Fall Already?

The change in our household has been pretty drastic over the last couple of months. Starting off the summer by saying goodbye to Devin for 2 years was a doozy! Watching Trevor graduate from High School was also bitter sweet mainly because there wasn't much of a summer with him! Football started at Pasasena City College the end of June with only a 10 day break in July before starting the Fall semester. He and Ben Thrasher stayed in a Super 8 until full time living accommodations came available. After lots of frustration and the test of patience, we were finally able to move them into a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment on August 16th. They are only 1.3 miles from the school in a perfect location for 2 broke college students. 

Whew! What a relief! 

Gerald, myself and two teenage girls is quite a contrast from our household last fall which consisted of Trevor, his girlfriend Lilly and at least 2-3 additional boys all year long. It was a year full of advise giving and question answering discussions and now we get to sit back and watch as their first year of college unfolds for each of them. Not only has our house drastically changed, but our food bill has shrunk considerably and it takes me half the time to do laundry these days. It is so rewarding to watch the appreciation of small things slowly come from your children as they leave home and start doing it all for themselves. 

Natalie just started her Junior year and really loves the independence she has found with being able to drive. She has taken Devin's KIA under wing very happily and is off to seminary at 6am in the morning and not home until after water polo practice in the evening.  She has patiently waited to have her own room and just recently got the okay from Dad! 

After giving birth to Savannah, I remember coming home, looking at Natalie and feeling like she had grown up overnight! I swear when I left for the hospital Natalie was still a baby and her transformation into the big sister was instantaneous! The same has happened this summer. As the oldest in the family moves to college, the next in line takes on this transformation just like the butterfly. It becomes their time to shine, their time to lead and for their voice to be heard. I have loved watching Natalie take her shape as the oldest in the house. For so many years she has been a quite strong supporter of everyone around her and it is finally her turn to lead and be looked up to.

Savannah never seemed to think it was necessary to wait for her turn to lead. As she heads into 8th grade she is definitely a born leader. In fact she is learning that she might not know everything about every situation she walks into. She is one that teachers rely on to get it done and she loves the responsibility. Being the head of the school as an 8th grader will make for a very fun, memorable year and it's already underway with the planning of a back to school glow stick party ... Just the beginning of a great school year ahead!

Trevor was awarded the Kerber Foundation Scholarship this summer