It's Friday! We almost survived the first week!

I read a quote that said "Don't think about what can happen in a month.  Don't think about what can happen in a year.  Just focus on the 24 hours in front of you and do what you can to get closer to where you want to be." This surely applies to my faith life, as my ultimate goal is to get to heaven so I strive daily to remember WHOSE I am, not who I am, and remember that the only opinion that matters is God's and I he loves me.  I am a goal setter, so I start every day (well most, some days I am just a hot mess!) with my goals for the day.  And, I am involved in so many different volunteer activities, I have to have big goals.  And as far as senior year goes, I think this is my mantra.  Focus on the 24 hours in front of me.  When I see the pictures on social media of my friends moving their kids into the dorm, I hyperventilate.  That is ONE year from today!  So I breathe, and remind myself to focus on today and don't think about one month or one year from now.

On my list of things to do, right at the top all week has been "Blog."  Well, obviously THAT didn't happen!  My goal is to try to take the time to save memories once a week.  Well, here it is 18 days later and I am finally making my second post in 5 years.  But as the saying goes, "Giving up on your goal because of one setback is like slashing your other three tires because you got one flat."  So, I have changed the tire and on we go!

This week brought a myriad of emotions.  Monday was the first last day of public education for my baby girl.  This is still the little girl I see.

But the reality is she is no longer the 5 year old I sent to Kindergarten.  She is an almost 18 year old who has BIG dreams, and hopes.  

So, like it or not, she will be flying out of the nest in one year.  And it is my job to make sure she has the tools so she doesn't fall to the ground or come hide in the nest because the outside world is too scary.  But, there are still going to be tears.  Because I love these kids so much and I can't imagine them not being a daily part of my life.  

The first week of school has been great for all three kids.  Jack has the same teacher he had for 4th.  He comes home super motivated for homework, and gets it done without being told.  Although, he still hates to color in anything.  He had an assignment this week, "all about me" and he resisted adding color as much as he could!  As I write, he is buried in a book.  "Journey to the Center of the Earth."  He has had some great examples in his big sisters.  Makes me a proud mom.

Carly seems to be off to a great start, even met a group for a project yesterday at Starbucks.  Hopefully Junior year is the year she really learns the value in staying timely in her projects.  It sure would make her life easier.  She cracks me up, because even living in Florida, she refuses to carry an umbrella.  Her last class is in a portable, furthest from the front of the school.  So, WHEN it rains in the afternoon, she is soaked.  Perhaps she will learn someday.

Maddie has come home beaming every day.  She certainly is having a great year.  She has gotten to be on announcements because she is Senior Class President and they are designing t-shirts.  She is bummed because her vote for the back is see you 18ter  and sen18rs is winning.  They are both cute ideas and she is learning the important lesson in management.  It is not your way or the highway.  Sometimes others disagree with your opinion. Yesterday she was dress coded.

We had a good laugh.  I'm still not sure how athletic shorts are too short, but she may have had them hiked up.  I did get a message this morning from Carly that she had seen 5 cheerleaders butts already today.  Seems like a bit of a double standard to me.  But, oh well.  Today Maddie has arranged with the principal for Senior early release- her peers are super excited about that one.

Overall, the start of the school year seems to be a great one. We are so busy, I am trying to appreciate every single moment I can!   I can't believe we almost survived the first week!

I'm really okay, I'm just a mom of a senior!

Years ago, someone told me, "The days are long and the years are short."  At the time I had no idea what they meant.  I was so exhausted changing diapers, making dinner, working, driving too and from extracurricular activities, I couldn't possibly see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Now I get it.  Every song that even remotely mentions time slowing down breaks me down.  Brad Paisley sings "Last time for everything" and my mind starts thinking about all the lasts that are about to happen when school starts in 2 weeks.  Trace Adkins sings "You're gonna miss this" and I fast forward to next year at this time when we are moving her into a dorm and realize this year will be the last year we live under the same roof as a family of 5.And I absolutely cannot listen to Nichole Nordeman sing "Slow Down" without the tears streaming and my heart in my throat.  Where have the years gone?  How is it possible my oldest child will be 18 in two short months, and that in 2 weeks she will have her last first day of high school?  And then, I get a text like the one I just got.

This morning she was to take an SAT prep class from 8-3.  We registered at the end of last school year, and she was excited to take advantage of the opportunity, although a bit sleepy getting up this rainy Monday morning.  She was about 5 minutes late when she texted me at school she had arrived safely.  I assumed she would head straight to the class.  BUT, parking passes also are available starting today.  So, guess which she chose?  Of course, she is a teenager!  She wants prime parking her senior year!  So, she chose to get in line for her parking pass.  At 8:32 she sent this text. "I was going to just be a little late to the class, and get my parking pass, and at 8:29 Mrs. H came and said it's too late to come; I made a stupid choice momma."

My moment of reminiscing was jerked right back to reality.  She is still my little girl, still needs my coaching to help her make the right decisions, and she IS going to make mistakes.  Things could be worse, so for now I will take a deep breath and thank God for this opportunity to guide her decision making skills.

I want to remember all these moments so although it has been years since my last blog post, my goal this year is to keep up this blog, so that after the next 2 years of back to back senior years I will be able to cherish the emotions and the memories.  And, writing is like therapy to me.  So, if you care to follow my crazy roller coaster life, stay tuned!  There will be more to come!  And if you see me walking Fenway with tears in my eyes, Rascal Flats might be playing "My wish" and I'm really okay, I'm just the mom of a senior!