"for the love of liz...."

What is “The Liz Logelin Foundation” and the “My Stuff Bags”? As most you may know, I have been following a blog since I first learned about them, from an article in the Star Tribune in April 2008. I do not personally know Matt or Madeline, but this blog has touched my heart in ways I can’t explain. For those of you that are not familiar with the site, Matt lost his wife, Liz, 27 hours after their daughter Madeline was born. Madeline lost her mother. Liz never got to hold her daughter. The blog is a love story to Liz and Madeline. As a mother myself, I can’t imagine this unthinkable. I suppose one of my biggest fears (now that I am married and a mother) is dying young and my children not knowing me. (For the record…I know that it is all up to God, but it is still a fear of mine....) I never had that fear before I was married….it’s amazing how life changes when it isn’t “just you” anymore.

Back to the real reason for this entry….the Liz Logelin Foundation was created to support other widow / widowers that have children. The other link on the right, “My Stuff Bags”, is a charity that Matt has chosen to support as well (so I have too)! So if you can find it in your budget to donate a little bit, to either charity, it would be much appreciated.

Matt’s blog has reached around the world and touched more lives then ever imagined. Personally, this blog has changed my outlook on life, so in those moments that life just seems crazy and nothing seems to be right, I will often times think about Matt and Madeline and know that it will okay.

Enjoy life and live it to the fullest…. have a great day!

PS...if anything, be sure to check out Matt's blog (not only are his entries heart felt and inspiring, but Madeline is so darn cute....and he takes some amazing pictures too!)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends!

We will be traveling to Austin today to spend Christmas Eve with my mom, Santa will be making a stop at my mom's tonight to bring special gifts to Sydney, then on to my dad's for Christmas day. We will be home sometime on Friday to get ready to host Christmas for Jim's family on Saturday. A busy, but fun 4 days ahead of us. We are very thankful this year for all the joy 2008 has brought us....Sydney's health, sense of humor, giggles, laughter, smiles, hugs, kisses, and everything in between...for selling our house and moving into our new home (notice I said HOUSE and moving into a new HOME)...the other place was special because it was Sydney's first home, but the last year and half that it was on the market it never felt homey...our new home has that feeling. Although we have only lived there 3 months, it already has that homey feel and we still have a lot more things to do...oh, the decorating that is still to come! Anyways, back on track.... :)!

For those of you that are traveling too, safe travels and may the snow stay away long enough for you to get to and from where you are going!

Santa, if you are still taking wish lists, I have one request this year....snow free drives to and from work for the remainder of the season! :)

Happy Holidays all!!
PS....I mailed our holiday cards yesterday...be on the lookout for them. :)

Christmas Tree 2008

We finally decorated the house and our tree this weekend! Sydney had so much fun doing it this year. It has been fun watching her understand Christmas this year.

Cute picture of Sydney...but her hair looks funny! She does have bangs...in fact we are growing them out....what a painful process even for a two / almost three year old! :) I'm in love with my new camera!!

Before we started putting the decorations on

She likes wearing the Santa hat and Reindeer antlers together...funny!! She thought was supposed to wearing the stockings! :) Our Tree!! I love it....I love white lights, Jim loves colored lights (I like them too...but like the white more). Going forward we will alternate years....colored next, white the following, etc. Still in love with my camera!!

Sydney & Daddy on Sunday

Happy Holidays

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Random pictures

Terese had us girls (Ali, Christy & I) over for a girls night. I didn't get any pictures of us...but I couldn't help but take some pictures of this cutie...Adeline! She is so cute!

"So big!"

These two pictures crack me up every time I see them...Christy and Lora found these while we were shopping (they are supposed to go over your front porch light)

Me & Christy....the other funny thing about these photo's is that although you can't see out of these, we were still smiling as if the camera could see our smile!)Snug as a bug!

We had my work holiday party on Saturday (12/13). We had dinner at Wasabi and then went to the "A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol" at Hennipen Stages. Lots of fun!!

Visting Comet....

We went to Bachman's open house a few weeks back so Sydney could see a reindeer....as you can tell from the pictures, she enjoyed it!

Good thing he was in the pen, because he was sure watching me. :)

"Hi Comet!" (I love this picture)

Jagow Thanksgiving 2008

We enjoyed Thanksgiving Day this year with Jim's family. All 14 of us were there. Kyle came back from school (in Wyoming) for a quick visit home. That was a nice surprise, since we didn't think we would see him until Christmas. Sydney had SO much fun with all of her cousins. And for Jim and I this was the first Thanksgiving since Sydney was born, that we didn't have to keep an eye on every one of her moves. She was able to play anywhere with her cousins and we were able to enjoy some adult conversations.

Kyle & Caitlin

Caitlin & Erin
Erin & Wayne

Sydney, Erin & Wayne

Shelby, Caitlin & Erin

This is a rare shot...I only have a couple pictures of Kyle and Sydney together.

Kyle is so good with her.
Another rare shot....since I am always the one taking the pictures, I hardly have any of Sydney and me. I love this shot...

Fun shot of Sydney eatting pumpkin pudding...a Jagow tradition

Jeremy & Sydney - he is all boy, but he is so stinkin sweet to Sydney
Shelby & Sydney
Sydney being silly.....but a good shot of them!