Last blog... still an empty-nester. I cannot believe that it is May. Less then 2 months and Sarah will be home. Zach has been living in Evanston for 3 months. Time does play tricks, that is for sure. Speeding by and dragging on. I have really enjoyed our time without others in the house. I would say without kids in the house, but who am I fooling, my children are young adults, not kids. They both left the house for different reasons. Sarah knew what she was doing, had planned for it, "trained" for it and was ready. She needed to see more of this world then another year in a classroom would offer her. She has had amazing growth in the last 8 months and has seen and learned things that make me jealous and so proud. Zach had no idea what he was in for, just following the path that I had basically laid out for him. He was fine where he was at MSU but he was not his own person. The choices that he made in January let him mature and grow into himself. I see the man that Zach can be when I visit now. He is not a kid, he is not a YA (library speak), he is just about a full-blown adult. To say that I am proud of my children would be an understatement. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Brian has been a great friend and partner. I am glad to say that I love spending time with him. Living in the woods and not having a lot of friends in the area, it is a darn good thing we like hanging out together. My favorite time of day is when we are both just home for work (or at least he is if it is my day off) and we sit upstairs and catch up or read or watch some news. The routine of sitting down for dinner together every night (often in time to test our IQ's with Jeopardy) will continue and I hope that Sarah will plan on joining us and Zach too, when he is home. My other "favorite" of this time that we have had is exploring the state of Michigan. We have had so many wonderful weekend day trips. That will continue as well, I hope, I hope.
Camp season is upon us, this will also bring changes as I take on the evening job of running the Trading Post and Brian's schedule is dictated by the camp schedule. We love the summer season and are very ready for all of the wonderful people it brings to "our neck of the woods". I have loved my time, I will love my time when Sarah is back home, I will love my time when Zach visits or is home from school. That is my goal... to love my time.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
It happened again...
We are empty-nesters. We actually have been for almost a month.
When Zach decided that Michigan State was not for him I feel that I went through a lot of different emotions. While I was dealing with all of MY feelings I didn't feel like writing. I guess now that I want to write again is a good sign. It is a really good sign.
My biggest regret after Zach left school and returned home was feeling a bit like a failure myself. I was embarrassed that he had dropped out of college (this is not something easy to admit!) I couldn't get past the fact that he was going to be home and not be at Michigan State University doing what you are "supposed" to do after graduating High School. Zach and I had a bit of a rough adjustment those first couple of weeks. I was able to talk to LOTS of different people that gave us wonderful advise and information. Just over a month ago a game plan was formed. It is because of all of the wonderful people in our lives that Zach is now living in Evanston and working at Charmers Cafe and teaching swim lessons at the McGaw YMCA. I think that he is genuinely happy with his life right now. My embarrassment of my son's decision has turned into pride that he made such a big decision. He is on a new path, one that will probably lead back to school... eventually. I know that my stepping back and letting him take the wheel of his own life has helped both of us. Don't get me wrong though, I am still quite the meddling mother! As Brian likes to point out; I need to know what's going on. I am on "Team Zach", always have been, always will be.
Sarah Jane, living in Germany. Finding it hard to speak English when all of her thoughts are in German. Truly immersed in the life she is living. Today is the 6 (SIX) month anniversary of her arrival! She has 4 more to go and they are going to be so full of friends and adventure. She and the other Rotary exchange students in her area are going on a 3 week tour around Germany. I think it is 23 cities in 21 days or something crazy like that. She will be giving herself one day to recover and then she is off to England with her school for 5 days. She is going to be one tired girl. I go to Chicago for a weekend and need a little time to recover. Sarah did find out that she will be working at camp when she returns to Fremont. Two weeks to get re-acclimated and then 4 weeks living at camp. Getting PAID for the 1st time after her 100's of hours of volunteering. I am excited to see her again and have her back in our day to day lives but hope that she takes advantage of every moment she has there!
I am pretty over the winter weather that refuses to depart western Michigan. I need Spring, I need some fun weekend adventures that don't require skis, boots, mittens, hats, coats. I am not a Winter person. I will be a lot happier once I can see green grass and feel the heat of the sun on my face!
When Zach decided that Michigan State was not for him I feel that I went through a lot of different emotions. While I was dealing with all of MY feelings I didn't feel like writing. I guess now that I want to write again is a good sign. It is a really good sign.
My biggest regret after Zach left school and returned home was feeling a bit like a failure myself. I was embarrassed that he had dropped out of college (this is not something easy to admit!) I couldn't get past the fact that he was going to be home and not be at Michigan State University doing what you are "supposed" to do after graduating High School. Zach and I had a bit of a rough adjustment those first couple of weeks. I was able to talk to LOTS of different people that gave us wonderful advise and information. Just over a month ago a game plan was formed. It is because of all of the wonderful people in our lives that Zach is now living in Evanston and working at Charmers Cafe and teaching swim lessons at the McGaw YMCA. I think that he is genuinely happy with his life right now. My embarrassment of my son's decision has turned into pride that he made such a big decision. He is on a new path, one that will probably lead back to school... eventually. I know that my stepping back and letting him take the wheel of his own life has helped both of us. Don't get me wrong though, I am still quite the meddling mother! As Brian likes to point out; I need to know what's going on. I am on "Team Zach", always have been, always will be.
Sarah Jane, living in Germany. Finding it hard to speak English when all of her thoughts are in German. Truly immersed in the life she is living. Today is the 6 (SIX) month anniversary of her arrival! She has 4 more to go and they are going to be so full of friends and adventure. She and the other Rotary exchange students in her area are going on a 3 week tour around Germany. I think it is 23 cities in 21 days or something crazy like that. She will be giving herself one day to recover and then she is off to England with her school for 5 days. She is going to be one tired girl. I go to Chicago for a weekend and need a little time to recover. Sarah did find out that she will be working at camp when she returns to Fremont. Two weeks to get re-acclimated and then 4 weeks living at camp. Getting PAID for the 1st time after her 100's of hours of volunteering. I am excited to see her again and have her back in our day to day lives but hope that she takes advantage of every moment she has there!
I am pretty over the winter weather that refuses to depart western Michigan. I need Spring, I need some fun weekend adventures that don't require skis, boots, mittens, hats, coats. I am not a Winter person. I will be a lot happier once I can see green grass and feel the heat of the sun on my face!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Well That Didn't Last Long
I am no longer an empty-nester! I have no idea how long this will last but Zach has moved home. After returning to school from Winter Break he started questioning everything that he was doing and why. He made the final decision to withdraw from MSU and return home to figure things out. I have to say that last week was a bit rough for all of us. I learned what I think is a very valuable lesson: I can guide my children and I can give them my opinion but I can not decide what they are going to do. I pretty much believe that I was the one that decided that Zach was going to go to college once he graduated high school. I didn't hold his hand through the process I did the process for him. That time of our life is over. Zach needs to figure out his path, his goals and ultimately how he is going to live his life. I can fill his head with hundred's of ideas but he is in the driver's seat from now on. He has already said that he might regret this decision but since he decided he can only move forward. College is always an option again, MSU is always an option again. I have to say that academically Zach did a fantastic job his 1st semester. His primary focus now needs to be on what he wants to do, where he sees his life and to get a job! Right now he just needs to get a job!
Sarah is staying in Germany until July 2nd. I would not say that it was touch or go because I don't think it would have crossed her mind to quit. I can say that the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas were rough for her. She battled homesickness, winter blahs and certainly questioned why she had given up the comforts of home to be someplace that is often uncomfortable. Thankfully Rotary meetings prior to her leaving dealt with the roller coaster of emotions that almost all exchange students will face. She said "bring it on" and got through the rough patch. Hard to be unhappy when you are in Salzburg on the Sound of Music Tour! Other then her computer breaking this week I believe that Sarah is very happy with where she is and what she is doing. It was hard to hear that her computer had broken and that I could not do a thing about it. Had she been here I would have brought it to the "computer fixer guy". I hope her host family can help her with that.
My New Year's resolutions are cliche: loose weight and exercise more. Probably won't be writing about the Life of an Empty-Nester until it happens again. ta-ta for now.
Sarah is staying in Germany until July 2nd. I would not say that it was touch or go because I don't think it would have crossed her mind to quit. I can say that the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas were rough for her. She battled homesickness, winter blahs and certainly questioned why she had given up the comforts of home to be someplace that is often uncomfortable. Thankfully Rotary meetings prior to her leaving dealt with the roller coaster of emotions that almost all exchange students will face. She said "bring it on" and got through the rough patch. Hard to be unhappy when you are in Salzburg on the Sound of Music Tour! Other then her computer breaking this week I believe that Sarah is very happy with where she is and what she is doing. It was hard to hear that her computer had broken and that I could not do a thing about it. Had she been here I would have brought it to the "computer fixer guy". I hope her host family can help her with that.
My New Year's resolutions are cliche: loose weight and exercise more. Probably won't be writing about the Life of an Empty-Nester until it happens again. ta-ta for now.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Christmas time is ALWAYS a little different
Last year we already knew that Sarah would be gone for this Christmas. Even knowing that; we did something different last year and we were apart for Christmas. Maybe we were testing the waters as to how we would feel for this Christmas? I don't know, but I do know that we all had a wonderful holiday even if we weren't together. Do I expect the same this year? Yes and no. I know that the people that Zach, Brian and I will be with for the next couple of days and weeks will be fun, wonderful and a pleasure to be with. I know food will be plentiful, beverages flowing, conversations entertaining and traveling fun. We are returning to places that we have been to often and love and we look forward to the familiarity of that. What I DON'T know is what Sarah will be doing and that makes it tough. Even Sarah doesn't really know what she will be doing. In her host home they do not decorate a tree until Christmas Eve so she hasn't done that and it doesn't feel very festive yet. Her host family has not told her what they will do for Christmas Day. I am sure that her host parents will make it a warm and nice holiday but Sarah is not feeling much enthusiasm so that makes it hard. I DO know that right after Christmas Sarah gets to have 3 days of ski lessons and skiing and that for the new year she will be traveling to her host mother's family home near the Austrian border. These will be new and hopefully VERY FUN experiences to anticipate. Plus, of course, the awesome gifts we sent for her to open on Christmas Day!
Someone recently asked me if it was hard for me right now with Sarah gone and it being the holidays. I said no, not really, it isn't any harder then any other day. When I know she is having a hard time with either homesickness or illness or difficulties with her family or the language I feel for her and miss her. I want to be able to FIX things for her, but I can't of course and that is part of this whole exchange for both of us! I wouldn't let her give it up just because we miss each other. I am in awe that my daughter has taken on this amazing, difficult, exciting, demanding path in her life. She has already grown so much because of it and will continue to become more and more of a "global student" and mature young lady as the year continues.
Zach returned from MSU for Christmas break last Wednesday. I didn't see him for 4 days. When he was finally home for a day it was great to see him and talk to him. I look forward to spending 2 weeks with him and Brian away from the every day life here at home. I don't feel like I am back to being a "nester" because he is home. He is going to be 19 years old on Friday - my "best Christmas gift ever". He is a wonderful, fun, funny young man. He is challenging at times, he WAS challenging at times; maybe because of that we have a pretty excellent adult relationship. I want to think so at least!
Make the most of the WHERE you are and WHO you are with! Merry Christmas to you, wherever you are this holiday season.
Someone recently asked me if it was hard for me right now with Sarah gone and it being the holidays. I said no, not really, it isn't any harder then any other day. When I know she is having a hard time with either homesickness or illness or difficulties with her family or the language I feel for her and miss her. I want to be able to FIX things for her, but I can't of course and that is part of this whole exchange for both of us! I wouldn't let her give it up just because we miss each other. I am in awe that my daughter has taken on this amazing, difficult, exciting, demanding path in her life. She has already grown so much because of it and will continue to become more and more of a "global student" and mature young lady as the year continues.
Zach returned from MSU for Christmas break last Wednesday. I didn't see him for 4 days. When he was finally home for a day it was great to see him and talk to him. I look forward to spending 2 weeks with him and Brian away from the every day life here at home. I don't feel like I am back to being a "nester" because he is home. He is going to be 19 years old on Friday - my "best Christmas gift ever". He is a wonderful, fun, funny young man. He is challenging at times, he WAS challenging at times; maybe because of that we have a pretty excellent adult relationship. I want to think so at least!
Make the most of the WHERE you are and WHO you are with! Merry Christmas to you, wherever you are this holiday season.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
This Was Going To Be Titled Baby Steps
I have been thinking about this blog and what I wanted to write for almost a full month. At the beginning of the month I made some really good changes in my life. I made some choices that were hard but I now feel great with them. I was taking "baby steps" towards change. But, every time I decided to write about it I decided it was to personal or boring or not worth writing about. So now I am writing my Thanksgiving "I Am Thankful" Blog... and these will be listed in no apparent order and some things I am thankful for will be left out because I forgot.
This year there will be only 3 of us sitting around the Thanksgiving (kitchen) table. In the past we have joined or been joined by others and have gone around the table saying what we are thankful for. NOT sure if that will happen this year. A couple of years ago we were at a friend's house for Thanksgiving and I remember waiting as each person said the ONE thing they were thankful for, what was I going to say? I didn't want it to be corny or cliched. I said "my house" and started tearing up. My house? Really? At the time, yes, I was grateful that we were in our own house. Now we are in a wonderful house at Camp Echo and the house I was so grateful for is a rental in town that we can't sell. I mention this to say that things that we are thankful for one year may not be the #1 shout out in coming years! I also mention this so that it can be understood that THIS YEAR I am thankful for:
- Brian, for being a wonderful husband and a great friend that I get to hang out with all of the time. I am glad that after 20+ years we are still such good friends. I love him
- Zach, for being a really great son. I feel like he has matured and "grown into" himself over the last couple of months and I really like what I see and hear. I am so proud of him and I love him.
- Sarah, for taking the risk and changing her whole life by moving to Germany for a year. I have one independent, mature daughter. We chat often so she knows how proud I am of her and I love her.
Those are the big three in my life. I, of course have many more people that I am thankful for: my parents, who are always just a phone call away. They have helped me and my family in so many ways over so many years, being thankful for them doesn't really describe it! I have a great family, we all get along and see each other when time and proximity allows. My friends: man, I am SO lucky to have some of the best friends in the world. Talk about having people you can always depend on, I've got them and I am so thankful!
I am thankful:
- that my 13 year old dog gets up every morning and still enjoys a good walk
- that I have animals in my life
- that I gave up all but 1 Diet Coke a day (maybe 2 on a sleepy day)
- that I have a job that I like
- that I live where I live
- that I have stopped drinking wine
- that I can cook
- that I have started making decisions based on what I want
- that MSU accepted Zach and Zach accepted back
- for Rotary International
- for SKYPE and Facebook
- that I am happy and content
I think that is a small sampling of what I am thankful for this year. It is a lot more then I would have said if I was asked around this year's Thanksgiving dinner table. I know that it doesn't matter year to year who I am eating with at the "big holiday meals". I will always be more thankful for the Who's in my life rather then the What's. Happy Thanksgiving family and friends!
This year there will be only 3 of us sitting around the Thanksgiving (kitchen) table. In the past we have joined or been joined by others and have gone around the table saying what we are thankful for. NOT sure if that will happen this year. A couple of years ago we were at a friend's house for Thanksgiving and I remember waiting as each person said the ONE thing they were thankful for, what was I going to say? I didn't want it to be corny or cliched. I said "my house" and started tearing up. My house? Really? At the time, yes, I was grateful that we were in our own house. Now we are in a wonderful house at Camp Echo and the house I was so grateful for is a rental in town that we can't sell. I mention this to say that things that we are thankful for one year may not be the #1 shout out in coming years! I also mention this so that it can be understood that THIS YEAR I am thankful for:
- Brian, for being a wonderful husband and a great friend that I get to hang out with all of the time. I am glad that after 20+ years we are still such good friends. I love him
- Zach, for being a really great son. I feel like he has matured and "grown into" himself over the last couple of months and I really like what I see and hear. I am so proud of him and I love him.
- Sarah, for taking the risk and changing her whole life by moving to Germany for a year. I have one independent, mature daughter. We chat often so she knows how proud I am of her and I love her.
Those are the big three in my life. I, of course have many more people that I am thankful for: my parents, who are always just a phone call away. They have helped me and my family in so many ways over so many years, being thankful for them doesn't really describe it! I have a great family, we all get along and see each other when time and proximity allows. My friends: man, I am SO lucky to have some of the best friends in the world. Talk about having people you can always depend on, I've got them and I am so thankful!
I am thankful:
- that my 13 year old dog gets up every morning and still enjoys a good walk
- that I have animals in my life
- that I gave up all but 1 Diet Coke a day (maybe 2 on a sleepy day)
- that I have a job that I like
- that I live where I live
- that I have stopped drinking wine
- that I can cook
- that I have started making decisions based on what I want
- that MSU accepted Zach and Zach accepted back
- for Rotary International
- for SKYPE and Facebook
- that I am happy and content
I think that is a small sampling of what I am thankful for this year. It is a lot more then I would have said if I was asked around this year's Thanksgiving dinner table. I know that it doesn't matter year to year who I am eating with at the "big holiday meals". I will always be more thankful for the Who's in my life rather then the What's. Happy Thanksgiving family and friends!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
journaling and the weekend
Weeks, they just keep flying by...I have been "chatting" with Sarah almost everyday through Facebook, Skype or email. Neither one of us think of it as a "crutch" just a way to say hey. Today she left for Berlin for a week. This will be the longest we haven't communicated since she left. I told her to write everything down because in years to come she will appreciate the memories. This got me to thinking... Sarah has been writing in her journal regularly, I know because she has asked us to send a 2nd one as she will run out of paper shortly. She has mentioned that she doesn't write everything down that she is thinking or feeling because some day she wants me to read her journal. I don't think that it is a bad thing to NOT write all your thoughts down. Some inner thoughts or contemplations are just meant for yourself. This blog is kind of like a journal for me. I want to share some thoughts and activities that have been happening. I certainly wouldn't write all of my thoughts or feeling in a blog for all to see. I wouldn't even write all my thoughts in a "private" journal! I have kept a journal two times in my life. Both of my trips to Europe are documented. I would like to say well documented but I reread them this weekend and parts are pretty weak! BUT... they did bring back great memories. I think I may pick up a journal again. Not to write in daily but maybe so that I can write stuff down so I won't forget. (I don't have Alzheimer's, but I do have a horrible memory!) We have been doing some fun stuff lately. I may even write down stuff that happened awhile ago, our trip to Mexico was amazing, Disney World was amazing, weeks spent with friends and family have been amazing. I should not depend on my memory.
This weekend I spent on my own! Brian went to MSU to pick up Zach and they headed to Iowa to visit with Aunt Mary and the family, see some camp people that are at the University and get away for the weekend. I had an excellent time! Friday I never left the house, I actually never even got out of my sweatpants! I watched two movies, took the dogs for a nice long walk and read my book. I did not do a minute of housework! Saturday I had to work for a couple of hours then I watched two movies, the MSU game (sad) and read my book! I vacuumed only because the dog hair was driving me crazy! So far today I have read my book, took the dogs for a walk and hung out on the Internet. Why is it that it took a weekend by myself to figure out that I don't have to stay busy, keep the house in order and do, do, do? It's not like Brian expects me to be spending my time off cleaning, the kids don't care. So, new goal... chill out on weekends. I don't have to do... I can just be (deep, right?) and I will write about it! Julie
This weekend I spent on my own! Brian went to MSU to pick up Zach and they headed to Iowa to visit with Aunt Mary and the family, see some camp people that are at the University and get away for the weekend. I had an excellent time! Friday I never left the house, I actually never even got out of my sweatpants! I watched two movies, took the dogs for a nice long walk and read my book. I did not do a minute of housework! Saturday I had to work for a couple of hours then I watched two movies, the MSU game (sad) and read my book! I vacuumed only because the dog hair was driving me crazy! So far today I have read my book, took the dogs for a walk and hung out on the Internet. Why is it that it took a weekend by myself to figure out that I don't have to stay busy, keep the house in order and do, do, do? It's not like Brian expects me to be spending my time off cleaning, the kids don't care. So, new goal... chill out on weekends. I don't have to do... I can just be (deep, right?) and I will write about it! Julie
Monday, October 18, 2010
I think of the weeks through weekends
The weeks that have passed since the kids have been gone can so far all be measured by what we have done on the weekends. It has been fun, and eye opening. I have talked about most of them except last weekend and this past weekend. I am going to touch base on those because in their own way they had a lot to do with the Sarah and Zach.
Two weekends ago on Sunday Brian and I decided to go for a drive straight East - it was beautiful out and the trees were at peak colors, we got to Bay City, went to State Recreation Area and then decided to go to Frankenmuth (Little Bavaria). As we were driving there Brian had on his German accent (laugh out loud) and once we got there we took pictures of all things German, we even tried to recreate a photo or two that Sarah had sent us! Although we were clearly not in Germany with Sarah and there was a "park like" quality to the whole town it made us think and talk about her all day. How "wowed" we are by the things she is doing. How proud we are of her for taking this leap. How excited we are for her future plans for this coming year and yes, how jealous we are that she gets to do all this great stuff! We are so darn happy for her. We ate cheese, sausage, pastry and had a great day. It did not give us a sense of longing to see her but just gave us happy thoughts and stories. Not being able to Skype, that was really difficult, especially as the days went by and we all tried and COULD NOT MAKE IT WORK! Finally today, yes today, I was able to Skype with Sarah and all is right with the world. I look forward for Brian and Sarah having that same time very soon.
This past weekend we went to visit Zach at MSU. On Saturday we had tickets to the Homecoming football game. We arrived at 10:00am and I was immediately overwhelmed by the shear volume of people! 70,000 people and I believe they were all at one tailgate or another. The quantity of food and beer that was being consumed at 10:00am was madness. We had touched base with Zach but knew we wouldn't see him until after the game since he had student section seats. Brian and I got to our seats and I knew I would not be moving again until the end of the game - 69 rows up and packed like sardines! AWESOME game though as MSU came away with a win and are currently undefeated! Zach found us at 1/2 time to say hey - what a wonderful feeling I had just giving him a quick hug. I hadn't seen him in 6 weeks! I could go on to all of the details but then this would go for pages rather then paragraphs. Zach had no plans other then to be with us until we left on Sunday. My boy has grown up. It was so fun to be with him and great to hear about school, classes, exploits (I am sure there are some we don't even want to know about!) and people he has gotten to know. Mostly it was good to see with him and hang with him. I really think that Zach has found a sense of calm at a school of 45,000. I hope that he succeeds and continues at MSU, he certainly seems like he is on his way. I left yesterday loving the son we raised very much! I look forward to being with him at Thanksgiving. I am grateful that he and Brian get to have a guys weekend in a couple of weeks.
Here is something that didn't REALLY occur to me until we got home last night. I am not the only empty-nester in our house! That may sound dumb or selfish but when I thought about writing this blog I thought about what I would be going through or feeling. It took Brian finding me last night while I was putting stuff away to remind me that I am not the only one going through this. Now, I won't talk about Brian's feelings because that is not my place (too much), but... the house feels "empty" after returning from a great visit. It's quiet. Brian was able to say that, he misses the kids. He likes to hang out with his kids. Me too.
Two weekends ago on Sunday Brian and I decided to go for a drive straight East - it was beautiful out and the trees were at peak colors, we got to Bay City, went to State Recreation Area and then decided to go to Frankenmuth (Little Bavaria). As we were driving there Brian had on his German accent (laugh out loud) and once we got there we took pictures of all things German, we even tried to recreate a photo or two that Sarah had sent us! Although we were clearly not in Germany with Sarah and there was a "park like" quality to the whole town it made us think and talk about her all day. How "wowed" we are by the things she is doing. How proud we are of her for taking this leap. How excited we are for her future plans for this coming year and yes, how jealous we are that she gets to do all this great stuff! We are so darn happy for her. We ate cheese, sausage, pastry and had a great day. It did not give us a sense of longing to see her but just gave us happy thoughts and stories. Not being able to Skype, that was really difficult, especially as the days went by and we all tried and COULD NOT MAKE IT WORK! Finally today, yes today, I was able to Skype with Sarah and all is right with the world. I look forward for Brian and Sarah having that same time very soon.
This past weekend we went to visit Zach at MSU. On Saturday we had tickets to the Homecoming football game. We arrived at 10:00am and I was immediately overwhelmed by the shear volume of people! 70,000 people and I believe they were all at one tailgate or another. The quantity of food and beer that was being consumed at 10:00am was madness. We had touched base with Zach but knew we wouldn't see him until after the game since he had student section seats. Brian and I got to our seats and I knew I would not be moving again until the end of the game - 69 rows up and packed like sardines! AWESOME game though as MSU came away with a win and are currently undefeated! Zach found us at 1/2 time to say hey - what a wonderful feeling I had just giving him a quick hug. I hadn't seen him in 6 weeks! I could go on to all of the details but then this would go for pages rather then paragraphs. Zach had no plans other then to be with us until we left on Sunday. My boy has grown up. It was so fun to be with him and great to hear about school, classes, exploits (I am sure there are some we don't even want to know about!) and people he has gotten to know. Mostly it was good to see with him and hang with him. I really think that Zach has found a sense of calm at a school of 45,000. I hope that he succeeds and continues at MSU, he certainly seems like he is on his way. I left yesterday loving the son we raised very much! I look forward to being with him at Thanksgiving. I am grateful that he and Brian get to have a guys weekend in a couple of weeks.
Here is something that didn't REALLY occur to me until we got home last night. I am not the only empty-nester in our house! That may sound dumb or selfish but when I thought about writing this blog I thought about what I would be going through or feeling. It took Brian finding me last night while I was putting stuff away to remind me that I am not the only one going through this. Now, I won't talk about Brian's feelings because that is not my place (too much), but... the house feels "empty" after returning from a great visit. It's quiet. Brian was able to say that, he misses the kids. He likes to hang out with his kids. Me too.
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