I love my girls!

I enjoy being an aunt!  I love my nephews, but I especially love my nieces!  They are precious to me!  Here are some self portraits we took at the last family get together!

Sarah (age 9)

Daisy (age 12)

Angela (age 21)

Lily (age 5)

Betsy (age 11)

Megan (age 24)

Family get together for Johnny's birthday!

The family got together at Mom's for a bbq to celebrate my brother Johnny's birthday on the 29th.

Johnny and his birthday cake!

Lily was enjoying her hot dog!  :)

Here's Gavin showing me his crazy face!  :)

Angela and Gavin seem a tad grouchy!  (or maybe they're just SILLY!)

 

A good photo of my brother Jack. 

A final photo

Rachel, Chad, me, Launa, and Jake

The Student Life end of the year meal was at El Camino (the best Mexican place in Goshen) and the Res Life team took the opportunity to take one last photo together.  :)

Another fabulous trip to Chicago!!!!

My Bonnie and I decided that we needed to make another trip to Chicago together before I leave for Lithuania.  We decided to get it in before her kids got out of school, so we went on May 25th.  We hit our favorite spots...the Bean, Buccas, and Trader Joe's.  We also walked down by the river and explored some other side streets in the downtown area.  It was a wonderful day full of laughter and fun!  :)

Me & Bonnie at the Bean

Me at the Bean!

My FAVORITE dish at Buca's - bruschetta!  Yummmm

Bonnie & me by the river

Res Life Farewell party

On Monday the 24th, the Res Life team gathered at Bill (our VP)'s house for a time of dinner and fellowship and saying good-bye. Bill makes AMAZING ribs which I rave about every time he makes them for us. He knew that my final request would be for ribs. He made a wonderful meal - bacon wrapped shrimp for an appetizer, followed by a meal of both ribs and chicken on the grill with some delicious salads (made by Launa), and for dessert we had homemade ice cream with strawberries and chocolate sauce! It was a fantastic meal! Mmmm....my mouth still has happy memories over a week later! :)

After dinner, there was a time of speeches and presents for Rachel and I who are both leaving GC this year. This was a heartfelt and meaningful end to my time with Residence Life at GC. Launa shared her thoughts on my tenure at GC and then I shared some of what my time here has produced in and meant to me. I ALMOST made it through my little speech without tears, but ended up crying a bit at the very end. They all chuckled at my emotion, which they've come to expect from me over the years. :)

Here are some photos from the evening...

Shawn & Rachel with the lovely candle holder and candle that she received as a farewell gift from Res Life.

Me opening my necklace with Shirley in the background and Launa's profile in the foreground.

I received 2 gifts from Res Life. One was this photo of the Res Life team (That's our Christmas card photo from this year.) in a frame where everyone signed the matte around the photo. Very precious! It will find a place in my new office at LCC for sure!

The other gift was this lovely necklace. The pendant opens up and has the Irish Blessing written on the pages inside...

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.