Busy Weekend!

On Saturday my dear friend Kathy got married in Birmingham, AL. It was a happy/sad occasion. Of coarse happy because she was marrying the man she loves. But sad because her mom, dad, and grandma couldn't be there to celebrate with her. Her mother and grandmother are both in hospice. Her eldest son Judson gave her away. Kathy looked absolutely beautiful!!!
On Sunday, we helped Alex move to Middle Georgia. His dorm is soooo sweeeet! I can't believe how big it is and how nice it is. He's got a double room, but no room mate... yet. There's actually a possibility that he could have a room all to himself! We had lunch together when we got there, then headed to the campus police station to get his campus ID card and parking decal. We turned in his work study application (so he could get a job on campus), but he doesn't qualify. It's on a "need" basis. So he'll have to try to get a job off campus. That will be a little difficult because Middle GA College is literally in the middle of nowhere! So we got his room all set up and then drove around and put in some applications. It was a race, because the other kids that got turned down for the work study program were also trying to apply for the handful of jobs in town. Then we made a Walmart run and got him some last minute things. Finally, we went to dinner together and took him back at his room. Alex was able to meet the guys in the room next door. They seem pretty nice. Actually he had already met one of them at orientation a few weeks ago, so that was kind of neat. Besides that he doesn't know a soul. Before we left, the brother of one of the guys next door came in to say hi. Then asked me who I was. I said, "Alex's mom." He said, "Oh I thought you were his sister." (mmhhhmm, I still got it... hee hee.) After he left, Keith said, "Hey, what about me? Do I look like the grandfather or something???"
Anyway, Alex walked Keith and I to our car and we hugged him goodbye. As started to leave, we watched Alex walk back to his dorm and it began to rain. We didn't get too far down the road when I broke down into tears. It came out of nowhere. I tried to blame it on the jalapeno juice from my sandwich. Keith didn't buy it. I guess it's been building up. This past November, Tyler got married, then a month ago, Drew moved to North GA, and now today, Alex moved to Middle GA. That's a lot of change in one family in less than a year. Keith tried to comfort me and said, "Honey, this is a good thing. This is our goal, to raise our children to be independent. They can't all live with us forever." I know that in my head, but my heart is still hurting. I know he felt it too. It was a pretty long quiet ride home in the rain.
Nick and Elizabeth just walked in the door. Quick, dry my tears. Too late... They are both so sweet! I just love them. They asked how I was doing. (Everyone in this family knows I don't do well with goodbyes.) And they'll both be leaving next week. Boo hoo. The house is emptying out. It will take a little time to get used to this... I know in time I'll be OK and begin to enjoy the extra time I have with Keith and the girls. But today, as Emma says, "I just need to cry and get my sad out."