Life Appreciated: catching up

Wow...it has been a little bit since I last updated. Let's see, what have we been up to. At the end of February Ellie and I flew into Memphis for a St. Jude event. Ellie was selected (with another little boy) to be the patient representative for the 2011 year for Sterling Jewelers. Sterling is the parent company of Jared the Galleria of Jewelery and Kay Jewelers. They are huge supporters of St. Jude and raise a ton of money every year. When we were there they presented the hospital with a 4.3 million dollar check for the 2010 year. It's really an honor to be on their team this year and I hope they raise even more money in 2011.

So our visit consisted of interviews, video shoots and public speaking instead of our usual round of needle sticks, MRIs and anxiety. What a nice change! It was a fabulous week and we got to explore downtown Memphis because we were staying right off of Beale Street so that was fun too. We just love to go to the Peabody Hotel and see those cute ducks! We also visited with our favorite people which is always the best part of our trips to Memphis. We don't have to return to St. Jude until the end of May for scans and a check-up. Our next commitment/event with the Sterling team will be in September when they take all of us to Disney World to rally the sales troops. In the fall they start selling a plush animal until January and all the proceeds go to St. Jude. Ellie and Roman's artwork will be on the stuffed animals tag. So this fall go and buy a bear or two... We are going to make it a vacation and stay in Florida for a bit after our meeting with Sterling. So cannot wait for that!

Ellie and Steve went to the annual father/daughter dance last Friday that is hosted by our local Girl Scout council. This is our second year and it's always so nice to see all the dads dressed up dancing with their pretty girls, having fun and making memories. Of course I cry at everything these days so I was all weepy this night. So glad she is here to participate and experience moments like this.

Emma has started field hockey. She had practice last night and scored 2 goals. She will be going out for field hockey in high school next year so I am hoping she excels this Spring and finds her passion with the game. Ellie is taking tennis lessons from a neighborhood girl who is on the high school tennis team. I am hoping to get her on a team this summer.

Steve and I are looking forward to going away this spring. Maybe up to Cape May NJ. They are known for great birding. Finally, the pear trees are blooming or just about to. The daffodils are up as well and there is lots of pretty green popping up all over. I so love spring and all the newness. It will be warm this weekend too! (high 70's) Woo Hoo!

Of course, the images from Japan are almost unbelievable to watch. The force of that water...what incredible power it has. It's so hard to see how everything we have built up can be wiped out in minutes and how we really have no control over it. Puts things into perspective.

Here are some photos from our trip to St. Jude and from the dance. Emma has been hiding from my camera lens lately but I will be blackmailing her in the very near future to get some photos. hehehe...