"The Talk"

We went to Cave City, KY, to church this weekend. Bart gave "The Talk," as he calls it, so we wanted to hear. He did really well. He even taught the adult Sunday school class. I think that made him more nervous than anything, especially since he was using Standard's material. He likes to shoot from the hip. I don't blame him.

The folks down there are just plain great people. He's living in a house, free of charge. They've given him a bunch of stuff that he needs. They ask him if he needs more. They've found him a job. They're SPOILING HIM ROTTEN! And I can't say how grateful I am that they are.

Graduation, Brett-style

Exhausted. Plain exhausted.

Graduation was one of the best we've had. Most knew how to behave and those who didn't must have felt uncomfortable behaving as they may have.

Brett graduated "with honors." Being 13 in his class was an awesome accomplishment in itself. He has some stiff competition and nearly all his close friends were in the Top 10. I confess I got teary, especially when the seniors faced us and Brett was craning to see me. AND especially when Bart went to shake his hand later and then pulled him, "Ben-style," toward him for a hug.

Brett and Kelly spent more time with each other during Project Grad than anyone else and they had a GREAT time together. My favorite, though, was when Brandon and Brett got Michelle Lustenburg in the jousting area and beat her up. I didn't realize it until later, but she was screaming for me to save her. (She wasn't really getting hurt, of course.) I was too busy snapping pictures to save her.

And then the three custodians tried to get Kim Harris on the bull. They did, but it was work. Kim actually lifted her leg with her hand to get on--and with no success. Wish I'd gotten a picture of that. Hilarious.

Brett ended up with a case of oil, a gas card, and car washing supplies. He said that's what he wanted, so he got it. I was glad.

I'm still trying to believe that a second one is out of school. Brett's the one who always was more independent, but now he's having trouble with the idea. So am I. It isn't fun, but it's life.

Baccalaureate

Class Night last Thursday and Baccalaureate tonight. Everything, once again, was well done. We collected over $500 for Relay for Life and we listened to our kids' talents and Harry Crozier's sermon.

Brett's starting to have a rough time--just when I thought I would make it through without becoming a mess. The only thing worse than watching your babies grow up and graduate is watching one who has decided he may not want to.

Life Is Beautiful

And so is the movie. Wow.

Class Night

Baby #2 is about to head out on his own, and what a group he is in!

Brett's class night was a disappointing, wonderful mess--and I know that makes no sense whatsoever, but that's about the only way to describe it. His dad missed it (and no, I still haven't forgiven him and I'm not exactly sure when I may), we didn't have a flower for his walking partner after she pulled the rug out from under him and gave him a boutonniere, and the electricity went out. Oh! And Lois Ann went on interminably.

But, unlike Bart's group, it's a class I'll miss. Their talent and intelligence showed time and again with Alex Biddle and his guitar and Amber Sparks, Stephani Wilson, Amy Spencer, and Kasey Bishop and their singing, the dancers...and Brandon. My goodness. Where WILL that kid end up? I can't wait to find out.

And Brett ended up with a scholarship and some fun memories--like when he and Andy Mains convinced Brandon (when he was introducing part of the class, on stage, in front of several hundred people) that his fly was open...

Oh, boy. What is the world in for?

Adventures in motherhood

Bart received a Certificate in Christian Leadership Saturday. I thought I was going to be fine. We took him out to eat (with Mom and Dad paying, which was NOT in the plan), then we took him back home. We had to leave almost immediately since his dad had been up nearly all night. I didn't want to leave so soon; that was bad enough. Then, as we were driving out, Brian started talking about how he's grown up. I've cried off and on ever since. Isn't it awful?

Walked in from Care Group last night, only to find Brett down on the couch. Somewhere, he picked up a bug. At that time he had a temp and a headache. He'd taken Advil about 2 hours before and he was still hot and achey, so I made him take Tylenol, too. I called Billie Jo to tell her I'd probably not make it in today and then we concentrated on Brett. We got him settled in and I drifted off into an unsettled sleep.

At 11:30, my phone talked to me. You know how these new ones are. A feminine voice starts out with, "You have a message from...", then a mechanical male voice says the name. This time, "he" said, "...Bart." After reading the message that said, "Call me in the morning," I called him then.

My mistake.

"Mom, I can't fit everything into my car. Can you come help me move tomorrow?"

Why on earth that took on such great import at 11:30, I'll never know, but I tried to deal with it. Since I couldn't help him move, I tried to think of what to do. No good. I think I mumbled something about "sleeping on it" ("sleeping" would have been more accurate) and getting back with him in the morning. At 12:30, I received another message: "Don't worry about it. I'll figure something out." If he thought I was going to stare at the ceiling all night, trying to find an answer to his dilemma, I guess I'm a terrible disappointment as a mom.

I settled in once again--still not a deep sleep, but at least somewhat restful.

What is worse at 4:00 in the morning than hearing your kid throwing up in the bathroom? Not much. Honestly. Not much at all. All I could think aside from, "Poor kid," is, "I REALLY hope that's still Brett, because if Brennan has it, too..." Maybe a bit mercenary on the part of Brett, but still... It was still Brett.

Shew!

Been a week. Something after school EVERY night until last night. I think I can breathe now.

Good news/bad news in one sentence: Bart has a summer job AND home in Hiseville. As happy as I am for him (he's ecstatic), I can't imagine summer without Bart--in spite of the addition of Charissa. She has nothing to do with him, actually--I mean in the way I'll miss him. She may occupy my time, but...well, you know what I mean. (And I just told Brennan that I hate sentimentality.)

But, on the up side, Bart WILL be able to work at the church he loves for the summer and he WILL have a beautiful home to live in. ("It even has a lake in the back! I can go fishing!") And it looks as though he'll be working in a bank there. I'd like, in a way, for him to go to Whitesville just because they have a full-time position for him, but this may be better; after all, I do know two best-ever youth ministers who have had to get out of the professional ministry just because they had enough of whatever it was they had enough of. (I know what it was, and that's enough itself.) As much as I hope not, Bart may have the same experience. (But I hope he doesn't go to a bank if he does.)

Brett is looking for a job that isn't Wyatt's this summer. He's tired of the screwy hours, etc. He does like working there, but that's not enough when he's wearing himself to a frazzle and losing weight because he doesn't have time to eat regularly.

Brennan is mowing Coletta's yard this summer. He enjoys that kind of work. He's doing well in math. (I swear he's a math whiz. Whoda thunk?) and he's finding that to be adventageous in connecting to girls. (Who WOULD have thunk that????!!! Brennan and girls.

I'm headed to clean the house, to write thank yous and to go to a wedding. I'd best get at it.