Row of Family

The empty row in front of us is where the graduates sat. And here's part of the gang that came to see Cassie graduate: Mom and Dad, my aunt, Lori, Jeff's coat (he was in it).

And here's the other end of the row: the other side of Jeff's coat (so sorry, Jeff...didn't mean to cut you out entirely!), his mom, Me, and Julie. Julie and I sat to the right of the White House camp. Did I mention how NERVE WRACKING that was???

What a Production!

As I mentioned in an earlier post...this was unlike any graduation I've ever seen. First of all, no one was allowed to drive with in so many (hundred?) feet of the school property for security reasons. So the school had 3 or 4 buses that shuttled people from a designated street to the school and back.

No one was allowed to take a purse or bag of any kind, so thank goodness I'd not gone out and purchased a purse for the occasion! I wore my jacket so I could at least have the pockets to help with cameras and batteries and all of that. (We pitied the people with babies who had to sit for all those hours with no diaper bag full of entertainment!)

Everyone had to have a photo ID that matched the ticket required for entry....I was scared to death one of mine would blow away in between the bus drop-off and the security entrance.

Speaking of which...this is what we had to get through to get inside...it was like the airport!

Graduation was held inside the practice gym. The first few rows were designated for the families of the graduates. Each graduate received ten tickets and I think they said they drew for who sat in what row. We were in the first row of families, so the only people between us and the platform were graduates (and media, but I'll get to that later).

This picture was taken from our front row seat - and all those cameras across the back are media cameras. There were more over to the side that I didn't take a picture of, because they were White House cameras and I was scared to death Secret Service would yell at me for taking pictures.


We'd been told media would have to be on the side or in the back, but they were allowed up front, much to many people's dismay. I took this while they were standing prior to graduation, but once the ceremony began, they were required to sit down on the floor. That at least helped.
I have to say that I felt really bad for the graduates, because once they had their diplomas and were back in their seats, they all had cameras right in their faces. Two of the girls had a little tearful moment and you'd have thought one of them had passed out the way the cameras just zoomed around and landed on them. Poor girls!

Pastor Brian...I Really Was at Church!

It's rather unlike me to miss my own church service. I suppose it's something I learned growing up - you just plan your life around being home for church on the weekends. But I promise that even though I wasn't in my standard pew, I really was in church on Sunday!

As you can see, the Mennonite church is under construction, so they meet in a school in a nearby town. But since this was a special weekend, there was a community church service in a tent in the park. So that was the church I attended.

This is Jeff - praying or welcoming or something...

All the graduates were invited to attend and were recognized.


The members of the Ministerial Alliance prayed over the graduates.

And Jeff sang a song! :)
I have to say that it was during church that I first realized just how overrun with media this whole town had become. We sang some songs and one of them got to me (it ALWAYS gets to me when I sing it) and I had a small tear or six. And a bit later, I was singing another song with my eyes closed, and I kept seeing a flash. After church, a reporter stopped to ask me my name, because he'd taken some pictures. Hopefully he took them while I was singing and not while I was bawling!

AAAHHH! I Forgot My Idol Post!

This is what happens when I try to multi-task too much! I am distracted by my newly acquired sunburn and I forgot to write this part.

* David Cook - Have I mentioned that I just love him? I actually really enjoyed his first song. I thought it was fun and energetic...and I was in a total minority on that, at least where the judges were concerned. I thought his second song was flat out AMAZING. He is wonderful, and though I desperately want him to stay, I know if he goes too early just like Daughtry did, he'll do just fine.

* Syesha - I thought her first song was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed seeing that fun side of her. But as soon as I heard her talk about getting the choreography down that the judges were going to be all over her for imitating. I thought the gown she wore in the second song was beautiful and I thought she did a nice job then too. I agree with the judges - she's getting better and better here at the end.

* Jason - Oh brother. I think Simon could be right - pack your bags, Mr. Castro. The hair was driving me NUTS on the first song and I thought the song itself was horrible. I thought he did better the second time, but comparatively speaking...he didn't perform in the same league tonight.

* David Archuleta - good on both songs, as usual, but I continue to see nothing earth shattering about him, and I still think there's something about him that couldn't hold the charisma he needs right now. I guess I don't want to say he's too young because there are others who are younger and do fine, but he just seems to lack some of the energy and maturity that some of them have. And to hear him sing a love song was just funny to me because he IS so young. But it was a smart move. All his teeny bopper fans will go crazy for him.

I think Jason's the man out. OR if everyone rushes to save him because of what Simon said, it could be Syesha, because I'm still not sure how strong her fan base is. OR it could be a "gasp" moment and be either one of the Davids. How's that for a definite opinion?

Twenty-Two - the Last of the Lost Years!

WOW I have done a lot of posting today. I am about halfway through posting my trip to Kansas pictures, and they are in backwards order below. If you want to start with the first post and work your way up, the title of the first one is "Indiana to Kansas...All in a Day's Flying." I have posted through her open house and will pick up again tomorrow to hopefully finish the trip.

BUT the day is coming to a close and I still have much to do, so in the meantime, I wish you a happy National Beverage Day. My choice was a caramel frappe, but a new girl made it and it was so awful. I had to come home and doctor it up. Oh well. It was a happy celebration anyway.

I think 22 was the last of the lost years...I can't find a single picture of that birthday. At least not a picture I recognize. :( Starting shortly after that birthday, I became a religious scrapper, so the rest of them should all be safe and sound in albums. But the month of May the year I turned 22 was a very busy month. My friends Mike and Faith got married, I moved into a temporary apartment, I was preparing to move into a more permanent house, I traveled to Delaware for Christina's wedding....and THAT was a photo taking day, so here's the closest to 22 I can get. 22 and 2 weeks or so.

Open House!

Cassie's open house was the night before graduation, and I thought it was a really fun time - even though I didn't know more than a handful of people. :)

Here is Cassie with one of her good friends - one of two who always calls me Aunt Bekah. I love being adopted out!

And here's the other one that always calls me Aunt Bekah!


Remember how I told you I fell off the "no pop" bandwagon? Here's my first sip - HEAVENLY.

The overflow of party guests ended up in the garage. It was way too windy and chilly of a day to sit in the "yard."

Cassie with one of her graduation gifts - a very cool K State blanket!

Turning 30 - Phase 1

Since I won't be able to be with Lori, Jeff, and Cassie on my birthday, we went ahead and celebrated it a little bit early. Right before Cassie's open house, we had "Turning 30, Phase 1."

SWEET!! A George Foreman! I had mentioned to Lori that the one I had was way too small for a meatatarian like me, and I really wanted one with the removable grill pans that can go in the dishwasher. Good thing she has a better memory than I have!! GREAT gift!


Miss Cassie and me...just killin some time during the thirty-fest.

The official group photo for the birthday album.

More Tour O Town

We kept driving around town, and it was my first chance to see "FEMA-ville." It is much smaller now than it first was. Jeff said in the beginning, there were about 300 trailers, and each time someone moves out (either moves away or moves into a new home) they remove the trailer. There were several empty spaces throughout the area.

Interesting thing I'd not thought about with this FEMA thing. This had been an empty field, and before they could move in anything or anyone, they had to put in roads and driveways and run electricity and plumbing and phone lines and ALL of that for all 300-some trailers. I guess I never thought about how much pre-work had to go into it.

And since this IS tornado alley, they also had to create some sort of storm shelter for all the people living in the trailers. This was the solution: buried box cars. There were several of these scattered throughout FEMA-ville.

This is the picture of what the high school will look like when it is actually built and isn't housed in portables anymore.


Our tour concluded with a visit to the Care n Share store. It's kind of like a very small Goodwill and is run by the Ministerial Association. It was their grand opening day, so they had cookies and everything! :) I found this tie that I TRIED to talk Dad into buying...he wasn't having any of it. He did, however, stand very patiently for this photo. (It's a Kansas City Chiefs tie if you can't see it very well.) He's such a good lil sport, that Dad.

Rebuilding a Church

I was AMAZED at how far the church has come! Jeff and Lori's church broke ground on Palm Sunday (I think) and already they have the major makings of a building! The church is being rebuilt on its original site and Jeff says the floor plan is very similar to the original.

This is the sanctuary wing. The closest end will be the front of the sanctuary and the back is toward the back of the picture.

This is the offices/classrooms/fellowship hall wing - it's got a little more work yet to be done.


The boards and beams were such a beautiful sight!!

This reminds me of those pictures from last year of the beams scattered throughout the yard. Not now! They're new and back to work!

This is standing at the back of the sanctuary looking out toward the other wing.

Trip to the Big Well

Jeff took us on a "driving tour" of the city. We started out at the main tourist attraction in town - The Big Well. If you're not familiar, Greensburg sports the world's largest hand dug well - and fortunately, since wells are located underground, it wasn't destroyed by the tornado! :) The gift shop that accompanied it was destroyed, but it has rebuilt in this cute little building that I'll someday have a picture of...meanwhile I have this photo under the new sign. The years on the sign represent the time frame between the digging of the well and the tornado.

And yes - a very windy day.

The well is actually underneath that metal structure behind me and to the left (the picture's left, not my left).

I tried to take a picture down into the well, but my flash wouldn't show how deep it really goes. It is possible to go down inside it, but it has not been open since the tornado. Lori said they actually had a fence around the whole thing until last week.


Here's Cassie and my cousin Emma looking down inside the well. This is the same metal structure that was around it before the tornado. A few (ha!) paint chips, but otherwise in good shape.

Opening Gifts

Saturday was a very full day...and it started with a really yummy brunch that Lori made for us. After brunch, Cassie opened her presents that came from family.

Here she is with her new necklace...

And the all important cooking kit for college. I was really excited about that one.

Indiana to Kansas...All in a Day's Flying

My trip to Kansas began on Friday. My sister Julie, my Aunt B, Jeff's (he's my brother-in-law) Mom, and I flew together. Or we tried. Valiant effort.

I was scared to death to get through airport security because I am "that person" who always has something go wrong. Once I got through that with no problem, my blood pressure went WAY down. We got to our gate and I overheard the ticket agent saying that the plane they had just boarded was overweight and men would have to be pulled from the flight. Re-enter high blood pressure.

Our flight was delayed when we got there and got delayed again while we waited. Fortunately we had a couple hours of layover in St. Louis, but the longer we waited, the more I worried about making that connection at all. I know...me? Worry? Shocker.

We made it to St. Louis with about 2 minutes to spare only to find out THAT flight was delayed too. Good thing because it was the WORST flight I've ever been on. I felt SO sick. It was incredibly rocky and I just wanted it to be over. (Safely of course.)

All the last minute changes meant none of us had eaten (other than random snacks) all day long. That drive to Lori and Jeff's was the longest hour and a half of my life. I thought about eating my shoe, but then I thought of Lori's cooking that was waiting on me...and I refrained.

The rest of the family made so much fun of the four of us during dinner because we didn't talk, we didn't chew...we just INHALED our food. We had seconds before everyone else had finished their firsts.

Hurry up and take the picture, Mom! I am trying to EAT! You're withholding my fat grams!

After dinner, we celebrated Lori's birthday. Her birthday was actually Sunday, but she wanted that day to be about Cassie and her graduation, so we celebrated early. Jeff and Cassie got her a lot of the same things they gave her last year on her birthday...but those were not so much seen again. Hopefully the new lot-o-gifts will stay.

I gave her this basket for her basket tree.

Graduation Preview

Someday when I get a different computer, I too can live in the age of providing pictures WITHOUT standing at the Wal-Mart photo kiosk. :)

My sister emailed these to me. I'm assuming they were taken by some family member of another senior...someone sitting more in the center than I was.

This is my girl delivering her valedictorian speech. I was SO stinkin' proud of her. Can you imagine giving a speech in front of so many people and cameras and you know, the leader of the free world? (He's paying close attention...good for him!)


And here she is receiving her diploma...


The official photo....

Twenty One...Living on the Edge

WELCOME HOME TO ME!!!!!!

I had the most incredible weekend traveling out to Kansas and watching Cassie graduate from high school. I just spent 1/2 hour at the SLOWEST Wal-Mart photo kiosk on the planet (yes, I have timed them all) so tomorrow I should have pictures for you. But for as much fun as I had (many stories yet to come), it is SO good to be home. Both Kaegan and Braeya met me at the door, so I think they might have missed me. Braeya usually shows up at the door...looking for food. Kaegan may or may not show up for another hour or more, so I guess his immediate appearance should make me feel good.

Anyway, I'm home and scurrying in under the wire to post a picture and announce that today is Great Lakes Awareness Day. I only chose that one from the list because of my Great Legs story (scroll down a dozen posts or so for that one...I'd get the link but I'm too tired). So happy Great Lakes/Legs day! :)

What did you do for your 21st birthday? Well I lived way near the edge (I think, anyway - I'm back to guessing based on hairstyles) and went to Cracker Barrel with my parents. :) I distinctly remember being bummed because I finally had acquired a boyfriend in my life, and right before my birthday, he had a death in the family and had to travel home for a couple of weeks. So not only did he miss my birthday, but he missed the big birthday! So my parents stepped in and bought me...well, probably a chicken salad sammich.


Well until tomorrow I leave you with this "hmmm" moment. I opened the mail while the computer warmed up, and one thing I received was a packet with some curriculum in it. I started pilfering through to find the article I wrote (they send a complimentary packet each time they publish something of mine) and I found a title that matched something I would have written...and my name was below it...and the picture matched the title...and the first line said, "My wife and I don't have a life."

I have a wife?

How long was I gone? What did I drink for that 21st birthday?

I continued reading.

"We have two small children." Well, yes there's Kaegan and Braeya...but something tells me the wrong article is attached to my name. Either that or I still haven't really adjusted to the altitude...

Twenty...With New Friends! (and another holiday)

Since all of my high school friends had scattered in their various directions for college, my twentieth birthday party had an entirely new set of friends to celebrate with me!

The thing I love about it is that I'm still close to almost everybody that was there...and it's ten whole years later! I'm really thankful for the great friends I made in college.


Looks like I was having some issues with the Capri Sun pouch...

And in other news on this FINE day...it's National Orange Juice Day. I can't have orange juice, but I definitely could go for a big bowl of orange sherbet!

Bits for Sunday, May 4, 2008

Normally I write to you from my little office in my house...alternately shifting left to right to see around the cat that chooses to park in between my face and the monitor, completely prohibiting me from seeing anything I'm typing. I jump up every now and then to run into the next room to see what is happening on whatever TV show I happen to be "watching" at the time.

Today I write to you from another office...on a guest computer...staring out a window at the dirt where a yard will soon be and looking across the street to the makings of a new house. Looks like they're about as far as the basement right now. All around are fragments of trees left from a tornado that happened a year ago today.

I remember that day...it was actually a Friday. I remember having my parents over for dinner, and I remember kicking back to watch whatever was on TV while Braeya the birthday girl played with her new kitty toys. I remember the phone ringing and the thought of "oh that can't be good at this hour." And I remember the news my Dad delivered...of a tornado here in Greensburg, Kansas.

This morning at the community church service, the gentleman who delivered the benediction shared a story he'd heard of some people visiting overseas...London, maybe?...who tried to explain to people where they were from here in the States. They said they were from Wichita, Kansas. The people over there wanted to know how far that was from Greensburg. So much for anonymity! Today this little town was overrun by trucks sporting satellite dishes, dozens of police cars, guests from everywhere, and even the President himself.

We didn't come out here for the President though. We came out here to watch my niece graduate from high school. Originally the graduation was scheduled for next weekend, and a couple of months ago, we were told the date had been moved up a week, but the reason was top secret. So we went about changing our flights and hotel reservations and all of that...and about a month ago, we found out that the President's visit was the reason for the date change. Apparently next weekend he's a little busy marrying off his daughter...

I remember my high school graduation. I remember the duct tape colored robes and the extreme nervousness of walking across that stage and waving to my family on the sidelines.

This was NOTHING like that. Not only were the robes a much more appealing color (colors, actually...red and blue), the entire ceremony was...unlike anything I could have imagined.

We had to be shuttled to the site, because cars weren't allowed within a certain distance of the building. No purses allowed, so I wore my coat to fill up the pockets with batteries and cameras...and my photo ID and ticket. No one got in without the appropriate combination of both. We had to go through metal detectors (and I managed to avoid the additional wand search) and sit in our assigned seats. Ours happened to be next to the White House media area. We sat in a row and leaned out of the way of the dozens of secret service personnel.

Definitely not your typical graduation, but it was such a great time. I am so proud of Miss Cassie, who not only graduated, but she delivered a wonderful co-valedictory speech. I was so nervous for her. Public speaking is not my favorite thing. I can't imagine doing it in front of the President and a dozens of media cameras. She did an amazing job - I was super proud, amid my photo taking. :) (Oh come on now, you'd expect nothing less.)

So no...not a typical graduation, but no less cause for celebration. Cassie, I love you and you did a GREAT job not only today, but this whole past year. You have handled this with a dignity I don't even possess. I'm very proud of you.

Well, I can hear the voices of family in the other room, and I better be social while I can be...so I'll wrap this up. I leave with the words of this song that we sang in church this morning...because it best sums up today's summary of this past year.

Blessed be Your name, when the sun's shining down on me...when the world's all as it should be, blessed be Your name...Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering...Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name...Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise...You give and take away...My heart will choose to say...Blessed be Your name.

One Year and Five Months

That's how long it has been since my last drink of Coke - or pop of any kind.

One year five months and three days, to be exact.

Until today. I was overcome by the presence of the red and white bottles in the cooler at my niece's graduation party, and I just had to have a little tiny taste.

HEAVENLY.

But I only drank about 1/3 of the bottle - and I was done. I don't need any more. I can go another year and five months, probably, without having it again. But it was still REALLY REALLY good.

Nineteen on the Go and A Couple of Holiday Options!

I couldn't decide between two different celebrations for today so I'm suggesting both. Today is Hug Your Cat Day (and I can't even see my own precious kiddos for the occasion. :( It is also National Scrapbook Day - and you have no idea how excited I am about that! I won't be scrapping, but I sure will be taking a ton of pictures to scrap later!!

Nineteen...my first year to be "out on my own" for my birthday. I apparently did make it back home for gifts. SHOES!!

I had the BIGGEST crush on Mark Lowry at this stage of my life. As you can see, I was pretty excited to have this new video to watch!

Eighteen...So Embarrassing - and Sibling Appreciation Day!

My eighteenth birthday came about a week before my high school graduation, so I had a whole lot going on in my mind and life! I was in the middle of enjoying one of my last lunches with my friends at school when the balloons and camera showed up. That wasn't embarrassing. It was the top of the lungs SINGING of everyone at my table and the instant silence of the cafeteria that made me do this:


Home was far less humiliating. :) Oh and just one word: PERM.

If you're celebrating the merry merry month of May, today is Sibling Appreciation Day!

I'm not sure Hallmark makes a card for such an occasion, but maybe you can send an email of love??

Seventeen?

Judging from the amount of zits and the length of hair and the curl of the bangs...I'm calling this one seventeen. I think I'm right. :)

Ahhh...into the journaling already!

Apparently after lunch I was going to an interview. :) Just kidding. I see the bows were still around...