Evan and I just came back from a one-day drive to Boston.  Seven hours in a confined space.  Mother and son.  No Ipod headphones.  Just conversation time.  I thought I might have to pull teeth to get him to talk to me about ‘stuff’ but I was pleasantly surprised.  We talked about his girlfriend, his upcoming Science Olympiad competition, going to Harvard this fall, his girlfriend, ideas for a summer job, why The Mentalist is one of his favorite TV shows, where his buddies are planning on going to college, his girlfriend, why grilled chicken sandwiches are a better choice with only 4 grams of fat versus battered chicken sandwiches from McDonalds, and his girlfriend.  Oh, and Evan asked me how I kept the headlight high beams on without constantly holding the lever in place (when he saw me switching the highbeams off as cars approached).  He didn’t know the lever could be set to keep the beams on high.  Heck, he has only been driving for a year.  Maybe Harvard isn’t the best choice for him……  As you can see from the photo, he is still befuddled by this....

Perennially Yours,

2011 was a big year for Evan.  He turned 18; was accepted into his first choice college; met a wonderful young lady who has captured his heart for a full year as of this month; stepped up in a remarkable way after his father broke his neck; was awarded Goalie of the Year in his regional high school soccer league; and got his first speeding ticket (“But Mom, I was only going 85”).  2012 will be another momentous year, probably more for me than Evan.  He will be heading off to college in the fall, leaving Sergio and I sitting alone on the nest.  Bye Bye Birdie.  But until that time, I will enjoy every minute of the upcoming year, even taking the defensive driving course together to reduce points and lower the family car insurance.

What a great month for the Mendez household!  Sergio went back to work on October 31 after nine weeks out with a broken neck and other complications.  I took this picture of him as he was heading out the door.  It felt like the ‘first day of school’ photo.  And Evan was accepted to his first choice school – Harvard.  He was a top recruited Division I soccer goalkeeper and academic student at Princeton, Georgetown and Harvard but his heart was set on Harvard.  We feel so blessed and thankful for this incredible opportunity for Evan.  Plus the news was a beacon of light at the end of a long, challenging journey for our family as Sergio struggled to get healthy enough to go back to work.  We are such a thankful household. We wish you a very healthy and blessed holiday season and look forward to sharing some exciting new ventures in our January 2012 gardening newsletter.

Perennially Yours,

Kerry

Here in the Mendez house we are dancin’ up a storm in thanksgiving.  Granted, it is not the jitterbug, more of a very slow waltz…but it’s movement all the same.   Sergio is healing faster than ever expected by the doctors from his neck surgery.  He will start rehab in a week.  As many of you know, the night of Hurricane Irene, my husband bumped his head in the bathroom.  The ambulance crew came to take him to Saratoga Hospital to make sure he didn’t have a minor concussion.  When they were carrying him down our front porch stairs, one of the men slipped and Sergio was dropped on the cement sidewalk that resulted in breaking Sergio’s neck.  By God’s grace he wasn’t paralyzed.  This has been a very challenging time for my family but your emails and cards of encouragement have blessed us more than you can ever imagine.  Thank you, thank you!  We are taking things one step at a time (literally) and are optimistic about the continued healing to come.  Here we are in our sunroom on October 3, with thankful smiles!

Perennially Yours,

Kerry

Brace yourself.  This is not the typical Evan and Mom’s corner.  Last Saturday night during Hurricane Irene, my dear husband Sergio was in an awful accident that he had no control over.  He broke his neck.  Evan and I spent agonizing hours with him in Albany Medical Hospital’s ER until emergency surgery could be done.  Complications arose as a result of his 2008 open heart surgery.  By God’s grace, Sergio pulled through and was discharged from the hospital Friday afternoon (September 2) with a long road of rehab before him.  But we are together again as a family and we are very, very thankful.  We value your prayers.

Perennially Yours,

Kerry