Here's to New Beginnings

I have rituals that I do before something big.

I plan.  I fret.  I hope.  I make a to-do list.  I create the ideal image in my mind.  And then, I give it a whirl.

So it was last night that I was up baking banana bread, checking the fridge to confirm we had all the ingredients for strawberry smoothies, laying out uniforms, making peanut butter sandwiches for lunches, writing notes with lots of x's and o's and saying prayers that today would be the perfect day for one little boy to start fifth grade and his sister to dive into third.

Here they are:

God I love them to pieces.

As I type this with my 4-year old Claire Bear at home painting next to me, I can't help but think about how everything is going.  Is their teacher the right fit?  Do they already have homework for tomorrow?  Did they find someone to sit next to at the lunch table?  Are they able to have two recesses because really it's absolutely gorgeous outside?  Will this year be a good one?  Ugh, I'm ridiculous I know.

But as my head hit the pillow last night, I prayed this for them:

May you meet new people and forge real, meaningful connections...the ones where you can truly be yourself, no matter what.

May you stay curious while learning about The Revolutionary War, writing in your dialogue journal and figuring out formulas and equations that are probably too advanced for me.

May you be kind and courageous...always welcoming the one on the playground who wants to be included but is afraid to ask. 

May you soar in ways that you could have never imagined before becoming more passionate and excited about topics and people and moments that make your heart sing.

May you grow a tougher skin learning to become resilient to the things that aren't fair that just hurt and where there are no answers other than...it is what it is.

May you feel loved and safe with each step knowing that we are here to talk, to laugh with, to cry, to keep you grounded and to help you get back up again.

Below is a picture of us..what it doesn't show are the tears on the way to the coffee shop.  Gosh, we're all growing up.  Here's to new beginnings, my not-so-little ones....I love you...mama