As the early heat of this summer rises my mind goes back to the even hotter heat of late last summer and my excitement in ordering our little one’s first ever school uniform.  I went to public schools and wish I could have worn a uniform.  As it was I got made fun of for wearing the same clothes.  However as an adult it taught me not to care if I wear the same thing every day or not.  And I truly don’t — as long as it’s clean.  Pictured here is her Chapel uniform.  She also has shirts monogrammed with her school’s logo, skorts and Crocs for wearing in the garden.  She really is my Baby Doll and I have had more fun putting her little saddle oxfords on and then pairing them with knee highs in the winter.  She has her little red monogrammed school sweater and bows and headbands and tiny white socks that turn down at the ankles.  She was so small they had to special order her size as they did not keep it in stock.  I notice now her jumper has gotten shorter and realize it is because she has grown.  She has sung with her class, learned about the world, played on the playground, gotten into trouble, and celebrated her fourth birthday in her cheerful, nurturing school room.  In this past year she has used scissors to arrange flowers, glue for art projects and she can even write her name!  Sometimes she hums the Montessori song under her breath in the car.  She has been to fun functions at school, holiday parties and to Chapel twice a week all throughout the year.  I thought I would put her in some type of “day camp” this summer but I find I cannot bear to let her go.  Tempus fugit.  American author Nathaniel Hawthorne said, “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.”  I want those shadows to be filled with happy memories of our time spent together.  I know the shadows from my own childhood still lovingly linger and fall softly over me like a warm blanket, and I am thankful to Mama and Daddy for giving me their most precious gift of all; the gift of their time.