Greetings from Kathy & Jerry - 2004
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To our family and friends around the world, regardless of HOW and WHEN you celebrate new beginnings, may we continue to celebrate the gift of diversity united by sharing love and compassion with those around us.
Here’s a brief recap of the highlights of our “Seasons of Blessings” in 2004.
Winter
-Jerry & Kathy welcomed the New Year in Charleston, South Carolina at a community festival of concerts, traditions, and foods in the town square celebrating the diversity of its people in the South. We toured the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, watched the sailboats while swinging on a swing, & admired the colorful architecture of Charleston before we headed to the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island Park www.holidayfestivaloflights.com . We concluded our trip at Kiawah Island www.kiawahresort.com, admiring the sunrises and sunsets & hiking and biking on the beaches. We also unexpectedly met some alligators that were thankfully sleeping under the palm trees as we hiked and took pictures of our beautiful surroundings on the golf course. Check out our photo album for additional details and pictures.
Click Here 2003 New Year’s Trip Photos
-The Kumorek family headed to a cabin in Galena, IL in January for some family time and “cuddle time” with our newest addition to the family, Jack Casey Vest (@ 4 months old)!
Click Here Jack Casey 2004 Photos
-Kathy celebrated “letting go of the old” and “welcoming the new” at the annual girls toast to the New Year!
-In February, Kathy was invited as part of the project team to participate in Motorola’s Best Practice Summit, sharing change management best practices and lessons learned.
-Kathy attended a girl’s getaway for fun and pampering in Chicago!
Spring
-We celebrated our first wedding anniversary! We learned that “love never fails” and as stated in Jerry’s favorite book, “Men are like Waffles - Women are like Spaghetti.”
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-Welcomed our friends from Canada, Steve & Irene Graham, for a visit to enjoy the Frank Lloyd Wright house tours in Oak Park. They delivered a handmade anniversary gift of a Frank Lloyd-inspired Water Lily pattern stained glass window which provides a “rainbow of light” to start each day.
Click Here Frank Lloyd Wright Tour with Steve & Irene Graham Photos
-Visited Eagle, Wisconsin for some hiking; we unexpected found our “Bluebird of Happiness” as we visited Old World Wisconsin which celebrates the diversity of its settlers from around the world.
- On the first Thursday of May, Kathy & Jerry gathered with other Motorolans to celebrate the National Day of Prayer to promote unity and diversity of prayer across the nation.
-Kathy & Jerry participated in the annual amateur radio field day event at Schaumburg’s Motorola campus. The event’s objective is to set up & demonstrate emergency communications. Jerry assisted in the station set up and operated making radio contacts across the USA. Kathy put her typing skills to use by logging contacts. Team finished 3rd out of 494 2A class teams; 22nd out of 2,241 entries in the Nation! To promote community and family awareness of this yearly event, the Libertyville Amateur Radio club sponsored a Field Day demonstration in the courtyard. For additional details, photos, and club newsletters:
Click Here Motorola km0to Station
Click Here Amateur Radio Highlights Photos
-Kathy & Jerry studied hard: Jerry preparing for his Master’s and PM Certificate; Kathy for her PMP Certificate in Program Management. Kathy passed her 4-hour PMP exam in April. On June 20, Jerry completed three years of studying and graduated from Keller Graduate School of Management with a Master’s in Information Systems. For pictures of family and friends at graduation:
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Click Here Jerry’s Graduation from Keller Photos
-Kathy & Jerry attended a relaxing architectural boat and dinner cruise on Lake Michigan and had a spectacular view of the fireworks.
Summer
-Kathy & Jerry found a “slice of heaven” in Olympic National Park in Washington and in the Canadian Rockies. We celebrated the adventure of marriage by staying one of our nights in a tepee in Golden near Glacier National Park! Below are some of our favorite stops:
Click Here Canada 2004 Trip Photos
Crescent Lake: www.lakecrescentlodge.com
Sol Duc Hot Springs: www.northolympic.com/solduc
Butchart Gardens, Victoria: www.butchartgardens.com/main.php
Stanley Park, Vancouver: www.seestanleypark.com
Emerald Lake, British Columbia: www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/visit/visit9_E.asp
Lake Louise, British Columbia: www.bctravel.com/alta/lakelouise.html
Field, British Columbia: www.bctravel.com/se/field.html
Golden, British Columbia: www.goldenwoodlodge.com
Glacier National Park, British Columbia: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/glacier/index_e.asp
Takawaka Falls, Yoho National Park, BC: www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/visit/visit9_E.asp
Canmore, home of 1996 Winter Olympics: www.aneaglesview.com
-Jerry vacationed with family at Table Rock, Missouri. They enjoyed early morning sunrise chats “swinging” on the swings, splashing in the lake and pool with nieces/nephews, visiting Branson to see a Motown tribute, and on his return, Jerry visited the World’s largest Toy Museum: www.worldslargesttoymuseum.com
Click Here for Table Rock Vacation Photos
-The Kumorek & Vest families gathered to celebrate Jack Casey’s first birthday. An inside look to the celebration from a proud aunt and uncle’s perspective is available in our photo album:
Click Here Jack Casey’s First Birthday Photos
-We enjoyed some fun & sun at a family barbeque outing at Crystal Lake Beach swimming and building sand castles and waterways. We also caught a spectacular sunset overlooking the lake!
-Jerry passed his PMP exam and on his way home purchased a pop up camper!
-Kathy worked with the Motorola Diversity Councils to sponsor various lunch and learn workshops including an 8 week Dale Carnegie workshop as a teaching assistant coaching on key principles from the book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People and How To Stop Worrying and Start Living.”
-Kathy & Jerry enjoyed various summer festivals to catch up with friends. Kathy met up with Kristie and Alec for an energizing walk for the American Heart Association.
-Kathy & Jerry attended the St. James Society’s benefit that recognized our wedding celebrant, Fr. Don Kenny, for his perseverance to follow his lifelong dream as a missionary. He and a team opened a soup kitchen and initiated various youth and community faith activities in Latin America.
Fall/Winter
-We celebrated the “magic” of our marriage at the Barry Manilow concert, “One Last Time.”
-In early October, Kathy & Jerry enjoyed a weekend of fall colors of Door County’s Peninsula State Park in their pop up camper. The group held a pumpkin-carving contest whose cheers were heard across the park prompting the “friendly” rangers to break up our fun. This year, we enjoyed biking the various trails, cooking around the campfire, and visiting friends in Green Bay, Wisconsin on our way.
Click Here Door County 2004 Photos
-We enjoyed a weekend of outdoor fun babysitting Jack Casey. He loves “swinging on a swing” like his Aunt Kathy and Uncle Jerry!
Click Here Jack Casey 2004 Photos
-The Libertyville Amateur radio station became a reality thanks to the perseverance of the KM0TO team. To inaugurate the station, the club conducted a special event contacting over 100 “Hams” across USA.
-Jerry & Kathy participated in the Amateur Radio Relay League’s November Sweepstakes Contest. During the contest, KM0TO club contacted 77 out of 80 sections in the US and Canada missing only Delaware, Saskatchewan, and Quebec.
Click Here Amateur Radio Highlights Photos
Click Here to read Jerry's Amateur Radio Article
-Kathy initiated her studying to become a “lady ham” in the Breuss household. She hopes to have her amateur radio license and talk on the air by May.
-Kathy & Jerry are working at Motorola. Jerry celebrated his 10th year at Motorola and is currently working in the Information Technology Program Management Office. Kathy is approaching her 5th year in 2005 currently working as a lead Program Manager for Mass Market Cell Phones learning from the diversity of teams located in Turin, Italy, Flensburg, Germany, the UK, and Singapore.
Click Here Jerry’s Motorola 10 year anniversary Photos
-We celebrated our many blessings at Thanksgiving with family and “Tom” Turkey and all the trimmings. We also prepared our hearts for Christmas by attending the annual Matthew Kelly Advent/New Year message in McHenry Country and celebrating the love and hope of Christmas with our guests at a local homeless shelter. We look forward to family Christmas gatherings enjoying quality time together!
Click HereThanksgiving 2004 Photos
From our home to yours, may the peace and joy of the holiday season be with you always!
Love, Kathy & Jerry Breuss - 2004
Additional Website Photo Links
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