After months of Rotary meetings, events, and fundraising, we are putting our youngest on a plane to Italy to begin his Rotary Youth Exchange program.
I’ve been so overwhelmed by the amount of love and support that has been shown by family and friends to help him fulfill one of his dreams. Blessings and donations have been pouring in for months, and the encouragement he’s received has been astounding. He has worked so hard to get here, and it’s nice to know others recognize it too.
As a reward, we gave him an Italian-themed going-away party and it was epic. The food represented all things Italian all the way down to the Italian sodas, pizzelles w/ cannoli cream and the company of those who attended was remarkable. It truly gave Terrell a chance to enjoy those that have been in his corner for most, if not all of his life including teachers that he’s had over the years and friends from other states.
But, the tear-jerker for me was watching him go through the security check at the Cincinnati/Covington airport and disappear into the crowd. I felt my heart sink and the tears welling up in my eyes as we turned to leave. I cried almost the entire way back home, as I realized life as we knew it in our house had changed, I was embarking on a new journey to find my “new normal.”
