…things I’m so looking forward to in the coming weeks.
I might have mentioned once or twice over the past year that I’m a little emotional about our oldest daughter graduating both college and high school next month. You know…the lasts and the end of an era and the beginning of her adult life away from home and all of those things that make me sob hysterically. Did I mention that once or five million times?
Right now, I’m feeling a lot of emotions all at once, and I’m making a concerted effort to focus on the good even in the middle of all my sadness. This is such an exciting time in our daughter’s life, and I know she’s so thrilled about all of it. I want to be thrilled, too, but it’s hard to feel that way when your baby is leaving home and growing up and things will never be the same again.
That said, I’m working overtime to find the positive in everything, which is why there are a few things I’m focusing on. This Friday, I’m focusing on the four things I’m really looking forward to over the next few weeks.
Number One: (My Favorite) Our 21st Wedding Anniversary
When I tell you time flies, I mean it. My husband was my senior prom date. He was there when I graduated high school. We were married at 21 and 22. And next month, we get to celebrate 21 years of marriage. And while there are often times I wake in the middle of the night and feel the overwhelming urge to hold my pillow over his face until he stops his incessant snoring, I would never do it. I’d miss him too much.
I cannot believe it’s been 21 years since we said I do (and 25 years together!). It feels like it was just yesterday that it was mid-April with less than a month before our wedding date when everyday felt like a billion hours and all I wanted was to hurry up and get to May 15 so I could marry my favorite person. Here we are 21 years later and it’s mid-April and all I want is for the days to hurry up so we can get to May 15 and go see Thomas Rhett and Morgan Wallen (and celebrate the fact that I still get to be married to my favorite person after so many years…even though he definitely did not snore back then).
There’s just something calming, happy, and exciting about being married for so long. Bringing four babies into the world together. Creating the most beautiful memories. And still really liking one another a lot…which I hear is important because a lot of couples together as long as we are don’t really like one another very much even if they love one another (or so the internet says). We’ve lived such a life over the past 21 years. So many big milestones, yes, but the everyday moments in between. The ones that mean the most.
Number Two: Graduation Season
All right…I’m actually really excited for graduation season. We get to watch our daughter graduate. We get to watch almost 18 years of hard work and dedication pay off for her. Listen, chat…(are we still saying chat?) we get to watch our 17-year-old daughter walk across the stage at COLLEGE in three weeks because she’s earned her AA, and then we get to watch her walk across the stage at her high school two weeks later because she’s earned her high school diploma.
When I tell you we are the proudest, most excited, most amazed parents in the world, I kid you not. We could not be more proud of our girl if we tried.
But it’s not even just our girl. We get to watch both of our nieces graduate high school. We get to watch our daughter’s best friends, the girls who have become bonus daughters to us, graduate. We get to watch the sweet boy that Addy has been dating for the past three years (who has become such an important part of this family) graduate. We get to see these kids recognized for their hard work and achievements, and we are so proud of them.
They are amazing.
Number Three: A Brand New Golf Season
‘Tis the season in which Special Ava has to get serious about golf again. She’s starting her new season in August, and it’s time for us to spend ample time on the course with her practicing before practices. It’s time for us to think about matches and watch our girl compete on the course.
And I know it’s still a few months away, but watching Ava golf is one of my favorite things to do. She makes me so proud on the course, and we have so much fun with her. I cannot wait for the new season to begin, and I cannot wait to spend more time on the course with her now that sports’ seasons are almost over.
Number Four: The Twins’ NJHS Induction
These babies are finishing their 6th grade year. Both with straight A’s. Both with multiple positive referrals. Both with invitations to join the National Junior Honor Society. And we cannot wait to watch them at their upcoming induction. They’re worked so hard, achieved so much, and we are so proud. Seeing them recognized for their outstanding abilities is something we are so ready to do.
Tiffany Raiford 