a for atlanta May 30, 2008

In what seems like bad timing, I am off to Atlanta for several days for a national conference on volunteerism and service.  It promises to be a great conference and comes highly recommended.  Lots going on around here and in the next couple of weeks, though.  But I will try to learn all I can, soak in the city, connect with my BFF!, and then return to tackle what’s ahead.  In the meantime, I leave all things in very capable hands!

John will be off Monday and Tuesday for a visit with his brother’s family from Texas.  I will unfortunately miss most of their time here, but plan to join everyone for dinner on Tuesday when I return.

Last night, Chris came down with a sore throat.  We sent him off for a throat culture – negative – and doctor thinks its just viral.  Kind of a let down to be feeling badly so soon after graduation.  He’ll bounce back though; he always does.  Thomas is enduring the last days of school and some of his teachers are even making it less painful.  Yesterday’s science discussion of sound included the opportunity to try out an electric acoustic Fender and a microphone.  All the world is his stage.

Off to Atlanta!

g is for graduate May 27, 2008

To say that I thought this day would never come would be an exaggeration.  But to say that I am very thankful that Christian’s high school graduation day has arrived and that he is able to embrace it with triumph, is not.  He has met challenge after challenge throughout his education with his delightful sense of humor and his endearing good nature.  My little guy of Mighty Maxes and swords and backyard chemistry sets and Street Sharks and Batman and Sonic the Hedgehog is now 6′3″ with broad shoulders and a broader smile.  He is ready to go.  I am thankful to have shared this journey with him.  And to my BFF who traveled  this boy-journey with me, unspeakable thanks as we raised these guys together, whether down the street or across the country.  And today, only hours apart, they will walk across a stage symbolizing a new chapter for all of us.

Love you, Chris – you make us proud every day.

u is for unseasonable May 23, 2008

Today I was planning to plant flowers.  Today the pool was supposed to open.  Today Memorial Day weekend begins.

It is 48 degrees and pouring down rain with no end in sight.

Guess I’ll take a nap.

h is for homecoming May 14, 2008

John will be home tonight from his visit with Kate.  I am eager to hear the stories, see the pictures, and know that both of them are back to their places safe and sound.

Tomorrow I have a training at work for spontaneous volunteers – a management system for when volunteers show up to help during times of emergency.  Low turnout, as is true for everything we do right now, but hopefully enough to get us started.  We also have a volunteer appreciation ice cream night tomorrow as well!  Yum.

I am enjoying my home office immensely.  It’s just a little change, but very fun.  I need some clients to sit across from me now!!  I have all kinds of check lists and files and notecards and supplies right where I can reach them.  So beautiful, so efficient.

The second half of May will move quickly, and there is much to do.  But all of it is good and involves people and celebrations and travel and learning – all good stuff.  Learning to slow down and take it one step at a time is the hard part for me…don’t look to far ahead.

Speaking of looking ahead, 8:50 PM cannot get hear soon enough!  Yea for John coming home!

b is for Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler May 7, 2008

I bet you have never heard of that place. Well, neither had I until I learned at about 3:30 PM today that my beloved middle child will be spending a year of his life there beginning in August. He will have about 22,000 fellow citizens and about 80 classmates at Peter-Joerres-Gymnasium (High School). The community is located in wine country near the city of Bonn. And that is about all we know, except that is so very much more than we knew 24 hours ago, so we are thrilled with the information. Chris and I went out for a steak dinner to celebrate. We went to the Texas Roadkill/Outhouse/Roadhouse and that place was hopping, even on a regular Wednesday night. Chris tolerated the country music pretty well, gobbled down a rare 11 oz sirloin (and by rare I mean bright red and juicy, not just unique) and even seemed to enjoy time spent with his old mom.

Thomas was at Kung Fu.

s is for slow down May 7, 2008

Yesterday was another beautiful day here.  It was my first day at work in a long time where I did not have to rush to get everything done.  I took my time writing thank you notes for plant hope and catch upon emails and phone calls.  I also canceled a meeting for Thursday, which felt pretty good.

I went with Thomas to the cast party for Wonka.  Then to church for a special presentation by a speaker I had heard in college.  It was good and nice to be out and see people, but made for a late night.

It’s spring now and so I changed the topping on our bed.  I do enjoy a change.  Yesterday I went shopping and found a nice summer dress and some dressy sandals.  I also brought home several sweaters to try out with my black dress for an upcoming wedding.  The boys helped me decided, including eliminating one that made me look “several sizes larger that you actually are.”  Get that weak stuff out of here!!

d is for day one May 5, 2008

The first day on our own without John and we did pretty well.  It was just a regular school day and the guys got up and got going pretty well, in spite of a busy weekend.  The weather was beautiful today and I think that helped everyone’s outlook.  I still don’t feel like I have settled in however, and everything just feels a little weird.  Like, “Hey this is not a normal day; my husband’s out of the country.”  But he did email right away to let me know he and Kate are together.  Problems with her visa that need to be worked out, but at least I am sure they are together and that is very good news.

I spend the day in staff meeting from 9-3:30 with a break for lunch.  We made it though all our areas (i.e. Community Impact, etc) with goal-setting and will pick up with strategies next week.  We all went to lunch together at Dos Reales; after all it is Cinco de Mayo.  It is a very enjoyable group and I had a good time visiting with everyone at lunch.  Thomas went over to the library today after school and then I picked him up right after my meeting.  It is so very helpful to have cell phones – I was able to call him upon leaving my office and by the time I got to the library he was standing on the sidewalk waiting for me.  Very smooth transition!

I heard from my BFF today that Dave made it to the semi finals and placed fourth overall, an amazing showing at a national tournament.  Way to go Dave!  Also it sounds like we will get to see 3/4th of their family this summer in late July/early August on their trip to the Midwest.  Chris is especially thankful to be able to spend time with Dave before he takes off for the year abroad.  And we are all always happy about any kind of a visit from them!

I was to meet with Diana tonight about her internet venture, but canceled that appointment.  Thomas has quite a bit of homework so we are skipping Kung Fu.  We just returned from a food run to McDonalds and Culvers and are now buckling down to work.  Four episodes of Jon and Kate plus Eight on TLC tonight, so, sweet!  I also took care of ordering a gift for an upcoming wedding and tried to call the insurance company, but they close at 4:30 so I missed them.  I’ll try again tomorrow, along with making a call to schedule my massage.  Uh huh, that’s right a massage, one of my many extra special gifts from my extra special husband!

b is for birthday May 4, 2008

It’s my mom’s birthday.  Happy Birthday to an amazing woman!  She seemed content to be at home enjoying some peace and quiet today as the farmers were able to plant today for the first time.

Today, Chris left early to go to an amusement park near Chicago with a bunch of seniors for a fun day after prom. Thomas had to be at church early for a program in which he played the kazoo, but before he left we had time for Sunday morning oatmeal. Somedays it’s the little things.

John and I went to church, visited with lots of great friends, and then came home and finished up his packing. We also had to jump start the truck as I had left the lights on last night and the battery was dead. We took care of that, gassed up the CR-V, and then picked up Thomas after youth services. In the meantime, we had time to get him all checked in on line for his flight. The three of us had lunch at Arby’s and then drove John out to meet the shuttle. Everything was running on time, so we left him there and went on to run a couple of errands. We returned Chris’ tux, checked for bargains at Old Navy since we were in the neighborhood where we picked up a couple of polos for Thomas, and then we ran by the grocery store and got what we needed for the week ahead.

Thomas had a bunch of friends over this afternoon – really nice kids – and they jumped on the trampoline, played frisbee and basketball, and made enormous ice cream sundaes. They took a walk down to Jason’s and everyone went home by 6:30 or so. Thomas got his homework done and we are both watching TV this Sunday night. There is a what not to wear marathon, so, cool.

I talked with my friend Linda tonight, and Diana from down the block and my BFF in Florida. So my need for conversation partners has been met in full. I’m thankful. Sounds like Dave is doing great a tournament in Lexington so Tom and Ellen took off to drive there and see him in the final 8!!

Chris should be home late tonight and then will have to pay attention to school for two and half weeks as his last day is May 20. He had a nice time at the prom, although we haven’t had much of a chance to visit about it.

Today was a lovely day, filled with sunshine and cool breezes. Tonight is even a little chilly, and my thoughts are with John as he flies around the world. He is headed for great adventures and is already one day closer to being back home. He left behind an extremely thoughtful collection of notes and gifts for me to enjoy in his absence, helping me to realize just how very blessed I am.

p is for prom May 3, 2008

Chris just left for the prom. He looked very handsome in his black tux with long coat, silver vest and tie. He even had the shiny shoes. He was going out to the Windsor with some friends who work there to show off for the residents. Then he picked up his friend/date and headed over to the gathering place for pre-dinner photos. They were all headed to Cafe Luna on campus, then to the prom at the Historic Lincoln hotel (formerly Jumers) in Urbana. Post prom is at a local bowling alley with lots of activities to keep them busy until 3:30 AM. He is headed to Great America tomorrow with 45 other seniors on a bus. He spent Friday afternoon, evening and Saturday morning in Bloomington at the Rotary district convention. Every other outbound student has heard from their host family and it is getting hard to wait. We are watching the mail everyday for travel arrangements and official word of location and host family.

Thomas and John are at the movies. They went to see Iron Man. Each of us is soaking up our time with John before he departs tomorrow for ten days with Kate in Poland and Ukraine. Last night Thomas spent the night at his friend Brandon’s, so we went out for fajitas and then headed home to get his suitcase packed. We also enjoyed a couple of wonderful carry-out cupcakes from a new place in town, Cakes on Walnut, which is a very cute place with extremely delicious cupcakes.  My favorite is the salted caramel.

I feel pretty much recovered from last week, which for some reason was a really challenging work week and left me exhausted by Friday afternoon. I had a chance to rest up on Friday afternoon and also enjoyed a recharging telephone chat with my BFF. I feel almost ready to tackle the week ahead.

I feel very much at peace with John’s trip. I will miss him; I like that guy and enjoy having him around, but I am delighted that he will have this time with Kate and look forward to hearing the stories of their planes, trains and buses adventures. I will also eagerly look forward to his return!!