off she goes

Our neighbor girl is heading off on her mission Tuesday for her church. She is Mormon. K is a very sweet young woman and she came over to invite us to her farewell party on Sunday evening.  We will, of course, attend.

Since we have lived next door to her family for 10 years now, we have seen all those four kids grow up alongside our three. Even though she has been away at BYU for the last school year, it is hard to think of her being gone for 18 months.

She even said her Mom is 'freaking' out a bit. I can imagine. I asked my girls after she left if they could go 18 months with only talking to me on the phone twice. She is allowed to call home on Mother's Day and Christmas.

No. Way. Was their answer.

Email and letters just wouldn't cut it was their comment.

K is going to have quite an experience and no doubt will come back with many stories to tell and memories that will shape her as she grows further into womanhood.

We wish her the best and I will be keeping her in my thoughts and prayers...as well as her mom and dad.

Letting go as they venture off to college is hard, letting them go in this fashion....don't think I could do it.

baby steps

My oldest is now legal to operate a vehicle on the roadways all across the nation. Wow. I remember getting my license. It was very exciting. Freedom. Responsibility. Growing up. All of those things were encased in a piece of laminated paper.

Seems like we were just in Stride Rite getting a pair of 'walking' shoes.

Tomorrow we head out on our first official college visit, complete with an appointment in admissions/recruiting and a walking tour.

All of these baby steps seem like giant leaps this morning!