First of Firsts

Today

I have a First Grader

who also lost her

First Tooth

just in the nick of time

for her First day of First Grade

This was important to her.

She has been equally excited for both.

As we drove down the little streets

the sidewalks were

swarming with kids

and parents

and strollers

and dogs

and bikes

and backpacks

Seriously

swarming

I have never lived somewhere

that the schools

almost

equal the churches

Almost.

I love the fall.

I love the smell of freshly sharpened pencils.

and new school shoes

and sweaty hands from playing on the playground.

I love packing lunches each morning

and knowing that

the sun is setting a little earlier each night

I love that Holland goes to school

with kids that I went to school with's kids

I love that we have our own address

in a neighborhood

swarming

with those schools

and churches

I love that Holland is going to my

college roommate's house after school

to play until I can gather her up

and take her home to make dinner

and do homework together.

I love that I get to be this little girl's mom.

I love that the most of all.

p.s. i was doing really good

not crying

until i saw her name on her desk

good thing the bell rang!