The End of An Era

Kirsten has completed middle school. She starts high school next year. Truly amazing, where did this year go? Where did the last 14 years go?? Yesterday it seems like she was toddling around, and now here she is starting high school.

This year has been full of surprises. Kirsten started 8th grade in public school at Gentry. Her first year in public school was wonderful. I was so nervous I cried the first week before school everyday wondering if I was doing the right thing. God SO took care of things. I can truthfully say this has been the best year I can remember for her. She really flourished. She surely showed me... I was so scared she'd flounder and be eaten up by the HUGE school and all the kids. God answered every prayer I put in front of Him with her wonderful teachers, great friends, safety and happiness for her, and a comforting hand for me.

Now, don't get me wrong... High school makes me nervous too! lol. But, I'll be nervous for her always. And alot of my nervousness has turned to excitement since she made Stars. She's so happy and excited, it's hard not to catch it! Now, I think of the wonderful things she's going to have in store for her these next four years. Stars will be wonderful, and I hear, like a family... she even gets to go to New York City with them next year... and you can bet that means I get to go too! =) (She's already asked me to go... can I tell you how happy that makes me???) I'm excited to see what this beautiful, amazing young woman does. For the next four years of high school, for the four years after in college, and for the rest of her life. I couldn't be more proud.

Kirsten, you have so much in store for you. I look forward to seeing all the different paths that are put in front of you and which you choose to take. I pray that you stay rooted in God, and that you always look His direction before stepping out into the world... you can never go wrong if you always look to Him. I'm so glad that He chose me to be your mom, and that I have the privelege of raising you. I love you. Mommy.

top 12 Things You Can Do to Freak People Out on an Elevator.

Top 12 Things to You Can Do to Freak People Out on an Elevator

12. Make race car noises when anyone gets on or off.
11. Whistle the first seven notes of “It’s a Small World” incessantly.
10. If anyone brushes against you, recoil and holler, “BAD TOUCH”!
9. Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
8. Start a sing along.
7. Say “DING!” at each floor.
6. Wear a puppet on your hand and talk to other passengers “through” it.
5.When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank open the doors, then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.
4.Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering: “Shut UP, Dang it, all of you just shut UP!”
3. Offer name tags to everyone getting on the elevator. Wear yours upside-down.
2.Crack open your briefcase or pure, and while peering inside ask: “Got enough air in there??”
1. Stand silent and motionless, in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.

People might look at you funny... but it sure is fun!!! (Great stress reliever too!) lol

The Real Lost Recap

Oh my Gravy. Don't worry if you haven't seen the episode yet.. you can read on, because even once you see the episode... you won't know what the "hey-hey" I'm talking about.

Allison Janney, (could there have been a worse casting for this part?) who I kept thinking should be walking into the white house at any moment, played the crazy island lady. She will from now be known as "crazy lady". She meets a pregnant, washed on shore strange woman, who will now be called, "Preggers". "Preggers", goes into labor and "crazy lady" helps her birth her babies, which turn out to be twins. (Ow) As soon as labor is over, "crazy lady" bops "preggers" in the head, and she dies. She then raises the twins as her own. "Bad twin" and "Good twin." She takes the twins to the "lighted cave" and tells them they can never go down there, b/c that would be ... bad, but they have to protect it. Protect what??? Who the heck knows. "Bad twin" finds out what "crazy lady" did and gets mad and goes to be with his "peeps". "Good twin" stays with "crazy lady" but still hangs out with "bad twin". Thirty years later, "bad twin" finds a way off the island. He tells "good twin", who goes and tattletales back to "crazy lady". Crazy lady tells "good twin" he is the one and he must protect the island. (Here drink this... um, I don't think so, but thanks anyway.) "Crazy lady" goes to "bad twin" tries to kill him, ruins his plans and kills all his peeps. This makes "bad twin" mad. He then kills "crazy lady" who says, "thank you". (What the hell????) "Good twin" comes in, gets mad and throws "bad twin" down the lighted cave". Hence, "bad twin" becomes smoke monster.

Oooooooh. I get it now. I love it when everything becomes crystal clear. NOT. After seeing next weeks previews, this is all I have to say. If this turns out to be some bad acid trip... I'm gonna be peeved.

Mom's Birthday/Mother's Day Blog

Delores Ann Evans. She came into this world on March 13, 1946. I can only imagine how she was as a child, as a teen, as a young adult. I look at all the pictures and see the same amazing smile that I've grown up with. I imagine she was a pretty mischevious child... she fell out of an upstairs window when she was 2. She was not even sent to the hospital, although I gave my grandmother a particularly hard time about this, I think she fell on her head so there wasn't much to worry about. (Just kidding mom!!) ;) I wish I could have known her as she was growing up, I bet we would have gotten in a lot of troule together.

My mother is amazing. Truly lots of people think so. I think she's amazing but for probably different reasons than most. My mother is a master piano player. She is a great friend, totally reliable, always laughing, generous to a fault, (she'd give you the shirt off her back if she thought you needed it) and is truly funny. These are the things that people can readily see about my mother. And they are wonderful things, but there is so much more that I am proud of her for.

Life has not always been easy for my mom. I won't speak of other things, but I will speak about me. Mom and I had a rocky relationship as a teen. Lots of moms and teens do. But, you grow up and you become a mom and things become clearer than they once were. You do the best you can with what you are given. (As in me) We both did some things back then we wish we could redo. But the great thing is, our relationship totally flourished from it. Both of our friends probably gasp when they hear that we live only two doors away from each other, but it has truly been a blessing. The best thing I could have ever hoped for. (I'm not just saying that b/c this year she decided to bond with Kirsten by taking her to school each morning) Whoooooo hoooo. But it is a nice perk! lol.

No matter what was going on with my mom and I, I always knew that she loved me and cared about me. As I got older I really relied on my mom. When Kirsten was born, she came and stayed with me for two weeks... I don't know what I would have done without her. When Mark and I were first married, she helped us out with everything, even financially... I don't know where we would have been without her then. When I get sick, like when my appendix had to be taken out, the first person I still want is my mom. (Mark rolls his eyes when I'm in the emergency room telling him to hurry up and call my mommy!!!) There's just no one else who will do. When she had her stroke this last summer, I really thought I was going to lose her. I was lost. Usually I'm so good in a crisis. I was just in shock. If I lost her, I would be lost. I didn't know what to do... so I just prayed, and thanks to the good Lord above, he spared her, good as new.

But, back to my original start... the specific reasons I am so proud of my mother. My mother is stronger than she knows. She's vulnerable, not as thick skinned as people think she is... but this is one tough lady. She has survived lots of not so great things and come out on the other side, beautiful, poised, stronger than she thinks, and with a doo that can not be undone. (I'm talkin' hair here people.) Ask her about her hair in the tornado. She has really come into her own here. I like that. Words cannot express how much I love my mother, nor how much she means to me. But I hope that you know, I will always be here for you. I am so grateful that you are my mother. God knew just what he was doing when he picked you for me.

I love you mom! Thanks for everything you do for me and my family. And more than that, thank you for just being you, and for raising me to be the woman I am. Strong, independent, funny, vulnerable, and willing to give someone the shirt off my back. Just like you.

I love you mom!

8th Grade Dance

Oh my gosh, I'm old. Kirsten went to the 8th grade dance last weekend for Gentry. It was quite the eye opener. First of all, my baby is going into High School. WHAT????? Is this possible? I mean in four years she'll be going off to college, which is scary b/c I still have to curl her hair in the morning... how is she going to go to college if she can't do her own hair????? (I'm getting off subject) ANYWAY, It was so wonderful and yet sad. I hate that.

This is the first time we had the whole boy/girl go by yourself to dinner. The coursages and boutinere (sp) which I have to say, was quite hilarious. I think it took about 9 people to get his boutinere to stay on and I hear when he took off his shirt he had 9 blood stains where everyone had pricked him!! Poor little man!

This is the first time I had not chaperoned the dance, much less planned it. I had to work that night so I couldn't chaperone. But, I still got pictures... and I think she might have been glad that she got to go without me hanging around finally. Just one more thing I have to start letting go of... I did go in to get something she had forgotten afterward.... man, that wasn't like any middle school dance I had gone to. Ours were always at the gym, with punch and maybe some balloons. This was at Especial Events, they had an ICE SCULPTURE, catered food, and knock out decorations. Those ladies did a wonderful job. I was amazed.

Anyway, it was the last big Hurrah of the 8th grade year. Well, except for the class trip and all, but next year will be a whole other ball game. And although I'm sooo excited for her in her upcoming year... I wish I could slow down the years. They just go by too fast.

The important thing was, she had a blast, her friends had a blast, they were all beautiful, and there were a number of afterparties which I was pleasantly suprised to find out about, b/c like me the parents want them to get used to going to their house and not out drinking after these dances.

I think I'm ready for next year.... but it still made me feel old. =P