My Oldest Friend

She may be my oldest friend, but she's only 25.

We have been friends for over 20 years!

Katie Holt and I were in Mrs. Wetzel's Kindergarten class together, where she often glued things to my "Go For God, It'll be GREAT" sweatshirt. We manuevered thru the elementary school years at Mary Frank. We did the morning announcements at Schmucker Middle School, "Gooooood Morning, this is WSMS, Signing on..." We ran away from boys...We chased other boys. We survived Mr. Kolski's class, Mr. Rice's Class, and even Home Ec, where we had to sew some sweatpants from scratch. We were counselor's together at Camp Adventure where we dominated the Camp Beautiful contest. We cruised the strip in my family's Astro mini-van. We did mission trips with our youthgroup all over the world. We attended rival colleges "GO FLYING DUTCHMAN!" She stood as a bridesmaid in my wedding. She helped me do a creative memory (yes, that memory is singular). We went to see Ricky Martin (Not Chris Martin like I thought) on the Oprah Show

We have one of those friendships where months can go by with no communication, but when we are together it seems like just yesterday. I love her spirit, cherish her friendship, and know that we will truly be friends forever.

Did that sound like something I would have written in the back of a yearbook? Maybe it was...

Memorial Day Cookout

Granny and Papaw were with us for Memorial Day! We built a bonfire in the meadow while it was still 95 degrees outside. Awesome!

Ryan is hilarious! Here he is doing kung-fu moves behind the billowing bonfire smoke.

Do you agree that my brother Aaron should be featured in Nature and Wildlife Magazines?

Here is the picture of the Redfish he caught last week in Florida. Good thing he had a picture to prove it...otherwise it would have been nothing but another fish tale.

Wedding Weekend

Kyle and Sarah are married!

Even in his rented Tux, Christopher managed to maintain his Euro-Style by sporting the fish belt that Ry and I got him.

The Brothers

Ryan and Chris pondering thier speeches.

They stole the show! I was so proud.

Feed The Children

Larry & Frances Jones are so awesome! Click here to read an article about their recent trip to Houston with a miracle baby from the Abandoned Baby Center in Kenya.

Flashback Thursday

I studied Abroad in Australia. It was AWESOME!!
Camping with Elaine and Jenny in the Blue Mountains
Relaxing on a secluded beach in the Whitsunday Islands
Hiking in the outback
Camel Safari on Frazier Island
Trying to learn how to surf...in the cold winter water...brrrrrrIn a crater on top of Uluru (Ayres Rock) in the middle of the outback
Holding a little crab that I chased down and caught near Surfer's Paradise
Greeting a Kangaroo...at the zoo in Cairns (the wild ones are much too scary to get close to)

Taking a three day tour around the Whitsunday Islands with my friends. You may not be able to tell from these pictures, but I did go to my classes as well.

It happened...

I went a couple too many days without blogging and now there are simply too many things for me to blog about, which is why it has taken so long for me to attempt.

Here is a summary of events which you will see me blog about later...after the holiday weekend, except that by then there will be 19 other things to blog about. Hmmmm

1. Ryan can't remember my cellphone number...which would have come in handy yesterday when he blew out the front tire of his bike 6 miles away from home.

2. I got a new dress...then tried it on for Ryan and he thought I looked like a French Maid, which was not my goal. So I took that one back and got another new dress :o)

3. Kyle and Sarah are getting married in two days. It will be so fun to be in Michigan for the weekend.

4. Ryan is 1/3 of the way done with his Surgery rotation...and he has learned a lot about gastric banding.

5. Michelle and I have been jamming to Tae Bo with Billy Blanks...we are tough

6. My brother Aaron is a fisherman. He has been in Florida fishing the flats and caught some huge redfish. I hope he took a picture so I can post it.

Cox Family Fun

In a few days I get to see the whole Cox side of the family again! I met them at my wedding...but then got to actually spend time with them last summer at Devil's Lake. After Kyle and Sarah's wedding on Saturday, we are headed to the Lake for some family reunion / Memorial Day fun. I can't wait!


They're a really fun crew...as you can see.

My mom and dad are the greatest! On Friday they came up to Chicago for no reason other than to have dinner with Ryan and I.

They showed up around 4:30 and Ryan was taking a nap. I went into the bedroom to tell him that mom and dad were here, but that we would be quiet and that he should keep resting. He laughed and said something about my dad's ability to be quiet. Haha. Needless to say, he got up from his nap.

We went to this awesome resturaunt named Redstone American Grill, which Ryan was immediately attracted to because of its beautiful stone walls and outdoor patio seating. The food may very well have been the best that Ive ever tasted...the company was flavorful as well.

After a delicious meal, we took a trip to REI, one of our favorite stores in Oakbrook.

I am so thankful for my parents.

Look how stunningly beautiful my cousin Lauren is!

Believe it or not, she is even more beautiful on the inside.

Bird Flu

I spent yesterday at NBC Studios learning about Pandemic Flu. I don't have time to tell you about it yet, so here is a little something to tide you over: CLICK HERE

Nonprofit Symposium

Isn't it amazing how great life can be when you are spending time with people who are really doing something, making a difference, adding value, leading change, being innovative, stepping up, taking risks, living with purpose, are actively involved in bettering themselves and in-so-doing, bettering the world! I love those types of people...that is the type I want to be.



Wednesday I got to attend The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management 7th Annual Symposium for Nonprofit Professionals. The best part was that I got to be there with Kem and Lisa, from GCC.


Before the sessions began, we had breakfast at this little Norwegian place with really great fresh-squeezed Orange Juice, AKA vacation in a glass. I was more than honored to get to be there with Dawn Nicole Baldwin and Roland Jacobs of Aspire!One, and Tammy Kelly, Director of People Resources for Willow Creek.




I was inspired by the innovative ways Tammy is attracting, connecting, and organizing tens of thousands of volunteers at Willow. She taught me the importance of unlearning and how a lot of times, what we already know is standing in the way of what we want to learn.

In the 2nd session I learned about the Word of Mouth Revoluntion and got my business card drawn out of a fishbowl (I knew as soon as I dropped it in that I was the winner) and won the book "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell.

Dawn and Kem did GREAT in their session about The Internet as a Growth Engine for Faith-Based Organizations. I decided that our website here at work might possibly be one of the worst I have ever heard of. I would give you the link, but it is simply too embarrassing. Kem told me that having no website is better than having a bad one, so I will be including that in my next proposal to Major.

To finish the day we won the battle over Chicago rush-hour traffic, took a quick trip to The Container Store (where taking pictures is NOT ALLOWED) and met up with Ryan for a wonderful time enjoying pizza and conversation at Giordanos.

I like going to seminars instead of sitting at my desk :o)

In a recent post I mentioned the fact that my friend Michelle told me that it is indeed possible to get a black eye while trying to smell an airfreshner.

Here is the picture to prove it.

I was the 58,602 person to sign THIS petition to bring back Chris to American Idol :o)

Over 575 people gave their lives to Christ during the 5 services at GCC last weekend. It was the final weekend of the DaVinci Series. Click here to watch or listen to the sermon.

John and Angela

These are two of my favorite humans.

One is my lovely sister - Angela, who is shorter and funnier than me.

One is my brother-in-law - Johnny, who stole my hubcaps in college...but he's got a sweet mini-mo haircut, so I guess Ill get over the hubcap thing.


Not many gals are as lucky as I am when it comes to family members.

Things I Noticed This Weekend

I think people forget about Heath Bars. Heath is the best topping ever! It is a forgotten favorite. I had some vanilla ice cream with my Heath at Coldstone

According to my friend Michelle, It is possible to give yourself a black eye when trying to smell your air freshner

There are not a lot of great places to eat on Wells Street in Old Town. I do not suggest going to O'Brians...unless you are at least 83 years old.

It seems to me that lots of men go to the grocery on the night before Mother's Day. A few of them asked ME where to find things! I acted like I knew.

When you are sitting in a cold stadium on a rainy day, it becomes worth it to sign up for a credit card if it means getting a free blanket!

The Cubs have lost 14 out of their last 16 games... Ryan and I witnessed yesterdays pummeling.
Padres = 9
Cubs = 0
Sorry Mama Keim

"Take me out to the ball game" can rock when Eddie Vedder (lead singer of Pearl Jam) leads it.

The El Train can be a very smelly place after a baseball game

Guacamole is really really good

The Office

Ryan and I love the show "The Office" on NBC. Seriously, we never miss it and laugh out loud multiple times during every episode!

However, we are not the biggest fans...which I discovered today when I found this picture of Dwight and Angela online. It was drawn by a fan and posted on Dwight's blog. HILARIOUS!

All I can say is that after the season finale last night I am on the edge of my seat for the comedy that next season will bring.

Jim and Pam! Finally! Hilarious!!

The Grocery

I don't love going to the Grocery. Infact, I have been putting it off for weeks. There are multiple reasons for this, which I am sure you are interested in knowing, so I will list them for you now.

1.) I have had many bad expereinces while at the grocery. For example, looking for scallions in the seafood section and not knowing what in the world oleo is or where to find it.

2.) After I have been sitting in traffic for an hour on my way home from work, the last thing I want to do is go to the grocery.

3.) If I go to the grocery, that means I have to carry the groceries up two flights of stairs...which makes me not want to go to the grocery.

4.) It is raining out...which means the grocery carts at the store will be wet when I get there, and that bothers me.

5.) I just know there has to be something that we already have at our apartment that I can make for dinner...so why would I go to the grocery tonight?

As I said yesterday and the day before that, "I will go to the grocery tomorrow."

What a Weekend

Kyle and Sarah graduated from Hope College this weekend! It was a beautiful day filled with sunshine, warm breezes, and Tulips of course.

We had tons of fun being back on campus and running into a few friends and past professors from Hope.

Sarah was the singing super-star for the day. She sang with the Chapel Choir at both services and then led everyone in the singing of the Alma-Mater at the end of the commencement ceremony in the stadium. We are all proud to know her.





Does it look to you like Ryan was having a fun day?



... I love my husband :o)

Can I get a refund?

A Chinese businessman who bought a fighter jet on eBay (with a bid of $24,730) is asking for a refund after he found out it could not be shipped from Idaho. The man is asking for his $2,000 deposit back

Click here to read the article...

The Dinner Club

Last night was Date Night for Ryan and I. We went to our favorite place in LaGrange, The Sushi House and ordered the usual Makimono Rolls: Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, Ebi Ten (Shrimp Tempura).

On our walk back to the car, we passed a new little place that we had never seen before. It immediately caught Ryan's eye, because in big letters in the window were the words "The Dinner Club"

We went inside to check it out, and found 6 or 7 ladies wearing matching aprons and bandanas cooking meals in a professional grade kitchen. Ryan was pumped! "What is this place?!?" He asked one of the ladies. She went on to tell us about how much time we would save by letting them do the shopping and chopping for us. All we have to do is pick 8-12 meals from their menu, schedule a 2 hour block of time to come in, and they will have everything ready for us to assemple these meals to freeze and use whenever we want!

Judging by Ryan's excitement over the matter or having home-cooked, healthy and delicious meals ready to go whenever we want them...it seems to me that we are definitely going to give this a try.

Ryan even tried to convince our neighbors, Michelle and Bryan to go halvsies with us on a big new freezer for all the goods. He is hilarous!

Tim & Tony's new Podcast is available now. Click here to listen as they tell of their first encounter meeting my dad, and learn about the Senior Management Team at GCC.

Last weekend's service at Granger Community Church is available to watch. Click on the Davinci Code picture to indulge your viewing pleasure.

A Time For Shenanigans...

A Time For Shenanigans...
Our house is broken...

Actually, mostly just the electrical part of it. Which is why Ryan and I are currently in the computer lab at Loyola.

He has to write a summary of who he is in 200 words to submit with his application for residency programs. I told him I would help, but I only need three words.

Dear Resident Director,
I AM AWESOME!!
Sincerely,
Ryan Cox

Trace Bundy

Josh Garrels is doing a concert with this guy Trace Bundy in Elkhart this Friday night! If I was in town, I would definitly be there! Its at New Life Community Church @ 7pm - Tickets are $5. Tell Josh that Amber Beeson sent you :o)

I hadn't heard of Trace Bundy, so I went to his site and found some videos. Ive never seen these things done with the guitar. Click here to check it out! I like the songs Dueling Ninjas & Hot Capo Stew the best!

Friday

Ive been busy today. We have three huge disaster drills coming up over the next few weeks so I have been emailing and calling all of my hundreds of volunteers to help. These are government drills, and the one at O'Hare Airport is gonna be huge. We are responsible for doing all mass-feeding of displaced people in the event of a disaster in Chicago. This will be good practice.

Ryan has been working hard on his Surgery Rotation. He started month 2 of 3 this week and seems to really be liking the new attendings and residents he is assigned to.


We are going to Hope College this weekend to watch Kyle and Sarah walk down the aisle...the graduation aisle :o) They will be walking down the official aisle in a few weeks. Pretty exciting!


It should be fun walking around the ol' campus, remembering our times in college. Ryan and I had a lot of great times...one of which is pictured here. This was 70's night, one of the first nights that I really thought Ryan might actually really really like me!

Warm Weather is my favorite

I love sunshine. I love the sweet smell of lilac trees in bloom, for some reason they remind me of my Granny & Papaw's old house in Greenfield, IN. I love seeing green grass and smelling lawn clippings. I love sleeping with my windows open and hearing birds singing at the crack of dawn. I love miles 6-8 on our bike trail. During those miles we are the farthest away from highways and houses, and can almost forget that we live in the city. I love eating sushi. I love jumping off the boat at the lake. I love Australia. I love laying on the beach and feeling the sun warm my eyelids as it comes out from behind a cloud. I love when the sky is stormy and dark in the background and the sun is shining on something in the foreground. I love fishing. I love watching cats climb trees. I love grilling burgers out on the grill. I love wearing summer clothes and flip flops. I love Lake Michigan (on the Michigan side.) I love warm temperatures and wind without a chill. I love reunions, weddings, graduations, and summer get-togethers.

I am so glad it is getting warm out again.