sentimental journey

I packed the last of the school lunches yesterday. It might be hard to believe that the thought of no more scrambling to find both a lunch box and enough food to feed a ravenous but picky teenaged boy might reduce me to tears. I however, am a sentimental fool. (I guess I should mention the last wearing of the chapel shirt which occurred this past Wednesday. Yes, I do notice things like that. However, I might rejoice at the last washing of the school uniform. And I'll be thankful that the shirts lasted the entire year without disintegrating into nothingness.)

The boy had a doctors appointment this morning so I dropped him off at school after we finished. Gathered outside (up and down some stairs) were many of the students that have accompanied the boy on his journey through school. (It was the Great Physics Egg Drop. Much hilarity and egg yolks ensued. The boy's egg survived with a "dent." ??? ) Looking at them all gathered there reminded me that I would not be seeing some of their faces again after next weeks graduation. I think that was one of the hardest things about Jessi's graduation as well. It's not just your child who is beginning a new chapter in life, all of their friends are beginning one as well. And while I might think of them as "mine", I'm not sure they see me the same way.

Anyway, I suspect the next few days will be filled with moments looking back and looking forward. For tonight though, here's to the last of school lunches...(although the boy did offer to let me continue making sandwiches for him.)

Dreams...

Several months ago, my daughter introduced me to the concept of Glee. I'd heard her talk about it, of course. But since she'd used the same glowing descriptions towards the Office, and I found it's humor more awkward than funny, I just put her fascination with all things Glee down to a personal preference. However, one weekend when I was recovering from some ailment, I sat, mesmerized, watching all the episodes from the first DVD set. I was hooked. And now, even though I often disagree with the moral choices and so forth, I still enjoy the "show choir" music.

Last nights episode dealt with dreams. As in, the glee club dreams of their future...mostly dreams of stardom. Realistically, we know that everyone will not reach stardom but the point of the episode was that at this moment in time, they still had dreams. Big dreams. A hope for their future.

I've spent the last few months thinking about dreams. Circumstances this past year have forced us to reevaluate and let go of certain dreams we've had. In all honesty, there have been days where I've feared that these dreams were dead. Gone. Never to be seen again. And when that dream belongs to your child, it's a hard thing to face. Because you want them to have everything they hope for.

However, here's the thing I've discovered. I don't control my child's future. God does. And my God already knows the path, the obstacles, the adventures ahead. I found this little graduation statue at LifeWay recently and the base that the little grad dude stands on reads, "They will soar on wings like eagles." That's a promise/dream/prayer this mama can wrap her hands around.

And as for my child....I'll be reminding him to rest on this:

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG)

I put this together last year but the sentiment is still true today. Happy birthday baby!

in case you're interested...

First, I have to say that I have no inside information. I don't have a clue about stats, track condition and any other "formula" used to predict Derby winners. (I do know that when the track looks like it does today, anything goes and often a long shot wins. Some horses just don't like getting their feet dirty.) Anyhoo, I often choose my horses by their color, their name, their jockey, their story, or their silks.

That said, these are my picks for the race:

"Line of David"...need I say more? This Bible study girl couldn't think of a better horse to win than one with a name full of promise.



Let me preface my next pick with a few comments. I am a big girl. Not so much hefty (although heftier than I ought to be with my recent obsession with chocolate) but I am tall. When my husband and I were first married, I asked him to carry me up the driveway. His response was a no and honest to pete, these were the next words he said, "You're not exactly petite."

Trust me, 23 years later, I still remember.

In his defense (and his ability to think quickly), he insists that petite means short.

Whatever.

Anyway, the filly in the race is named Devil may care. Her owner said this about her this morning, "When you look at this filly, she's not going to look like some dainty looking little thing. She's good sized, a big, strong filly."

So from one "not petite" girl to another, all I have to say is, "you go girl." And after she's won this race, maybe she'll drop on by and step on that man's foot. Then she can go get her some chocolate.

it must be derby...

if you are seeing this around town...

The Oaks (yesterday) featured a "pink out" (hence all the pink hats.) Churchill Downs donated a dollar for each admission to the Susan G Koman for the cure Breast Cancer Foundation. Rumor has it that it was a record crowd of 116,046. Woo Hoo!

because everyone needs a bit of insanity now and then...

During Derby week, our fair city hosts any number of events to get people "in the mood" for fun. We have balloon races, rat races, foot races, waiter races and, of course, horse races.

One of the stranger races occurs this evening at Broadbent arena with the Stockyards Bank Great bed race. The event actually began this morning with a pajama party where the bed-racers could hang out, tailgate and show off their creative bedmobiles. Then tonight they will compete in various levels of bed-racing. In addition to crazy costumes and outlandish bedding, the "fun" division of the race will feature a group of physically challenged hand-cyclists (including world champion and paralympian Greg Hockensmith) whose bed will be bolted to four hand-cycles.

Believe it or not, there is actually a "serious" racing catagory as well. Apparently the competitors in this category can make it around the 600 foot track in less than 30 seconds. In this case (and so many others during Derby week), a picture (or video) is worth a thousand words...

up up and away!

The Derby Festival Great BalloonFest began last night with the balloon "glimmer" and tour. The "rush hour" balloon race should take place this morning if it isn't cancelled by rain. (Each year I find myself questioning the wisdom of flying a herd of balloons over rush hour traffic. I'm fairly certain there will be a few traffic accidents attributed to watching the balloons instead of the road.) Tonight they will have the balloon "glow" down at the fairgrounds. (There is a difference between the "glimmer" and the "glow" but for the life of me, I'm not sure what it is. They both look like hot air balloons glowing in the dark.)

Finally, the balloon fest will end with the "great balloon race" (not to be confused with the "balloon tour" and the "rush hour race.") Last year, 34 "hound" balloons chased the "hare" balloon across the county. The object of the race is to drop a bag of bluegrass seed on a giant "X" chosen by the hare balloon. Last years winner came within 11 feet of the target.