Megan's Shower

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Molly's Trip to Africa

Molly's Trip to Kenya Part II

Dear Friends of Embu People, Kenya:

 

Greetings.

At last, I am happy to report to you that our trip to Kenya is on: May 23rd to June 6th. 

The political situation in Kenya is now normal; the elections were peaceful and there was no worrisome violence apart from isolated incidents of scattered,  mild protests by a few followers of the loser in the presidential vote. 

The United States Government has sent messages of congratulation to Kenya's President-Elect who will assume office on April 9th.

There is peace in Kenya.

I have arranged for us to stay for two days in Nairobi before moving to Embu: the nights of May 24th and 25th. This will help us rest and recover from the jet-lag. It took Chelsea, Taylor and I much longer for our bodies to adjust to the sudden change of environment and culture: Kenya is 7 hours ahead of Ohio and our bodies find it hard to adjust to sleeping and waking times. That is the most difficult experience for me, when I arrive in Kenya and when I return to USA; hence, the need for us to rest on arrival in Nairobi and also when we return back to USA before resuming our normal duties. I am contacting some hostels run by Catholic nuns for our accommodation while in Nairobi; their prices are fair; Chelsea has the price rates. 

Our work in Embu will revolve around the following areas: 

1. Helping with numbering and cataloguing books

2. Tutoring children in the village (math, English): K-9. 

3. Visiting homes of  the children whom we educate for familiarization with conditions of life for their surviving relatives-the poorest villagers- about 30 families).

4. Visiting an orphanage that The Japanese Missionaries-Shintoists- have opened in Embu. I am liaising with the Director of the orphanage to take us there in their school bus.

5. Visiting the Sisters of Mother Theresa Orphanage in Huruma slum, Nairobi. ('huruma' means compassion; I lived in that slum before coming to USA; that is the origin of the name for my organization). 

6. Since we have nurses with us, we may include taking some health data for the families and children with whom we shall visit: blood pressure, nutrition, sanitation, clean water needs etc.  This exercise will provide us with the baseline for our work in future. Huruma has plans to help the poorest families-where our children come,-diversify their nutrition in order to ward off malnutrition and essential vitamin deficiencies. Our success in this health/literacy/nutrition efforts will act as a pilot project with the potential for replication by other surrounding villagers. 

7. This being the first visit to Kenya by a majority of you, I strongly suggest that we set apart some time to go out on Safari. It is very draining to spend time with needy people. The visit with animals will be relaxing. Unlike the children in the streets and in the village, the animals never beg; nature feeds them well. Monkeys might be the only animals that might try to steal your perfumes-I have seen this on many occasions. Monkeys like to deodorize their babies with perfumes; they are known also to steal cameras and climb up tall trees to take pictures! Guys, you are in for a real exotic shock! 

So please, in view of the foregoing, I suggest the we carry with us school supplies, pencils, erasers, mathematical sets, rulers, pencil sharpeners, pens, papers, exercise books, calculators; beads (to teach the village women how to make necklaces, etc).

As for clothes, you may want to carry clothes that you might want to leave behind. I do this always. T-shirts are handy. Jeans and pair of shorts are okay as forms of wear in Kenya. One long skirt for a formal Sunday wear may come handy. Kenya is very Westernized; Nairobi is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Africa; some parts of Nairobi are just like any city in USA.

This information is not exhaustive; please, feel free to write to me for more information. My only advice to you all is that you leave behind your hearts locked in unbreakable vaults. Africa is notorious, especially Kenya, for stealing the hearts of those who set their feet there; that ancient continent has an irresistible, raw, magical power that steals the hearts of those visitors who do not stay alert when they are there! Now that you are fore-warned, you are saved!

Blessings

Aloys 

The Paradox of Honesty...thoughts on Holy Week

How do you know how to live your life?  Do you really shape your own life, or does the mundane and unexpectedness of living shape you?  Lots of thoughts about honesty this week.  Personal, professional, incidental....I took this picture at the Cincinnati Art Museum.  Pinocchio is the epitome of dishonesty. Only Jiminy can keep him on the straight and narrow.  I recently read a disturbing posting a friend left on my facebook page.  She shared a posting by a prominent Christian evangelist.  In the post, he suggests that if you "mess with the postings of the ten commandments in Odessa, someone in Texas might make an exception to #6...you know, the do not murder one.  Somehow I don't think that would fit on a WWJD bracelet.  I didn't comment back.  I'm not sure why.  Am I being dishonest in not agreeing with this? I have found that being honest makes me more vulnerable.  It can also leave me feeling broken when others around me feel whole. So why do it?  Why strive for honesty when many don't or don't even feel it's important?  Why should I be honest when others around me consistently are not and don't even see the necessity of  it?  Why do I strive for honesty when many who are not honest receive rewards for deceit?   How do I show the love of Jesus to the dishonest?  Tied directly to that is how do I stay humble and hubris-less in my own life and within my own call?   Is it possible a righteous person in the eyes of God might consist of more than morality and rule following? This Lenten season has made me curiously empty, patient and watchful.  I think maybe my call to honesty is to live as authentic a life as I can, knowing that I am saved by the grace of Jesus.  Knowing that even with my mistakes and fumbles and shortcomings and failings I  am loved and  worthwhile.   Jesus never said that to be his follower would be easy...as a matter of fact he was very honest when he said,

"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?"  

Matthew 16:24

(The Message)

St. Patrick's Day

I am in the midst of planning a great adventure.  I am planning a pilgrimage.  To my Mecca.  The sacred  isles of Iona and Lindisfarne in Scotland and Northern England.  I am currently reading The Spiritual Traveler-A Guide to the Sacred Sites and Pilgrim Routes in Britain. I am planning to walk my way along the ancient pilgrim trails.  As I ponder more, I find I am also interested in King Arthur's Route, which runs from Glastonbury to Tintagel in Wales.  As a mountain-hearted woman, my identity resides and was shaped by my Scottish ancestors who made the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina their home, coming primarily from 1700-1750.  The roots of Celtic Christianity, first planted by St. Patrick in 650 AD , and nurtured by Sts. Cuthbert, Aiden and Adrian ( to name a few) in the years after, shaped the hospitality, wisdom, love of nature and spirituality of my mountain culture.  St. Francis of Assisi, five centuries after St. Patrick, lived a  life of simplicity and spirituality based on the teachings of the Celtic Christian movement.

.........In contrast to Western Christianity, the Celtic church celebrated grace and nature as good

gifts from God and recognized the sacredness of all creation.  It had a love of mysticism and poetry, and included women in its leadership.  Its society was rural, hierarchical, family based and tribal in nature, with each tribe ruled by its own king.  Monasteries were family based, not celibate.  They wanted to center their thoughts and lives totally upon God, to be as close as spiritually possible to the Creator....

Cincinnati Museum of Art

A favorite thought....

“I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves, hoping to understand. We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty. We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well. Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter. To share our sadness with one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know - unless it be to share our laughter. 
We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we love and want to be loved. We want to live in a relationship that will not impede our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls; that will take us for what little we have to give. We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.

For wanderers, dreamers, and lovers, for lonely men and women who dare to ask of life everything good and beautiful. It is for those who are too gentle to live among wolves.” 
― James Kavanaugh, "There Are Men Too Gentle to Live Among Wolves"

Valentine Baby

Last year I observed Valentine's Day with a wonderful tribute to my awesome nieces and nephews.  I am happier now that I am a great aunt again, this time to Brooke Elizabeth, who appeared on the scene this October.  I was thinking about some of the commonalities in my extended family.  One, we love each other. Two, we have amazing children (and grandchildren.) Three, we are decent human beings, pay our taxes and go to church.  But, as I gave those thoughts a Valentines' Day twist, I thought about the insane, crazy love we have for our dogs.  They truly are family too.  Now that Kate and Molly are semi-gone, Winston fills a large part of my life.  He is truly a "people person" to those he cares about.  If he doesn't like you, you're not getting within fifty feet of us.  He's no pushover.   He loves to be with David and me, and would love to be our lap dog if we didn't have new furniture.  He keeps our feet warm at night and our hearts warm all the time.  Recently, as Maggie (our 13 year old border collie) has begun to age, he has become her special companion-guiding her through the yard and reminding her that it is time to come in.  He even lets her get on the bed at night.  It was a lucky day when he chose us as his people!  I don't know that I will ever rescue another dog.  I think as I get older, I may have to have a dog tailor-made for me.  Smaller, no-shed,  friendlier, something suitable for our "golden years"....you get the drift.  I will always be grateful for the many gifts Win brings to me.  It was my lucky day when I rescued him.  So, this Valentines' Day, kiss your spouse, hug your kids, and give your dog an extra walk.  And, if you're looking for a fur-ever friend, think about rescuing a dog.  The shelters and their residents would love you forever.

30, 45, 50

I know you all are saying....."What's up with that title?"  I also know that you, devoted readers, all fifteen of you, have eagerly been awaiting the arrival of fall and the end of my summer blog writing hiatus.  That being said, I also know you are anticipating my usual heart-felt and weepy comments about being an empty nester. Alas, no, I will spare you my musings on that...although it was sad watching Kate and the big Uhaul move to Cincinnati and Molly return to Otterbein.  The good news is, they are happy, doing well, and loving their prospective places.  No, this year I'm writing about three HUGE anniversaries...my 30th year of teaching, the 50th anniversary of Sherry Baby by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and the 45th anniversary of the pixie haircut.  The first I never thought I'd live to see the day, the second I just can't believe, and the third I swore would never come again.
 Anniversary #30: I can't believe this is the big 3-0 of my professional life. Wow.  I am now the longest tenured teacher in my building.  I am the expert.  I am the holder of the memories and the collective culture.  I have 18 teachers asking me "how do we do this?" and "what did you do then?" I was a little panicky until I thought "WTH...I can say whatever I want!"  Yes, this stage of teaching is awesome.  I am not only the building expert,  I am now much older than the PARENTS of my students.  I can tell them anything I want as well!  Only bad part....according to first grade, I wear grandmother shoes...yikes!
Anniversary #50:  A big shout out and eternal debt of gratitude to my big sister Merc.  Yes, it was through her influence that I am a huge FV fan.  All those nights of listening to at least a stack of  5 LP albums on the stereo as we all drifted off to sleep...the Beach Boys, the Lettermen, the Association, Jan and Dean, Beatles, and more....my siblings sure set the tone that influenced my musical tastes.  No Donny Osmond or Partridge Family in our house. ( I remember when I asked my brother to get me Donny Osmond's first album, and he brought home Seals and Crofts instead.  If I forgot to thank you, I'm thanking you now.)  Frankie Valli was interviewed yesterday on NPR and he has a one man show coming to Broadway the month of October.  He also said his largest worry in those beginning days was that the public would find out many of the Four Seasons had done prison time.  Ironically, that was where they learned to play and sing.  Frankie went on to say he would keep on performing until he could no longer stand.  Although I appreciate the sentiment, I pray this isn't a metaphor for my teaching career.
Anniversary #45:  Yesterday I went to get my "sort of bobbed looking" hair cut.   I sat down and said -"Cut it off.  CUT IT ALL OFF!"  She did.  She swears it's a modern day version of the look I first sported 45 years ago.  I think I look just like my first grade picture.  So do all of my first graders.  Actually, I feel good.  I think I look like a super old first grader.  Even if I do wear grandma shoes.

http://www.npr.org/2012/09/29/161979742/frankie-valli-on-hair-products-and-finding-his-falsetto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myIG9PEwXZw

Happy Father's Day 2012

 

Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. "Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, "so you will live well and have a long life." Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.

Ephesians 6 - The Message

Nope, we didn't grill today.  We didn't have lots of sappy gift giving and sentimentality.  We cooked spaghetti (a yearly request) and we had cards and lots of conversation, but we didn't go over the top.   It's a hard day for the dad in this house....his own father died 35 years ago on Father's Day.  The girls and I have worked hard over the years to honor their dad, and yet remain gently sensitive about how he struggles on this paradoxical day.  David greatly honored his father today, and I'm sure he didn't even think about it.  He goes about the mission much like I think his father did...quietly, purposefully, intentionally and prayerfully.  In that vein, he touched many lives.  

Today on Father's Day while many were celebrating, David:

• set up beds for the homeless families sleeping in our church
• organized a pot luck supper for these families
• comforted and counseled a young father who may go to prison because he is out of work and can't pay child support 
• helped two little girls find temporary housing for their beloved family dog because they have no home now
• will probably be driving the dog to a foster home two hours away
• dealt with an angry congregant who had the nerve (my emphasis) to tell him that his message (the Good News of Jesus Christ)  was negative and that was causing people to leave the church...

...and at the end of the day was profoundly grateful for the rain his gardener's heart yearned for all week.

David, thanks for your heart, soul and the gifts you have given (and continue to give) to our daughters and children everywhere.  Your dad would be proud.

Placemat Paradox

To each other, we were as normal and nice as the smell of bread. We were just a family. In a family even exaggerations make perfect sense.

John Irving

I've been having a small issue with my table lately....sort of a kitchen conundrum, so to speak. It's not a riveting social issue or even a hotbed political one. Just a small, ordinary problem. Tiny in some ways, but large in other ways that only other mothers would understand. I cried over the place mats. It occurred to me while preparing for dinner, that I only needed to put out two place mats to complete the setting of our table. Four place mats were no longer necessary. My table only needed half a set. My passing thoughts were mixed....thinking that the other two I could put back to use as replacements in case of old age spills (yikes!), the thought that I didn't really need to prepare dinner anymore-we could just have cheese and crackers every night, that I could switch between "bucket, bag or box" takeout for the rest of my life, or that the evening repast would be an endless cycle of chips, slimfast, and old bagels. Somehow, the metaphor hit too close to home. The table looked too empty. Channeling my inner Scarlett O'Hara, I set the table with four place mats. I'm already preparing for spring break and the summer to follow. I know---more is changing at my house than the place mats. When the leaves fall from the trees this fall, the leaves on my table will come down too, but for now, the table's set for four.

Photography Lessons

The Fab Four (and a whole lot more)

February has arrived...the love month as some would call it. In my neck of the woods the white paper snowflakes are slowly turning into pink paper hearts. Words around me spell out: heart, friendship, hugs, and love. Who first taught me about love? As a child, I never remember being without the love of my parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins, so I can't say it was them. Marriage and children of my own has certainly taught me the most about love, but they were not the first. As it happens, the first to really teach me about love were the fab four...or as I like to think of them, the Four I Adore. Richard, Erin, Charlotte and Charles. I was an aunt for many years before I became a mom. I'll never forget the first day I saw Richard...I had just turned 17 six weeks before he was born. From the first moment I saw him, I was hooked. Then came Erin, Charlotte and Charles. With each birth, I was overwhelmed with emotion and the realization that my life was going to be joyously different. I was not only Martha daughter and Martha sister...I was now Aunt. The title changed my life. I.love.being.Aunt. Soon after the Fab Four came the Five Who Arrived . Karen, Graydon, Audrey, Giff and CiCi. It didn't take long for David's nieces and nephews to become mine as well. It continues to be a great joy to me to have these amazing, talented and wonderful children be part of my life. They continue to reveal to me that we are stronger together than we are apart, and even though they may not realize it, they provide connections that strengthen, enrich and ground me to my past and future. Jessica and Kelley, you are the Two Who Were New. Thanks for becoming family to my brother and siblings to Charlotte and Charles. You are wonderful additions to my life, and I don't think of you as new any longer. Don't worry, Brett, I didn't forget you. You make me realize that love is always changing and reconfiguring our lives and always to be open to new possibilities. Thanks for keeping my brother young at heart and loving my girls. You are the Plus One More. Lastly, a new chapter in aunting. I call these The Six in the Mix. Ross, Sarah, Caleb, Seth, Addy and Ansley. You are the new template for what is to come. I can't wait to see who will follow on your heels. I don't know exactly what to wait for, but I do know who I have to thank for making me love whatever it will be....the Four I Adore, the Five Who Arrived, the Two Who Were New, the Plus One More, and the Six in the Mix. Thank you for being my first true loves.

Bookends

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that a new year has circled 'round again. I guess life really is a rhythm. It's surprising to me that I'm just starting to get a perspective on it at age 52. I think I have spent most of my life waiting for it to be different somehow. I've been "musing" (at this point I hate to call it thinking!) about the old and the new, beginnings and endings, and the endless restarting of life in general. I have a new year's resolution....I'd like to become more like Anna, the prophetess in the Bible. She waited at the temple for 84 plus years to proclaim the arrival of the Messiah. When she recognized Jesus, she joyfully proclaimed it to the assembled people. I wonder how many people listened to an old woman, especially one who had been widowed for 84 years. I wonder how Mary felt when she heard Anna's words. Mary, so different from Anna, a young mother who had brought her first baby to the temple, and who kept things close in her heart and pondered them. I think I would have liked Anna. I think I might have liked her style. I know I want to learn to wait with expectancy and proclaim with joyful spontaneity. Mary and Anna...weak and unimportant to the culture around them..... strong and empowered women who knew the plans God had for them. Bookends to the greatest story ever told, and witnesses to the greatest life ever lived. So, I'm thinking who are my bookends? Who are the strong, empowered women who are the witnesses to my life? Who are your bookends? Write and let me know....I'm interested.

Kate's month!

This is a photograph of Kate and Dr. Deborah Norin-Kuehn, Kate's voice teacher at Heidelberg University. This photo was taken at Kate's senior recital on November 12, 2011. Dr. N-K has been Kate's teacher, mentor and friend for the past four years. She helped to develop Kate's voice, her talent and her spirit. Dr. N-K supported Kate's departure from the field of music education and into the business field. Dr. N-K helped her meld her love of music and the arts with her drive and passion to make the arts accessible to all people. Dr. N-K suggested to Kate that she might want to apply for the development internship at Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. Kate had an amazing summer experience as the advancement intern at the Music Academy. As a parent, and as a teacher, I am so thankful for dedicated educators like Dr. N-K. I am so very thankful that Kate and Dr. N-K will be friends always. (A selection from Kate's senior recital http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KboKYKDWP8c&feature=related)

This is a picture of the Alumni Choir-Summit Choral Society, November 26, 2011.

Kate sang with this choir for 10+ years. I was the choir manager for 6 of those years. These past choir members have come together to sing once again at the Candlelight Christmas Concerts this holiday season. It would be remiss of me not to mention the tremendous impact Dr. Frank and Arlene Jacobs have had (and continue to have) on Kate and her life. Frank and Arlene are two amazing and inspirational teachers, musicians and mentors. I thank them for giving my child a very special place in their hearts. (www.summitchoralsociety.org)

Frank and Arlene doing what they do best....watching rehearsal!

Molly's Month!

This is Molly's month! November belongs to Kate! Molly is a freshman at Otterbein University (Westerville, OH) this fall majoring in environmental sustainability with a minor in dance. She is a defender for the women's soccer team. We are excited because the Cardinals are in second place in the playoffs. This Thursday they will play either Baldwin-Wallace College or John Carroll University in Westerville. David will be traveling down to watch, but as the game begins at 2:00, I will stay home and work. ( Someone has to pay the tuitions (yikes!) and put dog food in the bowls!) This fall Molly pledged Sigma Alpha Tau (O.W.L.S) and now is a "little hooter." It has been so much fun to travel and see her games, meet her friends (and their parents), and enjoy the wonderful little downtown of Westerville. Molly, we love you, we miss you, and we are so happy for you.

Journeys

Labor Day, 2011

It's rainy and cool today....seems like fall is in the air. I've been thinking a lot about this blog entry and what I wanted to say....the pictures I would post, quotes I would use, funny ideas about school and jokes about teaching for the twenty eighth year in a row...stuff like that. But the truth is lately I have been thinking about journeys. It seems like everyone is on a journey these days. My sister-in-law, Ann, and my daughter Molly, seem to exemplify this to me. Ann is currently hiking the Camino in Spain ( http://www.santiago-compostela.net/) The Camino is 450 miles of backpacking and biking trails. Traditionally, it is a spiritual walk that dates back to the Middle Ages. She is hiking to raise money and awareness for Opportunity International. She left last week and will be gone for another five. Steven walked with her the first week, but now he is on his way back home. As her prayer partner, I lift her up daily and carry her in my heart as she traverses rain, slugs, muddy boots and the joy of a simple meal shared with fellow travelers.

Molly is on another kind of journey, but a similar one all the same. She left two weeks for her freshman year at Otterbein University. She tried out for the soccer team, helped her roommate deal with a severely broken leg, navigated the world of schedule changes, sorted through her dance placement and negotiated new friendships all in two weeks. She started with our help, but was soon left to deal on her own. She, too, is making her way through her own pilgrimage into life as an adult. Lastly, my thoughts turn to Kate. She is getting ready to finish a journey...she will graduate in May and plans to move on to graduate school. David and I are beginning the journey of a life with no children at home. None of these experiences are unique to us. Our stories will join those who came along before us and who will surely come after us. After all, life isn't a destination. It is a series of Stops Along the Way...

Thank you, Mrs. Berick!

One of my favorite books by Patricia Polacco is called Thank you, Mr. Falker. It's an autobiographical story about the author's struggle to learn to read. For me, it is a story of what it means to be a teacher, a really great teacher that touches a student's life and changes it forever. It has been Molly's great privilege to have Mrs. Berick as her Firestone High School dance instructor for four years. It is with honor and great respect that I call her a colleague and a friend. It's a sacred and humbling trust we share- a shared mission as we both work to do what is best for the children we teach. Right now, Ohio is currently embroiled with the pending legislation of State Bill 5. Basically, it calls for the repeal of collective bargaining rights for teachers, as well as other public employees. Being an independent school teacher, I haven't kept current with union issues. Independent school teachers usually sign a one year contract with no tenure option offered. Likewise, we are not part of the state retirement system. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about SB 5. Was it really my issue? (I got out of public education partially because I wasn't always in agreement with union policies and practices.) Did I really care? My recent experience with the union (in dealing with a matter involving my own child) left me cold. After many hours of reflection, I decided I had to put my effort behind the repeal of SB 5. I couldn't afford to be a bystander if it meant that dedicated, engaging, and child centered teachers like Mrs. Berick might lose their jobs and their rights to negotiate.

So, because of Mrs. Berick and others like her, I plan to work hard and stand with my fellow teachers in supporting the repeal of SB 5. Secondly, David and I plan to work hard to keep the Visual and Performing Arts program firmly established at Firestone High School and to make sure dance retains its unique space in that program.

At a dance banquet several years ago, Mrs. Berick told a story about her old dance teacher Miss Joy. She talked about how whenever the dancers did something well, or did what was asked of them, Miss Joy gave them a green dot. Mrs. Berick instituted this program with her own dancers. At the end of the year, she always gave out "green dot" awards to the students in the dance program who had acquired the most dots. It was mostly done in good fun, but it was a subtle reminder to follow the rules, to do what's right and always put your best (turned out) foot forward.
So, lastly, Mrs. Berick, to honor you, I plan to begin the Kelly Berick Green Dot Awards with my first grade class this fall. Each time I hand out that sticker and a small hand puts it on their chart, I will remember you and the wonderful mentor, teacher, role model and friend you were (and will continue to be :) to my Molly. Thank You, Mrs. Berick!

Firestone Senior Prom

Wally (straight from the job), Kate, Molly, Stephen

Molly and Stephen

I am having a fabulous weekend. Friday night was Molly's senior prom. It was wonderful. Families, seniors and their dates gathered at the Women's City Club in Akron for pictures and dinner. Fifty one seniors and their guests were in attendance. After the "kids" (for now, at least!) left for the prom, parents assembled at the Akron University Rec Center to get after prom festivities under way. The kids met us there at 12:00 midnight, and we all went home around 3:30 am. We had food, a rock climbing wall, inflatables, the pool complete with lazy river, multiple gyms, a casino, and Wii. Play money was handed out for the prize winners and at the end of the evening, an auction was held. Molly and Alana scored an ipod dock, tw0 ottomans, and a variety of towels and sheets the guys didn't want. It was an awesome night....I totally had a ball visiting with parents some of whom I've known 15+ years. The kids forgot their age and just had fun.

Saturday night was Molly's last Martell Dance Studio performance. It was bittersweet...I know she is really going to miss it. On June 5, she turns 18 and on June 6 she graduates. My baby is not such a baby anymore. Sigh! On August 19 she reports to Otterbein for soccer. She will miss Kate's return from CA by one day. We will all go down for a visit before Kate leaves for her senior year at Heidelberg. I think I'm going to stop writing now. I need to rest. :)

I'm going to California to find myself !!

Hey! I need to break it to my mother that at last one of us has gone to California to find ourselves! When I was growing up that was my mother's standard response to " Mom, where are you?" At which she would reply, "I've gone to CA to find myself." Now it looks like Kate is doing just that. This summer Kate will be an intern in the development office for the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Kate was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants. She is the first intern that is an undergraduate student. Another happy fact is that most of the people at the academy received their Masters from IUPUI. That is Kate's #1 choice for graduate school, majoring in philanthropy. It couldn't be a better fit. She is so excited. While I am very excited and thrilled at her opportunity, I'm also her mother. I will really miss having her at home this summer. Sigh......

But that's another blog post..........

Check it out:

http://www.musicacademy.org/

Molly's Scholarships

(Here is Molly along with the senior dance students.)

We are so happy for our Molly! She has received two scholarships. The first one is the H.Peter Burg Book Award. The link is below. Interestingly enough, Kate also won this award her senior year (2008).

http://www.akronreads.com/parentsstudents_hpeterburgaward.asp

The second one is from Firestone High School. She was one of five seniors awarded a Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship. David and I are so happy for her. I think few people realize how much thought, reflection and physical effort goes into dance and choreography. In the four years Molly has been at Firestone she has choreographed a solo dance and a group dance. Costuming, music, lighting and teaching the dance to others is only part of the requirements. She is also a member of the National Dance Honor Society--scholarship, leadership and service are the three core components.

http://www.firestonehigh.com/vpa.php