A Little Sobby

There is nothing like knowing you are going to lose someone for a while to bring out their beauty with such sharpness that it's painful.  I looked at a picture of Riley spinning on a swing.  I took it the other night at a school dinner, with all her friends who are also preparing to leave for Spain.
It' so blurry, her hair just a big swoosh, her eyes squinty with smile, but I just thought she was so beautiful (and big), and I just cried!  I wasn't even looking for a good cry.  It just jumped out and grabbed me as I flipped through phone pictures.  It caught me so off guard.

I think her and I both don't really know what's about to hit us.  At the airport, she'll be surrounded by her friends and they'll be so excited.  It'll be a day or so later when home-sickness hits her.
She's been a little teary, so this may be a rough goodbye.

My paint teacher is ill.  Her language as of late has been more, "If we're all here next summer, we'll go to the fair."  Or "If I'm still here..."  All the sudden I'm reminiscing.  We haven't had that many weeks together, but there are some high spots that come to mind and along with it an ache, like I know a sad day looms.

So, I guess I just feel a pile of sadness looming.  And I go to stir the brussels sprouts when a thought pops into my brain, and boom, I'm fighting a sob.  I'm so weird.  Pent up sobs just itching to burst out.  But really, I'm fine! :)

Riley's host family is so very sweet, and fun, and they've planned fun things for her to have great Spain experiences.  Marta is excited to have Riley as a sister.  It's going to be wonderful.  And I just have to keep reminding myself of that. :)

So if you think of us Saturday morning, or any time in the next 8 weeks, maybe say a prayer for Riley  and us who will miss her so much.