Charity, far left, with her sisters, Serenity and Felicity
This week, our youngest child hits another decade milestone. I’m not telling you which one. She and her husband are rearing two adorable daughters, have just gotten licensed as foster parents, and lead worship in their church. They are also about to release their first album together. (Do they still call them albums when no vinyl is involved?)You can check it out here.
When she was little, Charity used to complain how unfair it was that she had to go to bed while her three older siblings stayed up for an hour. Quoting a television show of the day, she used to say, “Don’t get out the Barbie dolls and ponies after I go to bed.”
As a young adult, she was the first of our children to move away. Five and a half hours away. Sometimes she would call home on a Sunday afternoon and hear all the siblings and cousins in the background. Then she would tell me how homesick she felt and how hard it was to be so far from everyone.
Marriage and children helped all that, of course. She has Barbies and ponies of her own these days. Even so, I’m thrilled to be sending her the best possible gift this birthday year. I’m sending her a sister. Plus a brother-in-law, three nieces, and a nephew.
Our first-born and her family have lived across the lawn from us for ten years now. Sharing daily life with them has been an amazing gift we never expected. But now it is time for them to go. Back to the city Dan came from. On to the call of God for their lives.
And I’m finding it much easier to let them go when I think of that little girl who peeked down the living room staircase, reminding us not to have any fun without her. Happy Birthday, Charity. We’re sending you some fun!
When my kids are potentially living/moving away from us I want to be the strong faith-filled “go where God leads you” kinda mom like you are. I am excited for Charity and for Omaha but I know this can’t be easy, not bittersweet ’cause I can’t see the bitter part ever coming into play, but not easy.
BEST. PRESENT. EVER! 🙂 Thanks, mom.
You are welcome, Charity. And don’t give me too much credit, Kathie. I have my moments 🙂
What!? I read this title and thought it was going to be about our Birthday Weekend! I didn’t know I should be prepared for emotional!!
Sorry, Felic. I should have included a disclaimer for Kleenex. It made me cry while I wrote it.
You’re a brave woman, Kathy Nickerson. Our kiddo’s don’t live “across the lawn”, but Sam is here everyday………I try not to think about the “what if” of them ever moving away. And as strong as you may sound, I’ve known you a long time, and seen you with those kids as tiny people, I know that this is one of the hardest things you have ever done. BUT! I also know you will shine at it, just as you always do.
Love you!!
Thanks, Andrea. You are a true friend. And, you know me well 🙂 I often think of you and Sam and I’m so grateful for the time you are having with him. You are building a relationship that will last… no matter what or where!
Siblings together = sweetness 🙂 Be it visits, skypes, texts, emails, or live near…I love it when siblings can be connected. Thanks for the news. 🙂 Omaha is about to be blessed. 🙂
And now a few quotes of inspiration for the mom:
Change always comes bearing gifts. ~Price Pritchet
Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed. ~Irene Peter
If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies. ~Author Unknown
To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. ~Henri Bergson
Happy Birthday Charity!
Thanks, Stacy! Butterflies. What a great image.
Yep, I could write exactly what Felic did. Ooh, fun, she’s writing about how we’re going to go have fun together for a weekend, and then BOOM the little girl peeking down the stairs and the best of us coming around the corner to live with her. Sometimes sentiment is just cruel. 😉
I know, Seren. Cruel. I promise this will be my only public slip into sentimentality during this particular transitional phase.
Probably.