ready, set, think.

Thanks Nancy for forwarding on these adorable little emails she gets from:

www.tut.com ®.

Check this one out. It's kind of like "The Secret" in e-mail Cliff's Notes. You can sign up to get brief, inspiring messages delivered to your inbox on a regular basis (you pick deliver days).

You will see what I mean when the come to you. They are short, sweet and inspiring.

The one I received today was, "If you don't know what to think, think positive. If you don't what to do, do anything."

I don't want to trivialize the grand concept at work here, but it so obvious, it's deep.

My weekend is shaping up to be chock-full of fun and opportunities. Time with the girls. Time with friends. A couple lia sophia parties. A couple portrait visits. Bowling and the Bears.

Ready, set, go.

Hope yours is positively great, too.

the b. is back!

Back from the Happiest Place on Earth, no one was happier than I to have Patti back within shouting distance of me.

She just laughed as I told her how it "felt like she had died..." (even though Kailey texted me regularly all week.) That I needed to, but didn't, take notes on all the stuff I normally would have told her during our regular 5-7 phone calls a day. That I reached for my cellphone and sadly put it back down, remembering my promise to only call in the event of a real emergency.

Running into "a certain Chicago photographer," warranted a few texts in secret code to Kailey, who read them to her mom, but did not constitute an "emergency." sigh...

"President OBAMA! whoop whoop whoop!"
Another text... sigh...

Anyway, she's back and my life earth has returned on its regular axis, and for that I am thankful. And she's read the blog, the emails and seen all the invites for the next month.

Everyone needs a "Patti." Maybe you have one. The friend who finishes your sentences and you can say exactly one word to and both of you immediately understand all the implications.

Like, "Crafty."

She's my go-to gal who loves all of my friends, and who has stood by me through thick, thin and thick, thin, thick, thick, thick. And hopefully thin again.

This b. loves you!!!

Welcome home!

just another mother of two.

Michelle Obama (oh, and her husband, Barack) were photographed this morning exiting their daughters' school this morning, following a parent/teacher conference.

You gotta love Michelle...

Sweatpants, no make-up. Hair in a ponytail, covered by an Oprah baseball cap. 

That's our first lady!

She looks exactly like I will next Friday when I rush out of the house at 7:55AM to meet with the girls' teachers at 8AM.

How awesome is that? 

I am happy to delight in these small observations while we wait and see what happens in the months and years ahead. This is so cool!

Have a great weekend y'all.

what a day!

What's the mood like in Chicago? MBR texted me today from Ohio to find out how things were going at Obama's home base.

Honestly, it was a lot like when the Bulls were winning championship after championship in the 90s. Everyone was smiling at each other, walking with a light step, and being extra kind

Mayor Daley was positively giddy during a press conference this morning.

It was like a club that we all gained membership to in one fell swoop. Downtown glowed, and the warm weather wrapped it's arms around the City of Big Shoulders. We could feel proud, and hopeful and together.

It was awesome, and nothing could ruin the moment.

Lots of high fives... plenty of positive comments from strangers.

I wouldn't trade November 5, 2008 in Chicago to be anywhere else. Because there is nowhere else I would rather be than where Daley described as, "the city that is the envy of the world."

Home, sweet home.

yes we can. yes we did!

This is so incredible. I try to wrap my head around it. And in explaining to the girls this morning about the significance of a black president, I realized it truly is mind-boggling.

GO BARACK!

Now, after experiencing history, I hope and pray Obama demonstrates the knowledge, intelligence and good judgment to lead this country for all of us in the direction it needs to go.

I feel hopeful, for the first time in a long time about the state of our nation.

Now for the humor...

I had lunch with Michelle Obama when Barack was running for senator. Deb Pickett was doing her "Sunday Lunch with..." column and I went along with her to a restaurant in Hyde Park. Michelle was awesome. Smart, beautiful, funny and in so many ways, the kind of person I would want to be friends with if given the chance.

For lunch, I ordered chicken breast on the bone. It was delivered to the table, and as I stuck a fork in it and went to cut the meat off the bone, the piece of chicken flew across the table. I was totally mortified and apologized immediately. Michelle leaned over and said, "That's why I never order anything with a bone in it."

We all laughed and lunch went on. She was as delightful as she was smart, and I know she will make an excellent First Lady.

Enjoy this week, and the gift of beautiful weather.
Enjoy also this moment in history.

making history.

The first thought that popped in my head this morning when I opened my eyes was, "I gotta go vote!" Like a kid on Christmas morning, I headed up to Mokena Village Hall and did just that, participating in possibly the most significant presidential election in my lifetime.

It was empowering.

Even though I have never, ever missed voting in an election since I was old enough to vote, I just love the process.

I love how my town's Village Hall is a "Village Hall." I love the election judges; retired folks who move at their own pace, oblivious to the other commitments you have for the day.

I love the unsteady cardboard booths, and the fact that in this technological age, I still fill a circle with a pen on my ballot.

It's the ultimate in a democracy, and I am filled with hope that this time, change really can occur and it will occur in ways we as Americans never dreamed possible.

Today I voted for me and for my kids.

I hope you did too.

Jesus is driving the bus and God is my co-pilot.

Or something like that. Patti saw this on a bumper sticker and called me (while she was driving, no less) to tell me she was going to find one for me.

I love the humor in this truth. I spent last evening in the company of my friends from Divorce Care and the Singles Ministry at PCC, and we had a great time. I found out that a few of the guys are "allmysoulsisters" too. And I mean that in the most wonderful way possible. So, a big shout-out to Jack and Rick, thanks for reading!

I am an Evangelical Christian, aka, "born again."

It's easier to say that to myself; harder to say it out loud. It's been an enlightening, spiritual and really wonderful journey so far. I have learned so much, and have been filled with a joy and calmness I haven't experienced in recent memory.

But spending the evening with my PCC buddies makes me realize that I am experiencing something that makes me a better person. It has not taken away from "me," but has just added the understanding that I am "me" because I am a child of God, and I am living the life He so wants me to have.

And when I can go out with other Christians and be throwing back beers, talking about "Weiner Wednesday, " boobs and Chinese donuts, I realized that Jesus can drive the bus, and I am truly along for the ride of my life.