Eleven Days

In eleven days, I will see my girl!

I miss her more than I ever thought possible, and it seems to get worse as the countdown gets closer. Don't get me wrong, I am not home wallowing in my despair -- life is very much bustling along here with Cole and Abbey and their busy lives, my new exercise regime, and my struggling attempt to get this blog off the ground. But I miss the every day interactions that Katie and I would have. We have the same quirky sense of humor, love for all things Broadway, and the same need to just connect with each other -- often. She is the child that would text me from middle school and high school just to tell me that she had thought of something funny. Not earth shattering news, or "I forgot my paper. Could you drop it off?", but just funny stuff that crossed her mind. I love that. Lucky for me, those random texts still continue...just from 300 miles away.

 In the interest of full disclosure, I did get get to see Katie just three weeks ago when we all went to Parents' Weekend. I was trying so desperately to make it a "perfect" weekend, that at one point, my entire family had to remind me to relax and just enjoy that we were all together. No one had a "perfect" plan in mind, so there was nothing to stress over.

 

After spending the morning walking around campus, shopping in the bookstore and having lunch, Katie declared that she really just wanted to go back to the hotel with us and take a nap. For the next few hours, she did exactly that. Cole worked on homework, Abbey swam in the pool, and Mike and I got in a quick workout in the gym. After that, we all went out for an amazing dinner full of lots of laughter and some pretty funny stories. It turned out to be a perfect weekend after all.

 

 

 

And So it Begins

Hi. I'm Denise, and this is my very first blog post ever. I'm starting this blog as a way to chronicle (and thereby remember) the great things happening in my life, but mainly as a way to help me sort out where to go from here. I've had the privilege to be a stay at home mom for the past 18 years, and while I wouldn't trade one minute of my time with each of my children, I am now attempting to sort out who I am, or who I hope to be, in addition to being their mom. In just a few short years, all of my kids will be off and running, and I'm faced with the prospect of filling my days and years with things as meaningful to me as raising them has been. Herein lies the challenge...I have absolutely no idea what that might be or where that path may lead.

 

Here's just a bit about me and my life before I get started...



I have three great kids: Katie, a college freshman, Cole, a high school junior, and Abbey, my seventh grader, who's just starting middle school. They are far and away my best work.

 

 



 



The past two years have been spent knee deep (or neck deep, depending on the day) in the college selection, application and decision process. While it felt at times like it would never end, in hindsight it went by in a blink. We are all now adjusting to life without Katie in the house, and while it is a huge adjustment (one I do not like at all), it's hard to be sad when she is so very happy.  Much more to come on Katie and the entire college application process in a post coming soon.

 

I spend my days at home with two golden retrievers keeping our home life intact (and somewhat organized), and I spend the rest of my time on the sidelines of a soccer field, or the stands of a swim meet, or driving everyone where they need to be. The days and weeks are flying by, and they are often crazy, but I'll take it.

 

 I am trying to write more, exercise for the first real time in my life, and stay more focused on my family and the things that truly matter.  I have strong opinions, am often sarcastic, yet have an overwhelming need to be liked. These things don't always go well together, but I'm working on it.  I am blessed to have a husband (my better half) who supports me in everything I do, loves me despite my many quirks and feeds me very well in the process (much more on food later).

 

I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend to many amazing people. Please join me while I attempt to find my way. Who knows where this will lead?  I have a lot to share, but so much more to learn.

 

Welcome.

 

Denise