Leah flew back to the nest with a safe landing last Saturday with $5.00 left in her pocket after being charged $80.00 at the ticket counter for overweight bags full of a month's worth of living "essentials" and text books.
She had a wonderful time and managed to do very well in both of her classes in spite of the fact that she was never...not once...in her room when I tried to call her....de ja vu of my own college days...the difference being... uh um, well, the grades.
This time of learning and living in community with others apart from family has always been one of my favorite seasons to watch emerge in the life of each of the girls...
...theoretical lessons soaked up in the bubble of the classroom, friendships forged and tested in the flame of reality and truth, validation or invalidation of past parental counsel, realization of personal responsibility for choices made...
In other words...standing on the edge of the faith nest your parents have painstakingly prepared, as they now watch from a safe distance, practicing for the day you will finally leave and fly away on the air current of faith provided by the Ultimate One that you have been learning to trust.
Leah's first test flight proved successful, and I am sure, with a few more practice runs, she will discover the secret most of us have eventually learned: The less baggage you carry with you, the better the flight!
So glad she's home safe! Those girls are beautiful!!
(And I wholeheartedly agree about less baggage, literal and figurative. Just leave it behind.)
Posted by: aggiejenn | Monday, July 10, 2006 at 08:56 AM
Your girls are lovely!
Your words are so encouraging today since our oldest is 18. I know that when she does eventually leave, things will go well but it seems so odd to think of being outside of her daily life.
Ah.... if only kids stayed little!
Posted by: Randi | Monday, July 10, 2006 at 05:00 PM
who are those hotties??!!?? oh wait, my sisters. :) wait to go mom and dad. :) xoxo see ya in august for baby's birth.
Posted by: katy | Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 01:07 AM
I love the picture of the girls. Seeing Jenna pregnant reminds me of how Dad always thinks that women "glow" when they are pregnant---and she does!
Posted by: Cindy | Friday, July 21, 2006 at 10:25 PM