You've been told to not grocery shop when you're hungry, right? This helps avoid the abundance of impulse purchases heaping up over the cart, draining your bank account and padding your thighs.

Blogging with a full heart is similar. This past week has been full of plans for Katie's college decision, culminating last night in fairly firm vision for where she'll be going in the fall. This draws to a close her YEARS of college hunting/researching/scrutinizing, and closes the more recent season of debate, prayer, deliberation, paperwork and prep. While we sat at the dinner table and spoke words of finality, reality set in.

Katie is moving out in the fall and going far away.

It is going to take me more than just this one blog to unpack all of my thoughts and emotions regarding this reality - even with me being the owner of said thoughts and emotions I don't completely yet grasp the fullness of them!

But I do know one thing this morning. OK, maybe I know two things. One: when I came downstairs to the kitchen this morning, I could see the footprints of Jon and Kate from the night before. The cookie jar was half full, meaning Katie had baked a batch and Jon had consumed almost all of them....classic. Two little teabags were left on the counter, tea kettle and honey....evidence that the night-owl buddies had lingered once again together, computing and companionshipping while the rest of the house slept. I will miss this, and miss the significance of what two little teabags on a counter represents.

But I do know a second thing: God is guiding Katie to the next chapter of her life, and even though that is far away from home, it seems to be where He wants her. Therefore, I rejoice. I cry for myself and for Jon (and Dusty and Ben too), but I rejoice. There's nowhere else I'd rather her be than smack dab inside His Will, even if that results in just one teabag on the counter every morning.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise. (Psalm 111:10)