Deep Breath. Ok ... and ... we're off!

Well, how and where to begin? Let's begin with an intro.

On a particular day, I was in Dallas visiting with Valerie at "her Starbucks." Her Starbucks was on the east side of the LBJ Loop. "My Starbucks" still tended to be one up in Plano. Even though Billy and I had moved out to East Texas, we were still often in town to take care of various aspects of business.

Since you're wondering ... A coffee shop is "yours" if these three defining elements are in place. One) The baristas know your drink -- and your first name. Two) The regulars know your first name and where you sit -- and automatically move from your table when you arrive. Three) The assistant manager, manager, and district manager know you send comments to the corporate office. (Or if it's a real coffee shop owned by a real person, they know your name and your pet peeves and passions.)

Valerie and I weren't meeting for any specific reason that I recall. Since Billy and I had moved, we often met up there to enjoy each other's company and have our favorite coffee. Valerie was nearing the end of her studies in Graphic Design at The Art Institute of Dallas. She began to review for me her options for classes in her last few quarters.

At that time the school only offered two year certificate programs which was, apparently, only enough to bring Valerie into her "season of discontent." Her frustrations began to surface and escalate as she tried to narrow down her choices and select just a few more classes from a broad expanse of options and desires.

Valerie began to express ideas much like this, "When I finish the certificate program, I'll only have the absolute minimum skills I need to go get a job. It won't be a career. It will be a job. Plus the market place is changing and the competition is increasing and the jobs are getting fewer. I need a degree."

These were valid concerns. All very logical, don't you think? Yes. Logical. But Valerie wasn't content with just logical. Nope. I knew we were all going to be help Valerie with more school'n when this next paragraph exploded into the air.

"Besides, I'm not content with just knowing the skills. When I walk into the library at the Art Institute, there are books and books on the history of design and the concepts of design and ......." on and on she went. Passion showed up and the party was just beginning.

And so this was the first of many discussions with Valerie at "her Starbucks" and at "my Starbucks" about continuing her studies in graphic design. I may as well tell you right here that not all of the discussions were fun. Some were full of tension due to the incredible red tape and paperwork. Some had frustrations over financial planning. There were many logistical issues. And let's not forget that while Valerie and I can and do make a great team ... we are still "Mother and Daughter."

At first there were big picture decisions. In short order she decided that she wanted to continue in another Art Institute that offered a full degree, then it had to be a Bachelor of Science (not Arts) degree, and then ... for some wild reason ... she insisted on choosing one across the country in Portland, Oregon.

For a brief moment in time we toyed with moving up there with her and living RV style up there in order to reduce the cost of housing ... but it just was not going to work out. There were other things in store for us. Besides it kind of messed with one of the main reasons Valerie wanted to move to Portland.

I must tell you ... my children have never collected insignificant friends. And they also tended to collect adult friends with resources. I believe this is largely because they were not afraid to associate with adults in "grown-up" venues that other teens would have to dismiss as "boring." There are many things I got wrong as a parent ... but this is one thing I am pleased with. While this is partly the result of homeschooling, it is more largely the result of a family attitude. From a very early age, their father and I expected them to ... when stuck in adult gatherings ... "sit still and pay attention (ask questions if it's okay with the adults) and be ready to tell me what you learned." It was the way we were raised. And since we raised our children in the same city with our parents, this attitude was re-enforced all around them.

And ... the results of this family trait began to pay off in large ways for Valerie.

After Valerie was accepted by the Art Institute in Portland, the finer details of finding a job and housing had to be worked out. One of Valerie's friends from her writing group came up with a very generous offer: She would take Valerie to Portland to scope out the place. Her friend's husband decided it was time his wife had a very nice trip ... so he took over and designed an elegant trip that included a stay in a very classy, very old hotel in downtown Portland, Oregon. Of course, they flew first class. Valerie will have to tell you about the benefits of this trip.

At this same time, another lady whom Valerie met in a Bible study began to mentor Valerie in her walk with the Lord. She also helped Valerie begin to heal some major hurts in her life. Valerie will be the one to decide what is appropriate for her to share regarding this lady's gracious work in her life.

But I will tell you this much: Towards the end, when it was just a few months from Valerie's departure date, she began to tell Valerie she felt an urgency about what they were working on because she believed God was preparing something very important for her in Portland.

--- Ok some notes.

1) Remember we're looking for other parent/child road trip stories to keep us company. Drop me a comment.

2) For this post (and maybe a few others) since we are still in Dallas in the story -- If you (with or without family members in tow) have visited Dallas and have a story to tell about your visit there ... that is FAMILY FRIENDLY ... post a link to your story (or tell it in under 400 words)

3) Up until today, a sort of start to this story has been up on my web site. As of today, it's in hiding because I don't want you reading ahead to the spoilers. Although there's lots of spoilers not yet written ... but that's beside the point (or behind it or not even near it.)

4) In honor of "National De-Lurking Week," I am asking everyone who is reading to speak up and say "I'm here. I'm listening." That's it. That's all. You don't even have to have a blog of your own. There's help for you in the "Commenting Ideas" below if you've never commented before.