I dropped Emily off at middle school this morning! She's not quite ready for middle school but today was "shadow day" at Edison. Here in Tulsa you can opt to go to a school that isn't in your neighborhood, as long as you follow the rules & dot the i's & you yell "pick me, pick me" loud enough. So this morning we experienced middle school. Sort of. In a test the waters, try me out kind of way.
I really think it is mostly for the mommas - so that the real first day of middle school for your baby won't be so traumatic for you.
Emily admitted she was nervous in an exciting kind of way. So we prayed that God would send her comfort in the way of someone she knew, or maybe she and the person she was following would really hit it off. And boy was God prompt. We had no more said Amen and shut the car door and God was already providing. We walked up the very big/steep hill with a mom and her daughter that Emily had meet during the summer at an Art Camp. As we walked in to the library we said hi to a girl that we knew from Key last year and was still in Emily's girl scout troop. Two seconds later in walks Addie from church and right behind us in line was a girl we knew from 1st grade. Coincidence? I don't think so. I whisper, "Emily, God is already answering our prayer."
I left her surrounded by a few old friends and lots of potential new friends. She was looking a little apprehensive but also brave and courageous, ready to conquer this exciting new territory called Middle School.
I, on the other hand realized that my heart suddenly felt funny, a contrast of emotions, bursting with pride but at the same time breaking with the knowledge that this fleeting time called childhood would quickly be over. And my lips ached a dull ache because they so wanted to kiss her good bye but didn't dare.
