P52 - Week 22 - Fond Farewall

It's never easy to bid farewell to a friend and mentor, but saying it with a cookie cake helps to take a bit of the sting out of it.


Today we had to say our good-byes to Wonder Boy's long time piano teacher. Mr J earned his degree this month and is looking to write the next chapter of his life in another location. And while we do wish we could have kept him with us for a while longer, we wish him the absolute best in his endeavors!

He has given us all a very special gift. He has fostered a true love of music in our Wonder Boy, a love that we get to experience each and every time he touches those piano keys. But he gave Wonder Boy even more than that! He gave of his time and energy outside of piano lessons. We appreciated his visits to the Boy's orchestra performances as well as the invitations to watch him perform with the TAMU Percussion Studio.

In short, not only did our Boy gain an amazingly talented teacher, he gained a friend with whom he built memories to last a lifetime!

THANK YOU Mr. J! We appreciate all you did for the Boy and for our family. Blessings to you as you start this next stage of your life!

P52 - Week 21 - Summer Showers

Forget the old adage "April Showers bring May flowers." The last few years, May has been the wettest month on the calendar. This is quite unusual, as we typically get most of our rain in late February and early March and have already begun to dry out by the time May rolls around.


I'm not complaining though. And neither are Nanny's roses in the bed in the front of our home. They have been showing their appreciation for the extra moisture by giving us a rather brilliant display of color each day as we pull into our drive way.

I know that the dry months will be on us all too soon, so I am enjoying this while it lasts!

P52 - Week 20.5 - Silver

I know I already posted a picture for this week, but I just *had* to share this one too.

You see, today is Wonder Dad and my 25th wedding anniversary! And to kick things off, I was presented with this amazing gift:


Each and every time I see it, I tear up.

My guy knows me so very well and this sonnet captures us so perfectly!

Another quote that I love, though I do not currently recall the author, says something along the lines of "finding your soul mate doesn't mean you've found the perfect person, but rather, you've found the perfect person FOR YOU."

After 25 years of being married to my favorite guy, I can say that these 2 quotes sum up our marriage pretty darn well - at least from my perspective.

I still have many days when I am not sure why he chose me, but I *CAN* say that I am so very glad that he did and continues to make that choice each day.

I am truly looking forward to our next 25 years!

P52 - Week 20 - Mom's Day

One of my favorite days of the year is Mother's Day. It's not that I need some red-letter day on the calendar for my boys to show me their love and affection, they both do a great job of making sure I am loved and appreciated on a daily basis. But there is something about the second Sunday in May that always gives me pause.

It's not exactly a secret, but I wasn't sure, growing up, that I would be well suited for motherhood. I resisted it for a very long time. My better half married me knowing that children were a long shot at best. He had a heart for family, so I was surprised that this wasn't a "deal breaker" for him. But I am oh so blessed that he decided to ride this roller coaster of life with me anyway.

We were married for nearly a decade before I was ready to take the plunge into parenthood. And I must admit that, aside from my marriage, it has been the greatest blessing I have ever experienced in this life. So this is my day each year to be thankful that I changed my mind, that I took a chance on this amazing adventure that is parenthood. I couldn't do it without my partner in crime. He is everything I am not and it is only together that I can walk this particular road.

We actually had a very laid back day since Wonder Boy was swamped under with school work. But we did make it out and about for lunch at my favorite local Tex-Mex place. And then we splurged and went out again for dinner - though technically, that was to satisfy one of Wonder Boy's class assignments.

I think I needed the slower pace this year. I find myself trying to hold onto every minute now that the clock is ticking before our Boy heads off for college and forging his own path in this world. It was a good day and I couldn't ask for anything more!

P52 - Week 19 - Grinding It Out

Every year, since the early days of elementary school, Wonder Boy has struggled to stay focused for the last month of school. It's like his gas tank empties and he's running on fumes.


I'm afraid to say that his freshman year of high school is proving to be no exception of the rule. Right now, he's juggling state mandated end of course exams, projects in several classes, including one group project that is driving him batty, and finals.

I know he has a lot on his plate, but I also know that he is up to the task of keeping up his high standard of work. He will certainly have earned his summer rest though!