Those were the days...

Sometimes I find myself looking back on some really great times during my childhood, and I wish I could just be 10 again. Like, when we would go to Rick's Roll-Arena in Owasso and roller skate for hours on end. I'll often hear a song on the radio and tell Ryan, "Hey! That song reminds me of roller skating." He usually just smiles or tells me it reminds him of HIGH SCHOOL! :-) Nevertheless, there are those magical times as a kid when it seemed like nothing could touch you.

I long for those days sometimes. As I inch closer and closer to my college graduation, I find myself reflecting back on those worry-free times. Those times seemed to have passed by so quickly. I can't even imagine what my parents must be thinking now about them. If they went by that quickly for me, they must seem like a flash to them.

Anywho...with graduation getting closer, I am getting more and more nervous. Why? I think it's because this is one of the biggest things I've ever done. It's in the top 5 of the biggest days of my life. First, of course, is my wedding day. Then come the births of my children. And then I think it's this day. Obviously this day is going to be special for what it is. But I think I find it more profound because this is the first time I've ever done something for myself. I have worked so incredibly hard for this. I'm doing this because I know I can. This isn't so I can get a better job at work, especially since I don't work right now. That doesn't even matter to me. I could go out and get any job right now and be perfectly content. But this is for me. This is something that I've always wanted. And now it's only months away. It's 6 months away! And I want everyone I know and love to be a part of it with me.

If I had graduated 5 years ago, when I probably should have, I think I would have been proud and felt accomplished. But somehow, I think it means more now. I've had a lot of obstacles thrown in my way. I have two small children who need their Momma. And I make sure I make the time for them. But I also have to make time for school. So there is this constant battle in my heart over who needs what time, and what needs to come first. But something remarkable happened to me the other day driving Alex to school. We were at the stop sign at the park near our house, and I hear this little voice in the back say, "Momma, you and Daddy will NEVER stop loving each other." That little angel knows that family is the most important thing to me. He knows how much Ryan and I love each other. So all those times where I thought that I might not have been showing them enough how important they were to me, all three of them, I guess I have been. From the mouths of babes, huh?

So, for those of you who have supported me and encouraged me in this endeavor, I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really couldn't have done it without all your kind words, prayers, and even distractions (when I really needed them). It has been a long hard 3 years, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Please come and celebrate my graduation with me. It would mean the world to me to have all my friends and especially my family there with me. This is for you, too! I really believe that. I want to thank you all for helping me along this journey! I know it's still 6 months away, but the way I see it, it's JUST 6 months away.

Who knows, maybe in 6 months, I'll take the kids roller skating and really show 'em who's boss!