Reflections on so many emotions of the past week.

This has been quite a week, in absolutely all manners of life.  I would be remiss if I didn't not mention the events earlier this week in Texas.  It is sickening beyond words, and honestly, it seems as though each piece of information that comes out makes it worse.  Those babies should be home with their parents this weekend enjoying the beginning of summer.  Truly no words.

My baby graduated this week, as we all know, and I've written about it.  My baby chose to wear his pappy's watch and a fisherman belt buckle because, as he said, "I know they would both want to be here."  That really pulls at the heartstrings!  I couldn't help but think of all the family members we'd lost since Robert graduated just four years ago, and honestly, there are just too many.

This weekend has been full of graduation parties.  Last evening we attended a party in my hometown.  Heather and I were friends in high school, and our sons met and often competed against each other in swim.  Today we had three parties to attend.  One was a neighbor, one was one of the first families we met at church, and one was for Thomas's best friend in our former town.  Andrew stopped by that one on his way out of town to take his mom home, and I made it over later after attending others.  I loved seeing Thomas be able to hang out with those friends.

Today, my photo memories kind of hit me in the gut.  A year ago today, we were out to dinner with our best friends in honor of Belle's graduation.  Our two kids and their four kids were sitting in a row and I snapped a picture because having them all together is such a rarity.  There has been some serious drama this year, and I sometimes wonder if we'll ever be able to have the kids all together again.  As I was going through the slide show I've been working on for Thomas, there are so many pictures of the kids together, and broke my heart a little bit.  There was also the photos from five years ago when my mom's family gathered together for a cemetery tour and to eat together.  I miss family gatherings and traditions so much.  I yearn for big family gatherings, but I know that I need to be happy with the family I do get to be surrounded by.  The other set of photos that popped up today were ones that were taken eleven years ago today.  We were at my dad's cottage, and Thomas had caught his first fish.  It was the last time we were able to make memories there together.  Lots of hits to the emotions.

It's also hard because with Andrew's mom here, he and I have virtually no time as just the two of us.  I'm so grateful we were able to get his mom here for graduation and I know she enjoyed being here, but it's a huge adjustment at the time.  Tonight would be a fabulous evening for Andrew and I to share a glass of wine out doors as the weather is absolutely amazing.

I have so many more thoughts and emotions running through me right now, as I'm pretty sure that is the stage of life we are in!  I hope since summer has arrived, I'm able to get on here and share more things that have been happening.  It's not as funny or exciting as when the kids were little, but it's all still important to me!