Back to School... already

Charley - 4th grade

Drake - 12th grade

Noah included - just because he's so cute!

    Today was the first day back to school for Augusta County kids (and I'm sure some other areas as well) and I HAD to participate in the obligatory 1st day of school pictures. I told Drake this morning he could not leave until I took his picture. Today was his last first day, hallelujah, praise the Lord! Drake has never been a big fan of school. There were lots of school years I wasn't sure we would make it to his senior year, yet here we are. Charley on the other hand, loves school! She loves to be the teacher's helper and worries about doing everything right. She was so excited to get up this morning. After I got through the drop off line and was on my way to take Noah to the sitters I thought "where did the summer go?" I'm usually the mom that is marking off the calendar to the day school starts again because what am I going to do with these kids all summer? If I'm being honest, I think being left alone with the kids was intimidating to me. I mean they want you to entertain them and cook for them and take them to all these places. Prior to the store I worked in an office and had set hours and couldn't bring my kids to work with me. It used to stress me out trying to figure out what to do with them for the summer. This year I was NOT ready for school to start! I still had things on my "what to do with the kids this summer" list I had not gotten to do yet.  I wasn't ready to get up at 5:30 a.m. and have to be out the door by 7:30 a.m., but ready or not this day arrived. I am happy to be back in a routine, but if it could just start at like 10:00 a.m. that would suit me better. 

    I am praying for an uneventful, smooth school year for my kids and for a fantastic school year for all of the kids back in school today. I'm praying for you parents too. School is hard on us as well. So many littles starting Kindergarten today and not so littles starting Senior year. It blows my mind to think how fast time goes. I saw so many (because lets face it, no one can see them all!) of the first day posts on Facebook and thought next week those kids will be in another grade, at least that's what it feels like some days. You know that famous saying "the days are long but the years are short." I used to roll my eyes and think come spend a year with these kids you'll think it's been an eternity. Time really is a thief though. Looking back over the years I cannot believe how fast they have gone! Dylan has been out of school for 3 years now, Drake is already a senior, Charley only has 2 more years of elementary school and Noah is growing so fast. Makes my momma heart sad and yet so very grateful that I get to have a front row seat in their lives.

    I hope all the kids and teachers and parents had a great first day back to school. I can't wait to see my "village kids" and hear about how the first days of middle school went. I can't wait to talk to my niece Hadley and hear how her first day of Kindergarten went on her 5th birthday (they go to bed early, so I'll check with her tomorrow.) I don't want to forget about the homeschool kids. They get a couple more weeks off, I hope they have a fabulous year and don't give their "teachers" (moms and dads) a hard time. 

Wishing you sunny skies and green pastures,

McKession