Those we have lost

Friday brought sad news. An old family friend has left this world, his demons were just too much for him. I will miss seeing him when I go home to my hometown for a visit. I didn't see him every time we were home, but I always looked forward to seeing him. I feel such sorrow at the loss for his family, his friends (myself included), and our community. He was one of those guys that if you were his friend he would do anything for, but you did not want to be on his bad side. The loss had me thinking of those who have gone on before me. Growing up I was lucky and had little loss, but I did lose people. My one grandmother when I was a baby, a younger cousin when I was in 1st grade, my great-grandfather a year later. But then life was good for a long time and then my classmates and I dealt with losing a classmate suddenly in 8th grade and then again in 9th. We lost classmates shortly after graduating also. And then I was lucky not to lose anyone for a few years. but loss while it remains in the background has a way of sneaking up on you. So, this weekend those who I have lost and the actual loss has been very close to the surface.
So, this is to Nana C., Kimmy, Pappy, Paul, Tracy, Amy B., Amy M., Ziggy, Betty, GramaFran, Daddy Bill, Uncle Michael, Uncle Billy, Poppa, Mrs. W, Pam, Mary, Cierra, Austin, Kattie, and Mr. Billie.
May you all be happy in the life after.

Time Flys

Good gracious it has been over a two months since I last posted. Between end of the school year goings on (Jasmine's and mine) and summer vacation time has sure flown. Jasmine finished the 3rd grade the end of May on the honor roll. She will be starting a new school next year. She has decided she wants to do more things like her older cousin, and unfortuneatly, that can't happen at the school she has been attending. She is very excited to be in the same school as her cousins, with the prospects of sports in just 2 more years. In our school district we have school choice and in our "sub-zone" of the district there are 9 elementary schools that you rank and maybe you will get a top choice school. Lucky for us Jasmine got her 1st choice school, which is elementary and middle and a magnet school for the arts. She will have alot of opportunities that she couldn't get in a class of 5 (both 3rd and 4th graders).
We spent almost 2 weeks on vacation in Pennsylvania. We visited Gettysburg battlefield and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. We all enjoy history and it is a subject that is not dealt with in our schools alot, so as parents we have to be sure and teach the history of our country to Jasmine. I am a firm believer in the saying "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
This week is a quiet one for me Jasmine is at day camp at our local hands on science museum. It is her favorite subject and one of her favorite places to visit.
More later.
Sherry