Empty Nester

First a little catching up...

It seems it gets longer and longer between posts here! I keep busy, and it always seems like this is the last place I want to spend time, which is unfortunate, because I love sharing what happens in my life. But, in light of the readership, it just doesn't seem too horribly important to spend time posting. Not that I don't appreciate the five (or so) wonderful people who seem to be the only ones who ever read this blog! I do, so regardless of the lack of comments or correspondence, I will keep posting occasionally, but the frequency will most likely continue to decline.
On to the news!
We were blessed to have spent Thanksgiving with Kevin! He had the National Lampoon's Trip Home from hell to get here, but he managed it! He got to my Mom's house just as we were cutting the turkey! He was supposed to get here the day before but to start, the plane he was supposed to catch in Palm Springs had a flat! That left him sitting in the airport there for almost 5 hours, and when they finally got off the ground, he was late for his connecting flight in Phoenix. They put him up in a very nice hotel for the night! The next day, he was supposed to get in to Reno at 10AM, but again his flight was delayed for a few hours, he didn't get in to Reno until after 1PM. Luckily my nephew lives in Fernley, just 40 minutes from the airport in Reno and was able to stick around and wait for him to bring him home. It was great to have him here, and the visit was way too short, but we had a good time :)
Karaoke will never be the same!

Joy celebrated her second birthday on December 1st! We had a great time, and she got lots of presents!

We went to Arizona for Derek's niece's wedding, it was beautiful of course, she was beautiful, of course! She'll be moving to Virginia where her new husband is stationed in the Navy.

Grandpa Gale, Bailey and Dean

Daughter Jari and her beau followed DH and I down in her beau's truck with Joy so that Grandpa could finally meet his great grand daughter. She loved him from the first, and didn't shy away from him at all! The adventure started when the 'kids' decided to leave on Saturday night. Jari needed to be back at work on Sunday night, the beau needed to be in Boise on Monday, it was time to go home. Derek and I decided to stay until Tuesday. A couple hours later I got a phone call, they had broke down in Phoenix, they were getting a motel, the turbo had went out on the diesel truck. That it happened at all was unfortunate; that it happened in Phoenix, was a blessing. There is a lot of empty road between Phoenix and Home! Much of it with no cell service. Three days later, the truck was still not fixed, Derek and I picked the three of them up on our way home. Luckily it was an over night drive, we all slept most of the way... except of course for Derek, my super husband who can drive the 12 hrs home straight!
After we'd been home a week, my daughter finally did what she'd told me she was planning on doing; her and Joy have moved in with the beau. He is a really great guy, very responsible, good job, and is awesome with Joy! Joy thinks he's 'da bomb', and he's pretty sure she is.

I woke up yesterday with the realization that I didn't have to do anything for anybody for the first time in 26 years. I could get out of bed, or not, and do what I wanted to do; I wouldn't have to clean up after anyone, I wouldn't have to feed anyone, I wouldn't have to argue or cajol or convince or please or worry. And I realized, I've been waiting for this moment, almost like I've been holding my breath.
I've raised my kids, and good or bad, right or wrong, they are now on their own. And although I love baby girl and miss her deeply at times, I am delighted to be my own person once again, for Derek and I to have the time and the space to be 'us' once again. Twenty-six years is a long time to go without a sense of self, when nearly every waking moment is spent thinking about and doing for your kids. I've heard stories about how hard it is on  parents when their kids leave home, of the sense of loss and of having no direction... so far, I'm just not feeling it :)