~ A New Journey ~

The final days of summer vacation (sigh).  In 4 days, I will wake up and begin my third year as a first grade teacher.  In 4 days, summer vacation will officially be behind me.  As sad as I am to bid farewell to summer vacation, the notion of a new journey truly excites me!  One of my most favorite parts about being in a classroom is that every year, I get to help create a new family.  This weekend, I will have my first opportunity to meet the new little faces that will eventually become my "kids".

A new journey; exciting but also a little scary.  The end of this summer vacation is a significant time for our family.  The end of this summer brings upon the beginning of a new chapter for us.  

Every day this week I have made sure to be up just a few minutes early.  Although I am naturally an early riser, this week has been different.  This week, I needed to give myself a few extra moments to open a door.  This week, I needed to give myself a chance to thank God for the wonderful gifts He has given me.  This week, I simply needed a little more time to "take in" my beautiful Bry.

Today Jason and I will venture the world of high school with Bryanna.  Today, we will walk the halls where she will spend the next four years of her life.  Today, we will watch her gain a different level of independence.  Today, she will become a part of a new family that she will create with the help of her friends and her teachers.  Today, she will begin her new journey.  

I watched this video last night and my eyes instantly filled with tears.  My only reaction, where has the time gone?  14 years in the blink of an eye.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was walking the halls of Wayne Memorial enduring hours (36 to be exact) of contractions?  Wasn't it just yesterday that the doctor handed me my 8 lb 3 oz baby girl?  Wasn't it just yesterday that I looked down at my little girl and realized that my life would never ever be the same? 

Being a new mom...

                                  excited, scared, completely blessed, completely terrified.

Being a mom to a high school freshman...

                                  excited, scared, completely blessed, completely terrified.

First of all, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!  I am so not ready for My Bry to start this next chapter of her life.  Secondly, YAY!!!  I am super excited for the many adventures that await and for her to be able discover everything that life has to offer.  I know the next four years will be challenging, exciting, life changing, fun, a little scary, and more often than not, COMPLTELY emotional (for both of us).  Am I really ready for all this??? 

The other day as I stood by my daughter and watched her make a commitment to herself and to God, I realized that her journey truly is just beginning.  Her vision for life is one that truly inspires me to be better and try harder.  I don't know that she will  ever be able to fully understand just how much she has taught me over the past 14 years.    

There are so many things I want to share with my daughter before she begins this new chapter in her life.  This new journey inspired me to write Bryanna a letter and although these words are between us, she asked me to share a few things.  My letter to her made her think of a few of her favorite bible quotes and she asked if she could add them to my words.

So here goes our first ever mother/daughter post.      

There is still so much in life that I am learning.  My days with you, Kalyssa, and Travin bring upon many new adventures but they also help me see the world differently.   Before you begin your new journey into the big world of high school, there are a few things I want to share with you. 

Listen to the words of the great Dr. Seuss. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”   Don’t ever compromise your values or your beliefs in order to resemble the ones around you.  Being a "Froot Loop" in a bowl full of Cheerios truly is an amazing gift!  

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." - Psalm 139:14

Do things that are hard and don’t ever choose the path of least resistance.  Good things don’t just come to those who simply wait around.  Good things come to those who show up, sweat it out, and sacrifice the things that need to be sacrificed.  God doesn’t promise us a life of ease. Those things and those moments that seem hard, are the tools He provides us to help us grow.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

“Always remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."  Pooh Bear really was a bear with more than just a little brain.  You My Bry are worth the fight!!  Why?  Because you matter!  Always remember that your worth cannot and will not be measured by the grades you earn, the clothes you wear, or the boys who show interest in you.  Within your soul lies your beauty, your talent, your strength, and your endless possibilities.  You are a child of God.  Be faithful and allow Him to bring you to your completion.  He is the one who has a plan for your life.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  – Jeremiah 29:11

There will be LOTS of days when school will seem impossible, life will appear to be unfair, your clothes won't fit the way you'd like, and you will simply want to rip out all of your hair because it won't cooperate at all.  Those are the days you need to count your blessings and remember that somewhere in this big world someone wishes they could go to school if only for one day.  Someone wishes they had a family or a home to call their own.  Someone wishes they had shoes to put on their feet or a jacket to keep them warm.  Someone wishes that treatment hadn't taken away the hair they loved to brush.  Just maybe on those days, reach out and do something nice for someone else.

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." -Acts 20:35 

There are many people in this world who will tell you that high school will be the best time of your whole life and although high school will be fun, exciting, and memorable, there is so much more waiting for you.  Remember He has a plan for you.  As you take these important steps towards adulthood, remember that your journey is just beginning.  You are just getting to know yourself.  Have fun and enjoy every single moment but do this with the knowledge that the world is simply waiting for you.  The world along with your mama are waiting to see what you will do with your beautiful life.