and off they go...

 

we've known this day was coming. i've laid awake at night praying over my kids going off to new schools. wait, let me re-phrase that...i have laid awake at night in near panic attacks in which i finally turned to the lord in prayer over my kids going off to new schools. i was so concerned about those going, that i kind of forgot the pain of the one staying behind...

poor little lu. it was rough. tate was off while it was still dark. it's sick and wrong if you ask me. but i have been up two days in a row at 6:15. shocking, i know. he was pretty overwhelmed by his first day of high school, but it was fine. he has school and then football practice which means this young man i adore is gone for almost 12 hours each day. again, sick and wrong if you ask me. 

jack is the next to leave at 8:08. though it's earlier than he was used to starting in nebraska, hes' a morning person, so it's not bad at all. and he is getting to see a dream fulfilled as he is getting to ride the bus now. something this momma was NOT excited about. though school pick up lines make me want to cuss, the conversations with my kiddos in the car, especially on the way home are priceless. thankfully, the bus stop is just on the other side of the park across the street. though the goodbye was hard for lulu and me...

 he was excited...

 he loves his new school and his teacher. that's my jack. he makes the most out of every experience in life. the last to leave was the divine miss em...

she gets a pretty sweet deal not leaving until 8:56. lulu (and i) fell apart after she left. but we did what made the most sense to us. we got some daddy love...

and painted nails...

and then we prayed like crazy, especially for em, throughout the day. the boys at least knew a few people in school. but this dear girl started her first day of middle school not knowing a SOUL. but, she didn't end the day that way. she made friends in school and actually had a pretty great day. but what was REALLY great was seeing this coming down the street in the afternoon...

 

 and the blessed reunions that followed...

 

 

 back TO school was good, but there was something better...

 

 

 and now we do it all over again...and again...and again.