Playing vs Practicing

I have decided it is finally time to start taking piano lessons again.  It has been 15 years since my last lesson.  I had my first lesson 2 weeks ago, and it has opened my eyes to how much I have lost and what is missing in my level of confidence.  My teacher (who is fabulous!)  told me that I am rusty, and the thing I have to work on the most is going from PLAYING a piece to PRACTICING.  When you go through and play a piece straight through, it takes a long time for you to get better.  When you practice: with a metronome and really focus, it will suprise you at how much better you can get.  So the past 2 weeks, I have sat down and really focused on the pieces I was assigned.  I had one from each period: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary.  I also had to work on scales, and 3 Hymns.  I have been amazed that Baroque - Bach Invention No. 8 wasn't as bad as I have always thought.  It does take an amazing amount of concentration though!!  There were days that I would practice for 1 1/2 hours too, and it didn't seem long enough, but that hour time limit put a stopping point on me which is also good.  I have been awakened at how far I have come and how far I have yet to go.  But I am so grateful for the opportunity to take lessons again and continue to progress for the future students that will come to me.