"Ask your daddy for a rabbit." ~ Kelle
Kelle on her sister's new boat
| "We need a rabbit." ~ Kelle "Ask your daddy for a rabbit." ~ Kelle |
Kelle on her sister's new boat |
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Current Interests The Enduring |
The List Of Me
Best FriendsI have a couple best friends who are the chocolate chips in my cookies:
We have been friends for at least 10 years. She is so cool in so many ways that I would need a whole page just to tell you how life has been with her in it. She is a single parent with 3 boys and 2 cats. She is so incredible! What a great listener and advisor. We have great times when we get together.
We have been friends for about 10 years. She lives in Indiana and has 2 daughters. She is married to Mark and has a dachshund lady, Molly. I see Marlene at least once every year and we talk on the phone every now and then but that doesn't take away how close we are when we get together. She is very crafty and gives great hugs.
We have been friends for about 10 years. She is one of the daughters of Marlene and she is so super. I have never been a friend with my best friends' children, but this one is so special. We get along great. She has a wonderful son, Anthony and is dating a great guy, "Red". She has 2 Jack Russell terriers, Rex and Sadie. I also see her about once a year but we talk over the Internet often. She is the younger sister I never had.
Life StoryTo tell you a few personal things about myself, I guess I could start by saying I am a pretty happy person most of the time. I had an average childhood. I lost my mother when I was in high school, but I managed to keep average grades. I went to college for a couple years but work became a priority and a necessity. That is about the time when I met my dearest friends, which I still have to this day. I met my husband, Matthew while working at Burger King. I felt a connection the first time I laid my eyes on him but we remained "only friends" for 10 years before we got married. My fault, number one! I got involved with some real losers during those 10 years and Matthew was there the whole time picking up the pieces of my life and putting them back together for me. I admit how foolish I was back then, but on the other hand, I learn best by making mistakes. I learned some very valuable lessons!! Later, I gave Matthew a chance to be a major part of my life, it was working out well. He was a fireman, my hero. I was working in a dental office. My office sent us on a trip for about a week and when I got back, I spent the day with Matthew. I learned on my trip that I needed to share some feelings with my father, so when the day comes and God takes him away, I would feel better knowing I talked to him. I planned on writing a letter to express my feelings, I felt it would be easier that way. The day after I got back I went out with Matthew again, we spent the day together. I got home late and to make a long story shorter, I came home and found my father deceased. He looked very comfortable with his feet up and the newspaper still in his hands. I freaked! I called 911 and then called Matthew, his mom said he was already on his way. Being he was a fireman he knew what to do if he ever heard my address over his pager. He was with me in no time and all I could think of was, "I didn't get to tell him all the things I needed to say". Those words are in a song that blasted on the radio the next morning. Those words woke us up. To this day, I still hear that song and I know my father's spirit is surrounding me.Life changed after my father's death. I lived with my father and my dog in a house that I couldn't keep up and my sister's were already happy with their surroundings. Don't let anyone tell you that families don't go through a trying time after a loved one is gone. I never thought that my family would go through it but it happened to me. I was told to leave the house that I lived in for 25 years since things were being done to sell the house. My dog and I had to go. Matthew was there again to pick up the pieces. Within an hour he found "us" a place to live and we were out of the house. The next year was so very hard to get through and I put Matthew through some trying times. We stayed together through it all. Year by year things got better. One day I came home from work and found a scroll attached to the door. I opened it and it read…"As man's best friend there are none better find this thing for your next letter". Hmmm, what is my guy up to? I walked in the door and my sweet dog Peachie was walking around with a scroll attached to her collar. I went to her and took it off. It read, "This thing cost a lot of loot turn it on so it can boot", well, it looks like I have a treasure hunt to follow just to find out where my boyfriend is. I went to the computer and turned it on and it read, "Just to make sure you don't stray or roam, call my mom when she gets home". I was at the phone in no time but his mom wasn't there, I had to talk to his brother and he wouldn't give away a clue as to what was going on. As we were talking his mom did walk in and she read to me, "In the morning you listen to tunes, hit the play I'll see you soon". Ok, I went to the stereo and saw a tape in the player so I hit play and it was Matthew's voice that read, "I have two doors and its cold all day, find this clue and you're on your way". I went to the refrigerator and I didn't see anything so I looked in the freezer and there it was another scroll. I unrolled this one and it read, "In this picture there is something missing, wait, it's me, I've gone fishing". Geez, that is where we were suppose to be this whole time anyway. I knew exactly where he would be so I grabbed the fishing gear and off I went. When I got to the spot I saw him on a bridge, that's not our usual spot, but ok. I left the gear in the car and called to him should I bring the gear? He didn't answer me so I just left it. I walked up to him and I saw he had another scroll. I said, "what's going on?" He handed me the scroll and it read, "Marry me". WOW, so this is what he has been up to. I said, "yes", and he gave me the most beautiful engagement ring with a marquise diamond. We were not going fishing now! I had to go show this off. This was the start of my precious new life.
Wedding BellsThis was the day I dreamed of all of my life. I just never thought it could be as wonderful as it really was. The only thing that was missing was my father, to give me away and see it happen.I got married on June 7th, 1996. It was a cloudy and cool day and it had been raining for days before. I got married in one room in the William Tell Holiday Inn and we had our reception in another room. We brought a pastor in to do the ceremony and had a gazebo decorated that we got married under. We had 2 trumpeters on each side of the room and a woman vocalist, they did their thing just beautifully. The sounds of those trumpets together still give me goosebumps. I had one maid of honor and one bridesmaid and we also had a best man and a groomsman. My nephew was the ringbearer and we had 2 ushers to walk everyone down the isle. My fathers' friend, Cook was the person who gave me away. Before the ceremony started, I had a stack of cards that needed to be given to my future husband. So the ladies took turns and gave them to Matthew one at a time. A huge balloon was the last present before we were made one. I thought I was being sneaky but Matthew had the same idea and he had more cards than I did that were being delivered by his men. It was a lot of fun. The ceremony was wonderful and not one tear came from my eyes, I knew this was the best thing I could ever do in my life. After the ceremony we went outside and got on a horse drawn carriage that took us to a forest preserve down the street so we could take some more pictures by a nice lake. The grass was so wet, that under my dress I wore gym shoes so I didn't mess up my dress shoes. We brought a thick blanket that we sat on and drank wine while being photographed. Then back to the hotel for our reception. Hors d'oeuvres were being served when we walked in and everyone seemed to be having a nice time, especially my husband and I. We had presents wrapped up for each person in our wedding party and we got all of them seated so the gifts could be opened. We got each of them a crystal glass with a pewter base that resembled our Romeo and Juliet glasses. Our best man made a wonderful speech, we toasted and ate a nice dinner. We had a wedding cake that was made into a castle. We cut it with a dagger with streamers hanging from it. The cake was not smashed into either of our faces. But, some icing did somehow get on Matthew's nose. The first dance was ours of course, but it was special. We had a song made about our life together. During those 10 years we had many special times and that is what the song was all about. The song is called "2000 Miles". The reason for that title is, Matthew moved to New Hampshire and lived there for a while but then came back. He felt like he had a purpose coming back here and he always said, "2000 miles can't be wrong". The song goes like this: 2000 Miles
And you were there to hold my heart together, as we found Paradise. As I thought you were sleeping I whispered I love you love could only ask you once to be my dream come true
Chorus:
I didn't want to be alone forever.
On a hunt for the sweetest treasure
Chorus:
Cookie, let me bring you love as you wish,
with our happy home and family
Chorus:
This song is incredibly special to us and we will have it for the rest of our days. When our kids get old, when we get old, every anniversary, Valentines Day, and Sweetest Day. It is all ours.
Matthew got my garter with his teeth as he crawled up under my dress. A friend from my work caught the bouquet and Matthew's brother Tim caught the garter. Neither one of those people are married to this day.
Later I danced with Cook, the gentleman who gave me away. It was the first time all day that I cried, and boy did I cry. As we danced he was talking about how my father is here watching me on this special day. He said my father is proud of me and he loves me very much and is happy that I married Matthew. It was a very precious moment that we were able to share together. I had to go find some tissues after that dance.
The evening went by incredibly fast. Matthew and I were still so hyped up by the end that we were looking for people to party with us. It was early in the morning when we finally got back to our room and ... It was another wonderful day. |