The end of one adventure

I am, at this moment, at the end of one adventure, and about to embark on a new one. The new one is that of being a stay-at-home mom. It's what I’ve longed for and daydreamed about, what I’ve prayed for, planned for, saved for, hoped for, waited for. This new adventure is what I’ll soon be immersed in, head to toe, with all my heart—and tears and sweat—and to say that I’m ready, that I’m excited, is not even to begin to touch on how I feel.
    But the old adventure was a good one. At this moment, my foot is still lingering at the exit and I still have my eyes on the old adventure.The old adventure—that of being a working mom—had more blessings than I could have imagined at the outset. These blessings are in my mind right now; I’m flipping through a mental photo album, slowly, lovingly, gratefully.
    To the company where I worked for the last five years—I love the people that I saw every day within your walls. I’m listening to their voices in my head right now, and thinking of their smiles and their laughter. I love the office with its windows and its plants.
    To daycare: I will miss your bustling halls at pick-up time. I’ll miss the artwork on the walls. I’ll miss reading the board outside Ginny’s classroom, finding out what songs she sang and art she made and lessons she learned. I’ll miss the teachers, still smiling at the end of each day. Ginny was so happy there for two years, and Andersson was happy there for his couple months. I felt such peace and gratitude leaving my kids there during the days.
    I am saying goodbye right now to much that was important to me. Some things that were hard. Some things that were wonderful. So much that I’m grateful for.
    The old adventure is over—the orchestra has stopped playing, but the song is still hanging in the air, and I’m listening wistfully to its echoes.
    The new song’s about to begin.
   
    I think it’s gonna be AWESOME.