“3…2…1… Blastoff!”  Those are the words you may recall hearing at some point in your life.  Or perhaps you recall using them as a kid as you pretended to launch that rocket carrying you into outer space (what kid didn’t do that at least once in their life?)?

In the next week, Deb and I will be in a similar circumstance.  While we probably won’t say those exact words, we will be feeling that way in part.  You see, August 11th is the date we are driving off with Charissa to drop her off for her first semester of college.  It is a journey that has parts of fear and excitement involved.  After all, this is our first child going off to college (okay, I’m sure we’ll have similar feelings when we launch our second and third child too).

We are blessed to have a child who has done well and in many ways we are confident in the person she has grown up to be.  But, I would be lying if I didn’t say there are times where as a parent I wonder, “Did I do my job well?  Have I properly prepared her for the world before her?  Will she call home?”

I’m glad to know that she is a child of God.  She was a gift to us over 17 years ago, and still is.  That is where my hope and peace need to rest – in our Savior and hers.  My hope and peace should be on me as a parent who has made plenty of mistakes in life (and will continue to do), not in a good school.

Now, off to buy some tissues for the next week.