Homecoming Graphic Homecoming QueentEmily Carter, Homecoming Queen Everyone has their favorite holiday.  Some people like Christmas, some Thanksgiving, others the Fourth of July, for me, it's Homecoming.

When I was growing up I always thought I would move away to a big city.  I never imagined raising my family in the same town I'd been in all my life, much less the same neighborhood and same school.  I did grow up and move off to the big city.  It was great!  My husband and I enjoyed the professional sports teams, the art museums, the fine dining, and then . . . we had kids and moved back home.  There's a little more to the story than that, but I have to admit I like it much better in a smaller town where I can spend time with my kids instead of time on the road everyday.  I enjoy seeing people I've known my whole life everytime I step foot in a public place.  It's comforting to know there are people all over town who know my kids and look out for them (even when my kids have no idea who they are), because they also knew me growing up or my parents or grandparents or even great-grandparents.  It was wonderful driving them to elementary school every day through a National Park and having grandparents involved in their daily life is a gift to us, as well as, our children.  

There are so many things I love about our lives here that I never expected to when I was a child and couldn't wait to get out and see the wide world.  One of those things that is right at the top of the list is Homecoming.  I love the excitement building up to Friday as the kids dress up every day for spirit week.  I love the school community coming together to prepare everything for the big day.  I love watching all the students I've seen go from kindergarten to Senior on the football team, playing in the band, cheering on their classmates and, of course, on the Homecoming Court.  It's such sweet suspense every year waiting to see who will be crowned King and Queen and then watching all of the girls put on their beautiful dresses for the dance and seeing their handsome dates and the excitement in all of their eyes.  It's fun to remember my days in those same hallways going to those same events, but now there's a new depth to the enjoyment of the day as I see, and have time to reminisce, with old friends who are home for the festivities.  

Friday was Homecoming for our school and I enjoyed every minute of the day - from my freshman daughter's first Homecoming Dance to seeing two of my Senior Reps on the Homecoming Court and one of them crowned Queen.  I hope you enjoy your Homecoming just as much this year! In celebration I'm sharing a couple of pictures and my 9 favorite things about Homecoming:  

1)  The Pep Rally Homecoming Court PresentationTerance Dixon and Emily Carter

2)  The King and Queen

3)  The Homecoming Court

4)  Seeing the students dressed up for the dance

5)  Catching up with old friends

6)  The Tailgate Party

7)  The band playing the Fight Song

8)  The Halftime Show

9)  Cheering the home team on to victory!!!