I spent the night (literally!) with seven hundred high school kids.  Prom night.  Junior and Senior parents volunteered to run the “After Prom” night which was held at a Family Fun Center.  There were activities galore, enough food to feed a small town and colorful decor.  There were games and prizes.  It was a wonderful and safe place for kids to spend their evening after the biggest and last dance of the year.  My friends Tamera and Marybeth were the creators, managers and hosts of this amazing event and they did a fabulous job. They gave up their time, talents and energy to make this thing happen. With the help of countless volunteers, the evening really could not have been any better.

For many of us, although it was a relief to finish the night successfully and head home to bed at 4:30 a.m., there was also a hint of sadness.  For many of us, this was the last big school event of our last child’s high school career.  One step closer to seeing them head out into their own new worlds, knowing that we, too, are heading into a new world of our own – the world of empty nesters.  Our parenting soon to take on a new role as our babies become adult children.  It’s at the same time both exhilarating and terrifying.  And we wouldn’t trade the dichotomy for the world… Our children are finding their way and it’s a beautiful thing.

I had many sweet mommy moments in my heart last night.  I loved seeing Blake dressed up and looking dapper. I was so excited when he was crowned Prom King.  But my proudest moment was one that could have gone easily unnoticed.  There were 26 kids in Blake’s group going to prom together.  After pictures, they all went outside to wait for the Party Bus to take them to dinner.  It was cold and windy.  No weather for prom dresses.  As I watched through the window, I saw something that warmed my heart.  It was a small but profound gesture.  Blake was taking off his jacket and placing it around the shoulders of his date.  No prompting or motherly reminder.  Just a spontaneous and heartfelt act of kindness and sacrifice.  I just stood at the window for a time with a huge smile on my face and a tear in my eye.  As Blake stood out there shivering, my heart couldn’t have been warmer.  After a few minutes, the other young men took notice and began to do the same.  And right before my eyes, I saw these amazing teenage boys in one more small way turn into compassionate, outstanding men.

I know that I don’t get to see all the incredible little ways that these kids are changing and becoming adults.  But when I do get the chance, my soul celebrates that the next generation has young people like these that will lead  with hearts that make God smile.  And that makes every tear that I will cry in this “leaving the nest” process pretty darn sweet…