The End of an Era

With great anticipation, and with a little sadness, Hannah and I (along with Hannah's friend Greta) stood in line just before midnight on July 15 to see the final installment of the Harry Potter series, The Deathly Hollows - Part II. Even the moon cooperated in the event by being full and bright. Little Harry, whom we first met in ten years ago, is all grown up now. While his friends at Hogwarts have been refining their magical talents and enjoying the frivolity of adolescence, Harry has grown up far too fast. The fate of the magical world rests squarely on his shoulders. The series is really a messiah story, as Harry is faced with a decision to lay down his life for his fellow wizards. With the support of his parents and others who have preceded him in death, Harry does so willingly. Of all the movies, this final chapter was without a doubt my favorite. I may need to see this one again just to relish it fully.

Hannah was only three years old when young Daniel Radcliffe rose to stardom as he portrayed 11-year-old Harry Potter in the very first of the series in 2001. But since then, she has watched every movie, first on VHS tapes and now on DVD. We have all the books (I'm reading them now after the fact.) I can't recall how many birthday parties and sleepovers have involved Harry Potter, or how many times we have re-watched the movies. There is no doubt that the Harry Potter series will be remembered as some of the iconic movies of her childhood, and Harry's story will told and retold for years to come. It will be interesting to see how high school English classes and college literature courses address the Harry Potter books. Will Harry be viewed as a religious metaphor? Will the "Ministry of Magic" become an allegory for modern government? Or will we simply remember this as a fantasy-filled children's story?

And so this tribute seems fitting, as we bid farewell to Harry, Hermoine, Ron, Dumbledore, Snape, Hagrid, and a host of other lovable characters. And, of course, Lord Voldemort. We won't miss him at all.

2001

2002

2004

2005

2007

2010

Me & my iPhone

Now, I'm not usually into techy gizmos the way so many people are. I definitely do not run out to buy the latest new toy to hit the market. I figure it's better to let other people work the bugs out. So when my employer added the iPhone to the list of available phone choices at the same time my phone contract was due for renewal, I wasn't at all sure I wanted to take the leap. After all, I primarily use my phone for the purpose it was intended - calling people. I do keep up with my work email (because otherwise I would be buried in email every day), but I'm not much for the whole text message thing. Why on earth would I need a phone that plays music, tells the weather forecast, takes pictures, surfs the web, and allows me to read books on a screen that is the size of a deck of cards?

I have officially eaten my words.

This little device is amazing. It is so versitile; I'm sure I haven't even scratched the surface on its capabilities. My favorite things about it:

• I can get directions and watch as my car moves along the road to see where to turn next
• I can track what I eat on Weight Watchers' mobile app
• I can listen to music; something I haven't done in years
• I can pay for my Starbucks coffee, and can reload my account directly from my work payroll withdrawal
• I can check the weather radar, and track storms
• I can listen to the radio - live
• I can see how far I've walked
• AND I can take some fairly decent photos.

I guess I'm convinced.

The last view of the field behind my house before it is turned into a road.

The last softball tournament of the season - 2nd place.

4th of July at the Sprague's Firworks Extravaganza

Midnight July 15 - in line for the premier of the Harry Potter finale

My grandmother's lawn chair - now a lawn ornament in my yard

Self portrait - the iPhone takes photos backwards too!

A thistle flower

David - being David

David and Lucy

Public Service Announcement

Attention all God-fearing men...please add this to the list of questions you should NEVER ask a woman:

"Did you put on some of that fake tanning stuff, or are your feet just dirty?"

Seriously. I cannot make this stuff up.

A Whole Lot of Catching Up to Do

What the heck happened to the last three months?! When I got off the plane from D.C., I think I must have stepped onto a hyperspace time machine that has fast-forwarded my life. I vaguely remember some pretty significant events - almost too many to list in one blog post, but here are the highlights:

1. A birthday. Mine. I turned 52. Ugh.
2. A Joint Commission survey at work. Major stress.
3. An Easter performance. Hannah danced.
4. Attending softball games dressed in winter coats and wrapped in blankets.
5. Begging, pleading, and bribing one said 18-year-old in order to get the necessary work done to meet the requirements for high school graduation.
6. A trip to Las Vegas for work.
7. Attending softball games dressed in rain ponchos and hanging onto umbrellas for dear life.
8. Another Joint Commission visit. Even more stress.
9. Piano recital and band concert. The addition of a tenor sax to Hannah's musical repertoire.
10. More begging and pleading. And to be brutally honest, some hefty "assistance" with the completion of one composition class.
11. Darrin and McKenna's one year wedding anniversary (Can it possibly be a year already?)
12. Attending softball games dressed in shorts and tank tops.
13. David's GRADUATION!

14. Memorial Day weekend in Kansas City (Yes, more softball!)

15. Sandbagging around Warren and Sarah's home in preparation for the 'Revenge of the Missouri River' flooding.

16. Our 32nd wedding anniversary. Good Lord, how can that be?!
17. Dad's 16th cardioversion.
18. Graduation Open House.

Wow! By anyone's standards, that is a full spring! No wonder the blog has taken a back seat.

In the midst of all of this chaos, I've done some reflecting. As John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I'm afraid I've been all too guilty of worrying so much about "the next thing" that I miss the joy in the moment I'm in. So here are some of the things that didn't make the list above that, in hindsight, have contributed to some moments worth mentioning.

1. A new iPhone - I really like the silly thing, even if it is - as Al puts it - "a short leash." It has opened music up to me again in a way I haven't experienced since the days of cassette tapes. And did you know you can read books on an iPhone? IF you have functional eyes, that is.
2. A long walk (actually, more than one) to clear my head after one of many conflicts with Al, Brent, or David. Sometimes I feel like I can't say anything right, so a long walk and a bit of prayer is my self-therapy. And this helps too (taken with the iPhone mentioned above.)
3. Hannah's rendition of Over the Rainbow on piano. She's actually very good, and this is one of my all-time favorites.
4. Cute little Scotty McCreery winning American Idol. Even though I don't really like country music, I'm going to keep an eye on that one. I'm guessing he will be a big country star someday soon.
5. Darrin taking James Winterbottom under his wing and playing some wonderful guitar duets at David's graduation open house. James and David waited together for the bus on the first day of kindergarten, and every first day of school since. James' mother, Cyndi, was there with her camera and I think I saw a tear in her eye. Definitely a moment.
6. Darrin leading the DTC band as they opened for someone more famous (even though I have forgotten his name!) They were hands down better than the famous guy. 

7. A conversation with Brent during which he actually demonstrated some insight into where his life needs to go. I praised God so hard for this glimmer of hope that I thought I would burst!
8. A night out with Dad, watching the seniors dance the night away to big band music. They put me to shame, and gave me something to look forward to. (Do I see a music theme going here?)

Hopefully now that summer is half over and some of the frenzy has slowed just a bit, I can keep up with the blog a little better. Hopefully.