Real Life

Yeah! We made it. We have raised our last child, and he graduated from High School yesterday.The end of an era. The beginning of a new journey -- for him, for us. This is the first time in our 25 years of marriage (whenever he moves out)that we can say, we don't have any children at home now. They are all adults and living on their own.. What a concept. The graduation was nice and they all looked so nice in their caps and gowns. I had family come out of town, and all of my kids were there. I got some good pictures of my kids, as well as my grandkids. It was just a nice family day -- long tiring, and because of the health issues I have, it was something that I just had to get through. But the kids all pitched in and help serve and clean up with the reception. The reception was small but nice. I would say there were 20-30 there, which -- cake wise :) was just the right amount. There were people there that I expected, but there were a few that surprised me being there. Yes, we sent them invitations/announcments, but still. One of them is a lady that we have been connecting lately with out health issues. She has cancer .. its not mesothelioma but I'm not sure what kind. All I know is that they went in and took alot of her intentine out awhile back. I dont' have cancer, but we are taking some of the same medicines, so its interesting to compare notes and such. She was a big help yesterday as well. Nice lady. But now...the big day, the big weekend is over, and its time for us to get back to regular life, and for Ethan to step out in REAL life.

Proud Of Me

With the stress of the upcoming graduation and reception, I have one more thing to throw in the mix. I'm not sure if it will be added stress or not. I no longer have an afternoon job. I bowed out gracefully, and our boss appreciated that. He wants his new wife to be doing what I am doing (for a variety of reasons), but he didn't know how to "fire" someone who was doing a good job and he has never had a problem with. David and I talked about it, and decided that we could probably handle the loss of income. I will still be working at the church in the mornings, and then the income I make working here at home, I should still be able to meet the few financial obligations I have. Besides the working (not working) challenge (that I am embracing as a positive thing), I would like to also work on some other things that are lacking in my life and I would like to change for the better. If taking somekind of weight loss products is what I need to do, then so be it. And I want to start decluttering and making the house more company friendly. Even 15 minutes a day would make a huge difference around here. I just need to work out a schedule for myself, that doesn't involve sitting in front of the computer and TV all afternoon, and make this new development in my life apositive thing. I have to make this work. I'm tired of being tired all the time and not doing much every day. I can see this going either way, so I'm focusing on the positive and try to make my husband proud of me for the changes.

Letting Go

I have been working on graduation announcements and reception invitations this afternoon. I wish I could have been looking at slimming pills reviews instead, and figure out what I could do in the next two weeks to make a difference. Its going to be a long weekend, with graduation, and 2 receptions. And major relief that it is over. Sadness as well, that it is over as well. My baby graduates from high school. A whole new life ahead, for all of us. He will be starting a new life, probably in a new home, and probably even a new job. We will have the same home and same job(s), but with something different. Quietness. No one at home but the two of us. We have had 5 kids over the last 33 years, and the last one will be flying the coop in just a few short weeks. The end of an era. I hope I adjust well. In many ways, I'm not looking forward to it. Ethan and I are close. We talk. We share our days. We help each other. No having him here will be different. But, I have to let go sometime. Now is the time.

Getting A Quote

David needs to call our insurance company and see what we need to do about our life insurance. Right now, we have it set up where Ethan would get the bulk of it because we took this policy out many years ago, when he was little. So, our logic it was going to cost someone alot of out of pocket money to finish raising him. But now that he has turned 18 and will be graduating in a money, he is pretty much on an equal playing field with his brothers and sisters. He's not going to college, so we don't have to take that into consideration. Since we will be changing things, maybe we should get a term insurance quote and make sure we have the best policy in place that will take care of me or David when something happens to one of us, or that the kids will get a nice tidy sum if something happens to the both of us at the same time.

Vacationing At Branson

Last year, this company called us and talked David into buying a trip to Branson -- 3 days, 4 nights. We had 18 months to decide to book our rooms, and 2 years to go. They called the other day to remind us we had until June to get things in place. Since Branson is just down the road from us, I don't think we will have to search for travel insurance online, but we might get online and see what all we would like to do, while we are there, as well as on the way. Its probably an 8 hour drive, so we could turn this into a real vacation. Ethan will be out on his own, and it would just be the two fo us. I would like to feel better physically,so will work on that. Enjoying this trip is a great incentive.