Chris Drives

Well today Rob & I watched as Chris passed all his tests and obtained his driver's license. This was a much more emotional event for me than for Rob. Rob looks at it as "freedom" from having Chris depend on us for rides here, there and everywhere. I see it more like now neither one of our kids really "need" us anymore. It's tough watching your kids grow up and just not really want/need you around as much. I know that as parents this is what we spend so much time preparing them for but its not easy letting them go. So today, at about 12:30 pm Chris drove out of our driveway to school for the first time. I'm just as excited as Chris is because of this landmark he's accomplished. But I'm also nervous, fearful and sad because I'm a mom and I worry. The other half of this emotional event is that Chris pulled out of our driveway with my (now his) Xterra. The Xterra is the first car that I purchased all by myself. I wanted that car for so long and had to work so hard to get it. It's in awesome condition! I've taken great care of it b/c of all the time and efforts I had to put into just signing the papers to get it. Rob whispered to me as I stood on the porch crying as Chris drove away, "There goes your two babies." He could not have been anymore right. I do not want either baby hurt, dinged or damaged.

The kids finally started school...thank goodness. Chris was seriously eating us out of house and home this summer. They are both playing sports right now and I'm coaching. We're really busy! Ky is playing soccer on my team again & Chris is playing football. He's playing varsity but not a lot. He played in 6 plays at the first game. I was so freaking proud of him though! The varsity team all has their names on the backs of their jerseys & when I saw our name on his it was one of those extremely proud moments that you just quietly enjoy. I was so quiet that Rob leaned over & asked if I was crying. I was so nervous & excited for him. I was so nervous & excited for Rob. I was sure hoping that he was as proud as I was but you know men...they don't really show that kind of emotion, especially in public. Ky has matured so much & I really think she's ready for adulthood. She had some difficult times this year with soccer & had to make some tough decisions. She stood strong in the mist of defeat & did not give up. She scored a goal in our 1st game this past week & I see such improvement in her skills daily. Ky's taking 2 GenEd classes at NIC this fall. It's a great taste of what college work is like but not so much that she's overloaded. This is also a great way for Rob & I to kinda watch over her & help her with adjusting to the life that is knocking on her door.

My husband is completely amazing! I have learned that he is such a patient man. There is nothing that I really have to do around the house. It's nice to know that he can handle so much w/o me. I told him the other day that all his chores are making me feel like I'm just carrying my load as a wife. He laughed and said, "Honey, you do alot. You clean the bathrooms." That's it. Here's your sign. I again, burnt hotdogs, which almost has me completely banned from the kitchen. So tomorrow, while he's at work, I'll be a good wife and clean the bathrooms.

This is my prayer. That this week I may praise more, love more & draw close to the Lord that my heart loves & longs for.