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Ten Things of Thankful: Preview of Empty Nest Edition

John and I do a great job of making time for a weekly date.  We occasionally get away for the weekend, and we've taken a handful of sans-kiddos vacations.  While the kids were growing up, they would occasionally be gone for scout camp or a church youth conference.  For all intents and purposes, though, we have had at least one child at home for the past 25 years.  Since 1989.  Since before the Berlin Wall came down.  Since the first Bush administration.  A long, long time.  Which was totally worth it, by the way, but still, a long, long time.

That all (meaning the "at least one child at home" statement) changed this morning.  At least temporarily.  


Youngest daughter flew out this morning to stay with my brother and his family for the next 5 weeks.  


Youngest daughter prefers minimal attention on the blog, and I will honor that, but let me just say that I am so thankful for the chance she has to have her own adventure.  I'm thankful for my brother and his wife for inviting her to stay with them for a while.  I'm thankful for the professionalism of the airline workers, and the ease with which she was able to board the flight.  I'm thankful for whoever it was (identify yourself, please--I think I know, but don't want to attribute incorrectly) Dyanne of Backsies Is What There is Not, who blogged about the space saver bags.  I bought some to help fit a lot of clothes into suitcases, and they work so much easier than plastic bags!  I'm thankful for my daughter's safe flight, and that my brother was there to meet her on the other end.  I'm thankful for cell phones, so I could hear her voice telling me she's doing OK.  I'm thankful for a million other reasons.  And, oh yeah, I'm thankful for the next 5 weeks John and I have to practice being empty-nesters. 

What are you thankful for this week?  We'd love to have you link up your post!

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Thanks for youngest daughter, my brother and his family, summer adventures, and a temporarily-empty nest!

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Comments

  1. Wow! From the sounds of your family, your daughter will have a wonderful time with your brother and sister-in-law. I have no doubt you and John will find a way to enjoy yours empty nest, too.

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    1. That's the hope--that this will be a win-win for everyone! :-)

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  2. That sounds like a wonderful adventure for one and all!

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  3. Your daughter will do good, it will be something she will always remember. here's to the next 5 weeks - enjoy!

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  4. Wishing your daughter, a wonderful new adventure for the next 5 weeks now!! ;)

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  5. Exactly! She gets the enjoyment of a bit of independence, and yet I don't have to worry about her. :-)

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  6. You've built a wonderful family, Kristi!! You guys sound so close!

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    1. Thanks. I really am thankful for my family!

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  7. Hope she has a wonderful trip! Enjoy your "alone" time :-)

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    1. Me, too. I think she will, and I think we will, too. :-)

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  8. Hope she has a wonderful time there and meet new people. And I hope you and John will savour this time, just the two of you, enjoying a new phase in your lifes.

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    1. Thanks. John and I feel like kids in a candy store. :-)

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  9. wow thats a long time with a full house! Im sure you all will have fun despite being apart. I found the first few weeks of empty nest to be a time of real reflection. Then it was ok... lets fill this time and have some fun! Hope she has a grand time and you both do as well!

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    1. Having 5 kids will do that. It would have been even longer, had we spread them out a bit more.

      I think that we don't have much reflection going on now, probably because we know this is a temporary situation. When we are empty nesters for real, we might be more contemplative.

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  10. Nice! I hope there is a wonderful time had by all!

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  11. Enjoy your five weeks -- but I bet you miss her bunches! You will turn around and she won't be there. It will be good for all of you. Enjoy!

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    1. I feel like I have lost my shadow, but you are right, this will be good for all of us! :-)

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  12. took me a minute…."Ten Things of Thankful: Preview of Empty Nest Edition"

    and, then I'm all…. 'what a concept! do a preview post (which establishes parameters for the post to follow) and then a 2nd post'
    your powers of organization (at least in the realm of blogs and blogging) has my total respect.

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    1. I think you greatly overestimate me. It could be that the post is just "I'm thankful to have a preview of what life will be like when we really are empty-nesters." However, I like your idea, so I'll just say "thank you" and go with it. In fact, I could stretch it out over the next 5 weeks!

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  13. Your daughter is going to have some memorable adventures in the next five weeks.

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  14. YIKES> while I know this is a stage of life, and one that's blessed and lucky and you can go on a DATE, part of me dreads the empty nest already! Enjoy it!! And yay to your daughters and their adventures :)

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    1. I think acceptance of empty-nesting comes naturally over time, so don't spend time worrying about it yet--just enjoy Tucker! :-)

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  15. Ah. The empty nest. My 26 year old still lives with us, has a wonderful job, and is saving to buy a place to live. While I am happy she is still here, there are times . . . . . . I wouldn't mind at least practicing empty nesting. My children want minimal attention on my blog as well. Enjoy the five weeks and turn on some music so you aren't sitting at the dinner table listening to each other chew.

    Val

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    1. I'm sure your day will come. At least you have a built-in housesitter; maybe you should go take a vacation with your husband. :-)

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  16. Awesome Kristi, that you and John set time aside just for the two of you:)
    Very excellent, not just for you getting to practice the empty nest thing, but for your daughter. She will never foget her "summer vacation" and hopefully, she will have many good memories. I remember spending time with the "Jersey cousins" the summer before 8th grade. I'm thankful my parents thought to ship me off for a couple of weeks!

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    1. We have high hopes that this will be a significant time for our daughter.

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  17. HOLY COW, that's a lot to be thankful for! I can't even imagine. Would they take my son for the summer, too? hahaha kidding. That is quite the adventure, she'll be learning so much! And so thankful to be back home, and I can't even IMAGINE empty nest for that long! I love that comparison "...since before the Berlin wall fell" awesome. Good for you, what a list, what a summer!

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    1. Hmm, not sure about that. They shipped their own son to my sister-in-law's parents' house for the summer. :-)

      It amazes me just how much has gone on in the world since my kids were born.

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  18. Happy summer to each member of your family!

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    1. And happy summer to you and your family, too!

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  19. Oh, enjoy your empty nest! What an important preview that will be! I bet you will be glad to see her at the end of five weeks, but I also know, with the way you write about John, you two will have a wonderful time together.

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    1. I will enjoy having her home again at the end of the summer, and you are right that John and I will also have a wonderful time, too!

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  20. Oh lucky you! Five weeks will be like heaven. Of course you are going to miss 'your baby' but it sounds like she is going to have a great adventure of her own! Lucky her! I hope that when she comes home she will allow you to blog about her experiences!

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    1. I doubt she'll let me blog about it, but I am definitely excited for her (and us!)

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  21. ME, ME, ME! I'M THE SPACE SAVER BAG PERSON! Aren't they the best? Unless you're going some place where you won't have access to a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment, because you'd pretty much be up a creek then.
    I hope this change of scenery is a good thing for your daughter and she has a wonderful adventure! She must not be like my husband, who says he doesn't want me to write about him, then complains that I never write about him!

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    1. I thought so! (Have you considered putting a search feature on your blog?) Send me the link to your post and I'll add it in to mine. I think I commented on your post that plastic garbage bags are cheaper---well, yeah, but the space saver bags are SO EASY!!! I was just crossing my fingers that airport security wouldn't need to open the space saver bags for any reason, because I had no idea how the clothes would fit in the suitcase without the bags.

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  22. Oooooh I know you will miss your daughter but I hope you and Hubby enjoy the next 5 weeks! Looking forward to reading about your escapades in the coming weeks.

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