Spread Your Wings and Take Flight, Little Dove

(I found this draft in this blog today....it's from July 2019 - I have added to the end of it today, Oct. 14, 2022)

There comes a day that we say goodbye to our children, but sometimes it comes all too soon.  Some of our beloveds are eager to fly while others take a less aggressive path of self exploration and discovery that lessons the final blow of separation.
My only daughter was second born, but it is my belief, along with her father, that she initially came before her brother.  She was in a hurry then, too, but the stars had not aligned for her then and, although a sorrowful pause, His plan is always predetermined.  So, as miscarriage plagues approximately one third of all known pregnancies, our precious girl finally came on September 20, 2001 - just after 911.  Albeit, she tried to arrive after 20 weeks gestation and then finally burst out 7 weeks early, her two weeks in NICU gave her the rest she needed to enter this world strong, feisty and ready to pave a path that will touch many lives.
An old soul, we were told, and a gentle spirit.  Never following the herd, but cultivating her own garden of beauty and unfolding into an infinite petal lotus.
I'm so proud of her eclectic mix of friends. Each year her comfort level grew and she would reach out in places one would never expect.  For example, in the spring of 2018 she participated in a walk-out at school against gun violence.  This was the exact same day that I was picking up my son from college for spring break and there was a shooting in his dorm, one floor above his, as I was en route.
Gracie's repertoire of interests includes Tae Kwon Do (she achieved her black belt last year), fundraising for cancer research and animal cruelty, she is a bonafide Thespian, and the list goes on...
Tomorrow we head to Indiana as the next day she will register for her first semester at college, out-of-state, at the renowned Purdue University.  To add some sprinkles to our trip, we have an appointment a few hours away the day after her registration at the Indiana Air National Guard.  She has already signed up in Michigan, taken her ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test) where she rocked it out with a score of 93 out of 99, and taken her medical exam.  
She received a call from the Intelligence Wing in Terra Haute, IN, to discuss job opportunities in cyber security the day she tested.  Her training in the ANG will be several weeks consisting of physical training (8 1/2 weeks) and technical training (an additional 8 weeks, possibly more).  This is all in addition to her collegiate studies.
I feel so blessed that our children have opportunities for education and are all unique.  The world is shrinking and their worlds have been inundated with technology at different levels by each generation.  Technology weaves its tentacles into every single industry and while we still have a planet, it seems like the logical path for many of our youth.  I've learned so much just attending college tours and am confident that her future will be a successful one.  
With the abundance of training and education in addition to her dedication, perseverance, grace and heart, she will no doubt take flight and soar into endless opportunities. 
I pray that one day she will find solace with a partner who supports her every dream, loves her beyond this world and gives her the respect that every individual deserves  no matter their background.  And may her faith always be her guiding light and my prayers follow her wherever she goes.  Let her wings bring her back home often to bring a smile to my face and a comfort to my heart and soul.  For our children are extensions of our souls; they take a piece of us wherever they go and are never forgotten. 

START NEW ENTRY 10/14/22:

Not sure why I never published this. I did not edit any of the above.

So, tomorrow, I leave for Purdue for Family Weekend, with my son. I will see my daughter, hang with her friends, attend the football game and cherish the small time I will have there. She is now half way through her service to our country, is an Ambassador at college, she just finished as a board member of a non-profit, she is on the Dean's List, and she is awaiting her final internship news....she already had one offer that was amazing, but she is holding out for a dream opportunity. :)

What an amazing journey we have all had the last few years.  Most children, of all ages, have been affected by a virus, a lock down, political unrest and now a war lingers across the ocean. I am so proud of all of our four children.  They do not partake in violence, they are intelligent, they know they have family that loves and supports them and they are independent thinkers, i.e., they are not influenced by others and certainly not by social media. 

I feel social media, is one of the largest contributors to the state of our country and society today. I was ready to make a post on Facebook about the violence in Philadelphia at the Wawa convenience store when it got so long I decided to place it here.  It is just an unloading of my mind, which is coming off a gubernatorial debate from last night. lol You have to watch this video first:

This is sad. Who are the parents of all these kids??? Great parenting. Arrest them all! Identify them if you can. THIS is just ONE example of what is wrong with the way our country is going. What are they trying to prove? Do these kids even vote? Do they even think of their future? Where and how will they live if they destroy everything? Do they think the government will pay for all of their wants and needs??? They are in a downward spiral. Those in office/power are promoting this type of activity and putting our police in danger. Do some research people. We are living in the destruction of our country. Kids are suffering from broken families, no morals, hypocrisy, contamination from social media, lack of education, lack of knowledge of reality and truth! Frustrations are growing as we approach another election....what happened to just going to the voting booth on election day? Greed happened. Warmongers happened. Sometimes it's easier to just be quiet and ignore things, live in a bubble. What if you could have helped somehow? In a peaceful and productive way? I have gone back and forth. We should not be afraid to share truth. If we are friends we should respect each other, like most people did before 2020 happened. Think about the future of your children and grandchildren....what will be left? What did we/you do to help them? Do you believe in our Constitution? Why people want to come to the USA right now is beyond me. It is a mess. More thoughts to come.....