My daughter, my friend

Today my daughter, Carrie, left to move back to Guatemala. She's been home since Thanksgiving Day, and so the house feels rather empty tonight. I can hear the echos of her laughter, almost hear her talking to Mardo on the phone (which she did every night!) I see her sitting in the craft room working on a project, or at the dining room table using the laptop.
So I think back to all the fun times we had while she was home:
Trying new recipes...some, like wanna be pf changs lettuce wraps, turned out great. Others, like stroganoff, weren't quite as good.
Going to Stages Theatre with Stephanie and Izzy.
Eating at Olive Garden, Panera, Noodles, and Don Pablos
Shopping the occasional sales in Buffalo
A girls' weekend at the cabin - just her and I- we got a lot of scrapbooking done!
Shopping the thrift stores
Walking Percy and talking
Going to Michaels and Archivers to get supplies for wedding projects
MaryBeth Carlson concert in December
Cleaning the house together before Christmas, and other times
Challenging each other in step aerobics with the Wii
Eating Carrie's homemade popcorn together
Looking at DIY blogs together
Making our word plaques, and magnet trays, and flower headbands, and glitter candles, and jewelry boards Going to stamping class together twice
Buying her wedding dress, and going to the fittings with her
Watching the grandchildren play at the New Brighton playland together
Talking late at night, when she was in her bed and I was in mine
Having our own stamp class here, and Carrie's friend Marni joined us
Shopping at Target
Planning meals for the week together
Going to Rosedale to look for my dress for the wedding
Watching HGTV
.......................and much more!
I have so many good memories from the last 5 months because we spent so much time together. We talked, we laughed, we cried, we shared.  I am so thankful for these memories, this very special time with my daughter.
It is time for her to begin the next chapter of her life, to get married and have her own home. I know that I must let her go. I am confident that she is ready for this new season of life. And I have even more confidence in God, her Heavenly Father, that He will continue to watch over her, to provide for all her needs, to help her in ways I cannot, to love her with His perfect love.
I can't promise that I won't have any tears, but I know that this is the right time, the right thing for her to do. So I will pray for her (and Mardo). I will write to her, call her occasionally, think of her all the time, cherish the special memories, and thank God for her - my daughter who is also my friend.

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It's been a while since I've shared some of my 1000 Gifts... so here are a few more gifts/blessings in my life:
90. Brenton, Aaron, Jeff and Carrie - gifts God gave specifically to Craig and me
91. Frost on the street in the early morning that sparkles like glitter
92. Going to Fleet Farm to buy 10 gallons of motor oil for Craig because it's on sale - and getting the last 10 gallons they had.
93. Being able to walk outside without a hat or mittens
94. Kettlekorn and pineapple orange juice on the rocks
95. An email from my brother, letting me know he and his family are okay (they live in Japan)
96. Supper with a friend