15 days and counting….

Sarah’s Birthday

Today is my youngest baby’s 14th birthday. Normally any mother would be excited, but also a bit sad to see her smallest grow and become a young lady. I am only excited, not just for my little girl, but also for the freedom that comes along with your youngest child becoming a mature young adult. In 15 days I leave for the good old United States. Ten years ago if you had have told me I was about to head off to attend an American University for three weeks to study business, I would have shook my head. “No way”, I would have said, and then laughed at the idea, but in the back of my mind, it was all I dreamed of. I was 33 years old and I had four little girls to raise on my own after leaving a violent marriage. I had nothing financially, I had been left penniless and practically homeless. I lived week to week worrying about how I was going to provide a stable home for my babies, it was the scariest time of my life. It was tough, but we got through it together. Day by day, things got better, till one day I realised I had the chance to go back to school. I spent 18 months doing a diploma in business administration at TAFE, which gave me the confidence to apply for University to study a Bachelor of Commerce.

So now here I am, heading off to the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, USA. I still can’t wrap my head around it, it seems so surreal, but like everyone has said to me “You have done the hard work Kath, you deserve it”.

Before I arrive at UNCC, I am visiting a dear friend of mine. Her name is Carolyn and she lives in Michigan. We met ten years ago on ICQ. I had just bought myself a computer, I knew the internet was something I needed to learn if I was ever going to go back to study one day, it really did change my life way back then. Carolyn and I became great mates from the beginning, we shared our lives daily for the next couple of years. As our kids and families grew, we kept in touch regularly. We have been there for each other through bad and good times, she is the sister I wish I had, I love her and her family dearly even though we have never met. In 15 days I will see my mate, I can’t wait to give her the biggest hug. I just hope I don’t turn into a blithering mess when we finally meet at the airport, must remember to pack heaps of tissues.

So come join me on this blog, where I will share my adventure with you. I will be posting videos and photos of places I will be visiting and the characters I will be meeting.  I hope to inspire everyone who reads my posts, to follow your dreams, they really do come true.

Wishing you all the most amazing holidays!!

Cheers Katherine xox

Sophia 5, Loren 5 (my niece), Me, Misty 3 and Sarah 2