What to do...

What do you do when music doesn't soothe your soul anymore? This is kind of a random question but one I've been aggravated with for about a week now. As many of you know I love music. I can play the air drums really well but as far as real instruments go, I am musically challenged. My music world was turned upside down when my car was broken into and all of my cd's were stolen. For a while it seemed that maybe that was a good thing. It helped me to purge my collection of stuff I didn't listen to. However, there were a lot of things that I like to keep around just for days like this past week.

This past week nothing seemed to soothe my soul. Normally I can pick a cd and throw it in and it fits my mood. No matter what I put in the cd player this week, within a few minutes of listening I was frustrated and not soothed. I tried everything from Nickelback to Linkin Park to Dave Barnes to Snow Patrol to Echoing Angels to random mixes and nothing seemed to put me at ease. And then today while flipping through the radio stations I heard a voice I knew well. Ray LaMontagne. His song "Trouble" playing so softly. Immediately I put his cd in, turned the volume up loud and just listened to the lyrics.

What is it about different kinds of music that puts our minds at ease? Is it the lyrics? Or the voice of the artist? Or is it the beat?

Happy Birthday

Hey Laur,

Just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. I still miss you like crazy! I sometimes wonder what life would be like if you were still here. And sometimes I cry just wishing I could hear your voice.

Happy Birthday Beautiful!

I love ya kiddo

Love Steph

Sweetness...

"My Auntie is funny!!"
"Me and my Josey"
"The amazing foot-eater!!"

Daddy and Daughter...

"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart."
~Author Unknown

2 years...

Two years ago today I lost one of my best friends. A girl who knew me and loved me anyways. A girl who I grew up with. A girl who I could share silly stories with. A girl who was like a sister to me. A girl who I looked up to. A girl who was a great encourager who had a wonderful heart. A girl who's laugh will remain imprinted in my mind forever. A girl who's smile is unforgettable.

Laur,

I still miss you more than ever. I wish you were here. I don't understand but I do. I love you tremendously and always will.

Love Steph

99 posts and a Valentine's greeting

According to blogger I've written 99 posts...interesting...this is lucky number 100...I think...haha...anyways...I've been out of commission for a few days/weeks...so many things have happened it's hard to keep track sometimes...After my birthday extravaganza...camp showed up the weekend of Feb 2nd...Philly and I drove up together after picking up the inflatables...it was good to be with him and talk and listen and talk and laugh...Camp went really well...we had a good size group and a good speaker. We also had enough time to just hang out and being so cold we did a lot of that indoors. Pudy and I got to go snowmobiling on Sunday...very cold and a little scary...and for anyone who didn't know...there is in fact open water on Lake Geneva even in negative degree weather...

This week started off with a sick little me...I had to stay home from work on Monday because of a horrendous cold...didn't get out of bed for close to 36 hrs...I'm back to feeling somewhat normal although I still have the lingering stuffiness...

I was looking back on last year's post from Valentine's Day and decided that I'd repost it. I know it's a day late but the message is still the same.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I would like to post something that I received from my mom on Valentine's Day of 1997. It was from a Max Lucado day calendar that she had.

"I hope you receive a rose or a special card from that special person today. If you didn't and don't expect to, remember that the one who loves you most has already sent you his very best!"

1 John 4:10 "This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us in sending his Son to be the way to take away our sins."

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!

Simply Perfect...

In two words that is what my weekend was. Simply Perfect. Friday started out with me relaxing in bed, watching my Gilmore Girls and having my parents come in and wish me happy birthday. The most relaxing part of my day was going to Forbici Salon for my massage...which I will be doing more often. After that I came home and mom made me some wonderful pasta accompanied by my Nani's awesome meatballs!! I got ready to head out for the evening with Heather and Chris and their friend Andy. Saturday morning Heather and Andy made an awesome breakfast and I spent the day just hangin around watching movies and relaxing. I went home and got ready to go out with Vicki, Matt, Eric, and Heather...or so I thought. Vicki and Matt came to pick me up and we went to Bogie's in Mt. Prospect. We went upstairs to the bar area and then up another flight of stairs to where many of my friends surprised me!! I don't think you could have wiped the smile off of my face!

I was in pure shock. I ran around and gave hugs to everyone and just really couldn't believe it. As the night continued on, more people showed up and we drank and ate and laughed and talked and as I looked outside I noticed it had begun to snow. And I thought to myself...it's perfect. Simply perfect.

So this is a huge thank you to everyone involved with deceiving me and for throwing me an awesome birthday party!! You will never know how special you made me feel and you will never know how much I appreciate your time and effort!! Thank you Vicki, Matt, Eric, Heather, Chris, Andy, Jamie, Jen, Dee, Pat, Michelle, Nicole, Mishy, Josh, Andy, and everyone else that was there! I hope you all had as much fun as I did!!

Thank you all!!!!

Birthday Eve

In just a mere 30 minutes (probably by the time I get done with this) it will be my birthday. In thinking about this post, I randomly thought of a bunch of stuff I could write about. I could write about all of the things that happened this past year good and bad, I could write about the many people I have encountered, I could write about the people and relationships that have been lost, I could write about the traveling I've done. But really I think I'm just going to let my fingers do the typing and not really think about what it is that I'm writing.

Almost 25 years ago I came into this great big world...holding that unborn baby in the palm of my hand on Monday really makes me wonder how I was able to make it this far or for that matter how any of us survives the world in which we live in. Over the years I have learned a lot. And everyday I learn something new. Whether it be at work or just in life. I'm learning to treasure the little moments in life. I'm trying to see the good in everything that comes my way (and sometimes that is very hard).

Since my dad became sick, I've gotten to hang out with him a lot more. I cherish the time we spend together even when we're just watching tv. On Wednesdays, I try to hang out with my mom (usually shopping) and I love getting to spend that time with her. I love that I can share pretty much anything with my parents and they don't judge me they just love me. I love the times that I get to hug my brother. No matter how old I get, he will always look out for me and he will always be my 2nd dad :) I love getting to spend time with my sister in law. We have really good conversations and I'm so thankful that she's in my life. I love reading with my niece. Yes, my niece is reading now. She's so smart for only being almost 5 months old!

I am blessed with the people I work with. We have such a different group of people and yet we're a family. Sure we may fight and yell and throw things at each other but most nights I walk out of work with a smile on my face.

I'm blessed with friends. I love my friends more than they will ever know. Each one of them is so unique and each one adds something to my life. Without them I would be very lost. I would also be incredibly bored :)

I wasn't looking forward to my birthday this year. In fact I was having some serious anxiety issues with it. I just have to keep reminding myself that God is in control and that His plan is soo much better than the one I had planned.

So goodbye 24, and hello 25...