Dear baby girl ~
In the morning, you will get up and get yourself dressed. this time not in a polka dot dress, but probably something equally as cute. You will look adorable because we spent an hour curling your hair tonite, and going over your schedule, and laughing with your sisters….just like we did 12 years ago. And instead of getting on the big yellow bus, you will drive yourself away in your cute little hoopdee of a car. Not a sporty vehicle at all, but it’s what I could afford, and what I was so proud to give you. It’s been a good car. I love that you have it.
B
ut first we will take pictures on the porch, like we have for the last 12 years.
and I will have some tears in my eyes.
Because this is the last first day of school I will have with you. Next year you will go to classes all on your own, and my front porch will be just a little bit emptier without you.
I know people say time flies, don’t blink, you’re gonna miss this….and wow are they right.
But you don’t realize it because you are just so busy LIVING to stop and look around much.
I’ve gotten sucked in to reading some of my older blog posts from back around that time. How very mundane our day to day lives were, yet packed so full of busyness. I was looking, I don’t know, for some thing I could hold on to and say “look! here! proof that I was a good mom and I did something right.” But that proof isn’t back there.
it’s right here.
It’s in the you that you are today. Sweet, kind, thoughtful, smart, responsible, mature you.
In some ways that’s how you’ve always been, even way back then, on your first day of kindergarten. And in other ways, it’s what you’ve grown into through the circumstances that have shaped our years, our lives. I wrote you a letter last year as part of your class assignments so I won’t rehash that. I’ll just tell you some things I hope for you as you venture out into the world of school for the last time.
Stay sweet. Stay kind. Stay thoughtful. Your smarts and your mature responsibility will serve you well in these things. The world needs more sweetness,kindness and thoughtfulness. Show up in this way because it’s inherently who you are.
Stay true to who you are. Be the most authentic version of yourself that you can possibly be. You may not understand that for a few more years, but know this – if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t right. Follow that little voice. That’s you, your soul. It knows what you need the most, so listen to it.
Don’t forget to breathe sometimes. You put so much pressure on yourself to get a certain grade or do all of the things and while that’s ok for a while, don’t forget to just breathe and ENJOY this life you have been given.
Make new friends if the opportunity arises. It’s your senior year. Some of these kids you’ve known for 12 years. You’ve all grown up together. Never be afraid to be the one who reaches out and says hey, we haven’t talked since like 4th grade, how have you been? You never know when someone is just dying for someone to ask, someone to care. Be that person.
You’re on top of the world this year as a senior. It’s a fun amazing great year of life. I hope you soak it up and enjoy it for all it’s worth.
I have so much I want to say, but as is a running theme on this blog, i’m tired, and i have three other K’s to get up and out the door tomorrow too. So i’ll wrap it up with a few more thoughts.
I’m so proud of you. I’ve always been so proud to be your momma. I know this year will be no 
different in that way…but I know in many ways it will be so very different. I promise to try not to cry too hard at all the “lasts” we have this year (even though i know i will). I promise to take as many pictures as I can. I promise to always be here to listen to you, to wait up for you, to pray with and for you on every test taking day. You’ve done an amazing job the past 12 years, and I cannot wait to see how amazing this year is for you too.
Thank you for choosing me to be your momma.
I love you Kealey Grace~ I hope you have a beautiful amazing wonderful last first day of school.
Love,
Mommy.