Happy New Year!!!

Dear All,

Happy New Year! As I didn't get my Christmas letter out in time, please accept my New Year's letter instead. I would like to share one of my favorite quotes of this year --

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"

What moments have taken your breath away?

What moment comes to your mind when you read this quote? Notice how the moment you just thought about has nothing to do with things, but instead with people .....in your life?

What moment made you laugh, cry, happy, sad or speechless? Think about the moments that have made you rich, not monetarily, but rich in wisdom, passion, knowledge, faith, humor and love. That is what makes you truly wealthy, and not the "things" we all acquire.

So as 2007 draws to a close, I want to thank all of you, because each and everyone of you have given me a special "moment" .

With every best Wish,

Trace

Meet Bambi

Chelsea meets Bambi. Aunt Joanne found this guy in a clothing store in a Sacramento mall and thought he looked like Chelsea. Sooo, she drags us to this store, hunts down this kid, and asks him to pose with Chelsea for a photo.

Nice tats, dude!

P.S. Chelsea, don't ever bring this guy home to meet your father!

Christmas in Folsom

All the cousins went iceskating in downtown Sacramento

Mom, will you stop taking pictures!!


Aunt Gina rented a limo and took us all to Roseville to see an incredible neigborhood Christmas light display

Even my hair hurts today.

The rhythm of life runs in cycles. There are times in the darkness and times in the light.

Everyone gets kicked downs those stairs. This is one of those times.

You must embrace these changes. As difficult as they are, they will pass. But you mustn't bury or deny the darkness. You gotta live thru it; you cannot cheat.

Thanksgiving in Wisconsin

When I landed in Appleton, it was snowing! When I got off the plane and walked to the terminal, I was covered in snow flakes. It was so neat! But that was the only time it snowed!!!

I went for a walk when it was 15 degrees. Now that is a big deal for a California girl, I will say my nose felt like it was gonna fall off.

Had a great visit. Those airport goodbyes are tough.....

Ouch...

I certainly didn't see that coming.

Viva Las Vegas

Happy Birthday David!

We went to see Elton John at Cesear's Palace.

Incredible concert!

Had great seats right in front of Elton's red piano.

Favorite EJ song?

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".

What's yours?

Saw Big Elvis at the Barnaby Coast. A must see. Free Show, too.

Caught the Mac King show. How did he get that Bear in the tent?

Miss Rona and I share October birthdays She has a "Libra" party every year for her fellow Libra's.

My birthday wish is that someday, I can keep my eyes open when a picture is taken.

Nashville Nights

This is such a great fundraising event!

Famous songwriters from Nashville come and share their stories behind those great country hit songs they have written.

This is my peep, Kathy, also my co-worker who has been invaluable to me in this new chapter in my life.

Love you my friend.

The Fire and Ice Fireman's Ball

One of my BFF's, Violet, also known as Sam 1 invites me to attend the Fireman's Fire and Ice Ball. So there we are, dressed to the nines, at the Ball surrounded my a bizillion firemen, a man wearing welding goggles and one cowboy.

The man with welding goggles AND suspenders continues to circle our table. We try to avoid eye contact. (oh come on, we've all done it). On about his fifth fly by, he comes in for the kill. Violet is facing me and says "oh gosh, here it comes, he's coming right your way. He's gonna ask you to dance (hahahahahahah, she says) he's one table away, here he comes, he's almost behind you......and he walks right past me and asks her to dance. So off they go to the dance floor, suspenders and all. I couldn't even sit up, I was laughing so hard.

When V returns to the table, we have a good scream. Is this what we have been reduced to?
Shortly thereafter, the cowboy approachs us. He is an acquaintance of Violets and asked her to dance to a country western song. She says "I don't know the 2 step, but my friend, Tracy here, does. She's been taking lessons." This is what "throwing someone under the bus" means. So, with a quick glare to V, we head to the dance floor.

Let's just say that what happened next will be a chapter in my book. Some of it, I can't even print in this blog. However, I will say I am lucky that I am not in a coma right now with a head injury. I also had whiplash for 3 days after that. There was applause and a standing ovation as I exited the dance floor. Dancing with the Stars has nothing on me. Violet couldn't stop laughing evey time she called to check on me. She owes me big time. I was the human windmill.

Bottom Braces

I got my bottom braces on today and I feel like I may be related to this guy. This is how my mouth feels and looks right now.

Thank you pharmacutical company for inventing ADVIL.

Scrappin' Fun

These are my scrappin' buds. We spend 4 glorious days here, it's like huge slumber party! We scrap, we laugh, we eat, we drink, we sleep, we giggle and then we do it all over again. Some stay up half the night while others catch up on their sleep.

Meet Loie and Sharon. These are the two woman who take care of us while at the Retreat. They cook the most incredible meals and are our scrapbooking gurus.



Getting ready for the beautiful sunset in their backyard

Bye for now..........

My Peeps

Girlfriends, what can I say. I can always count on you. You all know who you are. I affectionately call you "my peeps" ! I am so blessed, you are always there.

The First Wisconsin Trip

I loved this old covered bridge and all the country roads we travelled.

Such a different way of life here. So much calmer, not the rat race I live.

Would you believe I rolled this hay bale myself? I didn't think so.




Yes, there really are
"Piggly Wiggly" markets!

I loved these black and white cows.

These cows make the infamous cheese curds!

David was such a trooper about stopping for all these photo ops! I was like Dorothy in Kansas!

Go Greased Lightning....

Chelsea with the Pink Ladies and Sandra Dee.

The Pink Lady with one of the Thunder Birds.

Can't you just hear "Greased Lightning" right about now?

Grease is the Word....

Chelsea playing the role of Marty, one of the Pink Ladies in the play GREASE. This was Chelsea's first singing solo in a play....she sang "Freddie My Love" in the slumber party scene.

Adios Amigo

David returns to Wisconsin.

We'll see each other again in 3 weeks.

The First Date

David and I took a sunset sail in beautiful Santa Barbara.

Together Again

A true gentleman.

Mr. Wisconsin Has Arrived

After just 53 days since that first email, but whose counting (just everyone I know on this planet), Mr. Wisconsin has arrived.

There were hugs, kisses and tears.

What a moment.

Rascal Flatts

This is my new boss Bruce, who hired the dishrag, (in the blue) and his partner Dennis at the Rascal Flatts concert. We sat in the rear bleachers right behind the sound system.

We are still deaf.......that or we are getting old.

We also needed binoculars to see them. They looked like toy soldiers on stage.

Favorite RF song?
Without a doubt, "Bless the Broken Road"

Did I Mention the Roses?

Roses

And then came the Roses, dozens and dozens, and dozens.

Can you hear me now?

Thank goodness David and I both have the same wireless carrier.
If we could accrue mileage for our phone minutes, we could have gone 'round the world twice.

What a thrill to reconnect and hear what has happened in our lives since high school.

The Countdown Begins

David and I are finally going to meet again, after 30 years, on August 6th.

Between us, we have 2000 miles and seven children.

Brace Face

OK, If Cher can get braces at 50, so can I.

Today, Dr. Davirro put on the upper braces.

Now I have heard how much these things can hurt, so I went home and waited, and waited, and waited......nothing.

I called Dr. D's office and said..."are you sure these are tight enough, I don't feel anything". I am sure they thought I was certifiably insane at this point.

Only 18 months to go.....

That First Call

I am sure you can imagine that first phone call from him.
He lives in Wisconsin now.

He sounds the same, and I can barely breathe.

The Email

An email dated April 15th, 2007 arrives in my mailbox today June 15th. It has been stuck in the "spam" section of my sister's mailbox and she has forwarded it to me today.

It was sent via Classmates.com and reads like this:

Tracy, it has been a long time and I would like to hear from you. David.

Can you say 30 years and my high school sweetheart?

Heart be still.

Like Mothers, like daughters

It's one thing when you meet someone and they become a life long friend, but when your daughters also share the same connection, that's magic.

Meet Amy (Wendy's daughter) and my Chel belle.

They met when they were 18 months old, now both 15 and blossoming into beautiful young women. You go girls!

These Are My Rocks...

They are my rocks, my pebbles, my boulders, and my mountains.

My support team, no Mom could ask for more.

Chelsea, Kyle & Carla

They said there would be days like this..

I was told to "take it one day at a time", but why do I feel like so many days are thrown at me all at once?

Divorce is like an emotional rollercoaster.

Stop this ride, I want to get off!

"CARLA, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR TEETH, WHERE ARE THEY?

She replied, "they are in my purse, Mom"

Don't even ask.

Today I Started a New Job

I hope this company is patient as they have just hired a dishrag.

Here She Is!

Here's our new nest. My oldest daughter Carla has moved back home to live with Chelsea and I. Three bachlorettes under one roof. There is no testosterone in here, only hormones.
Life is good.