"Red Sparkle" members Gallery This Week:) What do ya think of the outfit I made:)

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Happy 100 th Birthday Lillian!!
On September 28th 1905 our neighbor, just 2 houses down, was born! The mother of 2 sons and 5 grandchildren (? great grandchildren & great-great grandchildren:).
She lost her husband just 5 months ago..he was just months from his 97th birthday!! Lillian's mother lived to be 101 and we came to0 find out
she is a lifelong Cubs fan:))
Yesturday, after picking Alyssa up from Brownies, my husband, I and our two children walked over with apple pie and ice cream to wish her a happy birthday. Her family had sent our flyers to invite the neighborhood over.
Let me just say the photograph below does her no justice! This woman's skin was more beautiful than mine has ever been!! She was sitting in a chair looking amazing! She was listening to all the conversations and when I knelt down to wish her a happy birthday she said thank you:)) Then as I began to take her picture with Alyssa she quickly leaned over and began to smile:)
My husband and I were both so inspired!
Everything she has seen and lived through..just think she was riding in a horse and buggy- before the automobile was invented, she was here for all the World Wars, so many years, so many things!!!!

Lillian and Alyssa 93 years apart!!! alyssa was feeling a bit shy:)

Our little Brownie! A note to my members; yahhh I finished the vest, now onto marathon t-shirts!

Cute as a button!

A Photographer's Ability To Capture The Moment...
Gene X. ....(www.orangeexposure.com)
known to so many competitors, athletes and clients as "Gene- the master eye behind the camera"...
has a unique gift for capturing the beauty before him.
I have had the privilage of working with him twice.
After seeing stage shots he took of me at the Jr. Nationals I contacted him when I was pregnant with our son about doing a pregnancy shoot.
6 1/2 months pregnant, I walked into the Jr. Nationals in Chicago...
quite humbling yes:)
But he did what I had hoped..he captured what I felt!
Then 7 months after having Wade I did an off season shoot with him for Fbbworld. Even in off season shape the pics were great. I am looking forward to a contest shoot next year with this incredible artist!
Here are a few pics of him..just doing his thing:)
Hats off to Gene!
Jen:)

Whatever it takes to get the shot....

An artist's eye...

Impoving when necessary:)

His wheels always turning...

The World Chamionships In Spain...

The light (blue), middle (red) and heavy weight(bronze) winners from the World Championships in Spain!

Overall comparisons at the World's- the light weight in blue took the overall win! Looks a lot like Colette Nelson (2004 winner) from the back doesn't she;)

2nd place heavy weight finisher at the World's in Spain.

Quote For Today....
"It is not only by the questions we have answered that progress may be measured,
but also by those we are still asking."
— Freda Adler

Birthday Party Central!!!
Balloons, Cakes, Family & Fun!
I am just about all birthday partied out:) After Alyssa's slumber party, both the kids' real birthday's last week and then our family party this weekend...Whooo
What a busy few weeks it's been!!!
And yes, of course I'm still cleaning it all up:) last night my husband said it looks like Christmas around here!! I feel the magic too:) We are soooo blessed!
Lots of pics below from the party & I also wanted to send a big CONGRATS to Debbie Patton!! Who placed 6th at the Worlds' in Spain as the women's heavy weight representative!
Way to go Debbie!!!
www.debbiepatton.com

Happy Birthday kiddo's!

CAKE!

Singing to Alyssa

Singing to Wade

Silly silly Alyssa!

Me and the birthday boy.

My Mommy and Wade!

And...the two most beautiful people in the room...My grandparents!! Living over an hour away by brother picked them up so they could come..My grandma- 86 years old and still never wants to miss a party!

Wade fighting grandma for his blankie:)

Wade's new bike!!!

Alyssa and Auntie Shell .. and her new princess alarm clock she wanted!!

Alyssa tackling uncle Lucas!

This picture speaks for itself:) My Mother; the little kid inside her never grew up!

Members Gallery This week..more from my shoot with WPW.

Members preview

My little boy...Two years old already!

Is this an excited kid or what!! I guess he liked his present:)

Bubbles!!!

The birthday boy!

Happy 1st Day of Fall:)
Happy 2nd Birthday to Our Baby Boy Wade!!
And..Happy Birthday To My Very Best Girlfriend Kelly!

2 Years old today!

At Chuck E Cheese for Alyssa's Real Birthday!

Cake at Alyssa's party.

Alyssa's slumber party!- The morning after.

Quote For Today!
I can't change the direction of the wind...
But I can adjust my sails...
To always reach my destination!

Fall is a special time of year!
A lot of beautiful things have happened in the fall for me...
God gave me a 2nd chance at life when I was 15 in September,
my husband and I met while rock climbing in September,
and both our children were born in September!
Needless to say, my focus, time and energy has been on my children and family.
Alyssa's 1st slumber party last weekend:) and a family party this weekend for both Wade and Alyssa! So much fun!!
Then I can start putting my energy into the 6 weeks I need to be stage presentable for my guest posing appearence:)
But for now..I am enjoyiong being the mother I am and celebrating all that I have to be soo greatful for!
The 2nd hurricane is expected to be a class 4!!
I am sooo fortunate and blessed!
Life could be so different!
My thoughts and prayers go out to those who's lives
have been forever changed by this year's hurricane season.
Jen

Quote for Today...
I just love this!!!

"My art and profession is to live."
— Montaigne

Happy 7th Birthday Alyssa!!

Alyssa's 1st Slumber party!! 8 girls, little Wade & my hubby, mom and sister to help!
What a great time they all had! More pics in my members journal!

Most of You Have Read This...
sometime over the past 4 years...but I recieved it once again and thought I would post it because every word is so true!
It's so easy to take what we have each day for granted..I know i can get wrapped up in everything I have to do and then something in my life reminds me to take a breath...
Time with my husband reminded me of that yesturday &
My workout today did that for me as well...

"This has not been broken since 9/11/01, please keep it going...
This has been kept alive and moving since 9/11.
In memory of all those who perished this morning;
the passengers and the pilots on the United Air and AA flights,
the workers in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon,
and all the innocent bystanders.
Our prayers go out to the friends and families of the deceased.
IF I KNEW...
If I knew it would be the last time That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minuteto stop and say
"I love you," instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time!
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance to make everything just right.
There will always be another day to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me,"
"Thank you," or
"It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.

Enjoy the weekend everyone! I have ben busy planning for mine...
I will tell you all about it on Sunday:))
Jen

Members Gallery this week.

WPW Gallery Members Preview

September 11th... In Rememberance...
I spent the evening of September 11th with those most precious to me in my life...
My family...September 11th is my brother's birthday.
This weekend was spent celebrating LIFE ...

In honor of the incredible men and women who put themselves second to those they rescued ...911

"Dress and Heels" Gallery

"Dress and Heels" Gallery

Quote For Today...
"Nothing happens until you decide. …
Make a decision and watch your life move forward."

— Oprah Winfrey

Unable To Sleep At Night...because of stories and images such as these...
In the chaos that was Causeway Boulevard,
a group of 7 children stood out;
A 6-year-old boy walking down the road,
holding a 5-month-old, surrounded by five toddlers
who followed him around as if he were their leader.
They were holding hands. Three of the children were about 2,
and one was wearing only diapers.
A 3-year-old girl, who wore colorful barrettes on the ends of her braids,
had her 14-month-old brother in tow.
The 6-year-old spoke for all of them,
and he told rescuers his name was Deamonte Love.

5

4

3

2

1

10 Weeks Out From Guest Posing...

Anyone in the northwest suburbs:
Hurricane Victims Arriving...
Camp Algonquin
Friday- September 10th, 2005

Your Help Is Needed:
*Worker's At The Camp
*Donations: Drop off at Camp Algonquin or True Value
*Clothing: New 0r Used: Drop off same as above
*Supplies: Canned food, paper goods,
*Employment Opportunities For The Victims!

An estimated 100 victims will arrive on Friday and will be housed up to 6 months, 5 families will stay longer at the camp.

For more information on how you can help:
Contact Linda at Camp Algonquin:
847-370-9595
Today I will be putting several boxes together of clothing and supplies to drop off at True Value. If any of you are in the area and can help as well it would be wonderful!
Employment opportunities are of the ut most importance!!
If you are not in the area or out of state there are victims coming to many areas that you may be able to help as well!

Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done To You...
Everything of true importance, we learn in kindergarten!!
Jen:)

Members preview from this week's gallery.."Against The Wall"

Hurricane Katrina...

I am just overwhelmed!! Not only by what has taken place due to Hurricane Katrina but more so, by what has taken place in the aftermath!
I just finished watching some of the latest developements in this disaster and reading over some of the hundreds and thousands of posts on line.
Families seperated, looking for children, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends....the lists go on and on........................................
As I sit here now typing this letter I know that I need to do my small part to help in the Coast Guard and Red Cross's efforts. I am hoping that my small part will encourage each of you reading this to do the same ..because every little bit will help.
I am donating what I make from my website for a month to the Red Cross. Although this is so small compared to the magnitude and caliper of what needs to be done there...like I said, I am hoping my part in this will inspire all of you to do the same.
There is power in numbers!!
I thank you and so do the thousands of people who have nowhere to go...
no water or food..
no shoes on their feet...
no medicine for the ill...
Basic survival- that is where they are...
and we all had a hot meal for dinner, have a comfortable bed to sleep in and means to protect and care for not only ourselves, but precious loved ones around us!
1-800-help-now is the place to call!
Jen

Health Tip of The Week...
A stroke occurs when oxygen fails to reach some part of the brain;

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.
The stroke victim will suffer brain damage if people nearby
fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke, and take action.
A bystander can recognize a stroke by asking the victim
three simple questions:

*Ask the individual to SMILE.
*Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
*Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE coherently (e.g. "It is sunny out today").

If he or she has trouble with ANY of these tasks,
call an ambulance (911)/a doctor/the hospital immediately
and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness/arm weakness/and speech problems, researchers now urge the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the
American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February.
Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment
of the stroke and prevent brain damage.