August 21, 2003

• In 1992 I called home from college in my Senior year.  My parents wished me to do this once a week and we all enjoyed the chat.  It was a priviledge and a break from the reality of all the work and so on of school.  I called in November and was expecting the normal phone call about who said what, and how work was going on and so on and so forth.

  
  

  When I finished school I was planning on living and managing a B&B that my mom was in the process of getting going.    I was looking forward to it, and it was at least a goal until I was ready to go on the mission field which I wouldn't be able to do for at least 2 years.  (long complicated reasons why )

  
  

  Anyhow I got on the phone and my mom shattered that dream.  They had decided that it wasn't the way to go for now, and that God was leading them to adopt a sibling group.  This was something my parents had always talked about.  But I had my heart set on living on my own close enough to bang into my parents frequently, and not needing to go job hunting.  I sobbed when they told me.  I wasn't resenting the adoption, just the change of plans.

  
  

  I now know it was the worlds best decision they've ever made.

  
  

  For 5 years I worked as a nanny to five of the goofiest, wildest, most loving and adorable children possible.  My new brothers and sisters, Christina,  Isaiah, Gabe, Brittany, Rissa.  My parents were "old" in some ways, so I did the hiking, and the biking, and the crazy things with them.  While my parents were the wisdom, and experience, and disciplinarians~~though I had to do some of that too.

  
  

  I stayed up at night with sick kids some times.  Slept with little ones with night mares, and had a good pre-training as to how it was to be a parent.  I fell in love with my siblings.  And the hardest thing about getting married was walking away from them.

  
  

  I loved them dearly.  Now as teenagers they are all making choices.  Some good, some bad, some scarey, some exciting, but they are still continuing to grow and improve and they are still individuals that (most of the time)  I'm extremely proud of.

  
  

  Today I experienced another parenting thing.  I sent my "first" child away to college.  My seventeen year old sister worked for us her last day, and is on her way to college.   I bawled.  And I could again if I thought about it for more then 30 seconds.

  
  

  Would a never bawled over saying good-bye to some dumb old B&B

  
  

  It's an eternity investment.

  
  

  May God be gracious to her, and shine upon her face.    She has a family supporting her, and praying for her, and looking forward to each visit home, but things will never quite be the same.  Just as they have never quite been the same since that phone call in November of '92.

  • 6:40 pm
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