Sunday, August 24, 2008
And you thought I never would....
I know you are all shocked that I am already adding pics to the blog. Shout out to Shauna for her patience. I am a slow learner, but with her help was able to get my pics organized and learned how to put them on my blog. So....be looking for great things to come. How do you like it???
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The highs and the lows......
This past week I've experienced some of the highest highs and the lowest lows.
Olympic "highs"....I have found myself so involved as an Olympic spectator that I've actually shouted, cheered, even jumping up at one point, watching the swimming races. Goose bumps have risen on my arms as I've watched the Olympians accept their medals and then proudly watch their flags raise and listen to their National Anthems. (yes, Dyan, it's even brought a tear or two to my eyes as well) Olympic "lows".... I've felt so sad as I've watched other Olympians agonize as they realize that all the work, time and effort won't be recognized with a medal. The agony of defeat is almost tangible.
Another "high" for me this past week was our visit from Ana Georgievska, our Macedonian "daughter"! Ana last visited four years ago as a delegate with the Tempe Sister Cities program. Shauna was able to visit Macedonia for several weeks, living with Ana's family. Then Ana was able to spend several weeks in our home. This year Ana came to visit on her own. She was only here for a few days, but it felt almost like she had never left. She has graduated from college and will begin working in Macedonia upon her return. So fun to catch up on her life. We spent time shopping and mostly visiting with family here in the valley. She is a beautiful person inside and out and I hope to be able to enjoy many more visits as the years pass. The "low"? We had to say goodbye way too soon.
The best "high" though, was that Natalie finished her first semester at BYU and then came home for a few days!!! She had a great experience attending BYU with Kristin and Quincy. She enjoyed her classes, learned how to stay up really late (never thought she could stay up past her self-imposed 9:00 bedtime!), made some really good new friends, took her first friends road trip, recognized that cooking would now be a blessing after eating at the Cannon Center, and had an all around good time. I'm so glad she was able to do this with her real good friends...they'll treasure that time together forever. It was so fun to have her home and be able to see the pics and hear the stories from her time away.
The lowest "low" was not taking Natalie up to USU, but leaving her there. :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( SAD :(
We left early (6AM) Tuesday morning and flew to SLC where we rented a car, picked up Natalies belongings at my brothers house. We then drove to Maddox and had hamburgers for lunch and then started through the canyon to Logan. After registering for her class beginning the next day and buying her new Mac laptop she was ready to set up "home" in Snow Hall. Her room looks adorable (a must for a happy college life). Dad and I were able to meet two of her roomies, Lacey and Kirstie. Lacey's father, Lester Essig, and I went to High School together. Small world-huh? The other roomies hadn't moved in. It's always kind of fun to "make" a home--deciding what looks good, where all the kitchen stuff should go....you girls know what I mean don't you? We then made a dash to Walmart. It was nuts!! The shelves looked as if there had been a national disaster. Seriously-they were sparce. It took forever because we were in a new store and didn't know where anything was, and we kept thinking of other things that might be nice. Nat was worried we wouldn't be able to fit everything in her designated cupboard, but I'm the queen of organizing a cupboard to hold a lot!! Needless to say, it fit in her cupboard, but with absolutely no room to spare. She has food for quite awhile....now if she just knew how to cook it all. Just kidding Nat!! Her roommates seem so nice and friendly. That helped a little bit. But I have to say that I really don't like goodbyes. I don't think Natalie likes them much either. It's hard being a parent. You raise your kids up to be independent, courageous, and confident, and then part of you wishes you weren't quite so successful as you realize that they are ready to give life a try on their own.
The following day, we saw Natalie for literally two minutes during her lunch hour, just before we left for home. She seemed good, my tears had stilled for the moment, and we left each other with a hug and a smile! Dad and I returned home Wednesday evening. And it's funny how the even the lowest "low" can turn to a "high" overnight as I hear of her new adventures, new roomies, new friends and I realize she is ready for her freshman year at USU, and I am ready to let her go. Go Aggies!!!
Olympic "highs"....I have found myself so involved as an Olympic spectator that I've actually shouted, cheered, even jumping up at one point, watching the swimming races. Goose bumps have risen on my arms as I've watched the Olympians accept their medals and then proudly watch their flags raise and listen to their National Anthems. (yes, Dyan, it's even brought a tear or two to my eyes as well) Olympic "lows".... I've felt so sad as I've watched other Olympians agonize as they realize that all the work, time and effort won't be recognized with a medal. The agony of defeat is almost tangible.
Another "high" for me this past week was our visit from Ana Georgievska, our Macedonian "daughter"! Ana last visited four years ago as a delegate with the Tempe Sister Cities program. Shauna was able to visit Macedonia for several weeks, living with Ana's family. Then Ana was able to spend several weeks in our home. This year Ana came to visit on her own. She was only here for a few days, but it felt almost like she had never left. She has graduated from college and will begin working in Macedonia upon her return. So fun to catch up on her life. We spent time shopping and mostly visiting with family here in the valley. She is a beautiful person inside and out and I hope to be able to enjoy many more visits as the years pass. The "low"? We had to say goodbye way too soon.
The best "high" though, was that Natalie finished her first semester at BYU and then came home for a few days!!! She had a great experience attending BYU with Kristin and Quincy. She enjoyed her classes, learned how to stay up really late (never thought she could stay up past her self-imposed 9:00 bedtime!), made some really good new friends, took her first friends road trip, recognized that cooking would now be a blessing after eating at the Cannon Center, and had an all around good time. I'm so glad she was able to do this with her real good friends...they'll treasure that time together forever. It was so fun to have her home and be able to see the pics and hear the stories from her time away.
The lowest "low" was not taking Natalie up to USU, but leaving her there. :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( SAD :(
We left early (6AM) Tuesday morning and flew to SLC where we rented a car, picked up Natalies belongings at my brothers house. We then drove to Maddox and had hamburgers for lunch and then started through the canyon to Logan. After registering for her class beginning the next day and buying her new Mac laptop she was ready to set up "home" in Snow Hall. Her room looks adorable (a must for a happy college life). Dad and I were able to meet two of her roomies, Lacey and Kirstie. Lacey's father, Lester Essig, and I went to High School together. Small world-huh? The other roomies hadn't moved in. It's always kind of fun to "make" a home--deciding what looks good, where all the kitchen stuff should go....you girls know what I mean don't you? We then made a dash to Walmart. It was nuts!! The shelves looked as if there had been a national disaster. Seriously-they were sparce. It took forever because we were in a new store and didn't know where anything was, and we kept thinking of other things that might be nice. Nat was worried we wouldn't be able to fit everything in her designated cupboard, but I'm the queen of organizing a cupboard to hold a lot!! Needless to say, it fit in her cupboard, but with absolutely no room to spare. She has food for quite awhile....now if she just knew how to cook it all. Just kidding Nat!! Her roommates seem so nice and friendly. That helped a little bit. But I have to say that I really don't like goodbyes. I don't think Natalie likes them much either. It's hard being a parent. You raise your kids up to be independent, courageous, and confident, and then part of you wishes you weren't quite so successful as you realize that they are ready to give life a try on their own.
The following day, we saw Natalie for literally two minutes during her lunch hour, just before we left for home. She seemed good, my tears had stilled for the moment, and we left each other with a hug and a smile! Dad and I returned home Wednesday evening. And it's funny how the even the lowest "low" can turn to a "high" overnight as I hear of her new adventures, new roomies, new friends and I realize she is ready for her freshman year at USU, and I am ready to let her go. Go Aggies!!!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
My first title and I'm already stressing......
OK....I'm going to give this blogging thing a try. Dyan has helped me get this up and running. Don't expect anything too wonderful, but I am determined not to be left in the dust in this computer world!!! It's late and I want to watch the Olympics and have Dyans homeade chocolate chip cookies and milk, so this is it for tonight.
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