#8 Thoughts From The Back Deck...

#8  From the back deck...

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

It began to hit yesterday... It's more difficult today as I looked out at the congregation and saw Michelle sitting alone during worship.

Grace is back at Concordia Ann Arbor, MI. starting her final full year. 3 semesters left plus summer nursing rotations.

Faith is at Concordia, Seward, Nebraska starting her freshman year. Wednesday she starts shooting practice at 6 a.m. Her first competition is right around the corner. 

David, it looks like he might be ready to return to flight school. A mentor for the church has been helping him study for his private pilot test and taking him up in his plane. Time will tell. Right now he is working at Publix but he is ready to fly the coop and spread his wings. We will take and treasure whatever time we have left with him.

I am usually up between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. starting my day, even on my day off! Saturdays were a day when I would not see the whites of either of my daughter's eyeballs before 11 a.m.! Depending on David's work schedule,  we pass paths some days but often he is a ghost, coming and going.

Yesterday, no one was home except me, Michelle, and the dog. It was a strange Saturday. Too quiet. I went to the girl's bedrooms. Beds empty. Remnate boxes, wrapping paper, and tape are scattered about. A few items to go to the post office that would not fit in the car or suitcases. 

Much of the childhood, left behind. 


The Isaiah text for today rings in my ears with slight variations...

You keep Grace and Faith in perfect peace as their mind is stayed on you, because they trust in you.

We do the best we can but the time comes to entrust them back to the Lord. The arrows in our quiver, rest there for only a short time (Psalm 127:5). They are our daughters and our son, but more importantly...they are God's daughters and son. Connected through baptism.  Showered with love and mercy. Gifted with promises of a future and eternity because of the Son.

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