Here we go...

Tomorrow is Andrew's 1st day as a senior in high school. I watched him prepare this evening and between, "Mom, can you iron my shirt?" and "Mom, where are my jeans" I kept thinking about how exciting this year is going to be for him. I also got teary eyed. Of course I didn't let him see me but all I could tell myself was, "Where did the time go?" He is so excited about his senior year and all the activities that go along with being a senior in high school. Homecoming, Prom, Class Ring Ceremony, sports, SAT's, ACT's, college applications, and graduation.

He said he is looking forward to school and feels ready to go to school. He spent time in CA with his wonderful Tia and got to do a lot of things while out in CA. When he came back to Santa Fe, he spent time with his friends, went golfing, worked out, and even managed to get a job as a bus boy at one of our 4 star restaurants here is Santa Fe. He is making his own money and just loves his job!

So, tomorrow begins the journey toward senior year... he spent this morning reflecting about school. We had such a nice conversation about his last year of high school. He then went to Mass at our church and was a bit sad because Sr. Silvia (the director of Confirmation) is leaving Santa Maria de la Paz to return to Mexico. Andrew worked very closely with Sr. Silvia and he said he is going to miss her so very much. He went to noon Mass to say good-bye to her. He then went to lunch with his friends and then to work. When he came home he had a smile on his face... he was happy with his tips and said that he met some wonderful people at the restaurant this evening. He said it was a very good day.

He got his things together for tomorrow and was trying on his new school clothes and trying to decide what shoes he should wear with his uniform. He has everything set and is ready for the 1st day of school. Part of me just wanted time to stop. It is going by so fast! I just don't want to miss a thing. I have my camera ready to go so I can capture memories and a new video camera will be purchased next week. Hold on everyone!! Andrew's Senior Year has arrived!



Straightening out the collar to his new polo shirt (uniforms are required at his Catholic high school).



Andrew modeling in front of his mirror in his room. He loves his new backpack that his Tia Lisa purchased for him in California.



Andrew stunned with his 1st paycheck! He could not wait to deposit it in his new teen checking account. Andrew is very aware of the presidential candidates this election year. Can you tell who he is supporting?!



Our beautiful parish here in Santa Fe... Santa Maria De La Paz... I took this picture from my school's parking lot. It is such a beautiful church!

Andrew's Back Home!

Well, my wonderful son finally came home to Santa Fe. He was in California since July 1st. It is good to have him home. He arrived on Saturday and he was so happy to be home! It was good to see him and we had a great conversation on the way home from Albuquerque (very rare these days). We talked about all that he did in California and how he enjoyed the sights and sounds of Los Angeles. He just went on and on about what he did and where his "Tia" took him. He said he had such a great time but it was good to be back home in Santa Fe.

Sunday morning he got up and was very quiet... I knew the "great to be back in Santa Fe" was put on hold... my poor Andrew was looking rather sad and was as talkative as he was on Saturday. He misses his "Tia" so much and is having a difficult time being away from her. They have such a unique bond those two, that it takes Andrew a while to get back on track. My heart immediately went into Mommy Mode and I wanted to fix it right away. Being the Mexican that I am, the first thing I thought of was making his favorite breakfast and baking brownies... cure anything with food!!! Everyone said to just leave him alone and give him some time, but for those of you that know me, that is impossible for ME! I want to put a big Band-aid on his heart and make it all better... then I had to stop myself and put myself in Andrew's shoes... I do the same thing when I get back from California!!! I'm sad, quiet (a rarity for me), and weepy for days! I miss my sister so much that there are times I feel like my heart is going to explode with such sadness! I just need time to work my way through and eventually I do. I now understand my Andrew! I need to give him time to work through this. So for now, I will put the "heart Band-Aid" away and I will stop the Martha Stewart cooking process and give my son a chance to breathe and work through it (I think I can, I think I can).

I just let him be on Sunday... I even gave him some space. Gene and I went to the movies and saw "Mamma Mia" (highly recommended by Lisa and worth every penny). When we came back home a few hours later, Andrew was in his room getting ready for church. He is very involved in our parish and is an active member in the Teen Life Program. He loves going to Mass and I knew that that would help and he would see his friends, Father Adam, and Sister Silvia. I also called in our Blessed Mother for added strength for myself! I asked her to give me the strength to "back off."

This is Andrew's last year of high school and I want him to enjoy himself but yet make wise decisions. He tells me he has anxiety about decided what he want to do after high school and as I am hyper ventilating on the side lines because he is talking about his college plans, I tell him what he is feeling is what all seniors are feeling. Just go day by day and enjoy his days as a senior and we will get the college decision made when the time comes.

Be ready to be updated on Andrew's Senior Year! It is going to be a wild ride!!!



Andrew and Lisa at the Hollywood Bowl...