Reunions?

So, I was up early this a.m. because I couldn't sleep. Funny how your body gets accustomed to so many hours of sleep and then you're done! I never believed that could happen when I was younger, but now I've experienced it for myself. I woke up and did a bit of reading from my inspirational guide, bible, and then checked fb. I am always so grateful for modern technology and fb has been one of the many forums that I have been able to connect with people from my H.S. days. I was elated to see yesterday where our class President had posted about our upcoming reunion. You see, I have not been able to attend any of the reunions. I have been out of the country for both of them! I was living in Germany 8 months pregnant w/Michaela the first time-not exactly a good time to fly! The second time I was living in England. I could possibly have flown back, but it was short notice and there wasn't enough time to make arrangements because of previous commitments/plans.  Here I sit only 3 hours away from where I went to school and I am really quite excited about attending my first H.S. reunion. Oh, I know things aren't the same-everyone has their own lives-you can't go back in time, etc... But, I also know that I went to a very small school, 53 graduates in my class! This type of environment made it possible for me to go to school nearly my entire life with most of these people! We spent our entire childhood together. I also know that growing up in a small community/attending a small school the way that I did-that is a foundation that is laid for a lifetime. Many things have changed for me since H.S., and I know that is likely for most of the others that I went to H.S. with.  However, we all share personal childhood history, and as I've aged/gained other experiences, I realize that personal history is important. It's part of what has made me what I am today. Without having made some of the mistakes I made during H.S., perhaps I would not have chosen the path toward Heaven I am on today. Without have had some of the successes I had during H.S., perhaps I would not have the confidence I have to accomplish the goals I have set for myself. Without having made some of the friends I made in H.S., perhaps I would not be able to experience the depth of friendship I am able to experience today. It is all joined and it all helps make me who I have become. I have longed for my girls to have the same type of experience that I did in H.S., the close knit community. That has not been possible for them. They have been here at Cabot H.S. w/660 graduating Seniors this year:( We didn't have that many students in our entire H.S./J.H. combined! My girls have felt like they are "isolated", they are just a "number", etc... It has saddened me for them. Though Rebecca will finish her H.S. years here in May and go on to college, I pray that Michaela can finish with a different experience because we should be moved between her Sophomore and Junior year of H.S.  I am pleased that Rebecca has chosen a small Jr. college to attend for her first 2 years and that she will be living in the dorms. I know that she will be able to enjoy her experience so much more there than she has in H.S.  She will be able to be involved in activities and not just be a number.  I'm praying that it will set the foundation for her when she goes on to the large university at UCA 2 years later. Much like my H.S. experience provided for me in life. But, my girls have had the blessing/opportunity of a lifetime to live in 2 foreign countries, travel to MANY more along this journey of life. Those are things I could only dream of when I was in H.S.!  So there's give/take in their H.S. experience-I think overall, they would choose the experience of travel over a small community school. The foundation that their life will be built on is the experience they've had-not the classmates they share a history with.  I have volunteered to be a part of planning this H.S. reunion. Event planning is something that is my niche-so it should be no problem to help make the event a success.  What success means to me, of course, may not be what it means to someone else I went to H.S. with. We all have different experiences in life and choose to respond to things based on that experience.  My idea of success would be to get as many of my H.S. friends together as possible and share a day of just catching up, remembering the good times, sharing our life stories, etc...  It would not be a fancy sit down dinner or involve tons of fancy decorations. Keep it simple is my motto! Focus on the people...enjoy our time together.  I enjoy a good party as much as anyone else-but a good party has never equaled "fancy" for me. There is a time/place for that, but a H.S. reunion is not it.  Formal night on a cruise ship, awards ceremony for my husband, etc...yes, that requires a bit of fancy! I pray that all of those that choose to help with this reunion will work in harmony so that we can create even more memories for our hearts to share until the next time a reunion comes around:)