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!

Final graduation

Tonight was the final graduation in our house.  We are very proud and very pleased.  It was truly a lovely ceremony, although I was a little surprised how not emotional I felt.  In fact, I was most emotional about the young lady Mary who attends our church.  She is a cancer survivor and has been though so many medical crises in her young life.  It took her longer to walk up the ramp and get across the stage than anyone else.  It brought tears to my eyes, and I can only imagine the emotions of her parents.

After graduation Thomas brought his girlfriend back and we watched as he opened a few cards.  I know that it truly has not sunk in that my children are all grown!

A movie moment

Today is graduation day.  It's also Andrew's last day with students, it's Catherine's foot appointment day (long story), and apparently it is also a day of Holy Obligation (grrr) so Catherine will be taking my mother-in-law to church around Noon.  It's not like we are sitting around counting down the hours until Thomas graduates.  We've got things to do.  Unfortunately, we've had soaking rains all morning, so everything we do will have to be done inside.

This morning though, will have a moment I'll always remember, and it could've been right out of a movie.  Thomas has graduation rehearsal this morning, so I went to wake him up and make sure that he is moving.  As I was waking him up and wishing him "Happy Graduation Day!" I heard the song on the radio.  The song is about our life with Thomas, and I was so struck in that moment about how lucky I've been to be his mother.  We are so incredibly blessed.  It was just like it was a moment in a movie with the perfect soundtrack.  I'm so grateful for this life we've all had together.

So many things I have wanted to write about

There have been so, so many things I have wanted to write about since I last wrote, but life has been incredibly crazy.  Work has been insane, but we finished today.  Yay!!!!  We made it through the year.  I am exhausted, my co-workers are exhausted, but we made it.  Andrew still has students tomorrow and has to work Friday, then he'll be done for the summer.  I've taken the next two days off since tomorrow evening will be Thomas's graduation.  In addition to exhaustion, there has been some emotion about that.

Today there was the added emotion of the horrific school shooting that happened yesterday.  There are no words for that.

My mother-in-law has been here since Sunday.  She is an absolutely lovely lady, but it adds a little bit of stress by having her around.  She was able to see Thomas's tennis awards last evening, and we've enjoyed some dinners.

I feel like I'm only hitting highlights and I'm missing information, but hopefully I'll have more time update now that school is over.  Of course, with the youngest graduating and heading off to college in the fall, maybe I won't have much to write about!

Last day: the end of a parenting era

Thomas was out the door the morning as usual, but it was no usual morning.  It was the very last day of school for Thomas, and therefore the very last day Andrew and I would be parents of a school student.  Oh my goodness, it has gone so incredibly fast.  My heart hurts a little, but I'm so incredibly grateful.  It definitely feels a little surreal.

FFA banquet

Last evening was our final FFA banquet as parents.  As an aside, we love this organization so very much, and we are hoping we will be invited in years to come and would certainly plan to to attend.  Teachers are often invited, and we also send a sponsorship to them each year, so I suspect we will be.  Anyway, as always, it is an unbelievably long event.  We had been given the "heads up" earlier in the week that Thomas needed to be there for the "extra" portion which was the scholarship presentation.  We are so proud of him for receiving a $500 scholarship!  All-in-all, it was a five hour experience, but we loved seeing Thomas be recognized for his state FFA band selection as well.

I realized this is going to be the last one where I really recognize students and be known myself.  I've come to really like my job, but I will always miss being around the amazing kids at our high school.  It was such an honor and a blessing to get to experience those years as I did!

This part never ends

This morning, Thomas had to be at school at 7AM for band trip.  Just as an FYI, you can add this to the list of things I most certainly will not miss about parenting students.  Anyway, as he was walking out the door, I realized how very much this part won't end.  As he walked out the door, I said a little prayer that he make safe and healthy choices, that he be safe on the drives and throughout the day.  That part absolutely won't end even as he graduates school.  Those prayers will always be sent up for my children.