it's actually here..

"Wow" is all I can think at this moment. I just came from my brother's Western High School senior dinner. It's a time when families get together with their graduating seniors, share a meal, reflect on times in the past, and look into the future. Seeing my brother and all of his friends, and my adopted brothers :), participating in this tradition just makes me feel so many emotions. First, I am so excited for them! They have been friends forever and are so pumped to be at this point in their lives. They are going on to great colleges to do amazing things, and my own brother will even be attending UNC with me next fall. I also just cannot believe this time is actually here! Though I have already been through this special transition, things are about to change again. My brother and all his friends, who have become some of my great friends as well, are all spreading out to different places. When I come home for a weekend, it's weird to think that they won't just be in Greensboro hanging out or getting ready to go to a school dance. I won't be able to text my brother during the week and ask where my parents are when I can't get ahold of them at the house. It's just crazy to think that another and the last Lowe kid is going through graduation and the college transition again. I am so excited for him and all his friends. I hope that we all stay close because they really do mean so much to me. And the boys will definitely always be the greatest "other brothers" ever! I love them so much!

my brother and his friends

me and two of the greatest brothers :)

Being at the senior dinner also made me think about the last time I was at one-for my own graduation. It's weird that I am already two years into college-it's half way over. All the things that the teachers were talking about tonight-moving on, graduating, looking into the future-have already happened to me. I'm comfortable in that part of my life and LOVING IT. But sitting there tonight made me think about me and all my friends when WE were at that transition point in our lives. I remember it so well- we were all so close, there was nothing more we could know about each other. We were having the time of our lives and were so excited to all be together for the special occasion of graduation. Though I don't think anyone wishes to be back in high school, I do look back on it and think how blessed I was to have such an amazing high school experience with an even more amazing group of friends. So much has changed since then- some people I still see often while others only sometimes- but it's good to be able to look back and smile about all the times we had. Being around graduation celebrations is a very surreal experience but it lets me remember how great my old friends are, as well as my new ones, while letting me know how my brother and the rest of his friends are feeling right at this moment.

my friends and I just before our senior dinner in 2009

graduation day 2009