SO, THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE?

WHEN NATHAN LEAVES HOME.

Nathan is in South Padre with the Wakeland Band and has been gone since EARLY Thursday morning. 

On Friday, I was running around with the kids after school, dropping them off at their various activities. 

After getting Em, Smash and Megan to where they needed to be, I had a little time before I had to start the rounds again in order to bring them home.  So I went home.  I thought I could make the most of my minutes by starting some laundry and accomplishing a few other household tasks.

When I walked into our home, it was quiet.  I had a little memory lapse and I started looking for Nathan.  He was gone.  The house was still.  Completely void.  Then I remembered that he was on his trip. 

My next thought was "so, this is how it's going to be?" 

In just a very short time, Nathan will be leaving home and going off into the world to live his own life. 

It seems that he has started the process of leaving already, just a little anyway.  He is gone quite a bit.  It's a natural process, we have all gone through it.

I feel such a deep sense of needing to make the most of our family time. 

I wish I had a way of capturing our moments together and bottling them for the kids to take on their journey's so they would be able to glance into a jar and instantly remember not only the time we spent together but the love we have shared as well.

Maybe a little reminder would help them to want to return for more family fun.

While Nathan has been away, he has sent one text msg. to his dad to let us know that he is Okay.  One text.  That's it!  (Good sign that he is having fun).

Sooo, this is how it's going to be?  :)

I need a jar of memories!

(I found this picture on the WHS band site).

Comments

[Emi~]

We do really miss Nathan.
It is so weird without him here.
I love you Nathan!!
Love, Emi

[Megan]

Nathan is so NICE!! But he is gone so much.
I love Nathan.

Megan

[Jonathan]

It is so nice to see your son in the middle of helping others when he is away.

Unfortunately, he got his gift of communication from his father, hence the far and few between text messages.

There was emptiness in the home while he was away.

It makes me really appreciate the motto of a dear friend's father who recently past away.

"No empty chairs in heaven"

Maybe we could add Marilyn's to it

"No empty chairs and many bottled memories in heaven"

[Grandma Joan]

I'm so proud of Nathan. He is so talented and this is a wonderful experience for him. I know you miss him, but he's learning and sharing and being a great example to everyone. That's Nathan - - A young man of few words, very much like someone I know and love.

[Louise Baca]

My how time flies when you're having fun! What a great trip for Nathan! You are growing up way too fast!

[Kim]

Oh I do not look forward to those days. Travis turns 13 this weekend!!! That is hard enough for me right now.

Our time with our children is so short, it doesn't seem fair sometimes.

We have to cherish every moment!

[Stacy]

He doesn't need a jar of memories, he just needs a computer, and a bookmark named "Let them Be Little". As for a jar of love, it would be too small. I'm sure his heart holds way more than a jar...

[Mar~]

Stacy, that is why you are my favorite nurse...because you know just how much a heart truly holds!