The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Mother

  Today my students were writing letters to their future selves that they will open on February 29, 2028. They will be a freshman in high school. They were enjoying thinking of all the possibilities four years could provide them. As young people, a lot can change in that time. But what about at our adult age? How much can really change for me in four years? In 2028, the next Leap Year, I will potentially have an empty nest. My Boyen Bunch will be grown: Bailey will be 28, Savannah will be 25, Jonas will be 22 and my baby, Lorelei will be 20. I could be a mother-in-law, or even a grandma by then! I may have another two or even three more college graduates. Perhaps, that novel of mine will actually be written and published. Who knows...a lot can happen in just four years! Although I didn't quite follow through on last month's goal of getting started on my novel, I did do some major writing. I wrote three grants! One for myself, one with my ELA bestie for a Literacy Lounge, and on...

I'm thinking that I might try to post something daily or at least weekly, this summer on this here little blog of mine.  As a blogger,  they say you should post daily.  I assume that's for the bloggers that make a career of their blog.  I'm lucky to get a post or two out a month!  I'm happy if each post gets 50 page views.  Recently though, my blog actually brought me a little attention from the outside world. (What!?!  You mean people that aren't related or friends with me, actually read my blog!). The Mutual of Omaha, Aha Moment campaign reached out to me, via a blog comment, back on my Little Celebrations post.  They wanted me to film a clip about an Aha Moment I've had.  What an honor! Saturday they sent me a message that my clip was ready.  Here's the link to my Aha Moment . Anyway...my goal this summer is to really pursue my writing, put more focus into it and maybe get that book started.  Blogging is a gre...

O, the month of May, the merry month of May, So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green! by Thomas Dekker It has been a merry month and let's just say it...busy!  That over used word meaning: adj.    engaged or at work . Synonyms include: active, assiduous, swamped, engrossed, having a full plate, tied up.  It has been those words and more.  Definitely merry though, each crazy event this month has brought much merriment and joy to our family.  May always begins for us with two very special birthdays and Mother's day all in the same week. May 3rd is our sweet baby girl Lorelei's birthday.  She turned 8 this year.  We celebrated with her very first slumber party!!  Wow...that was fun and exhausting!  We had 14 girls sleep over.  Well, some of them slept.    Just three days later, we celebrated John's birthday!  His was a bit more low key.  His favorite dinner w...

This past Saturday, my mom had her 21st annual Symposium for Parkinson's disease.  Savannah has been an active volunteer with my mom's support groups since around second grade.  In the past two years, she become a regular part of the once a month support group meetings and a great help at their annual walk-a-thon and symposium.  She's made cupcakes for the silent auction for the past two years.  This year her cupcakes brought in $70.00!!  All donated to the American Parkinson's Association.  The National newsletter has decided to run a story on her volunteer work!  We are of course, proud of her generous heart.  She just loves these patients and let me tell you...they love her!  So many people came up to me to tell me just how much she means to them and how special she is...like I didn't already know! ;) Bailey did a bit of volunteering at the Symposium as well, in his own way.  He and some friends created a stri...