Rhyme and Reason from my Empty Nest

                                                               I've been on this parenting journey for 33 years. Seeing that typed out feels even more shockingly true! That's the equivalent of 231 dog years! There were so many days when I was plain dog tired! So many days I thought would never end. Would I survive? My greatest desire was to just get in a good nap or just orchestrate 5 minutes of precious peace. I bet you can relate. I blinked. There stood before me my 3 sons who would tower over me by 3 heads and 3 sets of shoulders. Those years lived up to the prediction of flying by ever so fast.  How can this be? I have arrived at this stage of life called "the empty nest." It once seemed so far into the future but now I've landed smack dab in the middle of it. What was once outside my grasp is now well within my reach. E...

I  found one. I live in one - an empty nest. Maybe you do too? A momma bird perfectly crafted a safe haven for her babies branch by branch, twig by twig for as long as it was needed and for as long as it lasted. This nest was never intended to last for very long. Neither was my nest. Like that momma bird, I worked hard to craft my nest over time. I strived to lovingly create a home for me...my husband...and for our offspring. I built it piece by piece, day by day, actually minute by minute. I poured myself wholeheartedly into it. I gave my all to it. I'm certain you did too. After all, acquiring an empty nest was the grand plan all along. You know that. We were all fully aware our nest would become empty one day. That one day initially felt quite a way away. All's great and predictable when one day is way beyond our grasp and almost inconceivable to attain. It creeps up on us ever so slowly but ever so surely. Some of us find it especially challenging to welcome that empty nest...