Monday

Hoping all is enjoying their Memorial Day Festivities.  A day for us to give thanks to all who have served and is serving our country. I, personally, can not thank all of you enough.

I haven't been blogging for a few weeks.  Youngest daughter graduated the first of May from DPT school. She will sit for her state boards July 20th (prayers for her).

The main reason I haven't been able to blog is because of tears.  Oldest daughter has had two open heart surgeries when she was 11 months and 16 months old. May 16th we head to UVA for her yearly check-up.  The news wasn't what we wanted to hear.....get ready to prepare for another heart surgery.  Hub and I have known that this day was coming-after her second heart surgery we were told she would have to have another heart surgery later on.  For 26 years we have been riding high after her check-ups.  May 16th it seems like my world has stopped.  Daughter, who is now 28,shed tears when the news was told to be thinking about the type of heart valve she would want to have.  I held my tears in as I listened to the news.  The four hour trip home was very long...trying to keep up beat and trying not to shed any tears. Daughter kept talking about the surgery....first question....was she going to die.....second question...why was this happening now...she had her life going in the right direction..owning a pharmacy business and have a love life.  I kept reiterating the fact that her cardiologist said he would see her in 10 months to perform some other tests and let's just want and see what the other tests show (deep down my heart was crying with all these thoughts I was thinking).

Hub and I made it home...the tears came...the thoughts came...and the memories of her other two surgeries kept coming to my mind.  We have one more week of school left....and I am so thankful that I am finishing out the school year....being with kids has helped me to put my mind on someone/something else.  I know it is not healthy to hold it all in...but I do a lot of crying on Saturdays and yesterday during church service I broke down and the tears would not stop.  I keep telling myself that it can't be all that bad...10 months is a long time to wait and that God's plan is always perfect and right but my down time causes tears and pain.  During your prayer time please whisper a prayer for my sweet daughter...Amanda.

Have a Blessed Week.

Graduation Weekend

Graduation Weekend





Youngest daughter graduated this weekend...a two day celebration!

Hub and I left early Friday morning; we never arrive late...as a matter of fact we are usually a good hour to 30 minutes ahead of schedule.  A good thing we left early because we liked to have never found a parking place.

The conference room was set up beautifully.  Daughter and her hub had not arrived yet..so hub and I found the perfect table and met some interesting parents who had also arrived early.

Daughter and hub arrived, but we had to change tables-a different story.
The ceremony began.  According to the department chair this was the first time that 26 students had started in the DPT program and 26 students finished!  This says a lot about the program and the students' dedication.

The students received their white coat and pin.  The department chair put the white coat on and daughter's husband pinned the pin.  I video this section.

Daughter is the one standing behind the girl with the glasses on.

Couldn't capture all the students.

Hub and I are very proud of her accomplishment!

After the white coat and pinning ceremony, a slide show was shown.  A couple of students said something about each classmate.  Lots of chuckles (inside jokes only the classmates understood) and laughs.

Later that evening was the hooding ceremony.  I cry every time I hear bagpipes, and I love hearing the bagpipes. It was very difficult for me to capture the moment in pictures, thankfully I can purchase pictures!

On Saturday we had to return for the awarding of the diploma.

Daughter with my mom before heading to meet her group.




It is official....Introducing Dr. Emily Doane Waugh!

Another chapter is closing, but I know there is more to this story.....

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. This is the last Hodgepodge in April. Share something you learned this month. 

Drawing a blank...

2.  It's National Poetry Month, and we all know you can't escape an April Hodgepodge without a little poetry. Keeping the first line as is, change the rest of the wording in this familiar rhyme to make it your own - 'Hickory Dickory Dock...

Hickory, Dickory Dock

Listening for  the school clock

Ticking, ticking, striking four

Heading towards the door

Grading papers once more.

3. What were one or two rules in the home you grew up in? Growing up, did you feel your parents were strict? Looking back do you still see it that way? 

Never say you dislike something that was placed on the table to eat and always respect your elders. Honestly, I feel my parents were not that strict...demanding sometimes but not strict.

4. Tell us about a kitchen or cooking disaster or mishap you've experienced. Do you have many from which to choose? 

I was boiling water (going to fix a boiled egg) and I forgot to put the egg in.  The water evaporated. Most definitely have many cooking disasters....daughters still tell my meatloaf story and french fry story---I am too embarrassed to talk about these.

5. Plant a kiss, plant doubt, plant a tree, plant yourself somewhere...which on the list have you most recently planted? 

Plant a kiss...daily

6. What's your most worn item of clothing this time of year? Are you tired of it?

Capri pants...not a bit tired of them.

7. I'm wrapping up the A-Z Blog Challenge this month and our Hodgepodge lands on letter W. What's one word beginning with W that describes you in some way? How about a word to describe your home, also beginning with W?

Watchful--I am doing a lot of this lately plus working!

 Warming and Welcoming-I would use to describe my home.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

RAM is in our area this weekend--yes, I am helping out.  Also this is the weekend for my team- Relay For Life yard sale!  Busy, busy, busy..just hope the weather cooperates.

Weekend....

Weekend....

Hub and I left Friday evening for Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  For once, no agenda....just do what we what and when we want. 

It drizzled most of the way...a light rain drizzle.  Holy Smoke---when we were less that 15 minutes away, I looked out the window and saw hail!  There were patches of hail, I would say at least an inch think in the parking lots and on the sidewalk. Quickly, I rolled down the window and stuck my hand out and the air was a little cooler than I had expected.  While we were checking in to the condo, I asked about the hail...I was still in disbelief.  The nice gentleman told me they had experienced a hail storm about an hour ago.  Oh my...I had seen the after effects...

Since it was a little late when we arrived, hub and I opted to just munch on some snacks instead of a heavy meal.  We walked to the area with the fire pit and just sat around and munched on cheese/crackers, olives, chips, and our beverages. 

Saturday was a perfect day...not too hot or too cold.  After breakfast, we headed toward Tanger to walk off our breakfast...at least this is what I told hub we needed to do.  Hub didn't mind going...thanks to the weather!  

After Tanger, we ventured to the Island...had a few samples of wine...bought a few bottles and headed back to the condo. 

 It was such a lovely evening we sat outside on the picnic table taking in the last few rays of sunshine.  An older couple came by from Ohio and we enjoyed a nice conversation with them.It turned out this nice couple had an aunt who had stayed at our local campground.  I enjoy staying at this particular place...family oriented, and we always meet some nice people and have great conversations.  It is a small world.  Later, we went out to dinner.  I noticed it was more crowded than usual...so I asked what was going on.  There was a woman's convention...Women of Joy...10,000 women were in town!  I told hub he had better be good...he was in the minority. 

We have been promising daughter we would attend a baseball game...the guy she is seeing is a coach and his son plays.  On Sunday, we drove to watch the game.  It was hot...I know I shouldn't complain..but I was burning up....the sweat was rolling down my neck.  The heat did not bother these little guys ( 8 and under).  They played well and took second place.  Shew, I don't know how they play in the hot sun.

An enjoyable weekend....with no agenda...Yes, I could do this again.