I thought I was going to be okay, but I CHANGED MY MIND!

Well, I must start this with a deep sigh. Today is the day that my daughter will pack up her car and drive off, leaving me forever. Some may say, "You HOPE it's forever; some of them come back!" Well, I am not quite there yet. Together, we will close one chapter of this life and each begin our own new chapter, the one where the pages are blank and the preview is not available.

Taylor and I spent yesterday afternoon and evening together. We ran around getting a few last minute things that she needed for college. These were mostly wants, not needs, but we covered it, nonetheless. We had dinner at Panera and then went to see Eat Love Pray, with my favorite actress, Julia Roberts. All the while, she is singing me lines from Huntsville Rapist - The Remix. After the movie, she met up with a friend and did whatever 18-year-olds do when they meet their friends at 10:00 p.m. We hugged and said good-bye; I held on a little longer and a little tighter than normal and tried not to cry. I did okay until I got in the car, and then the water works started.

Yes, I know that tomorrow morning I will see her when we (Buzzy and I being the definition of "we" here) load up the rest of her stuff (you know the big stuff, the heavy stuff, the stuff that makes you sweat when the heat index will be 108 in Orlando tomorrow) and take it over to her. The dorms open at UCF, bright and early at 8:00 a.m. She will be in the Libra Community.

Yes, I know that I will see her next weekend when we go to the Keys, and the next weekend when we go to the Keys. I have, however, prepared myself as much as I can for the possibility that she might call me to tell me she is having so much fun that she is going to stay at school for the weekend rather than driving 5 hours one-way to spend the weekend with the "old people", as she so fondly refers to us. Or, even better, that she has a JOB and has to work all weekend.

So, yes, I know I will see her soon, and I am so, so, so thankful that God chose for her to go to UCF, and that it is less than an hour away. I really don't know why I keep crying except that I cry at most things. However, I can't help but wonder so many things.

Is she ready? Are they ever REALLY ready when the leave? My friend, Juleanne, told me that when she moved out, it FORCED her to be ready.

Did I train up my child in the way she should go, and when she is old she will not depart from it? I KNOW that she loves Jesus and I KNOW that He loves her and I KNOW that His ways are higher than my ways. WOW, isn't THAT a blessing?! She knows God's word and has hidden it in her heart. We made it through the teenage year with nothing more than a few small bumps in the road. For this I am eternally grateful! Now, she will venture off on her own and apply these things that she has learned. I will worry about her and pray for her, both without ceasing.

Did I pass on my good qualities and shield her from my bad ones? I have tried to always apologize quickly and to show her the error of my ways. When I makes mistakes I have told her, "this is why you don't do this." I have shared my life experience with her and hoped that she would see what I did wrong and that she would learn from my mistakes. You know how it is....you hear your child say something or see them do something totally off the wall that you never expected them to do or say. It hits you like a ton of brinks, "Oh boy, I know exactly where she got that!" and then you look in the mirror. It is also apparent to me when Taylor's friends tell me that I am just like her. Hey, isn't that putting the cart before the horse? Where do they think she got all of this amazing-ness?

Did I teach her how to be a responsible adult? Well, when I got up this morning, I laughed because the outside light was still on. I am quite sure I have told her to turn the lights out. I guess this will ring home when she has to start paying her own electric bill.

Does she know how to take care of herself? Well, she can boil pasta, make Ramen (yes I know that is the same), toast bagels and order food. LOL! I have tried to get her to cook meals and to learn, but she just really hasn't been too interested. We were talking about this a bit last night and we are both thankful that she has a meal plan at school. Seriously, the food there is amazing. When I was in school, we had grilled-cheese sandwiches, chicken tenders, french fries, etc. When I went to orientation with Taylor, I was so happy that they had great food to choose from. I keep saying, "They had me at hummus." Taylor said, "I can feel that Freshman 15 coming on already!" Anyway, back to last night, I pointed out that she isn't going to have a meal plan forever. She said, "Yes, but I'll have a husband". I told her that I thought (and, oh God, I pray) that she will probably have a few (many) years between the meal plan and the husband. Maybe she will be like me when I was out on my own. I can remember calling my mom when I had a hankering and ask her how to make things. My mom was an amazing cook! Sadly, I didn't get that gene, but I keep trying.

Did I help her make the transition from child to adult? Did I wean her enough and let the apron strings out enough so that when they are severed she can stand on her own? I feel like the last two years she has done fairly well with her independence, so all I can do is pray.

Well, the questions, thoughts, worries, and prayers keep coming, but I will make it through. I am excited about spending more time with my husband and seeing how this all unfolds for us. I have been so blessed to have jobs where I was able to spend time with Taylor, go on field trips, be the swim mom, carpool (I was usually the driver) and never miss a single event. I do remember when she was in Kindergarten and we were getting ready to go on the last field trip of the year and she asked me if she could ride with her teacher. I guess she was envious of the other students who didn't have to ride with their moms. On that same note, I remember year after year how much she wanted to be able to ride the school bus. (She went to private school through 6th grade, so I always drove her.) That want wore off VERY quickly when she started riding the bus in 7th grade!

Anyway, now I am back in school and my classes have started before hers, so I guess I will grab my tissues and get ready for that. The last two semesters I have had all of my classes with Taylor, which is another blessing. Now, I have to be a big girl, grab my backpack and head to class on my own. This semester, I share both of my classes with girls that I used to babysit. Oh boy, I am getting old. :-)

So, my support group girls, NOW IS THE TIME!!! Buzzy is heading south to get some lobster this weekend and I will be all alone. Chick flicks and slumber parties here we come!!!

HOT HOT SUMMER!!

It's a BEAUTIFUL Shaklee Day! Here in Florida it is a HOT HOT HOT summer day. Speaking of HOT, I have been going to Bikram Yoga, which means your class is 90 minutes long in 105 degrees. I have been keeping hydrated with Shaklee's Performance. I admittedly was a total skeptic and thought, "Oh, it's not going to make a difference," but it truly does! Those NASA people knew what they were doing when they contacted Shaklee about creating a rehydration drink for the Space Shuttle astronauts. My family goes through lots of this amazing rehydration drink, in the summer months especially, so we buy the Team Packs. I alternate between Orange and Lemon Lime. And, unlike those other rehydration products, ours is all natural, nothing artificial like HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup)....eeeeew! Try it! You'll like it!!

To see what is new this month, check out the latest edition of the Wellness News Online. Remember to enter this month's product giveaway for Energy Chews. (And don't be afraid...when you enter, your name only comes to me so that I know you entered.) These are wonderful and they don't contain all of those harmful ingredients like those energy drinks do. And, lucky for you, they are also on sale this month. Now through August 15th, you can buy one package and get a second package for $2.50. Item code 89116. (Click on the Energy Chews link to take you right there!)

Well, the new school year is quickly approaching. when my daughter and I went to orientation at UCF (Go Knights!!) they told us that 85% of all students get sick within the first couple weeks of school. EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT!! This is attributed to being in a new environment, new people, lack of sleep, lack of good nutrition, stress and the list goes on. Now is the time to build your student's immune system with Nutriferon! This product was in the making for over 40 years before its launch and it naturally boosts your body's own immune system. Another great item to have on hand is Germ Off Disinfecting Wipes. They kill 99.9% of Salmonella and E. coli. Even better, they don't contain harmful bleach. I use these myself at school. I carry the container in my back pack and wipe off my desk every day...every class. I am SHOCKED at the amount of dirt that comes off of my desk. And who knows what else is lurking in there that I can't see.

I just have to add that we also have the Germ Off Disinfecting Wipes in our cars for after we get gas. Those gas pump handles are NASTY!

So, you love what you see and you want to know more?? Well, I have a great way for you to do that. I have a Top 21 program. You listen to 21 CDs, which is easy...just put them in your car or on your iPod and off you go. You listen to three CDs each week, or more if you like, and at the end of seven weeks, you will receive $100 worth of GREAT Shaklee products. These are at retail price and YOU get to choose what you want. It just doesn't get much better than that. Let me know when you want to get started! (Fine print, regular font: Offer good to non-members or members in my downline. Chances are, this applies to you and please feel free to forward this email to anyone that you think might be interested. Not sure if you are an active member? Call 1-800-SHAKLEE and ask them. They are so nice!)

In the works of my favorite character, Tigger: TTFN (Ta Ta For Now)!

Here's to your great health and amazing wealth!