Stream of Consciousness

My younger brother just graduated from high school yesterday. Starting this fall, my parents will enjoy an empty nest for the first time in 22 years. We children have been their focus for the full extent of our lives, and I'm curious to see what kinds of "lifestyle changes" my parents implement once they have more time and space.

I made dinner this evening for the family. I haven't really cooked a full meal on my own before ... and I need to know how to do so if I'm going to be living on my own next year (no more dorms, no more RA-ing, no more campus food meal plan ... thank goodness!). Pesto-stuffed tomatoes, Broccoli-Chicken Puffs, and Raspberry-Walnut Salad with poppy seed dressing. Yum!

Tomorrow: lunch date with Dad, errands, dinner out with high school friends I haven't seen in 2 years. Oh, and I'm going to force myself to get up at a ridiculous hour (before 6am) to start my summer walking regime.

Last summer, my closest friend from home and I got up and walked together at sunrise. Sometimes we strolled, other times we walked at a brisk pace. Unfortunately, she's living elsewhere this summer and my sister refuses to get up that early ... so I haven't been motivated enough on my own to get up and go. This evening at dinner, I mentioned that I might try to start tomorrow ... and by saying it aloud, I vowed to myself that I was actually committing to doing it! I'm hoping that it energizes me for the rest of the day since I'll have to be super-productive tomorrow.

And now? I ought to do my devotional and get SOME sleep since my alarm is set to rudely wake me up in less than 7 hours!

Love is in the air ... or the water?

Before this year, I'd been to only two weddings of friends of mine (in my age group). Now it seems like more and more of my friends are getting engaged or married.

I'll be in BestFriend's wedding in less than 2 weeks. Two weeks after that, I'm going to another wedding. Today, I was asked to be an Honorary Bridesmaid for the wedding of my closest friend from home. (She had to move up her wedding date because of her new job, and now I won't be able to go because I'm still gonna be at the international conference then. I can't change my plans, and I am very upset that I can't be there in person for her.) In the past week, I've found out a former classmate who just got married and another friend who just got engaged.

I'm so excited and happy for all of these people. It's so wonderful that they've found the person with whom they want to spend the rest of their life. I guess ... it's taken me by surprise, the suddenness of all of this. While I recognize that we've slowly been growing and maturing over the years, my memories of these people (from years and years ago) don't seem all that distant.

The classmate who just got married? I remember him doodling on my papers 10 years ago. The friend who just got engaged? I still recall her as a shy high school freshman who had just moved to my area.

Perhaps part of the reason all this seems so baffling to me is because I'm just not at that stage yet. I've learned more (vicariously) through BestFriend's developing relationship than through my own limited dating experience. And I'm happy. In the meantime (that is, until I reach that point myself someday), I'll enjoy celebrating with friends as they make their everlasting commitments of love and faithfulness. :-)

Experimenting

There is so much I don't know how to do. I'm somewhat relieved that I'm taking baby steps towards adulthood. Well, maybe "baby steps" isn't an appropriate way to describe graduate studies ... but ... I am grateful that I'm not jumping both feet first into the real world. I still have a great deal to learn about personal finances, car maintenance, living on my own ... but at least I won't have to be a first year teacher as I learn about many of these things!

I don't really know how to cook. While I've watched my mom for years, I haven't actually made much (e.g. not much more than spaghetti) on my own. My grandfather used to say, "If you can read, you can cook." I'm hoping he's right.

In an effort to educate myself this summer, I vowed to try out recipes on my family. (I received a great cookbook for graduation, and I wrote in my thank you note that I'd be practicing this summer!) So ... I went through many, many recipes today and selected an appetizer, a main course, and a side dish for next Thursday. I hope that I'll have good news to report on this end next week. :-)

I was given free flowers today!

My mom and I went to a flower stand today to purchase flowers for our garden. My mother struck up a chat with the older man who was selling flowers. As she visits the same place many times a year, they've formed an acquaintance. (His grandchildren are friends with my brother too.) He asked about our family, and Mom proudly announced that I had just graduated from college. (I get slightly embarrassed when she brags to acquaintances and sometimes to strangers, "Summa!" But ... I do understand she's my mother and she's proud of me.) :-)

He told me, "Go ahead and pick out a hanging flower basket, for your graduation."

I thanked him very sweetly as I chose a pretty basket of light pink flowers. What a kind gesture!

When we got home, Mom and I worked quickly together, and it only took us about an hour to plant the flowers we'd just bought.

Home Life

I spent over an hour yesterday with my younger brother (who will graduate from high school in a week!) on a piece of music. He'd been asked by the adult choir director at church to compose a cello line to accompany one of the choir's anthems. My brother then came to me for help. The anthem is a lovely arrangement of a powerful spiritual, "Give Me Jesus." I enjoyed working with my brother on this ... bonding over our shared love for music. He too will be studying music in college, though he has chosen a different field than mine. I can't believe he's really going to be graduating from high school in a week.

In the evening, my parents (avid AI fans) had invited over another family, friends of ours, to watch the final showdown. I don't watch the show while at school ... and frankly, it hasn't been the same since my favorite season, AI2 (because I developed a huge crush on the runner-up) ... but I've been catching up on this season in the few weeks I've been home. Family meals and evening TV time seem to be the times when we're all together. I hardly ever watch TV while at school, but I seem to get sucked into time-wasting activities (like TV) more when I'm home. Then I wonder why I never get anything done. (As I'm writing this, I'm shaking my head and laughing at myself ... still in my pajamas because I inadvertently slept 2 hours past my alarm this morning. I am trying to get into a regular schedule ... but ... I also admit that I'm not trying very hard. I am appreciating this luxury though.)

I spent some time yesterday with my younger sister (the middle child). We like to watch chick flicks and Disney movies together. Last night, she really wanted to watch Snow White ... and we brushed each other's hair during the movie. After we'd traded the hairbrushing favors, we both settled back to watch the last 30 minutes of the movie ... and both of us dozed off. Quality time. :-)

Wrapping up some more loose ends

My car is now over 1000 miles older after my brief road trip last week. I drove to CoolCity on Wednesday to attend concerts at both of the schools where I had student taught last fall. To my surprise and delight, the elementary orchestra kids remembered me! It was a pleasure to return to that school and hear how far they have come since October. I loved seeing the high school choir kids too. They performed some of my all-time favorite choral pieces: If Music Be the Food of Love by Dickau and The Awakening by Joseph Martin(?). Lovely to hear them, and I enjoyed chatting with them after the concert!

Two days later, I drove to Rural School for my first private lesson, the beginning of my graduate studies! I'm very grateful for the independent study this summer because my skills are so far behind in this area, and I expect that I will learn much more from the one-on-one learning environment. Yay! After getting to know the area better and attending yet another concert, I drove back to CoolCity in time to sing at church on Sunday. (No CGFC, but ... my "private detective" told me she was breaking confidence by sharing that CGFC had told her husband he had been very interested in me, but he was simply too busy. I'm taking this with a grain of salt because few people are so busy that they cannot return a phone call ... but ... it was nice to hear anyway.)

After church, I drove back home. On the way, I met up with a friend/mentor. She's approaching a new decade in her life, and she was reflecting on all that she's been able to accomplish in this past decade.

"This past decade [20's] has been very much about me and what I've wanted to do. You know," she said, "God does great things with single people." (That line really stuck with me, because I've been feeling more and more lately that I have so much adventuring to do before I'll be ready to settle down in one place!)

She continued, "I don't think I would have been able to do all that I have done if I hadn't been single." She reflected more on what she has done and how approaching this next chapter in her life (talking of marriage plans) has already begun to shape her outlook on what the new decade will bring.
~*~*~*~

Last night, I led a youth choir rehearsal because the director, my friend, was out of town. I loved it! I haven't worked with a choir since student teaching last fall ... and I hadn't realized just how much I've missed it.

On the agenda for this week: errands, cleaning, unpacking, practicing, and preparing for the next (slightly more intense) road trip in less than 2 weeks!

Randomness from the past week

Oops. Didn't mean to neglect this for a week. I suppose I haven't had much to say. Highlights from the past week include:

*I discovered I love spinach salad ... with dried cranberries, almonds, and a raspberry/pomegranate dressing ... yum!

*I've been mistaken for a high school student a few times within the past week, including at my old high school when I went to my brother's awards ceremony (I'm sure I'll appreciate looking young in a few years ... but ... not as fun now)

*Because of the former ^, my hair is now going through an awkward growing stage, in hopes that a new haircut will make me look older (or, at the very least, my own age!)

*Still don't need glasses! Hurray! Doctor said I may not ever need them

*Mom loved the dinner my siblings (and dad) and I cooked for her on Mother's Day

*I saw a former high school classmate with his wife and baby at church on Sunday

*I held a 10-week old baby this afternoon!!! (different baby)

*Got 3 audiobooks at the library to keep me occupied while I drive (alone) between 16 and 20 hours in the next 5 days

*So ... yes, lots of traveling ... probably no more entries for another few days ...

*Getting up in probably less than 6 hours ... should go to sleep!