45 is Here, 13 days to an Empty Nest, & 1 "little" Purchase

Well I survived turning 45! Actually it was quite painless...a typical workday...and sushi with most of the family! It was a good day all in all.

13 days to go and we take my son to the MTC for a church mission. He is going to Honduras two months after that! I will miss him and watching him grow so quickly from boy to man! He has made amazing changes in his life, but that is a whole blog in itself! I love him and I am very proud of him! He will be an amazing missionary! Consequently, thirteen days till the nest is empty!

I am feeling a little anxious about my son's departure, but even more anxious about the emptiness. Emptiness of bedrooms, the Quiet of the doors and the stairs no longer in use, and the sparkle of his eyes and smile! I have been on the search for finding things that might keep me occupied and a little less obsessed with the emptiness....hence my "little,little purchase", as my sweet son with disabilities would say! Remember how I have been inspired by the crafty quilting blogs....well I decided to invest! Take a look at this...

Blogging

So for a very long time I have been reading blogs of others....some I know and many I don't know.  What I am finding is that all of these people have young families with babies and many exciting events to blog about.  Most of them are also very crafty and talented...they quilt, crochet, knit, decorate, take pictures and many many other things.  Many others have amazing stories to share about life changing events such as adoptions, the loss of loved ones, or miracles from tragic events.  These kinds of blogs I love reading...they are so inspiring and spiritually uplifting.  As I have read these blogs, I have not found many blogs of people who are empty nesters. I wonder is blogging a generational kind of thing or are all of us who are on the verge or already empty nesters afraid we don't have important things to share with the world?  I also have wondered what could I possibly blog about and even so would others find interest and read the blog...and do I want the world peering in on my life?

With those questions in mind here is my first attempt at blogging.....

A little about myself.  I have filled many roles in my life starting with daughter, sister, wife, mother of two boys, and teacher.  I am approaching my 45th birthday and I can hardly believe I am that old. I can also hardly believe that the children are grown and the nest is almost empty.  It is kind of funny that throughout my life  I have never contemplated my life beyond wife, mom, and teacher....and while the roles continue...they are also changing in significant ways.  My constant question is what am I going to do with myself????  Any advice on that question is more than welcome!

As I have watched the nest empty and change I have been trying to discover some of the things I enjoy.  My grandma taught me to crochet and I am am enjoying doing that again...I find it calms my mind.  I love, love technology....computers, iPods, communication devices, cell phones, smartboards.  I also really want to make quilts...or at least I think I want too.  This will have to wait until the nest is empty, the sewing machine is fixed and I have a place to do so.  I do love looking at some of the quilting blogs as well.  Any other ideas for an almost nest empty person??????  I would love to hear them.  On to my day....hair cut and color...maybe that will help me feel like a new person!