Rough Week!

Of course you never appreciate the good times enough until you have bad times....but this has been a very rough week.
I was feeling like an "empty nester" with both Ben and Steph moving out the same day last week; so I got busy with some much needed remodelling projects in the house. We are converting the girls old room to a pantry and guest room, and there is a lot of work to get this done. Remember this poor room endured 8 years of teenage girlhood (2 girls). There are millions of staple holes in the walls, plus a wall of panelling that had to be pulled out, carpet had to be removed from the walk-in closet, and under the carpet was the original 1948 linoleum tiles that had to be pulled up.
Then late Monday night our little dog Ty got out of the back yard and was hit by a car and killed. Needless to say, I've been depressed all week.
It is times like these that make me take a deep prayerful breath and realize the need to be thankful for what I do have. Yes, the kids have moved out...but all 4 of my children are healthy young adults (including the teenager). Both of my boys have been in serious car accidents this year...yet walked away from them with very minor injuries. My oldest son is a student at Le Cordon Bleu in Dallas and is maintaining a B average. My youngest son is getting his life together after nearly becoming permenantly disabled from a car accident last Feb. He and my oldest daughter have gotten an apartment together and are finding their own way in life. My youngest daughter (15 yo) is still at home and I am looking forward to having time with her as an "only child". I've spent the last 23 years of my life doing the best I could to raise my children to love the Lord and be responsible hard-working adults. I thank God for providing me with a wonderful husband that provided us with the income and fortitude that made it possible for me to stay home with my children and raise them. My family is the most important thing in my life, and now that I'm making the transition I'm taking a deep breath and looking forward.

In the meantime....I still miss these days...