I'm Not Dead, Yet

Again, I'm way over due to get a post here.  I do have a good excuse fro March, however I have nothing for you for February.  Apologies, only, I guess.

March found us welcoming The Girl home from her mission.  It was a great day that turned into a great weekend as we whisked her away to St. George to see The Boy, who had midterms so he couldn't come north for the airport arrival of his sister.  We spent the weekend together as a family, just playing games and relaxing in the little bit of sunshine that we could find.

The follow Monday we headed home where Genius Golfer and I had to head back to work.  While The Boy got some roadtripping in for his spring break before finding his way home on Thursday. The rest of hte extended family began rolling in that evening. We enjoyed a great with my parents,my aunt, uncle, cousins and bonus cousins and my aunt and uncle from Idaho.  Friends and other local family came over Sunday to hear The Girl speak in our sacrament meeting.  She rocked her talk!  I was impressed--and I am pretty impressed with her anyway.

As the Sunday afternoon gathering began to disperse, The Boy went back to the southlands for school and a bunch of us took a quick nap.  The next morning my parents packed up and headed home.  I headed back to work, GG had work things to take care of and The Girl was left home alone.  She quickly made housework her own and set out to find a job for the summer.  She got a LOT done around here for me while she was looking for work.  I kind of missed all that she can get done while I'm at work.

Thursday that week I came down suddenly with the worst kind of cold/flu I have had for years and years!  I felt like a truck had hit me and then back up to run me over again and again.  YUCK!!  Even now, I am still struggling with a cough that won't let go and a raspy voice because of it.  I had some kind of viral bronchitis plus a sinus infection for good measure.  A week of antibiotics, lots of rest, cold meds, cough syrup and a humidifier did the best they could, and I made it back to work in almost a week.  Yikes!! I do NOT recommend it for anyone!

The Struggles Are Real, People

It's July already.  My last entry was May.  That is no okay, people.  I feel like my life gets sucked away as fast as I get it some days.

I want to believe that life is getting better as I age--you know, like aged beef, or cheese.  But what I know is that my eyesight is fading--though, thank you glasses--who EVER thought I'd say that?!?  I know that my mind finally feels like its my own again and that very moment my body revolts and I feel decades older than I am chronologically.  Then, I make some changes to my diet, sleep, vitamins, you name it, and my mind is instantly scrambled.

I know that parenting never ends.  Even when I think I'm through the wicked wood of preschool years, the fluster of elementary school, the torment of junior high and the angsty kerfulffle of high school,  I'm now the parent of two young adults.  and they behave--some days--like they did as preschoolers, at least their thought process.  The only thing that is keeping my parenting head above water is knowing their frontal lobes aren't fully developed until about 25.  Luckily for me, they seem to be taking turns in this relm.  But the fight inside me is real.  Life lessons are hard to watch fromteh sidelines, knowing fullwell what is waiting around the corner that they cannot see.  I had no idea that becoming a life-longparent is equal parts heart breaking and awe insiring.

I know that things will get better.  Some day.  One of these days.  But the days and nights until that happens give my mind timet o worry, imagine the worst and blame myself for mistakes--honest, didn't-know-any-better, parenting goofs.  I also know I am not a perfect parent--but I know I am doing the best I can.  It doesn't make it easier.

I know that my faces shows me new wrinkles when I start to discover I am still fighting pimples.  What?!?  That makes me understand the confusion is as real to me as I feel it is for everyone else.  Skin care and parenting--who knew they were so interrelated?! Argh.

But I also know, undoubtably, that parenting the two children I was blessed to have in my life, is the greatest worthwhile challenge I will ever have.  I know that God loved these two kids before I ever thought of them. And He loves them now. Still. When I am dropped to my knees, not knowing what to do or how to help them, I know I can pray and have a loving perfect, Heavenly Father guide me as I try to parent His children, albeit imperfectly, on earth.

When I stop and think about who these two kids of mine are really, and Whose they are, I'm humbled and grateful and ready to give it all another go--no matter how my heart is aching (because of them, or for them). I'm grateful I'm not doing this by myself but that I have a partner who will share the burden and celebrate the joy.  Together.  That is what this whole struggle is--an attempt to be together forever.

It is the hardest, sweetest, most frustrating, most exhilerating experience of my mortal life.  That is what it was meant to be.  Knowing what I know, why does these bumps and dips surprise me so much?  You expect the big drop as you ascend on a clickety roller coaster.  Family life is no different.  Except the clickety sounds aren't always there in the trials and struggles to help you anticipate the joys and thrill of the descent.

And the thrills and joys are as real, and luckily, more everlasting than the struggles.  If that wasn't true every child would be an only child.  Who would do this again without a little payout once in a while?  The trouble comes when the struggles and trials and challenges cloud your memory and you loose sight of those blessed moments of wonder and thrill and exhileration.

At least I know the ride-loading drill: "Keep your hand and arms inside the ride until it comes to a full and complete stop". If I'm still moving, the ride isn't over yet.  And that gives me the hope to wait out the cloudy bits and the tear filled view of what is coming.  It will be OK.  It will BE okay. It WILL be okay.

That much I know.

My Girl, My Girl, My Girl, Talking 'Bout My Girl

This girl right here, is The Girl.  She is my older child and is currently serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints in Illinois, speaking Spanish.  She is learning a lot, teaching more and more, relying on the Lord for strength, wisdom, and understanding. And loving every minute of it.

I'm thrilled for her.

But I miss her too.

Lessons from Lorelai & Rory

Once we got Netflix this  fall, a friend immediately suggested I should watch a show called Gilmore Girls.  I hadn't heard of this show before.  It began on TV in about 2000 and ran for 7 seasons.  It is a story of Lorelai, an independent, single mother and her brilliant, Ivy League-determined daughter, Rory, as they navigate the social world of their small town, the mine-field laden extended family, romantic relationships and the world in general as they both grew up.  From my friend's description I figured I would likely enjoy it.

Likely is hardly the right word.  With Netlix, there are no commercials, so the hour long show on TV is whittled down to about 40 minutes.  This shortened length makes it easier to "binge watch" several episodes in a sitting.  Consequently I devoured this little critically acclaimed show that I had never head of before. 

I finished the final episode last night.  My dear friend who suggested it didn't take into account the fact that I just sent my only daughter off into the world.  The finally episode was essentially a send of for Rory as she graduated from Yale and headed into the "real" world.  Heart breaking for this mom.  It certainly made my heart ache for my own girl.  And yet, for all of the twists and turns Rory and her mom, Lorelai, face as she nears that precipice of adulthood I was overwhelmed with the peace that came from knowing MY daughter had the gospel of Jesus Christ to guide her in her decisions, she has the Holy Ghost to guide her, and she had a desire to do what God wants her to do.  Her life will never be as uncertain as Rory's...and her choices will be significantly more moral than most of Rory's or Lorelai's.

Still, entertainment isn't always a morality tale.  But we can learn from fictitious story lines.  We can extrapolate actual truths from the virtual choices facing the characters. And we can see consequences of choices made in a back believe situation that might give example without having to make the same choices ourselves.

I crammed 7 seasons of this show into about 3 months of TV watching, without having to watch network or cable  or satellite TV.  While I enjoyed the characters I was introduced to in this show, I am grateful I have a better actual set of co-stars and secondary characters in my life.  My choices may not make much of a screen play, but I recognize the joy I find from doing what is right.  I have seen struggles offer many lessons and the outcome of strength and peace that comes from bearing the struggles.

But that doesn't keep me from thinking I live in a western Stars Hollow at some times too. 

Exhaustion Doesn't Really Explain It

Getting The girl ready to go for her mission, and actually out the door and gone has been a long quest.  But this morning VERY early, it is done.  She's on her way and didn't even look back.  I'm her mom--I watched to see if she would!

We had a wonderful family filled, Spirit loaded, Christ centered weekend with her to see her off.  She spoke in our sacrament meeting  Sunday and her topic was "how the Young Women's program prepared me for a mission".  I'll need to thank the Bishop for his topici as I was a mushy woman through most of the meeting. 

I was so thrilled to see so many friends and family and friends we consider family there that day.  I was delighted to have SO many of The Girl's friend from work, school, swim and the ward stop in to the house after the meeting for lunch!  I'm so grateful for the family and friends that helped provide a delicious meal that day--and the leftovers we've enjoyed most of the weekend.

Monday was a holiday and we spent it standing in the sunshine for the Ogden Temple open house.  It was a longer wait than I anticipated but worth it when I had The Girl whisper to me, "Would you mind, when I got married, I got married here?  This is beautiful."  It really was.

Then Tuesday we filled with a lunch with cousins--both returned sister missionary--who had great advice for The Girl.  Then an afternoon movie about Joseph Smith and his call as a prophet for these last days while The Girl finalized her packing.  Then off to a marvelous experience with the stake president having Sister DeBuck set apart as a full time missionary.  Wow.  That capped the night.

A quick sleep--I was up at 2:40 AM--and a run to the airport where she headed out to learn and to serve.

Even after a morning nap, I feel exhausted, and still processing the whirlwind that was this summer with The Girl.  But I couldn't be more pleased with her choices and the blessing she is.

Another Milestone

THIS girl, The Girl, is nineteen today.  HOW is that possible?!?

She is prepared to leave in about a month for the adventure of her life-so-far.  She has a strongly rooted testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and knows Him for herself.  She knows she is a daughter of a loving Heavenly Father who will hear and answer her prayers. She sees miracles as she looks around her.  She trusts in priesthood power.  She has made personal, sacred covenants with God and did so willingly.  On top of all that she is smart as a whip and pretty cute too.  And this past summer she has become a wonderful friend--not just a obedient and dutiful daughter.

Happy 19th, Jill.

Kids Say The Darnedest Things

Last night at dinner one of the kids asked if I ever wrote down things they said as a very little child.  I told them, yes, and asked "Do you want to hear some?"

I think this answer surprised them.  But I ran upstairs to get the book of kid-isms I had kep of them.

The first thing The Boy noticed was that he must not have spoken for some time, since he wasn't included with his own quotations until about half way through.

The Girl mentioned that while she spoke more--or at least got written down--her quotes weren't nearly as funny as The Boy's.

We had some that were so funny, that I couldn't get through them as I read them.  For example:

One day The Boy (who almost only ate hot dogs) asked for a "hot on a pork chop".  I didn't know what he meant, so I asked him again what he wanted for lunch.  "I want a hot dog on a chapstick!"  Finally we figured out he wanted to have a hot dog on a chopstick, so he didn't have to touch it but it was easy to eat.

Writing that now, not too much trouble getting through it.  But as I read that last night, I was laughing so hard, I was snorting.

Good times.

I'm glad I wrote some of the funny things they said.  Sadly, I don't remember as much of their early years as I would like to.  I hope that is included in the promise given to us when we are resurrected and all things will be restored to us.  I really hope memory is part of that.

Sinking In

Over the weekend, the men around here did a lot of golfing.  I mean, a lot.  That left The Girl and I with a lot of time to ourselves.  So we decided to do fun things together.

On Friday we went to an early bird showing of How to Train Your Dragon 2.  I loved this one.  Maybe even more than the first one.  So cute--and with a twist I had heard about but still made me happy.  We grabbed some lunch and ran some errands.  Then we decided to do fun stuff again on Saturday.

The boys were still playing golf.  It was tournament.  Yeah, whatever.

So we went to he movies again and saw Maleficient at the early bird show.  It was so good.  I didn't expect to like it as I don't care for Angelina Jolie that much, but the story was really surprising.  And I loved it.  Then we stopped at Old Navy for their storewide sale--and EVERYTHING I tried on fit!  That has never happened.  In fact, one thing was too big!  Wowzer!  Then we stopped for some fish and chips--since the boys don't like Purple Turtle.  Delish!!  Plus we used a 2-4-1 coupon.  then we decided to come home finished some chores and go to the local dollar movies and see Captain America:Winter Soldier.  I loved that one too.

It was just a fun couple of days.  Just me and my girl.

Sunday it hit me that I don't have many of these kind of days left with her.  She'll be leaving for her mission in September, and will be gone for 18 months.  then she might be home fro a few months before heading back to university to finish her studies.  then she will likely be gone for graduate school--who knows where--or married, or whatever else people do as grown up adult children.

My days with her are numbered.  So I'd bette rmake them count.

I'm just glad I took the time to just be with her while we had the time together.  I didn't get caught up in all the "stuff I should do".  Because, in the grand scheme of things, the stuff I should be doing, is being with my girl.  And it was great.

Parental Payday

Last night The Girl received her temple blessings. I was honored to be her escort as she learned a little more about her Heavenly Father's plan for her. She was so prepared and spiritually mature about it all. I still can't  believe she is setting out to share the Gospel as a missionary in a few months. It seems like just days ago she chose to be baptized.

The covenants she has made were made thoughtfully and determinedly. She seemed confident and self assured about all of it. Certainly more than I was when I made those same covenants.

The best part of the night was waiting for her in the celestial room, surrounded with beloved friends and family, and seeing her come in smiling. That must be what heaven is like.  It can only be better when The Boy gets to this point and we can all be there together. I'll give it a couple years and then I'll know.

Must Be Spring

Last weekend The Girl and I were running some errands.  The sun was shining, the temps were warm and it was the perfect weekend to be out with your car club.

Proof of the Time Warp

Yesterday The Girl (finally) got an appointment with the temple to receive her endowment there next week.  All this mission prep is suddenly becoming VERY real.  How can she be old enough to go to the temple?  Or on a mission?  Wasn't she just posing for "modeling" photos with her friends?

This was 2008, you say? Yeah, I guess it was.  But that was, like, a couple weeks ago, right?

Or just barely graduating from high school?

Like it or not, she'd growing up and I have to face the facts.  I'm just grateful she is growing up so nicely.  Fifteen years ago I wasn't sure she'd live long enough to make it school all day.  Maybe she got all that "terrible" out of her system when she was two and three.  Since then, she's been really enjoyable.

A Little Too Little Pressure

Once I made the determination that I wasn't going to hold myself to a daily blog post, I realize that I am getting more and more inconsistent with my writing.  I am amazed, however, that I can have the same number of hours as everyone else in the world, yet still feel like I am not keeping up with anyone.  Therefore, the blog post goes by the wayside.

The Girl came home Friday night.  Once we had the Durango packed to the gills with all her stuff from college, we stopped at a delicious--if also a little pricey--steak house just before getting on the freeway.  It is called Maddox Ranch House and is something of a Box Elder County institution, from what I understand.  A ranching family, by the name of Maddox, had a restaurant built at the edge of their ranch property and that little restaurant has only gotten bigger, and more filled with people.

If memory serves me, I believe I ate there following my friend Darin's wedding to his lovely wife Celeste, back in early 1992.  They were married in Logan and as a pseudo family member at the time attended the family wedding luncheon with them at Maddox.  I remember it was delicious.

Then a few years ago my acquaintance was renewed with the ladies in our YW presidency as we were traveling to Logan canyon for  a visit to one of our wards' Girls' camps that summer.  It was also delicious then.

But maybe because I had anticipated having The Girl come home all week, or because I recognized the luxury of having her all to myself--there wasn't ANY room for anyone else in the car anyways--I thoroughly enjoy a delicious meal at Maddox that night before we headed home fro the summer.  She had the salmon, and I had the petite filet mignon  and we both had smooth and creamy mashed potatoes and fresh steamed vegetables.  Oh, and their corn one and rolls--with raspberry butter.  Yumm-OH!  And, as they advertize, their fresh well water!  I know, that never struck me as a "thing" but it is tasty and girl raised on well water, you can taste a difference.

Overall, it was a lovely evening.  I guess it was more than that, as I got out of work at about 2 PM and spent two hours in the car--with the windows down, the sun shining (slightly sunburning my driving arm), with the radio up too loud for city driving getting up there too.  It was a great day.  And it has been a busy, but great weekend having The Girl home.

But today the spell is broken.  She has finally put everything away--or taken to DI, recycling or the trash--and she begins a full time job.  I'll know more to tell after her first day or two.

May, Finals and All The Family's Together

I missed yesterday, but don't know why.  Too busy again, I guess.

Well, it is May.  Finally.  We had a near white out--meaning snow flakes so fat and falling so heavy I couldn't see past the parking lot at work--on Monday here.  Crazy.  today I am wearing capris and sandals.  Springtime in the Rockies, they keep saying.

The Girl has her last final this morning.  I think she said it went until noon.  I'm leaving work early (about 2) to drive up and help her move out.  She has a cleaning check--to officially get out of her dorm--about 5 PM so she has to have all of her things moved completely out before that.  It's about a two hour drive to get there.  I'm not sure how much cleaning I'll have to help her do, or if I just need to be there to pack all her stuff in the Durango. Either way, she is coming home tonight.  And that makes me happy.

In order to get out of work at 2PM today, I stayed last night at work until just after 8 PM.  I had a big embroidery order to work on.  They need it done by the end of work Monday, but I was hoping to get it to them earlier, if at all possible.  I love the days when I have enough embroidery to do--and have someone else there that can answer the phone--so that I can put my ear buds in and turn on Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter books.  I mentally loose myself in that story and can listen to it over and over again.  Pl;us, I have heard  it so many time, it is very familiar and comfortable.  Easily to do other things while I am listening--so a perfect factor to concentrating on the work at hand.

The Boy has joined Genius Golfer in the local golf course's Mens' Association and they play every Thursday night.  (Which makes Thursday a good night to work late for me, when I need to.)  The Boy has played on the winning team for the last three Thursdays.  I'm not sure how it works, but they play for "skins" which equated to a dollar--and those add up depending on how many are playing (and putting into the pot of dollars).  After three weeks of winnings, The Boy is starting to feel like a junior PGA player.  Hopefully he won't start acting like it.  ;)

It is The Girl's welcome home tonight.  I need to figure out some kind of dinner plan, I suppose.  Or maybe not, depending on how long it takes me to get her home tonight.  Wish me luck to stay awake while I drive in the sunshine and springtime warmth.  Life is good.  I need to enjoy it more.

Relieved and Delighted

The Girl's mission call is open.  She is assigned to the Illinois Chicago West mission, Spanish speaking.

I didn't realize how anxious I was about this until she opened it.  Now I know she will received mail, have medicine available, having running water, power, and internet.  The new worries include harsh winters and tornadoes.  But several people have already bubbled out of the woodwork to say they know someone who lives there, or served there or is related to someone who did/does/is/has.  Funny how small the world is, really.

Th really cool part of this is she will get to go tot he MTC in Mexico City.  So a little international flavor then the safety and comforts of America.  I can live with that.

She comes home from college in two weeks and then the frantic preparation begins.  Maybe it is only going to be frantic for me. I would guess that might be the case.

She already has a temp agency that wants her to work for them all summer. And one of their biggest accounts is right her in our home town.  So that is easy!  And she is already working on the applications for that.  So much to do, so little time.

But I am sincerely delighted and thrilled for her.  And more than a little relieved for me.

Today Is The Day

This evening we are heading up to I'm-not-sure-just-what yet for The Girl to open her mission call.  She has had it since Wednesday.  I don't think I'd have that kind of self control.  In fact, I told her to open it herself and then decide who she wants to tell.  She didn't like that idea.  When she texted me at work Wednesday that it had arrived, she mentioned that she wasn't going to open it, but she might not let it out of her sight until she opens it tonight.  Crazy girl.

My neighbor, Russ, who serves in our bishopric caught me taking the trash can to the street earlier and asked how I was doing.  He said he noticed online--from his administrative ward site--that her call had been assigned so that meant it was on its way.  I told him about her decision to send it to Logan and that we had to wait until she opened it this weekend.  Then he asked me again how I was doing with that?

You know, since she told us she had completed and submitted the paperwork, I have been suppressing feelings that surprised me.  I am thrilled that she wanted to go and serve a mission at all.  And more than thrilled that she was found worthy and ready to go.  But now that the time is at hand to see where she is assigned, I'm a little nervous and sad.

Nervous, because everything is beyond my control at this point. Not that I've had a lot of control in her life for the past year or so. But this big white envelope determines where in the world she goes and what kind of situations she'll find herself, and then I think about potential issues with mail, food, safety, weather, bugs, diseases, etc., etc., etc.

Sad, because I have missed her while she has been at school.  Sad that I won't be there to see all the things she'll be doing and learning.  Sad that she is growing up and moving on.  Sad because I am very aware of how much older I have become since she was born.

Yet, with all the things I am sad about, I am happy for her to get to do. This is what I wanted her to do--grow up and be her own person, find happiness in serving others, strengthen her testimony and have a desire to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the fullest, become a responsible citizen and adult.

So, for all my worries and heaviness of heart, I am also overjoyed in her decision to serve a mission.  But as a mom letting go of her first baby, it is hard.  Smiles through tears are normal in this situation, I'd imagine.  I hope they are, since I'm having that emotion a lot lately.

That's NOT What She Told Me

During the week or so that The Girl was home from school for her spring break in March, I remember her talking with me about how she'd like to open her pending mission call.  I understood her to mean that she'd like to just have her dad, brother and me join her in in salt Lake, where we could collect her very best friend from school at the University of Utah, and have dinner together where she'd open her call.  she then could call all the people she loves and tell them on the phone herself or Facebook the news to the world.

So once she submitted the completed paperwork, I send a courtesy email to the extended family that she preferred not to have a party (like her cousins who are currently serving) but that she'd call them to tell them her good news.  Apparently, this didn't sit well with the family.

The day after I sent that, GG barked at me that his family was VERY upset about not being invited to  the party and that they were indeed coming with us to see her open this call.  From his message--which I received loud and clear--HIS daughter told him she wanted all the extended family there and essentially turned this into a party-away-from-home.

That certainly wasn't the message I had heard from the prospective missionary, herself.  But I'm the mom.  So what do I know.

Consequently, last night I was informed that now the situation is this:  When the calling comes to her (she requested delivery to her mail in Logan) we will make arrangements to have one grandma meet us and drive to Layton--to SuperKate's family's home--where other siblings-in-law will meet us, and Kate's dad will feed everyone and The Girl will open her mission call.

Wait.  What?!?

Yes.  Now the party is a someone else's family's place--and don't get me wrong.  We LOVE SuperKate.  But this just didn't seem normal when I heard the plan.  Yes.  Now the extended family will all be there watching her open this thing.  Friends, too, are apparently invited from hither and yon as well.

And everyone is seemingly going to be there except any of my family or GG's dad and step-mom (who live in Georgia).  I seriously doubt The Girl will think that her aunt, my sister, lives in Ogden which is only a short jaunt north of Layton and could easily be there if she was invited.  but I told all the extended family that this would be private thing for her.  And now it isn't at all what I was told she wanted.

Maybe I am selfish here, but I was hoping for the more private, immediate family set up.  I was hoping The Boy would really feel a part of this and get a sense of the contagious missionary spirit which would only encourage him to start seriously considering this for himself in a couple short years.  I was hoping for myself to have a moment with my daughter for her to feel the magnitude of this calling from her Heavenly Father to serve and teach His children wherever in the world she is sent, and have her feel the Holy Ghost confirm her calling to her in a quiet, penetrating way only the Spirit can do.

Now I feel it is going to turn into a circus.  So many "mission openings" have become loud, raucous events where the Spirit is seemingly an afterthought.  I worry that she will be called to a place that she never even imagined and is disappointed by that and will face the assignment with dozens of people looking on in expectation.  I worry that she will have some sort of emotional outburst, of any kind, since that is really not like her, and she'll be embarrassed by the obvious emotional reaction.  I worry, in my heart of hearts, that this moment will be hijacked by all the onlookers and she'll miss the personal, intimate opportunity for communion with her Heavenly Father.

But what do I know?!  I just the mom.  And this is HER mission call and HER mission experience.  I was just doing what I thought she wanted me to do.  I guess I'd better get used to this, right?  Is this what parenting a young adult is like?

"If You Keep Something Long Enough..."

My mom use to tell me that if you kept something long enough it would be back in style.  I hoped she wasn't right, but like most things, she was.  But there are some things you hope you only have to live through once--like the 70s. Mom was right, though, and I had that proved to me again last weekend.

The Girl did some thrift store shopping with one of her roommates.  They were looking for "sister missionary" appropriate skirts.  The Girl came home over spring break with a black and cream rayon skirt with a small graphic design, and a pale purple pleated one that I swear might have been my grandmother's.

Both skirts needed new elastic.  She needed some guidance to get that replacement done.   And I did but only because she asked me to help her.

Purple polyester double-knit.  With an elastic waistband.  Could there be anything that screams "GRANDMA" louder or faster to the passer-by?!  I don't think so, unless that pleated purple polyester skirt also happens to come with a matching suit coat.  This one apparently did but The Girl didn't pick that up too. Lucky for me.

Can you see the texture of this fabric?!?  You can probably even imagine the feel of it.  Anyone who lived through the 70s can.  I told The Girl that if their dorm ever had a 70s Night party, this would be perfect to wear, as it is VINTAGE!

Maybe I should just be pleased that The Girl has so little concern for "fashion" as it were.  She is happy with something that fits and is modest--in design and cost.  Maybe with all the bargain shopping she has seen me do over her lifetime, I have created a monster!

DST, Spring Break, & Professional Development

It's the perfect storm. Daylight Savings Time began and screwed up our sleep schedules. The Girl this home for spring break. The Boy is off school today for a teacher professional development day. I don't have to go into work until 1 p.m.. Genius Golfer is already gone  to work. Today is one of those days that makes it really hard to feel like I want to go to work. I'd rather be home with my kids.

At least I will be for the morning, but due to the switch to DST, they will both sleep in extra long today. The Girl has a dental appointment. It's part of her mission-prep. She also had a medical check up on Wednesday, for the same mission-prep. She'll use some of her time off go get a new passport too. Plus I have a few things around here for her to try to get done while she is home.

The Boy, on the other hand, only has one day off this week. His spring break comes in April. And he fills his time with golf. But that won't stop me from giving him chores today. He does have to go to the dentist, while The Girl is there today, for a panoramic x-ray prior to having his wisdom teeth extracted just as his spring break begins.

Never a dull moment.

There Is Always Room for Fun

The Girl has started her finals week.  Her Chemistry final is today, and apparently she spent 12 hours studying for it on Friday.  Then she plans on studying all day tomorrow fro her Biology final Wednesday.  But just because she is studying, doesn't meant here isn't room for some roommate fun.

 

Maelyn, Jill R,Katelyn, Aspen, Kate, Brooklyn and The Girl in the Christmas mood.

Plus, a bonus shot of fun from The Girl:

 

At the movie theaters on Thanksgiving, The Girl and her friend Marina and I went to see Disney's Frozen, and this was too tempting to miss.   thought they did have to wait their turns behind some pretty adorable kids.  You're never to old to play.

The Thing About Today Is, It's Now

I know it is only Tuesday and not everyone has extra days off this week, but I am excited today because--even though I have to work today and tomorrow yet--The Girl is coming home tonight for Thanksgiving weekend.

I know she was home briefly over Labor Day weekend, and then again in October for her fall break weekend.  But this is holiday weekend where the whole holiday is about being together as a family and eating good food.  Sure there is room for some time with friends, but I am hoping--though I haven't pushed for her plans yet--she will have time to spend with us this weekend.

I used to inwardly roll my eyes when I heard Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle"--do you remember it?

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you, Dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, Dad
I don't know when, but we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home, Dad
I don't know when, but we'll get together then
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son
I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Dad
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
When you comin' home son
I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Dad
We're gonna have a good time then.

Sadly, the older I get I am realizing that this song is true, and it happens when you aren't looking and MUCH faster than you anticipate.  So with The Girl coming home this weekend, I'm looking forward to sitting around and just soaking it all in.  This family time doesn't last for long.  And as the kids are quickly turning into grown ups themselves, I feel doomed to repeating the story from this song.  And it breaks my heart.