Lesley "LeLe" Pacini and best friend Bao Tran attend the LBJ High School Homecoming Dance at the Crockett Center, November 2005.

Karl "Kiki" Stewart catches Lucious Henderson's pass that helped to bring the McCallum Knights closer to the inzone during the recent bi-district championship game agains the Lake Travis Cavaliers. Kiki is #14. Lucious is #10 - QB and Andre Hill is #8.

Is this not "to die for". Here lies the youth of Cynthia Kennedy Bramhall. This lovely grave of a cake was the surprise at my birthday party last Saturday, on November 12, 2005 when yes I made it up the hill to 40! I had so much fun. I have added to my blue glass collection and now have lovely sushi dishes to dine with. I have a spa collection for bath & beauty. I have several new CDs and a gift certificate to LaMadelline Bakery. Cool. I want to say thank you to all my family and friends who made my birthday extra special. My best friend Maurey and her mom and son's Dylan and Blake were able to join MeMe, Barry, Jean, Marian, Lesley, Laurie, Matt, Brittany, & Nick in celebrating my party at MeMe's house. Whew that was fun! Until next year! I don't think I will have to bury my youth next time...maybe next time I'll be able to recapture some of it, by being a McCallum Knight mom!

Karl "Kiki" Stewart #14 of the McCallum Knights

On Saturday November 19, 2005 my girls schoolmate Kiki caught a crucial pass that helped lead the Knights to victory against the Lake Travis Cavaliers. McCallum has won both bi-district playoff series and will go on to face Corpus Christi in San Antonio for the regional championship. You know I'll be there waving the blue and white tiki for Kiki.

Lesley's Piano Recital from last year - Dec. 2004

Sorry we were not able to post the video last year, but after going through some files we came across this and thought it would be neat to compare her performance from last year with this year. Last year she performed Spanish Intermezzo and In My Life by the Beatles, for a live audience at Strait Music Recital Hall in Austin, Texas.

Lesley's Piano Recital 2005

Lesley is a sophomore at McCallum HS and she performed playing Hang Gliders and Fur Elise for a live audience at the Strait Music Recital Hall in Austin, Texas.

New Views, Warm Heart & Warm Weather

Things have changed so much since the last time I shared with you. I've been attending a Christian course that is helping me and my husband find friendship and enjoy many new things together. Thank God. There are several other couples attending. It is a nurturing atmosphere. I have begun my quest for a healthier me by enjoying vegetarian cuisine during the weekdays, and sampling a lighter fare with small servings of dishes I dream up on the weekend. I started doing Tae Bo again, with enthusiasm. I am trying to reach my personal goals as I grow.

Bounce Back

I am taking better care of myself. My mind feels clearer, and my heart not so heavy. I still love the quiet. I enjoy solitude more now than ever before. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I want to be alone, it is just that I enjoy the peace of a long walk by the creek or sitting in the park watching the wind blow through the trees. I just find myself taking time out to enjoy these things. It is helpful and it helps me to clear my mind. Work has been great this week. I got several projects done, still working on some long range ones. I saw some students I taught ten years ago and it was like a "family reunion", lots of hugs and smiles. The students had grown, but amazingly they still remembered me. I was just so happy to see them. It is an honor to experience the teacher-student bond with a child.
I feel fortunate to have experienced the joys of motherhood and the blessings of being a teacher.

What's New?

Well after two days off, some tests and two doctor's visits, I think I am on the mend. Instead of what appeared at first as heart trouble, it was more a "troubled heart" or "broken heart" punctuated by emotion and insomnia...stress. Oh yuck! One hates to even think of it. Luckily I have a spiritually sound primary care physician and a wonderful Oriental Medicine clinic and medical school nearby to help me restore my physical health. I have a church family to help me restore my emotional and spirtitual health. There are caring best friends and pets too. That is comforting. I must say some of the best medicine was my daughter's laughter and silliness. The joy she brings is immeasurable.

Still Here

Well I'm still here. It was really hard last week. We are going to try to work through this difficult situation. I had trouble enjoying even the most beautiful, sunny day, even though I could see the gentle wind blowing, the gleam of warm sunshine, and grass bending gently in the breeze. An empty heart, thoughts weighing on my mind, and feeling like I could sleep for days. I just pray to make it through this, knowing that the blessing in the trial that passed may not be apparent to me at the moment...I can still hope. Let go and let God, my best friend always says. I know that she is right. Joy, peace and serenity are what I seek. I can't wait until I have one of those moments, a placid, serene, moment where I completely clear my mind as my eyes focus on something beautiful in nature. Staring out into the wind blowing through the trees, or finding myself watching cloud formations blow across the sky as I lay in the grass, it is the silence of total concentration with the absence of conscious thought. I want to drive out to the country and sit on top of the highest hill and just watch the day go by. I need to be far, far away from the hectic pace of the city. I long for the coolness of autumn evenings to take the sting of summer away from my heart. I can forgive, but will I forget I ask myself. It would be so nice just to wipe the slate clean and start all over again. I miss my precious girl. I look forward to seeing her again. She is my heart and soul, wherever she is that is where my heart wants to be. There is no one on Earth who understands me as she does, I love her so very much.

Cynthia listening to Jay Bramhall speak to his family at his after graduation party in May 2005.

Wow its the middle of summer already

Hey everybody...I can hardly believe it that it is already the middle of summer. I am teaching at Crockett High School with the SCORES program. I have 6 teenage young men who are a joy to teach. Jean is working, Marian is at HEB camp this week and Lesley is going to tennis camp. The tomatoes in the garden are super this year! I hope to post pictures soon. Love to all. Peace out.

The Wedding

Rick and Anne's Wedding, Danielle, Anne, Ricky, Rick, and Hope,
The Kennedy Family of Tampa, Florida Sunday 3/20/05

Back from Tampa

The wedding was beautiful. I loved spending time with my parents. I had fun playing with Ricky and Hope. It was hard to leave. Barry was waiting for me at the airport. He drove me to his office and gave me a hug and a kiss then I had to go straight to work. I worked after school then to Rosedale for Parent Support Night. I unloaded the car. Marian and Jean were right by the front window when I unloaded the car twice. Finally I rang the doorbell. Barry opened the door. Mitten had come running to greet me. The doggies wagged their tails and jumped on me. Jean and Marian sat watching television, silent, saying nothing even when I said "hello". I wish LeLe was here.

Cindy's picture from Valentine's Day 2005 

Lesley Susann Pacini 

Michael Ayala 

LeLe and I at UT in 2002 

Mitten at home. 

Spinal Surgery - Here's the Update

Some of you may not have heard what happened recently but I have three herniated disks in the base of the neck at the cervical spine: C5, C6, and C7. The disk at C7 had ruptured on 12/22/05 just as I woke up that morning, and was impinging upon the spinal cord and the nerve root causing weakness and numbness along the left arm.
The tricep and bicep were not engaging properly. My pointer finger was completely numb.
My sister Carolyn came up from San Antonio, last Friday morning on 1/14/05, to wait with Barry and my mother-in-law Bonnie Bramhall. The children were at school during the surgery but came to visit as soon as school was out for the after noon. I went into the hospital at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Peterson did a procedure from the back of the neck, removing a small portion of the vertebrae's lamina [bone surrounding the nerve root], so that he could remove the damaged parts of the disk, while leaving the remaining healthy part in tact. The surgery began around 11:00 a.m. It is a 1-2 hour surgery, so I was in the recovery room around 12:30 p.m. and into a hospital room around 1:00 p.m. More updates to follow as I have been at home all last week and will be at home the rest of this week. I should see the doctor this week and find out when I can return to work.