Rosh Hashanah

Today is Rosh Hashanah...it is the begining of the Jewish new year. So it made me think, today would be a good day for us all to come up with a resolution. Yes, I know most of us do that on January 1st, but there is always room for improvement, no? And today is as good of day as any to recommit to something good, or recommit to giving up something that is not so good.

So, what will your Rosh Hashanah resolution be?... (I would share mine with you, but I'll be honest, I still haven't come up with a good one yet. I'll keep ya posted...)

Adventures in Indiana

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so I will let them do most of the talking about the odds and ends of our adventures...

This made it all real to me, that I was going, really going to Indiana to have the trip of a lifetime...

Getting ready to fly!...What can I say, we put the 'fun' in dysfunctional!

We stopped by the Indianapolis Museum of Art...It was a pretty neat place. It was huge! It was cool to be able to see original VanGoughs and Monets...I'd seen them in books before but never seen one in real life.

This is the original sculpture of this piece of artwork. Kinda cool. (And as a side note, who knew that a fat white girl could jump like that?!...)

I like this painting...I think it should be entitled "Twilight Zone Eyeball"

My Ma and Bro at the Art Museum (Like I said, we're dysFUNctional)

There were White Castle restaurants all over back there. My brother decided that we could not leave until we had dined here. All I can say it that it was one big (not the burgers, they were small and referred to as 'sliders'), grease filled, heartburn causing disappointment...

What do you think this is?...Its a hamburger. No, I'm not kidding, though I wish I was.

White Castle! Home of the award winning pimento-loaf-esque hamburger...

After we visited the Indianapolis Speedway (no, there are no pictures as it was not that noteworthy and the only pics I have of it are of my brother mooning it and I thought I would spare you from having to see that) we were driving back to town and I happened to spot this little gem in a ghetto-esque area. But it said bakery and there was a line, so I figured we'd stumbled upon a hot spot and I made my brother pull the car over so I could run in. All I can say is it was so worth it!

Home of some delightful baked goods...I think the favorite was the 'alligator.' A tasty treat that was the size of your arm (no joke). My brother best described the taste of it when he said it was "like a maple bar and a cinnamon roll made sweet, sweet love."  (This is also a shout-out to you Danielle as it is your name on the building)

I liked this. It was on a random fence outside of a Walgreens Pharmacy...

Good trip...Good times...

Colts vs Steelers

It is no secret that I love football. I mean I really love it. So to be able to head to Lucas Oil Stadium to watch the Colts take on the Steelers, brought me sheer joy. Here are some of the highlight shots...

This makes me mist every time I watch it...and I will say, it is even more emotional when you see it in person! The flag covers the entire field as the National Anthem is sung...Breathtaking!

Here is the little jerk who beat my dear friend Kirstie Alley on DWTS...Heinz Ward

Here is the booty shot of my boyfriend Reggie Wayne...

And here I am loving every minute of it, with my crazy Ma behind me giving me 'bunny ears' like a mature 12 year old would do... :)

The game was so good. It all came down to the last 14 seconds. It doesn't get better than that (okay, so it would've been better had the Colts won, but hey, you can't win em all...)! It was so stinkin much fun...Everything from watching BigBen get his clocked cleaned a few times, to the sweet 80 some odd year old lady sitting next to me getting so into the game, to my Ma's drink getting kicked over before the game even started, to entertainment of the cursing, fighting Colts/Steeler fans going back and forth (one guy even got a security escort out!), to the walking back to the hotel in a downpour... All of that my friends are  what memories are made of!

Eva Mozes Kor

As a little history to this, let me back up by saying that this whole endeavor started with NetFlix. Yeah, you read that correctly, NetFlix. For the last year or so, I've had a love affair with NetFlix and it's documentary selection. About four months or so ago, I watched a documentary entitled "Forgiving Dr. Mengele." I was so moved by it. Thoughts of it entered my mind almost every day.

The story was about a woman named Eva Mozes Kor, who is a survivor of the Holocaust. She and her twin sister Miriam were victims of Dr. Mengele's cruel experiments on twins. Her story of suffering and loss is incomprehensible. But it is her story of forgiveness that is as unimaginable.

This woman who has every right to live a life full of anger, hate, and bitterness toward the world and all those who wronged and tortured her, lives a life full of the opposite. She went on to offer a declaration of forgiveness to those who did unspeakable things to her during the Holocaust. And she now lives her life spreading a message of the need to forgive one another. She states that forgiving is the best gift a victim can give themselves, as it frees them. They are no longer tied to the one who hurt them.

If you get the chance, check out her documentary "Forgiving Dr. Mengele." She also has two books out; I recommend "Echoes From Auschwitz." You can also read more about her story of survival, her mission of forgiveness and much more by going to her website... http://www.candlesholocaustmuseum.org/

So long story short, I saw the documentary and was so moved by it and just had the most overwhelming impression that I needed to get in contact with this woman. So I did. She agreed to meet with me at the museum she runs in Terre Haute, Indiana. And before I knew it, tickets were booked and my mom, brother and I were heading out to Indy for the experience of a lifetime...

Here are some pictures from my travels...

I was taking pictures of everything as I wanted to document every detail of the journey. So here you've got the freeway exit sign for Terre Haute...

Here is the actual building...The CANDLES Holocaust Museum

We sat with Eva and she talked with us for more than two and a half hours. I was captivated by everything she said. She is full of such determination, and humor, and insight. Something she said to me during our discussion that I thought was worthy of sharing was, "I believe that the world wants to know that there are a lot of terrible things that happen, but that you as a victim, as a bystander, as a human being, you have a choice...you can take the power to rule your own life and make your life what you want it to be, that is an important thing. And [the knowledge of us having that choice and that power] is desperately needed."

My brother, my mom, and I with one of the most incredible human beings I've ever encountered...Eva Mozes Kor

My mom and I with Walter...A German Jew who was able to flee the country before the war began. He is the sweetest man.

This was the scene as we were leaving Terre Haute and heading back to Indianapolis...it summed up perfectly the way that I felt...so very enlightened.

What?! A Sonic in Terre Haute?! What a perfect ending to a perfect day...

 ~~~

"There were about 1 million people who went through Auschwitz and some how survived. And that to me is important. Isn't there a lesson? That even all the misery and all the cruelty could not completely defeat all the people's human spirit. And that is important to know. I can show you endless numbers of people who have survived unbelievable things--there are times when they look back and they ask themselves 'How on earth did I do that?' We are a lot stronger than we think that we are." -Eva Mozes Kor

~~~

InDy...

I took a little trip to Indiana last week. It was more than just a little vacation, it was a life changing journey. It was so big in fact, I will break it down into 3 different posts for you. I hope you enjoy reading about it a fraction as much as I did experiencing it...

Have Mercy

Me, WOG Lori, Peggy, and Fira enjoying the fact that it stopped raining in time for the show

On Friday night I went with some friends to a MercyMe concert. It was a delight. So different from your regular rock show. The entire night was devoted to worshiping God and Jesus. There was a very cool vibe there. Though it was an entertaining show full of drums and electric guitars, it gave way to allow you some time to think and reflect on what really matters, what this life is all about, and the Ones who are there to help you get through it all...

9/11

Even having been to the 9/11 memorial in New York, it is still hard to comprehend the magnitude of what happen that day. In the memorial you see walls covered from top to bottom with pictures of those who lost their lives. You see a massive twisted beam that once was part of one of the towers. There is a plane window. All of it before you is very overwhelming and emotional. As you leave, you are left still questioning why and how. Why would people want to kill so many innocent people, and how could that much hate and evil reside in a person to cause them to carry out such a horrendous act? I don't understand, and I don't think I ever will.

So today I remeember the tragedy that occurred 10 years ago and those that were lost that day, but also remembering the triumph of those that survived and the courage of those that continue to fight every day to protect us and our freedom. May God bless this great country today and always...

My Grandparents are the best...

Happy Grandparents Day G~Ma and G~Pa. I love you!

Me and my G~Ma and G~Pa in the Mexican Riviera last January

Green Bay Wilson Phillips Delight

Tonight was a big night...

The NFL started it's season with a huge game...Packers vs Saints. I have been waiting for this moment since the closing second of the Superbowl last year. I love football. Probably more than I should. It is the highlight of my Fall and Winter. It's off to a beautiful start with the Packers win tonight! I feel that this season is going to be full of underdogs coming out of nowhere and stunning all of the critics...(lets just hope that my Titans can be one of those surprising shining stars)

And the other delight of the night was the little trip we took to the State Fair to see the one, the only, wait for it...Wilson Phillips! Yeah, I know you are all writhing in jealousy. It was a total blast from the past, even more so than expected. The night should have been called "A Tribute To Our Parents and Fleetwood Mac." Don't get me wrong, I still loved it, but I just thought we might hear some of the classics of Wilson Phillips rather than the greatest hits of the Beach Boys, the Mamas and the Papas, and Stevie Nicks. Nevertheless it was some good times...

vaChynna Phillips, Wendy Wilson, and Carnie...

Labor Day White

I've always marched to the beat of my own drum. Anyone who knows me can attest to this. I do most things in my own crazy way. Today I decided to take a stand against all of the 'fashion experts' out there. No white after Labor Day they say? Well take this...