Gravity

Over the past few weeks, people keep telling me how proud we should be of our kids. At Boys State, many people said this. Even the state policeman said his job would be so much easier if there were more boys like these. At the parent meeting prior to the TSA trip, the advisers once again said the same words. . . these are good kids--you should be proud. Without a doubt, we are.

These programs seem to have boosted Chris' confidence too, at least for a while. Adolescence and young adulthood can be such a vulnerable time. The words to the song "Gravity" by Jewel say it much better than I:

"Wish I could hold you, tell you, show you
You already are what you are
And what you are is beautiful
And strong enough
And good enough
And bright enough."

Gravity Details

Lyrics from the song "Gravity" by Jewel:
"A star is a star it
It doesn't have to try to shine
Water will fall
A bird just knows how to fly.

Gravity is gravity
It doesn't try to pull you down
Stone is stone
It can't help but hold its ground."

Picture by Bob of the Blue Heron, Jackson's Mill State Park, 2010
Digital Frame (Cottage Arts Scrap Edges 8)

Mountaineer Boys State

When Chris told me he wanted to go to Boys State I said, "huh?" All boys, marching, full schedules, summer heat, camping. . . to be honest, I didn't know a lot about it. At the beginning of the week, he was homesick. On Monday, he called me 6 times. By mid-week, he was into it. At the Wednesday evening review he marched with pride. The week long program included presentations by many state dignitaries. Pictured at the review are Governor Manchin telling us how proud we should be of our sons and Woody Williams, the only West Virginian Medal of Honor recipient.

CJ Gay is pictured in front of the portrait of TJ "Stonewall" Jackson.
Jackson's Mill
2010

Digital Elements (Basic Grey "Black Tie" Textures) (Michelle Coleman "Don't Label Me") (Shinelle "Top Ten" Lists)

Generation O

My sister Terry was the first of my siblings to become a Grandmother. "Ollie" was a snow baby, born during one of the first big snows of the winter. It was a month later, on the first sunny Sunday we had, that my parents were able to visit the baby with Terry and Nelson. I met them too at the Frostburg, Md. home.

Journaling:
"Stephen Oliver Michael, named after his Dad Stephen and late Great Grandmother Olive. Pictured above with Great Grandmother June and Grandmother Terry. January 2010"

Digital Elements (7 Gypsies "Angelo" brush) (Cottage Arts "Uptown" frame)

Class

We drove many toll roads on our trip to and from Minnesota. The rates were different for "class" of vehicle. As I drove behind Bob to pay the toll exiting Ohio, the gentleman smiled and told me Bob had kidded "he didn't have class". I replied "he has a lot of class" and the man agreed.

May 2010

Digital Elements (Michelle Coleman "Don't Label Me vol. I") (Emily Powers "Photology")

Dad by the Numbers

When my sister Amy interviewed our Dad last summer for Story Corps, he answered some questions with the numbers of years or times he did things. Here are a few of those numbers:

200 Races
87 Years Old
63 Years of Marriage
40 Baseball Games
0 Days Work Missed

Here he is pictured with Mom at Indianapolis Speedway in the early 50s.

Digital Elements: (Michelle Coleman "Don't Label Me Volume I") (Shinelle "Write It Down-Top 10 Lists")

So Hard to Describe

Bob worked Greg's graduation and asked a University photographer to take a picture of he & Greg after he got his diploma. Bob had to go back to work after that, but first came up into the stands to find me and place his hand on my shoulder.

The quote came from an old friend, commenting with other parents on Facebook:

"The pride a parent feels at the accomplishments of their children is so powerful yet so hard to describe."--George Carmack

This layout was inspired by my friend Mireille on Scrapbook.com.

Digital Elements (7 Gypsies Angelo brush) (Little Dreamer Designs Jackie Eckles Canvas Overlay)

I have a key

For inspiration on this fun layout I went to my friend Keandra Willis
>http://kreativity.kreatorvillekraft.com/2010/05/did-you-know.html<

Journaling: "This is the message Greg left for Michelle as we crossed the state line into Minnesota. She was still at work but he was ready and able to move in. Michelle's lived here for more than 2 years, but it looks like this is what she needed to make her house a home. And they'll always have a key to our home in Morgantown too."

Digital Elements ("Storybook Dreams" Nicole Young digitalsscrapbookplace) (Basic Grey Vagabond Textures) (Cottage Arts Scrap Edges 4)

1908 Miles Thru Windows

It kept us awake, taking pictures from the vehicle windows. It helped us notice and remember details of the 7 state trip west and north. Morgantown to Minneapolis. Farms, water, rocks, pine trees and scenery we'd never seen before. Memorial day weekend 2010.

Digital Elements (J. Brisebois "Old Movie Frames")