Embrace Life!

When I left off last summer, we were buying things for the college dorm room and our upstairs looked like a small version of Target or Walmart. This year I'm hoping that won't be the case as our girl moves into her sophomore year, and has learned that she can absolutely get by with much less. What could be more exciting than beginning a whole new chapter in your life...college!

I must say we've all learned so much from this past year. Think about it. You're sending your child out into the world, that's depended on you for 18 years, to live as an adult and make some pretty big decisions. Lessons all the way around! Letting go...just a little, knowing what to say and what not to say, supporting not hovering, budgeting money, budgeting time, choosing the right classes, choosing the right major, choosing friends, living with a roommate that's not your family 24/7, making good choices, finding out that your freshman deep down still wants and needs mama and daddy.

As for mama, I've learned that the best gifts I could offer were the gifts that money couldn't buy..the gifts of prayer, unconditional love, support, and no preaching. Not that I didn't want to preach at times, and may have a time or two. My lessons were not not hers. Although I shared my experiences and lessons, she needed to learn hers on her own.

I've also learned this year as I have given her room, she has grown into such an independent young woman, and made some very wise decisions and some that probably weren't so wise. This is all part of becoming an adult...I kept telling myself. At least my husband, the voice of reason, kept telling me, she has to learn. I can remember the best lessons in life that I learned were not the ones that were necessarily told to me, but the ones that were modeled for me and the ones that I was allowed to learn from.

We are so proud of our sweet girl and the success she experienced this year along with lessons learned. Success always comes with valuable lessons learned.

Please pray for all of our college students and the difficult decisions they face everyday. With that in mind, I know God has the perfect plan if only we surrender and know that our children are truly in His hands.

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."
~Clarence Bedinton Kelland

Embrace life and all we can learn from its lessons.

Ginger

Writing is something that I enjoy so much and for the last almost 12 months, I have absolutely shelved it! Why? I'm not sure. No doubt, time has been a huge factor. It's interesting to me the things I enjoy get placed on the back burner.

One can easily fall out of a habit just as easily as one can get into a habit. Last summer I'm certain getting our sweet girl off to begin her freshman year at college was somewhat a distraction to my writing. This was a bigger deal than I thought it would be. Not for her, for me! As the summer went on and she moved into school, I found myself working longer hours to pass the time away, and there's always an endless amount of work to be done in the classroom and of course it can't wait. Excuses! Excuses!

Where has the year gone? I must admit that I got used to cooking for two and loved those spontaneous date nights! Now our daughter's moved back home for the summer and boy it is nice having her around. There's a little more noise in the house, movement upstairs, a few more loads of laundry and life is really sweet! Back to normal you might say.

Things do change and new chapters begin. I'm just learning how to turn those pages.

Embracing life one day at a time.
Ginger

Today in my opinion was a mom reality check. One of those days you know is coming, you mark it on your calendar, plan for it, get excited about it, and at the same time have a lump in your throat.

It was a Jumpstart day at the university our daughter will be attending in the fall. A pre-orientation of sorts. A day to meet with the business office, financial planning office, academic advisor, check out the dorm, etc.

Come orientation/move in day in August most of the "stuff" will have been completed and all that will need to be done is...move in!

We had a great time and I'll have to say college has certainly changed a LOT in the last 25-30 years. The food in the cafeteria was actually good. They had so many choices. I don't recall my college meal plan having quite the elaborate food court!

Let me just say Miss "K" is in Hog Heaven. Not only do they have a Starbucks, but a really quaint local coffee shop that we went to this morning that the smell alone was worth paying for. It was so cool. Not only do they have these neat little hang outs, but some great little sandwich shops and Chick-fil-A to have as flex meals.


So much to think about as we walked around today from place to place, I couldn't help but wonder if the other parents were thinking what I was thinking, praying what I was praying. Praying that their child would allow God to lead, guide, and direct them as they begin this new journey. Prayng for God's perfect plan in their lives.

Praying for our young people!
Ginger

Lately I've felt like I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. That's how busy life has been. Closing out the school year is always a little crazy, but this year has seemed a little more crunched than usual.

My goal was too work a little late everyday for the last couple of weeks so I could close out Friday, complete the End of Year Check List, and hand in the keys! I'm happy to say it's finished.

To celebrate, our team got together Friday night at our team leader's new home for dinner. It was so good! We had the best time. This team is like having 7 additional sisters to talk with, laugh with, share with and yes cry with! They are the best.









The celebrations continued Saturday night with our good friends (family) the Sherrills. Like me, "C" teaches and she hasn't had a minute to catch her breath with the closing of the school year! Her daughter graduated the same weekend as Katie and we've been trying to find a weekend to celebrate at both the girls'favorite restaurant, Miro! The food was absolutely delicious...as always!


Congratulations girls on a job well done!!

We had such a nice time enjoying incredible food, great conversation with lifelong friends, and fellowship. Celebrate and embrace those special times in your lives!

Ginger

So many times we hear the verse from Jeremiah 29 at graduations and see it in yearbooks under senior pictures For "I know the plans I have made for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

How often I forget that verse is for this closer to 50 rather than 40 year old woman just as much as it is for those bright, energetic, young men and women graduating high school and college reaching for their dreams.

In the last couple of weeks things have taken place that really did not make sense to me or add up in the least. Not to mention trying to make a big decision about something that could potentially make a huge impact on my life and my family's life. Life is full of questions. What is so great about all this is I know that God has the answers if I will just be still and let him guide my future.

Embrace Life,
Ginger

Another milestone has come and gone in the blink of an eye. It seems you plan and plan for days like these and no matter how hard you try to make them stretch~they just fly by.

This weekend was so special. A combination of Katie's graduation from high school and Mother's Day. It doesn't get much better than that. Several of our family members came and it was such a special time. A weekend filled with celebration, love and the moving on to another chapter.

A few pictures to share from this weekend:



Before the graduation!




Mama and my sister Jan at the graduation




Tony and me at the graduation~we got there early and there were no seats left except for the balcony! Unfortunately our camera is not that great and every picture we took of Katie during the graduation turned out dark! :(



After graduation celebration with family!




Congratulations sweet girl. You have come so far and we are so proud of you. God's got great plans in store.

Embrace the special times in your life.
Ginger

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away."

Just a week ago, Tony lost one of his best friends to Colon Cancer after a 2 1/2 year fight. Wallace was godly man, actively involved in his church and community. He loved his family and was a devoted husband and father. Before our kids were born, we used to go to breakfast every Saturday morning at Big Ed's in Raleigh. They practically had to run us out every weekend. Movies, out to dinner, and weekend getaways to the beach and Williamsburg will always be precious memories. A dear person, and friend.



Our last beach trip together~



A day of fishing on the family farm~


Last week was yet another milestone at our house. Katie had her Senior Prom. As with every prom we've had, there was drama up til the end...of course. That's what I guess makes those moments that I'm sure I will look back on one day and just laugh out loud. However, it was all I could do to fight back the tears. My baby is all grown up. It all worked out in the end and she had a really nice time.





Katie's Senior Prom-here she is with Tony






And then there are those moments that just flat out take your breath for physical reasons! Yep, that would be the 1st Annual Pet Parade at PSE for our Spring Carnival. I volunteered to enter Maggie, our beagle. Not only was it fun, it was exhausting. It literally took my breath away! I came home and took a long nap. We had a great time...one I won't soon forget and the kids absolutely loved it. The looks on their faces were priceless.





In the span of such a short time, life can throw so many situations our way causing us to feel many emotions that can take our breath away.

Embrace every moment and situation. We're not guaranteed another. Embrace this life that God has so freely given you.

Ginger