Absobloodylootely!

University of Worcester, United Kingdom

So... my lovely Annie has crossed the big pond and has herself along with several other Ball State students at the breath-taking campus of University of Worcester. She arrived safely in London, United Kingdom a few days ago.


She took off on Wednesday... ready as can be...

She managed to pack ten weeks of stuff... into one checked bag at 35 pounds, a carry on (see above) and a backpack.  This from a girl that has been known to have one piece of luggage for shoes alone, is an amazing feat.
She arrived Thursday morning.

I now am using Tango and Skype for video phone.  I'm Imessaging and HeyTelling (which is so cool).  I love that she is actually contacting us!  It's a 5 hour difference time-wise. Seeing her sweet face is such a blessing :)

I am so grateful we are able to make this opportunity happen for her. I am so glad she had the opportunity with college to study abroad and get to be involved with the 2012 Olympics.  It's so cool!  My Annie is so cool! 

{stay tuned...}

A Ticking Clock

I know we usually take this time to reflect back and take a good look at the past year.  It's New Year's Eve... that is what we do. 
These are the highlights & low points of the year...
Here is what I plan to do to improve the coming year, my New Years Resolutions...
Well, forget that.
I typically do my "New Year's Resolutions" on my Birthday in June.  I also prefer to keep it private.
Yes.. I do look back at 2011... the high's and low's, but the past is the past.  Can't change what has happened.  Had some really sad moments and some really glad ones too.

Today, I look forward to the future.  2012. What will we see? What will we do? What changes will we endure that are miniscule only effecting us personally.  And what huge changes that will make modifications for us all?

I have big plans for the coming year.

• I will be starting college classes... something I haven't done since the eighties.

• I will have a daughter graduating from college. And another that will be going abroad.

• I am turning 50... 50 years old... how odd is that in my head? I have plans for this old body to start being treated better so that it will serve me better. I will not take aging lightly. I will embrace it only if we cooperate.

• I plan on having a better financial year.  After the beating and change of the past couple years, we are facing the ole financial struggle and we will not let it get the best of us. We are stronger, we are smarter.

• I am going to have fun.  That's right, damn it, I am going to enjoy this year.  I am going to have belly laughs and turn frowns into smiles.

Life is full of surprises.
No one really knows what will happen.
The clock is ticking...
I need to start enjoying this life that God has chosen for me and stop trying to change the plan.  I do believe that my life was planned before I was even born. So I must trust, and appreciate what it is.  Only then can I truly get it.

10 Things I have Learned About the Girls

This is a list of TEN THINGS I have learned about my daughters that I have observed over this past weekend. Having to do with them being college students mostly.

1.My college student daughters need naps. I think this is to compensate the late hours they keep.

2. Sororities cost a lot to keep the sisters dressed in the hundred or so Greek T-Shirts they don with varies "events" that they have participated in.

3. My daughters still wear the same cheer shorts they worn in Junior High.

4.The laundry consist of a lot of crazy socks. I wonder if they will be like a Grandma always in mismatched socks.

5. Emily's cat will always love her most.

6. They have healthier eating habits than I.

7. At wine tastings, my oldest doesn't "sip", rather "gulps" her samples.

8. My oldest daughter can out drink me.

9. My youngest daughter can "probably" out drink me.  

10. They will always love their Father & I.

Just one of those moments.

I sat here and thought,hmmmmm.

Do You Remember Me?

With my job, I pull people's information from a huge data base. I usually am pulling birth and death dates as well as current address'.
Every now and then, I run across someone I once knew. It makes me think about them and other "lost" people of my life.
How are they now?
Who are they now?
What are they now?

I do think of people from my past. I remember so many people that touched my life.
Good and bad.
Do they remember me?
Do they wonder what happened to me?
Does anyone care?

I want to reach out through the years as well as the miles.

I wrote a letter to my High School counselor, thanking him for being kind and for caring for me during the four years I knew him. I haven't sent it. Yet.

I want to know if the childhood friend that climbed trees and caught lightening bugs with me, remembers me. She was my first "girlfriend". She meant the world to me at just 5 years old.

Does my first Crush ever wonder about me? How about the boy that got my first kiss? I was his first kiss too. Does he wonder what ever happened to me?

What about the boy that beat me up everyday after school for two years? What became of him? Does he worry a bully will hurt his children? Or the kids that sat by on the bus and watched me get punched? Did they ever become compassionate?

How about those BFF's in Junior High School? The first boy to ask me to skate at a Skating party during "couples only". Oh My Gosh, what about the recipients from Spin The Bottle? Or my girlfriends from the Slumber parties? We shared so many secrets, so many dreams.

The terrible teacher that ridiculed me and told me she hoped I liked McDonalds, because that is all I would ever amount. What would she think of me and how far I have gone? Partly because of her cruelty.

Whatever happen to the high school teacher that saw something in me and gave me encouragement and praise? Is he retired now? What a Blessing he was and how he challenged me to be more.

My high school classmates. Yes, I am blessed to be close to several still. I have my Besties and buddies. But the other friends. The pair of siblings that walked with me every day to and from summer school. My friends from christian youth groups and my friends from Texas summers, do they ever wonder about me?

The crazy kids I worked my first job with. Phone solicitation. Yeah, you can imagine: 15 years old, scared to death, but having the time of my life begging people to buy tickets to a circus that supported burn victims. My boss weighed about 400 pounds and never got out of his chair. Did he ever lose that weight? Is he still living? He was so scary mean.

My college friends. What happened to my roommates? I would love to find them! How and why did we ever lose touch? I cherish the one college buddy that has remained a Lifer Bestie. She is amazing and I love her. But what about the others we hung and lived with? Where are they today?

My first apartment Roommate. What is she up to? How is she doing? Does she wonder about me?

Co-workers I adored, and even those I loathe. Where are they?

My "Kids" from the Deaf School. All grown up now. Same with my Damar (Special needs) Kids. My kids from Preschool classes, Sunday School classes, Girl Scouts, after school care, confirmation and other friends of my daughters. I can't believe how many we have already lost touch with. All of them are adults now.

Do any of these people ever try to get in touch with me? Do they want to? Would they remember me? Do they care?

I would be so honored to hear from a blast from the past. BUT only if it was positive. I don't need drama nor do I want to hear negative.

I am thinking about trying to reach out to a few. Particularly the old Roommates and a co-worker that I adored. They may think I am nuts. But, I kindof am. They probably remember that part about me!

twenty four hours...

The Baby is packed. She is excited. She is ready to go to Ball State.

I have twenty-four hours of her home before she leaves.

Wait...
I am not ready...
When did she grow up?
And why did she do it so fast?

When her sister left, I was more prepared. I worked hard at preparing myself. I was ready to let her go into this new journey. I knew Emily would always come back, always need me.

But Ms Independent. My Annie Banannie, I just am not ready to let go. She will spread her wings. She will fly! No, she will soar!

She figures it out. She does it herself. She is so determined and self-sufficient, just like her father.

Ohhh, Baby. Please at least "pretend" you still need me.

What I Know

Not enough.

I thirst for knowledge. I desire to be more educated and refine. I want to not only follow but converse and have a valued point. I want to make people think and I want to share.

I am proud of what I have accomplished. And of what I have done. I struggled through high school and only made way through one and a half years of college. In all fairness, I would have gone longer if I had the finances. I also have taken some classes, got my real estate salesperson license, as well as a few other small educational acknowledgements.

I know I am not afraid to learn more.

I am not afraid to ask questions.

I just wish, I could feel more comfortable in my intellect.

Yes, I know what you are thinking... GO BACK TO SCHOOL! Take a class or two. I will. In time. Right now, it is time for my girls. Let me get them through college. Then, when I have paid off the loans, it can be my turn again.

My Lovely Emily!

Here is a picture of my Emily and her boyfriend. She sent this to me Monday. Isn't she lovely? It has been awhile since I have posted pictures of her and wanted to share this with you all.

Since she lives in Muncie, I don't get the opportunity to see her much, but am blessed with getting to talk to her often. I think about how we text, email and call each other and wonder how my Mom dealt with me being off at college back in the day. I remember, she would try to call me once a week and send me snail mail.

Sometimes I just get so freaked out that Emily is twenty and her sister, Annie is eighteen. The years flew by so quickly. I look at them in awe. They have turned into wonderful young women and I am so proud of them both.

This fall, Annie will be off starting her college years as well. Although it will be strange and even a little lonely with them both gone, I am glad Annie choose Ball State as well. I love knowing that they will be there together. They are close and for that I am grateful.

I listen to women complain and quibble about their children. I want to tell them to Chillax. I want to tell them time will fly so quickly, they will soon be where I am. That they need to choose their battles carefully and stop making their children grow up too fast.

Life is short, enjoy it while it is happening.

Annie's College Pick

My Annie has made her decision!
She decided to be a Cardinal.
She has looked into her options, checked out different schools, but when everything was laid out, the choice was pretty easy.
Ball State has the best opportunities for her.
With Journalism there are many outstanding programs out there. She has also an interest in Fashion, and an interest in Telecommunication. BSU has a fabulous program for the Fashion Journalism student. If she chooses, she could get degree in this and go abroad to Italy or Paris. BSU is the top school in the Nation for Telecommunication degrees. Also the wonderful David Letterman has given jillions of dollars to the Journalism School at BSU.
She teetered with the idea of going to Chicago's Loyola University. I held my breath. I would have supported that choose, but golly that is far for my baby to be! Would she ever come home?

BSU is the school her big sister is at. She didn't want to necessarily follow in Emily's footsteps, but she isn't. Emily is in the Elementary Education Department. They would rarely be on the same side of campus. Emily lives in an apartment off campus, whereas, Annie will be living in the dorms.

Annie has had the opportunity to go to BSU for several weekends and day trips. Not only her sister is there but several friends.

It is a wonderful school that is not too big, not too small. The campus is beautiful. And Muncie has much to offer. Not to mention, just an hour drive from home!

I am relieved. I am proud. I am ready to let her fly onto this next journey. (Well, almost ready!)

Pity Party

As graduation is approaching I am reminded of my daughters and that I am between Graduations for my daughters. Emily was the class of 2007. Andrea will be the class of 2009. I know several wonderful kids of the class of 2008, and am sure that we will be attending many Grad Parties.

My advice to the parents, especially the Mom's, is to enjoy this summer with your young adult. Be proud of their accomplishments, and be prepared for their next journey into adulthood.

As fall came round following Emily's graduation, we excitedly sent her off to the dorm life at Ball State University. I wasn't sure how I would handle that. Saying goodbye, and not have her at the house for the next several months. I was surprised at how calm and truly happy I was for her. We prepared her (and myself) well. She is self efficient and very capable. She was so ready to start this new adventure of her life. Also, with the help of today's technology, I happily heard from her almost daily via email, texting or cell phone.

To celebrate, I invited several other Mom's over for "A Pity Party". Margaritas, wine, and snacks. An opportunity to congratulate each other on this important next step our "children" were making. Some chose college, some went straight into jobs. Regardless, they had graduated and were on there way.

We reminisced, we laughed and even cried a few tears. How proud we all are of these young women and men. Our babies had grown up.

So Momma's of the Class of 2008, celebrate! You did your job, and deserve that Margarita!

She's Home!!!

Last night I picked up my 19 year old baby girl, Emily, from Ball State University. She is home for the summer! Her first year of college is under her belt, she did very well, she succeed and she has grown up so much.

The past 9 months have gone better than I feared. I felt comfortable with her at BSU, I raised her best I could. It was now up to her to do the best with what we gave her.

I could not have been more proud.

She worked very hard with her classes. Double majoring in Elementary Education and Special Education. She loaded herself with classes, and managed to work part time in an office as well.

She made many lifelong friends, joined a Sorority (She's a Chi-O girl!), and enjoyed the very social life of college living.

Being home after 9 months of living with her peers will be an adjustment. I am sure we will manage. Before we know it she will be off again, back to BSU. I plan on enjoying every minute I have with her. She has grown into this very amazing young woman that I could not possible love more.