About Angelica

I realized earlier this week that I haven't posted about Angelica all month and asked myself "Why?"  So, here are the reasons:

1. I never see her.

2. I haven't quite figured out how to say in such a public format that she is going for the gold because it sounds so presumptuous to believe that my daughter, out of the thousands of figure skaters in the USA at this time, is going to make it to the Olympics in just under 4 years; my daughter, who is unknown on the national, much less international, circuit.  But I do believe it.  So there is the quandary.  

But mostly it's because I never see her.  She works 40 hours a week babysitting, she skates every time she can find ice time and an excuse to go into the city.  No matter how many times I tell her skating is a good enough reason to head into the city, she constantly thinks about the cost of gas and only skates if she already has a reason to go.  She has school and church.  She is insanely busy.  And she is happiest when she's on the ice.  So I decided to peruse her pinterest page and find things that she pinned to explain who she is.  Above each photo is the phrase she chose to describe that photo.  

Yep.

Best feeling ever!

Exactly.

I chose to give up the skating life for a social life at 14 and really wish I hadn't...

Needed this...

Figure skating practice...so true...

Love...

Definitely me...

My Day - #417-425

Today was long.  I enjoyed being with my girls throughout the day.  We went to church (#417) but I was too sick to sit through the entire service so I napped in the car.  Then we had a picnic lunch. (#418) I am thankful the weather was nice. (#419) Angelica skated. (#420) She is skating well. (#421) She can land her loop but needs to land her 1/2 loop for the next test level and is struggling to land it now that she has landed her loop. I am thankful that we have established a routine that helps us enjoy being together at the rink. (#422) When she was younger she would ask me to critique her skating and then get upset when I would.  Now I video her and let her critique herself.  Works much better with no hard feelings. (#423) After watching her for a bit, Miracle and I went to the store to pick up a few things before returning to the rink to pick up Angelica.   Angelica drove home while I slept. (#424) Then we all just relaxed and did our own thing for the evening. All in all, it was a good day. (#425) Hopefully I can get some rest this upcoming week in between appointments, babysitting, and preparing for the graduation party...

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends who are mothers in the USA.  

Productive

That is definitely a good word to describe today.  The day started with me taking M to an appointment before meeting A at a separate location for another appointment.  Then M walked to meet us and when I picked her up, I had to drive to yet another appointment.  Angelica headed to the rink and then to class.  Miracle headed home to babysit and I did laundry.  Lots and lots of laundry.  It feels good to get so much accomplished. (#413) Angelica said she was happy this evening. (#414) Miracle sorted through photos for her graduation party and we were able to talk about some people who have had a huge part in her life, some who have gone on to be with Jesus and some who are still here on earth. (#415) We both miss Jackie a lot right now.  Grief is always hard and sneaks up at the most inopportune moments.  

I am really tired and my body aches.  I am coughing and beginning to get a fever.  Not good.  Tomorrow I have to take M to see the cardiologist.  Saturday we have two graduations to attend.  I need to stay healthy and strong.  I can't push through illness like most people do.  When I try, the sickness that follows brings my contributions to life to a halt for weeks.  Such is life with this disease.  Today I am not so OK with the restrictions it places on my life.  Please pray for me - my health and my perspective.  

Hectic

Home (9:00 am) - ice rink in city to drop off Angelica (ours closed for the summer) - appointment for Miracle - bank - little girls' house - pick up M's edited photos - eye doctor - pick up A - dinner - church - home (9:00 pm)... 

Like I said, hectic... but still good.  

I am thankful that we have a car. (#405) I am thankful that Angelica can still ice skate this summer. (#406) I am thankful that I was able to take Doc to the eye doctor. (#407) She is getting bifocals at age 7... That makes my heart hurt a bit because of all that is wrong with her vision, but still thankful that we live in a country and at a time that the things she needs to see better are available. (#408) I am thankful for the privilege and opportunity to go out to eat. (#409) I am thankful that all four girls really enjoy going to church. (#410) I am thankful for much needed rain (#411) and a safe shelter to be in during the storms. (#412)

Road Trip!

I am thankful that we were able to take a trip to MN to check out a college both girls are interested in. (#265) I am thankful that Angelica was able to drive the entire way.  (#266) I am thankful that we made it here safely. (#267) I am thankful for nice weather. (#268) I am thankful for a nice hotel to stay in. (#269) I am thankful for compassionate people we have met along the way. (#270) I am thankful that I have a camera and the ability to take pictures. (#271) I am thankful for friends who help me when I get in a jam.  (#272) I am thankful that we had the opportunity to stop in Des Moines at the Ice Ridge where Angelica had the opportunity to meet Burton Powley. (#273) While we were there, he re-positioned her blades and sharpened them.  (#274)

Skating!

Angelica wanted to skate today and I wanted to watch.  Miracle came along just for the fun of it.  I am truly blessed to have such amazing daughters. (#225)

 Lent: toys

My Day - #161-167

Today started early because I needed to call one doctor before going to see two others.  I am thankful that Angelica is willing and able to drive me where I need to go. (#161) After seeing the doctors, we went to eat at Chick-fil-A. (#162) That was a nice treat.  Then A was able to go to a skating lesson (#163) while M and I went downstairs to watch the girls. (#164) Busy Bee is so sweet.  Every time she recognizes that my foot is hurt, she wants to kiss it. (#165) It is so hard to not be able to do the things with her that require two feet.  Doc is doing very well on her schoolwork.  She is reading better, faster in math, and increasing the percentage of correctly spelled words each week. (#166) I am so proud of her.  Now I am relaxing in a quiet house (#167) which is my favorite part of each Monday.  :)  

Lent: toys

Snapshot of our Saturday - #155-159

Today there was time to skate at the local ice rink.  Most times that Angelica has the opportunity to skate I am watching the little girls so I took this chance to go with her and watch her skate.  I really enjoyed seeing her skate because her love of skating makes her glow and because it's nice to see how she has improved. (#155) Since Doc enjoys skating so much, I knocked on her door and invited her to come with.  Miracle really wanted to go but wisely chose to stay home and work on her fine arts projects. (#156) There will be other opportunities and I was able to share the pictures and video with her when we returned home.  Then I napped, courtesy of the autoimmune disease and pain pills.  Both girls prepared dinner. (#157) They are getting along so well. (#158) Then they practiced their duet for next weekend.  Since M took voice lessons, she sounds so much better and with A's natural ability to sing harmony, they truly compliment each other.  (#159) 

Lent: a pair of pants and a shirt

Snapshot Saturday

April 22, 2007

FigNewTon participated in a skating competition. That makes for a very long day. This picture was taken mid-morning between events. She placed first in her first event and last in her second event. It is the last competition she did. She had to quit skating for a long time because that competition made her so sick. She slept for days and almost went into the hospital. Now that she is healthy, she plans to pick up competing again. We just need to get her a coach. She has been skating for about a year without one. There is only so far she can go on her own, though. I have told her to ask local businesses to sponsor her so she has a chance to reach her dream.

Snapshot Saturday

April 2007
Another picture of FigNewTon at the ice rink.

Snapshot Saturday

April 2007

FigNewTon was preparing for a competition. The mouse on her helmet is named Maisy. She tried to skate with Maisy on her head because it helped her maintain the proper posture. In this picture, she is concentrating on doing a new move. But that focus, that concentration, that determination is characteristic of her whenever she skates. She loves it, but it seldom shows on her face while she is skating. Afterward, when she is talking about what she did or what she learned, there is no room for doubt that skating is her passion.