Introducing our new sister-in-law Elizabeth...

Alright...so Greg got married six months ago...but our new sis-in-law, Elizabeth, still deserves a warm welcome on our blog! Even though you live afar, we hope the other members of our family will one day get a chance to meet you!

Elizabeth's maid-of-honor in the violet-colored dress was her beautiful and talented daughter, Melissa who sung "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for them at their wedding. The other young lady in the picture wearing a lavender dress is Elizabeth's adorable, sweet niece, daughter to her brother whose name is Greg as well:-)

There are more photos they have which include Elizabeth's parents and her two dear sons, Matthew and Andrew, as well as Mom, Dad, Mike and some long time friends of Greg's, so connect with Greg if you want to see more. Greg's heart is huge and his capacity to love is long. He loves her kids as if they were from his own flesh and bone.

My Mom is My Hero

I just want to tell my Mom how proud I am of her for pushing on, day after day, with never-ending pain and what has inevitably become irreversible disability associated from the injuries she sustained from that traumatic fall over two years ago. If only that grate was secured...but it wasn't and in all the bad, I've searched for something positive to come from that (as if that was possible) and what comes to mind is this: What you are teaching me through your attitude and actions far surpass any lesson you could have through complacency. Role-model statements seems cliche, so I won't go there, but I will say this: When life is easy and breezy, it's hard to be heavy and humble. Resultantly, those good times are great but those are moments we are not likely to evolve very much. I believe, instead, like many others do, that in times of great challenge, our true character is revealed. In short, you have shown what true bravery means and you are my hero. It is during our most difficult moments where growth can be greatest. In good times and bad, you are distinctly responsible for teaching me life's most important lessons. Thanks, Mom. Thanks for being such a strong, phenomenal, female hero.

Welcome to the World, John Zacharias....

Please join us in welcoming to the world, Dan and Jessica's firstborn son John Zacharias ("JZ"). What a cutie-pie he is! No doubt a a future genius and sweetheart like his Mom and Dad. Anyway, we just want to say that we're absolutely thrilled for you and your families and we wish you many, many blessings on your beautiful new arrival. Congratulations to little man's grandmas and grandpas too! We love you all very much!

Nana Kit and Papa Si are Smiling...

I'll never forget the day I crept into my Aunt and Uncle's bedroom in Bensenville to watch my beautiful baby cousin, Jackie sleep soundly. I also remember thinking at that time that I finally got the sister I always wanted - even though by technicality, she was really my cousin. But I loved her like a sister anyway. As the years rolled by all too quickly, she grew from the adorable baby she was, to the bright and beautiful pregnant Mommy she is today. And while Jackie already has a wonderful sister named Becky, (new Mom extraordinaire;-) I still love her like a sister in my heart and I always will, time or distance notwithstanding. At any rate, we're thrilled for Jackie and Drue's good fortune. In fact, the photo to your left demonstrates the beauty of their bounty. Jacks and her husband, Drue are expecting this December and our other cousin Dan and his sweetheart-of-a-wife Jessica are too, albeit a bit before. Needless to say, our family is eagerly and joyously anticipating the arrival of their firstborns. Please join us in spirit by sharing in the joy of their good fortune. I am certain from heaven, your Nanas and Papas are very proud of you.

PS. Better watch out, Laura and Mike, you're next!

Getting Published

Since Mar was a kid, she dreamt of writing something worthy enough to be published someday; and after all this time, that day has arrived. Sure, she had some extremely small poem published that she wrote several years ago, but in her eyes, it didn't really count. Anyway, she just got word that it's going to print some time around Thanksgiving. Small potatoes or otherwise, it's pretty exciting stuff for us and we just wanted to share our joy. If you're interested in reading the piece once it's published, let us know, and we'll get you a copy (pro bono of course), or direct you to a online resource for easy access.

Facades

Facades
C. Marla S. Laurin, November 12, 2007

Facades are pretty
Strong not wilting
Below its surface
We're too busy
Shoving and stuffing
Feelings resulting
From stressors
You rise
To the occasion
Tearing you asunder
Because you’re busy
Toiling the thunder
From a web
You spun a facade
To cover ways
Others would find
Revolting
Or just unappealing
Albeit revealing
The part-time disguise
Wears thin
The protection
From those who exploit
Every imperfection
Flaws can be pretty
Strong while wilting
Away the mask
Covering
The Beautiful mess
Inside our minds
That are strong
Not wilting
Ever foreboding
---Facades Written by Marla S. Laurin, November 12, 2007

The Beauty of Simplicity

Serenity by Ching Qu Lam

Serenity is yours.
When chaos looms seek the sweet
surrender of simplicity.
Gaze above at the glass sky,
feel each blade of green
beneath your feet,
listen to the sound of faith
like a reed flute playing
inside your chest.
Breathe.
Stand in witness of
your true nature.
Remember the compassion
of the lover's eyes,
the calm wisdom of
the elder's voice.
Go within. Be at rest without.
Fall to your knees in gratitude.
You have all you need.
Turn from the riot of distraction.
Let it roll over and beyond you.
Serenity is yours.
It lives always within your reach.

- Ching Qu Lam

Family Videos are Works-in-Progress

There is a family video I am trying to post here, (obviously with little success because it's still not here;-) but when it does happen, it can be considered as just one of many works-in-progress because our family continues to expand with new marriages, baby births, and also because Mar just lacks the time and technology for expeditiously adding more photographs to what has become one very long video. We hope to have more time in the coming year for making new photographic videos so that they are more all-inclusive by including (if these parties are amenable): relatives of mine on the Laurin side; Dina's immediate/extended family; Greg's new wife Elizabeth and her family; Laura's soon to be husband, Michael J. Curtis, Jr., the birth of Dan and Jessica's firstborn, and of course, the birth of Jackie and Drue's firstborn, etc...and so on. So settle in for this long 20-minute work-in-progress and enjoy!

Mar's Ma in Kismet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNpoek8J3_Y

This video was taken by my Papa Si who, at the time, worked with equipment that couldn't record sound. So my Uncle Glenn adapted this with a very befitting and beautiful version by Bond from their Born album. At the end of the video, Glenn included some classic black and white photographs of Ma throught the years which I grow to appreciate more and more with each new day. How talented the fellas in my family are. Humongous thanks and love to Glenn for sharing this which helps to keep the memories of Ma dancing alive.

Life Sacrifice

For Mom and Dad; written in honor of the innumerable sacrifices you make every day for the people you love:

Life Sacrifice
C. Marla S. Lauirn, December 2005
Fallen flowers don't
Fade away the
Beauty retained
Gives amazing strength
Its purpose clear
Shed no tears
The year fell away
Like a beautiful
Flower leaving you
Stronger than you were
Before Seedlings lay
At your feet
In sweet surprise
Await the day
When we'll grow wise
Beneath the Earth
Our roots combine
Earnestly you breathe
Life sublime
Into mine
Strong roots anchor
Seedlings to spare my
Beautiful flower
No matter cost
No matter how dour
Your life for mine
In every hour
Your roots
For mine
In every gesture
Your heavy breath
For my every hour
Your life sacrificed
For my flower

---Life Sacrifice Written by Marla S. Laurin, December 2005

MRSA, Metal Shards and Other Misadventures

We are still reeling from last week's medical emergencies and as we all look at it, a comedy of errors of sorts associated with my first clinical rotation. With optimistic eye, we are hopeful things will shake out just fine. On that note, here is how one such instance really did: Fortunately, Dina's MRSA-filled wound has been responsive to the Sulfa meds. But just as she was starting to heal up from that, she woke up in terror with copious tears and an inabilty to withstand light, (a.k.a. photophobia). In short order, we got her in to see the world's best opthalmologist in the world - who also happens to be a quintessential mensch to boot, and he essentially removed a shard of metal which was found embedded in her cornea. If you're wondering how it happened, all I can say is - not in the way you would think. After returning home with a bag full of every protective eye covering goggle there is for Dina, Dina jocularly informed me it wasn't a workplace injury. How so? I said. As it would turn out, the shard was in her HAIR (from WORK) so when she showered and tussled her mane upon its conclusion, it "fell" into her eye. So there you have it. Semantics 101 in the MarlaDina household!