Yes, No, Deffinitely!, Maybe

Rachel experienced a life "first" this week.  She got asked on her first date!  Not only a date, but a dance date!  Not just any dance, but the PROM!  Wow.  Pretty exciting times, folks.

Now, I don't know how it's done anywhere outside of Utah, but where we are from, school dances can be a huge production, starting with even the asking/answering process.  Some kids can go crazy pulling off elaborate, creative (and often expensive) invitation and answering gestures.  It's definitely not necessary to go to such lengths, but can admittedly be a fun part of the process.

That being said, Rachel was totally taken by surprise when one of her classmates came up to her after school and hurriedly handed her a crunched-up little note.  When she opened it, this is what she read:

A check-the-box note!  For Prom!  We both thought it was a little funny, but mostly sweet and sincere.  

Rachel came home and sent a message to her classmate, telling him how flattered she was to receive his note, but that she wouldn't be able to go with him since she is not going on dates until she turns 16 (she only turned 15 a few months ago).  He was very gracious and understanding, and it hasn't been weird when she has seen him at school since that day.

Steve and I had a long talk the night that Rachel received this note.  Even though she is still several months away from dating, we both felt sobered by the fact that our baby girl is growing up.  I miss the thumb-sucking days, when Rachel would play with her collection of hard animal toys for hours on end, organize puppet shows, pretend to be a dog, or sing dramatically at the top of her lungs (when she thought no one was listening).  Even though we still have littles in the house to keep us feeling "young", it doesn't lessen the sting that our older kids are getting closer to being grown-ups.  {sigh}

I'm not ready!!