Oh Mom and I am going to write to Dave (Kurt's Dad), this time too!! You two would be so very proud of Kurt. He has begun a business. It is called Messy Palette Art Studio. In October of this year he started. He is doing art classes for kids and adults, birthday parties, adult art nights, special events, gallery nights, shows, and the list will continue to grow as he continues to see outside of the box and be creative!! We had a launch party in October with about 60 in attendance. Last weekend we had a Christmas open house with venders, art for sale, an art project, and of course goodies. We had about 60 in attendance and about 1/2 of those hadn't been there yet. The place is located on Broadway and it is in an old cobblestone house. The space is very unique. Livi loves to hang out with Daddy all day and Mia has enjoyed taking some classes and hanging out.
Mom, thanks for all your advise and expertise in the food world because I have been excited to make treats for the events. And a huge thanks to both you and Dave for encouraging Kurt over the years to continue to be creative!! Every time we have an event, it makes us miss you both so very much. Your hugs, smiles, advise for small businesses, encouraging words, and your tears of joy are thought of.
God is so very Good!! We pray that the Messy Palette Art Studio can be a blessing to Rockford and a warm, creative place to hang out.
Love ya!
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving day was so wonderful, filled with family and food. The day was wonderful . Dad vacuumed and washed windows as I was preparing last minute foods. Kurt and Dad grilled two turkeys that were super fabulous! Oh, Mom, you would have been so pleased. We spent the afternoon playing Rack-o and Kurt and I did some late night shopping. The next day, we had Thanksgiving with the Erickson's. The siblings enjoyed playing Apples to Apples in the afternoon while we waited for the turkey. Again a delicious meal with wonderful loved ones.
Even though our Thanksgiving holiday was so delightful, we were missing the hugs and laughter of special loved ones that are no longer with us. We miss you dearly, but know that because of God's promises we have hope everlasting!! As I close this Thanksgiving post, I will end with this....share hope and celebrate hope! Love ya!
Even though our Thanksgiving holiday was so delightful, we were missing the hugs and laughter of special loved ones that are no longer with us. We miss you dearly, but know that because of God's promises we have hope everlasting!! As I close this Thanksgiving post, I will end with this....share hope and celebrate hope! Love ya!
Pies, turkey, and pizza oh my!
Two beautiful pumpkin pies, turkey soaking in an apple cider brine waiting to be grilled, and Lino's pizza for dinner on the eve before Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 23, 2012
The day before
Wednesday was the day to prep and I had two wonderful little helpers and a couple of big ones,too! What an honor it is to be in my Mom's kitchen making The Thanksgiving meal, wish we could have been side by side. The girls helped with the dressing, pies, table decorations, and setting the table. Kurt did a whole lot of chopping and Dad helped rearrange the furniture. I was so grateful for all of there help! 
Ideas and recipes
Here are some of the ideas and recipes I will be using for Thanksgiving. I am using two church cookbooks....some of you may remember that green one. I am going to be using a apple cider brine for one of the turkeys with an apple cider sauce. I am combining recipes from the past with a couple new twists! Happy cooking!!!
Monday, November 19, 2012
The menu
Well, Mom, I am going to attempt cooking a turkey. Well actually the guys are going to grill 2 of them. One will be in an apple cider brine and the other will be plain. Dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes with marshmallows and cranberries ( request from Dad), apple cider, coffee, milk, water, pumpkin pie and peanut butter ice cream pie (requested by Kurt) will all be prepared by the girls and I with Kurt and Dad to help. Grandma Lowman is bringing cinnamon rolls, fruit, and cranberries. Grandma Anderson is bringing Hawaiian rolls. Nichole is bringing green bean casserole and pop. Uncle Scott is bringing a chocolate chip cheesecake. I am so excited and honored to make this meal in your kitchen. I wish you were there by my side! Stay tuned for more on this year's Thanksgiving celebration and new memories!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Fall cooking!!
Thanks mom for teaching me how to cook because now I can share the kitchen with my girls! Guess who's making Thanksgiving Dinner this year? Dad is hosting and I am cooking!! So excited! I am going to try to document this memory here on the blog! Being thankful!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Dear Mom,
Oh my goodness it has been a while since we last chatted. I am so sorry I have not kept you updated with the going ons around here. We think of you often (every day...sometimes several times a day)...oh we miss you soooo much, but we are at peace because Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace, I wanna see my Savior's face...Heaven is a wonderful place!! Here is one of those moments: I was getting ready for my last day of school before summer break. I was looking in the mirror and thinking of all the fun summer will bring, like swimming, shopping, napping, playing Little People, Barbies, kitchen, grilling, camping, and of course going out to lunch. That's when the tears began because I realized that you and I couldn't go to Imperial Palace for Chinese...delicious egg drop soup and egg rolls. Loved those days especially when we called for delivery!!
Well, Mom we have had a blast this summer. We went camping at Grand Marias. Mia celebrated her 8th birthday in June with a tie-dye/peace sign birthday party. We had a great time at VBS. We went swimming at grandma and grandpa's. Mia swims under water like a fish. Livi is very independent with her floaties and sometimes thinks she doesn't need them.We celebrated 4th of July with sub sandwiches at Dad's and then headed downtown to see fireworks. We have toured City Market a few times. Hit the Brookfield Zoo twice. Went to Sand Park pool with a co-worker and her kids. Met some of Kurt's cousins on the Erickson side for the 1st time. Spent about a week up in Wisconsin at the lake house with grandpa and grandma Lowman. And very importantly....Sweated! It was a HOT summer...whew!!
Other huge news for the Erickson family.......are you ready for this.....Kurt is opening up an art studio in which he will teach art classes for kids and teens. We are so excited! The name he has chosen is "Messy Palette Art Studio". It will be located on Broadway in an 1800's house. He has so many creative ideas for the space and event ideas. I wish you were here to cheer him on!!! You always did such a great job of cheering and encouraging us!! Thanks for helping our dreams come true!!
Well, tonight is the night before school starts and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even the 3rd grader of the house! Mia is so, so very excited for school to begin. She is getting to be so tall. She has such a sweet personality. But she has already began to tell me that I do some pretty embarrassing things!! I just thought...you ain't seen nothing yet. Remember the time you waved the huge menu at Damon's and said "you who" at the boys Becky and I saw when I was in college....oh my. I think we crawled under the table.
Today is my birthday!! I turned 37!! I never thought that I wouldn't celebrate these "young" birthdays without my Mom, but God has a plan and He is in control. Dad took me birthday shopping again this year!! I must have behaved last year! He is so precious when he is helping me pick out clothes and waiting patiently while I try everything on. He picked me up in his little blue car and we chatted...wish you were there!
Oh man the time is flying by. I better get to bed because tomorrow is a big day. I love you Mom!!
Love, Jenn
Oh my goodness it has been a while since we last chatted. I am so sorry I have not kept you updated with the going ons around here. We think of you often (every day...sometimes several times a day)...oh we miss you soooo much, but we are at peace because Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace, I wanna see my Savior's face...Heaven is a wonderful place!! Here is one of those moments: I was getting ready for my last day of school before summer break. I was looking in the mirror and thinking of all the fun summer will bring, like swimming, shopping, napping, playing Little People, Barbies, kitchen, grilling, camping, and of course going out to lunch. That's when the tears began because I realized that you and I couldn't go to Imperial Palace for Chinese...delicious egg drop soup and egg rolls. Loved those days especially when we called for delivery!!
Well, Mom we have had a blast this summer. We went camping at Grand Marias. Mia celebrated her 8th birthday in June with a tie-dye/peace sign birthday party. We had a great time at VBS. We went swimming at grandma and grandpa's. Mia swims under water like a fish. Livi is very independent with her floaties and sometimes thinks she doesn't need them.We celebrated 4th of July with sub sandwiches at Dad's and then headed downtown to see fireworks. We have toured City Market a few times. Hit the Brookfield Zoo twice. Went to Sand Park pool with a co-worker and her kids. Met some of Kurt's cousins on the Erickson side for the 1st time. Spent about a week up in Wisconsin at the lake house with grandpa and grandma Lowman. And very importantly....Sweated! It was a HOT summer...whew!!
Other huge news for the Erickson family.......are you ready for this.....Kurt is opening up an art studio in which he will teach art classes for kids and teens. We are so excited! The name he has chosen is "Messy Palette Art Studio". It will be located on Broadway in an 1800's house. He has so many creative ideas for the space and event ideas. I wish you were here to cheer him on!!! You always did such a great job of cheering and encouraging us!! Thanks for helping our dreams come true!!
Well, tonight is the night before school starts and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even the 3rd grader of the house! Mia is so, so very excited for school to begin. She is getting to be so tall. She has such a sweet personality. But she has already began to tell me that I do some pretty embarrassing things!! I just thought...you ain't seen nothing yet. Remember the time you waved the huge menu at Damon's and said "you who" at the boys Becky and I saw when I was in college....oh my. I think we crawled under the table.
Today is my birthday!! I turned 37!! I never thought that I wouldn't celebrate these "young" birthdays without my Mom, but God has a plan and He is in control. Dad took me birthday shopping again this year!! I must have behaved last year! He is so precious when he is helping me pick out clothes and waiting patiently while I try everything on. He picked me up in his little blue car and we chatted...wish you were there!
Oh man the time is flying by. I better get to bed because tomorrow is a big day. I love you Mom!!
Love, Jenn
Friday, April 13, 2012
Easter...He has risen!!
Mom,
Not that I dwell on this, but I am reminded of the events of Easter (or the time around Easter) for the past 2 years. I can remember 2 years ago going to Madison to hear the devastating news that you had an awful disease called cancer and you would only live for 12 months. Then 12 months later, you left this life here on earth and your funeral was a week before Easter. And this year, Livi and Mia were having a snack before going to church for breakfast and Livi asked if Grandpa Erickson and You were going to come for Easter. It broke my heart, but I said "No, they won't be there. Do you miss them? And she stuck her little lip out and said "Yes". I said that I miss you both, too, gave them hugs! But I have a hope in Jesus, who conquered death and the tomb was empty!!! Praise the Lord!! During the Easter service at church we sang the Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace (at the bottom of this post there is a link to a video of this song), which was the one we used at your service. My heart just melts to hear those words. Even though I feel an earthly sadness there is a heavenly promise that I am reminded of.
For our Easter celebrations we started on Saturday with birthday (Uncle Scott's and Kurt's)/Easter at grandpa and grandma Lowman's. We had a delicious meal with an Easter egg hunt for the girls outside. I forgot, Dad had Easter baskets for the girls on Friday. He even bought them hula hoops and tried to show the girls how to use them. I love his enthusiasm. Then for lunch on Sunday, we went to Aunt Donna's with just a small group of us. Lunch was delightful followed by an Easter egg hunt. Then we went over to the Erickson's for dinner. For the first time in 8 years the adults got a chance to visit and carry out an entire conversation!!! I guess that's what happens when we don't have babies anymore.
On the way home, we received a phone call from grandpa and grandma Lowman. Grandma was calling to let us know that Noni had passed away around 7:30 p.m. On my goodness!! My heart just broke. I know that she was tired and not feeling well, but I just wasn't ready for her to go.
Well, as you and Dad said early on "It is what it is". I will choose to celebrate our Risen Savior!!!
Love ya, Jenn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I
Not that I dwell on this, but I am reminded of the events of Easter (or the time around Easter) for the past 2 years. I can remember 2 years ago going to Madison to hear the devastating news that you had an awful disease called cancer and you would only live for 12 months. Then 12 months later, you left this life here on earth and your funeral was a week before Easter. And this year, Livi and Mia were having a snack before going to church for breakfast and Livi asked if Grandpa Erickson and You were going to come for Easter. It broke my heart, but I said "No, they won't be there. Do you miss them? And she stuck her little lip out and said "Yes". I said that I miss you both, too, gave them hugs! But I have a hope in Jesus, who conquered death and the tomb was empty!!! Praise the Lord!! During the Easter service at church we sang the Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace (at the bottom of this post there is a link to a video of this song), which was the one we used at your service. My heart just melts to hear those words. Even though I feel an earthly sadness there is a heavenly promise that I am reminded of.
For our Easter celebrations we started on Saturday with birthday (Uncle Scott's and Kurt's)/Easter at grandpa and grandma Lowman's. We had a delicious meal with an Easter egg hunt for the girls outside. I forgot, Dad had Easter baskets for the girls on Friday. He even bought them hula hoops and tried to show the girls how to use them. I love his enthusiasm. Then for lunch on Sunday, we went to Aunt Donna's with just a small group of us. Lunch was delightful followed by an Easter egg hunt. Then we went over to the Erickson's for dinner. For the first time in 8 years the adults got a chance to visit and carry out an entire conversation!!! I guess that's what happens when we don't have babies anymore.
On the way home, we received a phone call from grandpa and grandma Lowman. Grandma was calling to let us know that Noni had passed away around 7:30 p.m. On my goodness!! My heart just broke. I know that she was tired and not feeling well, but I just wasn't ready for her to go.
Well, as you and Dad said early on "It is what it is". I will choose to celebrate our Risen Savior!!!
Love ya, Jenn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I
Friday, April 6, 2012
Memories are a beautiful thing
Dear Mom,
Well, one year ago on April 1st is when you left this life on Earth and were relieved from your earthly pain and discomfort. As our family stood by your bed side and watched you peacefully take your last breath, we held on to the hope our Heavenly Father has promised us...this world is not our home, we are just passing through and there is a place more wonderful...HEAVEN!!! We miss you dearly and sometimes hate the fact that you are not here to celebrate the holidays with us or birthdays or even to call and ask for a recipe. But again, we hold on to the hope of God's plan for our life! Even those painful/lonely days, we want to bring glory and honor to God!!
On Sunday, April 1st, family gathered together at Egg Harbor for lunch after church, traveled to the cemetery (grandma Lowman read a poem, grandpa Lowman prayed, many tears were shed, hugs were shared, and we held each other up), and then we moved to your house for pie and ice cream. We enjoyed delicious home baked pies prepared by DAD!!! They were gorgeous and yummy!! We were so appreciative of the support and encouragement of those around us that day!
Mom, I always wonder how Mia and Livi are handling all of this. You and their grandpa Erickson were erased from their lives within a matter of 6 months. It breaks my heart! Especially since I am so blessed to have both of my grandparents alive and such an active part of my life, not to mention a 102 year old great-grandmother! So, we share memories of your lives! We look at pictures! We remember those "character building" moments! We pass on traditions that you began for us! And most importantly, we share the love of Jesus with them and pray that they will be a shining light unto the world! Thank you for the memories.
Love, Jenn
Well, one year ago on April 1st is when you left this life on Earth and were relieved from your earthly pain and discomfort. As our family stood by your bed side and watched you peacefully take your last breath, we held on to the hope our Heavenly Father has promised us...this world is not our home, we are just passing through and there is a place more wonderful...HEAVEN!!! We miss you dearly and sometimes hate the fact that you are not here to celebrate the holidays with us or birthdays or even to call and ask for a recipe. But again, we hold on to the hope of God's plan for our life! Even those painful/lonely days, we want to bring glory and honor to God!!
On Sunday, April 1st, family gathered together at Egg Harbor for lunch after church, traveled to the cemetery (grandma Lowman read a poem, grandpa Lowman prayed, many tears were shed, hugs were shared, and we held each other up), and then we moved to your house for pie and ice cream. We enjoyed delicious home baked pies prepared by DAD!!! They were gorgeous and yummy!! We were so appreciative of the support and encouragement of those around us that day!
Mom, I always wonder how Mia and Livi are handling all of this. You and their grandpa Erickson were erased from their lives within a matter of 6 months. It breaks my heart! Especially since I am so blessed to have both of my grandparents alive and such an active part of my life, not to mention a 102 year old great-grandmother! So, we share memories of your lives! We look at pictures! We remember those "character building" moments! We pass on traditions that you began for us! And most importantly, we share the love of Jesus with them and pray that they will be a shining light unto the world! Thank you for the memories.
Love, Jenn
Saturday, February 4, 2012
It's been awhile
Dear Mom,
So we've been very busy since I last wrote to you, but think of you every day!!! Since I last wrote, we have had our first holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), I've cooked in the kitchen again, Mia created an invention, Livi's vocabulary is increasing daily, Dad and Kent went on a trip to visit dear friends, Noni has been on a health roller coaster and at this moment is doing well, we've only had a little snow this year and right now it feels like winter is on it's way out, Kurt was in a big art show in the Chicago area and did well, and mostly the weeks are busy and weekends busier or we just rest!
Just some thoughts on our first Thanksgiving and Christmas: For Thanksgiving we went to The Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells with Dad for a couple of days. Grandpa and Grandma Lowman came up on Thanksgiving and we went to a buffet for dinner....can you believe it...no cooking!!! I know you would want to know how the food was. The food was alright, but nothing like our family dinners!!!! We had so much fun at the water park!! We had decided that we should do something different for the holidays this year and I am so glad we did because it was good to be together. And that also meant that we didn't have time to set up our Christmas tree, but no worries. We went to Grand Lake, Colorado for Christmas to go snowmobiling! Again, we had a great time together. Doing something different than the traditions that we have always done helped us to get through the "days" of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the pain of you not being there to vacation with us was present as well.
The girls are awake now, so I must go! Oh Mom, do I miss you so!! Having this outlet of being able to write to you has helped me, but it's not the same as being able to call you and talk about my day and share with you what the girls are doing and defiantly not the same as being with you!!
Love you, Jenn
So we've been very busy since I last wrote to you, but think of you every day!!! Since I last wrote, we have had our first holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), I've cooked in the kitchen again, Mia created an invention, Livi's vocabulary is increasing daily, Dad and Kent went on a trip to visit dear friends, Noni has been on a health roller coaster and at this moment is doing well, we've only had a little snow this year and right now it feels like winter is on it's way out, Kurt was in a big art show in the Chicago area and did well, and mostly the weeks are busy and weekends busier or we just rest!
Just some thoughts on our first Thanksgiving and Christmas: For Thanksgiving we went to The Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells with Dad for a couple of days. Grandpa and Grandma Lowman came up on Thanksgiving and we went to a buffet for dinner....can you believe it...no cooking!!! I know you would want to know how the food was. The food was alright, but nothing like our family dinners!!!! We had so much fun at the water park!! We had decided that we should do something different for the holidays this year and I am so glad we did because it was good to be together. And that also meant that we didn't have time to set up our Christmas tree, but no worries. We went to Grand Lake, Colorado for Christmas to go snowmobiling! Again, we had a great time together. Doing something different than the traditions that we have always done helped us to get through the "days" of Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the pain of you not being there to vacation with us was present as well.
The girls are awake now, so I must go! Oh Mom, do I miss you so!! Having this outlet of being able to write to you has helped me, but it's not the same as being able to call you and talk about my day and share with you what the girls are doing and defiantly not the same as being with you!!
Love you, Jenn
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