What's a mother to do when her children are no longer children, but adults? In recent months I have found myself asking "What's next for me?" or "What am I going to do now?" My oldest son got married and moved more than 10 hours away. My youngest daughter just finished her senior year which also ends our homeschool journey as a family.

For the past 23 years my life has revolved around my children and I wouldn't of had it any other way, but now that they are grown it is time for me to refocus and see where it is God wants me. Just because my kids don't need me 24/7 anymore does not mean my life is over. In a way it is just beginning. I have plenty to look forward to and plenty of free time now to do other works for the Lord.

I wanted to read Guide to the Empty Nest because of where I am in life. I though it would offer some encouragement and maybe a little direction. I really didn't care for the book. For me personally it made me feel like the authors think you have to go out and do something huge during this stage in your life. I did not relate to their stories and personally felt a little let down after reading it.

I think greatness depends on you. Maybe all you can do is visit a sick friend or sew a blanket for a new born, but to the person you are helping...that's a great thing.

Find your purpose and don't let others tell you what that is or make you feel inadequate! You can do great things for God no matter how small you think they might be.


***Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Barbara and Susan help empty-nest women redefine the “mom” role.  I thought they did a good job looking at the empty nest stage through a variety of circumstances.  They include their own experiences and they draw on the stories of other women who have moved beyond the high school years.  It’s coming and I can see some good things and some sad things.  Having just moved our oldest into his own apartment for his first real job, I thought it was time to tackle this topic.

I greatly enjoyed the insight.  I felt that enough of the experiences they portrayed were close to my own.  I found a “fit” in several of their topics.