Year end wrap up

2009 is just a few hours away from ending. This year, both my kids graduated and went on to other pursuits. Kev graduated from college and entered grad school; Kat graduated from high school and entered college.

I went to work at TCC parttime in the Continuing Educ department. I think I would like a full time job someday.

Mark spent about 135 nights in a Marriott hotel! Just shows how much he travels.

Right now, Kev and Mark are at a Boy Scout leadership camp but they will be home before midnight. In the next week, Kev will return to Ohio and then Kat to Oklahoma. I will go back to work and "normal" life will resume.

Next year, I plan to read more books. I think I have gotten out of the habit of reading. I picked one up recently at the library by Jonathan Kellerman who is one of my favorite authors. I finished the book, "True Detectives", but I certainly didn't think it was one of his better ones. Anyway, I am going to get back into reading.

Melancholy and Decorating

I have bunco this week. So today I was out running errands to get ready for bunco, fill the little communion cups for tomorrow, and grocery shop. One of my stops was Walgreens. Walgreens is at the same location that used to be a Burrus Grocery Store. I hardly ever shopped there. However, as I pulled into the parking lot of Walgreens, I remembered going to Burrus one time with Kevin who was probably around 5. He had left Bunny Honey in the car and when we came out, Bunny Honey was sitting on the dashboard. Either he came alive while we were in there or Mark drove by and did it. We'll never know because Mark never confessed, and I'm sure he has forgotten by now. Anyway, the remembrance didn't so much make me sad as it made me go -- where did the years go? My little boy is now a man in graduate school!

On decorating, I always think others are judging me on my lack of making my house a showcase. It is a home, but it is frequently messy, pet hair everywhere, and I don't really like cleaning it. Does this make me a bad mother -- sometimes it feels like it does. I want to shout to those that are judging me (who probably aren't really) hey, I homeschooled my kids, I went back to work to help pay for college -- cut me some slack. In reality, it is me who needs to cut me some slack! But please, someone, explain to me why part of my living room decor has to be ugly green boxes of ammo!

Theatre or Theater

On Monday everything fell into place to allow me to go to the Dallas Theater Center's reading of The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later. I had really wanted to see this but failed to make a reservation or ask for the evening off from work. However, since school was out that day, I only had students until 5 and I found out that the production hadn't sold out.

I wanted to see the reading because it was being done in over 150 theaters across the world including one in Oxford Ohio where my son was taking part. I couldn't see him, but I could still see the same play at the same time. I didn't get to see Kevin, but the Dallas production had Tony award winning actress, Betty Buckley in it -- and that was a cool thing.

The Laramie Project was done 10 years ago about how Laramie Wyoming had reacted to the death of Matthew Shepherd who was killed because he was gay. This production 10 years later, the same people went back to Laramie to see how Laramie had changed in 10 years.

It was very well done. This time they were even able to interview the two perpetrators -- one is remorseful, one not so much.

After the play, the audience took part in a discussion as to how Dallas and the US have changed. It was interesting.

But, the reason I'm writing this isn't just about how moving the play is -- it's how I feel when I go to the theatre in Dallas. For some reason I feel like everyone else is a cool Dallas urbanite and I'm the country suburbanite. I feel like wearing a t-shirt that says "I'm not really a theatre person, but I raised one -- and he's cool!" It's like I want to say "I know I'm not cool, but my son's cool - so I'm ok". It's hard to explain.

Another thing, this was the last performance of the DTC in this theatre because they just opened their new one in the Dallas Arts District and I may not be cool -- but I definitely want to go see that building.

Oh, about 60% of the audience was gay and of course the discussion was about acceptance of gays. I really wished that the pastor of my church could have been there. I don't think he could actually sit in a room where there were that many gay people -- but he needs to hear that hate is not the answer!

I was impressed that the performance was complementary of the DTC, and donations were accepted for the Matthew Shepherd Foundation.

Before the play, there was a live webcast from New York which had the the main guy from the Tectonic group who wrote the play introduced people involved in it -- and he introduced one and said that he was the dramaturg -- and I knew what that was! Maybe I'm more cool than I think.

So why is theater spelled two ways? Is it theatre or theater?

Who me? - Worry?

My son just told me to quit worrying about him. He is right! I need to do this and having him say it out loud helps. I was worrying because he is many many miles away, he borrowed a large sum of money for grad school, he has a huge paper due before Thanksgiving, etc., etc.

But you know what, I pray for him, and I know God watches out for him. As much as I love Kevin, God loves him even more.

The other reasons for me to stop worrying are the things that Kevin has already accomplished in his 2 decades plus 2 years: Eagle Scout, member of Phi Beta Kappa, graduated Magna Cum Laude in Honors Studies, accepted into the college of his choice for grad college.

Thank you God for loving Kevin.
Thank you Kevin for putting it bluntly to me -- "stop worrying so much".

What a week!

We left last Tuesday, Aug 11 with three cars and four people driving to Tulsa OK. We stayed at my parents lovely home that evening. The next morning, we took 2 cars and 4 people to Stillwater. We came back with 1 car and 3 people. Kat moved into her dorm at OSU to begin her college life! I didn't cry until we were leaving -- but a Sonic diet cherry limeade helped. We drove back to Tulsa to spend the night.

On Thursday, 2 cars and 3 people left Tulsa very early to drive to Oxford OH. We made it in about 12 - 13 hours and I drove one of the cars the entire way. It was somewhat fun and I had never driven through that part of the country. We saw the St. Louis arch and a HUGE cross near Effingham IL. After driving through Indianapolis Indiana and a little further, we left the interstate to drive through what appeared to be a cornfield maze of about 30 -50 miles. We went through 2 small towns and then saw a small sign welcoming us to Ohio. A few miles down the road, we came to Oxford. It is quite pretty but very small. I left Kevin my GPS (named Parker) because he will definitely need it to get around the maze of corn. He will eventually need to leave Oxford for something as it doesn't have much. It does have Walmart, Starbucks, Quizno's and Miami Univ.

Friday was spent at Walmart getting some stuff for him. A card table with 4 chairs, bookcase, media case, tv stand, kitchen stuff and moving into his apartment near campus. We left him there late in the afternoon so we could get a head start on the trip back. I got teary again when I got to the car, but Oxford doesn't have a Sonic for diet cherry limeade emergencies!!!

We drove back to the interstate slightly differently because one of the roads was under construction -- but it was still through cornfields. We stopped for the night in Effingham IL and drove back to Tulsa on Saturday.

Sunday, we drove to Stillwater to see Kathryn again and then back to Grapevine.

Monday, I left for work and Mark left to drive to Louisiana. Somewhere in East Texas, a semi hit him and sent him into a tailspin doing two 360's before hitting the concrete embankment. The car is probably totalled -- but my husband is ok! He even rented a car and went on to Louisiana!

Now I'm settling into being an empty nester -- it's ok most of the time and not ok a little of the time.

I'll post pics of the whole shebang (minus Mark's crash) on my facebook page.

College shopping

I think my daughter is about done shopping for her dorm. Now we just have to cart all of it to Oklahoma -- at the same time that we are carting all of her brother's stuff to Ohio in 1 minivan, 1 Maxima, and 1 Crown Victoria!


I can't take a pic of her brother's stuff because it is too spread out!

Some Answers

Kevin did talk to his advisor at Miami U. He and Mark drove to Ohio this week where he met the head of the department and rented an apartment. He will register for classes the week of Aug 17 during graduate school orientation. He rented a one-bedroom apartment across the street from campus. Looks like this will be a good program for him -- it is definitely a program that prepares one for studying at the Ph.D level. They only admitted 4 students into the program this year! I guess the next step is to contact the other school and tell them that he will be attending elsewhere and cancel his loans there (and complete his loans for Miami).

I am glad that I have a job in the mornings (although I have to take a few weeks off due to College for Kids). If I didn't have to get up and get dressed, I would probably still be in my pj's at noon reading facebook and goofing off.

Perhaps more answers will be coming later!

Questions and Random Pictures

This week it really hit me how soon Kat leaves for college! Less than 2 months, less than 7 weeks! I am excited for her and scared too. These thoughts keep coming at me. Will she make friends, will she do ok in class, will there be enough freshmen in her dorm, will the Episcopal Canterbury Center be a good place for her to find Christian friends. Then I start worrying about things like, she has friends but she doesn't have a best friend -- is that ok. She hasn't dated -- is that ok. Will she keep her room at college as messy as she does here? I have no answers but I may in the future.

And then the questions about Kevin keep coming! Is he going to fill out his certification papers (apparently yes -- he did that today). Is the advisor from Miami U going to contact him ever. Where is he going to live in Oxford. When does he need to register for classes. Will he be able to find a job in Oxford. Will he find new friends in Oxford. Will he find a D and D group there (and hopefully a group of Christian friends)?

Yesterday, I accidentally stumbled across a thing on the internet where people take a picture each day for a year. I decided that was cool and while I doubt that I will take a picture everyday for a year, I do keep my camera in my purse, and I decided to start taking random pictures and writing why I took it. Most won't appear on this blog -- they will be explained in my Creative Memories Memory Manager. Occassionally I'll put one on the blog -- like today. (actually two pics of the same thing).

(My license plate isn't messed up -- just didn't want everyone to know my plate number).

These are two random shots of my car in the parking lot at TCC. I am so glad that I have the OSU magnet to help me find my car!

Another question I ask myself, "how long do I leave the Texas Tech mom" sticker on my window. He isn't at Tech anymore but it is his school. It is overpowering the O-State mom sticker in the window. Do I need to add a Miami U sticker on the other side or do moms of graduate students not do this?

Today is a day for questions. Maybe another day will be for answers.

More Friday morning ramblings

1. I hope my son decides soon where he will be attending graduate school.

2. I hope my cold sore which I'm sure was caused by stress goes away soon.

3. It was nice not to get up too early this morning.

4. A couple months ago, I bought a book about walking -- with faith -- includes DVD for walk routines. I haven't started it yet -- but I am going to start it one of these days.

5. I can't seem to keep my kitchen neat!

6. I need some more comfortable shoes to wear to TCC and Kat needs some for college -- perhaps shoe shopping is in our near future.

7. I finally called the doctor about getting an appt for 6 month mammogram -- haven't heard back yet.

8. Will be heading back to weight watchers tomorrow -- it will not be good news.

9. Kat found a purple and black comforter!!! She may still look for others in case she finds a better one.

10. I alternate between feeling like crying and being happy -- hormonal? almost empty nester? who knows!

The Month of May

Well the month that I was looking forward to, yet almost dreading has come and almost gone. We had three big events to celebrate which could cause me some stress.

First (although not one of the three big events), my son was a backup signer on a youtube video called "First of May". I spelled signer correctly -- it was in Sign Language to a song. It was very humorous although definitely rated R. The person who sings the song, Jonathon Coulton was coming into town also in May and Kevin, his friend Stephen, and Kathryn were going to the concert -- and they got to perform their sign language version to the song. So I can proudly say that my kids have performed at the Granada in Dallas (although I always have to warn people that it was rated R in case they look for it on youtube).

First of my big three events -- May 9 Kevin graduated from Texas Tech in Lubbock. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Honors Studies. My parents came in from Tulsa and we had a good visit. Then we moved Kevin and all his belongings back home until he moves to graduate school.

Second big event -- Kathryn graduated from Peace Academy Homeschool (and therefore Peace Academy went out of business). My smart and good friend, Karen, planned this wonderful graduation for her son and my daughter. They met at the end of second grade when Karen and I both entered the wonderful world of homeschooling. I truly don't think Karen or I have changed at all, but apparently our kids are now 10 years older. It was held at our church and we had a blast.She didn't want the cap and gown thing...she had a dress and tiara that she liked much better!

Third and final big event was to travel to Stillwater to attend OSU orientation and for Kathryn to enroll for the fall. It was stressful. Different departments just kept talking to us and I'm just not used to listening for hours on end. However, lots of good information was given out, and hopefully I took good enough notes to look back on when necessary. The first day was OSU people talking to parents and students both together and apart. At the end of the day, we were to have dinner together and then Kat was to go to a dorm and play games. She was exhausted since we had gotten up at 5:00 to leave Tulsa at 6:00 in order to be in Stillwater early enough to attend the Honors College talk before the regular orientation started. She stayed with me in the hotel -- didn't play games. She can play games with others later! The next day she enrolled in 14 hours. It took her two advisors and a trip to get an add card and a trip to the registrar's office to get into the last class. She is in though and starts soon.Now for a somewhat relaxing summer.

My Son - the College Years

I am so proud of my son. Yesterday, Kat and I traveled to Lubbock to attend his induction into Phi Beta Kappa. PBK is the oldest honor society in America. He and 86 other young people were found to be worthy of membership to the Texas Tech chapter.

However, I am not just proud of him for being smart and accomplishing major academic success in the last 4 years. I am also proud of him for using these last 4 years to figure out who he is and who he wants to be. We drove by his Freshman dorm where we dropped him off almost 4 years ago and left him with his 12-pack of Dr. Pepper. These 4 years have had their ups and downs but I know the Ups outweigh the Downs. He figured out that Engineering wasn't for him in the first year and in this last semester, he figured out that high school teaching wasn't for him. (Actually I think that he always knew that but he needed a minor). Texas Tech will hold many great memories for him.

He has a great group of Christian friends and I know that has enriched his life. In a few weeks, he will graduate, but he is not done with college -- he has at least one more and maybe two more degrees to get.

Kevin, you've done good!

Angel was all about Love!

We adopted my golden retriever, Angel, about three years ago at the age of 8. She gave all the love she could and then her heart gave out. She went to the Rainbow Bridge on Monday. I miss her. I refer to her as "my" golden retriever because she picked me. She loved me unconditionally, she whined when I left the house, she waited for me to come home. She liked everyone and wanted everyone to like her, but she especially loved me.

She was fine on Sunday, but not on Monday. We knew something was wrong when we found her curled up outside instead of inside for breakfast. We rushed her to the emergency vet -- but her heart was definitely going. I kissed her good-bye and told her to look for Lady when she got to the bridge. She never knew Lady -- but I think they are romping together now and sharing stories of the love they received at our home. They gave us love too. Moses misses her too.

I'm sure in a few months, we will adopt another Golden to love, but right now, I'm just missing Angel.

A series of "Lasts" to be followed by "Firsts"

On Monday, I was able to logon to the OSU residential life website and pick Kat's dorm for next year. Due to the fact that I paid the deposit very early -- she was able to choose on day 1 of the choosing. She got what she wanted -- a single bedroom/bathroom in the Village. Now it is a reality that she is really going away in August.

Now we are doing the "lasts". A couple weeks ago she participated for the last time in her youth group's fast for World Vision. We take a tap class together and in May, we will have our last class symposium together. Also in May, we will go to our last BSF class. In April she will attend her last prom and the next day, she will attend her last Explorer Competition.

I realize that this is part of life and after these lasts, she gets lots of firsts! She will move into her first dorm. She will attend her first class at OSU. She may do some firsts that I won't even know about.

These are exciting and wonderful times!

She Calls Me Mom

Eighteen years ago today, I became the mother of a daughter.

18 -- such a wonderful age, and she is a wonderful daughter. Through the years, we have gone on field trips, gotten lost in my car on purpose, volunteered together at GRACE then the library and also at church, learned together, cried together, and frequently laughed together.

Another thing we do a LOT is we match clothes -- totally unintentionally. She will come downstairs and we look at each other and we are both wearing jeans and red shirts; or jeans and our OSU shirts, or things like that!

She is a student! She loves learning. She teaches herself things that interest her. She recently became interested in poetry and read many of the great poets books.

She is a knitter! I am fortunate to be the beneficiary of a couple purses and a pillow. (She is also a yarn snob)

She is a cat lover!

She is a smart girl! (I am not just saying that because I am her mother, others say it too)

She is beautiful -- both inside and out!

She is a blessing to me.

Happy 18th Birthday Kathryn

Friday morning ramblings

I like Friday mornings because I don't have to be anywhere.

Twinkie is a sun cat.

I need to work on 2 scrapbooks and I'm blogging instead.

"The Big Bang Theory" always makes me laugh.

I try not to worry -- I try to "wonder" instead.

Right now I'm "wondering" about the economy, Kev getting into grad school, me getting a full time job, and other issues.

Went to a funeral this week (friend's mom) -- made me grateful that my mom and m-i-l are still here; but also grateful that we are all Christian so a funeral isn't goodbye forever.

I have to buy a new bunko bunny because my dog, Angel, thought it was one of her babies and for some reason, she doesn't like her babies to have plastic eyes!

I can use my winnings from Bunko last Tuesday to buy the new bunny.

Gotta work on scrapbooks.

He calls me Madre

22 years -- That's how long I've been a mother. I added that title early in the morning when Kevin Michael made his way into the world. He tried to come feet first so he wouldn't land on his head, but the doctor did a c-section instead. Kevin has been doing things his way ever since.

What a wonderful and wild 22 years it has been. I have laughed and cried and prayed more than I would have if Kevin had not been born! I am so blessed!

I am so proud of the man he has become. I am so proud to be his madre.

Happy Birthday Kevin!

It's 2009

It's a new year and today we have a new President of the United States. I wish him well. He is certainly taking over a huge job. I hope the economy improves and the wars resolve peacefully. Today will be one of speeches, parades, etc. Tomorrow, however, he will have to be working! I'm sure there will be things he does that I agree with as well as things that I don't. I'm also proud to have the Bushes returning to Texas.

Today, I went back to school. I'm taking a continuing ed class in the "office careers" group. I had to start with Beginning Windows. It has five units and I completed two of them today. It was fun to be back on a campus again. I even helped one lost soul find the building that his class was in. I thought I wouldn't learn anything in this class, but I did use Windows Paint which I'm not sure that I have used before. After this class I will either take Word or Excel.

Some of my random thoughts lately:
Tarrant County College does not have enough parking.

I'm not judging anyone who has a tattoo, I just don't see the point of them. I guess there hasn't been an image or saying that I want permanently on my body. I also worry about what they will look like 20-30 years later.

I don't know what to get my son for his 22nd birthday which is next week!!!

Today was the beginning of my daughter's last semester in high school and my son is now "working" (without pay) in a high school.

Isaiah 41:10 is now one of my favorite verses
"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."