College Will Come Too Soon

It's been a hectic week getting my new kids used to our daily routine, but I have to say that they fit in perfectly and I couldn't ask for a better family! Hopefully Ben will love playing with Justin when he comes back on Monday! Justin already brought Spiderman pencils to share with "the boy" as he calls him! So cute!

I have tried not to listen to any news today, as I get sucked in watching and hearing all the grisly and disturbing details of the Virginia Tech tragedy. I had such an eerie feeling when I first heard about it because I had been thinking about how it will feel when my kids head off to college. I had been thinking about a family at church who sat in front of us on Sunday who has a daughter in college and how it must feel to come to church without her and pretty much cut the strings and let her be her own person. How incredibly hard that must be, even if you are confident in the way you raised your children, it must leave such an emptiness knowing that part of your relationship is done! I was also thinking how much harder it is for me to take Ryleigh to school and watch her walk in the building all by herself than it is to send her with Tim. I don't know why, except when I take her, I sit and watch her be so big and confident and she turns and waves with a huge smile. At home when they leave it's always a big rush and fifty questions- did you get your lunch, your backpack, your Bear Binder, etc.? How will I ever let them go away to college???? EEK! Then this tragedy happens and you just think how horrible and unfair it is that those students were getting ready to embark on so many new journeys and start their life independent from their parents. My heart just breaks for them.

I guess since there is no way to really keep your children safe from violence like that, all you can do is teach them about God and show them the right path and hope that they make good decisions so that if something does happen, you can find peace that they are going to Heaven, which has to be the only peace about such an awful, terrible tragedy. You just have to have faith that God is with you no matter how tough the situation is and only He can heal your heart.

On a happier subject... Stacy came by this morning and she is headed to Kaz tomorrow!!!! It's so emotional saying good-bye to a friend who is getting ready to make the trip of a lifetime! I am so excited to hear about little Haven, I can hardly stand it! I will be praying for their safety and health as they travel and for Haven to bond with them quickly! I know she will!

Ryleigh went to the Nature Center with her class for their field trip today. Being the overprotective parents we are, we thought that Tim should take his personal day and go along! I am anxious to hear how it went! I told Julie that Tim would have a whole new appreciation for kindergarten teachers! It's a beautiful day and I know they are having a blast!