Slide Project: I’m up to 1980!

It’s a slow go!

I am seeing the end of the scanning (of the slides…maybe 1983-84? I just realized that there are a bunch of photos that need to be scanned too before this project is complete). There have been many photos that I want to clean up (dust off) and play with. This project has been fun and tedious at the same time! Then I need to put them in reasonable order so that I can burn them to disc for my brother, parents and I assume that Mayan will want one to share with her future family. There are tons of extended family shots too, so I think an edited CD for the cousins might be appropriate.

This one caught my eye from the 1980 bunch, it’s my dad during his Mount Rainier climb.

Slide Project: It’s coming along…

Here are a couple more pictures that I’ve scanned in recent weeks:

These are just my mom, my dad and my brother and me. It’s been fun scanning and cleaning up some of these pictures. As I look at all of the pictures that I’ve scanned, there are so many that I’d like to spend time on and clean up…dust is a big problem! I don’t know if I will ever catch up, but getting them scanned is the project that I’d like to finish first!

Slide Project: Japan

I’ve still been slowly scanning those old slides, even with a cool scanner, it is still a chore, but I am really enjoying some of the pictures that I’m finding!

This is a picture of my parents. My dad was a Marine stationed in Japan and mom joined him, leaving me and my brother in the care of their parents. Separately. I was with his parents, my brother was with her’s. This wasn’t for the weekend, mom moved there…we were too young to remember being abandoned!

In other news. Mayan has officially moved out and I am in the process of turning her room into a guest room. *sad face* She hasn’t been here as often as she was while she was in school. Even though she’s still in town, I miss her, but I’m also trying to learn to enjoy the quiet. I struggle with the letting go…which I assume all of you already knew!

Mayan’s Graduation Day

Mayan’s brother, sister, (ex) step-mom, grandma and Lexie (Skye) all came up last Saturday to celebrate her graduation. It was nice to see them and spend time with them! We don’t get to do that nearly enough.

We took some pictures, but it was dusk, so most of the ones I took were blurry. I am hoping that Mayan’s non-mom’s pictures came out better. She promised that she would pass them along.

*drums fingers on the desk* …waiting…

It feels like both just yesterday and forever ago that she was this little girl:

So sweet and happy at her kindergarten graduation. With squeezable cheeks!

Here are a couple from Saturday:

Maybe she hasn’t lost those squeezable cheeks after all!

Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashed

A short, powerful story from Ric Elias, who was a passenger on Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed into New York’s Hudson River. What went through his mind as his plane went down?

Gratitude Project: Day Today

1. I am very happy for my friend J and her family, who are in China picking up their second beautiful daughter.

2. Eggs that peel easily after boiling. Only one of the six eggs that I cooked today was cooperative. I was grateful for that one!

3. The tulip leaves pushing up in my front yard. Yay Spring!

Gratitude Project: Day 5

1. Just one today. I was cleaning out my craft room this afternoon hoping to make it useful for stained glass work again soon when I found a notebook that I’d forgotten. After the accident, the students at Mayan’s high school signed banners and wrote supportive notes in this notebook. I have the banner folded up on a shelf and the notebook was with it.

I don’t remember ever reading through the notes, I suppose it was just too difficult at the time.

Despite the fact that the notes were sweet, beautiful and loving, reading through the messages was hard.

Through tears, lots of tears, I am grateful for these kids. They did make a difference.

She Was Doing What?

Mayan’s Facebook status read:

At the Scottsdale Arts Festival wine tasting with my grandma — at Scottsdale Center For the Arts.

My first thought was “um, what?!”, and then I remembered that Mayan is indeed 21. In fact she isn’t that far from being 22. I guess I’m in denial!!

They had fun. I wish that I had been there!

Gratitude Project: Day 4

1. Supportive friends.

2. A clean kitchen floor.

3. Fage Greek Yogurt with strawberries.

Gratitude Project: Day 3

1. Amazing generous friends.

2. This.

3. And I’m grateful that Mayan went into the basement today and discovered a leak/water problem before it became a huge issue. Problems I can deal with!!