The Nest is Never Empty!

I've never been super interested in starting a blog until recently.  I talked my daughter, Summer, into starting one and I keep up with several others.  I thought it might be fun to do one of my own, just to dabble and experiment with this new form of communication.  I'm pretty sure it'll just be family who read these posts and maybe they won't even be interested.  But I do have a lot to say.  I've always enjoyed writing, especially poems, and this will give me one more way to express my thoughts and "musings" in a way that could be fun.  We shall see.......

My husband, Michael, and I have recently become "true" empty nesters.  We have four children; Ciara, Chad, Todd, and Summer.  They range in age from 20 - 29 years old.  Our youngest left for college three years ago and I considered myself an "almost" emply nester then.  Our last child to get married was Todd.  He married his sweetheart, Christine, three weeks ago.  I now consider myself a "true" empty nester.  But I have discovered something interesting since then, and that is......."the nest is never empty"!  Michael and I were a little worried that not having children at home would be difficult.  What would we talk about?  What would we do with our time?  How would we deal with life after kids?  Well, guess what?  The nest is never empty!  Two of our children live fairly close and visit often.  Between the two of them, we have 5 (almost 6) amazing grandchildren.  Our home is filled with people most of the time, and it's not always family. 

Our nest continues to grow and get bigger.  Our nest hasn't gotten smaller like we thought it would.  Our nest has become cozier and warmer and more comfortable as time goes by.  We keep adding the twigs and mud and feathers to make it cozy and warm and comfortable for all the little birdies who want to cuddle up and rest for a while.  That makes me happy.

An interesting thing happened to us last year.  A little newlywed couple of swallows decided that the quarter inch wide ledge at the top of our front door would make a lovely nest for their soon to be arriving baby birdies.  Michael wasn't thrilled with the idea.  They made a hideous mess on our porch.  Mud, twigs, feathers, and most disturbing, POOP, was a daily vision for all to see.  I talked him into letting them stay.  Our grandchildren loved watching the progress of the nest, and then waiting for the eggs to hatch and the babies to show their darling little faces.  We all loved watching the dedicated parents spend all their waking moments tending to their newborn family.  The process didn't last long.  It wasn't more than a matter of weeks that the babies were literally being pushed out of the nest and learned to fly.  Wow!!  It was awesome to watch.  Soon the nest was empty and the little family disappeared.  I was a bit sad, to be honest. 

We were told that the birds would return this spring.  We were secretly (well, maybe not so secretly) hoping they wouldn't come back and we'd be spared the mess and the hassle.  THEY'RE BACK!!  We noticed two birds hanging around the porch and soon realized that they were beginning to build another nest.  Michael was determined to stop the process from the start.  He blasted the first notice of mud with the hose and hoped that would put an end to the nest.  But, no.........they kept coming back.  Every day for a week or more.  Michael continued to blast off the mud time after time.  After about 10 attempts to stop the birds from building their nest, he gave up.  I was happy that the nest would again by filled with a family of birds, and didn't hide my pleasure from my hubby.  He isn't thrilled about the mess that will continue to be made on our porch but I think he's excited to relive the experience and watch the miracle of the swallows happen right outside our door again.

So, to put an end to a lengthy post, the nest is never empty.  Our family continues to grow and just because our children don't live under our roof, the nest is always ready and waiting for them to return.  And when they return, they bring with them their own little babies.  I cannot express in words the joy my family brings.  To watch my little "birdies" leave the nest and start nests of their own is incredible.  To then see them as parents is priceless.  No one could have told me what being a grandparent feels like.  I know now because I am one.  I am reaping the rewards of providing a nest for my babies and helping them to become strong and responsible men and women who are ready to fly on their own.  I love you, Ciara and Brandon, Chad and Charity, Todd and Christine, and Summer and Chris.  I can't wait to add oodles of grandbabies to the five I already have - Alexa, Noah, Annie, Coren, and Risa.  Thank goodness the nest is never empty!!!!