First Day

The first day of school. . . . ahhh, it feels like a significant milestone.  It's like this beginning marks our family's return, like we're settled now.  The girls have been anticipating it for some time now.  I guess we all have.  There have been many ups and downs as far as anxiety and excitement.  There have been many unknowns.  I asked the girls what they wanted to eat for breakfast, and insisted that it include a good dose of protein.  I made what they wanted (corned beef hash and yogurt).  I also made them each a felted flower to attach to their backpacks to remind them of love from home, and gave them a little notebook.  I got the table all set up with their goodies, candles, and warm apple cider.  It was a delightful way to start the year.  One thing that was symbolic was the use of Moo's "Linda candle."  Shortly before we left this town for Mark to go to school, Moo finished up at a very special daycare with Linda.  Linda gave her a beautiful beeswax candle as a sending off gift.  Moo has been saving it, keeping it on her special shelf all these years, which is appropriate, because, well, Linda is really something special.  Using it on our first day breakfast for the first time felt like we were saying, "OK, now we're back.  New chapter. . . begun!"