education

My baby is a senior in high school! Carol is two years ahead, and although sometimes I have questioned the wisdom of that decision, overall I think it was a good one. Most people think she's older, and she is really pretty mature. It will be a busy year for her.

My next-to-baby is starting college on Monday--prereqs for nursing school at the community college, Lee. I am glad Ames decided not to fight me about staying home rather than going away--it feels right. What with all the struggles and transitions in his life, he needs a little more support than some. I am just happy that he is moving forward and setting goals.Oh, and he has a $5000 scholarship!

Will is starting his third year at UT Austin--not sure when first day is. He will really have a busy year, studying and working to pay his way.

Hannah is starting at the University of Houston as a transfer student. Her education has gone a bit slower, but she had to get through some life lessons first. She has attended Lee College and Wharton Jr College.

Rachel is a graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in English, emphasis on writing. Although she has worked as a nanny since then, and as far as I know will be paying on student loans for years, I have to believe the education and experiences she went through were valuable. She spent two years at Lee College in the Honors program before transferring.

Bryan got his GED at 17 and has taught himself everything he needs to know to be a successful man and world traveler. He always was extremely self-motivated even as a young child.

My oldest baby has been in the school of life for quite a while, and finished massage school this summer. He has made a good choice, and I hope he is able to finish his required massages and get his certificate soon. He will bless many with his touch.

I started out planning to write about the end of summer and it turned into this. I am so proud of all my kids. They are all unique individuals, and some have had harder roads than others. I hope they all know how much I love them and miss them, and hope they all are able to be parents so they can understand that kind of love and blessing.

Boot camp

I went to a 45 group training class and seriously at one point wasn't sure if I was going to live through it. Chad, who I had a personal training session with, invited me to join it. After I realized that it was ok if I went at half his pace, I was ok. I did feel kinda like the little ole lady, though, I think I was the oldest one in the class. I am exhausted in a good way.

New things

I went to the United Methodist Women's annual taco dinner at St. Mark's. I hope I have made another new friend--I had met Elaine before and knew that she worked out at a gym--turns out she goes to 24 and we sat together and talked and it was nice. I think she 's about my age.

Anyway, I got to thinking about all the new things I am learning and new attitudes I am working on, just since the beginning of this year.

Became a Methodist

joined the choir

walked relay for life with church group

joined a UMW "circle" which involves doing ceramics

all this means meeting new people!!

Got more serious about staying fit

decided to walk more, so signed up for a BUNCH of events

realized that learning to run isn't impossible

then realized that I needed to work out to be a better runner

so joined a gym which I swore I'd never do

(All the years I was having babies I never dreamed that I would be doing this. I used to belong to the YMCA and never liked the indoor gym.)

I relearned to knit. Not sure what I am going to do with this skill.

I kinda think that the death of my Mother in October motivated me to join the choir, cuz that was her thing, and knit, cuz she did that and I want to knit some prayer shawls in her honor, although crochet is easier and goes faster. In choir practice this week my throat was a little dry and I was coughing a little and the lady next to me gave me a cough drop and I just about started crying, cuz Mother always carried cough drops. Doing these things is good for me, but it also keeps her close to me. St. Mark's also has a bell choir and I am thinking about joining that, too, which would really be in her honor/memory.

New fitness plan!

I went into 24 hour fitness for a tour, and came out a member with a session scheduled with a personal trainer for Saturday noon. I have been avoiding gyms for years, had a treadmill and sold it, but I have been thinking about this for a while so it wasn't totally impulsive. My motivation: I don't want flabby arms! You know that middle age non tricep? NOT. Here's my stats: I am 5'7" and weigh 138# on their scale. My body fat is 38%. So even though I am not over weight, I have too much fat--healthy is less than 32 and 26 is ideal. They call it "skinny fat". So I want to make a commitment of a year, and will have to work out a schedule, which I am sure I can now that I have made a monetary commitment. :) I decided, after reading some articles in Runner's World at the library yesterday, that I only need to run 3 or 4 times a week. This morning I tried figuring out a workout on my own but it bombed.

The reason I chose 24 hour fitness over the Y or Fitness Connection is that they have an indoor pool. I want to do some water aerobics and maybe try some swimming and not have the weather be an impediment.

I am excited!!! I am going to try not to turn this into a fitness fanatic blog.

20 years

William is 20 years old today. When I look back and reminisce about his life, it seems like a flash! William is an awesome person. He grew up in the middle of four sisters-- when he was a teen he had to share a bathroom with them. He really learned alot!!! He's not afraid to show his feminine side, occasionally!A very intense kid, serious but with a great sense of humor, he loves puns and writes them. Some of that intensity translates now into what he calls social anxiety. I have hopes that as he continues living an honest life, he will be able to deal with it without medication. I have learned much from Will. In 2007, he told me that he didn't believe in God, and as a Christian this at first upset me, but it was the beginning of some radical changes in my own narrow mindset. He has love in his heart and since God is love and love is God, I realized that it is not my job to change his mindset, all I have to do is love my children.

He is a student at UT Austin--lives in a c0-op established in the 70's. Use your imagination on that one. He is a pedicabber, and will be associate editor at the Daily Texan. Major is currently government, but will probably change to English. VERY SMART GUY!

Will, if you ever read this-- I am proud of you, today!

Pneumonia

My father's wife, Connie, called me this afternoon to tell me that Daddy is in the hospital with pneumonia. I have to say that I am now grateful for Connie's presence in our lives. She is definitely a caregiver. They went on a trip to Maine, just got back this week, and he started running high fever and finally she said she MADE him go to the hospital because his breathing was so bad. IV antibiotics and breathing treatments will hopefully make him all better. You never know with old people.

Contentment, today

I am having a "me" day. Watching HGTV, crocheted a cell phone bag holder with plarn, chicken in the crockpot, a little time on facebook. It is great to be finally satisfied with the house, the living room layout with the pew and the awesome 35 dollar comfy couch from Goodwill. Carol is with her good friends, Ames and Johnny are sleeping. I am wearing the comfy cotton dress I got from Savers in Austin. I served communion at church today and it was an extremely spiritual experience. I finally got a response from the lady who will take my Mother's knitting books off my hands. I have talked to or texted all my kids this week. I am working on eating better-- made this casserole with tuna and onions, bell peppers and onions sauteed in olive oil yesterday. Ate it wrapped in organic lettuce leaf. It was good. I am planning to run a little farther every day and start upper body workout.

I feel a sense of serenity as I continue to work on living one day at a time, finding opportunities to love and serve where I can while taking care of myself. It isn't always easy, people and situations can be challenging and difficult, but working on me and leaving the rest to my higher power gives me peace and contentment.

I ran a 5k

Outriggers 5 K by the bay 7:30 am

I have been keeping up my training, running about a mile most mornings. So I was able to run the entire course with just a very short walk. I am VERY HAPPY with my time of 38:06, mile pace 12:17. I talked to this 64 year old lady who ran a 8 something minute mile, afterwards. I really want to keep on, get in even better shape. I need to do upper body work and get rid of the arm flab. She didn't have any! so I know it's possible.

Traveling with teens

Since Will stayed in Austin for the summer, I decided that a road trip there would be a nice break from reality, and time well spent with my three youngest--I can't believe they are 15, 17, and...Will will be 20 in a week! So, I made hotel reservations, and we hit the road Sunday afternoon after church. I wanted to eat at a restaurant, and they wanted to see Captain America...so we ate at the Brick Oven and after finding that the movie was sold out at Alamo Drafthouse, we found it at Tinseltown. Ka-ching! Food was great, movie was fun. But I realized that this was not going to be a cheap trip! We had a day of shopping planned, and had to eat!

Monday we went to the Capitol building, because none of us had ever been there, and it was just down the street. It is really big and pretty and its where government happens. We did the self-guided tour and took a few pictures. And tried not to get into political arguments. Well... we did, but I am no match for Will or Ames.

It was super hot by then, and we stepped into a gift shop on our way back to the car, just for the a/c. We had all agreed that going to bookstores and thrift stores would be something we could all enjoy, so I had my list of addresses from the internet ready. My GPS sometimes took us around in circles, but we did manage to have a good day!! After grabbing a bite at Thundercloud subs, we went to Half-price books, where Will and Carol would have liked to stay all day! It was conveniently next to Amy's Ice Creams, so we hung out there for a while to chill. We then hit three thrift stores and had a great time and great finds for all, including me. I found this awesome cotton dress, Indian style, I think, that fits perfectly, for four dollars!!! All the kids found clothes and shoes, and of course I had to get a couple of mugs. More $$$, but it was worth every penny. I rarely shop retail, except for clearance.

By 6 or so we decided we would just go back to the hotel room and hang out. Of course we had to eat so ordered pizza. We had fun watching HGTV for a while---somehow I have gotten addicted to House Hunters, Design on a Dime, and other such shows.

Tuesday morning after picking Will up from his digs at the co-0p, we went to Zilker Botanical Gardens (free). It was pretty, but very hot. Many hours over many years -- beautiful flagstone paths, ponds, gorgeous. Not the best time of year, though--I'd love to see it in the spring.

Then our last lunch---we went to Beets, all raw food. It was excellent--Will and Ames got actual food, and Carol and I shared a guacamole and got smoothies--mine was green and delicious. The guacamole had spinach and peas in it! and was wonderful. again, Cha-ching!! It takes mucho money to feed four people.

I am really glad we made this trip. However, traveling with teens is way different from traveling with children or sharing a journey with another adult. They are independent minded and have a different way of viewing the world. And of course, being individuals, it is a challenge to agree on an activity. You just don't do the same things you would do with a peer. And they think I am really funny and like to post "quotes" on facebook. :)

They grow up so fast.