GOOD NEWS

Today is a red letter day in the Bond Household!!! David proposed and Kelly accepted his marriage proposal!!! We could not be happier to have Kelly in our family. They are planning a May '09 Wedding. I knew something was up when he said their dogs - Ripley and Bear- got along so well they did not want to leave each other !!! Once the dogs connect, what are the humans to do?? I can't wait to have you all meet Kelly. She is just a joy and wanting to spend the rest of her life with David makes her a precious jewel in my eyes!!! We love them both and look forward to them not leaving us!!!

Can you Blame Me??

Well today was one of those days you wish you could go back to bed and forget ever happen. Instead I will blog about it and hopefully it will all give you a laugh. I have the day off today. I decided last night with so many events coming up this summer,(i.e, weddings, baby arrivals, pageant, etc) I really wanted to get in shape again (and again and again). Anyway, I decided to return to the gym that I love and where I have had so much success. I got up early, got dressed in my workout clothes and off I went. Now an important note in this story is that for Christmas this year I got an IPod. I love it and am attempting to learn how to use it. My son in law Nate showed me initially but had to leave before I felt really comfortable with it. Anyway, I have been attmepting to teach my self - a gatchet loser - the interworkings of my IPod. So off I went to the gym with my new IPod in tow. I got to the treadmill where I start my work out, punched in all the appropriate numbers and away I went. I also started up my IPod. Now one of the things that I have not been able to figure out is the volume control. It is really loud. But I figured that was o.k. because there is a lot of noise in the gym and they blast the music really loud. So off I go, walking and listening. Now here comes the embarassing part. On my IPod is the soundtrack from Grease. I love that soundtrack. And I can not imagine a person who would not want to sing along. Well it came to the song "Hand Jive" Now that is just about my most favorite song ever and with the volume up so loud, I guess I started to sing along in what I thought was a quiet voice. ( guess when the song ended I didn't need to throw my arms up in the air and yell "Hand Jive" but needless to say, I did.) Anyway when the song ended I heard sounds behind me and turned to see the entire gym - mostly men - staring at me and laughing at me. I just would have loved to find a big enough hole to fall into. Where is a good fainting spell or heart attack when you need it!!! Anyway, I looked them all straight in the face and said "Don't you just love that song?" I moved away to the weights in the back corner and knew that I would be looking for a new gym really soon. Please tell me someone else out there has done something as silly as that in the gym????

Wallpaper

How cute is my new Blog wallpaper!! My darling daughter Michele did this for me. Now is she could just walk me through posting pictures. I have a bunch and I know you would all like to see them. Maybe real soon. I made it through Parent Teacher conferences, cleaned my refrig, pantry, organized my closet, went to Sam's Club, the store, WalMart, balanced my check book and paid bills. The bright glow you see is for the halo that is over my head!!! I should only have this must time all the time to get all the little things done - well there really is a motive behind my "psycho cleaning" as Michele likes to call it - my two sisters are planning a visit here in April. I could not be more excited. We will go to Grand Rapids Michigan to visit with cousins. This is also a good time for me because Rich is always concerned about their saftey and confort and works hard to get all the little things done around here that I have been bugging him to do for so long!!! Big News in the Matt Bond household, but I think I will let them share it with you all - after all it is their surprise - keep checking out Cort's blog because I am sure she will be posting when she get a chance all about their exiciting news.

I'm back.....

Warm greetings from a very chilly Chicago.
I can not believe that it has been almost 5 months since my last posting. However I plan to fix that with a new update on the comings and goings of my beloved family. I wish I could post pictures, I wish I could get cute backgrounds, but alas I am in the infancy stages of my computer knowledge and at this point without Michele's help can only write on my blog. Perhaps pictures and wallpaper will come soon and then you will enjoy a visual along with written update.
Speaking of Michele....perhaps this is the reason for my blogging again. As you all probably know by now, Michele, Nate and my dear Lincoln moved to California in late January. Now I know there are greater sorrows in the world, but to be honest, I am having trouble imagining anything more painful than having them leave. This blog will be good for me as I will be able to get out my feelings and express my joy over how well they are doing. Interestingly the hardest thing for me was going to church. I have to admit, I stayed away for 3 weeks something I have not done ever except when I was sick or had a new baby. But going to church where I looked forward to seeing Michele and Lincoln (and Nate too)was just too much for me. It really did not help to stay home from church, but the time I went, I embarassed my self so much by crying that I decided most people would probably want me to stay away until I could get it together. Now I know what everyone must be thinking - they are not that far away, all is well with them, yada, yada, yada, but when you are in a depression, you really can not see the forest for the trees. However, I am doing much better. I actually went to church on Sunday - all three hours and did just fine. I have been devouring the scriptures of late and perhaps that plus being very busy with school and my classess (more on that later)have gotten me out of my funk. Whatever, I am better and so happy to report that Michele is doing great. She has taken Lincoln on several walks outside and this makes me smile. We are still experiencing one of the worst Chicago winter on record and the fact that Michele and Lincoln get to experience 80 degree weather does make me smile. That and the fact that she will be here soon to help me with this years Miss Vernon Hills Pageant - our last one - makes me have hope. As I told someone at church yesterday, there may be a time in the not too distant future when I may talk to my son-in law again, but I don't think he show count on it!! (only kidding Nate)We bought a web camera and I get to talk with and look at my Bubbie on a daily basis - that is a great invention and I highly recommend it for anyone who has loved ones in different parts of the country. I get to talk with my other grandson, Kyle who loves to look into the camera and say "Hi Grandma Deb Deb" They are coming to visit for my spring break and I could not be more excited to see them.
Matt and Cort are doing great. Matt is enjoying his new job as a paramedic firefighter, and Cort is finally getting over the first trimester of pregnancy and feeling better. Can not wait to have them here to spoil them and Kyle. David and his sweet Kelly continue to see each other. We hope and pray they will continue to plan a life together.
Again about me .....AFter the first of the year Rich and I decided that it was time for me to pursue my master degree in teaching and leadership. It is something I had been thinking about for awhile and the time seemed right. I got into a great program and 2 other teaches from my district are also in the cohort. I will have classes for the next two years on Wednesday night, and will have one very long and intense class this summer. I will not be able to teacher summer school which I have done for the past 6 years, but next year no classes during the summer so I have been promised my old job back. I love going to school, love learning, but struggle with the homework and papers. It is a lot to do with teaching full time, and then switching to being a student again. Luckly for me right now I have a student teacher and she is in her solo teaching weeks so I have some time to work on some assignments for my school. Things always seems to work out for me and I feel the Lord's blessings and support in all I do. I love you all and will try to work on learning how to post pictures and changing my wallpaper.

Lincoln's Blessing/Matt's graduation

What a fun filled weekend we had!!! (I will post pictures as soon as Michele can tell me how to do it) Nate's family arrived (well actually his mother arrived earlier to help Michele) and we spent a very busy weekend with them, eating, talking, laughing and especially holding the newest member of the Devlin/Bond family. Lincoln was blessed on Sunday amid a circle filled with love. We had Friday night dinner at Portollo's, Saturday night at Lou Malnati's and Sunday night at our home. It was an eating weekend, but so much fun. Nate's sister even stayed with Michele and Nate and took the baby for one whole night, allowing Michele to sleep for the whole night for the first time since Lincoln has been born. Brenna is a real treasure for doing that. Lincoln seemed very unimpressed that whole weekend event was the result of his birth. He was held most of the time by his aunts, grandma's, grandpa's and new uncles. He is such a lucky little boy. I will let Michele update you on Lincoln's new activities, but he is a precious little doll.
This weekend also saw Matthew graduate from the fire academy. He worked very hard to get the job with Idaho Falls, but that was nothing compared to the work he had to do once he actually was in the academy. He worked his first shift on Sunday and was greeted by a bucket of water thrown from a second story window! Fireman can be such little boys at times!! Cortney reported that during the formal ceremony to pin Matt, Kyle stood on a chair a yelled, "That's my dad!" We, like Kyle are very proud of his accomplishment. Cortney also reported that Kyle was in the primary program this past Sunday. He was to say," Jesus loves the little children." He got out the Jesus part, but then decided to just blow into the microphone for the rest of his sentence. If only we had been there to see it, I know I would convinced everyone that his talk was a conference level talk!!!
All is well here. Rich and I continue to plug along. I am seeing a new doctor and for once am getting some relief with my back pain. I do not know who is happier - Rich or I - that I am not complaining about my aching back. I will post some pictures of Halloween. As a teacher, this is a third grade students highlight in their lives. As for teachers, its another story.!!

I've Been Tagged!

1. Where did I meet my husband?
I met Rich through Aunt Marcia's boyfriend when Rich hired him to work in his architechtural firm. Marcia and her boyfriend brought me to a Christmas party that Rich was at. According to him, I sat next to him all night long and talked nonstop...

2. What was the first thing you said to your husband?
Do you have a girlfriend??

3. Where was your first date?
I waited for one month after the party. When Rich didn't call, I called him
and invited him over for a lasagna dinner at my parent's home. I didn't know how to make lasagna but I knew someone who could do it for me...

4. Where was your first kiss?
That night after dinner, we were in the kitchen and I just stood there waiting. Finally, he got the hint that I wanted him to kiss me and he did.

5. Did you have a long or short courtship/engagement?
We were engaged on November 11, 1975 and we were married on May 15, 1976 so I guess you could say it was short. However, Rich was older and I could see no reason to wait. Besides, the club was available that day so we went for it.

6. Where did you get engaged?
In my parent's living room. At 11 minutes after 11 on November 11th. Rich has a thing about the number 11.

7. Where did you get married?
We were initially married in Franklin, Michigan at the Franklin Community Church. We were sealed six years later in the Los Angeles Temple with our three children.

8. How did the reception go?
It was wonderful. Everything I always wanted, a big country club reception with all the trimmings.

9. How was the Honeymoon?
Interesting... we took a train to Toronto, Canada. It sounded romantic but train travel is not as romantic as one would think. We did a lot of sight seeing and shopping and I brought two outfits for each day. I did a lot of changing of clothes and Rich did a lot of carrying bags. To this day, whenever we go anyplace he reminds me of all the luggage I took on our honeymoon!

OK, I tag...
my daughter-in-law Cortney

Now scroll down for my updated pictures...

New Pictures

This is a picture at Whitney's wedding this summer. It has been a very long time since all of my brothers and sisters and my mom have been together. I believe it warranted a picture. As you can see, I continue to be the most beautiful, intelligent, and gifted member of my family.

This is a picture of mine and Rich's little vacation this summer. We went away for a romantic weekend to Galena, Illinois. It was beautiful and so much fun to get away. We like to go away prior to my starting another school year.

This is me in my new "fancy", stylish, hip outfit. Michele helped me pick it out at Target (Nordstrom :) I think I look at least 20 years younger.