Transitions

Seems like there is always some sort of transition taking place in my life. Things are always changing... but change is good. I have a quote written somewhere... and I forget who it is by right now... but it says, "Some people are afraid of change. I am afraid of NOT changing." So, it's ok with me... but there's good change, and bad change, and always adjustment. And sometimes it can hurt. Anyway.
So this week/weekend was our last for awhile with Steven. Last monday, we and some of his friends (pic above) and some of their parents and some other grown ups (who aren't in the pic) took him out to Mi Hacienda. He also had several other parties/dinners/etc during the week. He moved his stuff home this past weekend, spent the night here Sunday night, and I took him to Columbus yesterday. While waiting at the recruiter's office for him to leave (I was a very big girl, by the way. William was at work, so it was just me and the boys. I didn't cry til after he left. Then I wailed the whole way home.) the recruiter asked him some question which Steven mumbled some reply to. The recruiter looked at me. I told him, "You should know him by now!" He laughed and nodded. I said, "By the way, are y'all going to fix him??" His recruiter laughed and said, "oh yeah, we're gonna fix him!" But it was good. So he got to Jackson yesterday afternoon. He was resworn in because he redid his enlistment for 6 years instead of 4. Everything went fine, we've talked to him some. He was named team leader of his crew until they arrive at Basic Training because he was the highest ranked out of their group. He called right before I sat down to type this to say he was boarding his plane to Ft Worth... he is to arrive there around 6:20 then on to San Antonio. He will get to let me know he arrived safely but that's it til sometime this weekend he will get about a 1 minute phone call.
Everyone asks me how he is, or was when he left. He's good. Really. He's excited. He's ready. I think Steven feels like he's found what he wants. Steven has great great potential inside of him that many of you have seen..... and he knows just like we did that he needed a push to get to where he could use that the most efficiently. So how am I? I'm ok too. I'm mopey, of course. Nothing prepares a mama for this. He's my biggest baby. It hurt my heart so much to let him leave yesterday knowing I won't pat his sweet cheek again for at least 2 months. It hurts that he gave them 6 years. I mean, I'm SO proud of him.... but the thoughts of a Christmas without one of my babies seems so sad to me. But I know that this is all a part of life, of getting older. I just feel too young to be here. I worry about Jay and Josh... I want their big brother in their lives. But since the days they were born, I always knew this day would come... through marriage, college, etc.... so here we are. I'm so proud.... but I'm selfish. I miss my son.
When Steven called to let us know he was boarding the plane, we were working in Josh's room. See, Steve brought us his bedroom suit. So, Josh's crib also came down this weekend. Emily got Steve's bed, and Josh is now getting a twin bed. No more cribs in my house. For the first time in 12 years, there is not a crib in my house. This time when it came down, there wasn't another baby coming. It was put in the attic. All the crib sheets were sorted and put into the consignment pile, except for a few. My littlest baby is growing up too. He has a big boy bed now. And Jay will sign up for Tball next month. This is his first year to be old enough..... and he starts kindergarten this year..... and Josh will start going to day school ...... life goes on..... and we all get older..... and hey perry? I'm crying.... where are my headlines????
Oh yeah, and Bubba the cat became an "it" after a trip to the vet this week.
Ah, transitions.
P.S. I added the picture from Bops, where Steve worked... They put "We'll miss you Steven" on their sign last week. I took a pic, so I put it on here.