Class of 2005

Kelly is graduating tomorrow from High School along with over 500 other students.  The past two weeks have been exciting with end of year events and celebrations.  The accomplishments that Kelly has made throughout her high school years are staggering to me. 

 

 

 

Her busy schedule that she endured along with work and sports has made for one busy senior year.  She jetted to the nearby college for half of her AP classes to get a head start on her "long" college career as she would say. 

Entering Emory University in Atlanta for pre-med in August will definitely be a lengthy haul, but I know she for one will be able to do it. 

 

I look forward to tomorrow with mixed emotions. I am proud, yet sad that this phase of her life is over.  I am excited for her, but worried about upcoming college life.  

 

 

I also look forward to watching her accomplish the goals she has set in life for herself and hope that she continues to smile that bright smile that she so easily gives.   The years have flown by, but I loved every minute seeing her blossom.  Good luck tomorrow Kelly.  I love you!  :) 

Beauty

 

There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub.
 -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Here is beauty captured in a moment.  This rose is just one of the many flowers adorning my garden this time of year.   It brings a sense of stillness and calm when I enter .  My love of gardening comes from my Dad and Grandfather, where tending to our plants were an everyday task.  One that we always looked forward to come spring.  My garden as of late consist of only flowers.  Over the years I replaced vegetables with different colors of beauty.  To me, this rose speaks for itself why.

Tennis Team

The high school tennis team finished up the season with a sports banquet last week.  The team this year went into the playoffs for the first time in the school's history.  They lost out in the second round but everyone was very proud of  how far they went.  With Brian just finishing up as a freshman, we have a few more years of watching him on this team.  He is an excellent player and I for one don't like to be on the other side of the net of him! 

Congratulations Brian!  Can't wait to see you playing in the summer league!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In my deepest thoughts
imagining you near,  
I close my eyes
and like slow motion rain 
you appear before me.
I see your smile
and go to a place that I want to stay....  

If this world revolved around us
with heartaches exiting in the wind,
there would be no room for wondering
just the clearing of the mist.  

I shiver with the thought...  

Mother's Day

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
- Tenneva Jordan

I grew up thinking I was so different from my mother and that I would do things my way when I had gotten older.  I did grow up to do things the way I wanted, as my mother stood by in amazement.  She would always say "Carol does her own thing"! 

Am I different than her?  Yes, but not really. Probably more like her than not.   I think we all come full circle in learning this.

I found myself cleaning up the dishes at my son's apartment the other day to help out and realized I'm just like her!  She would always come and visit and start cleaning my house.  I would take it as "don't I do things right?"  while she's thinking of just relieving my workload.

I see now that I follow her in the important things that really do matter in life.  The unending love and support that she gave us is now passed to my own children through her teaching and example. I have her faith, her strength and her will to help others.  I have her nonstop work till you drop attitude, her always putting her family  in front of herself way of doing things along with the comfort that we felt  just knowing that she would be there no matter what. 

I can finally say "Yes, I'm like my mother, what's wrong with that? "

Happy Mother's Day Mom.  :)

Retreat Weekend

Brian and Kelly went on spring retreat last weekend about 3 hours north from here with 50 other teens from our church.  This was Kelly's last retreat with LifeTeen since she will be graduating this year and it was Brian's first trip.  She has tried many times to get him to go but he always refused.  I think this time changed everything for him as he plans to continue with the youth group in the fall.   

This cross of stained glass was made that weekend for them.  Each teen wrote their name  on the front of a stained glass piece, and also what they struggle with in life on the back.  This was in conjunction with a session group focusing on life's struggles and how they can be overcome.  Kelly and a couple other seniors carried this cross into church for mass when they returned from the trip.  It was beautiful. 

Academic Team

Dan and his Academic Team had their final competition last Saturday.  This group of nine students were picked from over 500 classmates to represent our school at the Academic Bowl.  There were 18 schools participating in this event.  It was exciting to see the students answering questions and trying to win 1st place.  Our team did extremely well, although missed being in the final rounds by just a few points.  But, watch out for next year, we will be back strong and ready to achieve the goal at hand.  Congratulation team!