So much truth...

That last post though..... so much truth!

She did it.  She graduated Saturday.   

In what is, arguably, the worst year since ____(you can fill it in)____ my girl rose above all that this world has thrown at her to complete the education we began at the dining room table in Birmingham thirteen years ago.

We now look forward to her chasing her dream and studying World Cinema at Clemson University in September.  I say "we" because, well, chasing dreams has become a thing around here and we're all in it together.

Just over a year ago, Andy began chasing his dream of owning his own business.  It has been a rough road, and each of us have made sacrifices, which makes the buy-in even sweeter.  We encourage each other, support each other, attend football games in snow blizzards...well, you get the idea.  Andy is seeing success and we celebrate that together.  Abby graduated Saturday, and we celebrated together.

And now, I feel the time has come where Momma's dream is knocking at the door.  

I began this blog years ago with the hopes of keeping our far away family connected after my father died.  I needed connection, I needed an outlet, but mostly I just NEEDED to write.  It's part of me- who I am, what I want to be and do.  In the years since, I've come back to this blog to write when life dictated a story, and abandoned it when life was just too big and demanded all of me- my heart, my attention, my time.

I've been dedicating some time to growing myself.  I'm a big believer in lifelong learning and in recent years I have been surviving rather than thriving.  So I'm stepping out!  Signing up for some software courses, developing a better representation of myself online and on paper, and venturing into freelance writing.  It's exciting....and terrifying....and I didn't sleep a wink last night....but I'm ready to give my dream a shot!

 #wewatchedHamilton

Lasts Lead to Firsts

I've noticed, after two solid weeks of hiding in the staff bathroom sobbing, that I am a very involved momma.

Yes, I had a feeling before, but these two weeks of watching my son walk out of the middle school (which I happen to work in) confirmed it.  Make fun of me.  It's ok. I'm good with it.

All the "lasts" hit me like a ton of bricks...last ride to work together....last time he gets trapped holding the door open for me and the string of kids/teachers behind me....last time I hear them say "Wow! Great manners!" or "There's no denying he's yours, Marla!"......last time splitting off in the hallway and saying "Have a great day, Benji!  uhhh I mean Ben!!!!"...…..last time of him jutting his chin out at me when I pass him in the hall.....last time all of his friends warn him when they see me coming "It's your mom, Ben! BEN!!  YOUR MOM!!!!"

I never wanted to embarrass Ben at school (except that time I wrote him up), but I LOVED being in the same building as one of my kids.  When I subbed last year, the best thing ever was to get called up to the high school where Abby would track me down like a blood hound for hugs and insist that we have lunch together or, at the very least, meet up at her locker.  While homeschooling was sometimes difficult, it forged strong bonds with my children.  I'm so grateful.

So now come the firsts....yesterday was the first time Abby got a "senior" discount (Yes, they really gave it to us at a store that was having "senior" day and I mentioned she was now a senior!!!)….. we had our first JV football meeting for Ben to play for the high school...... we're going on our first roadtrip where a kid can help us drive...... and in a couple of months our kids will be headed to the same school together (that doesn't take place under our roof) for the first time.

It feels like all that is ahead for them are steps away from us.  Lots of lasts to come, and lots of firsts.