A couple of life highlights from the past week…
Nikki and I have been commenting on each other’s blogs for years. Didn’t think I’d ever get to meet her in person since she’s in Texas and I’m in South Carolina. However, a trip to visit family brought her close enough for us to meet in a central location. We got to have lunch together on Wednesday, and it was so neat to meet someone for the first time whom I felt like I already knew!
Our daughters had their last concert of the school year on Thursday night. We got to hear them in the choir, band, and handbell choirs. Yes, the school year is totally winding down!!
[The next two links are videos. If you’re reading in e-mail, click over to the blog to see the videos.]
This is a fun song the senior high handbell choir played. My older daughter is on the left side, the fourth one from the left.
Since you know I like traditions…every year at the end of the concert, the whole choir sings Always By Our Side. The seniors in the choir stand in the front row, and any alumni who are there come forward and join in the song. (The video above is actually from a couple of years ago, since it includes the lyrics, which I love. You can see the video from this year here.)
And now, some favorite blog posts from the past week.
I’ll be putting into practice some of the ideas from Katy in The Schedule That Saved Our Summer.
I’m not here yet, but I will be soon – For the Graduate: How to Make Each Day Count.
While I’m not homeschooling any more, I still enjoy reading about curriculums and what does/doesn’t work for other homeschoolers. I appreciated Caroline’s honest reviews in A Look at How Our 2016-2017 Homeschool Year Went.
Enjoyed re-visiting this gem from Elizabeth – Chocolate-Covered Popcorn…and 5 Other Habits of a (Mostly) Happy Family.
I’m officially hooked on these Honey Sweetened Peanut Butter Cups. My girls said they’re not sweet enough, but that’s fine – leaves more for me! (wink, wink)
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
Oh my goodness…so much to say here! Since I’m in list mode these days (haha), I’ll go that route:
1. I am so happy for Nikki that she got to hang out with you in person. Now, can I get on THAT list for fellow bloggers/moms of teen girls who want that opportunity with you? 😉
2. THANK YOU for the sweet shout-out for my “happy family” piece. I’m thankful it’s still ringing true.
3. Your girls’ concert dresses look just like my daughter’s band dress. 😉 Which she wore for the last time at her last band concert the other night. During which she played an 8-page solo, with her band backing her up. Let’s just say I held my husband’s hand the entire time and haven’t squeezed it that hard since I was giving birth to the child playing the solo. Lydia was a little sad it was her last HS band concert but NOT sad to give up that dress! 😉
4. I’m heading over now to read that graduate post. Naturally.
5. You are wonderful. The end.
So you just made my day!! 🙂 If you are ever anywhere near Charleston, SC, I will drive 100 miles to meet you!!
I can’t even imagine how proud – yet slightly sad – you must have been during your daughter’s final band performance!! Such bittersweet “lasts” these days to be followed by so many exciting “firsts” in the coming year. I know I can’t prepare my emotions for what that’s going to be like two years from now, but I’m comforted and encouraged by moms like you walking this road before me!
My fridge is currently empty of the PB cups….only because I’m almost out of peanut butter 😉
Have a great weekend!!
P.S. Okay, so the grad post was fabulous! But now I’m sidetracked (in a good way) with those PB cups. The recipe for which I have just printed. 😉 I surely hope my family thinks they aren’t sweet enough, too. Waste not, want not and all that…
Tracie — thank you for linking to my graduate piece! Graduating kids cues all sorts of emotions! And I loved seeing that your girls play handbells. That’s a lost art! I played in our church handbell group all through high school and loved it. And I loved Elizabeth’s piece on how to have a happy family…especially her nod to having a safe family. Have a great weekend!
You’re so welcome! I’m sure I’ll become a curator of graduation-related posts over the next two years. 😉
Both of my girls really enjoy playing handbells. So neat to hear that you used to play. It’s a beautiful form of music.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! Have a great day!!
Awwww!!! Your girls are beautiful, and I know their music was, too!
YAAAY for meeting Nikki!!! I thought this would be our summer to finally share a lunch, too, but if you can believe it: we’re skipping Charleston when we come to NC this summer & instead are going north to D.C. to see old friends!
I would LOVE to meet you, so am sad you’re skipping Charleston this year – but hope you have a great time in D.C. – and there’s always next summer!! 😉
Absolutely!!!
When I came over to your blog, there I was! How neat that our picture was at the top! When people asked how our meeting went, I said that we could have chatted all day long. 🙂
Was it sad to watch your daughters’ last choir performance?
I wish I could put into practice some of the tips about the summer schedule, but we’re going to be much too busy! And we’re not even leaving town! At least, we’ll be done with school.
I’ve never had to abandon curriculum in the middle of the year, so I appreciated her honesty. It was nice to know what worked — and didn’t.
I’m still trying to get caught up here at home, so it may be another day or two before I can get to all of your posts. But I’m working toward it!
Yes, I kind of scared myself when I previewed this and saw myself at the top of the post! 😉 It was such a great experience to be able to meet up like that!
I wasn’t too sad at my daughters’ choir performance. They always tell me ahead of time that it probably won’t be that good, but it always is!
Glad to know that you made it back home safely! I know your husband was thrilled to see all of you!!! 🙂