It's Here

Rachel left at 7:15 a.m. this morning to go take her SAT test. I hugged her, asked her if she had her number two pencils, her calculator, a bottle of water and a snack. She, of course, rolled her eyes at me and hugged me back and said that she loved me and that she did have all those things.

Well, we have done our job. Although it is never done, I can honestly say that we have done a great job. From the first moment she was placed in my arms and those clear blue eyes blinked open, I fell in love all over again. I loved every moment. Even the difficult ones. From changing diapers and breastfeeding to teaching her how to tie her shoes and say her first word. From watching Joel teach her how to sing every single word of "Grease" while she was sitting on the top of our baby grand piano in the living room, to taking her to the make up counter and watching the transformation from child to young woman for her first dance. I even enjoyed the moments when she threw her tantrums. It only showed her true independent spirit, her strong will to go and get what she really wanted. And there were many of those moments. The temper still flares now and then.

Today Rachel is taking her first step toward adulthood with this SAT test. Next we will be visiting colleges and before we know it we will be waving goodbye trying desperately to hold back the tears.

But it isn't all sadness. It is an exciting time to see Rachel takes these steps, just has she took her first steps right outside Roni and Chris' house in Crystal Beach. Then the anticipation of receiving the grades in the mail, or perhaps on email, will be alleviated when they arrive.

We don't know what the future holds, but it's here and it is a natural next step. And she is doing it on her own today.