Saying Goodbye.

 This morning Claire, Lottie, and I got up early, 

and headed to Target to get Claire the essential college items 

before we headed back to North Carolina.

We filled the cart up with cleaning and organizing items, bed sheets,

pillows, and other things that were thrown in for good measure.

This was such an iconic moment for me as a mother;

shopping with my college/working child, getting her ready to

become an adult and start an independent life.

I'm so thankful for the Joneses, who are letting her stay with them

until she finds an apartment- or husband.

Ha ha, JK JK...kind of.

We met the boys at Cafe Rio for one last burrito together then Claire

drove us to the airport, where we had a tearful goodbye.

She's coming back in February for 

Oliver's mission farewell meeting at church 

which is a good thing for all of us to look forward to.

It made saying goodbye not too bad.

We made it home around midnight to cozy Stillestead, Angus, the cows,

and a few daffodils shooting up in the front yard.

It was a great trip!