Soaring Free From the Nest

Our youngest son, of 5, graduated from college this last December.  He has been home since then, job hunting and waiting.  Not an easy thing to do for a 22 year old or for the parents who have watched him grow and mature into this young man he has become.

This past week he got offered a job and accepted and all of a sudden he needed to prepare, pack up, and head north.  This job is in Michigan!!!!! and for this Mama from the south who lives in middle Alabama that is awfully far away. 

Having known for 4 1/2 years  that he would one day leave the nest for the last time is not any easier now that it has actually happened, even tho I kept preparing myself for the inevitable!   I watched him wave good bye and turn out of the driveway to make this first official journey into adulthood.  He has said for several years now that he still doesn't "feel" like an adult and figures it will be real when he steps into this first job/career and into his own life journey.  

Today it happened and this Momma admits she cried as he drove away.  Having left 4 others behind at schools and as I followed their dad to Germany, Oklahoma, and Alaska doesn't make it any easier to have this last one leave the nest and begin his journey into a new and fresh adventure. 

 I knew when I left the others behind that they had each other to depend on and lean on for support and for the last 22 years they have done just that.  They all live within about 30 minutes of eus and his brothersach other and all chose to do so.  They actually love and like each other.  A great accomplishment, one of mine and my husbands finest moments, if I do say so myself.  Don't get me wrong, I realize they are our finest accomplishments because of God.  His hand has been right there, involved in every step along the way and they would not be who they are without Him and His blessings and the struggles that have helped make them who they are.  I am blessed and truly thankful for His love and blessings.

I know in my heart that this final one, baby of the family tho he is, will do fine too.  He is well grounded in his walk with God, has a strong faith, counts his blessings and has a very tender heart.  He contemplates issues and calls us and his brothers for advice, and prays before making decisions.  What more could this Moma ask for.  God has him in His hands and He will lead him on this new journey and will place him where he needs to be.  I believe that with all my heart and soul and yet my emotions are raw this morning.  I do not apologize nor am I sorry for that.  It is as it is.  God gave me this emotional, tender heart and I am thankful for it. 

This youngest son, my final success as a mom has those same tender emotions.  I pray I have helped show him how to channel them and hold them in check when he needs to.  I believe they will help him be a good husband and father some day.

We had a pool party yesterday as a going away/see you later get together for him with half of his brothers, sisters(in law) and nieces and nephews, (or niblings as he calls them.)  Two brothers/families were out of town and unable to be there so it was quieter by half.   We all 13 splashed around in the pool, helped the little ones jump in and out, watched them show off their new found swimming skills, shared their acts of courage as they continue to become braver in the water.  

At one point our son got out and just sat on the side.  I swam over to him and asked  "are you ok budd?"  He replied, "I'm just watching."  I smiled as I watched him taking in those last precious sights and making memories, like Jesus' mother Mary, who watched and pondered all these things in her heart.  I know that he will put this away and at a time when he needs home, will pull them out and remember these "niblings" and what they mean to him.

I and his dad have helped him to be as "grown up" as we can in the job we have done and now it is time to have him step off the edge of the nest and we have to sit back and watch what happens as he soars and dips and maybe even has a few crash landings as he gets his feet steady under him and his wings strong as he flaps them as he keeps himself on this next journey/adventure called life.

Our prayers for him are and have always been to keep God in his heart, in his life, in his thoughts, first and fore most and always, always be able to know that he has us as parents and 4 brothers, 4 sisters and 12 niblings to forever be his cheering squad and prayer warriors anytime he needs us.  We will be there for him and each other and he can count on that no matter where life leads him.

Now let's see, this last son of mine, where this next adventure leads.  He with new beginnings as a young man and me with new beginnings as a mom of 44 years.  Wonder where we are headed now?