Here we are, early on in our relationship....little did we know that we'd be returning to the Conservatory next fall with our families...and getting married. We paid our deposit today and now we venture onto finding a minister and a location for our reception. Fortunately, we have our own personal wedding planner....Thank you Shannon!!! This is going to be soooooo much fun!
Robin & Gary

Surprise

Well,
It has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote....Hmmm. As the title for this blog accurately reflects my current status--but it is now changing.

Much to my surprise, Gary proposed to me on Sunday evening. While we had been talking about getting married; and engaged; but not until the official year mark and that would not be until after Xmas.

Wrong! He had everything planned. He want shopping for the ring with one of his sisters and asked his other, married sister for advice on the style (Karen was right on...the eternity ring is exactly how I envisioned my ring would look). As we sat at his place on Sunday evening, we began to talk about the future and all we were looking forward to. Suddenly, he looked at me seriously and told me he had a question to ask me and wanted to give me something....a proposal and a beautiful engagement ring. White gold. just beautiful with 3 separate stones...representing
the past, the future and the present.

So, I thought that I could use this blog as a way of communicating our plans for the wedding. We are looking to get married next fall; at the Como Conservatory. The scheduler is on vacation so we can't confirm anything yet but the blog will be updated....
Oh, I am so lucky to have this man in my life and for a second chance of a lifetime of happiness!
I love him so!

The lift bridge in Canal Park, Duluth, MN...clearly in the "down" position...no incoming or outgoing boats yet...
Gary enjoying the view...
Looking to the South East from Two Harbors....endless water and color
The water was so very clear...we even saw a school of fish (not pictured here)
Here are some of memorable pictures from this past weekend...taken with my new Blackberry phone...aaaah, technology can be very challenging.
This picture was taken from the breakway looking back to the shoreline at the Two Harbors light house.

Fall In Minnesota

What a glorious autumn day! Clear skies, crisp morning air, fog lifting from the lake and leaves in hues of gold, red, brown. Gary & I woke up early this morning and drove to Duluth. Did the obligatory stop at Tobie's for breakfast...and were on the way down into the city via Hwy 35 at 0900! What beauty. The fog was lifting from the port as the morning sun was rising. We walked around Canal park; watched 2 ore liners come to port and one leave...pretty cool happenings in less than 2 hours. We then went out to the point-and spent some time just being ourselves along the sandy dune, water lapping, gulls flying overhead. The sun felt so good as I laid my head on Gary's lap...and together we just listened. Silently. After awhile, we drove to Two harbors along Hwy 61 and saw an eagle soaring overhead--had grilled cheese and home made vegetable beef soup at the Vanilla bean and then drove out to the light house. Walked out to the point = the water was so clear that we were able to see a school of fish (?herring) from where we stood. The leaves, the skies, the water, the sailboats....an incredible day in Duluth--a mere 2 1/2 hours from home but a daily well worth the respite and chance to breathe the northern air. How great is our God...what splendor and beauty we are blessed to have. Oh, and yes, today is the feast of St. Francis. My prayer is for me to continue to be an instrument of peace today and every day. I'll upload my pictures soon.

My sons

These are the two most important men in my life...they are gifts and the best things that came from my marriage to Gary Greenfield, in May 1987. (we were married 15 years).

Tim, is almost 20...where has the time gone? For the first 10 years of his life, I wrote him a letter on his birthday describing my thoughts about being his mom, about what he's accomplished and how he was changing and growing. I look forward to sharing these letters with my son one day...
He is currently a sophomore at UW Madison, studying political science and communications and aspires to attend Law School. I hope he does...it's not always easy parenting a debate champion.

Patrick, 17, born on my birthday. Therefore, I will always be 27. We share a special bond and he is my "PT" and "Sweat Pea". I did also write him letters for his first 10 birthdays and look forward to sharing them with him in the years to come. Patrick is a wonderful young man, responsible yet sensitive, funny but has a temper like his dad, poised and neat (when he wants to be). Currently Patrick is a Senior at AVHS and is having a great time being the only kid of the house. I am proud of him, his friends and choices. Patrick has applied to UW-Madison as well and wants to study Sports Business.

Sometimes it gets hard

Yesterday was probably one of the worst days that I have had in a long, long time. But, I am a strong woman of faith and believe that my faith is what carries me forward in life. The day began as I walked into the hospital to Dr. Blue being called to our remote Pediatric Epilepsy Unit. Since I park my car and have to walk through United to Children's, I heard the over head page. The Peds Epilepsy unit is indeed a remote unit from the main Children's structure, located on the 7th floor at United Hospital. I decided that I should respond to the code and took the elevator along with the responding code staff to the unit. Upon our arrival, it became very apparent to me that we were dealing with a full cardio-pulmonary arrest and that my expertise in these situations from the past as well as my current vascular access experience would be needed. Sad to say, heaven has one more angel and as I learned who the patient was, I prayed for her and her family. I had taken care of this angel during her short lifetime in various capacities.
After taking a few moments to decompress, and to continue my journey to my desk, I was then able to re-group and work in earnest in planning an education day for upcoming equipment that will be introduced to the nursing units. I was contacted about scheduling a procedure for an inpatient and my day was very productive in assisting the clinic staff in starting an IV for a patient as well.
I was not prepared for Tom's phone call. Tom, our clinical lead for vascular access, decided not to return from Savannah. The priority of having a healthy life, marriage and family weighed against his position at Childrens and admirably, he made the right choice. Unfortunately, it will leave us working harder to achieve our goal of providing safe vascular access for our patients at Children's. I am overwhelmed but determined to rise above this unexpected bump. The children deserve only the best care we can offer. I want to be a part of this process and am determined to work with our team to make it happen. I hope it does. I am passionate about kids....and it shows...

Other places I went during summer 2008

In July, of all months, I had the pleasure of chaperoning 18 youths from my parish to White River, Arizona. Along the way, we spent a night in a church basement in Flagstaff, watched the van thermometer read "66" while driving on Route 66; drive through the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, Sedona and looked for a corner in Winslow Arizona....Truly a beautiful, scenic state--from catci to snow capped mountains, white birch forests to barren, dry land. The reward of working with the youth allows me to reflect how truly lucky I am to be a woman living in a comfortable home, and live with my 3 f's in life: faith, family and friends. The youth shared themselves so selflessly; working in the hot sun; finding more energy to play with the native youths, pushed themselves to paint a storage shed in 100 degrees--all while sleeping each night in a gymnasium, without ipods, cell phones, hand-helds. They are my inspiration.