My Friends Call Me Shelli Deleen

I KNOW JUST WHAT WE NEED!!!

2009-07-26T19:55:00.003-05:00

My niece Sydney & I were digging in the sand on Saturday. Our sand time was becoming a little boring and out of nowhere Sydney exclaimed . . . . .

A Beauitful Saturday Spent with My Neices

2009-06-01T20:40:00.006-05:00

Riley Jean Hawkins

Sydney Lauren Hawkins

This past Saturday I watched my nieces, Sydney & Riley, while Mark & Kelly shot a wedding. The day started around 11:00AM and ended around 9:00PM.

It was a full day!

Lunch
Naps
Riverside Park in Neenah, WI
Toys R Us
McDonald's
Coloring at Aunt Shelli's

Click HERE to see an album I posted to my Facebook.

I was not really sure how many times Riley was going to dip her french fry in the ketchup before eating it. I think I counted 5. Maybe next time I'll just give her a spoon.

Phoenix, AZ - Too Much Fun & Not Enough Time

2009-05-28T22:09:00.003-05:00

I recently took a quick trip to Phoenix to visit my friend Nicole (Friesen) Teachout. Flew in on Thursday and flew home the following Monday.

We estimated that we had not seen each other in about 7 years - at Kristen Hobi's (now Kristen Igel) wedding.

At the end of the trip my heart hurt to leave this family that I grew to know and love - Nicole Rob, Kyria, Luc & Noelle.

In the past, I have visited friends and the emphasis has been on "seeing the sights". My regret after trips like this have been wishing I spent more time just talking to my friends. I did just that with the Teachouts. They are a beautiful, fun family and I miss them.

Below are links to the 3 albums of pictures I posted on Facebook. ENJOY!

Me & Nicole

The Beautiful Teachout Family

A Beautiful Day for Swimming and Hiking in Sedona, AZ

My brother Mark and his Beautiful Daughters

2009-05-09T20:56:00.002-05:00

Mark talking to our father trying to negotiate his way to a new table saw.

Sara Watkins Finally Releases Her Debut Album

2009-04-16T23:03:00.007-05:00

Sara Watkins is the former fiddle/violin player and singer in Nickel Creek.

Her website is simply
http://sarawatkins.com/

Click Here to listen to
an interview with Sara.

I hope you enjoy her as much as I am right now as I type this late night post.

Shelli Deleen

"S - Y - D - N - E - Y!!"

2009-04-11T23:00:00.004-05:00

I came home from work and in the usual routine of things I checked to see if I had any voice mails. On this day I had only one. When the voice mail started I could barely hear my sis-in-law's voice whispering something. She was telling her daughter - Sydney - to "Go ahead Sydney!" Then I heard the explosion of enthusiasm in my niece's voice as she is spelling her name for the first time and yelling in the phone - "S - Y - D - N - E - Y!!"

There are many faces to Miss Sydney and she always proves to be a great entertainer. Below is a picture I shot one night while eating dinner with her at Chipolte. I think this captures a little of her personality and energy.

"It's Riley's Favorite Flavor, I think!"

2009-04-05T14:40:00.007-05:00

Friday night Mark & Kelly came down to Appleton and we all spent time together at my sister's house. The video below shows the tenacity Riley often displays for food or drink . . of any kind . . in any form . . . at any time and her dad trying to help her drink.

Two Deleted Scenes From Cast Removal Day

2009-04-05T14:36:00.002-05:00

The Best Day of my life. . . in the Last Six Weeks

2009-04-01T21:59:00.005-05:00

Jonathan & Rebecca Huffman

2009-03-30T23:29:00.013-05:00

I am so excited for my friends Jonathan and Rebecca Huffman. They have recently moved their family to Charlotte, NC to start a new church.

Below are snippets from their website.

The Sowers

Rebecca and I have been married for 15 years and have spent our entire time together serving Christ’s body and enjoying our precious children. Rebecca is a “full-time” mom and spends most of her time keeping up with our crazy schedules. If she’s left alone for just a minute you’ll find her redecorating the house, reading a fashion magazine, or joining me for a hot cup of coffee. Rebecca has also been involved in our student and college ministries through counseling, leading a girls’ small group Bible study, and helping me lead events and retreats. Girls love her “Chic Chat” sleepovers and her “Spring Thing” fashion shows – better her than me! One of Rebecca’s greatest roles in ministry has been her involvement with the Women’s Ministry at West Park. While serving on leadership of our women’s ministry team, she was responsible for overseeing all small group studies and was a featured speaker at our annual women’s retreat. I (Jonathan) am still trying to convince my family that a 37-year-old should be allowed to own a motorcycle again - until then, I'll roll my windows down and pretend! More than anything else in life, I love to introduce people to their role in the story of God and help them play their role to its fullest.

The Seed

I recently did a major renovation at home that included replacing all the landscaping and adding irrigation to my front lawn. The most satisfying part of the project was the reseeding of the lawn. After days of raking and aerating I was finally able to spread the NEW SEED! (Only later was I told that the 50 pounds of seed I put on my front lawn was a bit much.) After watering and waiting for weeks, I began to see tiny bright green signs of new growth. Frankly, my excitement diminished a little when I realized that my over-seeding would result in over-cutting! One thing was for sure - the new lawn looked great.

Every harvest begins with a bag of seed!

It’s not that I didn’t want a green lawn all along…I just hadn’t ever invested the time and energy it took to produce new growth. I finally got tired of seeing a brown and weed-ridden lawn when I knew what it could be! (Mostly due to my neighbor’s putting green.) I guess that’s where we are right now – looking across the spiritual field of opportunity.

The Soil

Rebecca and I prayed for months that God would reveal to our family how we could best sow the seeds of Good News and every response ended with the word GO! God spoke through his Word, his Church, and his Spirit. As we stepped out in obedience and shared this vision with our Pastor, God continued to confirm those initial desires to stake out our own mission field for planting. While we would love to stay in Knoxville for this venture, God has burdened our hearts to take the Seeds of Good News to a city that is outgrowing its laborers.

Charlotte, North Carolina 1.6 Million +

Recently ranked as the 20th largest metro in the United States, Charlotte continues to grow by 80,000 people per year. Fueled by a growing house and job market, the “Queen City” has seen its surrounding communities grow to over 1.6 million people. Diversity is an accurate description of Charlottes’ racial and religious landscape. Charlotte is historically a very “religious” city, yet an increase in transfer growth has introduced a whole culture that doesn’t understand the question, “Where do you go to Church?” Specifically, the north side of Charlotte has seen some of its most rapid growth and has spilled over into it's surrounding counties.

Click on the link below to see their NEW website they recently launched.

the venue church

My Sassy Nieces - Sydney Lauren Hawkins & Riley Jean Hawkins

2009-03-27T09:36:00.008-05:00

25 Random Things About Me

2009-03-12T06:30:00.009-05:00

1. In my dreams I am always flying.

2. When I was born I lived in Crabtree Holler on the Stanley Branch side in the mountains of Clintwood, Va. Not a day goes by that I don't miss the mountains.

3. When I was 8 I decided to punch my left hand through the window of the back door of the house while trying to get it open. I had to get 6 stitches and a large scar still remains. But it was worth it because the neighbor boy - Andy Collins - that I had a HUGE crush on - came over and assisted in my rescue.

4. When I was younger I loved collecting slugs, worms, water dogs, snails and pretty much anything low to the ground I could catch.

5. I hit four deer in one year with the same car.

6. I love shuckey beans (leather britches), fried chicken livers, dry land fish, poke salad, white cornbread and sweet tea.

7. I know the correct pronunciation of Appalachia. Y'all from the south HOLLA!!

8. On February 17, 2009 I broke both bones in my right forearm and am still in the cast.

9. My momma had a canning closet in her kitchen. I would climb up in there and spend hours making crafts. I called it my "cubby hole"

10. Nothing makes my heart melt more than - after pulling into my parents driveway - hearing my Dad exclaim, "THERE'S SHELLBUCK!! How's daddy's baby girl doing??" and him giving me a great big hug.

11. I have almost died several times while on adventures with my brother.

12. I have several nicknames - Shellbuck & Boone are the most popular and were given to me by my family.

13. In 6th grade I went to a girl scout camp called Camp Sky-Wa-Mo (stands for sky - water - mountain) with my friends - Maria, Christina and Alicia. We were wild. We ripped it up. Maria & I were the ring leaders. As a result we had to clean dishes and toilets almost every day. I spoke to Maria recently and she has promise to post our Camp Sky-Wa-Mo pictures on Facebook. This should be interesting because those were the days of the fro.

14. I am a very touchy feely person.

15. As a child my mom could not keep clothes on me. 5 minutes after she dressed me I would strip down to my diaper. I still maintain this disdain. I am for sure there will be no clothes in heaven.

16. I have been a sailor for 5 years now. I own a 12.5 foot Barnett Butterfly that my brother and I have sailed many times in Lake Michigan. Yes, this would be one of the times I almost died.

17. ALL my close friends know how laid back I am. For some reason I can't convince my co-workers of this.

18. I have never been tested but I am certain - on some level - I have A.D.D.

19. I love music. I love to sing. I love to play music. Being surrounded by music amazes me. I can't drink it all in.

20. I hate decorating.

21. My favorite flower is a ranunculus - pictured above.

22. My dad was an electrician in the underground coal mines of Virginia for 15 years.

23. Both of my parents went to college in their 40s and earned their degrees.

24. Socializing is my pastime. I surround myself with people I admire and respect. I think I can learn something from every person I meet.

25. My older sister - Melissa Slayton - is a pretty amazing person. I know when she wants to give me unsolicited advice because she will cross her arms, slightly purse her lips and the famous raising of the eyebrow occurs. The conversation after these actions usually goes something like this -

Me - "What??? Should I have not done that???"

Melissa - "Well, I'm not saying that. You should probably just think before you do it again."

I Broke My Arm

2009-03-08T16:52:00.003-05:00

The cast has been on for almost 3 weeks.
3 more weeks to go.

Friends & Family

2009-03-03T23:02:00.015-06:00

I hope that I never take for granted
the amazing people in my life.

Thank you for your friendships!

Hanging with the Coolest Person On Earth - Laura Dickinson

2009-03-03T20:44:00.008-06:00

I am a bit behind on blogging . . so, here's to catching up!

Over Christmas break, my friend Laura and I enjoyed lunch at one of my local hangouts - Zuppas. I believe the phone conversation on Friday afternoon went something like this . .

Shelli dials Laura's cell . . ring . . . ring . .

Laura: "Hey Shell! What's going on?"

Shelli: "Not much just trying to wind down from a crazy week of work. So, what are your plans for tomorrow?"

Laura: "Hmm . . well . . . nothing really."

Shelli: "Great! How does lunch tomorrow at Zuppas in Neenah sound?"

Laura: "That sounds great!"

Shelli: "Cool. How bout I pick you up around 11:00ish?"

Laura: "Sounds good. See you then."

The Saturday morning sun rose. I picked up Laura at her parent's house and off we went to a local favorite restaurant - Zuppas - tucked way off the beaten path in a town just a couple miles south of Appleton called Neenah . . . somewhere between a real estate office, a hair salon called Snips-N-Clips and a grocery store.

The conversation was light and fun. Lots of laughing. Lots of talk about girls stuff. Lots of just plain nonsense. Put it this way - Laura and I both LOVE to hear the sound of our own voices. If we were on the floor of the Senate in a filibustering contest . . . not sure who would win . . . . it would be a tie . . . . I think.

Laura - have a great semester. I know you will knock calculus 4 and discrete math outta the park! Get ready for some more sailing adventures this summer! MISS YOU!!

The Hawkins and the Clines

2009-01-11T14:37:00.008-06:00

Last Thursday night I had my brother's family along with my pastor - Marc Cline and his family over for dinner. There are 4 in my brother's family - Kelly his wife and his 2 daughters Riley and Sydney. There are 6 in my pastor's family but only 5 came - his wife Dianna, Jared, Greg & Kyle. Their oldest son Scott is married to Elizabeth Kimbrough & living near Northland.

Mexican was the menu choice and fajitas were the main dish. Sides included Spanish rice, salsa and chips. Dessert was simple - brownies and peppermint ice cream. I highly recommend flank steak for your fajitas - very tender and very tasty.

With an animated bunch like this there was never a dull moment and never a lull in the conversation. Sydney loved to color, make pretend snow cream and twirl around in circles. Riley just lapped my apartment like a dog that need to be taken out for a walk.

Enjoy the pictures and videos & Have a great week everyone!

Moments before everyone arrived

Riley Jean - People say she looks like her Aunt Shelli

Hmmm . . . I think she sees something she wants.

Mark playing around with my camera

I Slipped Update

2009-01-08T21:42:00.002-06:00

The bump is still on the back of my head but thankfully it's much smaller.

I bought some spikes that go on the bottom of my shoes by DueNorth products.

I only wear them when there is a glare sheet of ice.

I LOVE WISCONSIN!!

I Slipped

2009-01-02T08:01:00.005-06:00

I remember not to long ago hearing my brother say those words. During college Mark had a summer job up in Eagle river diving around this huge truck pumping port-a-poddies all day long. So at the end of the day he took his truck up to the unloading area - like always - and in the process of emptying the contents he slipped!

I didn't fall into anything quite like that. I slipped on ice in the parking lot at work. I was going to lunch with a friend. In the process of walking to his blazer I slipped and fell completely flat on my back causing the back of my head hit the icy pavement.

There I lay on the pavement as if I am getting ready to make a snow angel. When I sat up I said to Kevin, "I fell??!!" He said the expression on my face was like a child. Strange.

He said, "Yes you did! Are you OK??"

I felt fine. No vision problems or nausea normally associated with a concussion The bump began to grow . . . . and grow . . . . . and grow. I had one of the first responders here at work take and look and she advised me to seek medical attention.

So, off to the emergency room we went. After several test and questions the ER staff determined I did not have a concussion and was cleared to return to work.

I guess you could say I started the new year off with a BANG!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

Holiday Happings at the Hawkins House

2008-12-29T18:16:00.007-06:00

The whole family was together for Christmas at my parents house in Eagle River, WI. Mark, Kelly and their two girls came from Green Bay, WI. Don, Melissa and their two boys came from Tulsa, OK and I came from Appleton, WI.

Mark, Sydney and Dad spent some time out on the lakes ice fishing. Mom & Melissa somehow got roped into all the cooking and cleaning (I'm pretty sure they won't let that happen again). Kelly & I went shopping the day after Christmas. And when Mark wasn't fishing he was pickin' on his mandolin or having fun with the kids.

Enjoy the pictures!!

Melissa holding her seat cushion. Her name is Gwenn but it's spelled Guin as in penguin. Guin unfold to be a seat cushion. It helps to be comfortable when you are playing Rook for hours at a time - especially if Mom & Dad are beating you!

Kelly taking lots of pictures

Caleb being Caleb

Sydney & Riley

My new addiction - Set - Kelly taught it to me and I am hooked!

Riley Jean

There's always something exciting going on with this crew around!

Getting To Know Me

2008-12-05T08:38:00.014-06:00

My friend Martie over at Hitting the High Notes posted the first list below and I thought it would be a fun thing to do. Everything in the first list that is bold are things I have done.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars - At the top of Coal Creek Canyon in Golden, Colorado
3. Played in a band - high school marching band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang/played a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - of course after eating chinese
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort - with my nephews of course
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - many times with my brother
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance - 8 years old - decide to put my had through a window while trying to open a door
47. Had your portrait painted - my mom's oldest sister is an artist - she has done a charcoal and an oil painting of me
48. Gone deep sea fishing - had the opportunity to go when my family vacationed on St. Simon's but decided to hang out with my Mom & Sister
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - does your own pool count?
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - "THE BIG FAT YEAST ROLL" from Ryans Steakhouse - Eric gave me for my birthday.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - Senior Trip
71. Eaten Caviar - not a fan
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broke a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - This one's not that hard when you work for a paper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox - on vacation - good times!
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one - too many to count - Several uncles & aunts, a cousin and both grandparents and a couple of friends
94. Made a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone - unfortunately!
99. Been stung by a bee

This list was a questionnaire sent to me from my friend Tanya (Siedschalag) Blocksom. So, I thought I would add it on to this post and make her happy - here you Tanya!

1. What is your occupation right now? Research Analyst on the corporate sales team of West Business Services

2. What color are your socks right now? Orange, beige & maroon striped smartwool

3. What are you listening to right now? The Packer game

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Chicken & wild rice soup

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Absolutley - I love shifting gears!

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My sister

8. How old are you today? 35 - I love my 30s!

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? College basketball

10. What is your favorite drink? during winter time I make homemade chai

11. Have you ever Colored your hair? highlighted once about 12 years ago

12. Favorite food? right now it's soup - lots of soup in winter

13. What is the last movie you watched? Dark Night

14. Favorite day of the year? Christmas - my whole family is together

15. How do you vent anger? call my sister or mom

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? legos

17. What is your favorite season? fall

18. Cherries or Blueberries? blueberries

22. Living arrangements? apartment

23. When was the last time you cried? today

24. What is on the floor of your closet? an over sized, multi-colored, chenille pillow that needs to be thrown away

26. What did you do last night? drove home from my parent's house in Eagle River, WI to avoid the coming snow/ice/rain

27. What are you most afraid of? walking down stairs/hills

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? cheese

29. Favorite dog breed? lab

30. Favorite day of the week? Sunday

31. How many states have you lived in? 5 - Virginia, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, Wisconsin

32. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds

33. What is your favorite flower? ranunculus

If you decide to do something similar on your blog make sure to let me know.

Have a great week!

My Morning Drive

2008-12-04T06:45:00.003-06:00

Yesterday another 4 inches of snow fell. I can't complain . . . it's winter in Wisconsin!

This is a portion of my morning commute through downtown Appleton listening to WTMJ out of Milwaukee.

Have a great day!!

Sydney & Riley

2008-11-25T21:52:00.003-06:00

Kelly, my sister-in-law, posted a beautiful picture collection of my nieces - Sydney & Riley.

Click here to see the pictures.

Villa Magnolia, Appleton, WI

2008-11-23T15:37:00.004-06:00

Thursday night my good friend Virginia and I went to a new restaurant in Appleton - Villa Magnolia located downtown on College Avenue. Our appetizer was "The 10 Moles" - a sample of 10 different Moles plus 3 salsas served with fresh steamed tortilla shells and deep fried plantain strips. Below are pictures of our the dishes.

Overall the atmosphere was enjoyable, the food was great and I would recommend Villa Magnolias!

The Ten Moles

Red Snapper

Beef Enchiladas

Article from the Appleton Post Crescent -

Co-owner Fortino Solano, who opened the Mediterranean restaurant Il Angolo in downtown Appleton two years ago, spent his childhood in the Oaxaca state of Mexico. Nothing in northeast Wisconsin satisfied his culinary homesickness.

“I was hungry for Mexican food,” says Solano, explaining his entry into what appears to be an already crowded field. “I fell back to my roots and fell in love.”

Villa Magnolia opened last month in the space the Old Bavarian restaurant occupied until its owners relocated it to Grand Chute earlier in the summer.

Solano redecorated in spare, contemporary style, but kept a pastoral wall mural of the German countryside.

“It’s too beautiful,” he said.

The restaurant is named for Solano’s 6-year-old daughter.

Entrees fall into three categories: enchiladas, seafood and fish and steak.

Engineer your own enchiladas with choices of shrimp, chicken, beef or cheese, topped by mole, green or red sauce.
Nearly half of Magnolia’s entrees are seafood or fish.

“If you think about the south of Mexico, it is a peninsula, Solano said, “so we do a lot of seafood here.”

Entrees come with medley of grilled vegetables and a choice of side dishes such as fire roasted Poblano peppers with sour cream or sauteed potatoes with chorizo.

You Can't Juice a Lump - Part 2

2008-11-10T20:52:00.025-06:00

So . . .Sunday the Northland college students came over to my house for lunch, games and just in their words . . . chillaxin'. Well I think they did get a chance to chillax and of course we had to play the new game - You've been sentenced.

Enjoy the videos!

Here we go with juicing lumps again.

Good question Heather!!

"Odder sliding nuts?"
Heather what does that even mean?!?

Creative Greg!

Greg's approval

How did I spend my Halloween?

2008-11-03T18:23:00.007-06:00

Well, last Friday night I hung out with a few families in my church . . . just sitting around the campfire gabbing away. Very relaxing. Very entertaining watching Mark make the fire enormous!

Good times. Enjoy the pics!

Debbie shielding her face from the hot fire.

Dan

Patsy & Dan
(yes he is wearing a grass skirt)

Marking eating the flame of a torch.

Adorable Eli

Eli eating his 9th Reese's Cup.

Tim with all the kids