Thursday, March 13, 2008

Not In the Driver's Seat Anymore

Our firstborn is not only 16 -
as of 1:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time today,
she's licensed to drive.

Yep, she did it. First try.
I wish I could've bottled the glow she had when she came through the door. Her 100-watt smile lit up the DOL.

So Jim and I aren't the only ones in the driver's seat anymore.
And, yes, I mean that in the many-layered way it can be interpreted.
Our girl is growing up.
One more step of independence.

While waiting for the examiner to come to the car, I looked at Cami's learner's permit and read the fine print that said "Age 18 on 12-15-2009". Yeah, yeah, whatev...WHAT??? Hah, hah (nervous laugh). That can't be right...that would be NEXT YEAR. Uh, yeah. Next year - next December - Cami will be 18 and halfway through her senior year of high school.

Not the only ones in the driver's seat.
It's reality.
I don't know how it happened - she was JUST in second grade!

And now...
she's talking about junior AND senior year classes,
talking about college,
delivering job applications and resumes,
splitting time between schoolwork, friends, home and Jacob.
She's beginning to carry the weight of her own choices and decisions,
studying God's Word for herself,
and figuring out what's important in this world.

Cami's driving.
Jim and I are splitting navigation duties with God.
And we're cherishing the moments -
From the passenger seat.