Observances - Week Three

Here are some things I've noticed as we work our way through week 3 as Empty Nesters:

• There is life after your kids leave home. We have settled into a new routine, and it's not so bad.
• You get to know your spouse all over again. Usually by the time kids go off to college, they aren't home much anyway. But with no kids at home, we have each other to focus on.
• It's good to have something new and different to look forward to. K and I are taking Shag dance lessons during the week which we are both enjoying. We also practice during the week - which takes up some "empty" time. It's like a mid-week "date night."
• We are thankful for all the different avenues to communicate. During the last 2 and a half weeks, D has Skyped us, called us and texted us. I love them all because it's an opportunity to see how things are going.
• We still miss him! Just because we are adjusting doesn't mean that we don't miss Drew. At times we can feel the emptiness inside us. We have our phones with us and charged at ALL TIMES in case he calls or texts. We watch Facebook to see how it's going - with him and his friends. We are thankful for every update.

The boy is coming home this weekend, and we are so excited! I have no illusions that he will spend all his time with us. In fact I have an all-day Bible study on Saturday, but he will have time with his dad. I'm hoping he will spend Friday date night dinner with us. He has friends to see - but I'm hoping there will be a "Cave Night" at our house on Saturday. I know he'll be at church on Sunday and eat Sunday lunch with us. We'll spend some family time on Sunday and try not to cry when he leaves for school later Sunday afternoon. After all, it will only be two weeks until Family Weekend. Yes, right now, our lives still occasionally revolve around the boy...but that's OK.