New Chapter is beginning for the Lazenbys

This past year has been a year of many firsts for our family. We are still adjusting to life without our Gaga and Papa. We still miss them everyday but as we miss them, we remember. We remember all the memories of special events, special trips or get togethers, we remember just being with them and that makes us smile.
Today, marks another first. Our little girl, Lara, came into our lives 22 years ago, as a specific answer to prayer! On the day she was born, she was one loved and spoiled little girl, lots of attention and lots of love. That was then, and somehow, someway... 22 years have come and gone since that day. In May, she graduated from Baylor after 4 years out there in Texas. Then we brought her home for another short month. She was still recovering from her spring bout with mono so she did her fair share of resting and sleeping. But in between the sleep, the get togethers with friends, her Daddy and I had some special times together. We took a weekend trip to the lake and stayed in a light house. Went pontooning and jet skiing, ate pizza, got a little red and had a great time exploring a new area. The activities were just the fun things to do. The real memory of that weekend was the alone time we got to spend with just Lara.
Now, 5 weeks later, after all the NCIS, CSI and Disney reruns, it is time for this to come to an end. She is ready to move on to the next chapter.
Yes, today, we pack up the UHaul and head out to Knoxville where she will be at home there for a few years. She is going to be interning at a church there, Two Rivers, with the senior high pastor. We are all excited, especially her, for the opportunity this brings for her to be with the young people. God opened this door for her to share her love of senior high students there at this great church. She like them from the first interview that she had online then through all the conversations with the different staff , she grew to like them more.
I feel good about where she is going, about what she is going to be doing but once again, in a very short amount of time, my heart aches just a bit at the closure of her time at home. My little girl is all grown up, which I knew she would have to do one day, but I am left with the thought.... where did the time go?
When I come into the den and see a clean floor, no shoes, no books, no wrappers or empty drink cups, it will just be a reminder of those busy days when she was home. Yes, I will even miss the piles of clothes waiting at the steps to be taken upstairs and probably the unmade bed in her room. But through it all, I will be forever grateful to God for blessing me, for blessing our family with Lara, 22 years ago. I can`t take care of her anymore, physically, but I know God will be with her each step of the way.

I love you, sweet girl, and wish you the very best as you start off on your own.