Change in Weather; Changes at Home

I'm noticing some early signs of autumn. The leaves are getting tinges of yellow and orange on them, the crickets are slowing down their nightly song, and the nights are considerably cooler than the daytime hours. School has already started here (Wednesday was DQ's first day back), and it's a shock to see the school buses out in full swing. The summer has certainly snuck by me without much of a warning. In fact, it didn't even feel like I had a summer! But, I do love autumn, so while I'm sad to see summer fade away, I look forward to the colors and smells and activities of the fall.

I can't believe DQ is a senior this year! What mixed emotions that conjures up. She is just so ready to get out and tackle the world, and she feels held back by having to go through her senior year. She has great plans for herself in college and thereafter - her goals and focus on what she wants to do with her life amaze me. She is going to get her Bachelor's in English (creative writing focus) and while she's teaching high school, she wants to pursue her Masters and Doctorate in creative writing with focus on linguistics and Renassaince History. She wants to be published by the age of 25 - and at the rate she is going, I have no doubts that she will make it! Her back condition is getting better, slowly but surely, but now she has injured her ankle so we are off again to yet another specialist. That is not very good news, considering band season has just started. . . We found out she needs extensive dental work done - just at the same time as all of her dental benefits have been exhausted. We will be getting Senior Pictures taken soon, plus she needs to take drivers ed after band season is done, and we will begin the process of applying for scholarships. This shall be a busy year!

TP will be moving into her new apartment in a week. We have spent the last several weeks finding good "deals" on furnishings for it. She just got a new puppy, a cocker spaniel, to keep her company as she doesn't really like to be alone at night. The puppy is adorable, and I am certain she will take very good care of him. She has switched majors from nursing to accounting, and along with that change comes a new college - she will be starting at Ohio State on September 25th. I am certain it was a difficult decision for her to make, but it is better for her to find out now that nursing is not for her, rather than finding out a few months before she graduates that she doesn't want to be a nurse! I think she will really excel in accounting! She has always been very good at math, she's very detailed oriented and organized, and she loves working with numbers, and it is a versatile career with many different jobs from which to choose. Once she gets back into the swing of things, I think she will enjoy OSU. I graduated from there, although I am still a tried and true Michigan fan! We are very proud of her decision to return to school and finish her education, and we truly understand and respect how difficult and painful of a decision it was for her to make. In the meantime, she is working at an office part-time, waitressing part-time, and helping me out with my paperwork and billing for my business part-time. She is such a good worker, and I will be giving her more work as time goes on, once I finish up getting my office in order. It's also fun to watch her as she faces starting out on her own - to be truly independent and yet close enough to home that if she needs us for anything, we can be there for her in two seconds flat. This independence will open many doors for her, and it will be exciting to see her take charge of her own life and build up some self-confidence as she makes good decisions and responsible choices, and start to create her life as a young and independent woman. She will do fine, but I shall miss her like crazy. However, while I'm a little sad to see her go, I am also so very happy for her to be able to fulfill her wish of getting out on her own. She will do great, I'm positive!

I continue to pray for both of my daughters as they face the transitions in their lives. This stage of life is always so difficult for young women as they face decisions and choices which will impact the rest of their lives. I pray that they ask God for help in making their decisions, and that they follow HIS will and not their own, and that they surround themselves with good, Christian friends who will uphold our values and beliefs and encourage them to stay strong in our faith. It's a tough world out there, with many false promises, and with negative attitudes about faith, about having a good plan for your life with God in the center of those plans, about getting a good education and the value of hard work; about the importance of remaining true to your values and beliefs and staying close to your family. There are so many pulls in so many different directions, and it's easy to fall under the influence of the promise of an easier way of doing things, or of not having to listen to God's truths and follow them. I pray that my girls will uphold God's teachings and our morals, despite what popular culture tells them. At times, I feel like I am fighting a losing battle. But I persist in prayer, in encouragment, and in love for my daughters.

So, there are many changes going on here. And I decided to write more frequently once TP moves out. I have picked up another writing gig for a local parenting newsletter, along with my usual column at CWO. So, some good things are happening around here. And I thank God and praise Him for getting us through this summer, and for the sacred blessing of being my kid's mom.