“It's not what the world holds for you. It's what you bring to it.”
--L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to gain, and a time to lose.

And this weekend, it was a time to pack and watch our youngest son head back to college.  He's come home for the summer before and we've watched him load the car and drive off, waving as he went, but this time was different.  This, as far as we know, was the last time he plans to live at home for more than a few vacation days here and there.  He graduates in December, and his plan is to stay in his college town while his girlfriend completes her degree.  And after that--who knows?  The world is his oyster, and I agree with Dr. Seuss...oh the places you'll go!! 

But as much as I am excited for him and happy to see him start to make his own way in the world, my heart broke just a little watching him pull away from the house, heading to Chicago with his girlfriend for a Broadway musical (he posted this great picture on facebook last night--aren't they cute?!)

 

and then this morning he is back at school.  The up side to this, of course, is that his room is now nice and tidy and should stay that way until, say, Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it certainly helps keeps rooms neat!

My husband and I spent Friday evening reminiscing with our son, laughing at some of the strange but true stories that accompany a degree in theater.  He's made us so proud and we've enjoyed watching some wonderful moments on stage, like in The Importance of Being Earnest, where he regaled us with how he had to eat stale cucumber rind sandwiches night after night.

And made us weep for weeks afterwards in his heartbreaking role in The One Thousand Pound Marriage:

So there isn't much more we can say at this point except we love you, do good work, keep your nose to the grindstone (your grandfather's motto), and remember that all of us at home have your back, each and every day.  From the moment you were born and you looked into your father's eyes we have held you in our arms and treasured you in our hearts, and now, it's time to open our arms out wide and let you go.

Parents' weekend, freshman year of college

And lest you find yourself forgetting the way, don't forget the special painting your dad gave you right before you left this weekend.  For no matter where you go in life, all hearts lead home...

Heading Home, by Terry Redlin