The boys have one day of school remaining, and tonight, Brady had his eighth grade promotion ceremony. That's right: my baby starts high school in a few short months. I'll have a freshman and two seniors. I'm going to need some serious time to process that entire huge reality.

But promotion day actually began with an invitation-only assembly this morning. We got an email a few weeks ago letting us know that he would be receiving a department award, although it didn't disclose which one. So Adam, Abby, and I were on-hand when he was presented with the PE Department award for excellence in all-things athletic. He's always loved sports so it was a fitting prize, and I'm super proud of him for always working hard and giving it his all, which he does in all areas of his life.

And then this evening was the promotion ceremony itself. It was a comparatively early event, beginning at 5 and slated to end at 6, and I must say, the administrators did a great job of sticking to the timeline. And they even managed to read out the name of each and every eighth grader, which is something that wasn't done at the middle school Abby and Isaac attended. 

Afterward we went to Mexico Lindo, where we enjoyed a laid-back dinner together as a family.

It truly blows my mind that this kiddo, my baby, the one who compelled me to keep fighting while I was pregnant with him and dealing with Logan's unexpected and devastating diagnosis, is already 14 years old; already old enough to be heading off to high school. I know I had similar feelings when Abby and Isaac were each promoted to high school, too. And I think the intensity of my current feelings is what it is --high!-- because my experience tells me how quickly the next four years will fly by. All I have to do to digest that truth is look at Abby, who will finish college in a year. And at Isaac, who will graduate from high school just a few weeks after the ceremony that will award Abby her Bachelor's degree. And Logan, well, my dear Logan will always be five in my heart. The reality there is bitter, but the memories are so very sweet.