Steve and I have
officially entered that new phase of life referred to as the empty nest. Our youngest daughter, Kim, started college
in 2012 but at the same time our middle daughter, Emily, returned home for a
year after living in Chimbote, Peru for two years. Kim and Emily left yesterday with a car packed full
of items and a bike strapped to the back.
The girls were already to go when I noticed the bike carrier still in the bag! It took a little time to get the bike strapped down but eventually, with duck tape to boot, they were ready! |
The journey will take
the girls to Iowa City to see close friends of Emily’s then on to Chicago where
Emily will unpack her items and the bike at Catholic Theological Union. Emily will start grad school and she will be
working as the Director of Religious Education at St. Dennis in Chicago! After Emily is settled Kim will set the
Garmin to head to Greenfield, Indiana to see family and then on to
Steubenville, Ohio for her sophomore year of college. It seems strange that I'm not going with them to
help drive and unpack. That might explain why
it seems like they just went to Omaha for a few days and will return in a day
or two. Perhaps the river of tears is
yet to come!
I startled the mother from this nest of baby birds while looking for an empty nest. These babies will soon be ready to fly! |
I was looking for an empty nest in our trees and I was thinking about how Bill Cosby would talk about getting the kids out on their own. He has a quote that is sure to make anyone smile that has had a child come back home after time away. It goes like this “Human
beings are the only creatures on earth that allow their children to come back
home." I don't know about other creatures but I do know that baby birds fly when they are ready and the nest is empty when they do.
I do realize that children were meant to fly as well. While I might prefer having more of our kids closer to home I also realize that they are following a call unique to each of them. It’s quite the circle of life of bringing children into the world, raising them the best we can and then sending them out into the world to share their gifts and talents. God willing they will give us grandchildren to keep that circle going! So while I adjust to the quiet I am sure I will find many blessings in this next phase of life. If not, there are exchange students looking for homes!
No comments:
Post a Comment