Fly, Little Bird, Fly

This is the last few days for my oldest son to live at home with us. For 22 years, this brown-eyed, sweetheart of a boy that made me a mommy has blessed our hearts with more joy than he could ever imagine. For as long as I can remember, he has filled our home with music, a talent that was instilled in him from birth. I've been trying to prepare myself for the looming silence that's coming in a few days, the blatant absence of guitar riffs streaming throughout the hallway each night. 

As my oldest baby prepares to move into his new home this week, I'm left once again with another empty spot in my nest. It's all good and I'm super proud of him, but it's still hard on mama birds to watch their babies fly the coop. It just will take us some getting-used-to.

Hagen and his fiancé, Emily, have dated for several years, and she is perfect for him. She is everything we prayed for, and I have no doubt that they will have a great life together. Once they marry this coming September, they will begin their journey as one and they will start writing the pages of their own book, one that I am sure will make me proud!

Today, I got a glimpse of that future fairytale. I went into the house that Hagen will live in for his last few months as a single man, and where Emily will join him after their marriage. It's just the perfect size for a young couple, yet big enough for a new family once children come along. I stepped into the kitchen and imagined how excited they'll soon be to host family events and entertain friends around the dinner table. Looking out on the back deck, I could see them, in my mind, relaxing after a long day of work, just the two of them, talking into the wee hours of the night as they sit beneath a blanket of stars overhead. I thought about their first Christmas tree that will proudly shine in their front window for passers-by to see. And then I stepped into the smaller bedroom, the one just beside the master. "This...", I thought, "This room will be filled with sweetness one day!" Stuffed bears tucked neatly into the corner, a stack of pastel blankets on the shelf in the closet. Sounds of lullabies filling the air, sweet smells of new baby skin wafting lightly through the room. Seeing my baby boy become a father one day to his own baby...oh my. Today, I'm officially passing the baton to my son and daughter-in-law. It's their turn to fly!   

I don't think they can truly imagine what blessings await on this flight they are about to take. I know I couldn't have known that either when Dave and I were starting our life together 25 years of blessings ago. But this ol' mama can see from this side that the best is yet to come for Hagen and Emily! Of course I want them to enjoy being a couple first, for as long as they feel they need to wait before the responsibilities of family come along. But a mama can dream, can't she? And I'm dreamin' of babies 😌

Psalm 37:23-24
If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand