If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

~Author Unknown

It occurred to me tonight that next weekend I will be saying goodbye to some of my close friends who will be finished with their undergraduate careers in a week. I will have to watch them pack up their belongings and drive away--knowing I'll never be living in the same place with them again---no popping in randomly for 5 minutes or our lunch/dinner dates on the spur of the moment or running to borrow someone's cute top. Being a senior seems so real right now---so scary and the time of dreading goodbyes has sunk in. Yes, they'll be back to visit & they'll walk across the stage with us in May--but our group is no longer whole everyday. So---tonight I am wondering how exactly does one say goodbye to the last 4 years? Years that have been full of wonderful memories, growing experiences, silliness, hard work, and the awesomeness of friendship. I have no doubt that we will be those friends that 50 years from now will be shopping for a cute sweater to match the pair of shoes we just couldn't live without or calling one another to announce that we just heard the latest Hollywood couple broke up---but the everydayness will cease to exist; some in a week & all in May. It puts a lump in my throat, a tear in my eye, and a break in my heart. I have loved these past 4 years, mostly because of the people that have been in them with me. Change is a good thing...we cannot (despite our desires) stay in one stage of our lives forever--but we have to allow ourselves to go through the motions of dealing with the change before we can fully embrace it. I'm in the process of dealing & I am pretty sure I will be until graduation is behind me. I am, however, also grateful to be sad. If I wasn't, if I was ready to run out of these doors with excitement--then it would mean these last 4 years were not as great as I thought & that would be upsetting. To know that when I walk across the stage in May a river of tears will be dripping from me is in part terrifying and in part comforting. To know that I came to a college and am leaving it a home is the most I could have ever asked for---I am nothing but grateful for all of the ups & the downs that have come with my choice. The important thing is that I don't let the anticipation of the goodbye--ruin all the "hellos" between then---I'm not & I won't!! We have too much fun to be had until then!

On a less reflective note...finals begin next Thursday---it's officially CRUNCH time---so prayers for all of us college students would be MUCH appreciated. Lots of love---& stay warm!

Picture: Us girls--just bein' our silly selves. (I love our slumber parties)