Here Comes the Sun

The sun is beginning to shine again up here on the peninsula.  I think my friends and family have had me on 24 hour surveillance....  The sisters have been texting every few hours asking how I am doing...to which I honestly reply, "So far, so good."  

I downloaded this book on my I Pad.  After an hour of reading, I downloaded the audio version on my phone.  Friends, I could NOT put it down and I needed to get on with my day.

So, while I walked the beach with the dogs, I listened to this book.

While I hunted for rocks and beach glass, I listened.  While I cleaned the house, changed the beds, did the laundry, I listened. You get the idea....I listened to it all day.  And while it was a great distraction for me as I adjust to my new chapter of life, the book, in its own right, is fantastic.  It has it all:  suspense, romance, great characters....and it makes you think a little..but not too much.  After all, it  IS still summer.

This is my first book by Beatriz Williams, and I am definitely going to read her next one.  

I recently bought Mary Kay Andrews' latest, "Beach Town".  I have read every last one of her books and have loved every last one of her books.  I cannot wait to sink down into an adirondack and dive in. 

If you share my love of Mary Kay Andrews,  you should also try any of Dorothea Benton Franke's novels--they are all terrific.  Andriana Trigiani (another one of my fav's---and not just because she is a St Mary's grad) describes her as "...a great storyteller, a ray of sunshine, and a fabulous party guest.  If she were a cocktail, she'd be fizzy."  I want to meet her.

So while it is pretty quiet around here and I miss my (now) 5 kids, especially B, I am really enjoying the freedom, the peace and the extra reading time.  Happy days are here again!

Goodbye B

We moved our baby into her freshman dorm this weekend.  Big T, a veteran at this by now, knew not to comment on the amount of "stuff" we had packed.

Last trip up...

B is on the fourth floor...which is exactly where I lived freshman year. I couldn't resist walking down the hall to check out my own freshman room...which was a double way back then and is now a SINGLE.  I am not bitter.

B and her darling roommate worked together beautifully to get their room organized....with the help of their dads, of course.

Then it was off to the bookstore to buy all the critical last minute items....  all the while I was giving her critical last minute tips, much needed advice, great pearls of wisdom..

Every dorm at ND has a chapel where mass is celebrated daily.  During move in, they had the parent meeting in here.  I was so impressed with her rectress and the RA's.  They will take great care of B and all the girls.  Nevertheless, I was sending up prayers during the entire meeting.  You name it, I was praying for it, including asking for grace to handle the inevitable goodbye that was coming.  To quote Beverly Beckham from the Boston Globe, "I was the sun, and the kids were my planets.  And there was life on those planets, whirling, nonstop plans and parties and friends coming and going, and ideas and dreams and the phone ringing and doors slamming.  And I got to beam down on them.  To watch.  To glow.  And then they were gone, one after the other."  Friends, this will not be an easy goodbye.  Brace yourselves.

Then I told Big T we had to head to the grotto...I just needed a moment of calm connection with the Almighty.  

It sure helps me to know that even when I am not with my sweet baby, her loving Creator is always there.

We had a delicious last lunch with B, one more trip to the bookstore, and then it was time to walk her back to her dorm to say goodbye.   I think Big T and B had a bet going about when my breakdown would commence. Right about then I read this text from my dear friend Beth:  "Congrats on reaching this coveted milestone!  Like all transitions with our kids-beginning with actual transition in labor, which arrived without adequate warning, was totally overwhelmingly painful beyond measure, and made us wonder if we would survive it all-this may be uncomfortable for awhile but the reward will be totally, TOTALLY worth it!" Thank God for friends like her.

As we walked away from B, waving all the while, Big T said, "Mission accomplished...and now its just you and me again." That sweet comment kept me going for a quite awhile.

But by the time I was back on the peninsula, I was feeling like the sky looked...as if my sun could not shine....would not shine again.  Friends, do not misunderstand, I am grateful to be well.  If having cancer has taught me anything, it is to appreciate each day.  But we mothers know how difficult the transition into the empty nest can be.  I think it is ok to take a little time to mourn the end of this chapter before I turn the page.

Raven Nation

Friends, At the beginning of the week I helped my second son, M, move into his on-campus apartment at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.  Here he is with his roommate in front of their favorite building, the dining hall.  I am so very grateful to Benedictine and the wonderful friends M has made there.  I did not lift a finger during move in.  The Benedictine monks are all about hospitality....and it shows!  They have always been so very welcoming to us.  When M started college in the fall of 2013, I had just finished chemo and was getting ready to begin radiation.  I needed his transition to college to go smoothly....and I could not have asked for a better experience.  This college is one of the best kept secrets in the midwest.

M is an Eagle Scout, and loves everything about the outdoors. So when we found this academically rigorous, Catholic institution that is right on the river, we knew it was a perfect fit.  Students come from all over the US, and even internationally, to attend this liberal arts college in Kansas.  It is that good.

We take our football...and our tailgating..very seriously.  It is so fun to be able to watch the games with my boy, instead of watching him on the field and praying he doesn't get hurt.  Go Ravens!

Here we are at his Freshman Mother Son Dinner Dance in the winter of 2014.  I was in between surgeries at this time, and had an ileostomy bag.  I was so worried about it...but all went well.  When I reflect on how far I have come since this photo was taken, I am filled with gratitude.  I hope it gives any of you fighting cancer  hope.  God is good.  

The newest dorm on campus is Our Lady of Guadelupe Hall.  She is a very special intercessor for me, so of course I need to give her a shout out!

I was feeling a little sad about saying good bye to my boy, so I stopped at the infamous Nell Hills on my way out of town.  This place draws buses of shoppers from all the surrounding states.  Mary Carol, the owner and Atchison native, has been written up multiple times in the Wall Street Journal for her great success.  I find distraction (read:shopping) to be a great coping mechanism.

Love anything blue and white...and the price is right here!

This display got me excited for Fall...one of my favorite seasons!

Not so sure I am ready for this yet....

I did not buy a thing (Big T will be shocked)...but I started thinking happy thoughts and the drive home was tear-free!  I take my youngest to school later this week..that will be a different story...

Wedding Wonderful

 

This weekend my first born, T, married this beautiful girl.  T's mentor and friend, Father Bill, patiently rehearsed with the wedding party Friday night.  With seven bridesmaids and seven groomsmen, the term "herding cats" was thrown around quite a bit.  By the time the rehearsal was over, we were more than ready for the cocktail hour to commence.

As the MOG, the rehearsal dinner was my party.  I was blessed to have family and friends there for support.  These girls are better than any liquid courage out there.  Many thanks to Butterfield Country Club in Chicago -- the entire event went off without a hitch... at least until the toasting began...ha!

With a nod to Kansas, we served steak and my amazingly talented Goddaughter created these beautiful sunflower show stoppers.  

When the last glass was raised, I breathed a sigh of relief and sent up a prayer of thanksgiving.   MOG duties were done.

Saturday's Nuptial mass was beyond beautiful.  I was so grateful to be watching my boy get married....and trying really hard to keep it together and not mess up the makeup the team of experts had spent hours on earlier that morning.  I kept asking Big T if the fake eyelashes were surviving the salt water facial.  This photo was taken by our dear friend, Father Jeff.  Pretty brave of him to whip out his phone in the middle of the ceremony, considering he had the bishop up there on the altar with him.

S's parents hosted an amazing reception for this happy couple.  Can you even believe that this is my new daughter?   My boy is in good hands.  S makes it easy to focus on gaining a daughter and not losing a son.

Don't let that one on the far left fool you...my fun loving second son, M, took his best man duties very seriously.  We drove back to Kansas City together Sunday morning....I drove...he slept. 

 Does every mother wish she could freeze time?  

Here are the sisters--a hot happy mess at the end of the night.  Here's to T and S!!  We love you!

Soul Work

Friends, During my first stage of cancer treatment, my awesome medical oncologist, Dr Rich McKittrick, explained all the side effects of my chemo cocktail. I fixated on only one:  neuropathy.  I told Rich that I needed to feel my hands....because handwork feeds my soul.   His wise and experienced response was, "Use them. " So I did.  I knitted and needlepointed my way through FOLFOX chemo, and, thank God, I have no nerve damage to my hands.  

I love to knit, and lately I have been in a baby sweater phase (hint hint T and S).   I made this for one of my very dear friend's new grandchild.  I think it is the perfect ND tailgating attire.

 

I am in need of a new project, so I borrowed this book from my wonderful and talented Leland friend who used to own a knitting shop in Massachusetts.  

Isn't this sweater so precious? (and easy!)  

So this weekend I headed to Wool & Honey in search of the perfect yarn.  We have some terrific knitting shops on the peninsula, but this one in the village of Cedar is my favorite.  

Check out all the glorious yarn:

This wall is full of the fabulous fiber for their Sleeping Bear Club.  Once a month, the members, who include many seasonal residents like me, receive a shipment of a bit of the peninsula---everything from the northern lights to Petoskey stones inspire the hues for these hand dyed yarns.  You receive a  skein along with a sock, shawl or baby sweater pattern.  Only a low battery kept me from photographing every vivid color of this Northern Michigan display. 

Want to sign up?

For today, I chose a beautiful, soft, washable gray for my next baby sweater.  

I wanted to sit here all day and knit, but the beach was calling...