June 24, 2002

DOWN HOME:
Empty nest trial teaches lessons
___Our house has been unusually quiet the past couple of weeks.
___Lindsay and Molly, our daughters, have been singing their way across much of North America. Well, sort of.
___They left with Voice of Praise, the high school choir from our church, First Baptist in Lewisville, June 12. Th

MARV KNOX Editor

e kids and a hardy band of adult chaperones traveled to Memphis, Tenn., the first night. Then they trekked up to St. Louis, then on to Chicago. Finally, they arrived at their main destination, Minneapolis-St. Paul, where they conducted a week of Backyard Bible Clubs and other mission work with four Baptist churches in the Twin Cities area.
___"You're getting a sample of the 'empty nest,'" my dad told Joanna and me when we talked on Father's Day.
___I guess he was right. Ten days doesn't qualify as any kind of permanent vacancy on our girls' part. But it did give the Light of My Life and me time to be home alone.
___If memory serves me well, this is just the second time both girls have been away at the same time without us for more than a night or two. One summer when they were in elementary school, they both went to church camp at the same time. Otherwise, they've always been on different camp and choir-tour schedules and gone different weeks of the summer.
___Lindsay and Molly's absence did give me a chance to assess how things will be different when they're grown and gone:
___ For one thing, we won't consume nearly as much milk around our house. Sometimes we buy five gallons a week. Jo and I cut that down to maybe a gallon and a half.
___ We won't need to vacuum as often, and we won't turn up hairballs the size of Chihuahuas when we wash towels. Most of my hair already has fallen out, as you probably know. But the way the girls shed, I'm surprised they still have a hair on their heads. With them gone, I arrived at work more than a week without long hairs wisping on my shirt and/or slacks.
___ Every now and then, I'll get to hold the TV remote-control. Not that I'll know what to do with it, but Jo will let me hold it.
___ Even on Sunday mornings, I'll have as much hot water as I need for my shower.
___ We'll remodel the kitchen. We won't need it anymore. Sure, we'll keep the fridge, the microwave and the dishwasher. But the rest of that stuff will be taking up valuable space.
___ I'll be able to walk across the den floor without tripping on sandals, sneakers, hair brushes, books, magazines and backpacks.
___That's it for now. If you know me, you probably thought I'd get sappy. But Lindsay's leaving for college in eight weeks. I've got to pace myself. In the meantime, I'm thanking God for these "good ol' days" of a noisy home.

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend



News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook