Laramie Visit October 2010

Friday morning got up early and zipped over to pick up Shelly Levalley whom I met that morning for the first time. Shelly and I hit it off right off the bat as Hannah predicted that we would. We set off for Laramie, Wyoming to visit our kids. Hannah lives right across the street from Shelly's son, John. Shelly and I chatted for four straight hours. We talked about neuropsychology, autism, funny things our kids did when they were little, and a ton of things we have in common. We stopped three times to pee, get gas and we ate chicken livers and turkey sandwiches. The last stop was for Starbucks and a short walk. Shelly offered but I drove the whole way because I wanted to see if I could! I can! We got to Laramie about 5:30. We found Hannah's cute blue house and walked right in like we owned it! Hannah wasn't home but came in right after. It was very messy so leave it to me to say something and offend Hannah. Hannah's room was not messy. It was large and had new carpeting, a large window and separate entrance. She had it decorated nicely with her art and memories.

We went across the street to where the boys live. Their apartments are so cool! They live in an elmentary school that has been converted into apartments. They have large kitchens, livingrooms and bathrooms. The ceilings are tall and they have big windows that go all the way up and chalkboards on the walls! John, Patrick and Tyler live across the hall from Hannah's boyfriend Rob, Conner, and Bob. Ben lives downstairs. Hannah lives with Lucas and Sue. John was off climbing so Hannah, Rob, Shelly, Tyler and I walked to coal creek for a cup of coffee and a chat. The weather the whole weekend was perfect!

That evening, Hannah, Rob and I went to Corona Village for mexican food. It was fun to get to know Rob and to see them together. They have a great relationship. After dinner we taught Rob to drive the stick shift and they were so patient with each other. In the grocery store, Rob kicked his heels up to the side while driving the cart when he thought I wasn't looking.

After the grocery store we sat around with all the boys for awhile but I was exhausted so Hannah walked me to her apartment. I slept like a baby.

In the morning, Hannah and I went to Coal Creek for breakfast. I had a yummy cherry turnover and a latte. We talked and played on our computers. We walked around downtown and Shelly called to tell us about half price Chacos so I got Leah a pair. We went to Hannah's favorit thrift store, New to You and I bought Rob a Beatles t-shirt, a t-shirt with planets on it, a real starfish for Hannah, and a tiny ring and sunglasses and a pink pin for me. We got Hannah's hair trimmed. At one point, Rob texted Hannah, "I pooped Corona Village." I thought it was hilarious.

We went to Rob's apartment to eat our leftover mexican food then hiked across campus to the art building. We looked at Hannah's peices then Hannah got forms for Rob and I to make an iron plaque. I don't know when I've had so much fun. I carved a cross and Rob carved a mountain scene. We took them outside and watched while art students melted iron (2700 degrees) and poured it into the molds. Fascinating. Rob went to the library and Hannah and I went to her art studio. I watched her paint and read and played on my computer. We went back to the other studio where Hannah's teacher gave her some criticism on one of her peices and she was pretty discouraged. We met up with Rob who hugged her and called Scott from her apartment who also cheered her up. We napped then went to the boy's apartment. We ended up going out for pizza and played darts (5 boys, Hannah and I).

Sunday morning we got up and drove to the Snowy mountains about an hour away with Shelly and John and Rob. We hiked up the mountain and soon left Shelly and John behind. It was perfect hiking weather with a cool breeze and fresh mountain air. The trail was dirt and rocks and parts were completely rock. There were even large granite rocks we had to climb on. I did well until the last 500 feet or so. Hannah and Rob went ahead and I trudged along, not sure I was going to make it. We rested before going up the last 20 feet and I insisted on raisins. The last part was scary and I whimpered hugging the boulders as Hannah encouraged me from around a corner. But we made it! We took pictures and had a yummy picnic lunch of peanut butter and honey sandwiches, peaches, apples and raisins. The trek back down was harder for me. A muscle on the back of my knee became quite painful. Hannah ran ahead and Rob stayed with me, patiently walking me down. Altogther we hiked 5 hours, 2000 feet!

Back at the apartment after showering, we cooked mashed potatoes and corn on the cob to go with the steaks we had bought that the boys grilled. Tyler made a wonderful garlic butter to go on everything. Shelly baked the most delicious peach pies. Boys kept dropping by and the food disappeared. We had good conversation, good food, good music and good beer. A nice breeze blew in the window. Hannah was cutting leaves out of paper products for her art project and Rob was wheeling around in a wheelchair they use for furniture. I had a really good time.

Hannah and I had trouble sleeping. We took pictures of her dirty feet. I looked at her beautiful face and said it seemed surreal I was with her and that the next day I wouldn't be again. This trip to Laramie was amazing and special.

In the morning, we got up really early and I walked Hannah to work at the coffee shop on campus. I cried when I said goodbye.

The ride home was long and uneventful as we listened to our audiobook, John Grisham's, The Testament.

Shelly's Peach Pie Recipe:

In a prepared shell, put 1/4 cup each of flour and sugar and a teaspoon or so of cinnamon. Add cut up fresh peaches and put more flour, sugar, and cinnamon on top. Pour half and half or whole cream in around the peaches until the pie tin is fullish. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes then 35 minutes more at 350. Yummy.

Blissful Rut

I am loving this blissful rut I am in. My daily routine: Get up. Scratch the pups. Let them out. Get ready for work. Make breakfast. Eat breakfast in my clean livingroom while watching Joyce Meyer. Have my quiet time. Go to work. Come home to my still clean house. Greet the dogs. Take a nap with the pups. Get up. Have a snack while watching Oprah. Go to exercise class (or classes). Come home. Fix dinner--whatever I want. Eat dinner in my clean livingroom. Crosstitch while watching something. Finish watching whatever while checking my facebook and email. Sometimes blog. Turn on music and read til bedtime. On Friday go to Chipotle, preferably with Scott. Maybe catch a movie. Saturday clean a little then do what I want! On Sunday go to church. Sunday evening Bible study. Sometime talk to the kids. Blissful.

An Emotional Day

Today was emotional all the way through. Today was the Bully Prevention kick off day so we started with the most fabulous production in an assembly. It was called "Balance of Power" and talked about how life is unfair and how we can accept that and move past it. It gave examples of kids who had it rough who didn't let their circumstances hold them back. It worked in the anti bully message beautifully and was presented through music and song and people that the kids could really relate to. The kids were on the edge of their seats the entire time. Then we went to the classrooms and did class meetings and team building activities with the kids all morning and took them out to play. There was a kid in my group who was full of activity and was sort of challenging but he really got into the discussions and seemed like he had a lot of "ah-ha"moments. During the basketball tournament, he not only impressed the heck out of everyone with his athletic abilities, he demonstrated amazing leadership on the court. I watched him take a teammate who was struggling to the side and give him a pep talk and then comfort and encourage an opponent after the game! It brought tears to my eyes! At lunch my co-teacher and the health aid told about witnessing a horrifying wreck this morning. The car flipped and almost landed on my friend's car and both people were ejected from the car, one of whom landed on the pavement right behind my friend. My co-teacher got out of his car and tried to help the victims. He cried as he told me and so we prayed together. Then the whole school had an all school party and the kids were WAY out of hand and I was fired up trying to help get it under control. I did relax and had a blast at one point doing the two step with the kids. Then I received a report of a group of kids threatening to beat up another kiddo and the Principals were busy supervising so I had to take statements and call parents. This was extremely disappointing after we spent the whole day doing activities to try to prevent this behavior. So I capped all this off by coming home and watching Oprah's extreme dream show where she gave away amazing things to people who truly deserve it. I cried through the entire thing. For example, she gave a vacation to Italy to a mom who had raised her three children completely alone and held down three jobs to keep them out of the homeless shelter. Then she paid off the ladies' kids' student loans and gave her enough money to take a year off! Scott struggles with watching Oprah give so publically but I think that she inspires others by telling these people's stories and also inspires all of us to give also. So after all this emotion today, I think I'll do to bed early, I'm exhausted!

contentment

I am so content lately. I'm content to hang out in my clean, quiet house. I play on my computer on facebook or gmail and I crosstitch. I take a nap after work and go to my exercise classes and come home and shower. I fix something, usually frozen, for two, and watch oprah (tivo'd). Tonight Scott got home early from practice and we ate orange chicken. I crosstitched most of the evening and we watched Monday night football interspersed with American Pickers on the History channel. The dogs come up periodically to play or get a scratch. Scott is bored and I am content!

I'm ok

I'm doing ok with being alone! I do miss the kids quite a bit but I'm adjusting pretty well. The last few weeks were pretty busy with work and something almost every night so I even chose to stay home this weekend instead of go with Scott to the soccer tournament in KC. Leah wanted to see me this weekend too so I'll go to Newton tomorrow for a good chunk of the day. But I wanted to get some things done this weekend, like catch up on my blogging! I like the quiet in the house. I like how it stays clean! I like how I can watch what I want on TV and either listen to my music or have absolute quiet if I want. We've only done about two loads of laundry since the kids left. I bought a bunch of food that they wouldn't have eaten. We only have to run the dishwasher once a week! I can sit in the livingroom in my night gown all evening and not worry about who is coming to the door! Our grocery bill is tons cheaper! I'm ok. But I hope Joel calls today.

Debbie

My friend Debbie died this week. I got to know Debbie when she was the health aide at my school. Her youngest, Aaron, and Hannah used to hang out when they were in middle school and early high school. Debbie and I ate lunch together 2-3 times per week for about 3 or 4 years. We had a lot in common--two girls and the youngest, a boy, all who played soccer. Her husband used to spend a lot of time away from home with soccer activities. Debbie loved dogs and got her puppy, Jack, around the time I got Rex. We got them together a couple of times to play. Debbie had already fought breast cancer when I hung out with her. Then it came back in her bones and her liver but she beat that, too. She stopped working after the chemo and radiation wore her down. And then the cancer came back into her brain. I visited Debbie two weeks ago and got to pray with her and reassure her of heaven. She joked with us even then. The last thing she said to me was, "I like your pink shorts!". Here she was laying in a hospital bed with oxygen and an iv and no use of her legs and she was complimenting me! Debbie was always open about her cancer and she was so brave. She kept a great sense of humor and always wanted to know how I was (pretty remarkable). I read what her husband wrote about the moment she died (at home with her family and dogs nearby). I cried like a baby because it said her little dog, Jack, howled right at the moment she died. It was about the sadest thing I've ever heard. I will miss Debbie. I hope she is loving heaven.

Hannah

Today is Hannah's 22 birthday. I talked to her a little on the phone today and reminded her that on MY 22nd birthday, I was getting married! Anyway, 22 years ago today, I gave birth to our first child, a girl, Hannah Julaine Clark. After two miscarraiges, we got pregnant with Hannah. We got to see her in a sonogram at 8 weeks gestation. Her tiny heart was beating and she looked like a fish but we loved her instantly! I had to stop working with 6 weeks left in my pregnancy and lay around because I'd started to dialate and then she was born right on time! I went into labor at about 5:30 in the morning. We got to the hospital about 8. My labor was pretty intense--got stuck in transition for hours. My regular doctor wasn't there so this male doctor and Scott watched football while I pushed forever. The idiot had me laying on my back with my feet up in stirrups. Finally, he gave me some shots in my hips and stuck these huge forceps in and yanked out Hannah! They weighed her and wrapped her up and handed her to Scott before I got to hold her. He handed her to me immediately. My first thought when I saw her was, "Oh my God, I've given birth to my sister in law!" She really looked like Shari. She knew my voice immediately and was hungry right away. She sucked all my baby weight off me the first week. She weighed 9 lbs 2 ounces and looked like she was three months old at birth. Scott and I were THRILLED! You'd think he'd want a boy first but he wanted a tough girl whose sports he could coach. I wanted a girly girl. We both got exactly what we wanted. Flash forward 18 years and I have a picture of Hannah at her senior prom with long, beautiful, curly blonde hair, a fabulous body, long legs, dressed in an aqua blue sequined gown looking like a model. But she'd go out on the soccer field and knock anyone flying who got in her way! My Hannah. Hannah came out independent and demanding. When she cried as a baby, everyone jumped up to get her what she wanted. No room is ever the same when she's in it. She is funny and smart and creative tender and strong. She's loud and silly and cusses like a sailor. Hannah has the most incredible people skills--she can talk anyone into anything and they think it was their idea! If she wants something, she goes after it. She's a peace maker and a problem solver. Hannah is a fantastic artist, athlete, and rock climber. I miss her very much and wish I was with her today. I'm going to see her on October 1 and I can't wait! I love you, Hannah-belle aka Hanny Banny.