Finishing Up

I registered Will for his ACT test this afternoon - another first in my life as the parent of a near-adult.

This week I made some phone calls about our hoped-for adoption. One lady I spoke with is the area IFAPA (Iowa Foster/Adoptive Parents Assoc) leader. She suggested that we make a flyer about our desire to adopt and then mail it to the 8 state adoption workers. So I did that and now I'm just waiting to hear back from her. She's supposed to get me the addresses. She got really excited when I told her that we were willing to consider some special needs and that we had experience with quite a few needs in Ben.

My grandma is not doing well, physically. She's 87, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. I just wish she didn't live so far away. I had always hoped to visit her one last time, but I am doubtful it is going to happen now. The thought of her being ill and possibly dying makes me so incredibly sad. She has always been such a big part of my life, even when so far away. She is my last living grandparent and soon, I fear, I will not have any.

I have recently realized lately that my face is beginning to sag. I'm developing jowls. Ick! I never used to have such a square jawline and as I've studied it I have come to realize that my facial structure has not changed, but my skin has loosened and fallen down around my chin. No wonder they call them "face lifts"! I had better come to some graceful terms quickly with the aging process because, as fast as it is happening, it appears I'll be living the last half of my life all saggy and wrinkly.

Paul's sister and family moved this week to Ohio. They have both lived their entire lives in the Council Bluffs area. But a few weeks ago she got a job offer and so they packed up, rented their house to Paul's nephew, and headed East this week. They're going to live near (next door? not sure) to Paul's other sister. Now Paul's parents have exactly one of their five children living in the same city. Of course, the bad side of this for me is that we may end up with more company as relatives cross the state to and from Ohio!

A couple of weeks ago I was in Target when I saw something that gave me pause. A middle-aged man (read: my age) was in there and he was wearing a fanny pack! As I thought about it I came to a realization. As much as my husband may annoy me from time to time (and honestly, it's not all that much, anymore!) I have so much to be grateful for - because he doesn't wear a fanny pack!

And on that uplifting note, I'm going to sign off. The next few days will probably be as busy as normal. Tomorrow I need to do some work up at City Hall and then I want to go visit Charlotte and James. Tomorrow evening I am going out with my friends Debbie and Danielle, to celebrate our March birthdays (we all have busy lives, which is why we're celebrating in April!). Saturday I think I'm going to get to stay home because Will volunteered to take David to softball practice. And Sunday will be a normal day, too. Then, Monday, I'll be plunged back into the craziness that defines my life these days.