As ya'll know, we've been working hard to find the funding for Elle's tuition and board at the University of Michigan this fall. Today we got some wonderful news! U of M ASL (Arts Science Literature) gave her a $5000 scholarship, RENEWABLE FOR FOUR YEARS! The announcement deadline on these scholarships (april 15) had come and gone...and Elle and I had pretty much conceded that she wasn't getting one. But the letter was DATED April 15 and arrived in our mail today!!!!!! This is SUCH welcome news! This new scholarship brings us down to needing just seven thousand dollars to fund her this year! (and also helps tremendously ALL FOUR YEARS!) Seven thousand sounds like a lot....but we started this journey needing TWENTY SEVEN thousand for the year.......so to us, it's just incredible to have gotten this far! No word yet on the scholarship she interviewed for on Thursday. She has a few others out there that haven't announced yet, either. So freaking happy I could dance a jig Even if nothing else comes through...we feel so incredibly grateful and blessed! Happy Easter everyone
Thanks guys! I've been giddy all day. LOL. Elle and I jumped around like Lavern and Shirley when I showed her the letter. Then, I had to explain who Lavern and Shirley are.... LOL! I was picking up a few last minute things this afternoon for Easter at Mom's, and saw some U of M babydoll teeshirts...navy with the big gold M done in sequins. Very cute! Something tells me someone might find one in her Easter basket in the morning Yep, I know we're wayyyyyyyy too old for baskets, but it's Elle's last year home and she joked about missing biting the ears off a chocolate bunny....and then Hebbers (my best friend) put me up to it...so I was cooked! My husband arranged all the candy. He's never done that before. LOL. Was so cute that he wanted to, and seemed to have so much fun arranging everything. He's Mr. Tough, but I think he's going to miss Elle every bit as much as I do. Ah crap...I'm making myself cry again! LOL. I wonder if I'm peri-menopausal?
My kids got presents from "Santa Claus" and Easter baskets and sat in my lap until they grew up and left home.
And our six children, mostly now adults, return every Christmas, still get nerf guns from Santa, still charge around the house in a nerf fight, and still laugh and laugh all the time when we go out together for a meal. When a child goes off to college, it is a milestone event, but, if anything, we've found that family ties become even stronger. And the power of traditions really helps.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am so pleased for both you you!!! I'm sitting here, grinning ear to ear. And a t-shirt would be a perfect Easter gift!
Thanks Jackie And you're right, Steve...about it not being the end...just a new chapter. Lindina...I think a little magic and wonder is always welcome. For little kids, and big ones, too (Even if the magic is knowing your mom loves you and wants you to feel special) I know this is bad....but here's a naughty confession! LOL My mom's snotty sister was at Easter today (yes, I know I should love my aunt, and I shouldn't call a 70 year old woman snotty, but we've had a LONG history of rubbing each other the wrong way) This woman gave me SO much crap for homeschooling Elle when she was little. Went ON and ON and ON about it....bought it up out of thin air just to ridicule me, and my mom by extension....nearly calling me a child abuser for keeping her home. (She's one of those busy bodies who would try to "quiz" your child and tsk-tsk if the child didn't meet her standards...she was just atrocious) You have no idea the nasty JOY it gave me to rub her witchy little prune face in Elle's scholarship and success! LOL!...I know I'm horrible for that. I was tactful, but pretty obviously gave it back pretty hard for all those years of torment! I know I should feel bad about this...and work on this character flaw....but holy cow did it feel wonderful to put the old bag in her place. LOL. Pray for me. LOL.
LOL! I read that to Carl. He said, " AFTER I had my fun rubbing her face in it, you can pray for me!" LOL!
LOL....ah crap, I'm human. You ever have to deal with that ONE person who was incredibly obnoxious about homeschooling...who would outright tell you "I think you're robbing your child of so many important opportunities. What you're doing is such a shame. I just hate to think of everything your child is missing because you're being selfish and can't see the harm you're doing." That's who my aunt is. El comandante supreme busy body, negative nancy from another planet, panty wad poster queen. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Worse...she'd criticize my MOM....who had absolutely nothing to do with my decision to homeschool, but who was always supportive. She actually suggested that my mother have a talk with my husband to take a united front against this "foolish hippy homeschool thing" I was doing! LOL. As if it was a unilateral decision on my part! In short...she's a piece of work. I guess we all have our "piece of work" days. And I'm probably being unfair and should really think about her life and WHY she is the way she is...and be kind...and try... (but seriously...she's just such a toad!) LOL
It sounds like you're chiding me for not letting them sit on my lap, and not having Santa presents and Easter baskets, after they grew up and left home! You're missing the point: THEY LEFT HOME. And started their own traditions in their own homes!
Not at all, Lindina! Not remotely chiding you! Good heavens. I think it's honestly wonderful that you did fun things and were warm with your kids. How could anyone find fault with that? Why did you think I was chiding you? I'm so confused My point...was that the REAL magic of the fun stuff...the baskets and santa, etc....is the memory that your Mom loved making you feel special and loved and took pleasure in creating joy and fun for you. Sounds like you did a wonderful job of these things! So sorry you felt criticized....still not sure why you did. Did you think I meant you have to carry this stuff on even when they're adults? LOL. Maybe my wording was to blame? No worries...I think you did it exactly right. (not that what I think means two fart in the wind....but nope, I was not criticizing!)