National Honor Society. . .

Last year Gloria was inducted into the National Honor Society at Meridian High School.  This year she was part of the ceremony as an officer!

Besides being the Junior Representative, she also sang The National Anthem with the Jazz Choir. . .

I'm grateful that she's involved in activities that will fulfill her now and give her great memories to look back on in the future!

NHS Homecoming Parade. . .

As an officer of The National Honor Society, Gloria had to plan and execute the NHS parade float for Homecoming.  She did an awesome job!

George Fox University, Class of 2015!!

One of the proudest moments in my parenting life is the day Zach graduated from George Fox University.  He didn't act like it was a big deal but I know how hard he worked and the choices he made in order to not only graduate in four years, but to graduate with honors!!  His last semester was full of surprises like the honors cords, an invitation to Lamda Pi Eta and an award for Outstanding Graduate in Organizational Communication for 2015.  I met two of the professors who mentored, educated and made an overall great impact on his life and I watched him walk across the stage (and across the Jumbo Tron) as he accepted his degree with the rest of the graduating class of 2015.  I'm so proud. . .

This is the photo text he sent me while we were waiting in the stands for the graduating class to appear.  He was so surprised and humbled by the honors recognition. . .

 

These are two of the professors who made an impact.  One of them wrote a note that he hopes they might publish a paper together someday. . .

 This is from the graduation program. . .

 

We couldn't have asked for better weather considering it was an afternoon in May in rainy Oregon.  It was clear, warm and beautiful. . .  

There he is!!!!

 

There he goes!!!!!

Larger than life. . .

So cool. . .

 

 

I'm sure I will have other parenting moments that will rival this one but these memories and photos will always make me smile. . .

Peas In A Pod?? Not Exactly. . .

I wish I could say that I was just like Gloria when I was her age. 

But I can't. 

 In fact, you might even say we would have been complete opposites if we had been in school together instead of being mother and daughter. 

 I would never have considered coloring my hair turquoise the night before the first day of school. 

Especially if I were a first time attender at a huge, new school, filled with bazillions of new people. 

I would have been too busy feeling sick to my stomach, worrying about how in the world I would fit in. 

But I would have really admired the girl who had the guts to do it. 

And I"ll bet we would have been friends. . .

 

Zach. . .

Another semester of college is behind us.  Zach is officially a sophomore now.  Once again, he did really well.  He recieved the following email today:

"Dear College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs student:

Congratulations on your Spring 2012 academic record at Boise State University! I am pleased to recognize your achievement by including you on the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs Dean’s List of Students. Boise State University provides the opportunity for individuals to achieve their academic goals, but it is up to you to take advantage of the opportunity. You have done this in an exceptional manner."

Yep, I'm so proud.  He works hard and takes school very seriously.  I could go on and on and on about how smart he is but I won't.  Your welcome.  I will say, however, that in one of his classes he ended up with 106%.  Not too shabby, I guess. . .



Good job, Zach!  I'm so proud of you!!

Makin' It Count. . .

So it's no secret that we are busy.  Mostly because I complain about it here all the time.  In all of the busy-ness I DO manage to see my kids and get them where they need to go and hug them as we pass in the hallway but I DON'T always live in the moment.  Gloria told me not too long ago that I always give her a few pats on the back when I'm ready to move on from a hug.  Quick squeeze, pat, pat, pat, move on.  She wants me to hug her like I mean it.  I think about that now when I hug her and try to just enjoy the moment instead of rushing to get on to the next thing.  The next thing can wait.  It won't be long before the hugs and moments spent in her company will be few and far between. 

This week I had a few chances to "practice what I preach". 

A few weeks ago Gloria signed me up for a field trip and looked at me with those eyes when she asked me to sign the form that said I would be willing to accompany her entire class on a full-day field trip.  I'm sure I rolled my eyes a few times before signing and then I began to silently dread it.  As the date grew closer I did a lot of self talk, "It's my turn. . . It's important to Gloria. . . It won't be so bad. . . It's just one day out of my life. . . It will be an adventure. . . yada, yada, yada. . . "  Part of my problem, honestly, is that I'm not a big fan of small talk.  If I'm around people that I know and am comfortable with, I can talk about all kinds of stuff.  But if you put me in a room full of strangers, there is only so much I can come up with about the weather. 
But the biggest thing was, I didn't think I could miss work.  And actually I think I got to the heart of it when I told Rob the night before that I just didn't want to spend the day thinking about work instead of being fully present on the field trip.  I'm a multi-tasker and I'm not good at being in the moment.  There is always something else to do, something else to think about, somewhere else to be.  And believe me, I know that things will not fall apart if I don't show up at work.  But I made Rob a big list just to make sure. . .  (I have a problem, I know. . . ).
Friday morning, bright and early, Gloria's class, her teacher and 3 other parents besides myself, walked to the bus stop and waited for the City Bus.  We had a 45 minute bus ride that would take us down town. . .
Once we arrived downtown, we walked from 8th and Main to The Discovery Center on 2nd and Myrtle:
(You can see it on the map right here)

After the Discovery Center, we walked through Julia Davis Park to BSU for a tour of the chemistry lab.  We looked at cancer cells through a microscope and heard about the research that is being done to cure it. . .

And then we took the long walk back down Capital and along 9th Street to the bus stop at 8th and Main. . .

And another 45 minute bus ride. . .

By the time we arrived back at the school it was time to head back out to Meridian and The Boys and Girls Club so Zach could put in his service project hours (he is really enjoying it, by the way).

This brings me to the next chance I had to enjoy the moment.  A couple of weeks ago, the Hutchings had invited us out to their house to roast dogs and marshmallows but the weather had not been very cooperative.  We made plans to make it happen Friday night and, in spite of my tired, dragging feet, we headed out to Columbia Village and had a great time with Hutchings and Hickersons!!

Gloria had a chance to love all over Eva while the rest of us sat around the fire and talked about everything.  No agenda, no plan and pretty much nothing was off limits.  Seriously.  It was lovely!

And THEN, if that wasn't enough living-in-the-moment, I had also made plans with Steph to go to Corri's play at Capital High School on Saturday night.  My mind has a tendency to find excuses to not make plans because it seems like I always disappoint people when I can't make it but this time I was determined to make a plan and stick with it.  So glad that I did.  We went to the play, Corri did a great job AND it was fun hanging out with Steph!

And THEN, when I got home, Zach texted and asked if I wanted to play a game.  That's something that I rarely turn down.  He has so little time to play Catan anymore with his busy school schedule that, even though we didn't start the game until 11 p.m., I agreed.  We played until after 1 a.m. . .

And now, I'm sitting in my office on a Sunday afternoon attempting to do my taxes but mostly just enjoying the silence.  Making it count is exhausting.  But worth it. . .