Jake

 

Kemah Lake, Hampton, New Jersey

 

Winter 2010

 

 

"You can be a good neighbor

only if you have good neighbors"

~Howard Koch~

 

In the winter of 2010 we moved next door to Jake.

He became one of the best neighbors a person could have.

 

We met him the day we moved in and through the winter he became a good friend.

Every time the sky opened and snow fell down,

Jake would be out plowing snow in the neighborhood.

As soon as I heard his quad I'd start a pot of coffee for him.

 

With out asking and never excepting money he would plow our driveway.

So I found a way to thank him for all the hard work.

A nice big cup of hot coffee and something to snack one.

 

But snow removal wasn't the only neighborly thing he did.

When our furnace was flooded he gave us fire wood,

When Jeff need help with something Jake was there to help.

We were blessed to have Jake and his wife as neighbors.

 

When we moved out we knew we would miss him very much.

Little did we know how much he would miss us also

Firsts

 

Island Beach State Park, New Jersey

 

Fall 2011

 

 

 

 

"Who is staring at the sea is already sailing a little."
-- Paul Carvel --

 

I'm sure every parent experiences plenty of firsts.

This picture was taken during Winnies first day at the beach.

She had never experienced walking on sand and how it moved under her,

Or waves that come crashing at her faster then she could run.

 

She is a mountain puppy,

Solid dirty below her feet,
And slow moving streams.

At about six months that's all she knew.

 

She had a blast on the beach that day,

She would dig holes looking for the bottom,

And then look at them as the filled with water.

I think it impacted her for life.

 

A few weeks later we got our first snow fall.

She went running outside to play in this weird white stuff.

I think she thought it was sand,

Because when she started to dig and hit dirt she ran away,

And barked at the dirt patch like it had done something wrong.

 

Now when we take her to the woods,

And she comes across water she approaches a lot slower,

Once she reaches the waters edge,

She starts digging and watching the water fill the hole.

 

I have many great memories of her firsts,

But the beach on the over cast day is one of my favorites.

Take the chance

 

Zuccotti Park, Lower Manhattan, NYC

 

1994ish

 

 

 

 

"If you want to experience all of the

successes and pleasure in life,

you have to be willing to accept

 all the pain and failure that comes with it."

~Matt Hoffman~

 

 

There isn't much I can say about this picture.

We had traveled the Path from Harrison to the World Trade Towers.

On our way to the subway we stopped for this.

Grimaldo was determined to hit the rail.

What is missing from the picture is one of the guys holding the rail.

The moment you put weight on it the things wobbled like crazy.

 

The park we were in I only knew as flat bench park.

Back then the name was Liberty Plaza Park.

Now it is Zuccotti Park the home of Occupy Wall Street.

It is also the home of many 9-11 memorial services.

 

To me though it will always be the picture above.

Another adventure with my biker boys.



GECYGS

 

 

Rutherford, New Jersey

 

2008 or 2009

 

 

 

"The trick is growing up without growing old"

~Casey Stengel~

 

When you are blessed to become a youth minister you become a teen again.

Well you get the chance to become a teen and be an adult at the same time.

Through out my 9 years of being a youth minister many kids have come and gone.

Each one effecting me in a different way.

 

The picture above is of two of my youth members,

They just as those before them have grown up so much.

Life wasn't always easy for them but they have become amazing adults.

Yes Allison and Adrian you are adults now sorry.

 

I'm proud of the scientist, accountants, hair stylists, and mothers they are all becoming.

Of all the youth members almost all have gone to further their educations.

They have inspired me to become a better person,

And I am so excited when I get to see each of them.

 

I have led them through service projects, fund-raisers, and on many trips.

I've spent hours talking to them about problems,

Late nights playing games with them such as,

Ultimate Duck Duck Goose or Man Hunt. 

 

I hope that I have lead them all to make the right choices in life,

And that they will not make the same mistakes I have.

I love all my kids even the ones who have grown up.

 

Sunset

 

Lakewood, NJ

 

Early 2006

 

 

"Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as

if we are looking through the gates of heaven."

~John Lubbock~

This picture was taken threw the screen window at my parents house.

Not the house I grew up in but the one I found myself in as an adult.

 

Sunsets were always so amazing from the back porch.

They looked like oil paintings you would find in a museum.

I loved to stand and just look out at the beauty God gives us.

I'm still searching for those sunsets 120 miles north of there.

 

When I was trying to find myself in my 20's I traveled this great country.

When I had to rebuild myself in my thirties I sat and watched the sunsets.

I found peace with God and confidence in myself just from the simple beauty.

 

I still find sunsets to be peaceful,

They make me find my center,

They are pure magic and should be enjoyed.



1st Christmas Tree

 

Rutherford New Jersey

 

December 2009

 

 

"Christmas is the day that holds all time together."

~Alexander Smith~

 

This is our first Christmas tree,

All nine hundred lights and 40 ornaments.

If I had my way there would be more lights!

Of course Jeff thinks I'm crazy.

 

My entire life the tree has been the most important part of Christmas.

When I was a child my father and I would go and pick it out,

Dad would bring it in the house the day after my sisters birthday.

He'd get it all set in the stand and leave it for a day or so.

Once the branches had settled down he would go to work.

 

My fathers trees were famous for their lights.

I'm sure many of astronauts saw them from outer space.

It would take him two day to put on more then a thousand lights.

Then we would go to work placing each ornament.

 

I guess that is why I'm so particular with my tree.

Jeff just sits and watches me,

Says it's not worth trying to help,

I have it in my mind how I want it to look.

 

Our trees aren't as grand as my fathers,

But I've been very proud of each of them.

Our first is my favorite and probable always will be.

It's the firsts we will never get back.

 

New Family

 

 

Lancaster County Pennsylvania

 

June 2012

 

 

 

 

"Cherish your human connections-

your relationships with friends and family."

~Barbara Bush~

 

I was blessed with a ton of cousins,

But when I married Jeff I was blessed with even more cousins.

 

When one gets married just like birth the can't chose the family they get.

I knew I had great cousins that I love very much,

So I never worried about having cousin in laws I liked.

Yet I was blessed with such wonderful cousin in laws.

 

Jeff has 8 cousins on his mothers side,

Each one is very special to him.

 

In June 2012 we were lucky enough to travel to Lancaster,

Loaded up in a mini van with two of his cousins,

And one of their boyfriends.

We were taking them out to show them around.

 

We had a wonderful time showing them our favorite places,

Taking tours and watching films.

Jeff's favorite part was being with his cousins.

Mine was helping to form great memories.

 

We stayed over night and on Sunday morning

We took a horse and buggy ride through the back roads.

This picture was taken from that ride.

It was an amazing weekend and we look forward to more adventures with them.