Bittersweet

As I sit here writing this, I am looking down at my youngest daughter Jane, who is about to graduate from High School in one week.  It is so surreal to me, that in one week, the last of the Naugler Children will walk out of the Newton School system.  We have had children attending Newton Schools for the last 23 years.  It's been quite a ride.

Each one of our children experienced High School in a different way.  Danielle our oldest was a go getter and over achiever and took to High School, like a fish to water, she thrived there, winning the Senior Cup for excellence and leadership at her graduation.  Michael's experience began well, he had amazing talent, and he was a rising star in the music and theater department, but life threw him a curve ball his junior year, and his Senior year, didn't go as smoothly.  He graduated, inspite of what we considered some mishandling of events by the school system..  I am happy to say today with high school long behind him, his music career is rising, and I believe he will make his mark in the music world.  Ryan sailed through High School, with good grades, because he was a hard worker, and a really great kid.  He sometimes found it hard to be the middle Naugler, because unlike Danielle, Michael, Mary and Jane, Ryan did not do theater or music, but truth be told he didn't have to do those things because he was his own person, and the man and husband he is today, is a testimonial as to what a great kid and now man he has become.  Mary began her High School years doing theater, and then by the end of her junior year, and after singing the National Anthem at so many sporting events, she decided to try out for Cheerleading.  She spent her Senior year as a cheerleader, and had a really diverse and well rounded High School experience.

Now last but not least,  Janie.  Jane spent most of her four years in High School sick.  She had a serious bout of Mono, that kept her out of school almost 6 weeks of her Sophomore year, and yet, she worked hard and ended up that year still getting mostly A's.  Junior year she was sick again, a Mono relapse.  Her four years of high school were not the easiest health wise, but friend wise, she was truly blessed and has a really wonderful group of friends, that have stuck with her through all her health ups and downs. All in all I'd say she has had a pretty good run at Newton North High School, and since she got her tonsils out last year, her health has been improving, and our hope is that it continues to stay on this track through her next 4 years of college.

This weekend, we will go to her last Jubilee Gospel concert, and I can feel my tears starting already.  Monday is her Senior Prom, and Wednesday she will graduate.  I have watched all of my children as they played their sports, sang their songs, acted in plays, cheered their teams, dressed in their gowns and tuxes, and now I will experience these things for the last time.  It is Bittersweet. 

I have loved every moment of all of their lives, and now I look forward to the new moments that await.  High School years are over for our children, but life for Jane is just beginning.  She is still a teenager, but in the blink of an eye, she will join her siblings in adulthood, and if her siblings are any indication  as to what kind of an adult Jane will grow to be, then I will be truly blessed.  Those four adult siblings and their father and I  will a be there on Wednesday at Jane's graduation, and I can guarantee you this....I will not be the only one feeling the bittersweet memories, and, I definitely won't be the only one crying!