Empty Nest

We have a week and a half until we will be official empty nesters.  You never think this day will come when they are little.  It's come too soon.   I'm feeling a bit sad this morning as I'm picking up the house and seeing the stuff we bought for Dustin's apartment yesterday.  It also makes me feel that I have done my job as a mother and my children are raised.  Raised enough anyway to try to make it on their own and isn't that what our job as mothers and fathers are.  Our older two are out on their own and married and starting their families.  It was also sad when they embarked on their own.  Danielle never really did come back home.  Dallas has been back a couple times and stayed as long as he could. (He likes to save his $$$ and he said he was saving ours because we did not have to pay for the dorm/apt.)  So now here I am, feeling sad but triumphant that we have come so far with our child rearing and I feel that we've done a pretty good job.  My husband has had tears this last month or so thinking about this day.  I think of God allowing Jesus to be born and  raised by Mary and Joseph and then they had to let go.  It's a part of life and I too will be better for it with a few tears is all.