Moments of Mom anxiety ...

He's... leavin' on a jet plane

Excited to be leaving for Priority mission ~ on his way to Denver, to sing, work, sing, paint, sing ... and then more helping at food banks, senior centers, churches, homeless shelters ... and the list goes on.  

Saturday finally arrived... amazingly, he was the first one awake in the house (even before Millie).

I was proud, indeed ... and, uh also taken aback by such energy and non-stop conversation by this teen so early in the morning.  Off to the airport; turning back for “just one *wait... what?*  photo.”

        

At the airport he gathered with the group, checked his own baggage... (paid the $25 fee) which he was able to afford because of  the gracious gift of funds from thoughtful, generous (incredible) friends of ours who insisted on giving even after he met his goal for which -- thank you is not enough!  

Stealthily we followed the group of kids toward security ... where I was so grateful he wore his red jacket and was the tallest kid in the sea of bobbing heads walking through security.... I tip-toed and stared until I couldn't see anything but strangers ... then Sweet-T finally said "he's gone through the security gate and is already around the corner ~ we can go now."  Then we left. 

Going home it felt like I left part of me behind ... I miss that boy!  I know he's having fun, working hard, and being a blessing to many ... I'm excited that he will have new stories to share when he returns and I know he will be different from the kid I left at the airport.  

One of the first texts he sent was after he made his first purchase ... 

  it simply said            "I hate sales tax"

   

Another series of texts described his worry for a friend who didn't have enough money for meals for the whole week ...  then wrote that he and two other students agreed to share her food expenses to make sure she could eat.   [thanks again to the generosity of family and friends who gave so much support - he's able to pass along your kindness]

—   I love this kid!!!

He's been gone about a hundred hours now ... but who's counting?

Brother misses him too!