The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch

For those of you that haven't heard of him, he is a middle-aged happily married man and the father of three. And he has months to live. And living every second he has left to the fullest by giving this lecture across the country...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0aO64aKqek

What's on your Thanksgiving table?

We stopped by one of our favorite stores yesterday, Williams-Sonoma, and picked up some goodies for our Thanksgiving table. We're so excited to have Mom, Dad and Ren for the weekend, we're pulling out all the stops. Here's what it looks like so far. Recipes and reviews to follow!

To drink:
Hot Cider with Mulled Spices

To start:
Curried Butternut Squash Soup

To savor:
Classic Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy
Sausage and Apricot Stuffing
Cranberry-Apple Chutney
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Auntie Karen's Carrots

To delight:
Pumpkin Squares

Unseen Camelot

Vanity Fair seems to share the same fascination as me. Every few years, they have a genius article and never before seen photos of my fair lady and her family. 45 years later, even with the prospect of a woman president, no one has come close to her undeniable captivation of this country. KH

A must try.

It's so delicious. If you're near a Cost Plus World Market, run, don't walk!

Finally.

ND 20
UCLA 6

The Road Not Taken

I came across this poem on another blog today. It's a poem I have always loved because it has always reminded me of someone very special in my life (especially the last few lines at the end.)

If you've never read it before, take the time to do so, and really think about what Frost is saying. It's quite powerful.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

KH

1 down. 49 more to go.

A few pics from our amazing anniversary weekend in Michigan. Enjoy!

At the suggestion of Kristen's friend Jessica, we stopped at Redamak's in New Buffalo for a hamburger. She promised it would be delicious. Oh boy, was it ever. Yum-O!

We then stopped at McIntosh Apple Orchard and Winery. Picked up some might big apples, right off the tree and some Apple Cinnamon wine. Both a must-try!





We settled in South Haven on Saturday night and took a walk down the pier to the lighthouse and then had a nice dinner of fresh Lake Michigan Perch.






Sunday morning, we drove up to Sagatuk, an artsy community right on the water, with some fantastic shopping!

And to top it all off, we spent Sunday afternoon in a vineyard. We went on a two hour tour with the vintner, who told us all about the wine making process. We tasted about 8 different reds and whites along the way, including the some of the grapes, right off the vine! Needless to say, we left with many bottles in hand and are looking forward to their consumption.

Mail call!

You know how somedays it seems all you get in the mail are bills and junk mail and countless credit card applications? Basically correspondnce you could do without.

Well today, I came home and feel like I hit the mail JACKPOT! 5 anniversary cards came today from:
Grandma
Mom & Dad H
Deacon John & Alice Ficker
Chris & Tracy Stine
Tom & Alissa Nowinski & Baby Ellyana

Thank you all so much for remembering our special day and wishing us well! It means so much.

On top of that, my loving Godfather sent us 2 tix to the ND v. BC game and a stadium lot parking pass. Cha-ching! Thanks so much Uncle John & Auntie Mary. We're so looking forward to a fall day on campus.

And to top it off...a $5.00 coupon to BB&B came as well. That will come in handy as we start shopping for bathroom things to finish the guest bathroom soon!

If only every day could be a happy trip to the mailbox!

Dear George

Have fun in October!!!!!!

Love,
Mrs. John Edward Hernandez

The power of prayer...

A few weeks ago, we posted about our friend Deacon John Ficker, who suffered a stroke. He recently made a miraculously recovery: no paralysis, no therapy, no pain, no suffering. Countless prayers and one well-timed TPA shot, and the big guy was back on the altar yesterday for Mass-just weeks after the stroke. He and Alice are doing well and we're all so grateful to have him back in service!