"Teach Me to Number My Days!"

Well, I've wanted to start an online scrapbook or blog for some time now. I have friends and family members who do this and I've always been somewhat envious of the fact that they've got their memories, or even just their thoughts, stored online. I know that realistically a journal takes time, but it's worth it...especially if it helps me to appreciate the moments in this life which in my "busyness" can sometimes slip away from me.

God tells us to do this, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." I even love how The Message puts it, "Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!" I love the exclamation points and the enthusiasm that is added...and each day I'm becoming more and more aware of how to appreciate, love, enjoy, cherish and fully live this life.

Since I was a little lazy with the whole blogging thing early on, I am backtracking a little bit and going back to Sydney's first day of first grade. That's right...this year the Class of 2022 started first grade. For most moms this is a bittersweet day, but for our family it seems like the excitement just keeps away the tears. Sydney LOVES school and she was more than ready for the first day. She had her new dress laid out and ready to wear, her backpack filled with this year's supplies, her lunchbox packed with the usuals and she was ready. We took these pictures that morning (August 25th, 2010 to be exact) and she was off and on her way!

Now while the first day of school doesn't seem to bother me too much, it's the last day of school that really gets me. I remember last year...on the last day of kindergarten...I cried dropping her off. For a little while I thought, who does THIS? I'm an emotional wreck on the LAST day of school...it's like my emotions are backwards. But I was comforted when I called one of my dear friends, and she too was teary.

There is something about the LAST day...of school...or maybe, of anything. There is something about turning a page, closing a chapter, finishing a project, completing a task. There is something hard about saying, "I'm done," "It's finished," "We're all set." Not only that, but there is something hard about "time markers." You see, on the LAST day of school, I could easily remember the FIRST day of school and the time in between passed all too quickly in my book. So as she walked away from the car that morning I thought, "There it goes...just like that...one school year is over."

I was mopie all day and it didn't help that when I went to the End of the Year Party at the end of the day, the teachers played a slide show of photographs from the school year set to one of the sweetest songs ever written...My Wish...by the Rascal Flats. I sat down in Sydney's chair...lifted her onto my lap and the tears just wouldn't stop. Sydney still picks up the ipod from time to time and plays this song, (Yes, through no instruction, she somehow knows how to do this.) and every time it sort of hits me right in the heart. Just listen...