See ya in a couple days

Well miracles do happen ! Cindy did in fact yet Monday , Tuesday , and Wednesday off. The Doggy resort did have an opening, and though the hotel that we stayed at last year and loved was booked, there was an opening at another near by hotel whose chain we have been very satisfied with in the past. So I guess we are going to Kings Island tomorrow morning.
Mike's Grandmother's 90th Birthday party went great. There had to be close to two hundred people there and though it rained a couple times, everyone stayed dry under the tent and in the garage. Mike was designated "Main picture taker" when his aunt realized that her camera's batteries were dead so we have over one hundred . I will post a couple when we get back.

Better late than Never

With all that we have had going on so far this summer,our flower beds have been quite neglected. This is looking pretty bad so Friday Mike and I went to the nursery to buy some flowers. The good news is that all flowers were buy one get one free and there was still a good selection of the flowers that we usually plant so we were able to get a good deal while still getting what we wanted. Since Mike's back will not allow him to plant this year Michael has been assigned the job. Michael doesn't mind but is at his Grandparents( as he is every week)Friday and Saturday to do their yard maintenance. Because of this Sunday looks like the day to plant. He has offered to skip his Great Grandmother's birthday party to complete the job before Monday which starts Mike's vacation.What vacation will hold is uncertain because Cindy has asked off for Monday , Tuesday, and Wednesday at work but the schedule has not yet gone up ( or she hasn't worked since it did) so we are not sure if she will be off for us to do anything.Even if she is it will take a small miracle to pull off a doggy resort opening , hotel reservations, and all of that good stuff for this coming Monday of The fourth of July week but we will see. We have our eyes on a visit to Cincinnati's Kings Island for which admission is included on our Cedar point season passes.We went there last year and everyone had a great time so we would like to return but we will see what happens.

Finally a productive day !

Yesterday was a productive day for me. First,I met a few of my aunts for lunch. At lunch one told me that she had something for me.It turned out to be a fabric panel that she found for a blanket that I am making for a very dear loved one's surprise birthday party that is coming up this weekend. This panel was perfect for this person, just perfect. Because of this I left lunch and headed for the fabric store to get the rest of the stuff that I needed for the project. I then came home , cooked dinner,helped Cindy print address labels for her Graduation gift thank you notes that she had honestly finished last Sunday but needed addressed . Since Cindy needed my computer for this ( it has the program on it )she has been on hold waiting for me. After printing the labels, Cindy and I stuffed the Thank you notes into envelopes,put the labels on and mailed them. After this Cindy and I picked up her check, went to the library to get a book that she has had on hold for a week now, and came home to start making the blanket. Since I was not born with the gene necessary to cut a straight line, Mike agreed to cut some of the fabric for me Since he did this I took his chore of taking the boys to the video / rental place to return and get more games. ( They have coupons for A's on their report cards but can only get one each per day and the coupons expire at the end of the month so we have to go daily as to not waste a coupon)I returned home to Mike being almost done with the cutting, and started my work on the blanket. At eleven o'clock I gave up for the day and went to bed with only half of the work done. When the alarm rang at five this morning and I got Mike up , his breakfast cooked, lunch packed, and off to work,I started again on the blanket. Praise God I just finished a little bit ago.Today's agenda is not too demanding just folding laundry and accompanying Cindy on a four hour Financial aid session before Mike gets home and wants to eat before karate. Just another day in paradise !

Cindy's Graduation Party

Cindy and three of her friends pose with 2008 sun glasses



Robby decorates the tables with 2008 monkeys



a portion of Cindy's display table



another portion of Cindy's display table complete with the money box made by Grandma



The final portion of Cindy's display table



Cake #1
Because it was a red velvet cake, I insisted on cream cheese icing. Because I deviated from the traditional butter cream icing the Dutch house said it would be too soft for an image so we had to settle for a simple cap and diploma decoration




Cindy decided against her school mascot and name on this eligible marble cake with butter cream icing but opted instead for the Grad monkey. This monkey image was also on the back of the shirt that we made her to wear that day.

Officially over !

Cindy's Graduation party is Now officially over. Mike finished the video of her life Friday nigh / Saturday morning at about midnight. It had to be put on old fashioned video tape because the manager of the Dutch house told me that she would try to have a DVD player there for me but made no promises.When we got there there was in fact a DVD player so Mike burnt off a quick DVD with the his handy dandy lap top computer which he rarely leaves home without. Everyone loved the almost thirty minute photo show of Cindy's life and as always praised Mike's meticulous work.
Everything else went spectacular too. Everyone who RSVP'd ,except for two, showed up plus we were blessed by a few others.We had a full house and it was wonderful. Cindy was very pleased and I was not only pleased but impressed that my baby is so loved and supported!Of course Mike and I took many pictures and I will post some of her cakes and display table including the money box that Grandma made ( thanks again Linda, Nice job !)later today but unfortunately most of the pictures are simply of people. people eating, people talking,people, people, people !
I am still a bit in awe not to mention that I think it has finally sunk in that my Baby is an eighteen year old graduate so please excuse my rambling.Before I go though,I want to thank everyone. Everyone who helped in any way( even if just a hug when I was stressing ), everyone who was there, everyone who couldn't be there physically but was present in our hearts , everyone who was praying that all went well, just everybody, Thank you ,Thank you ,Thank you !!!!!!!!

Shaking my head

The last few nights Mike and I have been working feverently on putting pictures of Cindy's life into a slide show to be viewed at her Graduation Party. One thing that we realized early on is that we sure take a lot of pictures. Second thing is that it is very hard to find several pieces of music that sound good one after another to go along with these pictures. My biggest problem with music is that I got stuck on eighties music which I listened to most of my teenage years. To this day I still listen to an oldies radio station that showcases the eighties. Now this isn't a bad thing except for that not very many eighties hits are appropriate to accompany a eighteen year old's life from birth to present. Most refer to things that simply are not a part of her life, for which I am eternally grateful.This just makes things hard. Mike is no help either as he has always favored heavy metal music which not only makes me cringe, but is more inappropriate than the eighties pop that I love.My Mom is a big Country fan so I called on her last night with hopefulness.We did get a couple names of songs to check out but again most had a sexual undertone. Some were not too bad but still talked about relationships, that of course had no business in this project. We did end up with a current version of " Daddy's Girl", "shiny happy people", "All Star", and a couple others . I am not really pleased with how they sound together but time is running out so I think we will stick with what we got.This whole thing makes me think though. We wonder why we as a society are so sex addicted, immoral,and other bad things but wherever you look; our music, TV shows,movies, toys , etc. this is what society teaches us.
I took Cindy to the local One Stop yesterday to check out some student financial aid options. ( yes we are a little behind but Nursing school Financial aid is a little different that College Financial aid so we still have a couple weeks to wrap things up and we are almost there)While there I realized that this was the site that a major automobile company and Auto parts supplier were taking applications for some of the few decent paying jobs in this area.The place was swarming with people. What surprised me is that these people were not in suites , skirts or other clothing that you would expect at job interviews but most looked like they were just out for a night on the town. Though most of the men were not dressed as I would think would be appropriate , I was down right shocked at the women. there were mini( and I mean mini) skirts, tank tops, and things that I would be embarrassed to leave my bedroom in.Do these women really believe that if they dress sexy ( I fight the urge to put the word that I really think )enough that they will be hired? Is this truly where society is ? To me this is sad especially after I read a blog yesterday where commenters were on thread discussing pros and cons of gray hair vs dying hair. I read comments like" you will never get a decent job with gray frumpy looking hair." and others that were not as nice. I don't for a minute believe this stuff and know that the whole world can't be like this but it shocks me as to how many are.I guess that all that I can do is pray about society but as for my daughter's life captured in pictures, there will be no sleazy songs playing In the back round even if they have to be viewed in silence.

Happy Birthday Dad !

Happy Birthday to my loving Dad From your Big "little girl "

Happy 18th Birthday Cynthia

Eighteen years ago you were born as Daddy's perfect Father's day gift( and Pop's Perfect forty fifth birthday gift). What a Blessed gift you have been ! I can't believe that you are now eighteen years old. Where has the time gone? Happy Birthday Daughter.... We will always love and cherish you

Mike with Cindy almost eighteen years ago

Another picture of Mike and Cindy about eight years ago at a Girl Scout sponcered Father Daughter Dance

Happy Father's Day !

Happy Fathers day to My Dad who is the most wonderful Dad that a girl could have. Dad has always been there for me . As a matter of fact he was here just a few months ago on Christmas eve helping Mike install a new water heater. I am so lucky to have a Dad who loves and cares about not only me and my brothers but anyone in need.

I also need to wish a Happy Father's Day to My wonderful husband , Mike. They say that Girls look for a man just like their Father and I guess in many ways I have. Mike is a great man who spends much of his time helping those in need. Mike seems to always have someones messed up computer on his desk fixing it as well as doing other things for those in need.Most of all though Mike main hobby is spending time with our Kids. Before MIke was hit by a drunk driver a few years ago causing debilitating back injuries Mike loved to take the kids to Cedar Point and ride roller coasters, Since his accident he still takes them and watches and video tapes them riding. Mike also takes the boys to karate tournaments and trainings , serving as a secondary coach, and always video tapes these events so that they boys not only have the memories but can look back and see where things might have been a bit off or on causing different outcomes.These video disks serve as wonderful teaching tools. Mike also has video taped Band concerts, halftime shows, graduation exercises , and various other events for Cindy.I could go on for days about what a wonderful Father and person Mike is and never run out of material.

Happy Father's day also goes out to My Father In Law, who has also been there many times for our family. He has helped with car repairs, painting the house, and other things that are very much appreciated.He and My Mother in law have sat with our kids while Mike and I attended to necessary business or just went out for the night. For these and many more things we are thankful.

Let us not forget our Parish Priest who is a different kind of Father. Last night at Mass he asked Robby if he got him a Father's Day present. Robby promptly told him that he only thought of his Father in his family which got a chuckle but seriously, Priests are in a way a Father to all of us. They are there when we are in need just like a biological father so..... Happy Father's Day Father !!!!! Maybe I will bring you a DQ cake next year.

Lastly I would like to say Happy Father's Day to all Father's everywhere ! Especially those whose sons and Daughters now reside with Jesus.This day can be an excruciating day for these men and though nothing I can say or do can change what is, Know that my prayers are with you.

Happy Father's Day All !

On today's agenda

Today I had plans to accomplish quite a bit. I needed to take canned goods and other foods from my cupboard to my Aunt who would take them to a person whom she knows who is in need. On the way back I needed to order Cindy's cakes for her Graduation party a week from tomorrow. I then planned to get home in plenty of time before Mike got home from work and take the kids father's day shopping. I then planned to cook a gourmet meal and have it on the table when Mike entered the door.
My plans were not too far off base as I did deliver bags of food to my Aunt who will take it to a person who she knows is in need. I did stop and order Cindy's cakes and I did come home. The rest sort of got jumbled up when we realized that Cindy is allergic to my aunt's bunny whom she enjoyed cuddling with. Her face was a puffy mess, her nose ran like the faucet, and she couldn't talk for all of the sneezing she was doing. She took an allergy pill while I cooked the Gourmet meal( Hey I can call it what I want, right? lol) of Grilled chicken breast, chicken and mushroom rice, and tossed salad. After we ate Mike and I ran some errands while the kids did some chores.( since Cindy had already taken an allergy pill she should be able to handle the dust in her room I figure)Hopefully tomorrow will be a good morning for Father's day shopping before Cindy has to go to work at two o'clock. Then Sunday I will maybe conquer what was on Saturday's list and so on. One of these days I will be so far behind that I will think I am ahead. When that happens please don't tell me. Just let me have a day of bliss before I get behind again.

Here'e the proof :-)

Today's mail brought an order form for Cindy's Professional Graduation pictures. I don't know when the pictures, which I ordered ,will be received but here are the small thumbnail proofs( The proof that she graduated lol ) they enclosed for me to preview.

Graduation photos

Here are a few pictures of Cindy's graduation day. Three hundred and eighty nine of the classes original four hundred and twenty students took part ( Of the thirty one who did not participate, not all were ineligible .Some chose not to attend for various reasons and opted to receive diplomas by mail.) Each student was given at least five tickets for guests and some ,like Cindy, were able to secure a few more.Because this crowd was so big they brought in a professional photographer to take pictures so there wouldn't be a major jam of people close to the stage trying to get pictures.Because of this Mike and I decided to buy the professional shot and not even try to get our own. I will post this picture when I get it. For now here are a few that we took before and after the ceremony.




The BHS class of 2008 ( Can you find Cindy? She is on the last girls chair third row from left of picture)




Cindy with Diploma




Cindy With Nanny & Pops




Cindy With Grandma & Grandpa

Falling behind

Sunday June 8, 2008 Cindy officially Graduated from High school.I have not yet gotten around to uploading all of the pictures that we took. I have been busy trying to locate and scan pictures of Cindy that have been taken the past eighteen years for a slide show to be shown at her party.I hope to squeeze in dumping the camera and posting a few pictures within the next few days.Today was Robby's last day of school and yesterday was Michael's last day so maybe now that i don't have all of that going on I will be able to get some things done.

Tomorrow it is official !

Tomorrow is the day that Cindy has been waiting for forever, Her high school graduation.As previous pictures have been seen, she has already graduated from Our county's career and technical center, but tomorrow's Graduation is the Big one. Not only is this the big one but the final one. After this Cindy will not ever be forced by law or anything other than her own choosing to attend school again . As a family we have been so busy lately that I am not sure that all of this has sunk in, to my brain anyway.I had the pleasure of accompanying Cindy to the Nursing school which she has already been accepted into yesterday for an informal meeting.The meeting was about two hours long and about made my head explode. Cindy has always been a bright girl and I have no doubt that she is capable of getting through this accelerated school ( She will finish in eleven months as opposed to two years that it takes for most nursing schools) Still, I wouldn't be a Mother if I didn't worry. Please everyone pray for her in this endeavor. There is still financial aid to secure and transcripts to be sent and the such( Cindy is technically not able to do any of this until after her official graduation day.) before classes start in September.
For right now I am trying not to stress over what needs to be but celebrate what is. I made it through the career & Tech center's Graduation without shedding a tear but can't promise the same here. Either way though ,through dry eyes or misty ones I am so proud to be the first to say Congratulations Cindy !!!!!! We love you and are bubbling with Pride !

MCC&TC Graduation pictures

Her name is in the program, yea !



Nice Tattoo




Cindy with her "Career Passport"







Cindy with glasses . Many found these funny



Cindy and Shawna




Last prank of the year by Cindy & Shawna. Yellow mustard mixed with water and TP in the medical lab bedside potty chair. So much for sterile I guess




The instructor's reaction after this prank. This poor woman has to be a saint !

Pride

While attending The Career and technical center's graduation this morning Mike and I sat in front of a lady holding a baby. She was saving seats for three other ladies with babies. As we overheard, these were all Mother's of students who were holding their grandchildren while the mothers graduated.There were also many other girls (and one boy )who were walking around in their caps and gowns carrying their infant and toddler children. Being an old person this struck me as odd. Of course I had known a couple girls who were pregnant and had babies while in high school but this was a rare thing in my generation.( in My generation this was down right shameful and embarrassing) Here it seemed to be much more common and accepted.At one point all four mother's of the children behind us were standing with their mothers and children.I overheard one Grandmother choke back the tears as she stated how proud she was of all of these girls for graduating with babies.My first thought was that I was proud that my daughter was not one of them. This was not a snotty my child is better than yours thought but just thinking that I am proud to have a daughter who is living a moral Catholic life which includes not involving herself in premarital relations. This thought continued on as we waited for the ceremony to start. I guess it is true that when you love someone, you forget their mistakes and feel pride in their accomplishments. I am sure that at least some of these mother's hearts were broken when they found out that their teenage daughters were pregnant.I am sure that many were embarrassed to find out that some of the fathers had no interest in sticking around to help these Mother's daughters or grandchildren. I can only imagine how these Mom's felt but they surely still loved both their daughters and learnt to love these grandchildren. When we love someone don't we all do this? How about when our spouses make us so mad that we can't see straight, do we still love them ? I know I do. We are human, we all make mistakes.We all must forgive and feel pride in what we can.Now don't get me wrong, I think today's children need to stop playing adult.I try my best to teach my children that just because society accepts such things, that doesn't make them right.I try to lead them along a respectable path into adulthood and hope that one day when they are on their own they will remember what they have been taught. But truth be told, they probably will stumble once or twice. Hopefully not in big ways such as an unwed pregnancy, drug use or anything like that but we all stumble from time to time.I guess that in the end we just have to learn from our stumbling and go on. Maybe then people will be able to get past our mistakes and feel pride in us or more importantly, we can find pride within ourselves.

She Did it !

This morning at 7:30 Am Mike and I dropped Robby off at school early and headed to the County career and Technical center. We were earlier than many so got some half decent seats to watch Cindy graduate. Though everyone knew that this was more of an awards ceremony than a graduation ( the school made this very very clear )the grads were in caps and gowns in their home school colors.They walked across a stage and received a "Career Passport" ( a collection of their resume ,certificates of accomplishments ( Cindy had EKG , medical terminology,CPR, and a few other of these)"licences" for Cosmetology and State tested Nurse aid students( who, like Cindy passed the state board exams) a"diploma" of sorts and other papers that they may need in their careers.A few students took this as their Graduation as , for different reasons, they chose not to participate in their Home school's graduation ceremony. Cindy however, will celebrate her Home school's as her graduation. Because of this she had some fun with this one. In order to keep this ceremony respectable there was a dress code in place. This code banned flip flops which did not please Cindy.( wearing flip flops has become Cindy's trade mark ) There was also to be no signs on the mortarboard caps ( though a couple students broke this rule and seemed to go unnoticed) Cindy decided to make her mark respectable by wearing a rhinestone 2008 on her cheek and wear 2008 sun glasses.She offered a second pair of glasses to a friend who declined due to this being her only graduation ceremony. This did not stop Cindy though as she wore them even up on stage . The staff member who was announcing names took one look and couldn't hold back laughter as she announced Cindy. The Superintendent did not seem pleased but let it go as she shook Cindy's hand.I have a feeling that next years ceremony rules will include the no 2009 glasses rule.
I have some pictures that I will try to add later.
Sunday will be Cindy's real graduation at her home school. Her brothers and grandparents will hopefully be in attendance with Mike and I and Cindy will leave the glasses at home.Sometimes you just have to have fun !

Quote of the day

Change what needs changing--
--Not what's easy.

Thank you God, Thank you, Thank you ,Thank you !

The official letter came yesterday. Hannah E Mullins school of Practical nursing ( Kent State University )has accepted Cynthia Lee Parkhurst for enrolment starting in September ! Cindy had applied months ago but just got called and took the entrance exam last month. We were concerned about the math part as Cindy had never taken trigonometry or calculus and we were told ( we are related to or know a few former and current students of this school )that the Math portion of this schools chosen entrance exam for their nursing program contained these type of problems . This school also demands a relatively high score ( I am not sure exactly what score they demand as it is done on levels instead of percentages) for admission since it is an accelerated ( only eleven months long as opposed to the two year programs at most schools )LPN school. I got the letter out of the mail yesterday and called to Cindy. She was carrying some bags into the house and told me to open it so I got to personally give her the news. I think we both cried. Cindy had to work last night and there was a Mass at My deceased Grandmother's church for her so Mike and I attended.Throughout the whole mass I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. Of course there are many matters that I could have / should have prayed for, but this weekend is all about being Thankful.

Ok I guess I am a snob

As many of you are aware, I have advertised for http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ in the past. My dear aunt introduced me to this organization a couple years ago. Even though I don't order these foods every month, I do read the menus almost monthly and pick and choose which months I want to buy the food package.I guess that my picking and choosing is not normal among the others who use the particular order / pick up site( not my church ) that I do because yesterday as I handed the elderly lady at the desk my receipt and money to order next months, she didn't even mention that this church had decided to discontinue Angel Food ministries and go with another distributor of the same type called "Great food for all Ministries". It wasn't until she had had filled out my order form and handed me the flyer on the new company that she mentioned it. At first i was confused. Are the foods the same? I asked. "Better" I was told. Because June Angel foods were appealing to me, I hesitated.I asked for June's menu for this new place. In my opinion they were not as appealing.I decided to pass on ordering. The ladies looked at me like I just rejected their ugly grandchild . " You aren't ordering? " one questioned? I politely answered in the affirmative. They looked shocked as I moved on to collect May's foods.
Now I know I am a picky eater and my family is probably even pickier but do people really just pay the thirty dollars per month ( for my families size I have to buy two thirty dollar packages )and take and eat what they get ? I know that some are on fixed incomes and can't afford their favorite foods on a daily basis but buying blindly and taking whatever you get sounds foreign to me.Especially when you are paying thirty dollars for the package. Now from the food pantry or St. Vincent De Paul you can't be picky but buying mystery foods doesn't quite set well with me. I guess it's true that i am just a snob who leads a good life, but that is just how I am.I do wonder though does anyone else resent how there was no warning of a change and these ladies just expected everyone to accept the new distributor without even looking at their menu ? I find that assumption amazing to say the least.As for me, I will probably go to another Angel food distribution site and order for June and then do as I always have and pick and choose what other months packages I will purchase.