Flying the coop!

It seems like just yesterday I was posting about Naya and Sodie's search for the right college and all the trips we took to investigate the schools that were possible choices. We had so much fun romping around campuses and documenting important features of each one...like this shot, for example:

(one of the ladies' rooms at Hendrix College in case anyone is impressed and feels they must add this school to their own list of possibilities)

We visited 7 schools and often stayed in hotels ("YAY!" says Toucie) on these "girl trips" (and did alot of this):

And finally, all the searching yielded a favorite. Applications were filled, essays were written, and fingers were crossed. Then one day two letters came in the mail and suddenly "a possibility" turned into "a plan". My Sodie and Naya had both earned full scholarships to attend their top-choice college. I really don't know how to compose the sentence that would convey to you how proud I am of these two girls.

We tried to make the most of the rest of our summer together, but before I knew it it was time to pack the cars up (Daddy had to drive a separate carload full of stuff!), move them into a dormitory, and kiss them goodbye.

(move-in day)

(how many honor students does it take to screw in a lightbulb?)

(Naya and Sodie trying to settle in...Mado looks right at home already)

(Roomies!)

(my last walk-and-talk with them before driving home)

(time to say goodbye...feeling lucky to have each other)

(some of our trip was rainy and gray)

It was a sober ride home for Mado and I. Mado took alot of the photos in this post, but this last one is my very favorite:

"Objects in mirror are closer than they seem"....do you see that, girls? Those are Daddy's headlights reflected there....we are only as far away as you need us to be.

Senior Prom

You watch them play at being princess all their childhood....then one day you turn around and they really are.

I am a coupe of weeks late in posting about this happy event...prom landed right between the two bouts of appendicitis. In fact, Naya got out of the hospital the day before prom! Sodie just got out of the hospital yesterday...two days before exam week at school. Whew!

When it rains it pours!

This is a very brief post to explain the long absence of any posting here...and some of the blessings I'm appreciating on Mother's Day!

First of all...and you are not going to beleive this...but there has been another ruptured appendix in the family. You may recall my post not long ago about Naya being rushed to hospital...

well, her twin, Sodie had the same experience this past week. Both girls have had complications resulting in the fact that Naya is now well, but still has her appendix (which she'll have surgery for in a month) and Sodie, after a long week in the hospital, is both well and appendix-free. Thank you to all who sent well wishes to Naya after my post last month...it helps so much to feel support coming from so many different direction.  The doctors all say that it is pure coincidence that both twins contracted appendicitis, but I know better...there is just no limit to the powers of that twin mojo! All I know is that I am very grateful for healthy girls this Mother's Day.

During this recent appendix ordeal, our area of Tennessee was caught up in some powerful rainstorms and major flooding. Many folks have had total losses of their homes, cars, and sometimes family members, but I will not dwell on any tragedy. (if you are interested in weather phenomena and such, you can learn all about our flood  by googling 'Nashville flood' or similar). Our own home, property and family were relatively untouched by the waters. And in fact, it was not an unpleasant experience to witness the power of wind and water from our cozy home. I am grateful this Mother's Day to have my family and home happy and intact. The heavy rains came and went quickly.

Here is a photo of our back yard...there is no creek here normally...just grass, but it is the low spot of our property.

We lost power for a few days, so there were some dark times indoors. Toucie knows where the fun is at...see her through the window?

Toucie had so much fun living with lantern light, candles, meals cooked on our camping stove, dishes and clothing washed in tubs, and all the rest. She wore her sunbonnet day and night, and insisted we call her "Laura"...she called  Daddy and I "Pa and Ma". From her perspective this was all an exciting adventure...it was truly an awesome experience to watch our familiar landscape (namely our yard and 'our' river, the Harpeth) change to accommodate the rushing waters. The major river in our city crested at over 53 feet! Can you imagine it??!! The river was 53 feet higher (or deeper) than normal...it boggles my mind...


I have tried in vain to capture this change in some photos, but have not succeeded very well. Mado is the true photographer of the family. When I see her photos I suspect there will be an eloquent visual statement about our river that I can share. Until then, happy mother's day to all my mama friends...I hope you are soaking up all the joys of family bliss today!

At Hospital......

Naya has a ruptured appendix. Just in time for her 18th birthday (she admitted herself to the emergency room and signed her own paperwork even though I was right there with her). Its been a surreal week of hospitalization and anxiety, but with the buoying support of family solidarity and strong friendships. My Naya is probably the quietest of all my children...and probably the strongest among us all. She's been through more trials, at least, so we happily and respectfully give her that crown.

You go, girls!

Naya and Sodie just received word of their acceptance into their top-choice college with a full ride scholarship plus a stipend!!!!! I am crazy proud of them! Here they are enjoying celebratory ice cream and doing a happy dance in the front yard (with plenty of support from Mado and Toucie). I love these awesome kids!!!