Round TWO

Well, we have had a lovely summer and I am heartbroken to say that it is coming to an abrupt halt.  While being in a sorority is a wonderful thing for so many reasons, it makes the return to school so much earlier.  My house is a mess with all of the "STUFF" that we are organizing for her move into the sorority house.  Of course you know, I would rather have all the stuff than move her away again, and when I return on Monday with all that stuff gone and her bedroom empty, I will be undoubtedly be sad.

While I have a pit in my stomach in thinking about her leaving again, just like last August, it isn't quite as deep.  I feel this is progress. It is hard to not be caught up in her enthusiasm.  She is ready to see her college friends that she has missed over the summer.  I don't think kids today realize how fortunate they are because they can stay in touch so much easier than we could over the breaks.  She has been in constant contact between texting, twitter, Facebook, instagram and snap chat.  I do know living with them and seeing them on a daily basis is so much fun.  I am excited to see her reunite in the days ahead.  While selfishly I know I will miss her, I love seeing her so happy and thriving in this new phase of her life.

There aren't as many dates on the calendar to see her as there were on the front end of her freshman year.  I am anticipating a spontaneous trip for this momma!!

Thankfully, I KNOW that God will be faithful to take care of my girl while we are apart, and her wings worked quite well last year so I have every reason to believe with a little more maturity, wisdom and experience this next year will be equally as wonderful and she will continue thrive while turning into the young adult woman God intends her to be.  What a blessing daughters are, and I have an amazing one.

TODAY IS THE DAY!

I have been anxiously awaiting this day since last August!  The little bird is flying home, back into MY nest!  Her wings have proven to be strong and I am thankful to God for all of His provision for her and our family in this time of transition.  Of course, she is a little sad.  Sad about leaving her friends, oh how I remember how hard it was to leave.  There is nothing quite like living day in and day out with your friends and peers especially when you are growing up together and sharing so many new experiences.    I don't think she realizes how fast summer is going to fly and she will be reunited with all of her new special friends before she knows it.   I DO, and I am going to treasure every moment of having her home.  The brothers are equally as excited about having her back, so today starts a new phase for us- living with a college student that is use to NO accountability.  I suspect it will have its bumps and hurdles, but we are all growing and changing and creating our new normal. I am looking forward to the nest being full again, the chatter and joy in my house abounding.  It is bound to be a great summer.

I have many friends embarking on this same journey in the coming months...sending that first child off.  While it was the most difficult parenting experience I have had so far, we survived it and God did what He usually does...WAS FAITHFUL.  This momma bird is forever grateful.

Thanks for sharing the journey with me!

Box Brigade and FOMO!

This is a fabulous idea!  Our church gathers the mothers of college students by grade level,  and we all bring goodies, scripture, encouraging notes to put in bags for each child represented.  We did it once in the fall, and just did it last Saturday morning.  It is such a blessing to all involved. After filling the bags, we gather and share prayer requests for our students and then have a sweet time of prayer.   Of course the students get a wonderful care package full of yummy treats and encouragement and the mom's get the reminder that we can go to GOD with all of the things burdening our hearts for our students.  It was perfect to do right here at finals time when the kids are under so much stress....at least my student is! 

Thankfully, she has proven herself to be a great college student.  She has learned the balance of studying and being successful AND not missing out on too many fun things.  In fact, she is suffering from a condition that I think has caused her to be sick multiple times this semester due to not enough rest.  This condition is something she and her friends have labeled FOMO- fear of missing out.  Heaven forbid you miss a party, mixer, or opportunity to socialize.  I think I would be a bit more worried about her condition if she hasn't had such a successful year academically.  To be honest, I am pretty sure I suffered from the same condition, but I didn't seem to have the balance down. 

Balance...what does that look like? Well, for my 19 year old freshman (soph in about 4 days) it does involve some ALMOST all nighters in the library more often than I like to hear about, plenty of pictures to post on facebook at random themed parties in some unusual attire, fabulous new friendships, a passion for her future endeavors, excitement registering for next semester classes, sorority bible study, service opportunities, meetings, babysitting for local families.....she seems to squeeze a lot in and I am thrilled she is making the most of her college experience!


Here is something I found on line that I included in by Box Brigade contributions:

Dear God, I ask for your help during final exams based on who you are and the promises that you make in the Bible.   I thank you God that you are the source of all wisdom as it says in Proverbs:

“By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place, by his knowledge the deeps were divided and the clouds let drop the dew.” (Proverbs 3:19,20 New International Version of the Bible.)

Help me to remember that however complex the subject may be that I am tackling, you can enable me to grasp it, understand it and remember the details because you are the originator of all knowledge.  I thank you that you promise to help me when I ask for wisdom as it says in James:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 NIV)

Help me to believe that even as I am praying, you are giving me the wisdom and the help I need. I thank you that studying and gaining this knowledge will be beneficial to me as it says in Proverbs:

“He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.” (Proverbs 19:8 NIV)

I thank you that although the discipline of studying seems very difficult right now, it will be well worth it as it says in Hebrews:

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11 NIV)

I thank you that even though I may feel stress and pressure during exam time, it says in Philippians:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

And finally, I thank you that through the help of the Holy Spirit, I might have the mind of Christ:

“’For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (First Corinthians 2:16 NIV)

Thank you God that as I have spoken to you, you have spoken to me through your words in the Bible. Help me to remember them and depend on them during exams. Thank you for your wisdom, truth and help. Amen.

Prayerideas.org

Good luck and do your best!
I love you, Mom

Struggling Wings

I have not been as faithful to keep this up to date as I would have liked to....this has been such a busy spring.  My little bird has proven herself to have strong wings, for the most part! 

There was one incident that had this momma bird in a tizzy!  At the end of spring break, the norovirus got the best of my college freshman.  She had a very difficult time bouncing back, and it was difficult to be away from her when she seemed so miserable.   I finally felt the wings were struggling a little more than I could stand to hear from a distance so I made the 3 hour trip just to see her face and gauge how she really was doing. I really planned for it to be just a day trip, but  upon arriving, it was clear that we needed some medical intervention.  After two bags of fluids, checking into a hotel room and watching her sleep for 16 consecutive hours and her STILL not looking much better.  I brought the little bird back to the nest.  What a gift it was to have her home for an unplanned 5 days.  It was so wonderful to be able to take care of her and finally see her bounce back.  Thankfully, her fabulous private university really worked with her and she was able to get caught up with all of her school work- this is where we saw her wings in full flight.  She amazes me with her hard work and dedication.

The following weekend was Easter, and she brought two out of state friends home with her.  What a delight to have 3 PRECIOUS college freshman in our home for the weekend.  They were darling and God has been so great to provide her with fabulous friends. 

The weekend after Easter I got to go up again, for her sorority Mom's weekend!  Talk about fun....we had the best time, and getting to meet more of her friends and their mother's just brought so much joy to my heart!  More details on the weekend later!  There are some good stories to tell!

Nearing the end of this year....I am amazed by how fast the time as gone, and that I survived.  My heart has ached as much as it has been full of joy. 

  

UGHHHH Spring Break!

Today's scripture for my little bird:

Psalm 121:8
The Lord will keep watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time and forever.

We are certainly testing the wings of our little bird.  With  much prayer and angst (I know we aren't suppose to have this, but being parents is hard and sometimes it just overcomes us!) we are letting our little bird head to Gulf Shores Alabama with TONS of college kids for the week.  We are also letting her drive her car with 3 other girls.  Thankfully, they are following another group of girls and breaking up the trip with a stop this evening.  We are heading a different direction and of course it doesn't feel like a family vacation when you are missing a family member, however our new normal is what it is!

My husband sent her the sweetest letter and I would like to share parts of it with you so that you will have a glimpse into his heart and why I feel so blessed to have him as a husband and father to our three blessings! 

Here it goes:

Please drive safely & responsibly, keep the music down so you can hear traffic around you and no alcohol in the car (also NO DRINKING FOR ANYONE IN THE CAR). I know I might sound like a broken record, but sometimes there are no second chances in life. Being safe, careful, mature, responsible and aware of your surroundings can make the difference between having fun or inviting serious trouble, injury and even death.

Because you have proven to be trustworthy, I am trusting “you” to be mature and responsible for not only yourself, but those around you. If it’s wrong or feels wrong, say NO. DON’T GET IN YOUR CAR OR ANYONE’S CAR IF THEY HAVE BEEN DRINKING. I will gladly reimburse you for “any” cab money you spend.

You are one of the most important gifts I have ever received and I’m honored to be your Dad. I will be praying for you and your friends and hope you have the time of your life in Gulf Shores. We will miss your presence terribly, but know that you have to spread your wings and enjoy being a collegian.

We love you so much, have fun and be safe.

Love Dad

We are really watching for her wings to work and for God to do His thing and protect our precious blessing!  If you are a person that believes in the power of prayer, I would cherish your prayers for my baby girl's safety in the coming days as she is with 1000's of college kids, many who won't be making good decisions.  Pray that she would not be exposed to too much debauchery :), and that she certainly wouldn't participate in any!

Have a wonderful spring break and thanks for joining us on this journey. 

Almost Seems Unfair

NEVER POSTED THIS ONE, and must admit that recovery from this departure was certainly easier than the one in August!  We are adjusting and it almost makes me sad to admit that!  What a joy and delight it is to watch my baby girl's wings work!!
From January 2013:

College students are so fortunate to get such a nice long break- almost a month! Having them back under your roof that long allows you to adjust to their presence in a way that feels like the good old days, you know the ones.....the ones when they lived with you full time!?!?  Then it hits like that swift kick in the gut once again, they will be going back to school.

I must confess that about 5 days before departure date I started feeling the dread and the weepiness setting in.  In fact while visiting with a sweet friend that my daughter often babysits for at the grocery store, I totally started crying. It was so embarrassing as she was just sharing such sweet compliments about my girl.

Just seems unfair to have to give her back to that collegiate life!  LOVE having her home and my family complete!

Here We Go Again!

Well, it has been awhile.....We have endured our longest tme without seeing her, an extremely blessed Thanksgiving, and a wonderful Christmas, a great start to 2013, as well as my sweet girls 19th birthday. It was so fun to celebrate her life, and I felt abundantly blessed that she was home for her special day.   I suppose it must be therapeutic for me to write and boy, am I in need of some therapy as I sit her weeping in anticipation of another "see you later!"

We have had such a wonderful break with our little bird home for almost a month! All has felt "normal"- all my peeps were in my nest! Unfortunately, tomorrow that all comes to an end, as it's time for her to go back to school for her spring semester!   She made great friends, great decisions, great grades...I couldn't ask for any more blessings in it all, but it is sure hard to let her go again.  She is ready, excited and over the moon about getting back which makes me happy and sad all at the same time.  Yes, I am an emotional mess!

In August, I could look at the calendar and see the many opportunities we had to see her, and thankfully there were many. This time? The calendar is empty. No set plans. It most definitely feels different, I don't like it, but I am not quite sure how to fix it!

I must say, I have thoroughly enjoyed her messy room, the constant coming and going, precious girls (her sweet highschool friends)around, and most of all getting to see her big brown eyes and hug her precious neck everyday! If you still have little ones at home, enjoy every minute. It is just a blink before they are gone!