I just can't keep up!

So, I never got around to posting my halloween pictures even. But here is one that I HAD to post. So, you all know that my daughter Christie cut her hair off and donated it. Well, what you don't know is that she decided she wanted some permanent Hot Pink highlights. SO, we dyed her hair white (in chunks) then colored it hot pink. It was totally cool because it even glowed in the black light.

Well, she has decided that she wants a more "mature" hair style. So, with that said, here is her new hairdo.

What do you think?

All for the Cause!

Christie has always been known for that long, blonde flowing hair.

She tends to put it up in these really funny buns.

But what you don't know about her, is that she will do anything for Cancer Research and Cancer Fundraising. Even cuttinting that long flowing hair. She did it at 5, she did it at 10, and she did it YESTERDAY! Check her out now! WAY TO GO CHRISTIE! I LOVE YOU AND YOU LOOK AWESOME!!!!

Christie and Cora

My reflection yesterday back to the days of Christie and Cora were so surreal. I get emotional, but I just can't help but smile. So here are the pictures I was able to find last minute to share with you. Maybe over the weekend I will search for some more of our fun camping pictures.






Here is Chrisie and Cora at the lake when Christie wasn't even 2 and Cora was 7.

Here is Ed, Casey, Cora and Christie in Chicago. They came to visit and Ron took them all to Taste of Chicago. This was the last vacation we had with Cora.













And here is my Christie. Isn't she beautiful? I can't believe how big she is. She truly has come into her own and definitely isn't a little girl any longer.

Two Beautiful Young Ladies

So Christie came home yesterday from school and, very nonchalantly, hands me a package and says "here you go". It was her school pictures from middle school. I honestly just stood up and gave her the biggest hug I could and began to cry. This time is so very hard for me.

It was six years ago this January that our dear friends, Ed and Martina, lost their daughter Cora to leukemia. She was just entering the 7th grade. I remember getting her school picture at the end of 6th grade and saying "she isn't a little girl any more, she's a young lady with so much ahead of her now". And 8 months later, she was gone. She was diagnosed on July 17th and passed away on January 17th.

When I look at Christie now, I see her whole life in front of her. She is becoming such a beautiful young lady. She has new friends, in a new school and has so many new adventures ahead of her. We talk often of how many friends she has and I tell her, cherish the times you have because one day they could move away or something and all you will have are memories. I just hope that she never has to experience that ever again, or us.

So, although her picture isn't posted this very moment (promise I will get it up tomorrow), I want everyone that may read this today to take a moment to ponder one thing. CHERISH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE FOR JUST A MOMENT RIGHT NOW. I never thought that when we moved away from Duluth, that the last time I would talk to Cora, would be over the phone. I promised her on Wednesday that we would be up on Friday to see her, but the pain was too much for her to bear, and she just couldn't hold on. She passed on Thursday morning. She told Martina to make sure to tell us, she still loved us, even if she wasn't there when we arrived.

I miss her almost everyday. It was as if I lost my own daughter. Christie lost a sister, and our entire family lost a wonderful friend, but the memories we have are so tremendous, that even after 6 years, I laugh so hard that it brings me to tears about how many fun times we had. Now that Christie is older, and has friends of her own that she goes off with away from home, I just hope she knows home much Ron and I love her and cherish EVERY WAKING MOMENT with her.

We still have Will and Ashley and Courtney who will be going through the same thing, but I think it is harder on us with Christie because Cora was her best friend. The first person she ever loved besides her family. The only reason she took her first step, went pee on the potty, and even got on her first bicycle. We love you Christie and we love you Cora. Two beautiful girls, that will forever be Young Ladies!