The Countdown to Graduation

In just ten days, my daughter, Allison, will graduate from high school.  We will be finished with the era of school lunches, backpacks, field trips and permission slips.  No more absences/excuses, textbooks, forms to sign, sporting events to attend or emergency forms.  No more awards ceremonies, fund raisers, high school dances  or banquets.   We will have gotten three children through elementary, junior high and high school.  We will have had children in school for the last  23 years !!! What a GINORMOUS change!!

It seems like we've seen had a taste of it all, from Math Competitions, to all-consuming band days/practices, tailgating meals to feed the band,  theater plays, track meets,   FCA and PALS........ we've seen three children blossom from awkward adolescents to caring, generous, God-fearing young adults.  Now my oldest son is going to be a daddy to a little girl...Whoa, I better stop this reminiscing before I go on emotional overload......

Um, hum you can just imagine, if you've not been in this place yet, what the spectrum of emotions can be.  We are very proud of our children, yet knowing that they are really only "on loan" from God, that they truly belong to HIM. 
So as I get ready for this big party to celebrate ( a little early as the weekend of graduation will be filled with visiting with family) my mind goes backward and forward....looking backward at all we've done, seen and accomplished...and looking forward to what God has for our family in the future and for each child what God will accomplish with them.  How will He work in them, where will He take them?  Will they marry and have families, or will they be single and independent???  We do have hopes and dreams for them, but for now, that story is still unfolding.