Holding on and letting go.

"Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to

LET THINGS GO."

(Can you see the leaf in the mid-fall? It took me a dozen shots to try and get a "fall" in action, even though the leaves were dropping all around me.)

I started this post last week... this tree is now nearly bare.
And it took Bill a good two hours to clean up those leaves, only to have the rest of them fall within days.
I think it's beautiful.

My emotions have been on the surface lately - I think due to the realization that Mauri is a senior... which means she's gearing up to leave me. She's soooooooooo busy, so I don't see her much right now, but she's getting college applications ready, ordering her cap and gown for graduation, and talking about what's coming up next. I know I've mentioned before how I'm not sure what's next for me... my priority has been mothering {children in my home} for nearly 30 years.
I have loved it. 
Maybe not EVERY moment, but overall it's been everything I had hoped for.

I have to say that I have loved mothering adults, too.
And I can't say enough about grandmothering... which I have many many years left to do (I hope!). I'm not as seasoned in those areas, so I know there will be lots of growth opportunities ahead of me, but I'm going to hold on tightly for a few more months to my cherished role of mothering a child in my home.
I know... mushy... and sentimental. I can't help it.

I found out today that Lex and Jase are moving to Alabama. That's VERY far away. Lex may stay with us for a few months while they build a house, so I'm excited to have her and M here. You can read more about what takes them there here.

Up next: Halloween 2018