Busy summer

 This is a beautiful puzzle that I am not buying because I don't like 1000 piece puzzles.  If it were 500 I would definitely want to get it, even better if it was 300.

My clinic placement is going well.  I only get 6-8 hours a week which is pretty terrible since I drive 6 hours a week and spend over 20 between driving and canceled appointments etc...  But I'm learning a lot and I'm glad I got to work with my supervisor.

Recent events remind me that I don't win by complaining.  While in graduate school I am visiting someone else's house and they make the rules.  If they want me to succeed, they might make things easier for me.  If they don't want me to succeed, they will make things harder for me.  Focusing on the hard isn't going to change anything.  Looking for the good will help me be happier.

P is doing several AP trainings then we'll go pick up M and visit my dad.  The next week I take M to Auburn then continue on to pick up G.  I've got to finish up a few projects and take 2 more tests.  My semester is mostly over.  Phew!  Then I'll have a few weeks off as the kids get settled in school.

This summer has been busy but also really good.  The boys have a piano teacher again.  Hurray!  LP and L are doing a swallowing therapy to help with their teeth.  lP goes to cross country for fun a few mornings a week.  I've been able to do a few walking dates.  lP and B went to orchestra camp.  I'm really proud of P and me for making sure the kids still got to do nice things even though I've been doing a placement and P has had several weeks of AP things.

protagonist

 M is having a good summer.  I love her.  I so want for her to have a happy life.

Having gone through hard times it is so hard to relax and enjoy.

She is in a good time.  I will be grateful and breath.

She is amazing.

1 year down

M is home for a month before she flies to MD for the summer camp she works at.  We've been able to spend time together with kayak trips, Dr. visits, and family time.  I'm so glad we've had this chance to reconnect.  She is going to be an RA in the fall which will give her free room and board.  She'll get a lot of money back from her pell grant and scholarship.  This will allow her to save up for a car.  Way to go M! 

College

 M is having fun and trying new things.  She joined the rowing team and ran a half marathon!  

Adulting

 M got a job at a summer camp in Maryland.  She hustled, applied, interviewed, and did the training all on her own.  I'm really proud of her for making that goal and doing all the work to get achieve it.  She flew out a week after graduation and flew back barely(?) in time to check into the dorm.

While she was at camp she served as a camp counselor for different age groups, taught sessions in paddle sports, worked in the kitchen, and even drove the motor boat a few times, subbing for the regular person.  she had co-workers who lived in Maryland so she spent weekends with them rather than going on some of the big trips offered to most counselors.  

Getting her home was a crazy adventure.  She was stranded at BWI for 22 hours because of bad storms.  She changed flights 3 times, and was on a plane at midnight which got canceled!  Throughout she communicated with us.  When she was talking to dad after the canceled flight some other passengers heard her situation.  They adopted her, escorting her to the front of the ticket line, where a man gave up his ticket so she could fly home on the 9am flight to Nashville.  I picked her up and we drove straight to Auburn for the manditory 4pm meeting.  

She got moved in to the dorm with a friend from high school.  They were going to both be in the band but it looks like M decided to focus on work and school instead.  All good things come to an end.  I've enjoyed the years she was in band.   I hope she can remember it fondly.

Camp weekend

 We attended a family weekend at the camp with Hands and Voices.  It was so fun.  I work for Hands and Voices so it was more fun for me, having a role.  I love the location, the family time, the deaf community.  It is really beautiful.  Some sign, some don't.  We're all parents with deaf kids and accepting differences is important.  I make so many important professional connections working for Hands and Voices.  I have a clear vision of how to move forward.  One lady challenged me to come up with a catchy name.  I did.  So she challenged me to come up with a solid mission statement.  I'm working on that now too.  So good.  

World Finals

 M's indoor wind group is in Dayton, Ohio right now.  They went up Tuesday and have been rehearsing for  4 days there and staying at a youth camp/cabin situation.  I'm so amazed at the director's ability to refine the program to higher and higher levels.  M sent me a text yesterday saying that they were being given 1 hour off for doing such a good job on their 9 hour rehersal.  I'm so glad she is able to be part of this amazing group.