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!