Forecast

The two youngest girls left for a 4+ week trek to CA for a visit with their oldest sister, Danica. That doesn't exactly leave the house empty, but it does leave this Mama with only one young person in her charge. The others around here are working and a bit more on their own, so to speak.

So as I consider my responsibilities for the next several weeks, I feel a bit as though this is a taste of things to come. No music lessons to cart them to, no shopping trips to plan on their behalf, no cleaning assignments, no this, no that. Hmmm. A bit of the "empty nest" syndrome.

Wait, before you remind me that I need a reality check because the house is far from vacant, let me say, "I know that." But the mothering duties are modifying and getting closer and closer to absolute change. That is strange. You must realize that I've been at this for quite a few years now. I'm kind of used to this kind of life.

"Merrick has eight years of schooling left," I hear you say.

Here's my response to that -- Eight years is now to me this: nothing. I'm 53 and I can say without a doubt that 8 years will be gone overnight. Impossible you say? I assure you, it is not impossible.

So, this summer is feeling different. Life is changing. I'm looking for the right way to walk this one out. And I'm glad once again to have Him leading the way.

** My dad just popped onto the porch where I sit with laptop in place to hand me a DVD of Peter and The Wolf. He explained, "I'll leave this with you. Daniel's kids and Merrick can watch it."

Well, just another aspect of this seasonal change - grandkids watching music education movies with Uncle Merrick. Maybe my nest won't be too empty after all.