Tonight, 389 seniors from Habersham Central High School and 57 seniors from the Success Academy in Mt. Airy will receive their diplomas. Graduation is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Raider Stadium. It looks like the weather will cooperate this year. The forecast calls for mostly clear skies.

“We are looking forward to seeing the Class of 2019 graduate this Friday in a warm and sunny Raider Stadium,” says Habersham County School Superintendent Matthew Cooper. “Everything that we do in K-12 education is to prepare our students to graduate from high school. High School graduation unlocks the ‘American Dream’ for every student and it provides a gateway to move on to a University, Technical College, military or a career. I want to congratulate each graduate of Habersham Central High School and Habersham Success Academy. I also want to say thank you to the family members and educators who have been there to support our graduates during their successful journey from Kindergarten to graduation.”

Habersham Success Academy Principal Ernie Garrett says he’s very proud of the accomplishments of the academy’s graduating seniors. “Many of these students faced great obstacles throughout their school career,” Garrett says. “It will be my privilege to award diplomas to fifty-seven students who persevered and reached their goal.”

HCHS principal Jonathan Stribling says he, too, is proud of the Class of 2019. “This group is comprised of an ultra-talented group of seniors with bright futures. They have worked very hard to get to this point in their educational journey, and I look forward to seeing their personal and professional accomplishments as they move forward.”

This year’s valedictorian is Nevaja Brown. The salutatorian is Parker Garrett.

RELATED: HCHS Valedictorian Nevaja Brown reachers her goal

Traffic and parking

If you plan to attend graduation, allow yourself plenty of time for traffic and parking. Carpool if possible. Handicap parking for the home side of Raider Stadium will be in front of the stadium near the Ninth Grade Academy. Handicap parking for the visitor’s side will be located near the visitor’s entrance gate.

The map below shows how traffic will flow out of the NGA and HCHS parking lots after graduation.

Camp Creek Road near the high school will be closed to thru traffic before and immediately following graduation. If you normally travel that way you should plan to use an alternate route. Also, keep in mind, traffic tends to back up on GA 365 North at the Mt. Airy/GA 197 South exit at least one hour prior to graduation.

If you want to avoid traffic tie-ups, arrive early and plan to stay late.

Featured photo: Facebook

HCHS Valedictorian Nevaja Brown at Raider Stadium where 446 high school seniors will receive their diplomas on May 24. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)

It’s a goal she set for herself back in 7th grade. Tonight, Nevaja Brown will fully realize her goal when she steps on stage as Habersham Central High School’s valedictorian.

“Being recognized as valedictorian is something I have worked towards since I first became First in Class in the seventh grade. I have held that title ever since, made many sacrifices and have worked really hard in order to achieve this goal of mine. I’m just happy to see it all finally pay off,” she tells Now Habersham.

She may have made it look easy, but it wasn’t. Nevaja says there were “countless hours” of studying, sleepless nights, “and crying on nearby shoulders.” It’s the struggle behind the achievement that makes this moment so sweet.

Nevaja will become the first in her family to attend college.

After graduation, Nevaja says she may “sleep a full 8 hours” or try her hand at “free time.” It won’t be long though before she’s back hitting the books. She’ll be attending the University of Georgia to major in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Memories and mentors

Nevaja is the daughter of Jill and Rolo Brown of Clarkesville. She’s lived her whole life in Habersham and spent her entire academic career in the county’s public school system. Ambitious and disciplined, Nevaja excelled both in and out of the classroom. She served as Student Council and Senior Class President, Varsity Competition Cheer Captain, and Varsity Basketball Cheer Captain. She says her favorite memory of her time at Habersham Central is “Cheerleading and the monumental relationships I was able to build.”

In addition, Nevaja is a member of the South State Student Advisory Board, Mu Alpha Theta and Drama Troupe 4860. Despite the demands extracurricular activities and studying placed on her schedule, she still made time to give something back. She helped out with Project Give, Operation Christmas Child and was a Special Olympian Advocate.

“If given the option to do it all over, I’d do it all the same.”

When asked what’s the most important lesson she’s learned in her years of public education, Nevaja Brown points to a quote from the late American poet Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That sentiment extends to a handful of mentors and educators Nevaja will pay tribute to during her valedictorian speech Friday night at Raider Stadium. She credits Coach Christy Thompson, Dr. Martha Cantrell, Dr. Kathleen Addison, and Dr. Rhea Galati for the positive influences they’ve had on her life.

“As any other system, HCHS may be flawed in its own personal ways. But I truly believe there could not have been any other school system more perfect for me,” Nevaja says. “I’ve loved every minute of high school and I think there’s something for everyone who’s lucky enough to go to school at Habersham Central. Once a Raider, Always a Raider.”

Now, as she prepares to leave Raider Nation behind, this year’s valedictorian offers a final word of advice to the upcoming Class of 2020. “Make the most out of your last year in high school. Don’t wish away the last few moments you have with your favorite friends, favorite teachers, favorite teams, favorite extracurriculars. You can’t go back once it’s all over.”

If she could though, she would. “If given the option to do it all over,” Nevaja says, “I’d do it all the same.”

(Cleveland) – The White County Board of Education gave their approval Thursday night to a tentative FY-2020 budget for the school system.

School Finance Director Julie Dorsey told the board that they are looking at $2-million dollars in additional expenses compared to this year and that will push the total budget to an expected $41- million dollars. Dorsey also told the board that at this time they will have to utilize some fund balance money to meet the budget next year.

The final story about funding the budget will come when the school system will hear from the White County Tax Assessors Office about the expected property values in the county for this year.

The board of education will hold a couple of public budget hearing during June before a final decision is made on the budget.

Bernice Sosebee Raper, age 97, of Mount Airy, Georgia passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019.

Mrs. Raper was born on August 16, 1921 in Habersham County, Georgia to the late James Milton and Cordelia Garner Sosebee. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Milton Raper; sons, Raymond Raper and Frank Raper; daughter, Kathy Raper Simmons; grandson, Bobby Raper; brother, Lee Sosebee; and sister, Virginia Sosebee Addis. She was the last of her immediate family. Mrs. Raper was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School Teacher for a number of years. She was a longtime member of the Tomacheechee Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and The United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mrs. Raper was very involved with the American Indian Missions and was also very involved in genealogy. Bernice always took time to place flags on veterans graves.

Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Zita Raper Ellis and Royce, of Alto; Christie Raper Grundy and Tom, of Dacula; daughter-in-law, Brenda Raper, of Mount Airy; ten grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 26, 2019 at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel, with Rev. Kenneth McEntire officiating. Interment will follow in Yonah Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the funeral home.

Memorial Donations may be made to American Indian Missions.

Arrangements are in care of Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535.

The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help to find a missing 13-year-old boy. 

William Preston Lovell was last seen around 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 24, according to the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office. It’s believed the teen may be with his father, William Rodrick “Rod” Lovell, who does not have legal custody of him, according to HCSO Lt. Matthew Wurtz.

Family members are circulating a social media post alleging the 49-year-old Lovell took Preston from his home in Clarkesville where he lives with his grandparents. Officials have not confirmed that.

Authorities say Rod Lovell and his son may be headed to, or may already be in, the area of Fair Play, South Carolina. Family members say that’s where the older Lovell lives. They may be traveling in an 18-wheeler or tan Toyota Avalon sedan with Hall County, Georgia, license plate RHU12

Preston Lovell is around 6-feet tall, weighs 130 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing dark jersey shorts, a dark blue Old Navy t-shirt and black Nike shoes.

If you see him or know where he is, contact Habersham County E-911 at 706-778-3911 or the Sheriff’s office at 706-754-6666.

A 6-year-old boy was airlifted to an Atlanta hospital this evening after being found unresponsive in a pool in Mt. Airy.

Habersham County 911 received a call at 6:10 p.m. Saturday about a drowning at a private residence in the Mt. Airy area. Personnel from Habersham County Emergency Services (HCES) and the Sheriff’s Department, Mt. Airy and Demorest Police responded to the call. When they arrived they found the boy unresponsive.

Mt. Airy Police Chief Tim Jarrell says the child was with a group of people at the home. Some of them discovered him in the pool and rescued him. They were trying to resuscitate him when first responders arrived. Adults at the home said the boy may have been under water for 10 minutes, according to HCES Director Chad Black.

The boy was in critical condition. Habersham County EMS transported him to Habersham Medical Center. From there, he was flown by Air Life Georgia to Children’s Health Care of Atlanta.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the boy’s drowning. Mt. Airy Police Chief Tim Jarrell says there were adults present at the time of the incident. His department is obtaining a list of everyone who was there. “Any incident of a serious nature that involves children is investigated,” he says.

Officials are not releasing any names at this time.

Old Athens Highway near Cleveland Road was temporarily blocked as emergency personnel worked to clear the scene. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)

A driver who fled from a state trooper during an attempted traffic stop wound up wrecking and rolling his vehicle on Old Athens Highway. The incident began around 10:45 p.m. Saturday.

GSP Cpl. Dallas Van Scoten says Jamie Dale Whitfield refused to stop when the trooper tried to pull him over for speeding at the White-Habersham County line. A chase ensued. It ended when the 40-year-old Whitfield wrecked just past Old Cleveland Road in Cornelia.

Nearly a half dozen state troopers, several Habersham County deputies, and Habersham County firefighters responded to the scene.

Authorities say Whitfield, who is from Habersham County, was not injured in the accident.

The wreck temporarily shut down both lanes of traffic on Old Athens Highway as officers investigated the crash and crews worked to clear the scene.

Aladdin is yet another live-action Disney remake that is a visually impressive spectacle and Will Smith does deliver a charismatic performance, but compared to other recent remakes, it sadly falls flat.

Just like many of the previous live-action iterations, this one does follow its source material faithfully. Mena Massoud is the title character, a street rat in an Egyptian city that desires to have a better life and gets his chance when he falls in love with a beautiful princess named Jasmine (Naomi Scott).

Marwan Kenzari stars as the sinister sorcerer Jafar who desires to have a magic lamp that will give him power. He’s told that only a “diamond in the rough” can claim it and he encounters Aladdin who happens to be that diamond. What a coincidence.

Aladdin has to enter the mysterious cave that it’s in and once he does, he finds the lamp as well as an ancient genie (Will Smith) that can grant him three wishes. You can pretty much take it fron there.

Aladdin wishes to be a prince so Jasmine will fall in love with him. The Genie happens to have his sights set on Jasmine’s handmaiden (Nasim Pedrad).

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Will Smith is very charismatic in the role of the Genie and he does bring his own unique spin on the character. Every time he pops up on screen, he brings another level of energy that the rest of the movie sorely lacks. Still, he’s no Robin Williams.

The musical numbers are the same songs, but they don’t bring the same amount of wonder or whimsy as its animated counterpart.

The rest of the cast does what they can, but director Guy Ritchie doesn’t know what to do to make them stand apart. The romance isn’t believable and the treatment of Jafar has zero menace. This live-action remake is much more interested in showcasing dazzling special effects instead of giving us a movie that could be the original’s equal a la, The Jungle Book or Beauty and the Beast.

I think even today’s audiences will still prefer the animated version over this one when talking about it. My wish is that future live-action remakes avoid a similar disappointment.

Grade: B-

(Rated PG for some action/peril.)

Drowning is the number one cause of injury-related death in children four and under. Each year, thousands of children in the U.S. suffer non fatal near-drowning injuries, according to child safety advocacy group Safe Kids.

It doesn’t take much for tragedy to strike. Kids can drown in just two inches of water.

Whether in a pool or some other large body of water, or even just in the bathtub, children should be constantly supervised when in or near water. It’s also important for adults to know how to respond in a water emergency.

Visit safekids.org

With summer in full swing, now is the time to brush up on your water safety skills. Read the safety tips and watch the video below. It will only take a few minutes and might one day help you save a child’s life.

Top Tips

1. Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted. Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult.
2. Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and kiddie pools immediately after use. Store them upside down so they don’t collect water.
3. Close toilet lids and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.
4. Install fences around home pools. A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.
5. Know what to do in an emergency. Learning CPR and basic water rescue skills may help you save a life.

If you do encounter a drowning child, delivering CPR can make the difference between life and death. The video below shows you how.

Video produced by: Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham

Sara Swartz Williams, age 87 of Cornelia, GA, passed away on Sunday, May 26, 2019, of natural causes.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia on November 23, 1931 to the late Grant and Cassie Harding Swartz. After her husband retired of 27 years serving in the Navy, they moved to North Georgia. Mrs. Williams was a homemaker and served as a church organist for over 50 years, mostly with the Clarkesville Baptist Church, where she was a member.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lieutenant Robert L Williams and a daughter, Mary Lynn Williams.

Surviving are her son, Bob G. Williams of Cornelia, GA; Daughters, Sara Beth Shurtleff and Cassie Ann Mark, both of Cornelia, GA; 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service planned at a later date.

An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.

McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.

James Ronald Wood, age 77 of Clarkesville passed away Sunday, May 26, 2019.

An online guest book is available at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Complete funeral arrangements will be announced by Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256.

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and the county’s School Resource Officers will host the 2019 Georgia Association of School Resource Officers (GASRO) Conference this summer. The conference provides updated school safety training and networking opportunities for SROs from around the state.

The sheriff’s office made the announcement in a press release. GASRO President Ted Thomas says Habersham officials were asked to host this year’s conference because of their experience and “progressive, innovative” style.

“Sheriff Terrell and the Habersham County School System are definitely at the forefront when it comes to school safety,” Thomas says. “We had heard from several people about the incredible strides (they) have made in connecting with the school community and in enhancing school safety through technology.”

Thomas points to several initiatives including distinguishing SRO vehicles with school colors, school logos and special markings. He also lauds the RAIDERreport. This specially designed cellphone app allows users to report suspicious behavior and unsafe conditions at their schools.

Sheriff Terrell says it’s an honor to be asked to host the GASRO conference.

“School Resource Officer Programs across the state are experiencing many new challenges when it comes to keeping schools safe,” Terrell says. “Whether it be dealing with issues that have been in the schools for years or new trends that are becoming more commonplace, it is imperative that we stay up to date on the latest technologies and training.”

While the focus of the four-day conference will be on training, Sheriff Terrell says he hopes those who attend will also “take the time to enjoy some of the festivities of fun scheduled throughout the conference.”

The 2019 GASRO Conference is scheduled to take place at Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa July 7-10.

For most of its 105 minute runtime, Booksmart proves to be a raunchy, albeit authentic high school comedy. It’s a movie that is raunchy and vulgar, but it never allows itself to be mean-spirited.

There’s plenty of laugh out loud moments and they’re surprisingly unique and refreshing as opposed to a lot of laughs we normally get from a comedy of this sort.

The movie follows the exploits of two high school seniors (Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein) who always chose to make the grade instead of winding up on social media. They’re both mocked by their peers for being the brainiacs that they are until they both come to the realization that they allowed their high school years to pass them by.

On the eve of their graduation, they decide to throw caution to the wind and go as wild and crazy as they can. They attempt to crash every single party imaginable, sometimes with hilarious results and others that are downright cringeworthy. Nevertheless, their antics always get a reaction.

The movie is basically a female version of Superbad and that shouldn’t come as a surprise seeing that Feldstein is Jonah Hill’s real-life sister. She’s obviously a chip off the old block and her comedic timing in particular in some scenes is borderline impeccable.

The chemistry between its two leads is also undeniably hip and insightful and it’s certainly nice to see two young actresses embrace the material.

There are definitely plot points we can see coming from a mile away, but other than that, this is one refreshing spin on the high school comedy genre.

Booksmart isn’t for everyone, but in its own way, it’s a radical and uncompromising look at high school life. And, yes, it’s extremely funny.

Grade: A-

(Rated R for strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking – all involving teens.)

Two Habersham County high school teams are among the BLITZ Spring Sports Teams of the Year.

Habersham Central Raiders – Baseball

The Raiders made history in 2019. For two straight seasons prior, Habersham Central and coach Chris Akridge got out of the gate with quick starts, only to fall in the final week both seasons to dash any playoff hopes. This time was different, as guys like Peyton Irvin, Alex McFarlane, Colby Jones, Christian King, and others made sure it didn’t happen again. The Raiders went 19-13, making the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and only the second time in school history.

The boys fell at South Paulding in the opening round of the playoffs, but this is a group that gelled so well together and fought in one of the toughest regions in the state in order to make the historic run, which included a state ranking during the regular season.

Jefferson and Commerce also were named as baseball Teams of the Year.

Tallulah Falls Lady Indians – Girls Golf

All three of these teams were incredible in 2019. This Lady Indians group was anchored by a pair of sophomores in Brinson Hall and Maggie Jackson. The duo helped guide Tallulah Falls to an area championship, and followed it up with a top-5 finish at the state tournament, coming in 4th.

White County and Commerce also were named as Girls Golf Teams of the Year.

BLITZ named top prep sports teams in track and field, soccer, and tennis. For a complete list visit blitzsportsga.com.

Grant-Reeves VFW Post 7720 will host a Memorial Day Ceremony today, May 27, at 10 a.m. at the VFW cemetery.

The cemetery is located on Smith Loop Road in Demorest.

An all-terrain vehicle crashed early Sunday on GA 17 northwest of Clarkesville. The accident seriously injured one man.

Officials were alerted to the accident when someone called 911 around 5 a.m. to report a man lying on the side of the road. Habersham County Emergency Services and Sheriff’s deputies responded. When they arrived on the scene they found the injured man near the overturned ATV.

Habersham EMS transported him to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center trauma unit in Gainesville. Officials have not released his name or condition.

Retired veterans salute as the National Anthem is sung during Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at VFW Memorial Park in Demorest. (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)

In the heat of the late morning underneath sunny skies, around 100 people gathered in Demorest to honor America’s fallen servicemen and women. The Grant-Reeves VFW Post 7720 hosted its annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday at VFW Memorial Park. There, amidst the graves, grateful hearts of all ages paid tribute.

VIDEO: VFW Memorial Day Ceremony

Cheyenne Rinefierd, daughter of T.J. and Jennifer Rinefierd of Cornelia, opened the ceremony by singing the National Anthem. Afterwards, VFW Post 7720 Commander Bill Miles and Post Auxiliary President Belinda Baragona laid a wreath in honor of our nation’s war dead.

“We must continue to remind Americans, unfortunately, that there is no freedom without bravery and those we honor today were brave when it counted the most,” said U.S. Air Force veteran Brandy Creel.

Creel was this year’s guest speaker. The highly decorated veteran from Towns County expressed heartfelt thanks to her fellow veterans for their service and sacrifice. She also thanked their families for “being part of our homefront.”

“Additionally we honor all families who lost a loved one while serving America and we will never forget their ultimate sacrifice,” said Creel. “All of us, collectively, understand that freedom is not free.”

Creel, who served three desert tours including Desert Storm, spoke of service and sacrifice but she focused on gratitude. She quoted General George S. Patton who famously said, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn those who died, rather we should thank God that such men lived.”

That gratitude was evident among those who made time in their holiday schedule to attend Monday’s ceremony. They listened reverently as Commander Miles called out the number of U.S. military personnel who died in war’s throughout our nation’s history. Each time he announced a number, a fellow veteran rang a bell in their memory.

The VFW Post 7720 Honor Guard followed the bell ringing ceremony with a 21-gun salute and taps.

To watch the full ceremony, click here.

Memorial Day 2019

VFW Post 7720 Memorial Park • Demorest, GA

May 27, 2019

A 6-year-old boy rescued from drowning in a private residential pool near Mt. Airy died today from his injuries.

Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire says Mark “TJ” Phongsavanh of Demorest passed away this morning at Scottish Rite Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

The boy was at a family gathering Saturday when the accident occurred. Mt. Airy Police Chief Tim Jarrell says some people in the group found the boy in the pool. He was unresponsive when they pulled him from the water. They were trying to resuscitate him when first responders arrived.

People at the scene told emergency personnel that the boy was possibly underwater for 10 minutes, according to Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black. Phongsavanh was airlifted to Scottish Rite in critical condition. He died Monday, May 27, at 10:37 a.m.

Chief Jarrell says his department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the boy’s drowning. “Any incident of a serious nature that involves children is investigated,” he says.

“Our thoughts, love, and prayers are with the Phongsavanh family and friends at this most difficult time,” says McEntire.

Funeral services for TJ Phongsavanh are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at the Whitfield Funeral Home North Chapel in Demorest.

Mark “TJ” Phongsavanh obituary

Mark “TJ” Phongsavanh, age 6, of Mt. Airy, Georgia passed away on Monday, May 27, 2019.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 1, 2019 at Whitfield Funeral Home, North Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2019 at the funeral home.

The family will be at the residence of 260 Towerview Circle, Mount Airy, Georgia, 30563 until the day of visitation.

Complete Arrangements will be announced by Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535.

The last three weeks have been really tough for me emotionally. I have wrestled with writing Mondays with Mom because I have felt so raw.

Mother’s Day was tough. I saw many stories on social media Mother’s Day about wonderful mothers or missed mothers who have gone on. It was one of Mom’s favorite holidays. Dad always gets her roses and chocolate and loves on her big time. On Mother’s Day this year, she wasn’t anywhere near our world. Yes, she was sitting there and occasionally she would smile, but the conversation was impossible. When my siblings called, she could not connect to them either. Dad and I were sitting right beside her and couldn’t get the fog to lift. The roses and chocolates were barely noticed.

This is such a difficult place for me. I miss Mom so much. Sometimes I see glimpses of her sweet personality, but most hours of the day she’s lost to me. I feel her loss keenly now and wonder how much more I will miss her after she’s gone. She seems to be in no man’s land – stuck between life and death.

I’ve spent many past articles describing Mom to those who may not know her. For those of you who do, you remember she was a bright, colorful, vivacious woman. After years of sitting by her side and watching her fade away, I have a hard time holding onto the memories of her being healthy and whole and losing those memories breaks my heart. I understand from others who have gone through a similar path that the memories return once the caregiving is over. I want to remember her as she was instead of as she is now.

My daughter, Julia, graduated from high school two weeks ago. Mom and Dad weren’t able to be present with us at the graduation. Mom would have loved it; she was the one who made me walk at my own graduation when I balked. Until she became too frail, I believe Mom and Dad went to all high school and college graduations for their grandchildren.

High school and college graduation pictures are all over social media now. Each picture with a grandparent brings an extra stab to my heart. Wedding season will do the same. I know I’m in a wistful, wishful place right now, but I can’t seem to shake it.

I know I’m not alone. Perhaps you are living through a similar season. I just keep remembering my favorite (partial) verse: “And it came to pass.” We’ll hang on.