Wow! I am so impressed and proud of our Lavonne! A 25K! I honestly have never figured out the metrics thing, but I know that is a long way - much longer than the 3 miles or so I can eak out on the treadmill before refueling with icecream and Dr. Pepper.
Congratulations, Lavonne!
What is on your "life list" to complete?
Here's to summer!
-M
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Where has the time gone....
Where has the time gone? I see it passing everyday in the faces of my children - somehow they have grown from babies to little people with opinions and voices and wills of their own. I see it in my own face, when I see a photo of myself and recognize my mother or sister. I see it in some of the things I say, things I thought I would never say - when I hear my parents' words coming out of my voice.
Tonight my husband said, "You realize, when Amanda (our oldest) goes to college, Lauren (our youngest) will be Amanda's age now." He said it with a mixture of despair and wonder - as in, will we ever be free of soccer games and birthday parties.
And my immediate reply was, "Thank God." As tired as we get of the running and sleepless nights, I believe that all too soon, we will ask, "Where has the time gone?" and that the only answer we will hear is the memories of these days and a longing for this time.
Mary
Tonight my husband said, "You realize, when Amanda (our oldest) goes to college, Lauren (our youngest) will be Amanda's age now." He said it with a mixture of despair and wonder - as in, will we ever be free of soccer games and birthday parties.
And my immediate reply was, "Thank God." As tired as we get of the running and sleepless nights, I believe that all too soon, we will ask, "Where has the time gone?" and that the only answer we will hear is the memories of these days and a longing for this time.
Mary
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Matador Marathoners
Congratulations to Randy Hrechko and Ralph Serralta who completed the Boston Marathon (26.2 miles) on Monday, April 20th. They crossed the finish line in 3:30.
For those not familiar with the Boston Marathon, participants must qualify to run in what is considered the world's oldest annual marathon, by meeting a designated time standard that corresponds with their age group. This year the marathon had close to 23,000 runners who qualified and participated.
Randy and his wife Lee currently live in Columbia, South Carolina; while Ralph and his wife Gail and family live in Arlington, Texas.
Congratulations guys! I think it's awesome that the two of you have kept in touch over the years and are able to use the marathon as a way to reunite.
One hour till the start
"The Aftermath" (as Ralph called it)
The Post-Rehydration Party
Saturday, March 14, 2009
In Our Thoughts...
Please keep Laura Naumann Heller in your thoughts and prayers. Her mother Peggy, passed away on Friday. The obituary may be read at http://www.treshewell.com/index.cfm
The last email address I have for Laura is LLHELLER@satx.rr.com
Lavonne
The last email address I have for Laura is LLHELLER@satx.rr.com
Lavonne
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Stages in Our Lives
The loss of Julie’s mom has caused a restirring of emotions these last few days. It’s been a reminder that although we’re adults, there are still several stages in life remaining for us to experience.
The stages that make-up the Class of ‘86 are rather diverse. Some of us are traveling the world, some becoming empty-nesters; others are experiencing the joys of teenage drama, others are just getting started with their child-rearing, while others, believe it or not, are experiencing the joy of grandchildren.
And then there are those who have a dual role as a parent…not only to their children, but their parents as well. Yes - WE'VE become our parent’s parents. Our daily vocabulary includes words such as hospital, nursing home, doctor appointments and hospice.
There’s no doubt that Julie and I are not the only ones in our class to experience the loss of a parent(s) within the last 23 years. When you sit down and think about things realistically; several of us will experience this fact of life within the next 10 years. Some of us, on the other hand, have been down this road earlier than expected, and must sit back helplessly as we watch our classmates take this painful, emotional journey with their parents.
I was blessed to play a role in mom’s final stage. I was advised by a very wise man to treat her illness as a “long goodbye”; and that I did. I thanked her for working two, sometimes three jobs; I thanked her for making us work during our teenage years; but I also asked forgiveness for things I said/did that undoubtedly caused her heartache over the years. As she slept, I studied her hands and face….the fine lines, the wrinkles, the calluses. When I hugged her, I inhaled her scent and prayed I'd never forget it. As a daughter I still have a few regrets, but I feel in my heart, mom and I were at peace when she drew her last breath.
It would take some time to realize that I wasn't the same person I was the day before mom died. I comfort my mind with the thought that although mom left a bit of herself with me here on earth; she also took a part of my heart with her on her new journey.
I had another friend tell me that once both parents are gone, you actually go through a phase where you feel orphaned. It would take months after mom’s death to understand what she meant. It would take a personal crisis to realize my “life-line” was no longer available….no parent to call, no arms to hold me, no advice, no sounding board. I had in a sense, become “mom”. And that’s when I realized that a new stage for me was beginning.
As a parent, you pray that your children out-live you. You pray that as a parent, God will bless you enough days on earth to watch your children grow and experience all life has to offer. And sometimes, for reasons we never understand, God has His own plans, and takes loved ones home before they’ve had the chance to spread their wings….without the opportunity for us to say goodbye.
We tell our kids we love them everyday. My hope is that you do the same with your parents. I hope it doesn’t take a terminal illness to bring this to fruition. I hope you treasure everyday God has blessed you in still having them in your lives. I hope you take the time to memorize every fine line and wrinkle on their face and hands....listen to them tell their childhood stories...inhale their scent when you hug them. I promise there will be a day when you want to close your eyes and retrace those lines, their stories, and their scent in your memory….and in your heart.
- Lavonne
The stages that make-up the Class of ‘86 are rather diverse. Some of us are traveling the world, some becoming empty-nesters; others are experiencing the joys of teenage drama, others are just getting started with their child-rearing, while others, believe it or not, are experiencing the joy of grandchildren.
And then there are those who have a dual role as a parent…not only to their children, but their parents as well. Yes - WE'VE become our parent’s parents. Our daily vocabulary includes words such as hospital, nursing home, doctor appointments and hospice.
There’s no doubt that Julie and I are not the only ones in our class to experience the loss of a parent(s) within the last 23 years. When you sit down and think about things realistically; several of us will experience this fact of life within the next 10 years. Some of us, on the other hand, have been down this road earlier than expected, and must sit back helplessly as we watch our classmates take this painful, emotional journey with their parents.
I was blessed to play a role in mom’s final stage. I was advised by a very wise man to treat her illness as a “long goodbye”; and that I did. I thanked her for working two, sometimes three jobs; I thanked her for making us work during our teenage years; but I also asked forgiveness for things I said/did that undoubtedly caused her heartache over the years. As she slept, I studied her hands and face….the fine lines, the wrinkles, the calluses. When I hugged her, I inhaled her scent and prayed I'd never forget it. As a daughter I still have a few regrets, but I feel in my heart, mom and I were at peace when she drew her last breath.
It would take some time to realize that I wasn't the same person I was the day before mom died. I comfort my mind with the thought that although mom left a bit of herself with me here on earth; she also took a part of my heart with her on her new journey.
I had another friend tell me that once both parents are gone, you actually go through a phase where you feel orphaned. It would take months after mom’s death to understand what she meant. It would take a personal crisis to realize my “life-line” was no longer available….no parent to call, no arms to hold me, no advice, no sounding board. I had in a sense, become “mom”. And that’s when I realized that a new stage for me was beginning.
As a parent, you pray that your children out-live you. You pray that as a parent, God will bless you enough days on earth to watch your children grow and experience all life has to offer. And sometimes, for reasons we never understand, God has His own plans, and takes loved ones home before they’ve had the chance to spread their wings….without the opportunity for us to say goodbye.
We tell our kids we love them everyday. My hope is that you do the same with your parents. I hope it doesn’t take a terminal illness to bring this to fruition. I hope you treasure everyday God has blessed you in still having them in your lives. I hope you take the time to memorize every fine line and wrinkle on their face and hands....listen to them tell their childhood stories...inhale their scent when you hug them. I promise there will be a day when you want to close your eyes and retrace those lines, their stories, and their scent in your memory….and in your heart.
- Lavonne
Thursday, February 26, 2009
In our Thoughts....
Please keep Julie Pomerantz and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this time. Julie's mom, Hana Pomerantz passed away on Wednesday, February 25th.
The obituary can be read in today's Seguin Gazette-Enterprise.
The last email address we have for Julie is jpomerantz@longburner.com
Lavonne
The obituary can be read in today's Seguin Gazette-Enterprise.
The last email address we have for Julie is jpomerantz@longburner.com
Lavonne
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Thanks for the nudge, Lavonne. I was actually thinking on my way home from this month's school PTO meeting, how much I enjoy reading your blog and your postings and feeling just a smidge guilty that I have not posted on this site in so long. Trying to get our principal to blog....And I was thinking how much I don't enjoy PTO meetings...and wondering if the tooth fairy would remember to make a delivery to my 5-year old in celebration of his first lost tooth....
Recently, I realized how complacent I have become. Somehow, somewhere, I slipped into the ease of routine and a bubble of familiarity. It is not a bad thing, but it is something that I did not fully realize until I was faced with change. And not work change - that is old hat. But there is nothing like personal change to open your eyes.
It made me think of all of the big change milestones I have marked - that feeling of wanting certainty in times of uncertainty. I think graduating from SHS was the first of those for me - where I really felt uncertain. Not moving from Texas to AZ when I was a toddler, not moving to Texas from AZ in 4th grade, not transitioning between schools - nope - suddenly being adrift as a graduate with that big future stretching out forever in front of me...
Certainly the loss of my mother overshadowed that and was the most profound change. Graduating from UT. And then losing Daddy. Getting married. Moving from TX to CO. Having kids - still baffles me why they let me actually bring the kids home with me....
While you could never say that all of these changes were "good" - I do truly believe that change provides us with an opportunity to consider things we never would have, to do things to pop that complacency bubble....
Maybe I'll never get the PTO to put their auction on line. Maybe I'll never get the principal to create a blog so the school will have a better sense of community. Maybe some changes are too hard. But for me, I now know that I need change - whether you make the change or not, just having the chance can open your eyes.... Now I just need to see if the tooth fairy has a dollar in her purse - that's one change that deserves celebration!
What are the changes that have marked your life? What lessons have you learned about yourself or others? Kinda interesting to think about....
-M
Recently, I realized how complacent I have become. Somehow, somewhere, I slipped into the ease of routine and a bubble of familiarity. It is not a bad thing, but it is something that I did not fully realize until I was faced with change. And not work change - that is old hat. But there is nothing like personal change to open your eyes.
It made me think of all of the big change milestones I have marked - that feeling of wanting certainty in times of uncertainty. I think graduating from SHS was the first of those for me - where I really felt uncertain. Not moving from Texas to AZ when I was a toddler, not moving to Texas from AZ in 4th grade, not transitioning between schools - nope - suddenly being adrift as a graduate with that big future stretching out forever in front of me...
Certainly the loss of my mother overshadowed that and was the most profound change. Graduating from UT. And then losing Daddy. Getting married. Moving from TX to CO. Having kids - still baffles me why they let me actually bring the kids home with me....
While you could never say that all of these changes were "good" - I do truly believe that change provides us with an opportunity to consider things we never would have, to do things to pop that complacency bubble....
Maybe I'll never get the PTO to put their auction on line. Maybe I'll never get the principal to create a blog so the school will have a better sense of community. Maybe some changes are too hard. But for me, I now know that I need change - whether you make the change or not, just having the chance can open your eyes.... Now I just need to see if the tooth fairy has a dollar in her purse - that's one change that deserves celebration!
What are the changes that have marked your life? What lessons have you learned about yourself or others? Kinda interesting to think about....
-M
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