Well, the time has come...The first little piece of my heart has left home and is officially "college bound." The waiting, anticipation and transition is over. It's still hard to believe that it really happened, just a few short hours ago. Can I just say that I have been a blubbering mess? Gosh, it's tough! Yea, yea, I know we give our children wings to fly but that doesn't come free of a little pain, nor does it come free of tears. Can you pass me a bucket to hold them all?
But as with any difficult challenge in life, God's grace always peeks through, just when we need it the most. This morning was just one of those moments. We got up early to attend daily Mass as a family. Father M. surprised us and called our family to the altar to bless our son. (This was a snapshot taken by a parishoner of the blessing he gave). Though we were a bit embarrassed, we were honored at the same time. Grace showered down upon this Mama's aching heart!
It was also a special consolation and grace that today's college departure date landed on the feast of St. Bernard who was a Cistercian monk. The University that our son will be attending has a special connection to a nearby Cistercian Abbey:)
I know I've told my story here but I don't believe I've ever mentioned that my late husband was killed in Texas. Hence, you can imagine that it was a big deal for me when our son was discerning this college in Texas. My son was only a baby when his father died, so he had no memories of our life there. (Let's just say that I swore that I would never go back to Texas after my husband was killed) However, as most of us know, God's plans are often different from ours! In his abounding grace, the good Lord saw to it that I would survive going back to a state that I thought had left permanent scars on my heart. Not only did I survive, but now I will be paying regular visits to this place that has brought me full circle with my grief...A place where pain and joy can finally sit nicely together. As I know all too well, only with God's grace and none of my own doing. As a Catholic Christian, a God-incidence trumps a coincidence so I don't believe it was an accident that my son chose this awesome college. There must be more to the story, yet to unfold!
Please pray for these guys as they are out on the road! (I get to visit next month:)
One thing's for sure, I will treasure this final "back to school" photo for years to come! Thank you to all those who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers...God love you and bless you.
"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."~Mother Teresa~
I know I've told my story here but I don't believe I've ever mentioned that my late husband was killed in Texas. Hence, you can imagine that it was a big deal for me when our son was discerning this college in Texas. My son was only a baby when his father died, so he had no memories of our life there. (Let's just say that I swore that I would never go back to Texas after my husband was killed) However, as most of us know, God's plans are often different from ours! In his abounding grace, the good Lord saw to it that I would survive going back to a state that I thought had left permanent scars on my heart. Not only did I survive, but now I will be paying regular visits to this place that has brought me full circle with my grief...A place where pain and joy can finally sit nicely together. As I know all too well, only with God's grace and none of my own doing. As a Catholic Christian, a God-incidence trumps a coincidence so I don't believe it was an accident that my son chose this awesome college. There must be more to the story, yet to unfold!
"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."~Mother Teresa~
DEO GRATIAS! May His peace fill you during this time of change.
ReplyDeletePax Christi, Lena & family
Thank you, Lena...I'm yearning for that peace!
DeleteYou have our contact info, right? Please give a call if he needs anything. Hope to meet up at Mass sometime!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the gracious offer, Charlotte! I'm excited that our paths will be crossing very soon:)
DeleteOh... now I'm blubbering all over the place, too. LOL! Congratulations to all of you and may God's peace and joy reign during this time of growth and transition!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, so sorry Melody;) Thank you for your heartfelt support, as always!
DeleteGod bless you all, Tiffany! I loved the picture of the blessing! My turn is tomorrow! Prayers for you my friend!
ReplyDeleteHeart to heart, dear Anne! Prayers are with you as well:)
DeleteJoining you in tears!! That last photo is precious.
ReplyDeleteAwww, Laurie, thank you for your constant encouragement. I am blessed by you!
DeleteJoining you and everyone else in tears!
ReplyDeleteYou and yours are always in my prayers.
Grateful for your prayers, Kara! Thanks for your kindness:)
DeleteOh, bless your son, and you, and your family, Tiffany! And, another great quote.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nicole. I am grateful for the blessing of your support!
DeleteOh sweet friend, I can feel your heartfelt feelings of joy mixed with sadness! Every momma is expected to be a blubbering mess when that day filled with so many mixed emotions comes! He looks so excited about it and I am sure that he is having such a good time and walking along with Jesus right next to him :D I did not know that your late husband was killed in Texas. I would feel exactly the same as you and would really have no desire to return there. I do love those God-incidences though! Even when we have dug our heels deeply into the ground, He is able to move them with great grace to us.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing all about Mer-man's experiences!
God Bless you and comfort you too, Momma :-)
You are right, Ann-Marie, he is SO excited...and nervous too:) Thank you for your continued friendship and love!
DeleteOh my goodness. You had me at the blessing...and then the full cycle story, oh my! Can you imagine what God has planned for your son? It is going to be amazing to see his future unfold. God is so good and His mercy is ever-lasting! P.S. I can hardly wait to see you again!
ReplyDeletePatty, I am truly excited to see how everything unfolds! God is good, indeed. You are one of the little blessings that has eased my transition back to Texas...I am truly grateful that God put you there to be a beacon of light:) Thank you for your friendship!
DeletePraying, praying, praying for you and your husband and son. I'm sure that the siblings will be "lost" for a while too and will be a time of adjustment for the whole household.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you, thank you, for the prayers, Heather! You are so right, the sibs are a bit lost already. Thanks for stopping by to lend a kind word:)
DeleteOur Lord is kind and merciful. That little thought just came to mind when I read your post, Tiffany. I'm imagining being in your shoes, and my tears are flowing. How truly wonderful that you are able to go visit him next month. and then you'll pick a new date to visit after that, and hopefully he'll be able to be home for thanksgiving and Christmas (and maybe even part of Advent when you're preparing your O Antiphon candles!!), and eventually, your heart will come to know this new normal, and what a delight it will be for you to see the new and wonderful God-guided development that will be born in your son as he lives in that wonderful Catholic community! Hope and faith keep you, friend.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Gardenia. I was just pondering the "new normal" today and wondering how that will be? It will be difficult that H. won't be able to come home until Christmas but I pray it will be a time of strength for all of us! Thank you for lending your heart and kind words of faith, hope, and love. I am thankful for your friendship!
DeleteOh Tiffany, what an emotional time for you! God does bring us to where we never think we'd go and he goes with us! Praying that your husband and son travel safely and his new start at college is filled with many graces and blessings from God!
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to post about his experiences at college. Is it a Catholic college? If so, I'd be even more curious to know if secularism has invaded that school.
Thank you, Noreen. Your kind words of support always touch my heart. Yes, it is a solid Catholic College so we have high hopes! I will certainly be posting updates and excited to see how things unfold myself. God bless you for your prayers, my friend!
DeleteTiffany, I have been praying for you daily as you go through this transition. Good and sad all at the same time. I can't really imagine sending my oldest off to college! Your son is going to do some amazing things :) God bless all of you!!
ReplyDeleteJen, thank you, thank you for your prayers! It is certainly a mixed bag of emotions...Sheesh, I'm all over the map! What a blessing to share the gifts of faith and hope with you and many others. I continue to be grateful for your friendship as we continue to fight the good fight!
DeleteAwwwww, I cried at sight of the first picture, before reading. Prayers coming your way. God bless.
ReplyDeleteYour prayers are a gift and a blessing. Thank you, Jamie!
DeletePrayers for you, mama. Like the first day of kindergarten (even for homeschoolers!),beginning college is a rite of passage and in the days to come there will be many steps forward as well as many back. Fortunately he will still call on his mama throughout these years! Stay in touch with him -- many people have tried to convince me that I should disengage because my sons need their freedom. Five years after starting (yes my oldest son is in his fifth year) he still calls me on the way to first class of the day and texts me at 10 pm. We are still connected. We still need each other -- nothing could be more normal!
ReplyDeleteOH, I feel that rite of passage, Barbara! I just loved your wise words of comfort and reassurance. Thank you for reaching out to me. I am looking forward to those little communications:) God bless you for your kindness and prayers!
DeleteHoping all is well!
ReplyDeleteYou are in our prayers. Many sweet blessing to you and your family!
ReplyDelete