After the arrival of my baby chicks this past spring, I've patiently awaited the arrival of the very first egg...

I can remember when the 3 little bundles of joy came home and we made them a nice little nest in the basement.  Every morning I would go downstairs and give each one some tough love, cuddling and kissing them.  They used to fit in my hands together...

As the girls grew, I became a little suspicious that the girls were not all girls.  Alice, June, and Sue Ellen were their names - until two started growing larger combs and making a noise that resembled the noise a rooster would make in the morning (or all hours in the day).

So Alice - stayed Alice...but...Sue Ellen became Stanley Edward and June became July.  Unfortunately, I was unable to have roosters in town - and my heart was attached, so my loving mother offered to adopt my children.

The kids moved from city chicks to country chicks and now live in a fashionable chicken coop.

This coop was a family work of love.  Mom did the designing and much of the labor, dad measured a bit, Payton oversaw the construction, Kirsten helped paint the door and I helped put the last set of boards on the coop.  I knew we needed the coop ready for the first golden egg.  Motherly instinct served me right for my little chicks are no longer chicks - they are chickens...

...and Alice was ready to lay her first egg.

The golden egg arrived on Wednesday, September 21, 2011.  I received a text from my mother informing me of this event - and I about flew out my chair at work.  I was so proud of my Alice and so excited that the first egg had arrived.  Much to our surprise - she layed another one later that day.  She is a rockstar.

To my chicks that are all grown up.  Here's to the Alice - the egg laying machine, Stanley Edward - a rooster that thinks he's all that, and July - I hope your voice matures soon too (his call is a little weak right now).

Hoping all of you had a fabulous weekend.
Love and Hugs -
Rach

Thank you to the guest blogger this week Mary Jo.  When I read Mary Jo's entry -  I was once again reminded how lucky I am to have known, lived with, grown with, and loved such an amazing man.  

Thinking of my many firsts with Joe...
Guest Blogger:  Mary Jo
Even though I did not know Joe very long, thinking back I had many firsts .... 

My first time I saw Joe was in a picture at Pizza Hut for his first fundraiser.  I told Val, we don't know Joe, but we know Rachel so we have to go. 

My first time I met Joe was at the Watkins Home when Rachel talked about the pay it forward.  She got me right in the heart and knew I had to do something. 

Because of hearing Rachel talk, my first Jeans for a Cause was for Joe Vogel.  Boy was I nervous.  You see, I am not a leader but a follower.  I was pretty proud of myself for doing this and it was such a big success. 

My first time I talked to Joe, was when we presented the check to him for the first Team Vogel vs Cancer Pay It Forward Jeans for a Cause.  I was so impressed with him.  He was such a good listener and was more concerned about me than he was about himself. And he was truly grateful!!!! 

My first time I volunteered to work a fundraiser was The Team Vogel vs Cancer Pay It Forward fundraiser.  I didn't volunteer this year as I made the two batches of caramels which tired me out, but I am going to next year and still make the two batches of caramels.  OK, I have just made that commitment!!!! 

And for the first time I am helping put together a major fundraiser for my brother-in-law who is fighting liver cancer.  It is not something I would EVER EVER do, and as I am going through my first, I realized today that it was Joe saying to me... go ahead Mary Jo, you can do it!!!!  Someone had to force me to pick up the phone to get the ball rolling.  

Thank you Joe and Rachel for letting me be a part of the Team Vogel vs Cancer Pay It Forward fundraiser.  For without you, I don't know that I would have had the courage to make that call.  

If you would like to share your thoughts - memories, please take a moment to send them my way.  [email protected]

Signing off for the day.  I am hopeful everyone had / is having a great weekend and here's to a great week!

Love and Hugs -
Rach

The football season is here - and I feel extremely uneducated this year.  Joe was a huge football fan and really enjoyed his fantasy football.  Enjoyed might be an understatement.  He would read up on things, weeks before the season began, and every Sunday was dedicated to football.  Get up 9ish...make sure all your players are healthy and playing...get in your line-up in...run to Subway for the lunch...and head to Hubbard's to watch as many games as possible on multiple tvs :).

Although there were weekends when Joe's fantasy teams did not do so well, and his spirit was a little cranky, I miss seeing the excitement in his eyes - him sitting and yelling at the tv - or running around the house doing some sort of dance.  So to all you fantasy players out there - good luck...to all Joe's buddies -thank you for helping make each Sunday what it was for Joe.  

It was a busy weekend, and I put off my blog til this morning.  While I was lying in bed, I was trying to decide what to write...what to share.  (For those of you who know me - I am not much of a morning person and my brain doesn't start up til at least 8:30).  I rolled out of bed and thought I could share some writings of Joe's...I could post pictures...and then I crawled out of bed and noticed a picture missing from above my bed.  It was the 143 picture.  It had fallen at some point behind my pillow (thank goodness it didn't hit me in the head).  So it was my sign to share some comments / thoughts others have shared with me about the license plate and its meaning...

A friend of mine took a moment to try and figure out the odds of getting a license plate number with 143...Based on the approximate number of registered vehicles in MN, the chances of me getting 143 as my 1st three numbers was...1 in 17,576.  Amazing!  (Thanks to the wonderful lady who helped figure this out - I would still be stuck on how to even begin.)

Another question I had pondered was - what did HHM stand for.  Here are some of the ideas I received...
-Heavenly Heart Message
-Hilarious Handsome Man
-He Has Made-it
-Hemmings Heros (M-?)
-Hearts, Hugs, and Memories
-Hubert Humphrey Metrodome
-Holy Hot Mama

As I get ready to sign off here for the week and head into work - I would like to extend this offer to anyone out there...

If you would like to share a blog post - a memory of Joe, a story that has inspired you, some good advice - or just a funny joke, please send me an email at [email protected].  (Pictures are welcome too.)

Here's to hoping everyone had a great weekend - and thank you to all who shared in mine.

Sending my love -
Rach

It is official - Zoe and I are settled in to our temporary home, skittles is hanging out with grandma and grandpa salisbury for a bit, and the construction has started on our final destination - home - in the country.  

Throughout the packing process, it was tough to say good-bye to the place that held so many memories for Joe and I.  The good thing is - memories travel - and they are easy to pack :)  Getting through everything in the house, was a true accomplishment for me.  It was exhausting, but refreshing to condense and sort.  Joe and I had a dream to move out of our tri-plex at some point.  Here's to my dream of getting into the country - Thanks for the fun times 450 E. 9th St. (and not so fun times :) - fixing backed up sewers...leaking roofs...renters...)

Last Tuesday - I was beginning to feel a little stressed.  Starting work, trying to pack, and having an official deadline to be moved out by - it all set in.  I decided to get out of the house for a moment and catch my breath - so I went to grab my mail.

My new license plates came in the mail.  I drove back home - walked in the door - and thought...before I lose these in the move - I should put them on.  I opened the envelope and was SHOCKED (I don't even think there is a word to express how I really felt) - Here is what I saw...

Now some of you may be thinking - Rach, it's just a license plate...  So here is the back story on why this is so amazing.

One night Joe and I were watching a movie and a sister was being taken from her brothers and she held up her fingers and did 1 - 4 - 3.  It was their way of saying I Love You.  After seeing that movie - Joe and I would do that often...  Leave a note with that on it... Joe would flash that on his fingers as he was being taken into surgery...  Or the Christmas gift he made me the ...

So you can imagine how much this new plate means to me.  And you know foolish me - I did go check my existing plates - and they did not have 1 - 4 - 3.  It was the sign I needed.  A sign to tell me to chill out - take a breath - and know...even if I leave a space, give away something - nothing can take away my memories and love.

So - 143 to you too Mr. Joe Vogel.

Sending my love - 
Rach

PS - We are still trying to figure out what the HHM stands for.  Any ideas :)