Whoa! What happened?

I forgot I had a blog. What happened?!

I cannot believe it has been almost one year since my last post. What a difference a year makes!

Last year this time, we were reeling from the news of our little Clara's diagnosis of leukemia. We all held closely guarded our secret fears that we would lose her before her life had really begun. Today, we laugh and marvel at her progress and her spirit as she moves forward and away from her bone marrow transplant to continued health and freedom. She is absolutely an amazing little miracle.

Last year this time, I had just taken on a new job as Secretary/Coordinator of St. Peter's Catholic Student Center at Baylor University. At the time, I was mostly staring down the barrel of a filthy clean up job. I had thrown myself into cleaning out closets and file drawers and trying to create some sense of organization into a badly neglected building. As the year progressed, I learned how to design and manage a website, keep books on Quickbooks for a non-profit, support an annual giving program, write newsletters, manage a database, supervise an ethics and integrity program, manage weekly bulletins and announcements, feed the hungry at weekly Mass lunches, hunt down a missing priest, and counsel students who need advise or just want someone to talk to.

Last year this time, my two teenagers ('the babies') were trying to find their way in their new high school and make some friends. Now, they are Mr. and Miss Popularity at school. John Mark is reveling in his membership in the school spirit squad, "Blue Crew" and everyone knows his face and loves his crazy fun personality. Mary Kate had to say goodbye to all the seniors who embraced her into their inner sanctum last year and is getting to know her own class better. Miss Popularity had to bring herself down to her own age group finally. Ha! They are definitely settled. When I asked John Mark this summer if he would want to move back to South Carolina if we could, he said without hesitation, "No way!" (I was actually quite surprised!)

What a difference a year makes!

Last year this time, I had started to blog. Hmm...