Looking Back, Looking Forward

Five years ago:

I stood in the driveway, holding six-month-old Christa in my arms, and watched my son, Josh, drive off to college.
The boundaries of our family stretched to encompass his new life away from home.

Two days ago:

I watched Josh walk into the airport with his fiancee, Jen, to catch a red-eye back to New York after a whirlwind weekend of wedding planning. Christa snoozed in the car. She insisted on taking the late-night drive to the airport with us, wanting a few more minutes with her big brother and soon-to-be-sister.
The lines of our family are stretching again.

I find myself navigating yet another rite of parental passage. I wonder just how do I do this? How do I watch my son take the hand of the young woman he loves and pledge to love, honor, and cherish her? It's such an overwhelming bittersweet blend of emotions. I can't even begin to sort them all out. A touch of sorrow. A sense of joy.

And as I walk this out, I am oh, so mindful of Christa--and the emotions she is feeling. She's not quite sure what this all means, although a wedding sounds like fun. She likes the idea of wearing a special dress, but wonders if her relationship with Josh will change.

So,I'll be watching my step these next few months. And I'll be keeping a close watch on Christa too.