. At Target Maria once again smiles and delivers his perfect order. Nate sits at the table with his six packets of grape jelly lined up perfectly next to his food. He once again asks me to jelly his four pieces of perfectly toasted bread as I sip my coffee. He pushes the cart and looks at the new toys and has learned not to ask for one but enjoy planning for the holidays. On our way home he says “Mom, I love life”.