Day 5 ~ Freedom

Today is Day 5 - as Sam calls it!  Pete is sleeping near the edge of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth.  I think it is 1300 feet below sea level.  And we are here at 3333 in Boone!  He was in Jericho today for lunch.  I cannot wait to talk to him.  We have texted each day, but we have not talked!

Last night Andrew and I stayed up getting all of his paperwork signed for Milligan - scholarships, athletic stuff, housing info, deposit, etc.  And we finished up a big scholarship packet and mailed it too.  When I went to mail the package and get stamps, I got the new forever stamps.  The one I picked to put on his college stuff said "Freedom" ~ how fitting.  I need to give him his freedom to go out and be who God wants him to be.  It's tough, but I know that is what I need to do.  I cannot keep him with me anymore.

Sam reminds me so much of Andrew when he was little - only more like Andrew than Andrew himself.  He can sometimes cling a little bit.  He loves to hug me and be close by.  He wants me to "tap him on the shoulder" before we leave (so he won't get left behind).  He likes to have me close.  And I won't make some of the same questionable decisions I made to "help" Andrew come out of his shell.  I won't make him go to strange Bible schools to get him to open up.  I won't fret over him not being as outgoing as his peers.  (I mean, I will try not to.)  I will give him  the opportunities and encourage, but not push, him to take them.  Andrew found his way.  Sam will too.  One thing I won't do is be timid to ask questions or ask people for help.  I tried to not bother anyone before, but it's worth bothering. 

So tomorrow will be Day 6.  And Andrew is getting ready to be free.  I am excited that he is excited.