One year ago...

The AWESOME ladies that were able to make it for the 5 year reunion....

I love this picture. Even if all 46 of us weren't physically together....we shared memories through photographs of everyone...lots of laughter and smiles...and in that way, everyone was present. :)

Doug and I in the mountains...Necia (one of my favortie people in the world) took this.

This is a bad quality photograph, but I just love this moment. All of us in the Boulder cabin sharing photos, letters, memories....together...beautiful.

A year ago last year.....Doug and I headed to Boulder, Colorado for my Latin American Studies Program five-year reunion. For those of you who know me well, you know just how much that 4 and a half months changed my life. Living and traveling throughout Latin America in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba, and a short trip to Panama. Yes, part of the reason of being there was to learn Spanish, but that is the least of what I remember. There were 46 of us from all over the country that studied the social and political aspects (government, history, economics, etc.) of Latin America. It felt like a family reunion being back together last year....we were comfortable around each other and continued the tradition of sitting in a circle and once again..."The Processing Group." :) We have been through a lot of growing together....and we will always have that in common.

Our dearly appreciated professors, Don Eric, Don Alex, Don Trevor, Don Geraldo, Don Anotiono, and the lovely Raquel pushed us to QUESTION QUESTION QUESTION---"LIVE in the questions" they would say. It was, in a way, comforting considering that I left Latin America with MANY more questions than I came with, I think most all of us did. I also believe that all 46 of us were changed....all differently....yet still together. And, I also know that for most of us the experiences we had, what we saw has haunted us in different ways, for better and for worse because "you can't unsee what you saw." And, I will forever know that I have a great responsibility with the great opportunity I was given....now...six years ago.

"Hay cuarento y seis mas que saben." -Don Geraldo, Guatemala

So, with this blog, I want to say thank you again to my LASP colleagues and professors whose conversations, challenges, laughter, adventure....played a great part in forming who I am. I love you dearly.

I am going to be sharing with you some organizations that I believe deeply in regarding this part of the world in another blog. I hope that in some way by grace, I can be some sort of bridge connecting these two parts of the world together....

Here's to hope.

Kate

Decatur Visit Part II--Dad & Grandma Stern!!

Me & My Dad :)

Doug & our Grams :) She ADORES Doug

Me & my Grams outside her building...

My husband & my Dad...being goofy before our movie. :) 

We were SO very excited to come to Decatur this weekend and see my Dad, whom we dearly love and see all the AWESOME work he has done renovating his 100 year old home.   For those of you who don't know, my Dad is a self-taught contractor of sorts....he really has so much talent and it was great to see how much work he has accomplished!  :)   Doug & I also just had a wonderful time  going out to dinner and a movie with Dad Saturday night....it was FUN--thanks again Dad! We love you!

 And, we were also VERY excited and blessed to see my 92 year old AMAZING Grandma.  I talk to my Grams about once a week, but do not get a chance to visit her as much as I would like (being 6 hours away).  So, we truly treasure our time with her.  We spent a lot of time during the day on Saturday and at breakfast today talking and laughing with my Grandma.   My Grams has THE best attitude.  She still work 5 days a week helping elderly people who need some assistance (she always says "I am NOT elderly, just really old"--LOVE THAT!).  Although, she told me on this visit that she is thinking about retiring....lol....I'll say it again, She's AMAZING.  Also anyone who knows my Grams knows that she is a great great storyteller...one of the best.  So, Doug & I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all that is going on.  She is truly 'sharp as a tack' at near  92 years old and is so very positive. :)     

So, above are just a couple pictures from this lovely weekend.  Thanks for sharing in it with us. 

Love, 

D&K

Decatur Visit Part I--Brooke & Binu!

Doug and I just returned from Decatur, IL, my hometown and the place where my Dad, Julie, Grandma Stern and many of my dear friends still reside.  The first part of our trip we were graced by the precense of one of Doug's best friends from his Purdue University years, Binu, and I was blessed with a coffee morning with Brooke, one of my best friends in the world, and my old R.A. at Olivet.  Brooke actually used to sneak me in after curfew (yep, ONU had a curfew) when I was coming in late from a date or a night out with friends...she was and still is a great friend....and knows me very very well. :)  We all met very early on Saturday morning at THE Panera in Decatur.  Lots of hugs, quality conversations and coffee...a beautiful morning. :) Thank you SO much Brooke & Binu!  It was SO great to see both of you :)  Brooke, I CAN'T wait for your visit to Madison next month!  We love you guys!

Doug & Kate :)

Book Club! (Ladies Only) :)

The hats I made for all the ladies

Our fabulous hostess, Tracy, and I

Marisa (Posh Preggers Spice) and K.C. :)

Adele (who found a creative way to wear the hat :) ) & Marisa

Well, it's Thursday night, and I am exhausted in a GOOD way. :) After a full 8a.m.-5 p.m. work day full of sales meetings, networking events and everything else in between, I headed to the gym and ran my 3 miles, then headed to a lovely business meeting with Sarah for a 'dinner/wine' work discussion. After this, I then made my way over to Tracy's house to the GWC Book Club (A.K.A. the YaYa Book Club). And YES, this week I actually made the pink foam tiara hats with everyone's name on it featured in the pictures above (of course inspired by the YaYa Sisterhood--haha). It was fun night that was filled with substance. Thank you SO much Tracy for being such a warm and wonderful hostess!

So, the book that most of the ladies collectively read was "Stolen Lives." We all maintained quite the interesting discussion reagarding this memoir and this, of course, lead to a myriad of deeper issues and hard questions that typically have complicated answers, if any at all. I love these kind of nights....a group of friends together sharply discussing stories and abstract issues while sipping on a glass of Merlot....a beautiful life moment. :) I am SO grateful for your ladies....

Love, Kate
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or cying or pain, for the old olrder of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4

Belated Weekend Pictures!

What a weekend and week!  There hasn't been one big thing going on, but many many things that have attributed to me being behind in my blog among other things.... :)  Doug and I have actually been trying to take it easy the last few days....it's been nice to say the least... :)  Doug finally finished a big milestone at work (yay babe!) and still on his break from Kellogg (Thank the Lord!).   And, I am trying to keep focused both at work and at home, and reminding myself to have fun in the midst of some busy times (Thank God again for family & friends who help me do this!!). 

Speaking of.... :)  Here are some pictures from the weekend.  We had five lovely and wonderful house guests (our extra bedrooms have been getting quite a bit of use!), My birthday Mama, John, Michelle, Tryistan & Alyse.  Thank you SO much to all of you who made our weekend very BLESSED.   And, we also had the great opportunity to spend some time with Doug's brother, Jeff, and our sister-in-law, Allison for a few hours this weekend.  Thanks again guys for making the trip up here!  Hope to see you two again very soon. :)

Then, I headed over to girls night on Sunday night.  We saw "The Women," which despite my appreciation for many of the actresses, I would not recommend (very out of touch in my opinion and not very funny).  However, ladies night are NEVER a disappointment....the company of the GWC ladies definitely makes any time a FABULOUS time.  Thanks ladies!!! 

 

Hope everyone is enjoying their week!!  

Love, 

Kate

"Set me as a Seal upon your heart."  --Song of Solomon

Birthday Mama :), Grandpa John, Alyse Nicole, Michelle & Tryistan :)

Michelle & Tryistan (very cute face on Tryistan).  I think his eyes were saying "Enough pictures Auntie Katie! :)  )

Mom and her granddaughter (mini twin), Alyse Nicole. :)

Some of the ladies and I after seeing "The Women."  

New Wheels :)

Yeah, this photo is my favorite of the day--lol.   

Our car....

First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! It's my Mom's birthday today and although we are celebrating her next weekend, here's just a little shout-out to her on her actual BIRTH-DAY!  We love you! :) 

SO.............after much research, thought, calculations and a lot of fun :), we finally decided on a vehicle!  Yay!  We really had a great unexpected experience at the dealership too.  I would definitely go there again and recommend the place to any of my family or friends (they do new and used).  The sales people were truly superb and fun.  After visiting MANY dealerships, I can say that with confidence.   It was the Goldcoast Infiniti Dealership in Downtown Chicago (Thanks again guys!).  Ironically, althougth we visited numerous dealership throughout the Chicago area, this one is just blocks from where we used to live and work in Chi-town.  We are definitely very grateful for this gift and having lots of fun enjoying our new car and cruising around town this weekend.....

Thanks for sharing in our excitement...we get a new car once every 7 years or so....so, it's fun for us. :)

Happy Sunday Everyone!!!!

Kate

Pictures from our Anniversary Night!!!

Hello!!

A little out of order here, but a few fun shots.  We ate at a lovely restaurant, named 'the best' in Madison, called L'Etoile.  Isn't Madison's capital SO SO beautiful? Cheers to you!

Madison's capital building in lights

Love the personalization on the menu :)

Our restaurant table neighbors were celebrating their anniversary as well (their 20th!), and offered to take a shot of us...

It's our 3rd Wedding Anniversary!

Look at this handsome man!!! :) This is Doug looking as I came down the 'aisle' of trees.

Doug and I after our ceremony and before the reception and DANCING!

One happy lady....off to our honeymoon! :)

Three years ago, September 3, 2005, Doug and I were married in Barrington, IL, then flew off to Thailand for our two week honeymoon :) . Two years ago, we celebrated our first anniversary in New York City and enjoyed our first Broadway experience...oh yeah. Last year, on the Thursday night before our anniversary, on a late night run around Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago, Doug completely surprised me at Buckingham Fountain and reset my engagement diamond in a BEAUTIFUL setting...it was a pretty cool moment. And, we are so excited to celebrate our anniversary tonight at a beautiful French restaurant here in the city of Madison. Like all significant days in everyone's lives, I think it is a time to remember and a time for gratefulness....for another day to celebrate...another day to be together... We are so humbled and thankful to God for the gift of marriage.

Doug, I am so grateful for you….you are an amazing man and my best best friend.....my cup runneth over…..Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

PFBC, Kate :)

Tryistan & Alyse :)

Uncle Doug & Alyse

Tryistan playing one of Uncle Doug's Gaming Toys--The Nintendo DS....he likes playing just a little bit...just a little :)

Alyse being a hamm for the camera!  

Uncle Doug, Alyse & Tryistan outside before putt putt golf....

Alyse cuddling with our cat, formerly known as Miss America, which Alyse & Tryistan named..........MUFFIN!   They thought it up and we thought it was pretty funny, so there you go....

Hello!  Happy Labor Day!! (I can officially say that for about 10 more minutes).  Alright, it is late (feels late anyway), and I just wanted to post of few of these pictures from this weekend.  We had the opportunity to have our nephew and niece (Tryistan & Alyse) over Sunday and Monday--it was a great time.  We took them to a kids movie, putt putt golfing, to the park just a few times--hehe, and just had many laughs.   And, on Saturday Doug finished his last final for this quarter at Kellogg...yay! Way to go Doug :)  So, he has a few weekends off and we already jammed those times packed with visits and fun things. :)  However, we, like you I am sure, cannot believe that summer is just about over... :(  

And, here's something that encouraged me this week...hope it encourages you...

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world. "  John 16:33  

Take Courage....Love, 

Kate