Our eldest daughter, Elizabeth (17) left home this week. Wahhhh!!!! We dropped her off at Heathrow airport where she flew to Austin, Texas. We must be getting old. We will also lose our son this week as he flies to Edinburgh. Wow. 2 children leaving the nest in one week.
For the next 5 months, Elizabeth (Liz) will be helping a social enterprise start-up called Sweet Notions which was started recently by some dear friends of ours – Shannon Hopkins and Jessica Stricker. Sweet Notions, based in Houston and London, helps change the world through recycled fashion accessories.
Its not easy to lose the first kid but we know she is in God’s hand and we are VERY VERY proud of Liz in wanting to spend her youth on transforming the world rather than pursuing more selfish endeavors. You can pray for Liz and support her in her first 2 months as she gets set up and sorted out. After two months, she should be able to support herself.
This is Liz walking out the door for her adventure – WITHOUT mum and dad. Has this happened to you????
Related: Christian social entrepreneurs measure success by a different yardstick (Baptist Standard), Whatever happened to the girl who started the emerging church network?
Already ON it from a prayer end here in Austin……. Jess and i are hooking up after i finish work today……… and i FINALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY get to meet one of dem amazing kids of yours. Pretty cool all around!
Know that you guys are immensly loved……….
xocat
I’d be sad/worried/etc. to send a 17 year old half way around the globe, too! As the father of 2 sons, now 26 and 29, I’ll testify that all of you will survive this. My wife and I joke that it took us about 15 minutes to get used to the “empty nest” when our sons left home! Every season of life has it’s rewards and challenges.
Blessings to your family as you move into the next stage of life! Nicely done, Joneses….
We kept moving countries and the children moving back to England in the process so that by the end of 7 years with three international moves we had an empty nest and now living in Latvia. It’s wonderful! It is also lovely to hear about what they get up to now they have left home, one has just moved out to Australia, one is getting married this year and one is at uni doing what he wanted to do since he was 9yrs old.
Wow…
I have four daughters, the oldest is 9.
This picture…wow.
Andrew, what’s the secret to raising a godly girl and then being able to let her go?
We have done this four times Andrew. Don’t worry, she will keep coming back. Ours gravitate back in good rotation, and eventually a couple of them began to bring their children!
The Jones family has come a very long way geographically and in every other way, since those family walks along the Haight in San Francisco … and now we see some of the firstfruits of that Global Go-Be missional lifestyle!
What amazing things you two have invested into your children, Andrew and Debbie, and what beautiful things have already come forth from your kiddoes. Y’all are THE most inspiring family I know … thank you for following Jesus faithfully, as best you know how, for so very long. You lead the way by your following!
Phew.. it must be such a heartbreak seeing both of them leave. But hey, they will leave for a good reason right? What they will do is all for their good sake. 🙂
heartbreaking… but brave!
Congrats Liz for your courage and determination.