a year of 'lasts'

A year ago, my wife and I sat on the back porch having our morning coffee, lamenting the fact that the upcoming year would be very exciting and difficult... Our oldest daughter, Caitlin, was entering her senior year of High School...

As we sipped our coffee, Kelly observed that once the school year started, it would be over in a flash, and we would be packing Caitlin up for college... and we jointly realized that what our friends had told us about their daughter's senior year was true: it is a year of 'lasts'...

And throughout this past year, we have noted numerous times: 'this is the last.......'

And as we filled in the last 'hole' in the middle of the picture frame in the hall (you know the one... it has 12 small holes - one for each school picture posed for from kindergarten to 11th grade - and a large hole in the center for the senior photo), it started to really settle in... that this would be a year of lasts.

Last August, it was the last 'first day of school'... Senior Year - woo hoo! Before we could blink, it was the last football game for the class of '07 (played in War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the state championship, I might add)...

Then it was a series of basketball-related 'lasts': last season-home-opener... then it was the last time to visit West Memphis' crackerbox gym, thank you! ... the last time to visit the beautiful town of Forrest City - yecch!!! ... the last "senior night"...honoring Cait and her fellow seniors (she played awesome, the Lady Bombers won... and Coach Leonard made sure Caitlin was the very last senior brought out of the game in the waning moments... to a standing ovation!) then it was the last home game - last time to 'slap the lady bomber' (no, its not some obscene reference, it is the tradition of slapping your hand against the lady bomber sign on the wall near the lockerroom on the way out to vanquish yet another foe on the court!) ...then, in a flash, it was her last game as a Lady Bomber... in the final four of the state tournament... and later in the spring, it was her last all-star game...

then a few weeks after that, it was her last prom... she looked beautiful and had a great time! (and stayed safe...)

then it was her last sports banquets... at the winter sports banquet she was awared all-conference and three-year letterman in Basketball... and at the spring banquet, she was given the three-year letterman patch in Discus, then presented with the most prestigiuos of sports awards: Miss Lady Bomber 2007!

then came the last 'last day of school'... then graduation... Hurray!!!!

This summer has been unique... somewhat unsettled, as we prepare to deliver Caitlin to college... a summer filled with more 'lasts'....

Last family vacation... last time on the lake... last day of work at the Steak House...

Last night, it was the last time to meet with the Riverside church...

Tonight, it will be the last night to sleep in the room she grew up in... it's getting very real now.

I know it is an exciting time... I understand it is a rite of passage and that millions of parents have lived through sending their kid off to college.... and I realize how proud I am of my daughter for who she has become.

And we are so grateful to God for the countless blessings He has showered on her throughout her last year in High School... we are speechlessly, awesomely thankful for His lovingkindness toward her and us.

....but as much as we prayed and talked and supported each other during this past year, it has not prepared me for tomorrow... when we will take her 9 hours away and leave her at college...

But, through all my selfishness, I am SO EXCITED for her!!! Because for every 'last' which we experienced during the past year, God has a thousand 'firsts' in store for her (and us) in the coming year...

and I cannot wait for her to begin this new chapter in her life!!!

Please pray that God will bless our family during this exciting new chapter... and that God will give me and Kelly (and Caitlin) strength during this transition... because this is hard... really hard.