Family Brunch Time..PHOTOS

We had a great time with family on Sunday for Brunch. We had guests from Wisconsin: Stefan's Ciocia (Aunt) Vicky; her son, Teddy and his wife, Nancy, and their sons, Mikey and Tommy.
Needless to say, it was more fun to be with them than to put up my Christmas decorations. I started to get some lights up on Monday evening, but did not finish them yet. I should have, the temperature was 61, but today Tuesday it will only be a high of 34. Oh well.
Here's a picture of Nancy and me.






Stefan, Vicky, and Nancy watch as Stevie pretends he's a music conductor.










Ela and Julia had fun with Mikey.












Koy, Bo and Teddy just hung back and watched the football game.

A chuckle for Monday morning

Here's a little something that's bound to make you laugh. Okay, maybe giggle. Well, at least I know you'll crack a smile!

A man and his wife had a fight and were giving each other the silent treatment.

After a week of no talking, the man realized he would need his wife to wake him for an early morning fishing trip.

Not wanting to be the first to break the silence, he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me up at 5 a.m." He left the note for his wife where she would see it.

The next morning the man arose, only to discover that it was after 9 in the morning. He'd missed his trip.

Furious, he was about to go and find his wife when he noticed a piece of paper on his pillow.

It read: "It's 5a.m. WAKE UP!!!"

Note from Rose Freeman Florida

As I sat to have my Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, I thought about all the rest of my family members that were not able to join us, as well as all my dear friends.

This year at our dinner table the conversation was focused on my long time friends from Chicago. My sons and extended family were in disbelief when I spoke about my dear friend Daniella, whom I have known since high school.

I shared with them her strength and family support during some difficult times since this past September. We prayed for Stefan's recovery and for Daniella's continued strength.

After having eaten so much turkey, sweet potatoes, etc. some members sat on the couch to try and watch a movie, while others simply took a nap. The grandchildren, of course demanded dessert and went on to play for the rest of the evening.

I hope Stefan and Daniella's family Thanksgiving was a joyous one.

Rose Freeman
in Florida

Birthday wishes to Lynn-2005

Sto Lat Lynn, As I see it the years are adding up slowly to all of us. You my friend have put them to good use. You did not age as fast as the numbers did. Happy 39th Birthday again and again and again. Thinking of you, Daniella & Stefan

Thanksgiving 2005 at the Koivuns..PHOTO

This was indeed a Happy Thanksgiving, the power was on THIS year. Unlike last year when the power was out from Wed evening till dinner time on Thursday. Cooking was done on the grill last year. Everything came out just fine last year as did things this year. Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all.

STO LAT Janette & Paul

HAPPY 6th ANNIVERSARY Janette & Paul
Wishing you many many more years of health & happiness together. Especially now that you have a little one on the way. CONGRATULATIONS again on that Happy Occasion also.
Love you always, Ciocia & Wujek

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a very happy thanksgiving day.

We are most thankful this year for family, friends, their love, their support, and their health.

And an extra 'thank you' to God and the medical community at large for all the medical advancements that keep us all in good health.

Have a good one!

--Suzia

Family PHOTOS , Daniella's

Stevie's 3rd Birthday portrait with mom & dad

Hey What are you up to ?? I am Stefan Maca

Maddie enjoying her cake at her 2nd Birthday Party with Babcia Zosia (L) & Babcia Hela (R)

Halloween scaries are left to right Ela, Maddie, Julia & Stevie K.


A MAN and his football. Stevie & his football beanbag. 3rd Birthday

STO LAT HENIEK

Sto Lat Heniek wszystkiego najlepszego w dniu twoich urodzin dzisiaj. Zyczenia od Danielli i Stefana oraz nasze dzieci i prawnukow.

Belated Birthday Wishes to Maciek P.

Hey belated wishes to a great guy, Maciek P. on your Birthday on the 9th of Nov.

Nov. 16, 1962 Maca Family came to America

That was the date that the Maca Family, Helena & Stanislaw came to the USA with their family. Daughter Krystyna, sons Bronislaw, Stefan & Bogdan. They came to be with Helena's half brother Bronislaw and his mother Anna Juszczyk.
The rest is HISTORY

Happy Anniversary to Nancy & Ted.

Wishing you a Happy Anniversary on the 13th. Hoping to get to see you all soon in the Chicago area. Say Hello to the Old Man living with you also. Have a great time in Florida you two lovebirds.

Get Well Wishes Halina B.

Halina just had her other foot operated on for bunions. Hoping she is feeling well and getting around hobbling on the other foot. She said it was done out patient and was home the same day. She had her other foot done a few years ago and it was time to do this one now. Take care and plenty of rest Halina.

STO LAT Daniel...PHOTO

Wishing you STO LAT Daniel. (That is Daniella's brother) Go and ride your Purple Harley around, because that is what you like to do the most. Love you lots Daniel.

Happy Birthday Wishes for Annie

Wishing you a terrific Happy Birthday out for dinner with your children and grandchildren. Hoping to get together soon also.

Sto Lat Pani Annie.

Say an extra prayer - for Chuck Koivun

Next week Monday, Koy's father Chuck will be going in for a surgical procedure. He had a scan that showed a suspicious cloud on his lung, and they're suspecting lung cancer. During the procedure he will have a biopsy taken from his lung (they get to it through his back, breaking a rib in the process). Biopsy test results will be rushed, and if anything needs to be removed, then it will be done that same day.

Things get complicated, because Chuck has a pacemaker in place, as well as an automatic defibrillator, which "jump starts" his heart, should it go into an irregular rhythm. Add in the fact that Chuck isn't exactly a spring chicken anymore, and the risks go up.

Please keep Chuck and his wife, DonAnna, in your prayers this week as they prepare for his procedure next week, next Monday during the surgery, and afterwards for a speedy recovery.

11/9 Joke of the Day

Daily Prayer

So far today, God, I've done all right.
I haven't gossiped, haven't lost my temper.
I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent.
I'm really glad about that.

But in a few minutes, God, I'm going to get out of bed,
and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help!
Thank you in Jesus's name.
Amen.

Keeping in Touch

Suzia.......this was a great idea to set up a new blog just for friends. I think this will turn out to be a great conversation starter. Thanks.

Ciocia Diane

Great idea!

Thank you, Suzia!
What a great idea. Stefan's blog can be about him and here everyone else can share their stories.
Thanks to you, I found that I really enjoy blogging.

Two more chuckles

Two more chuckles for today, from Krystyna and Stan (taken from "It Is What It Is"). --SMK

From Henny Youngman:

Do you know what it means to come home to someone who loves you? To come home to someone who feeds you and cares for you? It means you're in the wrong House!


From "Parade Magazine" December 21, 2003:

Do you know the joke about Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates?

Well, one day there's a particularly large number of saints waiting to enter Heaven. Saint Peter, of course, has to check their credentials one by one, and that takes hours. But these being saintly people, they all wait very, very patiently.

Then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, someone wearing a white coat with a stethoscope in his pocket jumps the line, walks to the front of the queue and breezes in through the Pearly Gates.

One of the saintly people approaches Saint Peter and says, we've waited a long, long time, and then all of a sudden that guy wearing a white coat with a stethoscope in his pocket just walks past you right into Heaven. What's that about?

Oh, Saint Peter replies, That's God. He thinks he's a doctor.

Humor from George Carlin

This little bit of humor comes to use courtesy of Krystyna and Stan, originally posted on Stefan's blog. It was moved to this blog, in keeping "It Is What It Is" focused on Stefan. -SMK


HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay the doctor.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop.” And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. If you don't send this to at least 8 people....who cares?

George Carlin

Come Sit By The Fire - Welcome!

We invite you to come sit by the fire! Come share a story with us... Fill us in on what's going on in your lives. Tell us a joke and give us a chuckle. Please, share with us.

I always thought that a roaring fire invited nostalgia - times when folks just sat around the fire and visited. We don't do that nearly often enough in our busy lives. And yet, in our busy lives, we need to share our stories. We need to visit with our friends and loved ones. So won't you pull up a chair, and sit with us by the fire?