No phone calls yet for tonight...

I'm still not doing anything, and I'm really in the mood to babysit!

:D

Call me if you'd like your kids to come here, or have me come there. I'd be thrilled! :)

Valentine's Day

Every year on February 14 we celebrate “Valentine’s Day.” It’s a wonderful day to express your love with cards, flowers & candy. But, do you know how the tradition really got started?

There was a Christian man by the name Valentine who lived in and around Rome in the third century. He was martyred for his faith on February 14th.

February fifteenth was the date of a Roman festival of love, called Lupercalia.
During the festival of Lupercalia, young men and women would draw names for a partner. The couple would spend time together, exchange gifts, and some would end up getting married. Somehow Cupid was involved. According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the “god of love.” People believed that a shot from one of Cupid’s arrows made a person fall in love. To this day he is depicted as a chubby little boy with golden wings, holding a bow and arrow.

In 495, Pope Glasius decided to declare February 14 as Saint Valentine’s Day to replace the pagan festival of Lupercalia.

So Valentine died a Christian martyr, on February 14, A.D. 269.


I’m sure hardly any of you knew the story behind Valentine’s Day. I didn’t, until I learned about it in History. So, maybe this Valentine’s Day you’ll reflect on the hardship and sacrifice St. Valentine and hundreds of other saints made.



I don’t usually do posts like this, but I did because I found it interesting. :)

TO ANY MOM’S (OR DAD’S):
If you’d like to take your spouse out for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, I’m free on Friday night! :) I know, it’s not Valentine’s Day... but the restaurants might not be as busy then. :D Anyways, I’d love to watch your kids for you. :)
Have a fantastic Love day!

My weekend

Friday night we went to my aunt and uncles for a surprise birthday thing for my cousin. It wasn't too exciting.... we got home pretty late. Oh yeah, Ernie was there!

Saturday morning I had a Sonatina/Sonata Competition at ICC. I got 1st place in my level.... and I was the only one in my level. :) But, my piano teacher said they don't have to give you a trophy(which means 1st place, obviously) if you don't deserve it. Cuz some levels just had one person, and they didn't get anything. But yeah, I kind of wish it would've been a bit more competitive... but I guess it was a good experience :)
(Mom forgot to take any pictures of me playing at the competition... so here's one at our house. :)

Saturday it was sooo beautiful outside! I try to walk and run every day... and going on the treadmill gets really old. So, I was quite thrilled to get outside. I got to walk outside today too! (and hopefully tomorrow!)

That night was the Spaghetti Fundraiser for our Bible Class mission trip to Magdalena. I'm so mad I forgot to take pictures!! We had a pretty good turnout and raised a lot of money. Jenna & I were "busboys" and it was a busy and gross job.... like scraping off all the wasted spagehtti and getting stuff splattered on your shirt. :P
Afterwards, I went with Jenna to Thames'. That was pretty fun... especially the car ride. :) (Nenna, 3=possible!) :D That was a late night, too.

Sunday I went to Kendra's to hang out until ACYF in Eureka. It was a usual ACYF. I usually end up sitting by hyper and nervous Haley every time because we're both altos. :) Then she makes me hyper.... us two really can't sit by each other.

Today I'm not getting as much done as I should be. I'm really tired, maybe that's why.

Have a great day!
-Wendi Jo

Spaghetti Dinner & Auction

Washington A.C. Bible Class

Spaghetti Dinner

&

Silent Auction

5:00-7:30pm

Saturday, February 7th

AT

Washington Middle School

1110 N Main

A fundraiser for our trip to Casa Vida Y Esperanza

Orphanage in Magdalena, MX

FREEWILL OFFERING TAKEN

Everyone's invited and we would love to see you there!

Seriously, we would greatly appreciate your attendance. :)

A day with Katherine

Monday night Katie spent the night. I felt like a little girl again (some of you are probably thinking, "you are still a little girl":). We spent it talking, laughing & giggling. After a while Mom knocked on the door to tell us we we're being too noisy. whoops. :) Then we whispered, but still got a little loud sometimes.

Seriously, it was like a step back into my childhood that night. :D
The next morning, we helped Mom clean up the house.

When that was done, we went over to Peoria for lunch at Panera, and then shopping! Even though our taste in clothes is totally opposite. :) But yea, I found some pretty good bargains....that are really cute.
After shopping, we went to Starbucks and got Mocha's and cake. yuummm.

It was an fun and great day with Katie May. Even though she had to come back for sad reason,

it was amazing I got to be with her! :)

Love you lots, Kate. You're an amazing friend and cousin.

(I'm not sure why the first picture is cut off...)

Family Time

Monday after the funeral, all the Schick's came to our house for supper. Here's a few pictures:

Us crazy girls.

Raegan got stuck in the doll high chair. :)


It was a good weekend, full of Family Time. At the moment we're at Grandma's writing Thank You's...who knows how long this is gonna take. Especially since they're doing mostly talking instead of writing. :)

And of course, school is getting put off this week, too. Not all of it, but some.

Ted A. Schick, 54, of Eureka, died at 4 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 , at his sister's home in Washington.
He was born June 18, 1954, in Peoria to John F. Jr. and Pauline C. (Feucht) Schick.
Surviving are his mother, Pauline "Dolly" Schick of Washington; six siblings, Tom (Carol) Schick of Morton, Jeanne (John) Dotterer of Eureka, Sandy (Daniel) Guingrich of Indianapolis, Ind., Bill (Joan) Schick of Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico, Mary (Max) Pfaffmann of Washington, and Scott (Dawn) Schick of Morton; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and one brother, Steve.
He was a member of the Washington Apostolic Christian Church. His church, singing hymns, and writing poetry were important parts of his life. He loved people, especially children.
Ted worked at Peoria Production Shop for many years.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, at the Washington Apostolic Christian Church, with church ministers officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home in Morton, and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial will be in the Washington Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Methodist Medical Center Hospice Program, 221 NE Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, IL 61636, or to Apostolic Christian Timber Ridge, 2125 Veterans Road, Morton, IL 61550.

Uncle Ted

Uncle Ted passed away at 2:45 this morning. He became non-responsive yesterday evening and died very peacefully just 10 hours later. He was never gasping for breath, but instead his breathing just got shallower and slower until he quit.


I was sleeping downstairs in the boys' room and didn't hear a thing. Except the phone ringing at 3,5 and 6am. I kinda thought something was up. When I got up, I came upstairs and I didn't hear the oxygen thing. I walked past the room and it was empty.

To be honest, I'm glad I wasn't awake to witness it all. Especially when the funeral home came.... I don't know why. Maybe it's just in my head.

As of right now, I think the visitation is Sunday and the funeral Monday.

It's gonna be a tiring and emotional few days....



......But, I do get to see Kate. :)