Life = changes and adjustments!!!

Okay, much has happened since I last posted.

The roommate Thomas had, turned out to be a major abuser of drugs and alcohol. We moved him out one Monday, moved his stuff home. By Wednesday, I had found him another duplex....a one bedroom, so no roomie problems. He was working that night, so, back to U-Haul I went...and Luke and I moved him in. By Thursday, I was exhausted, mentally and physically.

His new place is amazing...wooden floors, yard for Izzy to 'go' in, cute kitchen, just right for my Thomas.

Last weekend, my darling Luke graduated from Cooper. My brother and family (seven of them) came in from Chicago, and my favorite aunt and uncle were here from College Station. She is my Daddy's sister, and she has the same (weird) sense of humor my Daddy had. It is a joy to be around her. We all went out to the Home Place for dinner on Friday, then to graduation on Saturday afternoon.

I never knew it would be such a relief to see my youngest child walk across that stage. Sixteen years ago, following my divorce, I made a vow to raise my sons as Godly Young Men!! Wow....I guess I am through with the day-to-day hands-on mothering. It's a relief...but much sadness.

Thomas is already living on his own. Luke will be attending Tech in the fall, and is moving to Lubbock to live with his dad and stepmom TOMORROW!! He needs to find a job before school starts in August. He has spent the last two days cleaning his room...yes, it needs it. Don't think it's been clean in over 8 months. You can actually see the rug again...even though the tan color is a bit dingy.

Life is change. Life is adjustment. So many people have said, "Oh, you will have an empty nest. How will you cope?" Do they not understand that I have been the main/only caretaker for the last 16 years? Yes, I will cry tomorrow. But then, life will go on. I will spend the remainder of the summer, reading, working out, going to the pool, learning who I am again! Me - minus sons = who????

I AM looking forward to free time, not worrying about where they are and who they are with. The way I see it....I have taken care of Luke for 16 years...his dad can do it for 2 months, before Luke moves into the dorm. Besides, this is a great opportunity for Luke to actually get to know his dad and stepmom. (good or bad!!) When Thomas spent time living with them several years ago, he appreciated me much more when he returned. In fact, his comment was, "Mom, I always thought you lead such a boring life. Then I went to Dad's, and ya know, BORING is GOOD!"

Tomorrow, tears of sadness that Luke is leaving; joy that my 'job' is semi-finished; relief that I can find out who I am without being someone's mother; and peace in that I did the job God asked me to do.

Forward and Onward!!!