So much to say. But first...
"THOU still unravish'd bride of quietness
Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?"
We bid the Guppy a fond but necessary farewell.
We are under Ninja attack. At our house. It's true! Logan finally got her Black Belt proving that like Bo Diddley she can really do anything. The test was a grueling 1 hour 20 minutes of forms, more sit-ups, push-ups, mountain climber, humpbacks, then Mark saw in his first few hours of basic training. Plus 40 minutes of full contact sparring. Things I learned from watching the test:
- watching your child cry tears because her mind is telling her to quit is not for the feint of heart. Not a single kid ended up quitting and yes even the boys shed tears. We are ridiculously proud of our child. She did something I could not do. Of course, now, there are zero excuses that won't be met with the answer "but you're a black belt, suck it up princess".
- there is such a thing as a hug that is too sweaty but oh so worth it.
- I am not ever going to have to worry about this kid being picked on. I just need to make sure she uses her powers for good only. From now on.
- I get to finally see what "Speckhard" looks like in Korean
- the kid does get tired. It's a miracle.
Logan is turning the big 1-1 next week. It's like going on 16. All attitude. Maybe I should look into downgrading the black belt?
I also learned Logan is probably a future hacker. So change those bank passwords! She got an outstanding award in Computer IT. The guys at work are only semi-joking when they say she will be taking over my job soon. And so we head into the unknown realm of boys, middle school, and surging hormones. I am afraid. I also learned there is nothing more annoying then a child with their first phone. I get texts and phone calls as soon as I am out of line of sight. It's like being a prisoner.
We are getting a chance to see the big Apple, the be a part of it, the if I can make it there I'll make it anywhere, the city that doesn't sleep. Can't wait!
Prayers continue to go out to the Rupp Family and Gavin. If you have a minute - please head over to Gavin's Caring Bridge site and leave him a note. Gavin's page He is undergoing a clinical trial at Baylor University in Texas so he is having to come home, take chemo, get an MRI, go back to Texas, get an infusion and so forth. We hope and pray this is the cure he needs. As always, Sandy Rupp is an amazing woman. I am so very lucky to have her in my life and can call her a close and dear friend. She shows me every day that there are some very important things in life that are so overlooked with our daily gripes and struggles. She is a constant source of energy, endurance, perserverance, and compassion. I strive to make myself a better person by simply knowing her and her family. No matter what I do - it's just not enough to repay her for her kindness, or to ease her pressure or mind. In watching what the family has gone through and what Gavin has had to deal with, gives me pause for some self reflection and my desire to go back to non-profit work where I truly believe I belong.
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