You dared to dream! And today is the day those dreams become your reality.
May 18th, 2023
Our son Atticus graduated from Chippewa Valley Technical College with Scholastic Honors. Atticus graduated with a degree as an Automotive Technician.
The ceremony took place at UWEC Zorn Arena.
Hold tight to the dreams you have today and walk with God in their direction.
CVTC President Sunem Beaton Garcia shared powerful opening remarks. She is a first generation Cuban American. She gave a powerful Pro American speech. She shared how the college will continue to support the graduates. She knows that the graduates will commit to their profession prepared with new skills and a lot of determination. It is the college's primary goal to help these graduates succeed.
An interesting last year of school.. you took on the challenges and you did it! Yay!
"Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it" Proverbs 16:22
I am a wee bit sad that CVTC will not be having an in house ceremony. I am proud of Samuel, he worked hard. He had zoom classes, online assignments and more. It was a different last year of classes. He pushed on and he did it!
Reach High!!!
What else did attending CVTC bring into Sam's life? Catie!
Catie, Sam and Atticus.. celebrating 2021 Mother's Day. I was spoiled and blessed on Mother's Day.. I will share more soon.
As COVID19 marched across the world and the world started to shut down we all hung on for the ride. You are so busy preparing for the shut down sometimes you do not have time to think about everything else.
Our son, Atticus, graduated. He is one of many 2020 graduates who will share a story about the end of their senior year as COVID19 marched across the world.
Atticus rolls most things off, he is easy going. He will take the challenges that come and does his best to solve them.
Not able to spend time with friends .. we will do more online time.
Not able to have a graduation ceremony and party .. we will get together with loved ones as the summer rolls into autumn to let them know my plans and thank them for the love they have given me during my school years.
Not able to finish my high school career shooting trap with the Rice Lake Warrbirds .. that hurt. This trap season Atticus was a senior. Younger shooters already looked up to him, but now he was a senior and one of the top shooters on the team.
We were just getting rolling with the season when COVID19 cancelled the season.
There never will be another State Shoot for Atticus.
He took the punch.
As all the 2020 graduates took that punch.
As they take that punch.. I know they can change the world, they can make a difference and they will dream big!
Thank you family, friends, teachers, mentors, and coaches for being a special part of Atticus' school days. As we planned to celebrate the accomplishments of Atticus' school years, COVID19 came into the world. Although we may not get to send Atticus of with a party, we still want to recognize his 2020 graduation.
High Fives Atticus
The good news, Grad, is that the world awaits you.
Our National Guard son Sam rented a little apartment in Eau Claire for his first year of school at Chippewa Valley Technical College. The lease expired at the end of May. He decided with being deployed to Milwaukee with COVID19 testing and not knowing how school would be looking for the 2020/2021 school year, he would move back home.
Or should I say, we would move him back home. He is currently deployed.
Our conversation went like this..
"Mom, I have decided it best to move home for now, hopefully in August I will find a place to rent."
"So, Mom, the thing is, you will have to move me, with out me."
All was going well, until we got one piece of furniture stuck in the door.
I text message Sam "We need the National Guard, we are stuck."
He messaged back "Ha! Thank you so much for moving me Mom!"
Thank goodness we had Atticus to help us.
We had nice weather and things went smooth.. after getting unstuck. We had to take the door off.
Saying Goodby to the little apartment.
I spoke to Sam's landlord on the phone the day after we finalized the move and cleaned.
We spoke for some time, it is funny how these times bring people together in ways we never would have.
Sam sent me this photo, busy with COVID19 testing in Milwaukee. He learned this week his orders have been extended to the end of the June, with possibility of extending into July.
1. Setting aside the real March Madness (NCAA Basketball) describe
something happening at your house this month that might earn the title
'March Madness'?
My text book.
I am currently in school.
I am taking the Master Gardener course.
It adds a little madness because we already have the boys busy with school, extra activities, work and of course just keeping house.
In the madness, everyone helps make the days run smooth. I love that about our family. I am so thankful for it. My oldest son saying "Hey, mom, I can stop after work and pick up a few groceries."
My boys reaction when they first saw the size of it! "WOW, mom! You can do this!"
2. What's a favorite made up word from your childhood or a favorite from
your children's childhood? Does your family still use the word today?
If there's a story behind the origin please share.
My grandpa loved to make up words.
When asking for the afghan my mom crochet for him, he would say "Please cover me with my Afghanistan." He made up other fun words and sayings too. It was always a fun time to hang out with my grandpa.
3. Will you be doing any spring cleaning now that the season is upon us? I read here a list of 15 quick (under one hour) spring cleaning tasks. They were-
clean out a drawer, vacuum furniture, whiten tile grout, dust the
nooks and crannies you don't get to year round, degrease kitchen
cabinets, wipe down walls, go behind furniture, wipe down ceiling fans,
vacuum the mattress, clean the range hood, wash baseboards, shine the
stainless steel, clean out vents, tackle the windows, and wipe down
gadgets
Of the fifteen 'quick' tasks listed which two most need doing at your house? Will you do them?
Yes, we usually do spring cleaning.
After a long Wisconsin winter, it is nice to open the windows and let the fresh air in.
Yes, we will wipe down our ceiling fans.
We really should tackle the windows.
4. A favorite movie set in Paris or New York?
You've Got Mail
It makes me want to live in New York City! I love, love, love Kathleen Kelly's apartment.
5. What's put a spring in your step this month?
My garden seed orders are arriving. Each day this week I have gotten some in the mail.
I will have some exciting news to share regarding my Little Garden That Could in the next month.
6. Did you ever want to be a teacher? Why or why not?
I did.
I have a fun memory being a teacher.
As many of you know, I grew up on a dairy farm.
When my sister and I were younger, we would play in the feed room. My parents had gotten two chalk boards and hung them in the feed room so we could play school.
My sister and I would drag bring the farm cats into the feed room. We would sit them on the feed sacks and teach them how to not get run over by the milk truck, tractors and such.
We spent most of the milking time chasing the cats to get them to come back to class.
I wonder now, maybe they did not like the subject.
My sister also played school, I was the teacher. Me, being the older sister, I of course bossed her as the teacher. It never lasted long, I was back to teaching the cats.
7. What's your favorite floral scent? Do you have this somewhere in
your home or maybe in a perfume? How do you feel about florals in food?
How about wines with floral notes-yay or nay?
I love, love flowers.
I am going to say lilacs are my very favorite scent. Then when the lily of valley bloom, I will say lily of the valley. Then when the peony bloom, I will say peony.
I had a violet on top of a cupcake, but I did not eat it.
I am not sure about the wine.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Baseball season is just about here. I am counting down the days.
I have the Brewers schedule on my fridge. I mark the wins and losses.
I am excited to see what the Cubs do this year.
I am a Milwaukee Brewer fan, but I can not help myself to like the Cubs too.
a reminder to stop and pay attention to the little beauties and graces
that make life magical and to set aside time for gratitude each day
Girl Scout Cookies
The memories that come with receiving Girl Scout Cookies.
I was in Girl Scouts and my mom was very active in the program.
I was the top cookie seller for our troop!
The sweet Thank You note the we received with our Girl Scout Cookie order.
Setting aside gratitude for those people who make our automobiles.
A large rock came flying at me while driving on my Meals on Wheels route last week.
I took a photo of the damage on the windshield.
Just think if we did not have the amazing windshields we do! Driving along at 60 miles an hour and boom a rock hits you.
Taking time to say "I am thankful for those folks who spend time in making our autos safe."
Cadbury Mini Eggs
Yum!
My text book!
Class is going well. Our instructors are amazing. Very helpful and so excited to teach us.
I am taking time for gratitude to all of those people who enjoy to teach others. They have patience and take time to think of ways to teach in a fun, hands on way.
My boys!
They really had a chuckle over the size of my class room text book.
I also have online lectures and worksheets.
Setting aside gratitude to my family helping me study for class and take the time to listen about my my time at class.
Downsizing ... I did accomplish cleaning two closets. I had to say good bye to some items I was hanging on to from the boys child hood. This was very hard. I had my husband drive to Goodwill to donate the items the same day of the project, so I would not run to the car and pull the items back out and return to the closet.
Love ~n~ Sharing Summit
something I planned to help with .... I ended up as the leader
For many years I have wanted to take the Master Gardener course. I looked into it year 2016, but I had several family commitments. I decided not to try.
At the start of January I noticed an article in my agriculture newspaper I subscribe to. The header of the article caught my eye, Master Gardener training set in Spooner. The advertisement read " Garden enthusiasts interested in learning more about horticulture " .... I discussed the class, the desire, the hope of becoming a Master Gardner with my husband. He shared with me that he wanted me to take the course. He knows I have hoped to do this for many years.
I applied at the end of January.
I have been accepted!
Class starts this week. I am excited and nervous all at the same time.
My blog schedule will be a little different as I get use to going to school.
I will keep you posted on how class is going.
Maybe you can help quiz me towards exam time.
Thank you my dear blog friends, you all are special to me. This is a special community.
♥
Carla
How about you?
Are the New ____ that you started or thought of for 2017 showing progress?
1. Way back when (the Hodgepodge bicentennial to
be precise) several of you submitted questions as part of a giveaway I
was hosting. I went back to that list for inspiration today and found a
question submitted by Marla, who blogs over at Marla's Musings. Thanks Marla!
She asks-At what age did you feel like a 'grown-up'? What keeps you young now?
I felt like a grown up at age 21. I was living in my own little house. I was working in Accounts Payable for a great company in my hometown. I just met Jeremy, my husband today. I was on my own and making my way. I was blessed to live only 10 miles from my parents and they gave me a lot of support.
What keeps me young now? My boys!
2. When did you last buy a vehicle? Was this by design or because you
had no other option? Was the car/truck purchased for your own personal
use or was it bought for someone else to drive? On a scale of 1-10 (with
10 being delightful and 1 being 'pass the Excedrin') how would you rate
the experience?
My husband and I hate vehicle shopping. When we purchased our current truck, it was a NEGATIVE experience. Looking back, we are like, "why did we not just walk out?"
The saying goes" You live and learn!" Still!
3. Corn bread, corn chips, corn pudding, corn on the cob, cornflakes,
corn chowder-your favorite of the corn-y foods listed? What needs to be
served alongside your selection?
I love fresh sweet corn. While growing up my parents had a big garden full of sweet corn. My sister and I could not wait for the first meal of sweet corn.
Pass the butter please!
4. What's something in your life that regularly requires you to 'put your thinking cap on'?
I am learning German with my boys.
5. Share a favorite movie set in a school or classroom, or whose theme relates to school days in some way.
The Blind Side
6. Reading, writing, and 'rithmatic' are commonly referred to as the three R's. What are the three R's in your life right now?
Raising two teen age boys.
Reaping our produce in our garden.
Remembering Sam's baby days. I am going to start a T-Shirt quilt for my son, Sam who will be 16 in 2016. I have saved his T-Shirts from day one.
7. What's something you've learned or tried recently you can say was as'easy as ABC'?
I made Dill Pickles for the first time. I thought it would be hard, not at all, ' easy as ABC.'
8. Insert your own random thought here.
"It is not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived."
The boys and I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Atticus enjoyed the humor with the boys. Sam enjoyed learning about another culture and I enjoyed the friendship between the boys.
It took place in Seoul, Korea, 1473.
A special story about brothers.
"The author has drawn her characters with a sure touch, creating two very different boys struggling to figure out who they are. With ease and grace, Park brings these long-ago children to life." - School Library Journal
