moms

10:10 pm: Monday Nov. 7
Everyone.........today is Michael's Birthday!!!

11:53 am: Are we all NUTS???
I am wondering what the deal is.
The kids are not yet back at school.
The football season hasn't really begun.
I haven't seen one tree change it's colors.
Hobby Lobby has their Christmas Decorations out!

10:29 pm: ok, ok
Just talked to Michael tonight. He thought maybe it's about time that I update this journal. Not sure what to say......it's not as if nothing has happened in my life since my last post!!
I learned something over the weekend.......I do NOT want to be a college student!!
Bill and I went to Grand Rapids Michigan over the weekend. We stayed in a dorm w/o air conditioning, very uncomfortable beds and had to share a bathroom!! We also had 1400 people around us......most of them teenagers....from around the world. Exchange students. We have learned so much from them over the years. Saying goodbye on Sunday was awful.....these young men trying so hard to be strong, with tears streaming down their faces as we said goodbye for the last time before they go back to their countries and homes. As was said again at this conference........if every person in the world, at age 17, was an exchange student....there would be so many fewer wars fought.
Watching all of them at the final dance, arms linked, singing "we are the world" is a very emotional sight. They are, after all, our future.

06:19 pm: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
I just want to tell everyone to have a wonderful day tomorrow.
Also, for those of you coming to RAYTOWN this weekend, according to my sources, the IVANHOE on Main Street(our new and improved Main Street) is the place to be. VOLD, check it out....I told Bj that would be good place for you guys to play. Come on, do the Raytown people a favor and play here...just once, pretty please?!?!?!
If anyone sees Bj this weekend...Saturday is his birthday.

07:24 am: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Today is Michael's Birthday!
My 'baby' is 25!
Have a wonderful day, Michael.
Your Mother loves you.

09:08 pm: Happy Halloween
Well, it was another interesting year for Trick or Treat in our neighborhood tonite.
What kind of pleasure do you think 15 year old boys get out of ringing the doorbell, just standing there, not even carrying a bag to collect the treats? Say thank-you, yeah right!
I guess it's the little kids that really are into the whole thing that make it worth even turning on the porch light. The little girl of about 6 years old dressed as a princess who told me, very seriously, that our boombox on the porch blasting bone chilling screams was "a very nice touch"! Well, guess who got an extra piece of candy?

03:16 pm: A taste of things to come
It's a grey and lifeless kind of day.The kind good for napping on the couch with the fireplace burning.
Winter is on it's way.
Yesterday was spent in the company of exchange students from many different countries. They have come from Europe, Asia and South America and even Africa.
They are a really great group this year. Funny and talented teenagers. The kind parents can be very proud of.
I am feeling so bad and also ashamed of how American high school kids are so indifferent to so many of them.
I wish that they realized what they are missing in not getting to know these kids. The general concensus is that American kids don't care. They don't care about being their friends or just wanting to find a way to make them feel welcome.
It is so difficult to try to comfort a a shy 16 year old and tell them that it's going to be ok and that they WILL end-up having the best year of their lives even though that at this time, it seems impossible to believe.
They thought this year was such a wonderful opportunity. They thought maybe the American young people would want to know about them and their culture. They are surprised and saddened by it all.
Can anyone tell me why this happens.

02:27 pm: My first entry!
Ok......I have spent alot of time reading everyone else's journals. Now...read mine and post sometime, just to make me feel good,ok?
I am hoping that, soon, there will be entries from around the world as our 'daughters' discover this jounal.
Michael thanks again for 'hooking me up' with this live journal.