Happy Earth Day

Just wanted to remind everyone to do something nice for the earth today. If you haven't changed to CFL bulbs yet this would be a good time to do it. All the commentary in the press is both hopeful and scary when you see what global warming is doing to our planet. There is an excellent article on the changes in the Boundary Waters area and the impact of warming there we can all relate to having enjoyed several vacations in that pristine environment. The link is http://www.backpacker.com/green_guide_minnesota_boundary_waters_face_extermination_by_climate_change/nature/12188

Think green and do whatever you can to lessen your impact on the planet every day not just today.

Awesome Flowers

So by now most of you have heard I spent the day Tuesday in the emergency room after passing out at work. All is fine now and I am back to work but need to have some follow-up done on my thyroid which seems to have decided to cease normal function and that causes a whole host of other issues. All that being said I gave the guys at work a real scare! Wednesday I came back from lunch to find this floral arrangement on my desk. The president of the company went and picked it out himself. I had to ask Kristin if no one told him I survived. This thing took up my whole desk! Would have looked great on a banquet table as the centerpiece. Not that I am complaining cause it is awesome. Guess he was afraid I might not be around for the shareholder meeting coming up. At least I know they would miss me.

First Year Coming to an End

Classes are finally over and I just have a week of finals left. The nice weather will really make it hard to study so I'm hoping for rain the next couple of days. The year went by really fast and I sure that will be the case for every year, but it's been fun playing late night beach volleyball and watching movies with my friends. It's going to have to wait until next semester to do that again.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weather.

The Weather

So it has been so nice and beautiful outside the last couple days. I sure couldn't ask for more! 

Thinking spring!

With several sunny days in a row it is starting to look like spring! I walked in the woods today and saw a few Spring Beauties, Hepatica and Blood Root, so fragile and beautiful. Yesterday I pulled a few leeks and chopped them into our salad. The tastes, sights and feel of spring are so long anticipated and pass by so quickly. Take time to enjoy them. Love, Grandma/Mother

PHEW!

I want to shout it from the mountaintops: MY TAXES ARE DONE!

It was a little rough this year. After double glitches, 9 hours and a sum of money, they are done. It's all in the hands of the internet and the post office now.

My special day!

Thank you, Cynthia, for posting those excellent photos. With me in the second photo are Ann Looyenga, President of Women's Board, and Dennis Swan, President and CEO of Sparrow Health System.

It was thrilling from cards, calls and e-mails in recent days, to Sharon's early morning phone call, congratulations at Auxiliary meeting this morning, and all the good words, previous awardees, family, friends and many others at the ceremony. A lovely reception followed. The award is a beautiful Stuben crystal sculpture that you will see when you come for a visit.

There were brief photos on channel 6 news tonight. It has been a great day.

Love, Grandma/Mother

Pictures

Founder's Day Award

This was a wonderful event. Grandma/Mom's speech was exceptional and everyone who spoke said lots of nice things about her and all she has done to promote Sparrow Health Systems. Here are a couple of pictures from the event. I am sure there will be something in the LSJ tomorrow. There were lots of people there including Jerry and Doris, Suzanne and Ron, Sue and Jenny, Caitlin and Herb, Don, and I along with many folks who worked with and along side Mom throughout the last 40 years. It is very inspirational to be a part of her legacy.

Time and technology

Cynthia gave us all some good food for thought. We all have the same 24 hours a day--we just don't know how many days we have.

I'm trying to keep up with the technology of the day as you know. For example, I tried to book on line tickets for the Michigan Flyer bus from East Lansing to Detroit Metro for our trip to Scandinavia. I got the right website, called once with a question, got it filled out almost to the end when I noticed our state was listed incorrectly. I highlighted it, it wouldn't correct then it flew off the screen! I telephoned again to ask if I'd be billed twice since part of the information was filled in when the new screen came up. The girl said, "Why don't I just take it over the phone?" Fine. Task completed in about 3 minutes. I'd been working on it for 30 minutes! What use would I have made with those 27 minutes? Probably read something or set the dinner table for Jerry and Doris' arrival or walked out to the mailbox.

Dad has had the same experience renting a car on line. I'll keep trying but all you 50 year olds and younger run technology circles around me. I appreciate your help that is so generously offered. Love, Grandma/Mother

Weird Random Thought

Does it seem strange that the last name of the person who does our payroll is Rich? Is she getting rich from doing payroll?

How about the account manager for our business insurance who's last name is Payment? How many payments does she require?

Why is our last name Jessup and not Cabinet? Are we in the wrong business?

Time

Time is such a relative thing. Last night Jim said there were only 8 weeks and 3 days until the end of the school year. Caitlin's baby is due in about 12 weeks. Both those seem like they are creeping up FAST. We just got back from vacation and that seems like it happened a long time ago. Many mornings I leave the house without making my bed because it would take too long. Today I put my oatmeal in the microwave for 2 and a half minutes and made the bed while it cooked with time to spare. So why do I think there isn't time to make it every day? Some days when I drive home from work it seems like hours others I don't even remember the drive and am pulling into the garage in nothing flat.

It just hammers home the point that it is important to make every minute count. The Lansing State Journal (www.lsj.com) columnist John Schneider had a good column yesterday, I think, about the fleeting days of summer and how they get away from you if you don't plan your time.

Before you know it Andy will be home from China and settled into his new job. Stephen and Liane will be starting their second year of college. Michael will be a senior and planning college visits. Caitlin and Herb will be telling us the baby rolled over on her own. Sharon, Brian, and Jim will be 50 (welcome to the Club). Laura will have her driver's license. Ashleigh will be skiing or biking, or hiking someplace fabulous and David will be wind surfing in Fiji or who knows what.

Just wanted to remind everyone to make good use of their time. Plan for fun, plan for work, plan for relaxation. Don't let time slip away.

No April fool!

Congratulations, Cynthia and Jim. The photos prove you were not fooling us.
Love, Grandma/Mother

Survived the Mile High Bridge

Today we went to Grandfather Mountain and walked across the suspension bridge. The clouds and fog were swirling and the bridge was swaying in the 20+/mph wind gusts. I was really scared but Jim justed waltzed right on over to the other side.

We also went on a hike to Macrea Peak 5973 ft. It was by far the most difficult hike we have ever done. We had to scramble over boulders, climb ladders, and use cables to help us get up. The view was awesome and we were both very proud of ourselves for making it almost to the peak. We stopped when the cable would have had us hanging off the edge with only air below us and our feet on the wall. We were about 200 feet short of the sumit but neither of us had the strength or confidence to attempt it. We will sleep good tonight!