I woke up at 4 this morning, unable to get back to sleep; I've not slept well this week, knowing that August 12 is coming up on me very quickly.
I've been blogging for a long time, even though for the past few years, my life seems to have settled into a routine that leaves little time for taking photos. Mostly my pictures are through Instagram, and when they are of my family, I will sometimes get a comment or two about how some of you have watched the girls grow up on my blog.
Which brings me back to August 12. Tomorrow my baby girl leaves for college.
For those of you who have been with me for a while (thank you so much for that!), you may remember some of these moments with my crazy, sweet little Sophie…
Remember when Bre left for college, and Sophie snuck into her closet and played dress-up?
And since Bre's car was left at home, Sophie had a grand time being sneaky here as well…
Remember when I found out she had been taking Steve Irwin selfies on my camera?
This one was from when Bre's Tilly was a baby, and she and Sophie became fast friends…
Then we moved into the middle school years, when her hair extensions were her pride and joy…
And then came Sophie's own Tilly… She had been missing Bre's Tilly, and when the humane society had named this one Tilly too, we knew it was meant to be…
Sweet sixteen…
Then seventeen…
Sophie graduated in December of 2017, so she didn't walk with her class in May of 2018. But we still surprised her with a party, and had her don Sabrina's old cap and gown…
And then she turned eighteen…
Today is August 11, and tomorrow we move Sophie into her new dorm at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. It's not far from home, but that hasn't really been a consolation to me. This child is my heart, just like her sisters are. She's finally beginning the part of her life she's most looked forward to – being an adult and choosing her path; the part I always looked the most forward to – being a stay-at-home mom – is ending.
But I know my tears won't last long, as my girl has promised to keep me updated on everything new she's experiencing. And I'll be jumping for my phone every time I hear a text come in from her! How on earth can the sadness stay, when God has given so much?
Please pray for my girl this week… but mostly pray for me.
We're coming for you, August 12.