My 3 Week Empty Nest is Over ...

... 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.

I Miss Her So Much ....

There was a wonderful article in the Lexington Herald-Leader yesterday about the Governor's School for the Arts program. We have talked to Christine both nights she has been gone already, and she is having a wonderful time. She is doing lots of writing and making new friends.

Governor's School for the Arts

A total of 225 of Kentucky’s best young artists from 51 counties have assembled on the Transylvania campus in Lexington today, Sunday, June 21, to begin the three-week 2009 session of the Governor’s School for the Arts. Read all about it here: Transy

My youngest daughter, Christine Rightmyer, is among these 225 students. She is one of only 23 students in the Creative Writing Program. It was so hard to say goodbye to her, but we know this is such a wonderful opportunity for her to grow her talent of creative writing.

We are so proud of you, Christine!

WONDERFUL NEWS !!!

I have such WONDERFUL NEWS !!! My sweet baby received her acceptance letter today from the Governor's School of the Arts !!!

HAPPY DANCE, HAPPY DANCE !!!

Out of over 1,600 applicants from Kentucky students, she was one of 200 to be accepted into the summer Creative Writing Program.

She will be leaving the day after my oldest daughter's wedding, June 21st and will spend 3 weeks at Transy.

To say her Daddy and I are proud is a total understatement. This is something our entire family has been praying about since just before Christmas. To finally have the acceptance letter in hand is pure excitement.

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!!