The First {Big} Good-bye

As a mother of sons I am acutely aware of the fact that, since day one, I have been preparing myself to let go completely at some future date. Raise them well, according to God's grace, and prepare them to be independent leaders of their own future family units.

I am also acutely aware that with daughters the separation isn't quite so thorough, or severe. I try not to dwell on the fact that I will be all alone someday and hoping that maybe once in awhile my future daughters-in-law will call me for advice on pie crust or homemade fabric softener or a list of good preschool books, instead of calling their own mother first. Dream on, I know. . .

With all that on my heart and in my mind, I got to experience my first big good-bye yesterday. I sent my oldest son out into the wilderness for a week with a bunch of Boy Scouts, outhouses, killer-mosquitos, a lake and a few brave Boy Scout Dads. This is good practice for me to learn the art of letting go, and I am truly thankful that my lessons will be coming in small increments.

{I hope}

The brothers all pitched in to get Braden out the door. They were so excited for him. I am too, but it's different. Moms look at things through milestone moments and this was a huge one.

Well wishes for their biggest brother and I kept stalling, insisting on more pictures. Maybe he'd miss the caravan and then I would get to procratinate on this lesson for another year?

"Just one more picture. Well, maybe we should get another picture. Sweetheart, I think you need to practice using the camera some more.

And another. . ."

Could I make this last for the 30-minutes I thought I was hoping for?

My wise husband is confident this will be a good week for our Scout and his mom. I trust his judgment completely and am thankful that he pushes me out of my comfort zone {the mommy zone!} when he knows it is beneficial.

This will be a great week for me to really have my faith tested - Do I really believe that God can care for my son as well away from me as when he is just within my arms' length? Do I really believe that God can take care of this child of mine, of His, without my help? You Moms know what I'm talking about. Any encouragement from the wiser Moms out there who have done this before?

Appreciating your prayers this week and thankful for friendship and grace-filled lessons in letting go.