a is for anxiety October 30, 2007

I get travel anxiety.  Why is that?  It’s the perfect deal.  A trip with my husband to a warm, sunny place.  A great hotel, food, seeing friends, free time.  The boys are perfectly tended to.  So why then is my tummy already churning and not with excitement.  I guess it’s all that has to happen between now and then.  And it’s sort of a delayed list of things to do, can’t really knock them out too early.  As soon as I get on the plane and crack open my People magazine, I’ll be good.  But until then I need to pray about everything with thanksgiving so that the peace of Christ can guard my heart and mind.

Tonight we wrote our parent letter recommending Chris for the Rotary Youth Exchange.  It makes me realize how much I am going to miss the big guy.  He’s pretty pleasant to be around these days even when under the stress of senior year classes.  Maybe I should rewrite the letter and not be so glowing in my comments!!  Exchange sabotage!

Thomas has green hair.  Tomorrow is crazy hair day.  Go figure.

Tonight we had a preview of Thanksgiving with turkey, stuffing, biscuits, peas, cranberry jelly, etc.  Yum.  It was nice to have family meal together.

o is for october beauty October 30, 2007

We are enjoying that kind of beautiful fall weather that makes you glad you live in the midwest.  The trees are about 30% turned in color, not as vivid as some years but beautiful.  The temperatures are in the 60’s by day and low 40’s by night although we had a good freeze the other night.  The skies are blue, and although the days are growing shorter and shorter, we are blessed with sunshine.

Chris is in the middle of an intense time at school.  With a huge physics project due today, a paper in English, his Rotary application all looming, he is feeling the crunch.  Although there was plenty of time this weekend to enjoy his new copy of Guitar Hero III.  Time management is an acquired skill.

I saw a delightful movie last night called “Dan In Real Life.”  I was stuck by the real life interactions of this huge family who gathered to close up their parents’ lake house.  Looking closely at the house, I was reminded of many of the details at the cottage in Michigan we were blessed to enjoy for many years.   It was a fun evening with some girls from the office where I used to work.  We enjoyed dinner and a good visit before heading to the movies.

Preparations for our trip continue.  We met with Ma and Pa to go over the schedule for next week.  Not too complicated.  And I have assembled the folder of reservations, directions, information that we need.  It’s very close to blast off – Saturday afternoon, and yet so much has to happen between now and then.   Kate is traveling and will be in Kyiv making arrangements for her schooling for next semester and we are on call for faxing transcripts at the right time.  Also Chris has his rotary interview on Saturday morning.  So we head to Clinton for an 8 AM interview before we head to Indy for a 3:30 flight.  When we get on that plane Saturday, it will be a “big phew.”

We are having trouble with NC State.  They sent Chris an urgent message saying they had not received his transcript or test scores.  Now they appear to have his transcript, but not the test scores which I have record of ordering back in September.  John will make the calls to clear everything up today.

Work is busy, but not hectic.  I have a big event coming up in mid-November, but it’s good timing for me for the trip.  John on the other hand is crazy busy.  November always is.  So he is more challenged to leave for a week, but seems to be ready.  This good weather really helps to get paving work done, alleviating much stress for all.

Happy to report the Illinois basketball season is about to begin.  We are putting in our ticket requests, including a couple of games when Kate is home.  Fun!  When Kate is home we will also be having a big birthday-Thanksgiving-Christmas party in her honor.  First year without being together for the holidays is a challenge, but it’s just the first of many so we’ll make the most of it, celebrating when we can.

c is for celebration October 25, 2007

Tonight was the celebration banquet for the cross country season.  There was a great turn out for a fried chicken dinner with pot luck side dishes and desserts carried in by the families of the teams.    We contributed a big pan of quadruple chocolate brownies – with chocolate chips, frosting and sprinkles!  Yum.  There was a great slide show featuring photos of the season.  The parents were amused by the song selections – they seemed to be the same songs from when we were in high school:  the theme from Rocky, the theme from Chariots of Fire and of course Queen’s “We are the Champions.”  Lots of awards were given, some serious and some funny.  Thomas won the “Mr. Personality” award for being goofy and wacky.  It was a proud moment.  Let the other kids take the awards for best effort, trying hard, fastest times, consistent improvement.  We’ve got Mr. Personality.  What was really funny is that Miss Personality was awarded to Maddie – his kindergarten buddy.  I guess they rubbed off on each other early on.

Thomas and I made our annual trek to the dentist today.  He was about 3 months late – 2 new molars and a couple sealants.  I was a couple of months early (actually 10 months late – I think I skipped last year!)  All good – then we enjoyed a lunch at Monical’s together.  After that I joined the slacker parents’ club and did not make him return to school for the last hour of the day.  Things are getting way too lenient around here.

v is for visitors October 24, 2007

We are tired tonight from a long day, but a good one.  The second to the last phase began with a pleasant trip to Curtis Orchard with our friends from California.  I had not been out there for years, since the last of the children stopped having field trips I think.  But the kids (Thomas, Lucas and the three CA boys – 10, 7 and 1.5) all had a blast and the older folks enjoyed the warm and comfortable seats inside.  We all went to dinner then, 13 in all, and that was a little crazy – but fun.  The last phase of the day was small group.  As always, good to see those folks.

I am feeling the need for some catch up time as my list of phone calls to make and errands to run is growing.  Only so many hours in a day however, so we just keep moving forward.

Tomorrow is my least favorite day of the year.  A visit to the dentist.

i for indeed October 24, 2007

My daughter is a beautiful writer.  Her stories of adventure abroad include just the right amount of detail, her characters are portrayed as lifelike and authentic, and her sense of humor is clever and consistently makes me laugh.  But today, as I was reading her latest post about her trip to St. Petersburg, I was stopped in my tracks and brought to tears by a single sentence for so many reasons.  Kate wrote: “In the end, isn’t it nice to be known?”

Indeed.

l is for lumber October 24, 2007

Chris came home late last night.  He had called and cleared so everything was good.  As he checked into say good night, I heard him say, “We have a lot of lumber in our garage.”  Words you don’t get from him everyday!  He and his physics group are working on a class project – a catapult and last night was shopping night to gather the required materials.  So indeed, my van is in the driveway and 2×4’s and pvc pipes are in it’s place in the garage.  It will be exciting to see the required machine come to life this weekend!

m is for monumental October 24, 2007

It is a monumental day today.  As Thomas prepared to head out the door for school this morning, he seemed tall to me.  So we stopped by the mirror and indeed he did appear to be taller than I by quite a bit.  He was wearing running shoes and I was in my sock feet, so he stepped out of his shoes and revealed the truth:  Thomas is officially taller than his mom.

h is for home October 20, 2007

I’m hanging out at home tonight watching the Illinois vs. Michigan football game. John is missing it because of U.P.S. Ultimate Parental Sacrifice. He’s missing the game of the season to take T to a Thousand Foot Krutch concert. I’m sure they are having a great time, but the timing was bad.

Last night we went to the Centennial/Central crosstown rival football game. We went mostly because our old neighbor is the key player for the Chargers. The kids grew up together and we wanted to support Tyler. Unfortunately the game took a couple of bad turns for him. He’s had a great high school career, though the Chargers lost this game. Thomas and his friend had a great time because a lot of their friends were there. Most of their classmates are headed to Central, but they will go to Centennial. After the game we came home and warmed up. It was a little cold and windy at the field, but seasonal and refreshing. John and I watched “Spanglish” which is one of the “mature” films made by Adam Sandler that I really like.

Just the usual Saturday routine today with coffee and shopping and other errands. John is in the middle of lots of projects at work and so he spent a couple of hours out looking at jobs and make phone calls. Thomas put together a great costume for the church party next Sunday (Mario of Nintendo fame – looks great.) Usually we get to talk with Kate on Saturday but she is traveling with friends this weekend and so we didn’t call. Chris got good news when he checked his online status and found UIUC has his complete application. We worked on the Rotary application a little today. Miraculously we already have the medical report in quadruplicate thanks to the cooperation of Dr. H and his staff.

I forgot to mention that on Friday we went to Edison to view the wax museum display. T played the part of Henry Morgan a famous pirate turned pirate hunter. He has quite a flair for drama plus there was lots of swordplay. One of his friends had even fixed up a pretty realistic looking peg leg. Well done to all the 7th grade pirates.

The weather was picture perfect today and we are looking forward to another one tomorrow. We’ll head to the farm in the afternoon for a get together with the Collison family visiting from California. Looking forward to it.

h is for haircuts again October 18, 2007

Our friend Jen came over tonight and did our hair.  It’s a wonderful treat.  In order of drasticness of the changes:  Chris most changed with a short do (looking alarmingly like his Uncle Tim now), mine next mostly because of color not cut, then John and Thomas tie because they look basically the same.

Today at work I had time to breathe and catch up on stuff.  Also we got to celebrate a co-worker’s birthday with delicious pumpkin cheesecake.  Right now I really want another piece. 

There were large storms in the area tonight – spring-like with tornadoes and hail – but we seemed to escape with just a little rain and some wind.  It was a little blustery for a while.  We listened to warning after warning on the radio during dinner.  We finally ate some real food at home tonight – oven baked chicken, roasted potato wedges, Beef House rolls and those delicious, sweet, tiny baby peas.  Yum.

So I’m sitting in bed with my computer on my lap in my jammies and listening to Kate’s music.  This is something she would do and I kind of wish I was doing it with her.  Time is moving quickly and her January visit will be here soon.  In the meantime, we are sending good wishes her way each day (literally – hee hee).

r is for rethinking October 18, 2007

How did it get to be Thursday already?  The week is flying by at a breakneck pace.  Honestly, not that much has happened, but it’s all been happening fast.  Work is very packed with activities, meetings, contacts.  It’s all good, but I work better at a more thoughtful pace.  Just hoping I don’t miss something or someone important.

Tuesday we got our new fridge.  It’s great and on top of that I ran into a friend who actually needs our old one.  An extra bonus.

Yesterday was cleaning day, which I just continue to completely adore.  When I get home, the house is magically perfect.  Ahhh…

My brother has been ill, quite ill, but is now on the road to recovery – a fact for which I am very thankful.  I am also thankful today for the people in my small group.  We had a very good time of reflective meditation and prayer last night.  You would think weirdness, but it was very refreshing.

A wise co-worker talked me down from attending a conference during the only two weeks my daughter will be home.  What was I thinking.  I would not be able to stand being away when she was here for such a short time.  I am thankful for my friend/co-worker who helped me realize that while it may sound reasonable now, come January I would be miserable.  I will trust for another opportunity to pick up that material.