UKy ΑΔΠ Parent Weekend 2017💎

Bill and I had a great weekend with Rachel and Cam and all of Rachel's sorority sistas for ΑΔΠ parent weekend. Such a wonderful time!

The first order of festivities was eating a grand ole meal at one of the oldest, most established gourmet restaurants in Lexington, the Merrick Inn. We dined with the elite horsey set (at least that is how it appeared to me) in a gorgeous old house decorated with antiques and colorful fabrics. Little did we know, but there were two open seating areas outside surrounded by beautiful gardens. Very romantic and posh! We feasted on lobster and crab nachos, brochetta, grouper stuffed with crab, salmon, bacon-wrapped steak, and seafood pasta in a white wine sauce. Yummy.

After shopping a bit, we nestled down into comfy recliners at the Movie Tavern and watched the live action version of Beauty and the Beast. Really great movie, but I still love the animated version the best!

The next day was the Keeneland racetrack, but the weather kept us away. Instead, we ate lunch at the sorority house, got the full tour of accommodations, and then took a road trip around the horse country and gawked at all the beautiful horse farms. The narrow roads and stone fences reminded us of our time traveling the English countryside. Makes one feel like one has stepped back in time!

After a dinner at Outback and ice cream at Crank and Barrel, we called it a night. Btw, Crank and Barrel is an interesting combination of gourmet ice cream and exotic drinks. Very delicious!

Last, but not least, was an ADPi philanthropy event/fashion show at the Round Barrel Stable where vendors sold the cutest clothes and jewelry. We ate biscuits with country ham, fruit, and coffee, and then shopped and visited with sorority sisters and their mamas.

After such a great weekend, driving back to Atlanta in the rain is a let down, but we will see our daughter very soon. Exams are around the corner and summer is almost here.

We are very thankful for all of the heavenly Father's many blessings, which includes our three wonderful children! Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all you have done for us! ❤

UKy Parents Weekend, 2016😼

I had the best time in Lexington traveling by myself to UK to visit Rachel and Cam for parents weekend. We shopped, ate, and hung out. I got a tour of the SAE house and ADPi house and saw a great football game against Vanderbilt. 

I love spending time with them. 💙❤💙 They were kind enough to include me in their pre-game festivities, including a Caturday tailgate, where I got to go back in time and experience being a college gal again. So much fun!

A Type-A, First-Born, Empty Nester Mom's reaction to Sorority Rush!

Sorority rush is one of the most stressful experiences for any college student, particularly at a competitive university like the University of Kentucky. It is the closest many of us mamas will get to seeing our precious daughters enter a figurative beauty pageant, where their looks are on display for all the world (most importantly, the frats) to see ... and judge. 

Not only does the face need to be perfectly made up with no blemishes, but the body tan and svelte, clothes stylish but comfortable, nails done, shoes to perfection, HAIR highlighted and either straightened or gently wanded (that means curled), and teeth whitened. And of course, one must be charming and poised, with a stellar reputation and excellent grades, and must come across as interested but not too eager. A tall order, given that almost every girl/PNM is sure to fall ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE with that one special house on the first day and want soooo badly to be a part of that sisterhood.

Shew! Let the nail biting begin...

For an entire week, this mama lived and breathed sorority rush. Even though I told my daughter a hundred times not to stress, to relax and enjoy the process, to let the Lord guide her, to not listen to what her friends thought regarding top tier, mid tier, and all of that nonsense, but to go with the house that WANTED her because of the fabulous person she is ... there was a part of me that didn't believe a single word of that diatribe! Rush is important -- really, really important --- especially to girls like my daughter who are social leaders and thrive on being around people. And so the stress (and worry?) kicked in.

I started my angst by double checking the dates in the Panhellenic brochure and confirmed the schedule for each round, then reviewed my rec list, making sure I hadn't missed an important house. In my mind, I cateloged the potential outfits that my sweetie and I shopped for prior to rush, wondering which ones she would choose for each party. I stressed over her pink nail color (was it too bright?) and how she might wear her hair, worried about the frat boys jeering at her as she sprinted from house to house, and tried not to imagine her tripping on her wedges and skinning her knee.

Would the white Bid Day dress that had been so carefully hand washed and steamed still be clean and unmussed by the time bids were issued? Ugh! Would she get the house of her dreams or would she have to settle for a sorority she didn't really like? Oh, Lord, what if she got dropped by all of the houses and wouldn't even make it to Bid Day? What if no one wanted her? More UGH!

I prayed about it, dreamt about it, scoured the Internet for clues (as if that would help!), did some stalking on social media, and even perused the dreaded greekrank.com! But as Pref Night loomed before me, the stress never abated and the waiting became unbearable. Would she call me up, sobbing, or would I get the elated text message that she was still in the hunt for her favorite houses?

Some of you many be rolling your eyes, but for those of you out there who have been through the process with your daughter, you lived this as well, even if you don't want to admit it! I know it sounds ridiculous and is slightly embarrassing and a little shameful, but there is something about sorority rush that makes us mamas revert back to the insecure school girl. My husband watched the entire process and shook his head, trying to remain supportive. It seems that every conversation we had during that week (and the weeks immediately preceding) involved sorority rush and the pros and cons of Greek life.

Fortunately, for my daughter, she did get the house of her dreams, ADPi, which was the sorority she absolutely fell in love with on day one. When she sent me this picture, I burst into tears with relief - I had no idea the amount of stress I had been under.

I want what my kids want, and I want it badly for them and will move heaven and earth to get it for them, if possible. But in this case, I couldn't go to a store and buy it or dig around on the Internet and purchase if from EBay, or even come up with my own DIY version -- I had to sit back and let the process work. And it did.

Double shew!

Now that the stressful part is over, the fun begins. Parties, tailgates, formals, sisterhood, leadership, philanthropy, and all the wonderful blessings that come from being part of a sorority where one "fits" and can make a difference.

I liken it to a baby coming through the birth canal; the process is temporary and grueling, but the end result is well worth it!

Enjoy these pics!

Keeneland - Lexington, KY, 2016

Bill and I are completing another empty nester trip to Lexington where we visited Rachel and Cameron at UK and took in a bit of horseracing as well at the Keeneland track. A very posh place that is gorgeous - the equine business is a unique industry that evokes much beauty and passion. I adore horses and always have, even though I haven't always trusted their temperamental natures.

First stop upon entering Lexington was Saul Good restaurant on Broad Street for the obligatory steak and beer cheese nachos. Next was brunch at IHOP, shopping at the mall, dinner at the Village Idiot (gourmet pub food), ice cream, Walmart run, Jamba Juice (I'm hooked), and then Keeneland. Love this part of the country. It was cold and windy but wonderful all the same!