Summer of 2012...at a glance

The end of the school year culminated with Eric's graduation, per my last post.  Since then we have seen Sarah come and go twice - and have only talked to her in depth once since.   Eric has achieved several milestones. Kevin has covered nineteen thousand air miles, and I have clocked in and out of a paying job 9 days in my temporary position of law receptionist extraordinaire, completed another t-shirt quilt, two quilted t-shirt pillows (4 more to go), and taken three trips.
So... at a glance:

SARAH- took this great shot in Zermatt, Switzerland (on her granpa's iPad btw) while working an AMAZING summer job at Weissman Teen Tours making her way from NY thru the UK, Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Italy guiding a great group of high school students.  We can't wait to hear her tell about her 2012 adventure!

ERIC- the first milestone was getting his Indiana Servers License and being promoted to a Cobblestone Grill SERVER (woohoo) after four years of bussing tables.  Milestone number two was reached when he registered at Florida Institute of Technology for their Ocean Engineering Undergraduate Degree program.  With all the beaches and dive shops nearby, he is bound to have a great college experience, and we couldn't be more thrilled to be watching enter this new phase of life.

KEVIN - could he be any happier than shown here supporting The Indiana Brewer's Guild at their annual Broad Ripple Brew Fest?  It was a much needed break from the 19,000 air miles and countless road miles traveled in the month of June.  I was fortunate enough to enjoy several trips with him including Nashville, TN to visit with my sister Linda,

Asheville, NC - the lovely Grove Park Inn for some R&R , catching up with some of Kevin's work friends from around the nation while rocking in a big wooden chair over looking the Blue Ridge Mountains reading a fantastic book (thanks to Sarah) "The Heart and the Fist" by Eric Greitens.  It really should be a must read for all of us, young and old.

Finally, here is a glimpse at some of the sewing I have been working on - with only a few weeks before the college freshman depart for their campuses, I better sign off and go get busy.  Have a great rest of the summer!

Meghan's quilted pillow.......Abby's T-shirt quilt.......Adam's UK Pillowcase

One final note:  PRAY FOR RAIN!  We have not experienced a drought like this for decades.  The crops are a disaster, our pasture is scorched and barren, and there does not seem to be any relief from the temperatures or drought in the foreseeable future. 

Graduation Weekend!

 It seems like yesterday these two cherub cousins, Meghan & Eric, were graduating from Kindergarten.  Today they both graduated from High School.  Congratulations on your hard work in reaching this milestone.

The happy grad

We celebrated the weekend with family and friends - to whom all we owe thanks to for their part in Eric's life.
As the graduation ceremony came to a close, the graduates decided to do a "flash mob" (click here to see it) ( and here to see the rest of it) send-off.  It was really quite entertaining.

Grandma & Grandpa with the graduate
at the best restaurant in Zville - The Cobblestone

Proud Dad & Mom

He got the diploma!

Indy food truck, Molly's Chicago Fire, was a HUGE hit with all the guests,  so if you need great food at an upcoming party, this truck is recommended!  It was great seeing all the smiles and hearing so many great stories from years leading to this moment.  It will be fun to see where all these young adults will head into the future.  It's on to Florida for Eric to hone his "tinkering" and scuba skills into an Ocean Engineering degree.  Meghan is off to Indiana University where her gifted writing skills will be very valuable as she pursues her degree.

Finally, here is the highly anticipated memory quilt which Eric so cleverly assisted in designing, complete with cell phone pockets, and a QR code smack dab in the center.  I'm just happy that he loves it.  It does a mom's heart good to know that something that she lovingly created is appreciated!  

The Memory Quilt is finished!

As you both matriculate to your colleges, take this well meaning advice from a friend's parent written to Eric:

"RECIPE FOR COLLEGE BALANCE

Believe in God

Believe in yourself

Eat Right

Exercise

Sleep

Study

Socialize

If you get in a funk, you're probably out of balance"

We love you!

The Road Less Traveled

Ocotillo - only has leaves for a day after a rain, and they were in bloom!

Arizona Highway 88 has a section of road called The Apache Trail which a friend of ours recommended us to explore while we were visiting the greater Phoenix area.  We set out envisioning a leisurely drive into Tonto National Forest (amazingly a lot like a desert) hoping for some picturesque views since the road seems to wind around the Superstition Mountains.  As we drove along toward Tortilla Flats, an old mining town and supply junction, we commented on all the cactus plants, the interesting rock formations, and the beauty of Canyon Lake.  Had we stopped our tour at Tortilla Flats, we would have felt satisfied with our excursion.  But this friend emphasized driving BEYOND Tortilla Flats PAST where the pavement ends. 

AZ Hwy 88 - Yup - thats really the highway!

Okay, this is a state highway - does the pavement really end?  Why, yes it does, and it becomes single lane to boot!  A few more guard rails would have been appreciated, as the road literally hangs on the cliffs of the Fish Creek Canyon, but we were rewarded with magnificent views of this vast country of ours.

Saguaro Cactus - only grow a few inches a yr.
yet this guy is probably over 40 ft tall!

Who knew such a variety of cacti existed, and that Red Gum trees (by the Salt Creek bed) could be so massive?!  Our timing was perfect as the plant life seemed to be in full bloom.  Of course pictures do not do justice to the richness of color or vastness of  space, but I tried.  If you ever find yourself in Phoenix with a little extra time on your schedule, take this day trip, you will not be disappointed!

For additional information check out: The Apache Trail

Swoosh - Time Flies!

It's hard for me to believe that it's been 21 and 19 years since these two little blessings arrived in our lives.  It has been a whirlwind of activity every year since!  When I held them in my arms as newborns, I sat mesmerized by their precious little faces.  I would look at the clock and think, "Where has the day gone?"  As time marched forward, so did they - at record speed.

As I chased these toddlers around the yard, pretending to be some imaginary something, it took all my energy to keep track of them, and keep them safe from moving vehicles (ahhemmm both Sarah and Eric), corners of tables (Eric), curling irons (Sarah), etc.  Then in a blink of an eye they were riding their own bikes, reading their own books, even riding the bus to school!  Each day ended before everything that needed to be accomplished had been completed.






The next thing we knew, our weekends were filled with games and treats, lost water bottles, or missing team socks....all the while it seemed like time was barreling forward.  What we didn't realize is that right before our very eyes these precious bundles had transformed into wonderful unique individuals following the paths their hearts and minds presented.

So here we are, with a 19 and 21 year old in what seems like a few moments of time.  Unbelievable really.

The thought for the day is to make the most of each moment with your child, because their childhood is really a blip on your life's screen.  We love you both, Eric and Sarah!  Happy Birthdays!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

What a lovely day, especially because the grass is already green, daffodils are in full bloom, and my family is ALL TOGETHER for the first time since early January!

With St. Paddy's day in mind, Kevin and I donned our green sweaters for our family night on the town. The weather could not be any more beautiful, and it looks like it's going to continue for Sarah's entire Spring Break - and what fun she will have getting her hair cut, going to the Dr. and updating her CPR certification. Oh to be in college again!

Kevin and Eric took a quick trip to Texas for a visit to yet another university on Eric's engineering accepted list. They enjoyed watching the first two days of the NCAA tourney together but did determine that Eric would not like to be an Aggie - only time will tell where he will be next year. We are proud that he has so many options!

Enjoy the day!