Today Sam is going to his second prom. H-BR's was last week and DeKalb's is this week. He looked so handsome and grown up.The last week has me reflecting and weepy! In one week my one and only child will graduate from High School. I think to myself (and most day's talk out loud to myself) where has the time gone. It seems like yesterday that he was a baby in his stroller behind the counter of my shop. Customers loved to see him and he grew very fond of many of my customers. Some who stopped in many times a week to say Hi to him and usually bring him something.When I closed the store my customers all said they would miss my store, but mostly they would miss seeing Sam everyday. 18 years, have I aged 18 years since his birth (again I talk to myself) it just doesn't seem possible. I don't feel that much older. Sam has turned into a caring, funny, opinionated , smart young man. In some ways he reminds me of Mike at that age but mostly he reminds me of my Dad. He has a quiet way about him like he is thinking all the time, planning just like Hank. He is graduating at the top of his class 3rd to be exact. He will work at Monsanto again this summer and then in Sept. he will go 3 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME. To the UofW Platteville. I am happy that he found a school he really likes , but my heart is breaking and he hasn't even pulled out of the driveway yet. Talk to everyone later. DMK

Spent a great week in DC on Sam's spring break. Walked more than I have in about a year, but it was worth it,seeing the memorial up close was really a moving experience. When we came home we found out that a classmates of Sam's mom had passed away and a dear friend from church passed away. (Wilbur you will be missed.)Carmi has slowed down a great deal but she is still hanging in there and we are happy with every extra day we have with her. I hope everyone has a glorious blessed Easter. Until next time. DMK

Monday, the day of the week I hated the most when I worked outside my home! Now it is just another day ; in fact the days all seem to go into each other now that I am home. It has been a real learning experience for me I never had the opportunity to stay home and now that I am at home I really find that I NEED A JOB!
The novelty of what it would  be like to stay home has passed and as soon as Sam graduates I am hitting the pavement hard and getting a part time job!Yesterday would have been my Dad's 85th Birthday, not a day goes by that I don't miss him My sweet little Dog Carmi has been so sick the last month and we thought she was getting better but her blood work is really bad now and I fear it is only a matter of time before we have to make some sort of decision I did not think we would have to make for 5 or so more years. This of course means that next year when Sam is gone it will truly be just Mike and I. We never really did just Mike and I that well back 20 years ago so I don't know how we will do it better now. We will see. Well I hope everyone has a good week , I hope not everyone's week starts off as melancholy as mine has. All for now. DMK

Busy day today, and a busier week, my Little Carmi Dog had to go for an all day long test to check for Cushings disease she has to be there from 8-5 poor little Carmi. Hopefully Mike remembers to pick her up because I have to been in the Hospitality room at H-BR at 5 to help set up for Regional s. Cooking 4 big chickens to make chicken over biscuits for tomorrow. Cooking for Fri. too but that can wait.    My  baby is going to be 18 tomorrow . I can't believe it where did the time go?Big B-Day party at Pizza Villa Sat. to celebrate Sam's 18th. When did  I ever have time to work. Well wish me luck that I can get it all done this week and survive because next week is FFA Banquet and lots to do for that too. Everyone have a great week. DMK

Well it seems that Carmi is feeling a little better. The vet said it is hard to tell how bad the liver damage is until she has been on the meds for a while and is retested. Her big problem is holding down the little bit of food she seems to get down. She does seem a little more alert then before. Sent out some more scholarships today hope Sam gets something with all the work he has done on these. Time to clean my house now talk to you all later. DMK

I don't know why I had more time when I worked but I just never seem to be able to get everything done in a days time. This week my little dog Carmi got sick. I took her to the vet and they did tests and we are waiting on the results. It could be a bladder infection but it could be something bad we will wait and see. I really have become attached to this little dog and with Sam being as busy as he is and with Mike well....being Mike she has been great company for me and I do not deal with pet loss well so I hope the news is good.  I as I have said before have been helping Sam with scholarships and he had one that he could not do on the computer. His hand writing is worse than bad so I had to did my typewriter out of the closet and Sam said "hey I have never seen one of those in person only in pictures!" LOL I guess I am getting old. My other news this week is that I got accepted to NIU, I transferred everything and am going to try to finish my degree there. I hope everyone had a great week talk to you soon. DMK

January has gone by so fast that I can't really believe that February is just days away. Sam will be 18 in a matter of weeks and still continues to try and find a scholarship so he can go to the school he wants to go to. This weekend Mike talked about retiring (are you kidding me) Sam needed the date Mike joined the union for a scholarship and Mike said WOW I think maybe I can retire in 2 years. I changed the subject fast and hopefully distracted him long enough for him to forget it. He is only 47 he can't retire in 2 years and have me keep my sanity. LOL My mom had a cataract  removed and it went well she can see better than she has been able to in years. Now I need to find her a job so she stops bringing baked goods to my house for me to eat!!!!Any one out there hiring a fabulous baker?????I transferred all my credits to NIU this week I have to find a course of study so I can finish in a timely manner. I did not get the one scholarship I apply for but I am still trying, If I could go full time it would be great. I want to finish before Sam finishes college. All in all it has been a good beginning to the new year. Have a great day. DMK