History

Monday, April 1, 2019 8:56 PM CDT

Well, it has been about 18 months since I last updated so here goes...

We had to move last summer because our landlord was retiring and wanted her home back. The only thing available was a 4k square foot house that is 2600 month so we went with that. Since Bronson and Kim got married last December (yes, they really got married!) I thought it would be good to get something large in the event they needed a place to stay. .Lo and behold, they moved out a month after they got married and they live in an apt in Bakersfield with a roommate. So... my younger son and I have 2k each to ourselves. My landlord put the home back on the market for 450 vs 500k so he might sell. In the meantime, he is going to drop my rent to 2k so it is a bit more affordable. If we do move again, I hope we can live closer to Bronson and Kim. So many changes these past 18 months.

Sister Plumley died- she was the teacher at the private school where both boys attended- or one of them. Pastor Long passed away as well. Life is just so short. Colton has a girlfriend he met online. She lives about an hour away so every couple weeks he takes the train to visit her for the day. She is a nice gal and wants to be a teacher. Well, Bronson entered the teaching program in January and then dropped out. They had him teaching Kinder which is very challenging! Well, he never really wanted to be a teacher anyhow. That is Kim's dream.. so he dropped out BUT he and Kim did graduate in December with their bachelor degrees so I am very happy about that! Colton is taking classes to get his communications certificate and I am taking those classes alongside him. Very hard to work all day and then go to class at night. I did do that for my MA in English and my MA in Special Education but I am older now. Yup... gonna be 56 this summer. Time marches on.

I don't know how often we will update here since we use Facebook now. Social media has really changed. I had taken off all of Colton's old journals due to a couple stalkers but I do still have them- I keep everything!

In my last update I said I have 5 years to go before I can retire... now that is 3. Yippee! So very happy. I am in pain on a daily basis due to bad back, knees, fibromyalgia, etc.... the list is neverending.

Please feel free to leave us a message. I can see that everyone has stopped visiting after I stopped updating... but if you happen to come by, please leave a message. You can also email me at lrobbie@bak.rr.com. I occasionally check my email as well. :-)

Blessings!

Laura

Monday, September 4, 2017 8:05 PM CDT

We still have one visitor- Lynne- so I wanted to toss on an update. Well.... I am about 5 years from retirement. Bronson is 24 and Colton, 20. I find myself often asking where the years have gone. The world is in a mess... hate on all sides... crazy things going on. I hope after my son graduates that he and Kim move up north- away from here. And then Colton and I will join in whatever town they settle. I moved to a new school and went back to special ed- the past few years have been a nightmare at work... I work in a bad district and can't wait to retire. Luckily my new admin is fair- thus far. Bronson graduated in May with two AA degrees and I finished a second MA (English) Colton is in his second year of college. I think he might just get an AA degree and then get a little job. I see him possibly working as a receptionist or doing something on a computer. The weather lately has been miserable- lots of 100 degree days! Until next time, xoxo

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 11:19 PM CDT

Sometimes I really miss the days before the advent of Facebook. People used to email more, talk on the phone, drop you a line... now all they do is click a "like" on your status every now and then. Lynn still visits us. In all fairness, I have not kept up this site either. As soon as Colton got into high school, he seemed to lose interest in all those fun things we used to do. Well, my son is TWENTY years old now! I cannot believe it! I am nearly 54 also! When we opened our page... was that in 2002? I was about 39. Wow. Really? Did I really open this page that long ago? What is new with us? Bronson has been in college about 6 years. He finally decided he is going to be a teacher. His fiancee- Kim- is going to be a teacher, too. They should both be done by 2019. PTL! Colton is lazy as can be. He took 2 classes last semester and 3 this time around. He said he just wants to get an AA degree. Still, I am so proud of him. Work is that same old ####. I retire in 5 years.. and I cannot wait! I am hopeful we will leave California but we shall have to see. Kern County is indeed a gross place to live. I'm currently off work due to a knee injury. I was going to teach summer school but am going to stay home and relax instead. The world must be coming to an end because all of this political stuff is just too much. Scary. I never liked Obama but I accepted him. Oh well. Hopefully, I will update again real soon. I say that... but I don't know. Peace, Laura

Friday, June 3, 2016 1:10 AM CDT

I can't believe I haven't updated this page in over a year! Anyhow... Colton has graduated from high school. And Lynn... I appreciate your continued messages over the past 15 years, btw! Anyhow, Colton was one of three students (out of 9K) across Kern County picked as "inspiring students" who beat the odds. He was highlighted in the Bakersfield Californian as well as on the news. I started a FB site so now I will be concentrating on fundraising to find the cure. The mission will take me the rest of my life, no doubt... maybe even beyond. His FB page is "for you Colton... the journey continues." I thought that was fitting... a part TWO of this page. :-)

To our visitors- we hope you are well and happy. I may eventually link up this page with his FB page but the fifteen years of journals will never go back on. I have them on a disk and printed out in storage. Too bad Internet stalkers have to cause problems. Most people would understand my blog is my way of venting. Oh well. The guestbook? That will stay up and it goes back to 2002 I believe. I know Dolly Pardon and Earnhardt Jr signed among thousands of others.

To all- take care and keep in touch. Remember to donate to the Foundation Fighting Blindness today.

Laura

Saturday, February 14, 2015 9:50 PM CST

Happy fall 2015!

Please remember to support The Foundation Fightiing Blindness.

Thank you.

Sunday, January 18, 2015 6:26 PM CST

It is 2015 and these past few months have been quite horrendous. My father, too ill with both bladder cancer and heart problems, killed himself at age 84. My friend Susan had passed away two months before, in August. The month before my dad died, our pastor of ten years passed away in his sleep. The sad thing about my dad is that we were supposed to see him three days later- he killed himself hours after talking to me on the phone.

This, of course, reminded me of losing my kid's dad to drugs... just couldn't be in their lives- and my little sister. And my mom. So it has been hard. Somehow I managed to finish my college class last December. It is Jan 18 today- have another class- starting a grief class this Wednesday. I transferred out of sp ed to regular ed to avoid the harassment and discrimination I was under at my other school. So far, this school year has been going well.

Life is so hard right now. I will look forward to my own death- after I get these kids independent my work on this earth is done as far as I'm concerned.

My sons are doing well. That I pray stays the same- couldn't take anything happening to them.

Saturday, August 16, 2014 7:20 PM CDT

What a wretched year thus far! I was off work for three months, Bronson had a burst appendix right before Colton's bday, my dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer, and my Chihuahuas have been sick!

Thank you Lynne, for not forgetting us! :-) i check our page every few weeks. I do FB but it's like a three ring circus!

Colton starts 11th grade on Monday. Bronson starts his college classes toward the end of the month.....

Where have the years gone?

Friday, January 10, 2014 2:09 PM CST

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

With the popularity of FB, we usually keep in touch with people on that site.

Colton will be 17 years old next month. we continue to thank you for your support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness! Please donate to fightblindness.org and please continue to stay in touch!
'
Have a wonderful 2014!!!

Friday, January 10, 2014 2:09 PM CST

Sunday, September 22, 2013 6:36 PM CDT

Happy Fall!!!

I see that I haven't logged in for quite some time. And yes, even though everyone uses FB now, I still want to keep up this site to some extent.

Colton is in the 10th grade now- time flies!!! Not so long ago he was a toddler! We've been using this site for about ten years- maybe more! What's new? Bronson is in his third year at BC and I am getting a second MA degree in English

We're going up north in December for a few days- that will be fun. This summer was HOT. Temperatures rose to over 100 degrees, at times over 110. Looking forward to the day we can HOPEFULLY move to Oregon one day. We shall see... any state that is more cool than California would be nice!

Sue had her birthday last week and I sent a beautiful bouquet- wanted her to know I had not forgotten her special day. She too uses primarily FB. Ah well. :-)

Lynne- thank you for still checking in on us!

Hope you all have a wonderful fall!!!!

Laura

August 1, 2013

All is going well. Bronson is at the beach today. He goes back to college in a few weeks, Colton mid- August. We've been very busy with things... Colton was asked to do one of the drawings for the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation so that is very exciting! Looking forward to retiring. :-) I don't play games.

WAY TOO HOT IN KERN COUNTY!!!

Looking forward to the fall! Most of you visit us on Facebook. To Lynn, thank you for remembering Colton on here!

Laura

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Happy April!

About 7 weeks of school left and I can't wait! :-) Even if hired to teach summer school, a change every now and then is always good. I love my students but have a very challenging group. I wish I had never been made to switch last year. The rewarding thing about teaching is when the students come back to visit, year after year. That in itself is such a gift!

My own kids are doing great- young men now. I seem to forget. 20 and 16. Wow. Bronson is finishing his second year of college, but will need a third year for graphic design. Colton is finishing his freshman year in HS. They're both getting A's and B's in school so what more could a mother ask for? The only thing I don't like is that they spend too much time on their computers. I wish I could take them on more vacations. We have a lovely backyard, so they spend time in the evenings in the pool during the summer evenings.

I'm supposed to be publishing a poetry book- actually for the past two years- but just haven't been in the mood. My publisher has fallen off the face of the earth and I no longer get checks, though we do sell books. I could pursue action against them but I don't really care. I've contacted her twice with no response, so I give up. I can turn Colton's book into some sort of e-book on Amazon- so I will most likely do that one day. We still follow and have contact with some of our "high profile" friends- but alas, we are all just people.

Speaking of friends, Amy Grant has a new CD coming out very soon, so be sure to check it out!

My sons are quite handsome. Perhaps this summer I'll have Shelli do some updated photos. We post our pictures on my Facebook site. This summer I'd like to scan and post all our old family pics!

I've been really down, dealing with too many deaths. Each one drags me down a little lower- so I try to remember I still have two healthy sons and that thought helps tremendously!

I wish you all a happy spring and good summer! Most of you message us through Facebook and I really appreciate all your continued support for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Hopefully they will one day have the ability to reverse Colton's disease and restore his sight. I will never lose hope, Laura

01-31-13

Well... I just can't get over how time flies by. Bronson, my baby, just turned TWENTY on the 29th! Can you believe it? To those of us who have followed this page the past ten plus years, it's just amazing! He is in his 4th semester of computer graphics at his junior college. It will take him another year because there are so many classes. He doesn't seem to be motivated to get his four year degree- not that I blame him. He doesn't want to go into debt as I had to. He also has one mom, no dad, and no scholarship. I gave up on men liking me for the right reasons, for liking the real me... so I guess the Three Musketeers we shall remain! At least for now.

Bronson goes to school M-Thursday and he drives each way on most days. I gave him my Grand Marquis because it's safer than our Ford Focus. Now I hope to come into another old luxury car. We shall see. My back hurts when driving so I just bite the bullet as I have for years. I'd rather know my son is safe! I'm so proud of Bronson for going to college and having goals!

Colton is doing well also. He is in drama and liking it very much. He has another play coming up but he's working backstage on this one. I will announce it on my FB. They're in the talks to do a movie on my son and that would be awesome in terms of raising awareness! We shall see. :-)

Canadian TV/radio contacted me last month and would like to highlight my book in honor of "white cain week." The following is excerpts of our email. Please tune in:

Dear Ms Robbie,

I'm pleased to introduce myself to you as the manager of the CNIB recording studios. We produce audio books for the CNIB Library collection, strictly for the use of people with print disabilities as defined in the Canadian Copyright Act.

Since May, the CNIB Library has teamed up with Accessible Media Inc. to create a monthly broadcast program for AMI-audio (ami.ca). For the month of February we�d like to include excerpts of 5-8 minutes in length from a selection of blindness-themed books in honour of White Cane Week, and I�d like your book to be one of them.

The audio special would be aired in Canada four times through the month of February (dates and times TBA) on the AMI-audio television channel and online at the AMI website. Once the special has been broadcast it would also be archived on the AMI website.

If you�d be so kind as to grant permission I will forward you a release form.

Best regards,
Joanne

Joanne Richter
Manager, Audio Publishing
CNIB
1929 Bayview Ave.
Toronto, ON
M4G 3E8

T: (416) 486-2500, ext. 7670
F: (416) 480-7700
E: joanne.richter@cnib.ca

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TIMES OF BROADCAST:

02-03-13 AT 1PM, SUNDAY
02-12-13 AT 5:30 PM, TUESDAY
02-20-13 AT 9 AM, WEDNESDAY
02-23-12, 10 AM, SATURDAY

ALL TIMES PST.

HAVE A BLESSED MONTH OF FEBRUARY!

Friday, June 10, 2011 8:40 AM CDT

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