----The Summer in Between----

This summer is kind of weird. It feels like this big transition for our family. Sarah graduated 10 days ago from high school. In 64 days she moves to college. Those are 2 very different stages of life and this summer is neatly sandwiched in-between.

I know that I am feeling a ton of emotions (and a little bit of anxiety) about all of this, so I can only imagine that she is as well.....times 10.

I start wondering about things like, "How many more vacations will we go on when it is just the 5 of us?" and "Who will Sarah become when she goes away and so many others have more influence on her life than we do?" and "How on earth did this period of my life flash by so quickly?"

I am definitely not letting myself get caught up in the emotions of August 17 yet. I keep pushing those beneath the surface. In the meantime, we buy things like towels and sheets and coffee pots, we select classes, and we pick dorms. All the details....but there is still a lot of summer between now and then, right?

But I am finding myself praying more than ever before for my kids. To remind myself, more than anything, I am making a list:

• That God would be the most important part of their lives.
• That they would be wise in choosing people to form relationships with.
• That they would be protected from evil.
• That they know they can always come to us with ANYTHING.
• That they don't become so self-focused that they stop serving others.
• I pray for the choices and hearts of the 3 men out there who will one day be their husbands. (Whoever these dudes are....I have been praying for them for 18+ years now!)

It's all really exciting. More exciting than scary. But for now I'm going to lean hard on the prayer part and let the rest fall into place.