My Empty Nest is No Longer Empty ...

... and my baby is finally back home from the Governor's School for the Arts. Christine is now a 2009 graduate from GSA!

Here is Christine at the beginning of her final performance. She is reading one of 3 letters about "Dan's Beard" - Dan was her DA (disciplinary assistant) and at the beginning of the session, he had a full beard. After writing the first two letters, he shaved his beard and head - so the 3rd letter is a suicide note from Dan's Beard and Hair.


Three new friends - Jordyn Rhorer, Maddey Gates and Christine.


Dan Bernitt (minus Dan's Beard) and Christine.


Christine with another good friend, Nichelle Green


Christine with her Residence Assistant (RA), Rosalynne Duff


Christine with fellow Mercer Countian, Christian Marnon - they were the only 2 students accepted into GSA from Mercer County.


As you can see, Christine made some wonderful new friends and mentors. She tells us she had a marvelous time and learned many new things. Just from the reading she did on Saturday, I can tell she has finally found her voice.

I am so proud to have a daughter who enjoys creative writing as much as I do. With her permission, I hope to be able to share some of her work with you. She published her first chap book, WE'RE ALL MAD HERE, during her time at Transylvania.

Governor's School for the Arts

I have to take a moment and brag about my youngest daughter, Christine. Back in December, she applied for the creative writing program for the Governor's School for the Arts. There was a lengthy application and she had to submit a manuscript of 8 pages or less - preferably a short story she had written.

Last week she was very upset because she had not heard from the school - announcements were supposed to go out January 26th, but we all know what happened last week. I tried to explain that the roads were ice covered and even if someone could get into the office, there may not be any electricity.

Well, I got home from work yesterday and Christine was walking on cloud nine!! She had finally received her answer - in the form of another packet of papers to be filled out. She made it past the first hurdle!! Now she needs to get a teacher (she has chosen her writing teacher) and a guidance counselor to filled out evaluations of her ability and then she will go through an interview and reading the first weekend in March.

Congratulations, Christine! This is something you have worked hard for and your daddy and I are very proud!!

Watch out Transylvania - here she comes!!

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