Sunshine and wine...

The weather man has been coming up goose-eggs lately. Despite the fact Saturday didn't turn out like it was supposed to (nice), we got the pay-off on Sunday when it called for storms all day and instead we got 80 degrees and sunny.

So we did some cleaning on the back porch, (child labor laws do not apply here) Christian and Shawna worked hard at getting all of the pine needles swept off:


And we even managed to get some rest and relaxation in. Mal read a book and I did a puzzle for a bit.

When the day was done and the terrible weather that we anticipated all day headed north, we watched Tron: Legacy and ate some popcorn. I popped open a bottle of wine I've been holding onto, only to find out it was added to my list of favorites!
The weekend was filled with musical delights from start to finish and Tron wasn't the only movie we took in. Mallory and I went to see Soul Surfer at Johnson Creek with some other Moms and friends of Mal's. The movie had a great message. It's been a long time since we've done an outing like that and I hope we can do more.

A new year...happy or not, here we come

Inspired by my good friend and life mentor,

Carla Hinrichs-I've decided it's time to get back into blog action. I have certainly contributed much of my extra moments in life on facebook over the past year. As much as I've struggled with dropping my account, so as to not have the temptation to indulge my time there-I've decided I can try my hand at being disciplined and keeping it under close watch.

If someone told me that life would be where it is now one year ago, I'd have said they were crazy! Between

natural disasters,

political unrest,

a failing economy...surely there's much talk about our nearing the end-times. One thing is for sure...

every day we are a day closer!

Beyond that, there have obviously been many joys and triumphs throughout the year. Along with them, hardships and struggles. We've watched our children grow physically, mentally, spiritually. We've seen some really good friends go through some really tough time including divorces. There are parents moving on in their years and in their lives. Blessings of both of my grandmothers still here to witness and be witnessed. An ever changing business that does well being managed by us but somehow seems to takeover and manage us instead sometimes.

Just the other day, Mallory was bored, so she sat down and was reading my blogs. She even came up with some ammunition to taunt her brother with when I made a comment about Christian and his extra energy! It made me realize that

while facebook is great to keep in touch with loved ones near and far, old friends and new friends...it isn't the same as just sitting down and getting it out in a blog entry.

I've said it before and I'll say it again! I'll do my best at taking some time to reflect on these moments that make days, days that make weeks, weeks that make years, and all together equal life. Because today becomes yesterday, tomorrow becomes today, and time waits for no one.

So it's not January 1st and I don't have any ambitious resolutions, but I do have a strong desire to make it a habit to share moments that make up our lives. Of course, to share with others, but more so to write

our own history book...

Greetings from Baltimore

Dan and I left on Tuesday night for our Shop Owner's Course here in Baltimore, MD.

Our plane was delayed about 4 hours before we left Milwaukee. Once we did get off the ground, our 737 bounced and jolted around in our not-so-friendly skies of a thundershower. All it took was a consoling hand rub and a prayer to God to smooth things out. The rest of the flight was a breeze! We landed at about 1:45 am. Arrive hotel, check in, lights out by 3.

Up at 6 am and ready to bring on the world at ATI!

It has been 3 full days of learning, reviewing, and meeting other owner's nationwide that deal with many of the same issues that we do.

My souvenir list includes a lengthy ACTION ITEM list and a new outlook on life. Main objective goal has been met! We had a great meeting with our coach, Geoff Berman today and we look forward to getting back to implement our new strategies for a better service experience for our customers and our technicians! Tally-Ho!

We had the opportunity to check out a local brewery, DuClaw just across the way from our hotel in the Arundel Mills Mall. All the way from Lake Mills...to Arundel Mills! Ironic. Really good food, and per Dan, fairly good beer!

My mom stayed with the kids so as to maintain a life as normal as possible for them while we were gone. Dan and I are very thankful to Jenny Krauklis and Renee Bachmann for getting the kids to school and for taking them for a night to get Grandma a break!

Another special thank you to EVERYONE at the shop for keeping the boat sailing. By the look of things, it was a speedboat with a big block in it. LOTS going on there. Not a surprise, though, as that is par for the course when we're gone!

Have had some time inbetween for reflection and discussion which has been valued since that type of time is few and far between (between kids, phones, friends, work, etc., etc.!)

It's been nice to keep in touch with everyone on Facebook! A nice treat we have never had while traveling before.

Now? I'm beat. I'm going to get up early and get my Couch to 5K run in before we head off to the airport. Feels kind of weird being in so early on Friday night in a big city, but I'm just beat and can't wait for my head to hit the pillow!

Looking forward to seeing the kids and Brady tomorrow, as well as family and friends. It's been a nice "break." A valuable one.

Do not be afraid...

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." ~Matthew 28
Blessed Easter, everyone.

It is 1:00 am and I have more to be thankful for than ever before.

My mother called me this afternoon that she was in the hospital. After attempting to clean a toilet, an accident put her in harms way. Sounds like a joke, but the age old warning not to mix cleaners (bleach and other toilet cleaners), became in innocent accident. No one to blame, just much to be thankful for, as she was discharged from Columbus Hospital this evening around 8:30pm.

Around the same time, my Uncle Ken was re-admitted to the hospital for a very low white blood cell count and being incoherent. After a 5 stint operation just days ago, it would seem the best place for him this Easter is in the hospital. The last report I recieved, he has stabilized and is doing okay.

I am blessed to be spending this Easter with my Grandma Vitense and Dan's parents. As I prepared my home today, I counted my blessings...thankful to have the opportunity to spend this sacred day with those we love and cherish, but do not take enough time to be with.

A wonderful morning with my father eating breakfast at a local family restaurant was just the beginning. I was honored to share with him my faith and a new way of life, celebrated daily. The true meaning of life and love. Humbled by Jesus who carried the cross for everyone of us, reminded of the words that echo so true...

"that's not fair? LIFE'S not fair. Want to talk about justice? Discussing the true meaning of love~

What better way to honor the One who gives me each mortal breath and eternal life?

An afternoon shopping with my daughter. She's so honest and at the same time is able to laugh with me and find humor in many of the same things I do. I couldn't imagine life any other way. I am proud to be her mother.

~"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. ~Mark 16

That is our mission. Go and tell disciples.

So as I struggle with sharing His word and love with one most dear to my heart...this night I can relate just somewhat with Mary Magdelene. I say nothing because I am afraid. Dear Brother, I am missing YOU this Easter. Praying for you and loving you.

"Where does the day go?"

A famous question posed by my mom on a regular basis growing up.

As I sit down, that is what I ask myself.

I

• met a friend for coffee at McD's this morning
• dropped off my mom's laundry
• picked up & prepared fruit for Mallory's class Going Away Party for their student teacher, Ms. Markgraaf
• dropped it off at school
• went to work
• stepped in as Service Advisor for the afternoon so that Dan & Mark could catch up on some fishing up in DePere (poor guys were going through withdrawl, I could just tell)
• got the kids from school, ran to the bank and to US Cellular
• back to the shop to close up and prepare for tomorrow
• ran to Johnson Creek to grab some deals on clothes for Christian (found a couple steals for myself as well on the clearance rack!)

back home and indulging in some wine I picked up today while Dan and I were renewing our Fishing Licenses!

Tonight was one of the first times in I can't remember how long that I went somewhere without a child, husband, or friend. It was a nice time and I discovered that I really like being with myself!

I am excited to have finally set some plans for Easter.

• We will have brunch on Saturday with my dad out to eat.
• Dan's Mom, Dad, and my Grandma Vitense will be joining us for brunch at our house on Easter after we go to church
• Hopefully we will be able to see my mom Sunday night for a little while.

I am feeling bad for not getting to church today, Maundy Thursday. It really should be a priority in our lives.

Today, the day of April Fools, is our friend Schtevie Litscher's birthday! It's really Steve, but I've got my own nickname for him! I was hoping to get to Madison to hang out with him tonight, but he's got a meeting in the morning, so maybe we can catch up with him this weekend.

One last note for the day: I completely blew it with Christian last night. As much as I looked forward to today being the Friday of the short school week, I seemed to have forgotten the fact that Christian has a lot of things due on Friday that I just totally forgot about. Poor guy let me have it after school.

I think I need a checklist for my checklists.

I am looking forward to tomorrow when we can get the kid's rooms all picked up, spring cleaned, and ready to finish off the school year. Mine too!

There's no looking back...

It has certainly been awhile since my last blog entry.

My first approach was to try to catch up with everything I missed out on.

Well, today is a new day and I've discovered that it was stifling me to think that I had all that to do before I could move forward. So today I say,

There's no looking back.

They were great memories and I just didn't leave myself enough reflection time in between.
Here's my other thought for the day. The Blog is called Topel Family and it really ends up being a lot about me, my thoughts, feelings, etc. I have gotten caught up in trying to always have something profound to say or blog about, but going forward, there will be a change. I will do my best to reflect on family issues, events, etc., but I can't promise a literary piece of writing to go along with it.
While visiting my Grandma Schroedl and Aunt Rose last week, I discovered a book of letters that were compiled by my Aunt and her Cousin. It was letters that were written between my Great Uncle Henry who died in World War II and his family and friends.

It opened my eyes to so much.
We really have lost the art of writing and communicating with one another in a way that would be preserved for future generations. The poems he wrote and the way that I got to know him through reading the words he composed...I just don't know that we have that anymore.

Is storing all of this electronically really the best thing for history in the future?

I asked my Grandma when she had time to write so much (her home was filled with boxes of poems, journaling, letters, etc. from over the years). She told me at night. This woman raised 5 children, 2 of them twins, worked on the family farm, worked outside of the home when necessary, no microwave, no washing machine when the children were young, no boxed meals, she walked most places she could. I really could go on and on.

Yet she made the time to reflect.

Let it be a lesson to me. She, my mentor.
______________________________________________

This Topel family is in it's last quarter of school already. We are preparing to celebrate Jesus' resurrection on Sunday as we reflect on those humbling days that lead to Calvary's cross.

Dan and I will be heading to Baltimore next week for training at ATI (Automotive Training Institute).
Mallory just finished YMCA volleyball with me as her coach, is loving school, and still working on her dance in Fort. Her recital will be May 23rd in Whitewater. Already at 10, she is blossoming into a beautiful young lady that although sometimes she forgets she is talking to her parents and not a friend, has a solid foundation and a gentle heart. She has so much she wants to get done, yet looks forward to her "just chill" time as well. This past weekend, we got out the scrapbooking supplies and she's been going to town. At school, she just completed her Social Studies Family History project. Very educational and gave us all a chance to take a step back into time.

Christian is attending school daily with just a few adjustments to his day that accommodate the Sensory Processing Disorder. He has adjusted amazingly well to his school setting and his friends there. He looks forward to going to his OT appointments with Mindy usually every other week. He has been hanging out with a neighborhood friend, Jake when he can. We've been riding bike downtown and around every chance we get. Of course, he still loves playing his video games on his ds in his down time. He just completed Diary of a Wimpy Kid , actually, two of the four books currently out. We look forward to a rainy day off to go see the movie.

Our house has seen it's cleaner days and the Jeep looks like we're living out of it, but we've become accustomed to the fact that when life happens, neatness doesn't always follow. It's not unhealthy, just a little scattered out right now. Then we'll have days like this weekend, when we can slow down the pace, pick up the pieces and prepare for our next adventures!

June...check!

So that was most of our excitement in June. We took a lot of time to just get caught up on some of the "over-living" that we commonly do.
-Some sleeping in
-Boating
-Fishing
-Mother-Daughter Banquet
-Mallory started band lessons playing the bells and snare drum
-Heather & Trinity came over to play
-Went to a movie
-Cook out for Father's Day

It looks like more than it was considering I was able to be home with the kids and not working so much at the shop. My work load did increase a bit after we got a letter of resignation from Shelli early June. We were sad to see her go, but at the same time, we knew it wasn't for her long-term. Just glad to have her for the time we did and wish her the best of everything in life spending her days doing what she truly loves! (She began daycare in her home)

Dan has been plugging away at the shop in the Service Advisor role. Being behind a desk all day is not his cup of tea and he'll be the first to admit it. He does a fine job though and until we find that right person, it is what is best for the family right now. I probably don't tell him often enough how blessed we are to have him sacrificing for us. Home is really where I need to be right now and the payoffs will be countless.

So June came and went...with lots of enjoyable days. Nothing too stressful or overwhelming. A great way to start the summer indeed!