Just a Mom of Big Kids

When my girls went away to college, they called often, texted even more often, and face-timed multiple times a day. They were checking in, sharing stories, asking advice....complaining, celebrating, contemplating...you name it,  it felt like we were doing it together.  Don't get me wrong.... while I loved (insert eye roll here) hearing about every room mate squabble, every outfit change... I didn't need to be this involved. Don't tell them, but every once in while, I would hit "decline" and tell Mike to call them back. In fairness, I had JUST spent all day teaching... I was all talked out.  I heard from them so often that my class of firsties knew their individualized text sounds.  But now there's this..... Caleb. My almost 20-year old. My one who, after a gap year, is at college 1300 miles away from us.  Let's remember, this kiddo has never been a big talker. Ever. He had two bigger sisters who NEVER STOPPED TALKING. But that means when he's away at c...

Back in March, as a family we decided that, while it wasn't exactly our timing, we felt God was leading us back to Boca Raton. I was offered a first grade position (helloooo firsties!) and Mike was offered the chance to work with his closest friends, learning a new industry (goodbye classroom!).  But then, it seemed that everything that could go wrong kind of did.... First, we had to sell a house. It'll be easy, they said. It'll be fast, they declared. It wasn't easy and it most definitely wasn't fast. With every breath, I felt that I was pleading with God to find the perfect family and lead them to our house. Then I prayed for the inspection, the appraisal, the financing, the closing. This is the 3rd house we've sold, so either God protects me by removing the memory from my brain, or the other sales were unremarkable, because this one clearly caused some gray hairs. Yet, the delays actually kept us from jumping the gun and buying a house in Florida that wasn...