'Bout Time!

My behavior is inexcusable! This is the longest period of time I have gone without updating the blog! For shame, Patricia. However, this is a blog about celebration and not condemnation so I will politely forgive myself and hope you, the reader, might forgive me, too!

Today I celebrate being busy! Of course I am celebrating it....for it is the reason I have not blogged for such a long time. A poor excuse...to be certain...but THE reason, nonetheless. As you all may recall I started this blog as a means to an end. Well, that end has long come and gone (thankfully) but in the process I have taken on a number of responsibilities, projects, self-improvement activities, etc. I think it is safe to say I have COMPLETELY overbooked myself. However, all of the activities I have become involved in bring me an inordinate amount of joy. As a result, I can hardly complain about my "busy-ness"; rather celebrate the work I have been called to do and the people I have been called to meet. I often feel as if these projects really aren't "my" plans; instead I honestly feel they are "His" plans for me and I am but the vessel! And in that case...I am happy to do what is kindly asked of me without hesitation.
As I have mentioned one of the projects I have become involved in is The Friend's Of The Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas Board. This year I am the Co-Chair of the Silent Auction. Our solicitation letters went out on Monday, October 5, 2009. The immediate response has been overwhelmingly positive. I am moved by the generosity of the people of this community; especially during tough economic times. Through this assignment I am reminded of the goodness of people, the kindness in their hearts and the sad (but very real) fact that no one escapes grief. Hearts and wallets open when the mission of this organization is explained. Everyone has a story of grief. Loss takes so many forms; grief takes so many forms. How blessed this community is to have a center where families can go to make sense of their grief. And through the benevolence of the business men and women of this community the center is able to provide these services for free and for as long as someone feels they need the assistance. Hope and healing are amazing! I am please to be a tiny part of helping someone find their peace and understanding. If you feel called to make a donation to this wonderful organization please visit The Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas website by clicking HERE to learn about all the ways you can help! There is a week left in The Brown Challenge....become a "Friend of the Center" for 50 dollars (which sponsors a child for one session of group therapy) and Jenifer Brown will match the donation UP to 500 dollars! (And lest we forget this organization was founded by a Southwestern University graduate! Pretty amazing people come out of that school! Wink, wink!)
So, Facebook! I know....I was entirely opposed to Facebook! I didn't want to be found. Period. Now I can't stop "wanting to be found!" What joy it brings me to reconnect with friends from years gone by. Of particular importance are the relationships I have been able to re-cultivate with my friends for McAllen Memorial High School...Home of the Mighty Mustangs!

Last weekend I had the pleasure of a mini-reunion/girls weekend in Houston with Ramsey Kay, Gena Lee and Kelley Renee! What a blast from the past. I was overwhelmed with joy as I spent the weekend with these AMAZING women. I am so proud of each of these ladies and how far they have come. You are all very obviously women of quality, women of grace, women of fierce independence and mothering nurturance. What a gift that I was in your presence for the weekend and that you are all back in my life. I look forward to spending more time with you all and including Lisa and Eleanor into the fold! (Major Hint Hint.)

Ramsey and I watched the TX vs OU game at Lucky's Bar with the Houston Texas Exes. I have to admit...I have never seen Ramsey jump up and down in excitement over anything. But she surely does for her Horns. Unfortunately, there wasn't much jumping because it was quite an ugly game...but the Horns eeked out a win nonetheless.

We spent most of the weekend on Ramsey's front porch. This is her wonderful home! I am so proud of you Rams....

This was a very dog oriented weekend! Below is a photo of Gena's dog, Henri.
And this is Ramsey's dog Chico Jankowski. (Yes, a mexican-polish dog! Love it!) Chico and Henri chased each other all weekend. Reports indicate they were both exhausted by Sunday evening.

Kelley joined us on Saturday evening. It was her birthday...she turned 21! It was lovely to see her. Kelley and I lived about a block away from one another in McAllen. I can not count the number of times I walked to her house and endured abuse from her 7 year old brother, Kevin! Kelley is now married and has three adorable children. Mott, you haven't changed a bit...thank goodness! You are the very definition of the word, "sass-a-frass" and I adore that about you! I am so pleased we spent time together. Let's not allow 13 years to pass again...promise? Good, I promise, too!

Gena, Ramsey, Kelley and I at dinner on Saturday evening. This photo mimics...almost exactly...the seating chart of our Senior AP English class with Mrs. Laverne Johnson. We laughed and laughed recalling the ENORMOUS project she gave us that year. We worked in pairs and we were to write Cliff's Notes on a book that didn't already have Cliff's Notes; but was sure to be a classic at some point in the future. Kelley and I wrote Cliff's Notes on Sula by Toni Morrison. I can't believe it was all printed on a dot matrix printer! That ages us, doesn't it?

As I drove away on Sunday morning (a gorgeous Sunday by the way) I had tears in my eyes. On the one hand I was crying because I didn't want to leave; on the other I was crying because it was such a joyful weekend. Again, I can not express to you ladies enough how proud I am of each of you. No longer are we the little girls in Mrs. Johnson's English class; rather we are women, living our respective lives with grace and dignity. What a gift it is for me to have been witness to such unbelievable growth! This MUST be a quarterly (if not more often) reunion.

In the true spirit of a Road Trip...I left Houston and headed to Austin for Ella's Peter Pan Birthday Party. So....I am not going to make any bones about this...I GOT LOST! I have never had occasion to drive from Houston to Austin and I do not have a GPS thingee-system in my car...so don't ask me why I didn't just turn on "the system", okay. I now know all about Brenham, Sommerville, Rockdale, etc. Once I saw the sign for Taylor I knew exactly where I was. (I was just south of Georgetown and I am most familiar with the backroads in and around Southwestern University.) I was about an hour late to the party...but I made it.
Ciara and Ryan made a "bouncy house" available for the kiddos. However, it must be said, Ciara talked about bouncing all week. How fun is this picture? There was so much movement of course it was going to turn out fuzzy....but you can still feel the excitement, can't you?
Ella, or rather Tinkerbell, and I in the bouncy house.
Ciara and I.....
Ella enjoying her cupcakes. Captain Hook arrived just in time to deliver the cupcakes. Odd....he very much resembled her daddy, Ryan. Coincidence? Hmph?
Last night Dad and I participated in The Lukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk in loving memory of our dear friend Gina Collazo. She valiantly and graciously fought lymphoma for a very long time. Her battle ended during the summer of 2008. Gina is greatly missed; but her sweet memory lives on in her husband, family and friends.
Happy Sunday, friends. I have a lot to do today and I best get started! I vow to be a much better blogger!

PS...Freddy Fender inspiration thanks to my old friend, Carlos Gutierrez. He celebrated Freddy at a Conjunto Festival yesterday and shared on Facebook. I was inspired to include Freddy on the playlist today. Thanks, B.