Letters to my Littles: Leaving

My Dearest Littles,

We may be leaving on a jet plane, flying across the sky today, but our love will never leave you.  We may be separated by physical distance, but our hearts are intertwined for eternity.  All you need to do when you feel that little aching in your heart, is know that we're there.  We're thinking of you, missing you too.  Just as Jesus lives in your heart loves, so does our love.

Although leaving you is hard, leaving with the man I love is necessary.  Some day in your married lives, it will be necessary for you too: to leave the distractions of life and lean into your love, to celebrate your marriage and to re-connect with your spouse.  This trip has been a long time coming.  It's timing is perfect with our goal to get out and date this year.  We aimed for one date a month, and have been able to squeeze that time in and then some! Now we will have a whole week surrounded by God's gorgeousness away from the hustle and bustle of four different kids at three different schools. It will be good.  And you will be well.

Leaving creates opportunities for each of you to step up and do what you know needs to be done without my constant guiding presence.  It affords you the responsibility to take care of your school work, to love on each other a little bit more and to be sensitive to the ones who might be missing us most.  While we are way, you put to practice the life we live: small homes grow tight families. Be tight while we are away.  Love each other more, miss us less.

One day, sooner than I like to admit to myself, the situation will be reversed.  You will be leaving us. You will have your bags packed and we will be moving you into a dorm room, potentially further away than I can even imagine.  And I will be sorrowful and grateful in the same breath.  I will know that it was us who gave you wings to fly.  There is nothing in this house that tethers you to it.  I will fondly look at your act of courageousness and realize it started with us.  The days I went to the Mom Heart conference, the one I took that road trip with my tween, the nights dad lived away in San Francisco for work, the overnight desert trips, and that time we stepped on the airplane...we showed you how to leave the ones you love most, and how the welcome committee will always be out to greet you when you return.

Leaving is hard.  But when you love like we love you, you carry it with you to the depths of your soul. We will miss you, but we love who each of you has helped us to become.  We love the opportunity to miss you mucho, while simultansously, loving on each other, because without an us there would be no you.  See you soon.  I love you all the way across the universe to heaven and back forever and ever and ever and for always.

All my love,

Mom
xoxoxoxox