.....and so it begins.

I sit here with one week to go, ready to embark on my big adventure.  I have had plenty of "big adventures" in my near fifty years of this life - but for the first time in a LONG time, this is one that I am taking all on my own.   

In the span of a single summer, my husband and I have watched three of our four kiddos graduate from college and high school, had our daughter get engaged and moved our youngest son in to his new college home.  The icing on this crazy cake would have been an announcement from our oldest daughter and her husband, making me us grandparents!  No hurry there.... all in good time!

Raising this family has been a beautiful ride, and I'm a proud mama of four amazing young adults that I am lucky to have in my life.  It is said that having children is like having pieces of your heart walking around outside of your body.  I assure you, truer words were spoken never.  They are the love of my life.   I shake my head to think that a minute ago we were making play dough,  building forts in the family room and watching Sesame Street.  They are all now old enough to be quite sustainably and happily living on their own, and I wouldn't trade a second of the years it took to raise them for anything.  And well,  since we started this family adventure as a young'uns ourselves, I am now able to sustainably and happily begin a new chapter in my life.

My next step is to take a leap of faith and greet my fast approaching 50th birthday with a long awaited, unique test.  After a lifetime of an obsession with all things food, and over a decade's worth of work experience in the culinary industry, I am going to attend the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland!  An intensive 12 week program concentrating on the intricacies of a true Farm to Fork mindset, this is the culinary school of my dreams.  

I have been craving something like this for most of my adult life, and learned of this school three years ago.  Since then, I have had Shamrocks in my eyes, excitedly anticipating this day.  While I'm still trying to decide exactly what I want to do when I grow up (Yes - it WILL involve cookies!),  I am confident that this experience will give me a new skill set along with a refreshed prospective.  

So after having laid the groundwork on my fledgling cookie business, I will place it on a temporary hold, start my very first blog, and travel halfway across the world to pursue this exciting adventure.  I am trading my life here with my husband of 28 years, my home, family, and work for the unknown.  But a handful of things are quite certain!  The next three months will provide ample time for a LOT of cooking, a unique space for re-discovery of self and the promise of new friendships in the beautiful country of Ireland.  I feel like the luckiest girl alive!

I have always told my kids that life presents you with opportunities, whether you're ready or not.  When that moment arrives,  you have to step out with faith in your heart and a prayer on your lips that you'll have what it takes to see it through.  Walt Disney once said, "If you can dream it, you can do it.".  So, Hi Ho!  It's off to Ireland I go!