Looking for the Sunshine

This winter has been too cold, too icy and too long. We passed through January in hibernation mode. It is the month of paying Christmas and tuition bills, assembling tax info, preparing for the FAFSA, and gathering financial documents for scholarship applications. One word sums it up nicely—UGH! With Corey entering his senior year in the fall, this is the last year for scrambling to meet FAFSA and scholarship deadlines. There is some measure of sunshine in that thought.

Another studio session started at our local art center, the Delaplaine. I opted to do color pencils again since I’m still working on a portrait of my mother that I started at the end of the last session. Once I finish, I’ll start on my idea for Calvin and Vicki’s wedding. I want to take an image of them both at around four years old and do a combined portrait to display on their wedding day and to have as a keepsake.

The wedding has definitely been on my mind. I’ve been thinking about the rehearsal dinner and getting a dress to wear to the wedding. Rehearsal dinner ideas have ranged from an informal gathering at one of our local wineries to a sit down dinner at one of my favorite Frederick restaurants, Monocacy Crossing, or perhaps one of Frederick’s wonderful downtown restaurants. I’ve even thought about breakfast or brunch—we don’t really know when the rehearsal will be and probably won’t until about April.

The mother of the groom dress hasn’t been more than a thought at this point. I’ve looked at some websites, checking out styles and colors. Not sure if I want to go long or short or something in between. I’m not very motivated by the thought of shopping, but I am motivated by the idea of having nothing to wear to the wedding!

January took Corey and Kimberly back to college and Angela off to her new job with the Richmond ballet. It’s nice to have two kids in the same place for at least a few months. This past weekend we headed to Richmond to deliver a much needed bed to Angela, see her new apartment and meet her roommates. We took a few things to Corey as well. Lunch at the Village Café with both kids and Corey’s roommate Brian was the day’s highlight. The food was great and the company was even better. It just felt good to be sitting there with the kids, visiting, eating and enjoying a break. It was definitely a sunshine moment.