Cindy!

Thanks so much for all of your prayers! Kat is still home and has a homebound tutor through her school. Her Dr. appt. is Friday. One of my professors hooked me up with a job that pay $$$ per hour and I can work from home....TOO COOL!!!! It's GREAT to spend so much time with Kat and our other kids...and I'm enjoying being a housewife again!!! I get to get up in the morning and make breakfast for my family, pack all their lunches and then send them into the day...it's way sweet! Then I get to organize and clean our new house....some boxes that might never be unpacked have been! God is doin a great job for our family, and we know it's mostly due to our and your prayers! :)

Don't mind??? We LOVE prayers and the folks that pray!!!! Thanks Waysider!!!!!

I've been to RHPS so many times, I'm embarrassed to say!!! My boyfriend just after high school and I attended it over 50 times (I dressed up as Janet and was in front of the screen) Most of the folks in my group of friends then were either transvestites, gay, or straights who enjoyed the movie. Saw it again last night with Steve! and sadly I couldn't remember a lot of the audience lines. Little help?????

Dear GS Friends and Family; My children and I were diagnosed 6 years ago with PTSD, we have done years of counseling but two of us (Kat and me) were also diagnosed with Fibro Myalsia (it can be very painful). We have continued to pursue treatment and counseling and are making progress. Well, healing continues in our family. Right now Kat is homebound and receiving tutoring from a homebound teacher at her High School. She's been having some emotional issues and the private counselor my husband and I have had her seeing recommends that she stay home until testing, diagnosis, and treatment before returning to school. We have selected a highly recommended psychiatrist and have set an appointment for November 11th (her first available appt.), though if a cancellation occurs we will take any earlier date available. As a response to this, in the best interest of Kat and with my wonderful husband's full support, I have taken an unpaid Family Medical Leave to be at home with Kat. We want to be able to be there should her emotional state require direct intervention. I am in the process of looking for a part-time job while still continuing my Masters program in Community Counseling (I switched from Educational Leadership due to some health issues in my life). With the Chapter 13 bankruptcy we iniated in 2004 and will not complete for another 10 months, money is an issue. Prayers/thoughts directed our way would be most welcome!!!! From our difficult family past, most of us have recovered through counseling and/or hospitalization. Kat and Jess are the last two that will need extra intense intervention. But given time, and the stubborness with which I approach all participants in my children's lives....they too will come out of all of this wonderfully! Jess has just been accepted into a fantastic after school program that provides tutors, social workers, and fun times and will result in a substantial college scholarship upon completion. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support. I am very thankful for those who care enough to keep in contact with me and my wonderful family!!! Cindy

Ya'll need oenophile!!!

Roy, Even with the times I don't quite "get" you, you remain constant....a person who is himself. Integrity, that is very honorable. I have rarely seen an honorable instance (act or spoken) that Jim had any integrity with. You have my heartfelt love and support, he has nadda. (this opinion is shared by me, my kids and my wonderful husband) Love, the !'s

Gee...whom will you throw it at, Jess???????

He ATE all the pies!!!!

CA_dreaming....we would absolutely love for you to join us in our next seasonal party!!!! email us!!! cindywall@u-46.org

Yep, the !'s are doing quite well! We try to surface every now and then....but time is an extremely limited commodity. Most of us haven't even gotten to emails in so long, they are gone!!!!! But click HERE for our latest escapade! (it's the album that begins "Apple Picking 06 031")

Josh got his b'day cake, lots of love and the thing dearest to his heart......an iguana, cage, and paperwork. 13 is very special.....you enter the teens....FINALLY!!!!! We made a big deal out of his b'day....hadda sleepover...and spoiled him as much as we could. Our daughter turned 16, and Josh, in his wonderful fashion, stepped aside and gave the floor to Jessica. Next year....he'll be BLOWN AWAY by his birthday....due to his loving, giving heart this year. He was truly and genuinely glad for Jess to get the spotlight this year. We will be proud of him completely for the wonderful boy/almost man he is. Josh.....you are amazing!!!!

Thank you so much for your sentiments on Jess' b'day!!! She is a very very special young lady! A 16th b'day party should be amazing!!!! So her birthday lasted about four days!!!!! On Thursday (her ACTUAL birthday) we gave her a dozen pink roses, some sweet sixteen balloons, cards, and what I'd promised for years.....the engagement ring from my first marriage. (I don't think she's taken it off since) On Friday, she had a party with her friends. There were about 30 teens at our house. We got pizza, pop, snacks, and movies. Some were watching movies in our family room, some were playing music on the computer and dancing in the Living Room (one level up from the family room). Saturday morning Jess, Kat, their friend Matt, and I took off for downtown Chicago. We had a reservation at a downtown hotel, tickets to the musical "Wicked", a pass to the suite in the theatre that provided horses douvers ( appetizers) and an open bar before, during, and after the performance at no additional charge, and reservations for dinner at a famous and very good Italian restaurant. Jess and Matt went backstage and got autographs and had some very very special personal moments with the cast of "Wicked".....it was delightful for them!!!! We then joined Steve and the boys at a downtown hotel for a night and morning (until noon) of relaxation, exercise (in the workout room), and celebration. With valet parking, express check-out, and lots of fun with family and friends...it was a fantastic weekend. One Jess will NEVER forget!!!! My first baby is 16.......a person I like and respect.....what more could a Mom ask for?????

You are such a pleasure to know and such a joy to our lives!!!! Hope your sweet sixteen is as sweet as you are!!!!! All of our love, Mom and Steve

Happy 13th to my wonderful young man, Josh!!!!! You are a major light in mine and Steve!'s life.....we wish ALL THE BEST for you as you enter into teenagehood. You are a major joy in our lives with your twisted and rather perverted sense of humor, your gifted intelligence, and the absolutely amazing difference you make in the lives around you. Love you MUCHLY, WD!!!!!!! Love, Mom and Steve!

I agree. In fact we've had experience with mental health hospitalization in our family this year. I was hospitalized for a week and diagnosed with depression, PTSD and Fibro Myalsia. I am on meds and see a counselor weekly....both have made a HUGE difference. When I asked my counselor WHY after years and years of dealing with very bad situations and fighting to keep my children and get them to the point where they are stable, normal and happy....and after meeting and marrying the man of my dreams and having a wonderfully happy marriage, a job I love, and a fanstastic group of friends and family around me.and being in a masters degree program that I love....why NOW do I all of a sudden break down???? She told me that I'd been strong and "hypervigilant" for years....but now my body is telling me to take care of me (no young chick anymore!). The counseling and meds and the wonderful support of Steve! have brought me a long way. My youngest child, Zach was hospitalized for a month. It was very hard on our family, we missed him terribly, but he is diagnosed with ADHD and Bipolar. He is on meds, in counseling and is my wonderful, happy Zachary again!!! So what do I think of mental illness???? I think it's just like any illness....the smart, strong people get help. Here's to you, CW!!!!

:)

It got here today....thanks, WD!!!!

Thanks WD!!!! I'll send ya some $$ for it! email me at chindy004@yahoo.com and I'll give you our new address!

WD, is there any way you could send that song to me? wav or mp3 file, maybe?

Something that happened recently has sent Claudette Royal's song "One Spoiled Kid" through my head and I can't get rid of it. Anyone have this song???? (make the music STOPPPPP!!!!!! )

Here's the fun part of this whole house-buying thing. Steve and I have been married for two years, we're living happily ever after, and the sub-division we are moving into is called Camelot! How cool is that???

Ok...the pictures are loaded in the Gallery....however, they are loaded in reverse order...so work your way backwards!!!!