BACK TO SCHOOL &

CELEBRATING NEW BEGINNINGS

There is something about back-to-school season that always makes me a little sentimental—but this year feels very different...

We just dropped Sofia off at Georgia Tech for her first year of college, and I honestly cannot believe how quickly the years have gone by. One minute you’re packing lunches, driving to school, and reminding them about homework…and suddenly you’re helping them move into a college dorm.

It feels especially surreal because I can so clearly remember driving our son from Florida to Emory University 14 years ago. At the time, I had no idea how much that chapter would eventually change all of our lives.

Our trips to visit him introduced us to North Georgia and the Blue Ridge Mountains—and over time, we fell in love with this beautiful part of the country. Eventually, we made it our home, and it has turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve made.

Life here allowed us to slow down and connect with nature in ways we never really could in Florida. We became beekeepers. We started growing more of our own food, herbs, and flowers. My garden became my happy place, and some of what we grow even finds its way into SanRe—like the little packets of free seeds that I get to share with you, our beloved customers.

I love that something as simple as our son going away to college helped plant the seed for a completely different life for us. And now, here we are again.

Except this time, we came home from college drop-off to a very quiet house.

We are officially Empty Nesters...

I’ll admit, it feels strange. I miss Sofia terribly already. I miss knowing she’ll walk through the door at the end of the day, hearing her voice in the house, and all those ordinary little moments that you don’t realize are so precious until they change. But underneath the sadness is also so much excitement.

I cannot wait to watch Sofia become more independent, discover what she loves, meet new people, challenge herself, and continue becoming the amazing young woman she is meant to be. As much as I would sometimes like to slow down time, I know this is her season to grow.

And our family is entering an entirely new season too. While our youngest is beginning her college life, our son is preparing to become a father—which means we are going to become grandparents! ❤️

How is that even possible? It feels like just yesterday we were dropping him off at Emory, and now we are watching him begin a family of his own. Life really does happen in seasons ... ever faster seasons!

There are seasons when our children need us for absolutely everything. Seasons filled with school drop-offs, sports, dinners, laundry, chaos, and a house that never seems quiet enough. And then, almost without noticing, you arrive at a season where they are building lives of their own.

I’m realizing that maybe the goal isn’t to hold onto any one season too tightly. It’s to be present for it, appreciate it while we are in it, and then find the beauty in whatever comes next.

For me, this next season will mean learning how to be an empty nester, watching Sofia spread her wings, watching our son become a dad, and discovering what being a grandmother will bring.

And somewhere in between, I’ll still be in my garden, checking on the bees, growing herbs and flowers, making your skincare, and sharing little pieces of this life with all of you.

To everyone sending a child back to school, off to college, or simply watching someone you love move into a new chapter—I’m right there with you!

Here’s to new beginnings, changing seasons, and remembering to enjoy the beautiful, ordinary moments in life -- while we have them.

With love,  Sandra  

SanRe Organic Skinfood 💚