Open Hands

Last night, Adam and I had to dash to the grocery. Philip and Anna decided they'd come along.

Anna is the huggy type; Philip pretends he doesn't care :)

Isn't it lovely to have a 19 and a 20 year old, who want to come to the grocery with the old folks? Oh, how precious they are to me! In a few weeks, they'll both be off to college. Sniff!

It's hard to let them go. A parent must have open hands, to release these young adults into their own lives. As I've said before, I think we've done a good job ensuring that they're ready; I just failed to make sure I was ready for it too! And it was one thing to send off that big, strapping boy. How in the world can I let go of that adorable little girl? When I look at her, I still see the two year old with a mass of thick, dark hair, who was only barely walking yet, and still wanted to be carried. She was tiny. She smiled and giggled, a happy child. Her first word was to her grandpa. She leaned toward him, grinned, and said, "Boo!" I can still see the expression on her face of wonder and fun.

I feel I am entering a new phase of life, and it will take some adjustment. If I'd had only two children, I'd need to adjust faster -- my empty nest would be now! I'm thankful that I had more. The remaining two will be a comfort, as these two are gone. Wouldn't it be nice if, by the time Julia heads off to college, I had a grandbaby to turn my mind toward? I won't look that far down the road. For today, I'm enjoying these two God-given wonders.