I am not MIA. . .

So, it's been quite a while since I wrote my last triumphant entry hailing the election of our nation's first African American President (I never know, should that be hyphenated?).

Since then, I've been laid off from my job at UDS, unemployed for a grand total of 2 and one half weeks and been hired for two more jobs! A lot can happen in four months.

I won't go into all the details. Suffice it to say, I am now the Volunteer Services and Development Coordinator for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass. It's the best job I've ever had and I'm so THRILLED to be doing it. Having said that, I'm a bit daunted. It's a huge job and I haven't even chipped away the tip of the iceberg.

On the family front, Mary decided that she needed to get off of Asbury campus in order to move on after her break ups with first Ethan and then Chris . . . so she went as far as she could go and still be on the continent. She is living with my parents in Fort Myers, Florida. She has a job at Pet Supermarket and a boyfriend. She is talking about establishing residency and going to school there. Yes, as this was all unfolding I basically freaked out.

However, as it turns out, I'm a lot stronger than I thought and I'm living through it. This is by far the most difficult season of parenting so far.

I'm learning that it's not my life -- but I don't have to like or even support what she does with it. I feel I was gracious during Spring Break and I love her. But I don't have to watch as she pisses her life away. In a way, I'm glad she's far away so I don't have to be as much of a part of the mistakes she's making.

I'm just praying she doesn't do anything irreversible.

I guess this started out as an update and ended up a short rant. Parenting is so hard. And, regardless of what your children think, you're never really done with it.

Jesus, carry my little girl while she's far away and help me not alienate her. Amen.