Approaching Glory

Why Parents Thrill and Also Need to Chill

Jbird got several awards last night.  He got his senior pen, a pin for having been concert master at the winter performance, a pin for superior ranking in the ensemble competition, and a big prize - the orchestra award.  This is the first year for this award and it is determined by the teacher.  We are so thrilled for him.

He called us from the dance to say that some of the guys had decided to go to the opening of "Prince Caspian".  We told him that was fine with us.  I guess all in all, about fifteen kids and a couple of parents left the dance around ten and went to the movies together.  J gave it a B+.  He said it was slow going at the beginning - definitely darker and more violent than the first movie.  He did say there were some things that differed from the book.  However, he felt it added to the plot rather than detracted.  The Atlanta Journal gave it a "C" rating and I was discouraged.  When I see it myself, I'll let you know.

He had a good night and got home around 1 AM.  He had called us a couple of times during the evening to keep us updated with what awards he won, and then asked permission to go to the movies, and for something else to happen.  I'm not going to say what it was as someone may read this - however - I will say that my little inner alarm went off and I tried to get J to think about a choice. We gave him permission to do this "thing".  Unfortunately, one of his buds lied to J when J asked him about specifics concerning the situation.  J could have found himself in a horrible fix had anything gone wrong.  Thank you Lord - J was protected.

We had a good discussion about what happened and the "how should we have dealt with this situation".  Maybe more to the point - how to ask specific questions - cause his friend answered J's question - but not fully.  Had J known the full story - he would have said an immediate "no".  Neither Hubby nor I are upset with J - because he acted in good faith on what he was told.  I am so disappointed in the boy though.  I would not have expected this to come from him.  And none of us can figure why he lied.  Eventually, J will have to confront him - because the boy's actions could have effected many people.  I am praying to see if we (Hubby and/or I) should do or say something either to the boy himself or his parents.  As a parent I would want to know - and I doubt the boy told his parents what he did.  Unfortunately, this is part of the learning process of relationships and responsibility.

This morning Hubby worked at the middle school getting it ready for their 8th grade dance.  He's there now doing the concession stand/chaperone deal.  He came home for a few hours and mowed the lawn and then had to go back tonight.  I got the kitchen all cleaned up.  Did the floor on hands and knees.  Cleaned all the dog gear up.  Took apart and cleaned the microwave.  Partnered with Hubby to win a couple of games of Spades on Pogo. Fixed meals and now I'm ready to take a nap.  However, since it is after 9 PM - it might turn into bedtime.

May you be blessed.

Formally Yours

Okay - you know you have gone down the drain as a Mom when..... rather than bake up a storm you go to Sam's Club.  Tonight is J's Awards Night and Spring Formal (aka "The Prom").  To say the boy is excited is a vast understatement.  Afterall, she may be there.  The boy appears to be a trifle smitten.

Anyway - back to me.  Last year I baked two big platters of appetizers for J to take.  He told me they were gobbled up quickly.  This year - well - I'm still recovering from the cold - and I don't feel like spending the day on my feet in the kitchen.  Sam's to the rescue.  They just opened a brand new Sam's Club next door to the new Wally World in Oakwood.  Off we drove in search of the perfect snack food.

The parking lot was full as they are still in the throes of celebrating the new store.  They had a live radio broadcast going and "Rocky's Theme" was blaring through the speakers.  Love that music.  For some reason, Jbird seemed disinclined to dance through the parking lot with me!

If you tasted all the freebies, you would have had the full meal deal.  We ended up getting Minh Chicken Mini Egg Rolls.  There are approximately 50 in a box.  Sweet and sour sauce is included.  They microwave very well.  We got two boxes for the dance and I arranged them on some nice commercial type plastic trays with heavy duty lids.  The eggrolls are delicious - highly recommend.

Next - I got Poppies Belgian Mini Eclairs.  These things are evil super!  There are about 50 in a box.  I got two boxes.  I let them thaw for a bit and then arranged them artfully on my doily clad tray with lid.  How can Eclairs be anything but good?  One small comment:  they need just a touch more filling and these guys are truly just a bite full.  They are about two inches long.

Then I had a choice to make:  let him go one his own (about an hour away) or do we drive him, attend the awards ceremony as a family, and then pick him up after the dance?  I handed him a camera, told him to take lots of pictures, we prayed as a family, and sent him on his way.  Oh my.

Return to Best Buy

Feel more normal today.  Not so much sinus drainage, but still tired.  Packed up the car with all my painting gear and trudged off to class.  I worked on the picture of J and was feeling pretty good about it until my teacher said, "Something's not right."  And then I realized I had his hand facing the wrong direction for playing the violin!  UGH!

After class I drove through the pouring rain back to Best Buy where I had to listen to a friend of the sales person keep them engaged in a personal conversation for several minutes whilst I "patiently" stood there waiting to be served.  Call him later dude!  Anyway - I returned the card and this time I took in the dead card so the Geek Squad would know what I really needed.  I was assured this time it is right and it was forty dollars less than the one I took back.  Cool beans.

Made meatballs and watched a movie with the crew.  Hubby put in the new card.  Voila - it works!  As does the new 19 inch Hannspree monitor.  Sweet.

Susan Knows Best

This is me today.  Sore throat, running nose, stuffy head - actually, I think the picture looks better than me!  I know I did stuff today - but what it was sorta escapes me.  I did end up going back to Best Buy and explained my new theory concerning the computer ie:  the monitor's fine and it must be the video card.  She listened patiently and handed me a box.  This is the - try it - if it doesn't work you can bring it back - game.  Whatever.

I think we went to the library and that son got some movies and I got some books.  Might be that's what we did. 

All I really know is that when we got home and Hubby went to insert the video card - it didn't work.  Cute.  I just yawned and crawled to the bed.  Tomorrow is another day.

The Wind Did It

I tried to get on the computer this morning and the monitor would not stay on.  I figured the connection was loose - wrong.  I finally concluded that the monitor had just died of old age.  Which was a wrong conclusion due to my head feeling lighter than air and my throat being so sore.  I slept for another three hour nap.

J got up early and headed over to the Y to see if they needed any lifeguards.  Yup.  J got rehired by the Y and then he went over to Parks and Rec and told the lady that he wasn't going to take the job.  He told her that he got a better offer - which he did actually - higher pay and a better team.  She was very understanding.  She told him she had just lost another guard to them earlier.  When she asked what they were paying and he told her.... well.... she said, "Right - we can't beat that.  You need to go there."

Slight problem though.  He needs to have his lifeguard credentials renewed.  They expired two months ago.  We are getting conflicting reports as to what he needs to do to get it recertified.  It may cost us $150.00.  Oh happy day.  We went and had the drug test done and have a stack of papers to fill out for employment.

Off I went to Best Buy to buy a new monitor for the computer.  I'm shocked at how cheap the monitors have become.  I can now get a 19 inch flat screen cheaper than what I paid for a 14 inch flat screen around four years ago.  Wow.  I purchase one, get it home, plug it in, and get the message "video not making connection."  I sat here with my cold foggy brain (think antihistamine attempting to dry up sinuses) trying to digest this bit of information.  Not computing.  I climb back under the desk and try it again.  No connection.  I re-read the instructions - I say some rather nasty things to the computer - nothing.  And then it dawns on me - this may not be a monitor problem at all.  This may well be.... the video card.  Oh me.

Now - do I take back the lovely new monitor or can I think of a way to get Hubby to think it is a marvelous idea that he take the 14 inch and get rid of his old monster monitor?  Hmmmm......

Mother's Day 2008

The day started with the guys taking me out for breakfast.  It was a great meal and the conversation was good.  The guys then did the lawn and I read Grafton's "T is for Treason".  We all watched a movie together and then I took a three hour nap due to the cold my son gave me for mother's day - thank you very much.

Being Part of the Team

J left early this morning to have his first in-service with the Parks and Rec department.  He got recertified with his CPR and then they went over the employment papers.  He called us around lunchtime and told us that he didn't think he wanted to work there.  I just listened.  He said he'd tell us all about it when he got home.  I mentioned J's comment to Hubby who only said, "They must have a bunch of immature kids this year."  The lifeguards at the city pool are notorious for their elitism and snobby behavior, but I must admit I was surprised that J was willingly to throw in the towel.

Let's just suffice it to say that when he got home and told us what had been said and done during lunch and classtime - we had NO problem with him telling his boss that he couldn't take the job.  (think sexual comments and thievery)   J just said,  "I can not in good conscience be a part of that team." We prayed and then made the stipulation that he go out on Monday and try to see if the Y would have any openings.  One thing we do know about the Y is that the type of language, conversation, and behaviors discussed would never be allowed there.

It Does a Mother's Heart Good

Tonight was one of the memorable nights of a lifetime.  But first how we got there.  Hubby took the day off from school to spend the day with us - nice.  We had a nice drive up to Canton.  We had a little time so we all went shopping for needed wardrobe essentials.  Hubby needed new shoes, son needed dress socks,  I needed a top and shoes.

We found them all.  I love Dress Barn and they have a great one there.  The top I got will look great with black dress pants and black shoes for the gallery show opening.  We dropped J off at Reinhardt for a rehearsal and Hubby and I went out to O'Charleys for an appetizer and a shared dessert.  Hubby and I changed into our dress clothes at the restaurant and J was in his tux when we got back to the college.

J's violin ensemble group was third on the program and they performed a piece by Vivaldi.  I looked over at Hubby whose mouth was open.  I cried and took Hubby's hand.  This was my Mother's Day gift.  J was wonderful.  I actually stood and yelled, "Bravo!"  He also performed in the orchestra (which sounded the best I've heard them), the Swing Choir group (didn't sound their best), and the Highland Dancers (great).

I think what hit me was that God's plans are so different than ours.  Never, never, never would I have imagined that I would be attending a concert like this to see my child perform.

Many years ago I read a Christian book on being aware of your children's gifts and talents.  I know I read it (unfortunately I don't remember the title) but I don't think that I "got it" - until now.  This is a good article that deals somewhat with the idea - click here to read.  (I love her discussion regarding the difference between developing character and recognizing and making way for gifts and talents)  Somewhere in our 18 years with J our paths diverged.  Somehow he became his own person with his own unique talents and gifts.  I remember so clearly when he told me he wanted to take violin lessons.  I thought this totally strange.  No one we knew played the violin.  I had always assumed he would take piano.  First - we had a piano.  Second - it's what I always wanted to play and didn't get a chance when I was a kid. (yes this is weird thinking to the hilt)  Praise God - I decided to humor J and set him up for the lessons.  For it is in that instrument I hear the sound of my son's heart singing out loud and clear - filled with emotions we don't see all the time when looking at the outside package.

What I was privileged to hear tonight was a gift to the audience - humbly and beautifully presented by a group of great kids that included - my son.  Thank you God.

An Eventful Day

When I checked my email today, I had a post from what appears to be J's new boss.  He had gone on the interview, he had received a phone call telling when training times were, and now he got an email telling him the list of things he needed to bring with him on Saturday in order to be able to fill out employment forms.  Uh huh.  What he never did get was a "you got the job".  Interesting.

One of the things on the list was lifeguard swimwear.  The only lifeguard swimwear he has is the pair of trunks from the YMCA.  So he called his new boss and "Yes you have to get a new pair for this weekend's training."  Right.  Now had I known about this two weeks ago - no problemo - surf over to Keiffer's and order away. No time for that now.

First, J and I realize we will have to take the old Explorer (think 14 yrs old) because Hubby has loaded it with garbage and we need to make a garbage run.  Good thing is the car is big enough to pick up my art work.  I called up the picture framer to see if there was anyway I could get my pics before Friday because I was going out of town and the dog has to be to the gallery this weekend.  No problem - pickup at 2pm.

So J and I go over to Judy's and get her to go to the Georgia Mall with us.  This is when it begins to dawn on my that we are in the old car with NO air and it is going to be in the eighties.  I roll down the windows thinking it can't be that bad.  Of course we all had to go out to breakfast at Cracker Barrel first.  It was a moral imperative.  And it was mighty good too.

We come out to the sun really beginning to do it's thing.  Which is not good for me at all.  The air seems thick for breathing and my body is quickly overheating (I don't sweat like other people to cool myself).  We get to the sports store and do they have lifeguard swimsuits?  Nope.  So we park Judy on a bench and J and I trapse off to see if we can find another store - nothing, nada, zip.  Brilliance descends on my brain and I call the number of the one sports store in our home town and guess what?  Yesssssss.  They have lifequard trunks - but no medium.  By now I've had to use my inhaler, and I am totally miserable.

However, great mother and friend that I am (ha ha ha) I get Judy home, I pick up my pics, (with some nice compliments from the framer's other customers), and drive Jbird over to the one store here in town.  Yup - there they are - S, L no mediums.  And then I look up - and there on a hanging dummy are lifeguard shorts.  I grab the tag.  Righto - medium!  Praise the Lord!  We got J a lifeguard hat and a lifeguard muscle shirt.

Home and exhausted.  Heat so drains me.  Cleaned up the kitchen, put my pictures up on the wall so I can look at them.  The framer really did a nice job.

Waiting for American Idol to begin - and I joined the Summer Sock Along (oh my) more on this later.

Your Rest My Rest

J has been wanting to go see "Iron Man".  I watched the previews on the tv and thought I might like it.  However, when it came down to it, I wanted to stay home and rest.  Now J and Hubby's idea of resting is obviously to go see the movie.  So off they went.  Then I thought I'd get the "oh Mom you missed it" but what I got was - it was grade "C".  At least they brought me home popcorn.

Picture This

Picture this:  I am in our bedroom sorting through stuff when Hubby comes in with an envelope from the Quinlan.  He is so excited.  I deflate.  It is the self-addressed envelope for the return of your cd.  I just sit down on the bed and take the package.  Hubby is pestering me  -"Open it- open it."  I look at him like "ummm...dingbat boy - this is the package that says - thanks but no thanks and here is your cd."   I use the excuse I don't have my glasses.  Helpful man tells me that he'll open it for me.  Testily I tell him I'll find my stupid glasses.  Which I do and then open the package to find a letter that says,

"We are so happy to inform you that "The Sixties Tango" has been accepted ...."

I screamed.  Hubby has the big grin on his face and J profusely congratulates me.

Ah yes - another example of my mature behavior.

But - I've been accepted and not into the little show I was hoping and praying to get into this year - but a juried show in the big main gallery!  WOW!  God is good.

New Directions

Well the end of yesterday did not bode well.  Yesterday morning, after the hair fiasco, I talked to the ACT people on the phone to ask some questions about the form.  This man sounded like the teacher in the Charlie Brown comics - "Blah blah blah blah blah!"  Ugh!  I just want a straight answer thank you.  But he did give me an important bit of information that turned out to be extremely helpful.

With the idea that the county system school homeschool person would have to sign off on my forms - I drove into town with son.  What I ran into when I got to the administration building was "the wall".  "That office is no longer housed here."  So I get the number of the person to contact.  Now last year I met with the man who was heading up that department - nice man.  He was cordial, - if not helpful.  This lady - well - let me just quote my child:  "You did really good Mom.  You didn't yell at her and you took time to calm down and breathe."  And I will finish this discussion with - we (because I know legally that at sixteen we don't have to, but I had wanted to go through the motions of 'being-a-part' until he was finished - told the lady consider us no longer a part of the system.  We will officially do our own thing without their intent to homeschool form and their monthly attendance requirement.

Crying - I drove over to the psychologist's office - because I remembered the important bit of information that the man on the phone had told me - "The form can be signed by the homeschool liason or the diagnostician.  And you know what?  The pysch who did the educational testing for us was more than happy to help us.  In fact, he signed under his name - homeschol diagnostician.  What a sweetheart.

And another subject came up while I was there and he helped our family with that as well.  I'll let you know more about this area once we've made some decisions.  I took my signed papers, made copies, and sent them off to the ACT as a registered mail.  So we shall see what happens.

So on to today - I have been thinking for awhile that I wanted to do something special for J  - it being his final year and all.  But I haven't been able to save enough money to do the "big" thing I'd like to do.  And then I saw one of the ladies in our paint group make a portrait of her daughter for her birthday.  Hmmm... neat idea - but my abilities with oils hasn't stretched as far as humans yet.  And yet - I took out a picture that I had taken of J in 2005, turned it into black and white, and then polarized it to see shading areas.

I took my pics, paints, and a big 24-36 canvas and went to class.  And produced the picture you see up above - it is NOT finished by any means, but it is a beginning.  I don't know if J will appreciate the colors but at least when I got it home both of the guys they knew it was supposed to be J!  That's a start.

To Dye Again

The other day I applied the "cover the gray" dye to my hair.  Now I've had some adventures with doing this routine before - read here.  After that little fiasco, I actually discovered a color I really like and for which I received several compliments.  I even had one lady ask me what the color was since she wanted to use it as well.

So it would seem all is well in the hair color land.  Right.  Until I get to the store and can't remember the number of the color.  Never one to be deterred - I decide to try the "match the color by the picture of the model on the front of the box" routine.  Ask me why I didn't call the friend with whom I had shared my hair color number?  Because the logic of that never entered my mind.  I played "lineup" dye.

I came home and without any horrible dye incidents - walked out of the shower with newly colored tresses.  Only to look in the mirror and gasp!  Does deep shiny black mean anything to anyone?  The box said dark brown -not black! The guys tried to reassure me that it looked okay.  I tried to tell myself that I could live with it for however long - afterall hair grows.

Nope.  Not gonna happen.  Yesterday I waltzed down to the store and got the correct color and I am sitting here baking as I type.  Who knows what the outcome will be - but anything's got to be somewhat better.  I hope.  Maybe.  Perhaps I should surf through some wig sites.

Update:  It didn't work.  It did take care of one little patch I had missed - so at least now I'm even.  Of course somewhere in the back of my brain I knew the only way to do it is to strip it all and then start all over - ain't gonna happen.  I'll live with having the color hair I had when I was seven.

Frame Me

Last visit to J's pediatric dentist.  What a super dentist this has been.  He's been so wonderful through the years.  Got the name they recommended for J's adult dentist.  Of course J didn't have any cavities.  Must be nice.

Then we drove over to the new frame shop here in town.  Very nice man and great service.  I'll be taking the pics back to him on Wednesday for framing - one for the show - two for me - and a couple more that need hanging gear.  Costly - but done right.  Art is NOT cheap.

Still haven't gotten stuff off to ACT - must do that.  Grass pollen must be increasing - having to us inhaler more each day.

Hope you have blessed one.

Child Out Til Ten

My one and only is out there in the world by hisself!  He went to a Bible study, dinner, social time in Forsyth tonight.  And we let him get in the vehicle and drive down the road!  Oh my.

Call when you get there.  Call when you begin to head home.  Remember what to do in emergencies, stay focussed, make sure cell phone is on and charged, don't answer cell phone while driving, don't listen to the radio... etc. etc.  Sometimes I sit in amazement and ponder that people have been letting their children do these things for decades and they're not all raving lunatics.

I mean - do you think mothers have suffered these goofy fears when their kids first rode the family horse over to the neighbor's?  Yeah.  Probably.

BTW - child returned safe and sound around 9:30.  Only got lost twice and got scared cause a policeman put his sirens on behind him (he only wanted to pass Jbird).  The child has my poor sense of direction - bless his heart.

Brings to mind the Twila Paris song, "Do I Trust You Lord."

Yes Lord - I will trust You.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

This morning the pictures that my friend took for me were waiting in my email.  I looked at the one picture again and again and started to have a bad feeling.  I surfed through my pics and remembered it was photo I'd downloaded and then solarized.  Okay - that's one down.  Then I looked at one of the other pics and the blues were off.  The photographer had seen it also and offered to reshoot the pic.  Which was SO generous but I just didn't have the time. 

So I hauled out my little Coolpix, put it on museum setting, shut the blinds, grabbed an old navy piece of material, get Jbird out of bed to hold up background and shot several pics.  One is "good enough".  Not the quality of my friend's professional shot - but it will do.

Name the pics - The Sixties Tango and Garden Times - to go along with the theme "Memories".  Burn the disc with pics on it, go to post office, run by the Quinlan, pay submission fee - and voila!  I am now being considered for entrance into the show.  Takes my breath away.  One thing I did learn big time - was the importance of considering what you want your signature to be and look like.  I've been struggling with that for some time.  Each painting has two different looks (bad bad bad) cause I was in the middle of trying different things.  And to tell you the truth - I may sign my next paintings another way all together.  Must discuss this with instructor - I may be backed into a corner already.

Drove down to Gwinnett to look at possible framing solutions for the one picture.  Let's just say I wasn't thrilled.  I came home and told Hubby the quality and price.  He told me that the father of one of his students just opened up a frame shop here in our town.  I was surfing out local news site and there was this coupon for $25.00 off from the very store Hubby mentioned.  Sounds providential to me.

Stopped by MIchael's and picked up two big canvasses.  Sonny boy says, "Just don't make any more lime green dogs!"  Okay - how about some electric blue trees?

And last but NOT least:  I got my book from Michele in the mail today.  Wow.  The card was lovely thanks Michele.  Thank you a thousand times.  But - Wow!  I started reading the first chapter and begain crying.  There I am in all my glory - lol.  I can not wait to continue to read this book and trust me you will hear more about it - "Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest".  One problem though - man - this ladies look great - ummm - they have how many children and grandchildren?  Oh my!

Entering the Fray

A week ago Thursday something happened which test my faith and revealed my flesh - again.  I've mentioned before that one of my goals this year is to enter a show.  My idea was to get into one of the Art League's bi-monthly little shows in the basement area of the Quinlan.

One of my co-painter's had produced a lovely picture and some of the higher powers that be were admiring it.  They asked her if she was submitting it for consideration for a "big" show for the upstairs gallery.  The theme is "Memories" and her painting is a beautiful waterfall where her family has taken many a picnic.  Needless to say, we were all wowed at the suggestion. 

Now the current rules for show participation are that if a work is produced in a class it can't be considered for an upstairs show.  This is their way of not having student work that the teacher has touched and to have multiple copies of a stiff life - if the class functions that way.  Everything about the picture must be your own work and original content.  Nice rules - but - our class functions primarily as a studio - and our instructor does not touch our paintings unless he asks permission and we grant it or we ask him to.  Suffice it to say - he doesn't touch mine and I know for a fact that he had not touched my friend's painting - I watched her paint it.

Well - let's just say - she was able to submit her work for consideration.  Now I had to deal with my jealous flesh and struggle with some law issues.  After some prayer and asking for forgiveness for my attitude, I came to some peace with the situation.

My final decision was to work only on technique in the class and do my paintings at home.  That wayI could have some eligible paintings.  Today, I mentioned this to my teacher and he said that just wasn't right.

While I drove J to karate, my instructor went upstairs to talk to the powers that be.  He came down with two applications - one for me and one for another student.  I was shocked.  They had extended the deadline and I had until Friday to get a digital picture of my painting(s) done, burned on a cd, fill out the application, go to the postoffice for pouch to return cd, consider titles, price, and framing.  I just sat there stunned.  My instructor comes up to me and hisses, "The door was closed.  Now it's open - you'd best go through it."

One of the ladies in my class came over and told me to get my paintings (I had to drive home to gather a few up).  When I got back she took me across the street to her office and shot my pictures.  She's a professional photographer!  I know that this service can cost well up to $100.  I asked her how much I could give her - she said - nothing.

I don't care if my paintings get accepted - it is the care and love that was bestowed upon me that means everything to me.  I am stunned.

Through My Eyes

The other night whilst Jbird was performing I was walking around the Gainesville State College Campus enjoying a beautiful spring early evening.  Hubby and I attended and graduated from the college back in the eighties.  Of course then it was Gainesville Junior College.  We were in our thirties and working full-time and going to school full time.  Looking back - I wonder how we did it.  The campus is always quiet at this time of day.  The day students are gone and the evening students haven't really begun to trickle in yet.  So while J did his violin thing - I chilled and went with memories.

Needing some shots from which to paint - I snapped pictures right and left at the trees and folliage on campus.  Of course what you see isn't probably what I'd paint.  My canvas would more than likely look more like this:

1. This means I know I can't paint realistically enough to be satisfied that the picture looks like the beautiful nature and
2. Part of me likes being able to be "okay" with seeing the world at a slightly different angle.

I see this on a big canvas - like I mean big.  Well - okay - big for me.  Right now I'm working on a 24 x 30 and it seems enormous.  Which it isn't if you are going to try to do something professional with your work.  Most professionals work BIG.

Stopped by J's pediatrician's office to pick up the letter we needed to affirm diagnosis of certain things.  Must write the cover letter, make copies, and send all things off to ACT - like tomorrow.

Went out to eat with son - love the chicken salad sandwich  at Sweet Magnolias and it is a big "no no" on anyone's diet.  I had an asthma attack out on the square - thankfully I had my inhaler with me.  The pollen is just crazy.  Came home and laid down on the couch and woke up a few hours later!  Wow.  So much for the day.

I did work some on a painting for a little while  (not THE painting - the masters copy).  Think I've finally got the layout right and should complete it tomorrow.

And a special thanks to Michele.  See the comment she left me on one of my posts.  It truly blessed me.  She is also starting a new blog.  You can read her here.

Gainesville College Strings

Thanks to Claire (an enterprising young cellist) we have the following video from J's performance last night.  Cool beans.

That's J just one left of the conductor in second violins.  They sound a whole let better than when they were practicing.

The Growing Up Trail

I know you have all heard it before, "They grow up way too fast."  It sounds like a cliche until it happens to you and then the reality grips your heart.  You find yourself sitting with a cup of coffee and staring out the window wondering where, when, and how the time evaporated.

Hubby and I had to drive Tango to the Vet for a final checkup the other day.  Hubby mentioned a program he had heard over the radio that was discussing the empty nest syndrome.  I was in the back seat holding the dog and he glanced furtively at me in the rear view mirror.  Evidently, this couple had been anticipating the graduation of their last child, when three months before the end of her senior year she decided to drop out of school.  It had been extremely difficult for them because it was so unexpected and because they had had all the graduation celebrations planned.  I got the eye glance again.

Then tears slowly began to trickle down my cheeks.  I've known that our son's senior year has been coming.   I've known bit by bit the apron strings would begin to snap - but living through it is another matter all together.  The dreams of the senior pictures, the ring, etc. etc. (BTW that's my child caught in the act of playing with a blue marker - look at that curly hair - wonder where it went?)  We've faced some milestones just recently: