Sometimes you never know the last

As a mom you will likely mark many milestones, but you will also miss many as well.  Some milestones are big and in your face while others seem insignificant until later.

You likely won't remember the exact day that you took your child's hand for the last time to cross the street or the last time your child cuddled in your lap before they grew too tall.

We faced a couple of lasts unknowingly last summer.  We love the summer swim and dive team, and Julia refuses to return to it this summer.  We certainly did not expect that- not that she won't return next year or the following year.

Last summer when Savannah was home, she planned to return to dorm life, so we had no reason to believe that she would not be home this summer.  However, the game changed.  Somehow during a search for summer internships, Savannah found a ministry based internship right in our own hometown.  It's an eleven week commitment, and she will be serving the inner-city.  Unlike many other internships (aside from teaching), this one is not a paid internship.  In fact she has to raise the money to do it.  Savannah will live on site with the other interns and will be handling digital media.  This is designed to raise and train the future leadership of the church.  The good news is that she will be in our hometown and will have one day a week off that she can hang out with us.  The bad news is that her one day a week off is the day the pool is closed, and Savannah is traditionally my pool buddy.

When Savannah returns to school in the fall, she will be in an apartment, so I don't see her returning to our home unless it is necessary when she graduates.  Even then she will have to pursue a Master's degree in her field, and the only local state school probably does not have the program.  If it does it is irrelevant.  After three people in this family have had terrible experiences there, we have decided that they will not see another penny from us once Zach finishes his program - transferring to another school has not been ruled out.  It's that bad.

I am so proud of Savannah.  This decision was easy and tough.  The reality is that if we can afford a family vacation this summer (looks highly unlikely), Savannah cannot go with us.  That will be really tough.  Savannah's heart is in this. She's so excited!