It has been busy, that is for sure.  I guess that is the way of life tho.

Samantha graduated from Kinder-garden on Thursday June 12th.  I cried mostly for her.  But, I also cried through out the whole ceremony.  I subbed a lot this past year and did the aftercare program, so all of the children are mine.  I felt better tho when I looked around and saw lots of other teachers crying as well.  I find milestones like this bittersweet.  The children grow like they should, but it is an end to a chapter.  I find that sad.  The hello to the new chapter is much nicer.

I was so proud of both Samantha and Christopher.  (All the children got to participate)  They sang their songs really well and have embraced school so much.  I love watching them thrive.

Right after graduation, Samantha and I left for the Woman's festival that we went to last year.  This year we shared a cabin with other moms and daughters.  We got a GREAT cabin.  Everyone got along so well and we had a blast.  Again I spent a lot of my time working at the Gyrlspace; but I love it.  I even created a few workshops for the girls and they went really well.  This year Sam and I were both affected by being at that space and were very sad when it was time to go.  It is really hard to explain, but it reminds me of what a woman's community used to be like when there were villages and people really had trust and worked together.  Now, it seems, even in sub-divisions that most people are individual cells with in a whole.  There is little ebb and flo.  At the festival, it is very different.  I can turn off the external chatter of real life and just relax.  There are many moms there and we all take turns watching the children and get time to relax.  At night, the girls play and we just got to sit outside, drink some wine and talk.  The fact that I only had one child with me also helped me be more carefree.  There is a serenity of being in the middle of the woods with no TV, no phones, no computer, no noise.  And having such a large group of women who are on similar spiritual paths is really awesome.  You can't just look in the phone book and find "earth based religion".

On a IRL note, I have been hired as an Assistant Teacher for the summer.  This should turn into a full time position for the reg school year.  The fact is it will eventually.  That is certain.  I figure if it does this fall, great.  The downside will be having to put Susanna in daycare for longer hours.  If it later, then Susanna will be old enough to come too and then I get more time with her at home.  Either way it is a win-win.  My studies are going great and I will be finished by August at the latest.  This is really awesome.  I have really enjoyed doing this and think I would like to eventually go on for my Master in Education.

Ben has been promoted to a larger store.  The cool thing is that they came to him.  He didn't even apply for it!  They offered him a decent raise too.  (This is great cause they are usually cheap, cheap, cheap.... Shhhhh.....)  Of course, we both start new things at the same time, but hey, we will figure it out.  I am really proud of him.  He is very good at what he does.  He has a great work ethic and works hard.  I am so happy for him that he is getting recognition for it.

With all the work changes, I was finally able to QUIT the restaurant!  Thank heavens!!!!!  I had been there for 4 1/2 years!  I said to keep me on the list cause I might be able to help cover from time to time.  I left on good terms.  Altho on my last day, I didn't even get a card.  Oh well, so much for gratitude from a restaurant.  Altho my friend Ky said that a lot of my regulars have been coming in and are really upset that I am gone.  Some even want my phone number.  So that is really nice to hear.

Susanna... oh Susanna.  Can we say independent?  Spirited?  Head strong? Stubborn?  Freakishly intelligent?  This child is so charming and sweet but man, she will be very grey on my head.  She was potty trained before two.  She speaks in clear, full sentences, she counts, she understands complex and multiple commands and she is fearless.  She pushes the envelope and can so clearly articulate when she is mad cause I say no.  "Mama, I am mad.  I don't like that.  You need timeout. I am not listening to you."  She is flipping two!

We had some bad news over the past bit as well.  First, the woman who used to teach the kids art had a cut.  It got infected, so she went to the hospital.  The gave her antibiotics.  She was allergic.  That caused a stroke.  She is now paralyzed from the neck down and may die.  She is 28.  This woman and I got along really well and when I think of this, I feel sick.  Her poor husband is a mess.

Second, my next door neighbor's best friend killed himself.  He went in the garage after taking a bottle of vicadin, turned on the car and that was that.  I knew him pretty well.  He was just a little bit older than me.  He had a wife and five children.  The youngest is 14.  I can't even begin to comprehend their pain and other than listening and putting forward positive energy, there is nothing I can do.  It certainly makes me so grateful for all the things in my life, both the good and the bad.

On a happier note, a good friend that I love dearly is pg.  But this time I will not be pg with her (sorry Tiff!).  These are the things I like to focus on.

I am also looking forward to seeing a bunch of wonderful women in Columbus the end of July.

And Ben's brother and his long time GF are coming to see us the beginning of July for two weeks.

So life is indeed busy, but I am not complaining!  :)