Soar!

After last week's snowstorm, we had two days off school. The regional bowling tournament for the girls was still on for Friday, so we had a busy day enjoying several hours of non-stop spectating. 

On Saturday, we headed back to FSU, my late brother Jeff's Alma Mater, for the second part of a competition that Natalie is in for college. More on that later, hopefully good news in about a month. After her competition was over, we went on another campus tour, and enjoyed a lunch in her college town. We ate the most wonderful and gigantic onion rings we've ever had! 

Natalie is so excited about college and her major! She is looking forward to living in a dorm, meeting lots of new friends, taking on leadership roles, developing herself, and stepping out of her comfort zone. Never would I have imagined she would have embraced this huge change with such positivity and exuberance. This little girl who struggled so much from being afraid to ask a question to crying if someone sat in her seat in preschool! She is soft-spoken, yet strong. Tender-hearted, with that heart on the proverbial sleeve, but wise enough to know what matters and what is worth letting go. She will do just fine in the diverse community of college. She cares about people. She knows her own mind. She won't be swayed by the crowd. She has always been that way. She is hesitant, yet not afraid to push herself if she thinks it will help her become a better person. She still talks about her experience working with the Special Olympics last summer with such happiness. She didn't think she could do it, but her kindness and gentleness was exactly what was needed. She came home beaming that day and I knew she would! 

Her dad and I are having the mixed emotions of holding on tight and letting go at the same time. The tears of joy for her new life and the tears of sadness for our loss at home. But seeing her grow has always been our biggest gift and it's still our biggest goal as parents. So, as much as all of these new things sting, fly little bird, fly. You are going to soar!