Celebrating!

This time last year we were busy preparing for our daughter's high school graduation. And now, we've just celebrated another milestone--our son's graduation from college! We spent this past weekend attending ceremonies and remembering all his accomplishments over the past four years. It's a huge milestone, and it makes us so proud!

With that big celebration behind us, there's a shift in the way things feel around here right now. Summer is now full upon us, with both of our kids home and settling into a new routine. Job hunting is high on the list, of course, but I hope we'll make some time this summer for "play" as well. Circumstances may dictate what we'll be able to do, but my mind is turning over some possibilities for short get-aways. Today summer is stretching before us, but I know it will pass all too quickly. I want to make the most of every day!

What are your summer plans? Any suggestions for making summer memories?

All over but the shouting

She did it! Our daughter is now a high school grad, with honors. She finished in the top 17 of her class and we couldn't be more proud. The weekend was fabulous, filled with lots of family, friends, food, photos and activities. We're still eating the last of the treats from the dessert buffet (though I think I should be on a sugar fast at this point in time), and the house is in disarray, but we're all happy. Our summer is officially here and--to steal a phrase from a well-known TV ad-- "We're going to Disney World!" A few party notes: *We followed this tutorial for making the mason jar candle holders; we used birdseed to stabilize the candles in the jar. *I made the cupcakes using the basic white cupcake recipe from Southern Living and topped them with this buttercream frosting--delicious! *The paper lanterns in the last photo are from Pier 1 and were lit with battery-powered LED lights (also from Pier 1)

Savor

Today I waved good-bye as I watched my daughter drive off to high school for the very last time. Tomorrow morning we all go to the school for a special assembly, where the soon-to-be grads will wear their caps and gowns and will feel--maybe for the first time--that it's all really ending. Tomorrow evening family and friends will gather to celebrate her accomplishments with a party, and Saturday she will officially graduate. It's happy, it's sad, it's all going too fast. We are blessed. Time to savor each moment.

Blink

It feels like February just began a couple of days ago, and now we welcome March. Though winter seems long in some ways, at other times the days speed by. My daughter turned 18 over the weekend, a big occasion! And my son will be 21 in just two days. Two milestone birthdays in such a short span of time...it makes my head spin just a bit. Can you believe these two little ones are now adults?

For me, the birthday celebrations each year signal a shift in the seasons, too. I can begin to imagine warmer days, sunny skies, green grass. But with graduation looming and more changes afoot, I think I'll be happy to let time move along at a slower pace...for now.

It's official

Summer is here! Well, not technically, but it's the last day of school for my daughter, and that marks a big change for our family. No more homework, tests,or projects for several months. Now we can focus on the fun stuff!

As for me, I'm working fewer hours and more of those from home, so I think the new routine will fit the summer mode. The job has definitely cut into my blogging and photography time, but I'm hoping to get a better balance in the next few months.

Right now, I'm looking forward to:
*Picking blueberries
*Visiting family
*Vacationing here
*Drinking lots of sweet tea
*Enjoying the fresh goodies from my garden

What are your plans for the warm months ahead?

Life is what happens

It's birthday week here! My daughter celebrated her 17th on Friday, and my son will turn 20 tomorrow. Crazy, huh? Just like all moms (and dads), I have a hard time remembering where the time went. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were giving baths, reading bedtime stories, leaving teeth under the pillow for the tooth fairy? And what about all those soccer games, concerts, and music lessons?

These milestones remind me that life moves too quickly. All those little, daily things? The tiny moments, the small victories? Those are where the real living is. And I don't intend to miss an minute of it!

Bright spots

It's a cloudy, gloomy week but there are bright spots in the midst of it all. Both of my kids start school this week--high school and college--and a new household rhythm begins. Even with all the hubbub surrounding the new school year, there's a certain peace in establishing a new routine.

Another huge change for us is the start of a new job for my husband. After nearly five months of unemployment, he's landed a great job and is getting back to his routine, too. I'm proud of all his hard work in making this happen, and I know his new employer is very lucky to have him!

And that leaves me, holding down the fort with our little dog, Max. What's next for me, I don't know. I feel that some changes may be on my horizon, too, but I'm not sure what they are. For now, I'll work hard to care for my family and to play catch-up on all that needs to be done around home.

What's changing in your world right now?

Changes

Signs of spring are everywhere now, and I've been anxiously searching my garden for affirmation that the season is indeed changing. Daffodils are peeking through the ground but mine are a few days away from blooming. The trees are suddenly coming to life with delicate leaves and tiny buds bursting forth.



We've had lots of changes here at home, too. My daughter had her wisdom teeth removed Thursday and has been spending the last couple of days on the couch with ice packs, watching endless television shows and cautiously eating lots of pudding, ice cream, and soup. Our son arrived home for spring break and is planning to kick back and watch college basketball. And we'll all be experiencing some major changes as my husband learned two days ago that his job will be ending in two weeks. This was not entirely unexpected, but still a change that's rocking our boat just a bit.

With all of this going on, I decided the family could use a little comfort food, and there's nothing more comforting to me than home-baked goodies. When I peeked into the refrigerator and saw a carton of buttermilk, I decided a coconut macaroon pie would fill the bill quite nicely.



Mmm, still warm from the oven! Here's the recipe:

Macaroon Custard Pie

4 T melted butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 T flour
1 cup coconut
1 t vanilla

Mix all ingredients. Pour into unbaked pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes, until center is set. Garnish with whipped cream and toasted coconut, if desired.

I confess I used a "store-bought" pie crust this time but I know it will be delicious. If you like coconut and custard, you should definitely give this a try. And it you do bake one of these delights, let me know!

Celebrate

It's been birthday madness at our house, with two teenagers celebrating birthdays within the past week. First it was our daughter's Sweet Sixteen, complete with lots of pink decorations, a fabulous cake, and a house full of friends.



Then it was our son's turn, commemorating his 19th birthday a few day early at home with gifts and a homemade cheesecake, before returning to campus for a rather ordinary day of classes and school obligations.

And now it's March, with the hope of spring and warmer days lifting my spirits. This week I'm on the hunt for green, and happily I'm seeing lots of it!







Celebrating birthdays and the arrival of spring reminds me there's much to be thankful for. What are you celebrating right now?

Breathe

Ahh, a crisp fall morning. And it's Friday. Time to breathe deep and enjoy every moment.



I have a few fun things on my list for the weekend:

*Going to see this movie. (I always enjoy rooting for the underdog, don't you?)
*Having dinner with our son and watching him perform in the band.
*A quick stop here, if time allows
*Riding my bike
*Trying out my new (old) camera

How about you? What's on your list?

The future is now

From the minute our children are born--and even before--we moms instinctively want to protect them. That instinct drives so many of our decisions and actions. We know we can't control the world, but we try anyway.

We also know that the time will come when they'll leave home. When they're babies, it seems we have all the time in the world to be with them. We chronicle their achievements, their milestones. We cheer them on and help them learn. Time is on our side.

But the future comes more quickly than we'd imagined. We will no longer see their daily actions, their comings and goings, the choices they're making. Eighteen years fly by, and then suddenly they're on to new adventures. The instinct to protect doesn't go away, but we have to step back and take a new perspective on what it means to be a mom.



This weekend we moved our son to college. He is so excited, so joyful, so ready. I already miss his presence in the house, his voice, the pounding of his feet down the stairs. But this is how it was meant to be. We give them our protection, our guidance, our unconditional love. And then, with our blessings, we have to let them go.

Note: The photo above was taken as a test for my "new" Polaroid 230 Land camera. Seems it works!

They say it's your birthday

It's my birthday, too, yeah! I've always loved being a summer solstice baby. I get to have the longest day of the year to celebrate.

Here's a look at some birthdays past.


Turning two


Presents and a fab hat


Siblings and cousins (I'm the tall one!)

So today's the day I move into a new decade. Yes, a big zero at the end of the number. Another leap forward, another shift, yet so much the same inside. I'm blessed beyond measure and this birthday reminds me of that. It's gonna be great to see what lies ahead!

A kiss is still a kiss...

Last weekend was full to the brim with activities, but there were moments of relaxation as well. My niece and nephew--cousins--were having fun hanging out in the backyard.



Uh-oh...sneak attack. Cute boys are never safe from determined girls!

Chapter closed

Projects, papers. Auditions and concerts. Success--and a few failures. Then it all comes down to this.



Completion! What an awesome thing.

This moment

Tomorrow my son graduates from high school. Family members will arrive in a few hours. We'll celebrate this afternoon with a party in his honor.

In the midst of the whirlwind, I'm trying to savor the experience, to remember the important moments and let the rest go.



May you do the same.

Resetting the vacation clock

Returning from an extended vacation is hard. Part of me was ready to get back to the comforts and familiarity of home. Part of me didn’t want to give up the sun and sand we’d been enjoying for a week.



Vacation allows you to trade your “real” life for a little bit of a dream, an alternate view of the world. This spring break vacation was a first for us--we’ve never taken a trip during this time of year. The air travel was a nightmare, but once we reached Miami and knew we’d make it to our cruise ship, we were all smiles. After missing our connecting flight in Chicago by five minutes, we were elated to have seats--any seats--on the next flight out a couple of hours later. Not all travelers were so lucky.

Life on a cruise ship is a complete step away from everyday life. Fabulous food prepared for you all day long. No cell phones or computers to distract. Time to knit and read! Beautiful scenery, ocean breezes. Visiting several countries in a few days, without driving or changing hotels.



I don’t know if we’ll ever have the opportunity for a trip of this kind again, but I’m so grateful we were able to make it work this time. With high school graduation looming around the corner, it was a chance to make memories together as a family. I know that once a young adult leaves home, things are never quite the same.



Now it’s time to get back to the routine. My goal is to count the days at home as carefully as we counted them while away, enjoying each as it unfolds.

You can see more photos on my flickr page.

E is for excitement

We leave in just a few hours for our spring break trip. I shouldn't even have the computer on, but wanted to check in before we're gone awhile. We are all so excited to be heading toward sun, sand and swimming! It always amazes me that a day of travel can put you into a completely different climate (and frame of mind)!



Whatever we may have forgotten won't fit in the suitcase at this point, so away we go!

The face of 18

My son turned 18 on Monday. A milestone according to many societal measures. He can legally sign documents, buy a lottery ticket or tobacco, and be officially added to the government roster of young men available to serve their country. I’m not sure any of these are on his radar screen; he’s still just trying to keep up his grades, hold down a part-time job, pursue his love of music and sleep in whenever possible.



This birthday did cause us to reminisce a bit. We were remembering what was important to Andrew at different times of his life. There were Legos and Matchbox cars. There was the Pokemon obsession, with the sought after Pokemon cards and their strangely named characters: Pikachu, Meowth, Clefairy and Jigglypuff (my personal favorite). There was the year of Furby and its special language known as Furbish. Andrew had his sights set on the white Furby, and I made countless trips to the local toy stores, searching for The One.



Now it’s all about computers, video games, and music. The small items that were once so meaningful are tucked away in storage boxes. I’m sure they’ll be forgotten as he moves on to college and leaves so many childhood things behind. I hope that one day, though, those boxes will be opened and many happy memories will come tumbling out. Those mementos will be waiting--and so will I.

Yesterday

We had record-breaking cold temps yesterday, but at least no snow. After an early-morning church service, we were home relaxing and eating all day. I'm still on food overload.



Hope you had a wonderful day!