Megan with Friends and a Farm

This past year Megan has gotten close with her cousins Katherine and Joseph, and Rita Cunningham who she met through the home school circles.  Megan began hanging out at Rita's family farm. The farm is 30 minutes away so that limited my ability to taxi her, but then Joseph got off of his provisional licence and she started catching rides with Joseph, who works there. Pretty soon Megan was working there too, mostly bottling infused olive oil.

This summer Megan joined some friends on a day trip to the beach, which resulted in car troubles and then with Megan and Katherine staying over with the Cunninghams who happened to be there at the same time.

Megan always comes home happy after these get togethers

Megan went to Homecoming at CHS with a group of friends in September. She sees her school friends at lunch and mixed in classes throughout her day. They occasionally walk to CDM Cafe de Roma to meet up and grab a snack and some fresh air. It is a blessing to have friends nearby.

Emma turns 21

Sept 6, 2019

Emma has stepped beyond my constant touch. She left my daily schedule and constant awareness.  But she has not left my constant love and care. She is in my thoughts throughout my day and she is always in my prayers.

My "milkcup" girl is now lactose intolerant. She drinks her coffee black. She is a thrifter and is always wearing a second-hand treasure. Emma is happiest using her hands making beautiful things. Lately she has taught herself beading, making earrings and other jewelry. Emma has also turned into a plant lover and has filled her apartment with pots of growing lovelies. She talks of someday having a small cottage, surrounded by plants, growing things and making things. She tells me only a little of her life, but I love the glimpses. She is a dreamer and is at point where roads are being chosen.

Emma wants to take a break from higher ed. Her original path of becoming an Art Therapist is going to be back burnered, at least for now.  She may look for a job that will pay for her Masters program and she may look into doing research. In the mean time she'll find a job. I told her that she does not need to stake her identity on her job. It is ok to just have "a job" that makes all of the other things possible. Her vocation may not be career centered but may be the life outside of paid work. Emma is incredibly responsible and frugal and realistic about her budget so I know she will find something that makes the rest possible. She has gifts and was made for a purpose.

We weren't able to get together on her birthday, because she had plans to hang out with friends and visit a few bars. I was delighted to hear that all of the middle school squad, came from their perspective colleges to celebrate with her and her roommates. I love that her 6th grade friends are still in her life. When she told me about it later, she said she was happy because both the middle school squad and the college roommates commented to her, that they liked her other friends. She was telling me this as we had dinner with the family at La Palapa's. I got snippets of her story amid the chaos of the table and sips of margarita.

A Sister Birthday Snuggle

Cheers to Emma on her 21st Birthday!

Back to School 2019

Back to School 2019

The college kids had to go back to school in August this year, while the younger 3 got to extend their summer until after Labor Day.

Emma started her senior year at Towson University, and will be finishing up her double major of Fine Arts and Psychology. She doesn't have many required credits left for her degree, but her scholarship is based on semester, so she is taking some extra art classes and is taking and working a class as a proctor.

Rachael started her freshman year at UMBC, with a Commuter retreat to the Washington Zoo. She is a Geography Environmental Science major and is taking 12 credits, while living at home and working 4 mornings a week at 7-11.

Megan is a sophomore at Catonsville High School. She's taking Child development this year, along with Photography and AP Psychology and AP World History. She's also trying out a few clubs such as Model UN, which she may trade in favor of trying Debate Club. She is doing SWE Society Women Engineers and is managing the JV Volleyball Team.

Bridget is in 7th grade, and is begrudgingly getting through the public school system. She is getting daily instruction for dyslexia with Mrs. Hansen and that is a huge benefit. She is continuing the french horn and she spends her lunches in the library with her friends. She has a nice group of girls that she hangs out with and this year she walks to and from school after gathering at the bottom of the street. Bridget is actively petitioning to be home schooled, because she feels rushed in her classes and stressed by the chaos of the environment. We are looking into it. She is doing Girl Scouts and religious ed after school.

Johanna started 1st grade and she is in Ms. Noriega's class. There are five section of her grade and it turned out that only one friend from last year is in her class this year. She was so excited when we went to "Sneak a Peak at your seat" that she paced the room multiple times and even laid down and log rolled on the carpet. It wasn't quite the first impression I had envisioned. Johanna has been a great student and is flying with her academics.  After school she does choir, soccer, and a Young coders club.