Hello Goodbye 2012

Merry Christmas everyone!! 

I hope that everyone is feeling blessed and loved this Christmas day.  I am feeling anxious and excited for a new year and grateful for the past year (both of which traditionally happen on New Years Eve, correct?).

I'm in Pinehurst for the holidays and have been to church for a total of 3 services in 2 days. I love the holidays at church; always a beautiful time.

My brother, sister-in-law, niece, and grandma were all in town for a few days to celebrate. I love spending time with my baby niece! She is so perfect and beautiful!

My grandma bought me a sewing machine today and I have vowed to sew in the new year. Let's see how this goes!!

Be safe, kids. 

And remember, you'll shoot your eye out!

My Incredible Summer 2011

First of all, my summer has shown me how truly blessed I am!!!

I started my summer by attending the Carolina Summer Institute in Auditory-Verbal Therapy in Chapel Hill, NC. It was a 2-week long practicum that taught us how to best use Auditory-Verbal Therapy to help teach deaf children to improve their speech and language. I really enjoyed being on UNC's campus as I had not visited in over a year! I am so thankful to all of the people that made the practicum possible! I will use the knowledge wisely!

Zak and I on the beach in Roatan, Honduras!

The next big trip of my summer was to Honduras!!! Zak and I flew down and spent around 10 days exploring the jungle and the Bay Island of Roatan together. One of the goals of this trip was for us to get outside our comfort zones and explore the beauty of Honduras. You can see my pictures from this vacation by clicking HERE !! We spent the first day horseback riding up the mountain in the jungle, the second day hiking straight up the mountain and seeing waterfalls, and the third day kayaking through an estuary and seeing lots of wildlife! Our time in Roatan mainly consisted of sitting on the beach, swimming in the clear water, and eating lots of yummy food!! I highly recommend a trip to Honduras!!!

The whole Matthews Family at the highest peak of San Francisco (Twin Peaks) 

The next jaunt was over to San Francisco, CA for the Matthews Family Reunion. We do this every two years and it is such a joy to be able to spend time with some of the most amazing people I know. They just so happen to be related to me as well!! I had never been to California so it was a fun trip with lots of exploring in the city and catching up with my family (on my Dad's side). You can see some of my pictures from that trip HERE !!!

The amazing BMPC Youth Group in the front pews at Montreat Youth Conference 
 

Last but not least was my trip to Montreat, NC for the Presbyterian Youth Conference. As you may have noticed, I am no longer a youth, but went as an adult leader with the youth group from Brownson MPC. I went to Montreat for 5 years as a youth myself and know how it can change your life! I asked to join this group of 29 high schoolers because they impressed me so much with their passion and talents at Youth Sunday (when the youth put together the entire church service). I have never seen a group of high schoolers as close and loving as this group. I am SO HONORED and BLESSED to have been accepted into their group for a week. I believe they all grew in their faith and as a group which is more than I could have anticipated. What an outstanding group they are!! You can see some of my pictures HERE !

I have truly enjoyed every minute of this summer and am thankful to all who made it possible! The next step this summer for me is to move to Washington, DC! I am hoping to move up in about 1.5 weeks and start my new job on August 25. I am nervous to begin again in a different place, but am excited about all that awaits me! It will be such a joy to return to DC despite knowing that I will be paying twice as much for everything!

Mom and I at one of my birthday parties in Alabama

Also there are only 39 days until the Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk 2011!! Please see the top of my blog or click HERE to join our team or donate to the cause!  The Walk and 5K Run will be held on Saturday September 17 in Raleigh, NC.  For full information please visit HERE. "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead

2011 Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk

Hello all! I just wanted to fill you in on my newest adventure! I have signed up for the Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk again this year!! It will be held on September 17 in Raleigh, NC. (http://www.ovarianawareness.org/). We've named our team "Ovarian-portant Cause". Despite our light-hearted team name, I certainly appreciate the seriousness of the event; but I expect that we'll have the opportunity to celebrate life even during the ongoing battles against ovarian cancer as well as remember those whose battle is complete.

As you know, my mother Mary Wynne battled stage IV ovarian cancer for nearly a decade. It began with a swollen lymph node in her leg and a quick check up by a family doctor. Little did we know that it was the beginning of an ongoing 10-year fight with the cancer. Over the past 10 years, my mother had some remarkably good times in which she was considered by all medical measures "healthy". However, we were frequently reminded of the insidious nature of this disease with the whispers of signs and symptoms of a recurrence. With each recurrence, we experienced the devastating effects of this disease as well as the devastating effects of the treatments. Through countless surgeries, medical consults, diagnoses, chemotherapies, and even victories, my mother pushed on hopeful for a cure.

Thank you all for your love, support, and care you have shared with my family over the years. I'm confident in saying that we could not have battled this long without each and every kind word, deed, and prayer. We're hopeful that a cure is coming. But in the meantime, the fight to raise awareness and money for research is always looking for new voices. We invite you to join our team, being present in person or spirit. To do so, visit our team page:

http://dccc.convio.net/goto/marywynne

To join us, simply click on Join Team at the bottom of the team page.

To donate to our team, simply click "Donate to Ovarian-portant Cause" on the right side of the team page.

Please do not feel like you have to give. You each have already given so much to our family already in terms of friendship, love, care, and support. However, if you have the means and interest to do so, any contribution will be a step forward in the fight against ovarian cancer.

While we walk in memory of my mother's fight against this disease, we encourage any and all support whether emotional, financial, or even spiritual for the global fight against this disease. In my mind, this event will raise money and awareness about an insidious and dangerous disease. Contributions will benefit the future generations of children and grandchildren. Please consider giving your time, energy, or even money, not specifically for our fight, but for the future cure. I firmly believe that a cure is inevitable.

Ovarian-portant Cause 2010 (Mike, David, Vickie, Fu, & Melissa)

Holy Spirit, Cocoon, River

Dad, Me, David, & Vickie in front of Cinderella's Castle in Dec 2010
It was decorated for the holidays!

This blog post will be a bit different from most of my others, so bear with me.

I want to start this post out with a devotional from a book that my Mom bought for me (and one for herself) a couple years back. The book is 365 Daily Devotions for Women by Jewell Johnson.

I spent my drive to work one morning wondering why I don't hear much about the Holy Spirit outside of church. Of course, we pray to the one Triune God and praise Jesus for his mercies...but who talks about the Holy Spirit outside of the confines of the sanctuary? Funny enough, I've been reading a devotional book at night and this is what I read that exact evening...

"Day 59
Hannah Whitall Smith: Author 1832-1911
It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7 KJV

When Hannah Whitall Smith's five-year-old daughter died from a bronchial infection in 1857, Hannah was inconsolable. She wept and questioned God. No amount of talking or comforting by family and friends relieved her grief.
That summer the family spent their vacation at a beach, and Hannah took only one book with her to read during the holiday-the Bible. While the water lapped on the sand and gulls called overhead, Hannah read on and on, day after day, looking for the elusive, needed comfort.
Then it happened: One day as she read, the healing, comforting peace of God touched her entire being. She rose from the beach chair and shouted, "I believe, oh, Lord, I believe!" Later, she shared the experience in her book, The God of All Comfort.
Perhaps you, too, have been touched by tragedy until your heart feels like one gaping wound. You question whether the struggle of living is worth the effort. Jesus made a special provision for your grief; He sent his Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Allow the third person of the Trinity to clean the sorrow from your heart and gently push together your wounded spirit until only God's peace remains."

Imagine how excited I was to read that on the same night that I had been pondering the Holy Spirit. Someone was trying to tell me something, perhaps.

I am also currently reading, The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion. I have found it an interesting book but enjoyed the first portion of the book more than the later portion. I have not yet finished reading it, but will see it through to the end.

One excerpt that I would like to tease out and put in this post is as follows:
Didion quotes from the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine...
"Subjectively, survivors may feel like they are wrapped in a cocoon or blanket; to others, they may look as though they are holding up well. Because the reality of death has not yet penetrated awareness, survivors can appear to be quite accepting of the loss."

I appreciate Didion throwing in some scientific viewpoints of grief, as it makes me feel like less of an outlier and more like a regular human.

I have spent the last 5 months "...wrapped in a cocoon...because the reality of death has not yet penetrated awareness..." with no strong desire to step outside of this warmth and safety. I know that the day will come when the cocoon spits me out, but for now, I continue to try and keep my eyes closed and push forward. I just don't know any other way to survive right now.

This does not mean that I do not appreciate the outside world and what it has given me the last 25+ years of my life. I am so appreciative for the family, friends, and coworkers that have supported me through thick and thin, better or worse. You are the reason why I am who I am today. With your support I have found the next stage of my life...a new job and a new city.

I was offered a position at The River School in Washington, DC on Monday of this past week and gladly accepted the offer on Tuesday afternoon. I am more than excited to start a new chapter in a new place. I have enjoyed being close to home in NC and have had a great boss all year, but need a new place to start again. The River School is exactly what I have been hoping for and so you can imagine my excitement when they called me last week. I will start in August and hope to dive right in! It is a school that has classrooms of students who are both hearing and deaf. I have wanted to work with deaf students for many years now and this is my big chance!!

As of yet, I have not found a roommate or a place to live, but it is still just a few days since I accepted the position. As many of you know, my boyfriend, Zak, is living in SW DC, so it will be quite nice to be close to him as well. The past year has been difficult being so far away from him. I urge you to peruse The River School's website and their mission statement. I have several friends that currently work there and have really enjoyed their past year or two years there. They say it is challenging, but they love what they do. I cannot wait to join The River School team!

I asked my cat, Yoshimi, the other day if she wanted to move to DC and she responded with what I believe to be a resounding 'YES!' Here she is enjoying the sunshine soon after I found her stranded and homeless in October 2010:
I am looking forward to 2011 and all that it has to offer. I will plan more vacations and enjoy the little things more often. Thank you for all your prayers and support. They really help me get through the day.

October 24, 2010

For the Southern Pines Pilot

Mary Wynne Parker Perryman

Mary Wynne Parker Perryman, 58, of Southern Pines, died on Sunday, October 24, 2010, at her home after a courageous ten-year battle with ovarian cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27 at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines.

Mary Wynne was a graduate of Newport (Arkansas) High School and Hendrix College (Conway, Arkansas). In addition to her calling as a wife and a mother, Mary Wynne worked at the National Center for Toxicological Research in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia; and Talbots and Terpsichore in Southern Pines, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her mother, Beatrice Churchwell Parker; her father, Fred Mathis “Crackie” Parker; and her brother, David Mathis Parker.

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Grady J. Perryman; son, David M. Perryman and his wife Victoria of Raleigh, North Carolina; daughter, Melissa K. Perryman of Statesville, North Carolina; sister, Katherine “Kaki” Kinard and her husband Jim of Lansing, Kansas; niece, Jennifer Wynne Johnson and her husband Matt of Overland Park, Kansas, and their two children Parker and Emma.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church; Opening New Doors Building Fund; 330 S. May Street; Southern Pines, North Carolina 28387. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com or http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mwperryman.

Goodbye Summer! Hello Real World!

First of all, I realized how slack I have been with this blog. I have SO MUCH to catch everyone up on. I will try to summarize my summer with few words and several pictures. I'm a visual person, so that's how I will present my life to you!

After graduation, I expected a sweet summer of bliss. Living at home with my parents, visiting friends in NC and DC occasionally, and just enjoying NOT being in graduate school. Luckily, I did all of those things, but it wasn't pure bliss. While visiting Zak in DC (and interviewing for several metro area jobs), he got in a motorcycle accident. He broke his left wrist and right tibia (at the knee). He had surgery on his knee and I spent 7 days in the hospital with him. It has been an interesting summer for that broken boy. Here are some pictures that he has allowed me to share with you...

Zak in the ER with his wrist and knee in temporary casts

The only real damage the motorcycle sustained from the accident

Caretaker and patient

When he got home from the hospital, I thought I was done with hospitals. Unfortunately, my mother was admitted. That was frustrating, but we all got through it. My mom had a good outlook on things and we are all proud of her!

I spent some free time out of hospitals to enjoy friends. Zak flew out to his parent's house in Utah to do his physical therapy, so that meant that I wouldn't see him the rest of the summer. Fortunately, Zak's mother is incredibly nice! She flew me out to Utah and took care of everything for my full 8 days in Ogden. It was such a nice vacation to see Zak and see Utah! I had never been there and really enjoyed meeting his family and friends. He flew back to DC last week and has been doing well (even walking most of the time without a cane now)!

Zak & I at the dinosaur park in Utah

The Vono's backyard!

Me feeding a tortoise in the Vono's backyard

Zak's mother made this amazing quilt for me! I did not deserve all her kindness!

In other big news, I moved and started my new job!!!!!!!!!!!!

I moved to Statesville, NC a week and a half ago into a one-bedroom apartment. I love my new place!! It is very spacious and I've enjoyed getting furniture (with the help of good, family friends) and decorating. I didn't know anyone when I moved to Statesville, but have met a few good people so far and think I can handle this slower lifestyle for a little while.

My living room/study area

My dining area is a bit bare so far, but still nice!

Bathroom

Bedroom

Kitchen

My mom, dad, and Aunt Kaki visit my new apartment!

I started my job...TODAY! I will be contracted into the Iredell-Statesville Schools. I will be working at an elementary school with children Kindergarten - 5th grade. Today was just organizing my new office/therapy room. Below is my new room after a full day moving boxes and putting things in their places.

My new job!

Me, Dad, & Mom in front of my new job! We are the Crawdads!

My new office/therapy room!

I am very excited about starting life in the real world and in a new place for a while. What an adventure!!!!


Also, on September 11, my brother (David), sister-in-law (Vickie), and I will be walking in the Gail Parkins Ovarian Cancer Walk. We have been raising money and appreciate those who have given time, money, thoughts, and prayers the last decade during my mother's fight. If you would like to give, please visit this website ( click here ) and click on SUPPORT OVARIAN-PORTANT CAUSE underneath my mother's photo. Thank you for your support (both monetary and emotional)!!

Commence: To have or make a beginning; to enter into

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. -Charles Darwin

I will try to catch everyone up on my goings-on since Snowmageddon (which was my last blog post on here) as succinctly as possible.

Balancing classes, internship, and a social life proved difficult during my last semester at Gallaudet, but I think that I succeeded at all of them. I got out into DC and enjoyed more of the city and what it has to offer than any other semesters, thanks to my friends and the stubborn side of my brain that knew this may be my last few months living in DC. The following photos show some of the fun things I have done during the springtime:

My suitemate, Krystin, & myself out dancing in DC!

One of the highlights of springtime was my parents visit to DC at the start of my spring break. It was so much fun to show them around DC! We even got a White House tour!! It was really neat to be in there with the Obama administration because we had not been inside since the Clinton administration (I think). Unfortunately, I did not take many photos of us around DC because I was having too much fun!

Chapel Hill friends! Maggie, Mandy, Emily, & Myself

David, Vickie, & I went to see the Carolina Hurricanes v Washington Capitals in Raleigh, NC (hockey game!)

Zak & I at a DC United (soccer) game! We had fun despite the score!


Zak enjoyed the National Botanical Gardens (note: this photo is not of a real flower!)


The following photos were taken at a Washington Nationals v Atlanta Braves baseball game!
Zak, Teddy, Me, & George


Erin & myself (SLPs in the graduating class of 2010!)

Will, Erin, Me, & Zak at the Nationals game! We got fancy seats in the Diamond Club because we have a fantastic connection!

The semester went by without too many hitches. I did not make it home for Easter for the first time in my life, but I joined my DC family (my cousins, Mark & Marsha and their sons, Hunter & James) for church and a delicious Easter lunch! I made it through my internship at Building Blocks Therapy and found out that I really enjoy working for a private clinic and working with children (I guess I already knew that part though). My classes went by with MANY ups and downs. We had to alter our class schedules dramatically after snowpocalypse in February. It really threw everything off, but we persevered and survived!

When we finally hit Friday May 7, we were done with all classes, all assignments, and all internships. We had a fantastic cookout at Cheryl & Michael's house (Cheryl is in my program and is graduating in 3 years due to being pregnant and having her adorable baby last summer). It was SO nice to just relax and enjoy each others company without worrying about assignments. We could just enjoy the weather and the festivities! Here are a few photos from that night!

10 out of 11 of the SLPs in my year
(Jackie, Rachel, Erin, Cheryl, Heather, Carolyn, Meredith, Erica, Me, & Nada)

We even had a pinata! At this point, we had already knocked the head off! (That's me in the blindfold!)

Less than a week later, we all gathered with our families to celebrate finishing our Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. I was SO lucky and blessed to have many family members and friends join me in celebrating.

On Thursday, May 13, my fellow SLP ladies and myself threw a party and invited our families and 3 speakers to join us. The speakers were two woman who have been affected by tragic circumstances (one suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury and the other from a Stroke). They spoke of their troubles and difficulties and how speech-language pathologists helped them to where they are now, able to make speeches in front of crowds! They were both really inspirational and it was difficulty to keep a dry eye!

The graduating girls (plus 1 and minus 1)
Anna, Carolyn, Meredith, Cheryl, Jackie, Erica, Nada, Heather, Erin, Rachel, & me

Afterward was the Hooding and Graduate Awards Ceremony was held, which is when I received my Masters hood. It was a strange experience to put on that hood for the first time! I smiled like a goofball the entire time!

My parents & I post-Hooding ceremony in front of the Gallaudet Bison statue

The whole group post-Hooding ceremony
My uncle Steve, Aunt Jackie, Aunt Kaki, me, Mom, Dad, Mema, David, & Vickie

Zak & I post-Hooding ceremony
(he does not get credit for the rose, Gallaudet gave it to me)

On Friday, May 14, the full Commencement Ceremony was held and took a long time. They called out every individual's name (both graduate student and undergraduate student) and we all walked across the stage to receive our diplomas from Gallaudet's President Hurwitz. It was a very exciting week and I still do not think that it has fully hit me.

Me with some of my SLP ladies waiting for the Commencement Ceremony to begin
(we took our gowns off because this building was so hot!)

The whole group post-Commencement ceremony!!!
Aunt Kaki, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Steve, Vickie, David, me, Mom, Dad, & Mema

Dinner party at Mark & Marsha's house! This cake was so cute and delicious!
Mom, Dad, me, David, & Vickie

The entire group at Mark & Marsha's house!
Uncle Steve, Marsha, David, Aunt Kaki, Mark, Dad, Lisa, Kevin
Mema, Me, Mom, Vickie, & Aunt Jackie

I have moved back home to NC with my parents for the time being. I continue in my job search and want to work somewhere on the east coast within a days drive of my parents. I have applied many places and have several interviews. Thank you to everyone who has helped me in this search. It is not easy!

The week after graduation my parents and I enjoyed a WONDERFULLY RELAXING week at Holden Beach. We sat around, watched TV, enjoyed the sand and waves, and I read a lot of Harry Potter! It was SO nice to have a wonderful week of no-worries!



I cannot have completed consecutive 19 years of schooling without support. I want to thank all of you for helping me become who I am today! I cannot believe that I am done but...I AM DONE!

I will continue this blog if anyone seems interested. I do not know where the next step will take me...but it will be an adventure!

Hooding & Commencement

First of all, I'd like to apologize for the lack of blog updates this semester. It has been a whirlwind of activity here in DC! I promise to post about everything soon!

Secondly, I will be graduating this Thursday and Friday! I cannot believe my time here at Gallaudet University is coming to a close!!

If you have the time and would like to check out the Hooding Ceremony and/or Commencement Ceremony, you can watch them both live online!

Click on the link below and click WATCH IT LIVE!

http://commencement.gallaudet.edu/

Thank you to all those who have helped me get to where I am now!

Snowpocalypse/Snowmageddon/Blizzard 2010

above: our unofficial cardboard/duct tape yardstick measuring 23" of snow

Happy Snow Day! I just figured I should update my blog since many of you are asking about the BLIZZARD of 2010! DC has been outrageous over the past week. Last Thursday was a normal day up until I went to the grocery store at 10:30pm to grab a few things to eat and drink over the weekend (the cafeteria food gets really old really quickly). I went there with 3 friends and we had never seen such a sight! The entire grocery store was PACKED! So many people stocking up on every kind of food and drink item. I figured this is what grocery stores would look like in 2012 when the apocalypse strikes. There was barely anything left on the shelves and people were waiting in lines that stretched from the front check out counters to the back of the store! It was insanity! I had to wait an hour just to buy like 3 items. Ridiculous!

Gallaudet closed on Friday at noon, which meant I had to run several errands before the whole place shut down for the impending storm. DC declared a snow emergency and shut down many streets for plowing and such. The snow began about 11am on Friday and did not stop until Saturday evening. It really was a blizzard with the winds whipping and the snow being so difficult to see through (I think visibility was about 1/4 mile most of the time).

As many of you know, I'm a southern girl. Born in Florida, raised in Alabama and North Carolina. Snow to me is 1 inch of white stuff covering the pine straw outside. The most I had ever seen prior to this weekend was 20 inches back in the late 90s in NC (I think that was the same storm that my brother cracked his eyebrow wide open in). This DC storm trumped that one. There are several measurements from around DC, but I believe we got about 26 inches or so here.

I was glad I live in a dormitory because I had several of my friends here with me to hang out with and play Wii with on Friday and Saturday despite the snow storm outside. I also got to watch the Super Bowl with my suitemate, Krystin, and some other friends without having to travel outside.

School (and internship) have been canceled for me today so I am enjoying the day by catching up on schoolwork (and I watched Harry Potter: The Chamber of Secrets this morning! I hadn't seen the movie since I read the book over Winter Break). They are calling for another snow storm to hit DC tomorrow (Tuesday) which should bring another 5 inches to the area. I'm not sure when I'll have class or internship again...but I'm not worried about it yet! Haha!!

Just wanted everyone to know that I'm safe and sound. Every time I speak to my mom she sounds so worried about me in the snow. I promise I'm not driving in this!

Here are some pictures that I have taken out my window of each day (Friday-Monday) to show the progression of snow, plus a few at the bottom of me and my suitemates, Nicole & Heidi, playing in the snow on Saturday! The snow came up above our knees which made it difficult to walk and hilarious to try and run in!

above: Friday (Feb 5) late afternoon

above: Saturday (Feb 6) around 12pm

above: My friend, Greg, & I walking to the cafeteria for lunch on Saturday (Feb 6) around 12pm

above: Me, atop a giant mound of snow on Sat Feb 6 around 12pm

Me and my suitemates, Heidi & Nicole, made our way to the playground on campus on Sat Feb 6 around 4pm

above: me lying in the snow on Sat Feb 6

above: Sun Feb 7 around 12pm

above: Mon Feb 8 around 2pm (the snowman in the middle of the picture was made by my suitemates, Heidi & Nicole!)