Saturday, June 21, 2008

My New Favorite Quote

President Monson said:

"When we treat people merely as they are, they may remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they may become what they should be.

In reality, it was the Redeemer who best taught this principle. Jesus changed men. He changed their habits and opinions and ambitions. He changed their tempers, dispositions, and natures. He changed their hearts. He lifted! He loved! He forgave! He redeemed! Do we have the will to follow?
True love can alter human lives and change human nature."


To read the full article go to: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/EmailArticleProcess?action=view&cmlId=251117&locale=0&emId=173707503

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Father's Day

So, I have three "fathers" to celebrate today. All of these men have been fathers to me at some point in my life. Below are posts dedicated to each one.








First, of course is my father. I only had 16 earthly years with him but the lessons he taught me have shaped me into the woman I am today.




My stepfather Bob. A wonderful, wonderful man who was the only man able to step into my father's shoes.








My grandfather. Lessons learned and never forgotten~this man is someone who I find, as I grow older, impacted my life in ways I never knew.






Dad

So after I posted about my father in March, I received several emails from family and friends about memories they had of my father. I am going to compile them and send them out.....they are precious.

This is my father and I at Rehobeth Beach, DE in a very close race it looks like. My father loved go-karts and loved to take us to amusement parks and arcades. His favorite game was Ms. Pacman. He was so much fun to be around - all of the time.


This is the last picture we have of all of the kids with my father. It is Easter 1986 - he passed away that November. He loved us so much. Two nights before he passed away we had Family Home Evening and he made everyone go around and bear their testimony and then he bore his. I remember feeling the absolute love he had for the gospel and for us. I am so grateful that I remember his testimony. My father constantly told us how much he loved us and I never doubted it.



My father was a great example to me of unconditional love for everyone, not just our family. He taught me about prayer and missionary work but most importantly, my father made me feel special when I was in his presence. He told me I was beautiful and so I believed him. He told me I was his "precious girl" and I knew it was true.






Robert John Bonaccorso

Bob was my step-father. He married my mother in 1992. Bob was an amazing man. He took on a widow with 6 children and loved us like we were his own. He was always ready with advice and a listening ear. The best thing about Bob is how much he loved my mother and how he supported our family through many trials.

Bob and I had a tradition of going to a tree farm the day after Thanksgiving and cutting down my Christmas tree. He would walk patiently beside me as I literally walked over acres of trees to find the perfect one. It is something that I dearly miss.





This picture is the epitomy of Bob. Easy smile, easy going, easy to love.








Bob was a respected and revered man throughout Arlington County as well as Winchester, VA. I will never forget his viewing in Winchester. I was sitting with my sisters facing the casket and all of a sudden we hear these loud sobs coming in the door. His entire 12 year old baseball team was coming in single file just BAWLING. I have never seen anything like it. They were inconsolable and just layed over Bob in his casket. He was a very loved man, not just by our family but by hundreds of kids he mentored throughout the years.




John Wilson Grammer

This is my grandfather. We were very lucky and grew up next door to my maternal grandparents. All of us could write books about what we learned from "granddad". Even my friends knew and loved granddad. He was the most hard-working man I have ever met and would do anything you asked him to do. After my father passed away, he became the man I turned to when I needed something and he was always , ALWAYS willing to help me fix my problem.






I found this picture when I was going through his things after he passed away. I love this picture because it shows a side to him that very few people saw.







I lived with my grandfather during his last year of life. EVERY Saturday night we would watch Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and Walker Texas Ranger. Those are times I will always cherish. He was a simple man, full of charity for his neighbor and love for his family. He taught me the importance of hard work and obeying rules. I am so blessed to have had him in my life.








Thursday, June 12, 2008

Fireflies

I love living in the east. During the summer, nighttime is magical - all because of the firefly - or "lightning bugs" as I grew up calling them.











When I was little, we'd catch lightning bugs and put them in jars. We'd poke holes in the lid and have these fantastic glowing cylinders!







They are amazing little creatures.





Even now, on a warm summer evening, I love to sit outside, drink some tart lemonade and watch these twinkling bugs transform my yard from ordinary to enchanted.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Lettuce Wrap's Birthday Surprise

Lettuce Wrap's birthday was yesterday. Daredevil and I surprised him by getting tickets to the Glenn Beck tour - in PENSYLVANNIA! We left our house around 4 pm, hit some traffic, drove through an AWESOME rainstorm, stopped at Burger King and arrived at The Forum in Harrisburg, PA a little after 7 pm. The show started at 7:30 so it was perfect timing!

Daredevil provided treats for the ride (awesome coconut cupcakes) from Georgetown Cupcake.





This is Daredevil and Lettuce Wraps during the 10 minute intermission. I forgot my camera so we took pics on Daredevil's blackberry.











Glen Beck during the last half of his show. His show was 2 hours and very entertaining!











Lettuce receiving birthday wishes!

It was a fun time. We listened to some great music (from my iPod of-course) on the way home and the ride was very enjoyable! The two hours flew by.

So, Lettuce is a year older. A year wiser. And a year happier - I mean how could he not be with me and Daredevil around to amuse him!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Memory Lane

Well, I can hardly believe it but it has been 20 years since I graduated high school! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? So, I thought I'd take you on a little trip down (my) memory lane.

This was my prom date Juan. I can remember the very first time he asked my friend Tina who I was - I had a lot of fun with Juan - probably a lot of tears too -you know...the normal high school drama stuff. I wish I still had the slow song tapes he made~ha!






These were the boys on prom night. Joey, Matt and Juan. They wear their sunglasses at night~too cool for school.







Heather, Nan and I. Check out our hair. Nan was one of my dearest friends my senior year. We were joined at the hip. Her parents were pretty strict but trusted me for some reason and would let her spend tons of time with me!







The gang. Nan, Matt, Me, Juan, Heather and Joey in front of the limo.












Graduation Day!












Me and Matt - can my smile be ANY bigger? Matt was one of my best friends our senior year. I kept a pretty good journal in those days and he is mentioned quite a bit because we hung out a lot.









This was beach week - Dina, Tracy and Me. I don't think we slept for 2 days straight. Again....what's with my crazy smile?











Dina and Me. She was one of my best friends during my senior year. She organized a huge birthday party for me. Lots of fun.







This is Kevin and Tony - both graduated a year before me but we hung out quite a bit when they were home from school. Kevin and I became quite close and spent a lot of time together.



So, I hope you enjoyed my short trip down memory lane. My two BEST friends of all, Eileen and Elicia will get their own blog entry later. I just came across these pics tonight and had to post them. HAPPY 20th to me!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Table to eat on!



So I just got a new dining room table and I love it. It is black and cherry wood. I got matching black chairs as well. I ordered it online and it was delieverd within 3 days! I was amazed.

So now, Lettuce Wraps, Daredevil and I have a nice new table to eat on every night! Yes, we eat together EVERY night...for better or for worse. It's actually pretty fun really....I'm glad I have them to keep me entertained!