Empty nest????
Hope everyone is enjoying their time off from the politics, if you read my last blog. The only problem is doing what I said, the humidity from the hurricane, I don't want to go out of the house!
School has begun. I have read many FB posts from friends who have moved their little ones into college dorms, seen pictures of literal little ones who shouldn't be that old, starting kindergarten, middle school and high school. Personally, I got off the hook this year. John recieved the honors this year of moving our second and third children into college. So now we have two in college and two at home, one back and working, one a senior in high school. We are beginning that year of graduation, and we are really graduating this year! After 10 years in high school, we are graduating! It is a time of joy and a time of sorrow. At the cross country meet last week, Laura asked one of the mothers for a brownie recipe because she might never get those brownies again, (and they are good!) The mother, who is also a last year senior mom, said that she felt sad for the first time in the year because of Laura's request. The team had a great impromtu senior night supper at the local cafe, and we continued to laugh, but the reality was before us...this is our graduation too. We will have a year of "last times" that will be last times. And I remember some of the past "Last times".
When Isaac marched in his last half time show last year, he and I both shared a teary moment, because he really didn't think about it until it was over and he was packing up the trailer with the rest of the grip crew.
When we surprised Alex with a birthday party his Senior year. Because of email, I was able to have some of his friends spread the word that we were going to Lickity Splits (our ice cream place) for his birthday and to meet us there. It's hard to get something past Alex, but we did this one!
When Joe walked in the door and realized he had taken his last high school exam and that it was soon to be over. The look on his face of sadness, excitement, and fear all at the same time was unforgetable.
I only await what we will have with Laura!
Those are some of the things we remember of those "Last years", and as sad as they can be, we also celebrate what our children will be doing and what we will be doing as well. Our children grow up and leave home (sometimes they come back!) but they reappear as adults, not the same people who left years ago. They branch out into their own areas of interest, they make new friends, they go to new places and then tell us parts of what they do. Let's face it, we never tell our parents EVERYTHING!
What about us who stay at home? We have another role to "morph" into, the role of what is called empty nesters, but the nest is only as empty as one makes it. I've talked to many parents who cannot deal with their children leaving, and I have to restrain myself from saying, "Are you crazy?"! Yes, I can be more pastoral than that, and I do understand the dealing with one less pair of feet stomping around, leaving shoes, clothes, books, laying around the house. I understand the void in the laundry pile and the food which is suddenly not being consumed. And these changes are not only reality checks, they are grief moments and they are doors closing. But to quote the Mother Superior from "The Sound of Music", "When God closes a door, He opens a window." What windows is God opening for us these days? In our grief and celebrations, what we need to remember is that we live in transistions, as the Spirit moves throughout the earth, the Spirit also moves within us, constantly moving us, challenging us, allowing us to grieve for what has changed, but also allowing us to look ahead to great and wonderful gifts that only God can give us. That is our hope, our greatness, as we look with anticipation at what is around the curve.
To quote Red Green...
Keep your stick on the ice!
Olivia
