Mamma & Dixie

Annie at Work (Internship at Exela Pharmaceuticals)

Annie sports her safety goggles and lanyard that she wears in the microbiology Department of Exela pharmaceuticals where she makes $25 at her internship!

The Year of Lasts : The Last Family Day at the Mountain State Fair

Even though I couldn't convince Annie to enter any of her Pottery or stained glass this year, it was still fun to have family day! Daddy got his fries, I got my gyro, and we laughed at the size of the "giant" pumpkins this year. 81 pounds?!? Ttthhhppttt! The giant was only as big as the regular one! I also was impressed with one of the costumes that reminded me of leia, and then we also found the stained glass winner who was always in competition with annie.

Annie & Corey : Double Jeep Date

In another amazing comparison between Annie and corey, Annie and I went out to eat dinner in Dixie while Corey and his dad went out to eat in Rosco! Corey asked for some pictures, so Annie sent them! And he sent some as well! I was so excited about all of us having a jeep, that I took out a blue Jeep duck to match their Jeep and wrote a message on the bottom saying "I love Rosco, love Dixie.' And he gave the doc to Corey and his dad the next time she visited.

My Beautiful Annie, Back from the Fair

The Year of Lasts : The Last Friend Day at the Mountain State Fair

Marissa, Annie, Maddie & Luz: Forever Friends

I went with Shana for a friend day as well!

The Assassination of Charlie Kirk (& It's Repercussions)

                                                    -- Charlie Kirk

If he knew the future, would he still have said this?

When someone told me that Charlie Kirk had been assassinated today, my first comment was "Who is Charlie kirk?" Although I always keep up with the news of the day, I am was not familiar with this far right political commentator. Although he never went to college himself, he was quite a debater, and founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) is an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses. It was founded in 2012. I am including this here because I thought someday both Leia and Annie might like to look back on this event and what it encouraged. This happened in the middle of a gathering in Utah where Charlie Kirk was encouraging students to ask questions. He had just finished talking about gun violence when a shot rang out,. Pierced his carotid artery, and killed him almost instantly. I was amazed that the FBI wasn't able to apprehend someone for days. But what it took was a clear picture of the shooter and it turned out to be the father who ended up turning him in. I have a lot of respect for this father who also gave up his law enforcement job because he didn't think it would be appropriate anymore. Further, I have respect for Charlie Kirk's wife who, at the memorial service said she forgave the killer. She is Roman Catholic and I appreciate that show of Christ like love! However, I am looking closely to see whether Erica Kirk will Advocate against the death penalty for this young man. The final few pictures in this post are screenshots of a text conversation between Leia and harvest and Brian and i. There were repercussions of the shooting on the UNC Wilmington campus. It's specifically was in regards to a rock called the spirit rock, or someone put a memorial to Charlie Kirk and it was immediately painted over. There was also people with guns supposedly roaming the campus bookstore. Thank goodness everyone was safe! Unfortunately, our country is incredibly polarized between conservative and liberal. This polarization is beginning to lead to violence more and more.

"Name All My Awards" = Parental Anxiety

I just had to include this post of a text conversation today because, even though it makes me laugh, made me have a small panic attack as a parent. It was one of those things that you knew might happen someday, but it takes a lifetime of keeping an easy to find document at your fingertips of every single award. I did my best and keeping the blog and used it for this very thing! But it didn't stop me from feeling like I missed something. The line that makes me laugh the hardest here is "please stop sending pictures."

Seasonal Jeep Duck

Right next to my VERY FAVORITE crocheted & flower-crowned Jeep duck from Leia!

The Year of Lasts : The Last School Parent Night

Look at my sad face in knowing this was the last of these! At least I got to speak to Ms. Willingham (guidance counselor) and Mr. Savage (science teacher). I was shocked to see photos of Annie on the door to the HS science room. This is because Annie is very active in the Young Scientists club, traveling to many local elementary schools to do activities with them.

Saint Carlo Acutis

We finally have a canonized saint for our youth! Known as "The Gamer Saint" This young man who predicted his own death and has since procured many miracles, was just canonized by Pope Leo XIV. His parents were Catholics in name only, attending Mass only a few times, and their son brought THEM to the faith! Before he died, he completed a full website about Eucharistic Miracles.

Annie Starts Dating Corey Quinn

WE LOVE THIS YOUNG MAN! And this was the beginning of it all. 

I wrote the above text to Shana, so excited for Annie! Here is how it went down:  Brian and I had NO idea, thinking this was a regular night. We were home watching TV and it got later and later. Usually Annie texts by 8 or so, if something keeps her out later. By 9:30 I will admit I was a bit worried and texted her. She finally texted and said she would be home soon. She got home and told us all about the date. So excited for her!  And after hearing more about this young man, I was shocked and in AWE about many things, and even teared up as a result:

*Corey is Catholic!

*He went through Catholic grade school.

*He has had all sacraments except Confirmation (postponed due to Covid).

*Corey has recently become a more progressive Catholic.

*Corey had a similar issue with weight gain due to puberty.

*He finally found the gym and battled against the weight gain. Now he is of normal weight.

*He also began his higher education through a Community College program.

*He also has a sarcastic sense of humor.

*His mom also has a "hippie" best friend.

*His mom also has an ancient (1984) Jeep Wrangler.

*This Jeep has a name: Rosco.

*His family also loves to take their boat out on the local lake.

And after meeting him, I will say that there are other things that complement each other: his love of finance jives well with her opposite love of science and his outgoing nature balances Annie being reserved, 

MAY THEY HAVE A LONG & BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP!