Our daughter will be off at college in 47 days. We, her parents will be driving her down in 45 days. I am counting down the days. So is she.
Two weeks ago, our daughter received a letter from the college, stating that they are providing her - her own college email address, log in into the college blackboard so that she can begin enrolling for her classes. It hit me then - that it is official. She is now their student.
Yesterday I reserved our hotel room for our arrival at Asheville, North Carolina. We probably will do a stop over in Lexington, Kentucky on our way down. My husband has taken the entire week off, from August 14th through August 21st. While researching our journey on mapquest, looking the states we'll be traveling through -- it was another moment of realizing that it is official. She is going off to college.
My husband has decided that we should take a slow journey on our way back home, after helping our daughter move in on the 16th. We hope to have breakfast with her on August 17th, which is the beginning of college orientation week. Then it is time for us to depart. Time for our daughter to begin her journey as a freshman student in college.
On our way home, the current thought is to do a stop over in Nashville to visit family members and friends for a day and two. After Nashville, we'll stop in Louisville, Kentucky to visit a couple of sites, and then maybe end up in Cincinnati, Ohio for a night. It is my desire to visit the Cincinnati Art Museum and then we will head on home to Michigan. Maybe. I'd like to visit family members in the Cleveland area if it is possible.
This journey will be the beginning of the next stage in our lives as "empty nesters." It certainly came much, much sooner than we anticipated. I know I have my moments. I am certain that my husband is having his moments. I do know that our daughter is even experiencing moments of her own as well. I am not sure if one is struggling more than the other. We do say and share our thoughts -- little by little.
The thought of the slow drive back home . . . at first, struck anxiety in me. The realization that we'll be leaving our daughter behind -- it is not like a two week camp, knowing she will be home in 14 days. This is leaving her behind -- with hopes of being able to see and visit with her before Christmas comes. This is weeks and months now. My first thought was no, I want to rush home. Surround myself with familiarity of my home and my day to day activities. Then there is this thought of coming home, knowing that our daughter will not be home. I don't want to come home because her bedroom will be empty.
Perhaps a slow journey on the way home might be good for us.
"Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say on the Lord."
- Psalms 27:14May peace be with you.
