College Bound

My son left for college the weekend before the first day of school for us regular folk in the public school system. It was a weekend of so many emotions that it will be hard for me to describe it, but I am going to try.

Saturday morning I woke up to seeing this cross my social media page.

                                 

The thought of moving my son out to another town to live on his own just gave me a nervous chill across my body.  The once feeling of excitement I had for him to get to experience what I did not get a chance to do, now turned into feelings of nervousness and sadness.  Was he truly ready to be on his own? Can he take care of himself? Will he know what he needs to do?  Will he make good friends? 

All sorts of questions ran through my mind as I helped him pack the final of his belongings.  He literally waited until the last moment to pack his things.  When I say last moment, try that morning! Son! You are driving me crazy! 

I gathered all his things we had just recently purchased and had those bagged up and packed by the door. All he had left to get were his personal belongings. I had to make sure he had everything he needed.... toothbrush, bed sheets (two sets), TP, deodorant, towels, pillows, comforter....yeah everything he allowed me to buy.  He kept telling me he doesn't need everything and that he will get what he needs when he gets there. So, I had to back off some and allow him to make those decisions. I still couldn't help being a mom. 

So we follow him to school with my parents in tow. We get to the dorm during the last hour of move in time.  We timed it perfect because all of the rush from moving in had subsided.  He was able to check in, get his key and get all moved in without all the fuss and rush of everyone else moving in at the same time. My mom started to hang his clothes in his closet and I was adamant his bed was set up for comfort. He allowed us to organize his room-thank goodness! 

Once we got his things moved in we went to eat at a nearby country kitchen.  We had a full meal with a great funny waitress that served us.  I can't forget her laugh! After dinner we stopped off at the nearby Walmart to get some last minute things for him.  I promise I felt like he needed so much!  I couldn't stop wanting to get him things I felt he needed. He had to tell me "stop mom I really don't need all that." At first I was angry, but then I became sad.  Why didn't he want to listen to me when I said he needed these things? Why didn't he just take my word for it that he will need these things? 

We take him back to his dorm and by the look on his face I could tell he was ready for us to go.  He had just went to Freshman camp a few weeks before and had met some friends.  Apparently they had plans to do something and he was ready to go. 

I promised myself I would not cry in front of him.  I really didn't think I would cry.  I knew I was sad, but I also felt he would be okay.  Crying was not on the agenda. But then the moment to leave my little boy in his big boy dorm room came.  And something inside begin to hurt. I hugged him once and then released and his dad hugged him.  Then I hugged him once more and could not let go without feeling this huge lump in my throat along with the large hole in my heart. My tears begin to shed. 

The ride home was quiet.  Just small talk.  Until we got home and it was bed time, the world was okay.  Sad, but okay. I walked into my son's bedroom that he just left earlier that day and felt a piece of sadness.  My son was now out there on his own to fend for himself in the real world and all I could do was pray for him.  Pray that he keeps his focus. Pray that God surrounds him with good honest people.  Just praying that he will be okay.  I knew deep in my heart that he would be okay, but praying helped me know for sure. 

I never anticipated the emotional roller coaster I would go through sending my son to college.  I don't know if this was normal or I am just an emotional mom who has close ties with her son. It has been about 6 weeks since we dropped him off and let me add that HE has adjusted quite well-quickly.  I knew he would, just this mommy here took a little longer to do so. 

Blog Binge!

It has been a world wind these last few months.  We have managed to graduate our son, move in to our new home and in the final planning stages of our daughter's upcoming wedding. As much as I wanted to capture each of the moments on the blog, time hasn't allowed for it.  So, here is a binge post on these last few months.

Our son graduated early June, class of 2016.  It was a proud day and a fast one at that.  He graduated within the top 10% of his class.  All our family were there to support him.  We later transitioned him into college life, but I have a separate post coming on that. 

We celebrated our daughter's 25th birthday with her closest of friends. This will also be her last birthday as a single woman.  We are just a couple of months away from her big day! 

I had the most blessed pleasure of hosting my childhood friends for lunch at our new home.  I made green chile chicken enchiladas with rice. We shared a bottle of wine and talked for hours! We talked about our upbringings and shared old stories. We even celebrated one of us (not me) becoming a grandma! It was such a wonderful day. 

We visited the Bridal Extravaganza once more before wedding day.  The event is a huge marketplace with all sorts of wedding related vendors.   It was just my daughter, her fiance, my husband and myself that attended.  We went to walk around and get some last minute things covered. It was a fun day! 

So, there it is.... a blog binge! There is more to come! We are wrapping up the final details to the wedding day.  This is the day, the only day... I get to have the Mother of the Bride title.  I am doing my best to take in this moment as much as possible.  I want this season to last as long as it can. 

Forty Two

Today I turned forty two.  On one side it appears old and mature.  On another side it seems quite young and youthful.  I am at a point where I can say I am the happiest I have been in my life thus far. Will this be the most happiest?  I hope not.  I hope that God continues to bless my life with the rich gifts he has already given unto me.

Recap my forty first year of life:

• We began building and completed the building of our new home.
• I began my fifth year in my current job.
• My daughter began her first year in her career as a hair stylist.
• My son completed his senior year of high school and graduated.
• My sister had her son.

Drumline

My son participated in marching band and Indoor Drumline all four years of high school.  When he began Indoor Drumline his freshman year, I had no clue what it was all about and neither did my son.  I do remember him coming home one day and was excited once he was informed.

His teacher at the time showed all the kids a video of what Indoor Drumline was all about.  It basically encompasses only the Percussion section of the band.  They perform indoors on a basketball court arena.  It is a mixture of percussion, dance and drama.  Each show has its own theme.  My son's school would choose a more deep topic for their show that related to the real world.  They never did anything simple.  After the first year, my son loved it.  He looked forward to participating in it every year.  

In the 2014 season they competed in a World event in Dayton, Ohio and took 4th place!  That season was the one he says he cherishes the most.  Those kids put in a lot blood, sweat and tears that year.  It was a pretty solid year. 

Now we come to his senior year.  Their final competition took place at Texas A&M.  I took a ride up there along with some of my family.  Their performance was the second to the last to perform that day.  It was a long day. They came out and gave their all.  They looked amazing!

It took forever for the Awards part to take place or so it seemed.  They called each school's order they placed.  The top three place teams in each category would come up to receive their medal and get a picture taken.  It seemed to take forever especially considering my son's category was last.  At first I sat there a little angry that they were taking so long.  But then something hit me.  I thought to myself, okay God.  I know what you are doing.  I'm looking over at my son as he was lined up with his team and thought- you are making this moment last as long as you could just so I can cherish the moment I am in.  My son the senior.  His final competition.  His final show.  His final Drumline Awards show of his school years.  There wont be another moment like this again. 

So, I sat back, continued to snap pictures from my phone and relished the moment.  Then they got to my son's category.

His team got first place! I was super over the moon excited! Seeing the excitement on my son's face as well as all the rest of the team's faces-it was all worth it.  I was so proud! I ran down onto the floor and gave him a hug and snapped even more pictures.  What a moment! I will definitely cherish this moment forever. 

Seniors 2016

Breaking Ground

Our home building process began.  The frame is going up and the flat foundation is starting to look more like a home.  At first when you are just looking at the foundation, it looks so tiny! I started to think how is everything going to fit on that piece of concrete?  Then it all does.

My kids are here examining the bedrooms to see which one they wanted.  They couldn't decide at first.  They both wanted the same one.  

The ceilings came out way taller than we anticipated.  Nonetheless, it is coming out so beautifully. 

It is all starting to come together.  Our dream home.  Piece by piece. 

Bridal Extravaganza

The Bridal Extravaganza takes place twice a year in our city.  We took advantage of the January showing.  All of the bridesmaids attended along with my mom and sisters.  The bridesmaids all wore matching shirts that were made by one of my daughter's high school dance teachers.  The shirts were a hit at the show!  They had Bride & Co. on the front and the back had Est. and the year the friend met my daughter.  My daughter was touched.

We walked around the whole time getting great ideas for the wedding.

This moment was priceless.  Seeing my daughter and all of her friends sitting beside her as they ooo'd and ahh'd over the wedding gowns. At one moment, my daughter looked to me excitedly over one of the dresses. In my eyes, I saw my little girl with little girl eyes all lit up.   

My mom purchased a hat and sash for my daughter.  She looked so adorable! 

My dad truly made the day even more memorable when he came to pick us up.  He set up his old van like a party bus.  He placed chairs with pillows on them.  He had Pitbull playing on his ice chest radio.  He decorated the outside with a Congratulations Alyssa and Riley's Wedding Party.  Popo's Limo Service.  He even dressed up in his tuxedo.  It was the fun and the most precious thing! 

It was a fun day and a great kick off to the wedding planning year!

Catching up 2015

Wrapping up 2015.....

My daughter had a blessed year!  She celebrated her 24th birthday.  She graduated from Aveda Institute and got a job with a great salon as a hairstylist.  She also got engaged!  This was a bittersweet moment for us.  I couldn't be any happier for her and our family.  We hosted a fun small engagement dinner for the immediate family of both sides.  She prepared little momentos to ask her friends to be bridesmaids and her goddaughter to be a flower girl.  Such a fun exciting year for her! 

My son is having a lot of precious "last and firsts" this year.  Bittersweet for mom here.  He celebrated his 17th birthday.  He began his senior year in high school.  He received his drivers license and his first job at Sears.  His final marching band season came to an end, but not until his high school football team took the state championship!  He got accepted into Sam Houston State University.  He was also asked to be a groomsmen in his sister's wedding.  He definitely did a lot of growing up in 2015.  

What can I say? My husband and I are growing through lots as we close out 2015.  Some of these moments capture some special times.  We took a trip to Chicago to see our nephew graduate from Navy boot camp.  We attended outings and holiday gatherings gatherings throughout the year.  We celebrated our son's senior year at Senior Night.  We also celebrated our daughter's engagement to a wonderful man.  We are looking forward to all the fun moments as we prepare to get ready for the big day. 

Our son is growing up before our eyes as well.  He entered his senior year.  He is taking dual credit college classes and is preparing for his freshman year in college...you know scholarship applications, dorm fees, etc... So much to do and so little time to do it.  

We are super thrilled with our kids' lives they are building for themselves.  We can only pray for continued blessings in the new year. 

One final thing to mention.  Our dream home is becoming a reality.  It is going up right before our eyes.  I can't wait until it is ready, but sometimes I can.  

The 2015 year treated us well.  I must thank God for providing through it all.  I couldn't have asked for a better year.  Did I know a year ago today that I would have such great things to share?  No.  We never know what is in store for us.  We just have to continue to live with a good and prayerful heart. God knows which prayers need to be answered, which need to wait and which ones he has a better plan in mind.  

Thank you for a wonderful 2015.  I look forward to 2016!  May it be a blessed year for everyone!