Season Of Change...

Yesterday was a tough day filled with memories and lots of raw emotions. It marked the 9-year anniversary of my mom's passing. The very instant I woke up, I remembered. The pain of that day is just as intense as it was 9 years ago, but I've learned to manage it and not allow it to overtake me. Still, I feel like a part of my soul has been ripped from me...and I will never quite be the same, again. Mom meant the world to me and we were so incredibly close. I could go to her about anything and everything knowing that she would understand. Oh, and then there were the laughs we shared. We could turn one giggle session into an all-day event! She was my dearest and closest friend and I can't even begin to put into words just how much I miss her.

As you know, Brittany's last high school cross country season will end on Saturday when her team competes at STATE. Well, I joined another mom yesterday afternoon to take some pictures of the girls that we're going to include in goody bags we're making for them. They were just the cutest...cracking up at each other every 5 seconds or so. Typical teenage girls! We had them do 4 or 5 different poses and they all turned out great! Looking through my camera lens made me very misty eyed, I must admit. Those girls don't realize that what they have right now, in this very moment in time, is soon to be forever changed. There are 5 seniors on the varsity team, so some of their friendships will fade, as is often the case when you grow up and move away. I've grown to love all those girls so much. I'm sure going to miss them when it's over. While I was at the park getting ready to take their pictures, Brittany pulled me aside and told me that one of her teammates who rode over to the park with her had cracked her windshield. We couldn't really talk about it with everyone standing around, but I didn't get the impression that it was anything of much concern. Well, she mentioned it to Chris when she got home and we all went out to take a look at it. There's about a 12" crack in her windshield on the passenger side! Apparently, her teammate thought there was a spider on the inside of the window and punched at it with her fist. Well, she must have hit it pretty hard for it to have cracked as badly as it did. Chris called her father and told him about it, which was very awkward for him to do. Thankfully, his daughter told him what had happened, so he apologized and agreed to have it fixed. He was very nice about it...thank goodness. So, looks like Brittany will be getting a new windshield soon. Here's what it looks like...

As they say, when it rains it POURS! Speaking of which, there is no rain in the forecast for Saturday, so the girls should have perfect running weather! Yippee!

I have a busy day ahead, but I'll try to get around to visiting all of you sometime today. Thanks for always bearing with me!