Gooner’s (Parish's Dad) birthday is today, May 12. He would have been 57 years old this year. Our whole family misses him and we do feel this huge void.
The fact that one of your parents has passed away is hard to accept on days like this – not that you don’t accept it, just that it’s hard not to wish him a Happy Birthday today, face to face like we've always done.
It's funny, because every year when we'd ask what he wanted for his birthday he would state, "oh, it doesn't matter - just having you here is a gift enough." But this year, right after Christmas he pulled me aside and told me what he wanted for his birthday - that NEVER happens, especially 5 months in advance! He wanted a police scanner. That's totally Gooner...he loved listening to that kind of stuff. I just wish we would could have had the chance to give it to him.
But, I am sure that he's got the best scanner in the business now - he's able to see all (from a birds eye view)!
As each day passes by, you realize that time continues to go on with or without him. Everyone goes on with their normal, daily lives and we are continuing to move on with our “normal” lives.
We think about him daily, sometimes hourly...
Today will still be his special day. We will honor him by remebering him, his previous birthdays, the funny things that he used to say and talking with Cindy. I know this day will be hard on her...
Monday, May 12, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Please keep my mom in your prayers...
We received some horrible news today...mom my was diagnosed with breast cancer. CANCER. I hate that word. The doctors say that we caught it early, so please pray thats the case...
It's going to be a long road, full of ups and downs - I can only imagine...so we need all the positive thoughts, prayers and strength we can get.
It's going to be a long road, full of ups and downs - I can only imagine...so we need all the positive thoughts, prayers and strength we can get.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Pictures from my dad's banquet!
My dad with Rochelle V., Greenway Sup.
My dad with Joe Silko and members of the ISD 318 School Board
Our family
Dad and Joe Silko
Again, congratulations Dad!!
SO proud of my dad!
Yesterday was probably one of my most memorable days (besides my wedding) that I will cherish and remember for as long as I live.
Let me give you a little backgroud first...
My parents are both hard working and loving people - they always provided us with the things we needed and taught us the importance of working hard for the things that you want.
My dad has been the ISD #318 business manager for as long as I can remember (sorry dad, don't know exact years). I told this to one of his co-worker's yesterday, but as hard as my dad has worked throughout these last 30+ years - us girls have NEVER felt that his work came first. When we were growing up, when it hit 5 p.m. I never can recall my dad being "buried in his work"(and believe me - he easily could have been). I always remember family outings like boat rides on Pokegama, car rides when it was stormy, my dad teaching us all about how to care for his lawn, the spring cleaning of the Garage and the winterizing of the snowblowers, etc. He always had time for us. Always. And my mom, she was always there, even though she worked hard herself. Always helping us with our homework, life problems, lending a listening ear and waking us up EVERY MORNING signing "Rise and Shine," a song I used to think my mom collaborated with Cher, because to me - she sounded just like her!
My point is, our parents always tried their best to be the greatest parents - and they were. Even though life is SO extremely busy with work.
I guess, I have always known what my dad has done for a job, but a basic general idea - and now that I am in my own career, I love talking budgets or fiscal years with him, because it's a common interest. My dad is VERY talented at what he does and I am so proud of him.
Yesterday, at the 58th Annual Spring MASBO (Minnesota Association of School Business Officials) at Breezy Point Resort, my dad, Ben Hawkins, was named 2008 Minnesota School Business Official of the Year.
Let me give you a little backgroud first...
My parents are both hard working and loving people - they always provided us with the things we needed and taught us the importance of working hard for the things that you want.
My dad has been the ISD #318 business manager for as long as I can remember (sorry dad, don't know exact years). I told this to one of his co-worker's yesterday, but as hard as my dad has worked throughout these last 30+ years - us girls have NEVER felt that his work came first. When we were growing up, when it hit 5 p.m. I never can recall my dad being "buried in his work"(and believe me - he easily could have been). I always remember family outings like boat rides on Pokegama, car rides when it was stormy, my dad teaching us all about how to care for his lawn, the spring cleaning of the Garage and the winterizing of the snowblowers, etc. He always had time for us. Always. And my mom, she was always there, even though she worked hard herself. Always helping us with our homework, life problems, lending a listening ear and waking us up EVERY MORNING signing "Rise and Shine," a song I used to think my mom collaborated with Cher, because to me - she sounded just like her!
My point is, our parents always tried their best to be the greatest parents - and they were. Even though life is SO extremely busy with work.
I guess, I have always known what my dad has done for a job, but a basic general idea - and now that I am in my own career, I love talking budgets or fiscal years with him, because it's a common interest. My dad is VERY talented at what he does and I am so proud of him.
Yesterday, at the 58th Annual Spring MASBO (Minnesota Association of School Business Officials) at Breezy Point Resort, my dad, Ben Hawkins, was named 2008 Minnesota School Business Official of the Year.
An award, that you can only win once in your career, an award that I am SO proud of him for achieving. He has worked for this honor for 30+ years and deserves every bit of recognition he gets.
During his acceptance speech, I listened whole heartedly to what my dad had to say. He was deeply honored and thankful...and a bit nervous.
He thanked PMA financial services for sponsoring his award and thanked past and current members for their trust and support. He expressed his appreciation for the MASBO organization and the open lines of communication with the Department of Education and recognized the importance of networking with other area superintendents and other business office staff.
As I watched and listened to my dad speak, I felt the biggest sence of accomplishment for him and my heart filled with complete joy. This is something that I will take with me for as long as I live. My eyes filled with tears, and I was in awe over my dad's accomplishments.
He has served under 11 Superintendents, over 150 + school board members and as he so eloquently put it..."no one has died yet, as a result of my work." That's my dad's humor for you.
When he introduced our family, he said that we were the more important things in his life (not like I doubted that or anything). But it's true. And my parents have proved that all along, as I look back at our lives growing up. Family comes first. And all the while my parents were raising us by teaching us right from wrong, celebrating our successes and helping us learn from our failures, all the times that they didn't BLOW UP, because we needed more money during college, all the times that we laughed, cried, screamed with anger or sat in the comfort of a quiet house - my dad was achieving this success in his career. He should be so proud. I know I am!
Congratulations Dad - you mean the world to me and it was truly an honor to be able to watch you receive this award, you truly, TRULY deserve it!
Also, a special thanks to Superintendent Joe Silko - for nominating my dad. Thank you so much!
I am having a hard time posting pictures - but they are coming soon!!
OUR NEW WINDOW SEAT!!
My very talented husband, and his VERY talented grandpa made us a beautiful window seat! Below is a before picture, kind of an odd waste of space, so I thought it would be perfect spot for a window seat! I was right!!
Grandpa Walt is unbelieveable! Parish has learned almost everything he knows, when it comes to wood working from Grandpa. What a great team!
Grandpa hard at work - oh and did I mention that this window seat has storage!!
Jackson loving the fact that he can actually see out of the window
the almost finished product - prestain and total assembly.
It has easily become my favorite part of our house! I will take a picture of the final product once Parish finished the last coat of poly!
Grandpa Walt is unbelieveable! Parish has learned almost everything he knows, when it comes to wood working from Grandpa. What a great team!
The before picture!
Grandpa hard at work - oh and did I mention that this window seat has storage!!
Jackson loving the fact that he can actually see out of the window
the almost finished product - prestain and total assembly.
It has easily become my favorite part of our house! I will take a picture of the final product once Parish finished the last coat of poly!Thanks Grandpa and Parish! I love it!!
By the way - if anyone has any inexpensive ideas on how to construct a window seat cushion - please feel free to share! I am all ears...
Monday, April 21, 2008
Luck of the something...
What is Luck? Is it defined as the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities. Did you hear that part...OR ILL?
Well, I know it sounds cliché, but with my luck...anything can happen!
This past few weeks I have had a few instances where I thanked my lucky stars, and made note to myself that something happened to me because it was Just My Luck.
On Monday of last week, I was fine, felt healthy - was energetic, got things done around the house, then it hit me - major headaches. I felt the back of my head and I npticed a small bump. That bump over the next three days grew to be the size of a golf ball - on the back of my head. Gross you say? Darn right it's gross. I felt so self consious, but what's more is I felt scared. Immediatley the thoughts ran through my head....Cancer...tumor...God only knows what!
So, thanks to a little convincing of my friend Melissa, I went into the good ole Isle clinic.
I was diagnosed with MRSA.
MRSA, generally start as small red bumps that resemble spider bites. These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin. But they can also burrow deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.
Serious?!?! Who would get MRSA on their head? Me. That's who. That's just my luck! Ugh. So, they put me on meds and 5 days later - it's still very painful, but at least it's not life threatening anymore.
What about my good luck you ask? Well, for every down there is an up and I had a pretty successful week last week at work. Our Entertainment Director has booked some amazing acts for our casinos and we brought in Martin Short, the comedian. One of his requests was to find a loved, local celebrity to come in to do the "Jiminy Glick" skit.
For those of you that aren't familiar with Martin Short and this hilarious skit...he transforms into a 300-pound, talk-show host alter-ego “Jimmy Glick” (from Comedy Central) and he interviews celebrities.
In fact, Martin Short, as “Glick,” has interviewed some of the biggest stars in Hollywood such as Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Hanks, Regis Philbin, Diane Keaton, Jamie Lee Curtis, and David Schwimmer. He asks irrelevant questions, spreads misinformation, and often doesn’t pay attention long enough to hear his guests’ answers. Pretty much hilarious...
So, the local celebrity I chose was....none other than Dave Ryan from 101.3 KDWB. He is the ever-popular morning show host in the Twin Cities - I think pretty much everyone has heard of him. And he was absolutley perfect for the skit! They meshed so well and the audience loved it!
Here are some pictures from the show...oh and if for some reason you have been living on a remote island for the last 14 years and don't know who Dave Ryan is...check him out at www.kdwb.com - you won't be disappointed.
Well, I know it sounds cliché, but with my luck...anything can happen!
This past few weeks I have had a few instances where I thanked my lucky stars, and made note to myself that something happened to me because it was Just My Luck.
On Monday of last week, I was fine, felt healthy - was energetic, got things done around the house, then it hit me - major headaches. I felt the back of my head and I npticed a small bump. That bump over the next three days grew to be the size of a golf ball - on the back of my head. Gross you say? Darn right it's gross. I felt so self consious, but what's more is I felt scared. Immediatley the thoughts ran through my head....Cancer...tumor...God only knows what!
So, thanks to a little convincing of my friend Melissa, I went into the good ole Isle clinic.
I was diagnosed with MRSA.
MRSA, generally start as small red bumps that resemble spider bites. These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin. But they can also burrow deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.
Serious?!?! Who would get MRSA on their head? Me. That's who. That's just my luck! Ugh. So, they put me on meds and 5 days later - it's still very painful, but at least it's not life threatening anymore.
What about my good luck you ask? Well, for every down there is an up and I had a pretty successful week last week at work. Our Entertainment Director has booked some amazing acts for our casinos and we brought in Martin Short, the comedian. One of his requests was to find a loved, local celebrity to come in to do the "Jiminy Glick" skit.
For those of you that aren't familiar with Martin Short and this hilarious skit...he transforms into a 300-pound, talk-show host alter-ego “Jimmy Glick” (from Comedy Central) and he interviews celebrities.
In fact, Martin Short, as “Glick,” has interviewed some of the biggest stars in Hollywood such as Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Hanks, Regis Philbin, Diane Keaton, Jamie Lee Curtis, and David Schwimmer. He asks irrelevant questions, spreads misinformation, and often doesn’t pay attention long enough to hear his guests’ answers. Pretty much hilarious...
So, the local celebrity I chose was....none other than Dave Ryan from 101.3 KDWB. He is the ever-popular morning show host in the Twin Cities - I think pretty much everyone has heard of him. And he was absolutley perfect for the skit! They meshed so well and the audience loved it!
Here are some pictures from the show...oh and if for some reason you have been living on a remote island for the last 14 years and don't know who Dave Ryan is...check him out at www.kdwb.com - you won't be disappointed.
Martin Short is obviously the one in the fat suit...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Night out in Zimmerman!!
Last week was a tough week.
Parish, my sister Ashley and I all had reasons to celebrate and reasons to let loose...so, we decided to head to the big town of Zimmerman for dinner and drinks.
It was so much fun, we made new friends, worked on our dance moves...and I have the pictures to prove it!
SUPERMAN
Parish, my sister Ashley and I all had reasons to celebrate and reasons to let loose...so, we decided to head to the big town of Zimmerman for dinner and drinks.
It was so much fun, we made new friends, worked on our dance moves...and I have the pictures to prove it!
SUPERMAN
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