3 Days Without Kids?

I know by just reading that some of you are foaming at the mouth. You would think that I would be too. But I am on Day 2 and it just feels..weird. I feel that my identity is my kids. Because they are older, I am always taking back and forth to places, cheering at swim meets, volunteering for homeschool activities. And when I am not doing that, I am at home enjoying them, teaching them, cooking for them, playing games with them and cleaning up after them. I could be cleaning up after them right now but why would I want to do that with my free time?! Ok, ok, I will admit that I cleaned Abi's room yesterday and even thought about painting it! But I talked myself out of it. And yes, I will be cleaning Andrew's room too! I'm a sucker.

What do I do what the rest of my time? All of my friends still have their kids, my husband is working crazy hours and just wants to relax when he comes home, my mom needs to work so she can go on vacation with my nanny and Aunt, (wish they would have taken it in these 3 days and I would have invited myself!!) my stepmom has crazy hours with my dad's job, so.... Last night Eric and I were sitting down watching a movie, eating chili cheese fries. I have no idea how to cook for 2. I started thinking, "Is this our life after kids?! How boring!" Eric was loving it. He had been out with people all day though. I wanted to go out, have dinner, shop, go to the movies, so on. I know Eric is tired so I will not push it. I had attended a meeting that day but once again, it was something my kids are involved in.

So what will I do when my kids leave? All I could think about last night was that my identity is wrapped up in my role in my family which is mom. While doing my devotional this morning, it hit me. My identity is wrapped up in Christ. I exist to serve Him. I started thinking again about when they leave...and felt ok. I will join the day Bible class that I have always wanted to join, I will visit my sister more and encourage her through those crazy years that she will be going through, I will have my brother's kids over more so he and his wife can enjoy being alone, I will hopefully travel with my sil who will enter empty nesting at the same time, I will enjoy lunches and traveling with my mom and stepmom, ( I love you mom but we are not traveling to casinos!) I will help my husband with his business, I will throw around the idea of a garden and then not do it, I will enjoy every single minute that my husband and I have together, I will travel to places with him that we have always wanted to visit, and I will continue to be a mom. Mom is not a job that ends at 18. But most of all, I will enjoy each and every moment and stage of life that God has blessed me with. I will serve my Jesus and follow the plan He has for my life. Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing every day of our life?