So much time has passed since my last post in March - Audrey's graduation and moving both girls to college.  Emma returned to Auburn for her sophomore year and Audrey is at Texas A&M. They both love their lives there and are sweet to check in with me often. Adam moved to Miami in April and has loved the sun and sand. He loved his five years in NYC but is enjoying exploring a new city! Steve and I are excited to be able to visit in the next few months - what a treat to get to visit the beach!!! Olivia is 8 1/2 months old now and she and her parents are doing so well in Granbury.  The girls and I were able to help out during their student camp this summer and it was fun to see Clayton in action! Amber and Clayton really are the best parents - we have loved watching them become a family.

For years I've heard about the "empty nest" and while I am really enjoying the time Steve and I have together, the daytime hours have been rough!  So many of my friends are in the same boat right now, so complaining about it seems pretty shallow - but I'm missing my role actively "Momming"! I saw a Tiktok this week where a Mom said "but when you've done nothing but see your kids ever single day of their life for their life and then you have to wait another six weeks to see them - it sucks! And this doesn't take any of the good away from them because I know they are killing it in college - but its just sucks for me!" And this is exactly how it feels.  I'm so proud of them and so happy for them and so happy for Steve and I to have time together ----- but the life I've lived for the last 29 years is completely different all of the sudden. My favorite job in the world has really ended.  I LOVE having adult children but it's different. Over the past few years I've been BUSY: One of the girls had early release from school for the last two years so they were home by 12:30 each day. Emma's Highsteppers' stuff and volunteering for that, Audrey's cheer stuff and volunteering for that, being on the NCL board for the last five years, including being President one of those years and then eight months of medical appointments or check-ins from friends and family almost every day! I always had something to do or someone to see or be with - and then once we took Audrey to school that came to a screeching halt! And it's not bad and I'm so glad the girls are doing so well - BUT it's been an adjustment. I'm not sure if this year would feel different if it hadn't come immediately after being sick and so busy with people each day for that.....but I guess it all adds up.  Is it time to go back to work?  Is it time to go back to school? This is where it would be nice to have had a career all these years. I've been cleaning out closets and rooms - and catching up on podcasts.  If you are local and know of a great job for me - let me know!  :)

My appointment last month with my oncologist went really well. He is always so encouraging to me. He reminded me that I'm doing well and am healthy and said he had no worries that I'm going to be fine. I've had quite a bit of hip pain so he sent me for a bone density test.  All that radiation in my pelvis had us a bit worried - but it came back perfectly normal! (I love when tests come back that way!!) My next appointment is in December with my yearly scans before I see him. Scans bring on a new wrinkle to our lives - a little PTSD. While I know I'm feeling well and trust that God is in control of this all, checking to confirm that brings a little anxiety to my heart.  He's been my constant companion for years, through school, through moving to The Philippines when I was 27 years old, through cancer, through taking our kids to college, and now through these years scans!  

And just a reminder - this month woman are told to get their yearly mammograms.  Please do that! But also - get your regular well-woman visits too AND IF YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT or if your monthly cycles are bad or don't allow you to live a normal life, press the issue! Trust your gut! Don't just allow them to blow you off - there are very few conclusive symptoms for endometrial cancer.  Had I wanted six more months, my story would be much different!!!  

That's all for now - in the next few days I will be back to fill write about an amazing woman in Baton Rouge who is helping me with my hair! She is an angel and deserves an entire post!  Can't wait to fill you all in!