Amy's 1st and 18th

Today's the day. The truck is packed (tarp and net secured extra-tight), and by noon today, she'll be all moved in, ready for her first day of college. And shortly thereafter, we'll be on the road with one less passenger.

And to top it off, tomorrow is her birthday. The big #18. And I won't be there.

I am not all that thrilled to miss her birthday - the first one I'll miss. But it won't be the last. Because that's the point, right? This is what all those years of parenting and training and schooling were leading up to. This was the point, right? Well, one of them, at least.

But knowing this is a good and right step forward doesn't make the goodbye any easier.

Happy (early) birthday, Amy Girl! I love you so much!

How To Say Goodbye

Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith

Tell me when the time we had slipped away

Tomorrow turned to yesterday

And I don't know how

Tell me what can stop this river of tears

It's been building up for years

For this moment now

Here I stand

Arms open wide

I've held you close

Kept you safe

Till you could fly

Tell me where the road ahead is gonna bend

And how to harness up the wind

And how to say goodbye

Tell me why

Why does following your dreams

Take you far away from me

And I knew that it would

Tell me how to fill the space you left behind

And how to laugh instead of cry

And how to say goodbye

Here I stand

Arms open wide

I've held you close

Kept you safe

Till you could fly

Tell me where the road ahead is gonna bend

And how to harness up the wind

And how to say goodbye