Hello there.

We'll skip through the typical slog that everyone has experienced and say . . .

WE HAVE MADE IT TO SENIOR YEAR!

That is right!  K (who was 4 when this blog started) finished her high school requirements this summer.  

Why is she still there?!  

Baby kid is continuing with her culinary studies and is squeezing every last morsel out of any culinary related experience she can get at the high school.  

She volunteered for a brief stint this summer at a senior living facility that was closing and needed some spot help after their staff left.  That was right before school started back up and knowing K, she would still be there.  Doesn't every 17 year old drive 25 minutes away to show up at 6 AM to cook breakfast and lunch for 55 seniors?  

She is running the coffee bar at school starting tomorrow.  She and her friend baked some lovely things to accompany the coffee.  She needs to be there at 6:45 AM.  She also stops to pick up a friend on the way.  Hello responsibility and being on time.  It's a grand thing! 

During the heaping helping of study halls she has (more on that in a second) she has been helping in the school cafeteria with packaging meal portions.  Since she is certified by the state in food management, she can legally do this.  (The very reason she was recruited for the senior living facility.)  

She is studying for her Food Handler's certification.  The school will shoulder the cost of the test.  Her previous boss, Chef J, said to get as many certifications as the school will allow her.  Take it in and do it all as much as you can.  You know what?  She is.  

She is networking with some different chefs.  

Oh my heavens, we have college applications to do.  I say we, but it is really her with a mama to proofread.  She has her eye on a few culinary programs and a friend who is looking to attend one along with her.  The ladies have plans and I think that is a fabulous thing. 

Just the other day, K was texting back and forth about the potential of an internship the summer after graduation.  She is looking to see what she can get and opportunities she can have.  

Last year K had no study halls.  The year prior she did have 1, but then COVID ate that last week of grading period 3 and of course the entire 4th quarter.  She took all of the classes she needed then, 2 the summer of 2020 and 2 this past summer.  It left her with nothing else required.  Instead of padding her schedule with a bunch of useless classes that honestly could trash her GPA, we decided to go the easier schedule route which would allow her to explore her culinary studies a bit more. She has a capstone project to handle in culinary and we wanted to allow her as much time as she needed to devote to that end study.  

Y'all, her stress is down to a much, much more manageable level and for the very first time in high school, she is sleeping at night.  The light is actually off when I pop up in the middle of the night for a bathroom visit.  She sits and can actually breathe.  She has time to talk to us.  She has time to hang out with some friends.  Kiddo needed a break.  I'm glad we could encourage her to take one before college and internships kick in.  

Hoping the world finds you well.  We're just two parents, watching this amazing girl reach out and progress to things of knowledge and life.  The work in progress is moving forward more and more toward her goals.  Such a delight to watch.