August 16, 2010 9:17 PM
Curtis Family Summer News
I feel like I'm just getting back to normal after two months of feeling like I was being flushed down a drain. Seriously. Even since a month ago when I started taking the Rx Vitamin D to counteract my deficiency, I have been very up and down.
So last week I talked to someone at the health food store and she said I should try a really super-duper Daily Nutrient. called Alive!
I opted for the liquid because she said it would be more easily absorbed. I started taking it last Thursday. I have to say, I had almost given up on feeling energetic again, but I am almost back to my normal self today. Tripp is now taking this too, and I was glad to see it is half price at Amazon because I intend to make it part of my daily routine.
If you are experiencing fatigue, I heartily recommend this:
I am very grateful to be on the mend as there is always so much going on. Here's what we've been up to:
Sophia (20) has been home all summer - working for Adaptive Parks and Rec with special needs kids all summer. It's a very demanding job and she has put her all into it, receiving glowing reports from supervisors and parents. I am really proud of her. The past few summers she had directed children's theater for Growing Stage, but she needed to earn more money for school. I am also proud of her realistic and practical attitude.
The family spent the day packing her up. She lives off campus, so that means the van had to be stripped of benches to make room for her furniture. We drive down tomorrow. Another goodbye (I wrote an article about goodbyes for our church bulletin - will publish it next).
Matt (25) came home from his summer stock theater at Shenandoah. He'd been away for two months, four musicals. Now looking for acting jobs. He left for New York yesterday to audition for a tour of Fiddler on the Roof, but didn't make it (too tall). Right before he'd left for Shenandoah, he signed with an agency which had already gotten him a couple local TV ads - so I know he'll be okay. He workd hard at finding work.
Zach (22) received some disappointing news. He was supposed to go into Marine Officer Candidate School October 1, but his slot was no longer available. Not sure when it will be, but he is looking for IT work - which is not easy as he is being upfront with potential employers about his hopes of going into OCS sometime after January 1.
Lucky for both Matt and Zach, Big Bro Josh (27) owns a construction company and often needs them to fill out a crew. So between that and Zach's freelance IT and Matt's acting gigs, they are managing t pay their room and board. They are also a big help around here, so it is a good thing to have them at home - though it will be a good thing when they leave too :)
What has been really cool is that Ben (24) has also been here for the past week. His wife Ana has been driving cross country with two of her sisters and a brother-in-law to send them off to Stanford where he will go to graduate school. They just arrived in San Francisco today and the pictures they published made me so homesick for San Francisco! It was like a physical wrenching. What a gorgeous city! I've been so blessed to live in such beautiful places.
But it's so funny to live in a family that's growing up and going places, but coming home for varying lengths of time. Tripp and I looked at each other across the dinner table the other night and realized we had nine kids at our table again - it had been a long time! And the next night, Josh came over for a guy's night out, so for a while we had 10 under our roof. The Big Bros took their dad out to dinner and paid for it while he was away from the table! How cool is that?
Tonight Jonny is on an overnight camping trip. Loudoun Parks and Rec has been offering some amazing programs this summer for individuals with special needs, and now that he's 18 Jonny can go too. He's been swimming at a lake, canoeing and now on an overnight camping trip. I am so proud of him!
Jesse and Daniel went to Adaptive P&R summer camp - where Sophia was working, but different groups. They loved it. Justin went to summer school and really did some amazing work.
Last Thursday, Maddy and I went to visit Catholic University, where she has decided she wants to go to school. She arranged to get a lesson from one of the faculty there, and was very excited. We were surprised that the student body is just 3300, though they have the largest campus of any DC school (nearly 200 acres). It's very secure and there is a Metro station right on the campus. The cultural opportunities and chances to study abroad are very much what Maddy is looking for. So this fall she will be applying for early action.
We have seen the Walravens - Kip and Samantha and grandchildren - a lot this summer. So amazing to see them growing up. Tim, my oldest grandchild, is almost 18! Like her mom, Sam had four boys in a row, and it is fun to compare. She/s since had two daughters (one by birth, one by adoption).
Tripp is still driving a school bus, but moonlighting a bit for a very interesting company that I can't talk about right now - we'll see what happens. He was very worried when I was too tired to move. I can see why :)
We saw Inception. I went first by myself and then saw it with Tripp and the older kids. I really loved it and can't wait to see it again when it is on DVD and we can pause it while I have Tripp explain things to me - it's the kind of thing I have a hard time wrapping my mind around, and Tripp is very good at helping.
Maddy and Sophia and I also went to see Carmen during the Met summer reruns. It was magnificent! The mezzo who played Carmen was amazing - they say the best Carmen in 40 years.
Going to the movies is about all the vacation we get right now. We take a vacation at the beach during the fall when we can rent a house at Nags Head for 1/3 the price of summer. Really looking forward to that. . . .
How's summer going for you? I hope you're enjoying every minute!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Art note: Detail from Dancing Bear by Frederick Morgan
Comments
Enjoyed the family update. I have been taking Alive for almost two years and it has done wonders.
Posted by: Crystal | August 16, 2010 11:23 PM
It was goo to hear about the family. But you didn't give an update on Hattie and her health. Would love to know how she is doing? Happy rest of the summer....Love Becky
Posted by: Rebecca Wold | August 17, 2010 3:28 AM
Anything on Hattie?
Posted by: Cathy | August 17, 2010 8:57 AM
Hattie still needs prayer - I am going to ask Josh and Hattie to write an update to publish tomorrow. I am out the door now to take Sophia back to Liberty.
Posted by: Barbara | August 17, 2010 9:44 AM
What a wonderful summer. What a wonderful family. I love reading about you.
Have Zach check out homeland security for work. I hear that they are hiring, and pay well. Also pays for grad school.
We're looking at Catholic U also for our rising senior. They do have a wonderful theater program--we looked at it for our MT graduate. Marymount in NYC also has a great program. It would be nice to get college choice wrapped up by year end. Never had that luxury yet. Will Maddie also be applying to Liberty?
Wishing you a great start for the school year for your brood.
Posted by: cath young | August 17, 2010 2:48 PM
Hi Cath -
Maddy is solidly Catholic and so would not apply to Liberty as many students there are prejudiced against Catholics. Walking around the CU campus, we could feel the spiritual graces of being in the presence of the Basilica. She will be applying for early action - only there and nowhere else unless she is not accepted. Will keep you all up to date!
Posted by: Barbara | August 17, 2010 8:09 PM
I'm cranking up my prayers for you!
Posted by: judy | August 17, 2010 9:05 PM
I want to THANK YOU for recommending Alive Liquid Vitamin! It has changed my life. I was utterly exhausted all the time and had terrible pain from my C-section scars. Although doctors tried to help, none of them succeeded. Then I took Alive on your recommendation. Now I have my energy back and my C-section pain is lessened. To test if it was really Alive that was helping me, I stopped taking it for several weeks. Back came the fatigue and pain. Now I'm back on Alive and feeling good again.
Thank You!
Posted by: Kristina | November 8, 2010 6:13 PM
