Which is soft but it's clear

Press play before reading!!

 

This beautiful thing is 11 today.

I haven't seen him once.

I've been out most of the day and I gave him his gift yesterday (because I have no self control) but I am still sad.

I wanted to see if he looks any older now that he is 11.

He's 11 now but when I look at him I still see my sweet baby James.

I used to sing it to him.

I knew even then that it was something I did more for myself than for him.

I think he would have preferred me to sing nothing at all!!

But that doesn't stop me from having magical memories of holding the James baby (with his large head that all the ladies always commented on "Look at that baby's head!") and rocking him and singing.

Goodnight you moonlight ladies

Rockabye sweet baby James

Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose

Won't you let me go down in my dreams

And Rockabye sweet baby James 

James Ray...if you read this one day....

I love you. 

I have always loved you 

You made me life magical from the very first day you were born

On a chilly black Friday afternoon in 2003 

You will always be my turkey baby 

And I am always here if you need anything

Aunt Lori

Have you ever been arrested?

Today I am thankful for:

My 12 years of being an aunt- greatest years of my life.
(here is a video from before Thanksgiving 5 years ago!)

My renewed love of missionary work

My ability to speak Spanish and the help I have been able to provide others as a result

(And, more importantly, my ability to eavesdrop on random conversations!)

My family. They have always been and will always be the only people that really know me. They will always be there for me, I know that.

My mother and I back in the day

My job. It drives me so crazy most days but it's nice to do something for a living that makes me feel like I am helping.

My car. It's 13 years old and still hanging in there!!
(knock on wood...no seriously, go knock on wood right now!)

\

My health. I've had my ups and downs and haven't been as focused on my health lately as I'd like but I am still healthier than I have been in years.

This kind of hotness should be illegal. I think it already is in Jersey. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would be lost without my faith. Without my knowledge of God's love and guidance.

My baby. I know a cat is not a REAL baby but Sugar December Myra Hinsdale is my baby and she makes me so happy.

Here she is...refusing to wear the halo I got her for Halloween

My friends. This year I got real friends. And they freaking rock.

(Plus I kept some great ones I already had!)

My country. Every single day I am proud to be an American.

My hotness. Because it's not easy to look this good.

My history. I've read my mission journal this year, visited Michigan, the place I lived in Jr High, and I've started to reconnect with my cousins. I come from such amazing people and I've seen amazing things and places in my life.

This blog. I can't tell you how cool it is to look back and know what I was doing on the last 5 Thanksgivings. I don't care if blogging is "going out"- I will blog until the end of time. :)

And lastly...I am thankful for the turkey.

Because it could dominate us and rule the world but chooses (for now) not to!

Lori Ann

We was fined 50 dollars and had to pick up the garbage

Oh my gosh. 

I was going to do a post about everything I am thankful for. 

And I will. 

Maybe later today. 

But first.... 

Let's discuss my new favorite show OF ALL TIME.

When Turkeys Attack.

I was up half the night laughing about it. 

It opened my eyes to the dangers of turkeys. 

And made me realize that they are likely bent on world domination. 

I will never eat another Thanksgiving Meal without realizing how lucky I am to be eating turkey, instead of being subservient to it. 

Happy Thanksgiving, people! 

Lori Ann 

Is a special day

Random Picture Post

I convinced my mother to ride in to target on those moving chair things because someone had left a bunch of them just scattered around the parking lot.

I felt like Target royalty during the 11 minute ride into the store. 

This is my favorite house ever. 

The yellow street sign kind of ruins it but it looks so pretty driving up to it at night, with the Mennonite candles in the window. 

I love my Katy cat.

She always brings Snarfy, her stuffed cat with her 

 Clash of the Titans. 

I got these cool necklaces made for my favorite sister missionaries!

They have both gone home but they were awesome and got me really involved in missionary work again.

The necklaces have their mission (PPM- Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Mission) and the areas they served in. 

 I curled my hair and wore it down ALL day at work yesterday.

Which is some kind of crazy feat for me because I feel like I can't accomplish ANYTHING with my hair down. 

The holiday treat table madness has begun at work.

Yesterday I ended up with this assortment.

Piece of pretzel, pastry, brownie, and a cracker with cheese. 

The treat table doesn't care about my fitness goals 

Lori Ann

Falling Slowly

So.....

This blog has gone off the rails. 

I haven't been super inspired lately. 

Probably because I have been SO TIRED.

Don't you love when people talk about how tired they are? 

So much fun.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of my life lately. 

Because it's still as super glamorous as you' ve always secretly suspected. 

The Kutztown Sisters! Finally perfecting their jump shot! 

Sister Bischoff and Thomas. Learning about the Gospel together :)  

I love this t-shirt shop in the city. If you are ever in Philadelphia, THIS is the place to get souvenirs. The owners are amazing!

I've had various run ins with this thing. My mother has begun to spoon feed it. There is nothing scarier than a super spoiled, miniature ginger cat.  

I've taken at least 500 fall pictures. I am going to create a super fast slide show of them for this blog.

I love, love, love, love fall.

It's so sad to see it slowly ending.

I know in a week or so there will be no more colors on the trees and I'll have to wait another year to see them again.

But the holidays are coming up.

Which makes me happy!

This year I plan to:

Cook the Thanksgiving Turkey

Volunteer on Christmas Day

Send my favorite people Christmas packages.

Not gain more than 100 lbs.

Wish me luck!!

Lori Ann

It's Thriller Night!

It's election night, people!

I am sad to say that while I have always had a lot of thoughts on politics, I really didn't get involved in the political process until my 20's. 

Today, at the polls, I saw a bunch of people there with their kids.

If I ever have kids, they are coming to vote with me from the very first election.

I know midterms don't mean that much. 

But I love being an American. 

I love feeling like I have a voice. 

I love our democratic process.

Especially when conservatives win!

I am so going to stay up until 2 am. 

And then tomorrow I am going to get Amish Donuts!

It honestly doesn't get better than this!

Lori Ann

I'm going to marry her anyway

Random Life Updates at the beginning of my 35th November.

I like selfies where you know what the person was thinking. 

Like "Here I am...just casually super dressed up, with my hair curled, gazing contemplatively at the sunset. And weird, I happen to have my phone and capture this magical moment."

I feel like my selfies are a little more cryptic.

So I will translate them for you. 

 

"I look so gangster with this red hat on. 

This red hat given to me by a 70 year Hispanic man" 

 "I'm so East Coast. 

The mountains don't make any sense to me- also, I'm clearly a runner.

 Look at my shirt" 

 "Just a fun girl with wild hair.

 In the middle of Pennsylvania.

 My teeth are really that white. I swear.

 I didn't whiten them with photoshop...or add blush to my cheeks. 

Nope" 

 I can't even begin the understand this things thought process.

 I just don't want to wake up to this anymore.

 I'm scared. 

Lunch with the sisters.

 They remind me of me so much at times.

 They will be laughing one minute and then the next being like "So, have you ever thought how hard it is to share the gospel?" and they are suddenly using their "missionary" voices on me.

 Just I do with my clients. Except it's my "therapist" voice. 

So...as you can see- my life is pretty epic. 

I am excited for midterms tomorrow! 

I might make a vegetable tray and stay up all night!

If Republicans don't take the Senate in these kind of conditions then there really is no hope for  them. 

And I will go legit full on libertarian. 

(except for the weed thing)

Then I am going to the city on Wednesday.

By myself, devils. 

Lori Ann

p.s.- Sarah and Ben- can you send me your t-shirt sizes and favorite colors? And your address again? I feel a Thanksgiving/weird stuff from Philly package coming on!!