I know I already shared a post about my daughters leaving for University out of State, but Paul took some more pictures the morning that they left and I wanted to share a couple more in this post…

Updates from the girls:  Allison is starting her old job as a level one gymnastics coach at the on campus facility and Michelle has a job interview tomorrow at a Pre-School.  So far the living situation is working out well, and they have attended church once and also Family Home Evening.  They are in a huge student ward and had fun playing volleyball at the FHE on monday night.

I am so glad that they are living together and pray this time will provide great memories.  They are so different in personality and habits and yet they get along so well.  I really don’t have to worry about them at all, but I do, a little bit.

Jenny Hatch

All three of our boys will be playing fall soccer and practices started this past week.  Paul took a bunch of photos from the first scrimmage game that they played yesterday.  I am a musical theatre Mom, and still don’t even understand all of the rules of soccer, we never played it when I was a child, and I don’t know what terms like “off sides” mean.  But I know how much I enjoy watching the boys play sports, and it was a fun way to spend the morning.  Ben starts his rec center team practices next week and we will be at our favorite park several times a week for games and practices.  Soccer means fall is almost here!

Ben spent the whole game chasing the balls that were kicked out of bounds.  He hopes to serve as the ball boy for most of the home games at the high school this season…

Jenny Hatch

Our daughters left for school last Tuesday and I have been trying to find my footing as a Mother of three sons in our home. Jeff and Andy have had a busy first week of school, starting early morning seminary and Soccer. They leave at six am and are not home until about six pm, so its not like they have been around much anyway.

Our oldest daughter Michelle has been my near constant companion for twenty two years. When she decided to live at home after high school and work these past four years, I had no idea how ill I would be and how important, crucial, it would be for her to be a part of our daily life. She has truly been a second mother to Benjamin these past eight years. He had a total meltdown two days before she left as it hit that his Shelly would be leaving.

I don’t have any words of wisdom or profound insights about this phase of life. Rather I just feel blessed to have two smart daughters who are grasping the future and moving forward with their lives. Both of them have friends with tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debts, and they are very focused on making certain that does not happen to them. I am so grateful for the clarity they both have on that subject and pray that they can stay focused and work hard.

Jeff just started his senior year and plans to apply to several schools…he wants to serve an LDS Mission and is thinking about studying Economics in College. He wants to try to get into the Air Force Academy and has been going through the application process to make that happen. He is singing in the Chamber Choir, Playing Varsity Soccer, and is going to be a four year member of the Speech and Debate Team. He is such a great guy and I love him so much.

Andy and Ben we will have with us for a few more years, and we are delighted with the progress they are both making as young men.

This side of Motherhood feels so overwhelming and difficult. Letting them go and watching them move into adult life. I am so grateful for the tremendous blessing of having these souls in my life for now and in eternity.

It has been such an honor to Mother them…

Jenny Hatch