create the life you love

Thankful Thursday (on Friday)

I have missed doing this post for the past few weeks. So this week, I want to combine a post - Griff's school update and just how thankful I am for this school.

He is SO very happy in 6th grade at LHPS. The six grade has 160 students and they have their own little 'campus'. It is actually the upstairs floor of  a building that is entirely for the 6th grade (the cafeteria is on the bottom floor). All their classes are held here with the exception of pe. They have their own dean of students, in charge of the 6th graders only. The school feels that this is an important age for their students in which they are not quite ready to be with the middle schoolers , 7th & 8th - which also have their own campus, but are too old to be considered part of the lower grades. They are able to be just themselves without any pressures of the older teenagers. It is really a wonderful setup and beautiful campus.

The school just added a new theater last year, not in the picture as well as artificial turf on the field. This was a huge thing for Griff (very exciting to be able to play sports on a turf field) - the theater, not so exciting to him!

 

LHPS mission statement:

"Within an atmosphere of love, concern and mutual respect, Lake Highland Preparatory School is committed to instilling Christian values, to inspiring patriotism, to developing future leaders, and to preparing students for college and lifetime learning through academically challenging programs and affirming competitive experiences. "

2008-2009 Year Verse:

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Yesterday, Griff met his 12th grade 'mentor' who will come and have lunch with him one day a week and talk to him about any school concerns, etc. Griff's mentor this semester just happens to be a girl :). Today, the 6th grade is having their 6th grade  retreat. Not sure what all is going on, but a lot of fun I am sure. Swimming was included (the school has a 100 meter pool) as well as pizza.

I am very thankful that we are able to send Griff to this school. It is such a blessing to know that he is happy with school, friends, sports ... life!

Thankful Thursday

Once again I am behind, but better late than never...

::  I am thankful for all the rain we have had, being that it is much needed. We have had rain and/or a thunderstorm just about every day now for the past 2 weeks. It also makes the evenings sooo much cooler :)

::  I am thankful that Griff arrived safely at lacrosse camp and I am sure having a great time, although we haven't heard from him yet and doubt if we will! ** Also, thank you all for the kind comments regarding Griff's new hair cut :

::  I am thankful that Connor had the opportunity to internship and not only gain such valuable experience, but make good money too. Today is his last day. He is off to Gainesville on Sunday to start summer school.

::  I am thankful that my mother is okay. She had a fall (once again), but thankfully, noting broken this time. I am going over to see her on Sunday at the rehab facility she is currently staying for physical therapy and care.

::  I am thankful that we were able to give this little pooch a home! Murphey is just the sweetest dog (dare I say, even sweeter than Baxter?!) and doing very well here with us. We all love him tons. Even Dan, who can't get over how good he is. Murph misses Griff though, especially at night, since he has been sleeping with him. I just can't stop wondering where he came from, what his life was like before, how long he was 'homeless'. As Dan keeps telling him, 'you hit the jackpot, Murph' :) .. we all did!

Thankful Thursday

And it is actually ON Thursday this week!

:: I am thankful that Barret is arriving home for the weekend later this evening. Between school and his job he has not been home for about 2 months now (although were were together in Boston). Miss my Bear Boy.

:: I am thankful that Griff has such a kind and gentle heart (at times!). When he talks to his grandmother (me-me)on the phone, he is so patient (she doesn't hear him well and he has to repeat a lot) and very kind and caring to her. This past week, she was telling him how she can not walk anymore (she mentions this every single time we talk to her,it is so sad) and he was so sweet telling her how sorry he was and trying to lift her spirits by saying that she is still a great grandmother and that he loves her so much. He handles it all much better than I do. Knows how to say just the right thing :)

:: I am thankful that Connor is somewhat willing to share things with me. This is huge for a boy and he is much better at this than his big brother!For example, he usually tells me (when I ask) all about his evening/nights out, where  he was, with who, and lots of fun stories too. He always makes me laugh. So many of his friends, both guys and girls I never get to see anymore since they have grown up and are in college. I love to know what's going on with them all. :)

:: I am thankful for the late afternoon/early evening thunder storms were are getting here - every day this week. Thunder is rumbling out there today as I type. We need the rain badly. Last night the cable was out due to lightening (I was also on the phone, talking to Barret and believe me I hung up as fast as I could when that huge bolt hit - scary). Anyway, poor Griff and Dan were besides themselves with no TV last night due to the cable outage. ;) Me, I was just fine reading, as I do every night!

My white crepe myrtles in the back yard in the storm yesterday (since I posted my pink in the front). These are all single trunk and so pretty. They also have a delightful scent.

  

Thankful Thursday (on Friday)

I have missed doing this post the past few weeks, but as always so very many blessings in my life.

:: I am thankful for the weekend our family had together away in Boston. All five of us together is rare these days and it is so wonderful when we have these opportunities.

:: I am thankful for Connor's internship job. He really loves it and loves the money he is making even more (as do Dan & I). The experience he is getting is invaluable and will help him in the years to come with job choices/searches.

:: I am very thankful that Barret has a job - finally!! Being his 3rd year away at school, we felt that it was time he get a part time job (gave him a 'bit' of time to get use to the college life!). He is working part time at Mellow Mushroom in Tallahassee. One of his best friends has worked there for the past 2 years (he manages to go to college and have a part time job!). Bear seems to like it and again, loves the extra money as do we!! Yay Bear!!

:: I am thankful that a family friend who had brain surgery this past week to remove a tumor is doing well and expected to go home this weekend. She also has battled breast cancer for a few years now - God Bless her and her family.

:: I am thankful for my friend who knows she can call me at the last minute to get together for a glass of wine and/or dinner out. This past week we went to our favorite sushi restaurant Wazzabi. Because it is summer and is so hot, we had mojitos instead of wine - delish!

Thankful Thursday

And yes, I am way behind, writing this on Saturday!

:: I am thankful to have Connor home from school for a few months. Wish that Bear could be here also.

:: I am thankful for Connor's job and that he enjoys it. Such a fabulous opportunity for him. So 'cute' (for lack of a better word, but it is cute to me!) to see him leave early every morning all dressed up, off to work!

:: I am thankful for my friends, both in 'real life' and my blogging friends.

:: I am thankful that I can exercise almost daily and that I have the desire to do so. In all honesty, I really make myself exercise, it is not something I love to do, but have to do!

:: I am thankful that our family (all of us!) will be together next weekend on our annual trip to the NCAA Lacrosse Championships.

And a few photos of my beloved birds from outside my kitchen window ...

This pigeon/dove (??) comes every evening and sits on the exact same branch ...

Thankful Thursday

:: I am thankful that Connor is coming home for the weekend. Although, I would like to say that he misses his momma, thus the trip home, the real reason is the high school lacrosse championship games - both state semi finals and finals this weekend. Oh well, I'll still get some son-loving in ;)

:: I am thankful for the beautiful, cool weather this week. This most likely will be the last for us until well into next fall, so I am enjoying every last bit. High 90's and 100% humidity is right around the corner!

:: I am thankful for the beauty of nature. This big tree is at a home just down the street from us, on the lake. Every year at this time it blooms and is just breathtaking. It did get some damage from Hurricane Charlie a few years ago, but seems to be recovering well. I took this photo with my iphone while I was out walking. The home is under going major renovations (it is an spanish style home), thus the reason for the sign and black fence.

:: I am thankful that Griff has such a strong desire to succeed, especially with his school work.  Today, he received an A on his D.A.R.E essay - one of only 6 students in the 5th grade. Yea for him :)

:: I am thankful for these two furry 'siblings' They are getting along pretty well. Lots of 'playing' going on, or maybe it's fighting, but it doesn't seem to bother either all that much.

Photos taken by Griff with my iphone (and blurry). Bax even gave up 'his' fur blanket and is letting Lilly lay on it. Love the second picture with both of them looking right at the camera and Bax tilting his head up over Lilly ...

 

Thankful Thursday (on Friday)

Busy day yesterday and I never got around to this, but as always, so very much to be thankful for.

:: Thankful for the decision we made as a family on middle school for Griff. We all feel very good about our choice and Griff is so excited.

:: Thankful for my girlfriends and the good times we share. Tonight we are having a little girls night out at a friend's home. Beautiful weather here, with nice cool evenings and we will be enjoying wine and dinner outside.

:: Thankful for Dan who is such a wonderful father and shows so much interest and love to his boys. He spent last weekend in Gainesville with Connor. This weekend he is headed up to Tallahassee to spend the weekend with Barret. Golf, FSU spring football game and more.

:: Thankful for our new little kitty, Lilly. She is sooooo sweet and I think very happy in our home (even with her 'big brother' Baxter bugging her).

:: Thankful for running into Connor's best friend, Jack today. He was home from college for the weekend. They have been best buds since Jack moved here when in 5th grade and he has been like a 4th son to me. So great to see how he has matured and become such a polite young man. Today, he was so sweet, took the time to talk to me when I knew he was hurry to get on to something more important. He told me how much he missed Connor and wished they could see each other more. Jack is in college in Tallahassee, Connor in Gainesville, so they only see each other once a month or so. It just touched me, knowing my boys have made such great childhood friends, ones that they will no doubt be friends with for life.

:: Thankful for the beautiful birds that come to visit my feeder. I get such joy in watching them! (I bought a baffle, so those pesky squirrels are having a hard time getting to the feeder).

 

Thankful Thursday

{ photo taken by Griff }

:: I am thankful that we were able to adopt a sweet little kitty and give her a home. I think she is very happy here. I am also thankful that Baxter & Lilly seem to be liking each other a bit more each day. Poor Bax is feeling a little neglected, but is being a good sport about the arrival of his new 'sister'. ;)

:: I am thankful that Griff has such a kind and caring heart towards animals.

:: I am thankful for friends who do a little something special for me just because.

:: I am thankful that God continues to watch over my older boys, keeping them safe.

:: I am thankful that I was able to witness over 30 women become closer to Christ on Sunday evening (a retreat that I attended 11 years ago and have been a part of ever since).

:: I am thankful that Dan and Connor will be sharing in a very special event this weekend. Barret will be with them also (more on this tomorrow).

******************

Also: thank you for all the kind comments regarding Griff and his oration and thanks for all the tips on the pesky squirrels. I filled up the feeder this morning and they managed to eat the entire contents today by 3pm!! Ugh. I need to try a baffler - hopefully this will keep them away or at least limit their intake!

Thankful Thursday...Happy Spring!

This week I am thankful for ...

:: All my wonderful friends, both in 'real' life and those of you I have met online.

:: For having a special birthday and reaching this age with grace and dignity!

:: For safe travels and having such a great time in NYC.

:: For my husband who planned the trip and made it all possible and who works very hard so that we can enjoy these times away.

:: For Griff for being the best traveler. He is such a pleasure to have along on trips. Never complains, even when I am dragging him into store after store!

:: For the safety and well being of my big boys over spring break. All was fine with them both at the beach and when they were here at home a few days alone. Thank you, Lord. The house is still standing! It was actually very clean and orderly when we returned.

:: For the fabulous news my friend received this week regarding her stage 3 cancer. The chemo is working, her tumor is shrinking!

:: For the first day of spring! Although, living in Florida, it has been spring-like for a while now, I still appreciate these 'cooler', sunny days - in the 70's and low humidity. This morning I awoke to the sound of rain. By the time the sun was up, the rain had stopped and the skies were clearing - opening up to a beautiful spring day!

A few photos of my flowers in my yard ...

"Spring is when life's alive in everything"  Christina Rossetti

"Spring is what God can do with a drab and dirty world" Virgil A. Kraft

"I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth?"  Edward Giobbi

Thankful Thursday

 

ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL

All things bright & beautiful

All creatures great & small

All things wise & wonderful

The Lord God made them all

-Cecil Francis Alexander

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Can't believe it is Thursday once again, much to be thankful for ...

:: My very best pal, Baxter. He is my constant companion. Always by my side when I am at home. So loving, so full of charm, so spoiled!

:: Once again this week, I am thankful for my bible study. This particular study, Trusting God, Even When Life Hurts has really awakened me to so much and has answered many questions that I have struggled with over the years. Even if you do not do the study part, I highly recommend reading the book.

:: I am thankful for my bible study girls. Today we celebrated my birthday (my b-day is actually next week, but I will be away). Although I host the study at my home, they all brought the celebration to me. A wonderful sour cream pound cake with fresh berries and cream. I also received very lovely, thoughtful gifts.

:: I am thankful for my sweet husband who is always there for his boys. Griff's  lacrosse was in desperate need of help, an assistant coach. Griff came home from practice last week and told me that he really wished his dad could help coach since he (his dad) loved lacrosse so much and knew so much about the game. He went on to say that he thought his dad was too busy with work and golfing (!!) and that he already coached so much with his brothers that he won't want to. Dan proved him wrong, told Griff he would love helping his team and is now the assistant coach.

:: I am thankful that my big guys are arriving home tomorrow. Praying for safe travels for them both.

Thankful Thursday (on Friday)

:: Thankful for the beautiful spring like days we are having, with a bit cooler weather. And these beautiful trees (the name escapes me?) that are in bloom. I took these photos with my iphone while walking a few mornings ago.

:: Thankful for the Oprah Show. I rarely get to watch it these days since I am usually driving Griff to a practice at the airing time, but I did see the show yesterday. Marianne Williamson was the guest and the show topic, The Age of Miracles; The New Midlife. Perfect timing for me, since I will soon to be entering a new stage in life! Also, thanks to Oprah, I am reading A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. I am also signed up for the Monday night on-line class.

:: Thankful for girl friends who are fun to get together with, for a glass of wine, a bit to eat - even at the last minute.

:: Thankful for my mother's care giver. She is such a God send, a wonderful patient woman. We are very fortunate to have her.

:: Thankful that Griff has such a love of lacrosse. He is over the top with excitement for the game, so excited that the spring season has started.

:: Thankful that Connor has his confederate uniform and it fits! It was actually shipped over night and was at the frat house last night. Thank you Lord. Praying he arrives safely (he should be arriving to Savannah shortly). He had a late start after going to get his oil changed - waiting until the last minute - and the mechanic telling him his break pads were shot, and no way could he make  a 3.5 hour trip! Another typical Connor situation. Dan about blew a gasket over this - the fact that Connor waited until the day of the trip to have his car checked out! But, all is well ... an oil change, new break pads, new tires (of course more $$ deposited into his account to pay for it all) and he and his gang (his date and another couple) are on their way.

Thankful Thursday

Counting my blessings, one by one :)

:: Thankful for the news we received today regarding Connor's knee. His MRI shows no new damage, but his doctor wants him to start up with therapy again - 3 times a week. He feels he was just trying to do too much too soon. Lacrosse can be very physical and the running and turning (especially a big 6'3", 240 pounder with a long pole) is BAD for the knees. Don't we know it, this is how his torn ALC happened - a sharp turn, running at a fast speed.

:: Thankful for the news we received regarding Griff's neck - (medical day here!). Griff has been complaining off and on for months about his neck hurting. He is constantly rubbing it and making strange 'movements', turning it side to side. Often he wakes up with it hurting and has pain after he has played lacrosse. He seems to have some very tight muscles in his lower neck and shoulder area - especially the right side. The doctor said that carrying a heavy backpack is most likely the cause. Griff keeps every school book, note book, binder in his backpack at all times, along with his lunch and 1 or 2 water bottles, so yes, it is very heavy. This combined with the continuous swinging of a lacrosse stick (and this is something Griff does every day, even inside) over his right shoulder is causing the problem. So, nothing serious. We just need to use hot compresses or a heating pad, especially after lax practice and games, and no more carrying the backpack on his shoulders. A massage will certainly help, so I am going to take him to Whole Foods for a neck and shoulder chair massage :)

:: Thankful for our weather. Although, it is pouring rain right now, we have had beautiful, spring temperatures lately - mid 70's - just perfect. I often complain way too much about our awful heat and humidity, which will be here soon enough, but I need to be more grateful for these wonderfully, perfect days.

And ... I want to thank you all for your congrats to Griffin. So sweet of you all! To answer a few questions: No, my older boys did not go to this school (actually Barret did, explanation coming), they both went to parochial school k-8. We decided not to send Griff there due to the large class sizes. They had become much larger by the time he was entering kindergarten (some grades, 30+ students in a class). Barret actually went to TPS (a 6-12  grade school) for his freshman year of HS and half of his sophomore year. Although a new lacrosse program was starting his first year (he was able to play only 2 months), for some reason still unknown to me, the school stopped the program and canceled the rest of the season. Bear was still able to play football and he even was on the weight lifting team, but with his true love being lacrosse, he was not a happy boy. He went back his sophomore year, hoping the lax program would be continued again (we had heard rumors it would start again), but no such luck. So, he literally started school at WPHS the day of lacrosse tryouts! This was in January, a few weeks into the second semester of school. We registered him that morning, he went to a full day of school the same day, and went to tryouts that afternoon. One of the best, smartest decisions we have made concerning the Bear boy. He ended up making the varsity team and went on to a great HS lacrosse and football career.

As for Griff going all the way through high school at TPS, that is yet to be seen. While he is a much stronger student than those big brothers of his ;), we are just taking it year by year. Most likely, he will go on to be a WP Wildcat and continue on in the Caligiuri tradition. Griff loves WPHS, a Wildcat through and through, he has spent literally half his life going to the football and lacrosse games (even many basketball games). Being a 6A school, the sports program is always excellent and I know he would like to be a part of it all one day!

Whew, long post - I believe the longest I have ever written!

Thankful Thursday

Counting my blessings ...

I am thankful this week that the frat 'episode' of last week is over and behind me. And although I know Connor was very embarrassed and upset over it all, he was still so understanding and handled it in a very mature way. He's my 'southern gentleman' ;)

I am thankful for all of you, my blogging friends, who emailed me with encouragement, support and so much kindness. Thank you all!

I am thankful for Griff's math teacher who worked with him after school, two days this week to help him with the work he missed being out sick.

I am thankful for this very special season of lent. A time for soul-searching and repentance. (Griff and I are both giving up chocolate). I am also concentrating on study more of God's word daily.

And I am thankful for my bible study. We started a new book this week. I am hosting the study at my house every Thursday morning - hosting, but not leading (a leader, I am not!). I am very thankful for my dear friend Inevett who is our leader and such a wise, wonderful woman!

Our bible study breakfast. Thank you Williams Sonoma for the lovely pink & green linens, plates and napkins and the delicious lemon poppy seed bread ...