I am an avid Oprah follower, and was so surprised and exhilarated to watch a story this week about the Heart Gallery; which I am a part of. The Heart Gallery provides professional portraits of children waiting to be adopted through photography shows across America. The story on Oprah was about a little girl who had been rescued after 6 years of being completely neglected by her mother in a devastated home, being completely secluded from any human contact. At 6 years old, her brain functioned like that of a 6 month old baby. It's too sad to go into any further detail about her conditions, so I'd like to focus on the inspiring story that followed her rescue. The couple that has adopted her first saw her picture at a Heart Gallery show. Typically, during the opening of the shows, the children are there to meet and greet and get to know their potential new parents. In this case, the little girl wasn't at the show. The woman saw the little girls portrait from across the room and was instantly drawn to her. Listening to her new parents on the show, I was so moved by the strength and compassion they have to have to protect and raise this little girl. My heart goes out to them, and I thank them so much for giving this little girl a new life filled with love ... something she's never known.

Here is a link to the Oprah show:

Heart Gallery child adoption

I feel SO blessed and honored to participate, as I always have, in this organization, especially now that I've seen just what is possible through these portrait shows they provide. I am so thankful to at least provide the possibility of an adoption through the Heart Gallery.

Heart Gallery of America

Bob and I were so excited to have the time and opportunity to get away to Vermont ~ and our friends Erin and Karel were able to come with us too! It was their first time to the state so we were really happy to share that with them.
We wanted to see Burlington which neither of us had seen so we kind of went the long way to where we were staying, but it was definitely worth it. Burlington was really cool but we wish we could have stayed longer...the time flew! Here's a few pictures we took on our way. Before getting to the city we stopped at a winery and a beer manufacturer called Magic Hat which some of you may know...was a LOT of fun

If you look in the window you can see Buddy peeking out from the back seat :)



Here he is catching some zzz's...nothing much else to do :)



Pitt stop at a local diner





Erin with her coffee to go



wine tasting; and brought a few with us for the weekend



Magic Hat tasting glasses



Me and Erin



Vermont Brewery challenge...we got through only 3 out of the 10 stops :( Next time hopefully



This is after maybe the 8th glass...they're small though ;)



The doors to Magic Hat



Peters Birthday/Valentines cookies ... mmmm



We played Jenga later that night...can you believe, Karel never played that before?? Now he's hooked!! That game stresses me out...

The next day, Karel and Erin went cross country skiing nearby and Bob and I went downhill skiing and snowboarding.
F.U.N.!!! LOVE it there. It was beautiful. While waiting in line, I noticed some people looking over across the way up into the sky...I looked over and saw that they were looking at the clouds. They were really eerie...wispy, like witches hands or something



Bob in line for the lift



Me in line for the lift...impatient! Crowded...grrr.



our skiis/board hanging from the chair as we rode over a beautiful snow covered stream



Bob on the lift



Finally made it up...wow, a LOT colder up there...really really high in the sky! Nothing like out here in Rochester...these are hills in comparison.









Great day! Came home, cleaned up, and got ready for dinner..mom prepared the most amazing fondue spread you've ever seen. Cook your own meat, fish, veggies...choose your own dips...even had lasagna on the side ...crazy awesome! Thanks mom!



We played Jenga all night again.
The next day (after waking up with Buddy) :)



Bob and I skiied, while Erin nursed a cold she'd just gotten...felt so bad...she slept until almost 2pm and we got back around 3 which worked out perfect. She was feeling better after sleeping in so long so we went to the Ben and Jerry's factory! Nothing cures a cold like Ice cream right? Especially Mint chocolate chunk!!
:)



mmm samples!



Me and Erin enjoying our frosty treat



After the factory, we stopped at the Alchemist brewery on our way back home...it was on the way anyways ;)



There was a HUGE daisy shaped light fixture on the ceiling..you can see the edges of it in this picture..which is why I shot upwards



Me and my husband :)



The four of us had dinner out that night and when we got home, we all played ...hmmm what could it be ??? JENGA anyone? :)

Last day...half day since we had to head home .. mom was so nice; she took me up just us on the slopes for one last time. Bob had had enough and stayed in. Thank you so much for taking me out again mom!



Karel and Erin headed home because they were stopping in Amsterdam; near Utica ... so they had quite a trip ahead of them. Bye guys! Loved having you at Sugarbush!

Me, Bob and Buddy in the living room



our digs



us outside the house



When we got back to Rochester, it was raining. <sigh>
How great would it be to live in Vermont.
Until next year ~ bye for now!

We lost our dear friend Ali Lovejoy tonight around 6pm. For those who don't know she is the mother of my friend Susan, and she gave us our Buddy when he was one year old after she couldn't take care of him any longer.
I love Ali and will miss her sweet smile and 'persnickity' personality (as Susan puts it-which makes me laugh).

We were all in the room with her to say our goodbyes and to wish her well on her new journey. Susan never left her side and talked to her mom the whole time. The family decided that it was time to let her go as she was on a respirator with a declining heartbeat even with the help. The tubes were removed, the heartbeat began to drop, and shortly after, she was gone.
<moment of silence>
Rest in peace Ali; we will never forget you and will love and take good care of our boy Buddy forever.



With love and rememberance,
Sue and Bob

Though the snow is quickly melting away from a sudden shift to tropical temperatures and rainfall today...only a week ago our boy Buddy was playfully rolling around in the fluffy snow. He LOVES the stuff...sometimes I lay down and roll around in it with him!
These are for you dad ~ Love you!
:)