THE EMPTYING NEST

I should be thankful that I can call this entry: "The emptying nest" rather than "The empty nest"! We are at the empty next stage yet, but the emptying nest stage is starting to hit me. Although our son left for Navy boot camp at the beginning of summer, it was 2 weeks ago that it seemed real, as he graduated and left for training school in Texas. It will be months before we see him again, and likely he will posted far away in the days to come.

Tomorrow, we take our daughter 6.5 hours away to college! Not sure if it will feel worse once we drop our daughter off, as opposed to our son, but we are about to find out. Once we drop her off, we are down to 3 kids, all pre-teens or teenagers, and the countdown begins (or continues). Time is flying by, and the nest, that just began to empty, is emptying fast. It is sad...and hard.

On the positive side, there are many things to be thankful for:

• Our son is serving God and country
• Our daughter is following God's call to train as a teacher where we both went to school
• Our children are growing up, and are putting into practice the things they have learned during all of their years in our home
• Our children are all incredible blessings from God, and we look forward to see what He has planned for their future

GO NAVY!

I haven't really had a reason to say that phrase...ever...until now. The Army/Navy football game has been on every year, but I only see part of it if I happen upon it by accident. It is pretty cool to see the guys in their uniforms, cheering on their team, and all the ceremony that goes along with it. But after 5 minutes, I've seen enough, and its time for a nap. However, something changed this past Friday, that will now capture my attention...not only during the traditional football game; but anytime I hear anything about the Navy.

Last Friday, we had the privilege of being at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, to witness Alex's graduation from Navy boot camp! A week prior to that he had called us, all excited, telling us that he had passed his battle stations and all testing. He had made it as a sailor. But it was there, in Great Lakes, where we saw our son participate in what is called a "Pass in Review" ceremony. He came in with the other 85 or so guys in his division, and with all counted, in all divisions, it was close to 1,000 total that were moving on to the next stage of their military career. He had not been off the site for 8 weeks of training, but was able to spend several hours with us afterward. Then, he was off to the airport, where we met him at 3 a.m. (to give him his "stuff"); and then off to San Antonio, Texas for "A" school. This is where he begins to train for his "chosen" job in the Navy: hospital corpsman (medic). 

We are very proud of Alex. Most of all, over these past 8 weeks, we have seen Alex grow as a man, and as a follower of Jesus. He has communicated, more clearly and often than ever, his love for God, and his love for his family. He leaned on God to get him through each day, and to keep his mind clear throughout the process of boot camp. He spent time every day, praying and reading Scripture, on his "own time". He got involved in serving in the chapel, and had many opportunities to talk to guys about their relationship with God. It was so exciting to see God's grace at work in Alex's life during these weeks. Our prayer is that it will continue to be evident as he goes to "A" school, and faces more challenges to living out his faith. Good thing we have God to trust in!

I'll leave you with the chant some of the Navy guys marching by were saying. It was one of Alex's favorites:
"Hey Hey momma can't you see (echo)
What the Navy's done to me (echo)
Used to drive my Chevrolet (echo)
Now I'm marching everyday! (echo)"