I am missing my 2 oldest this morning. They are at their dad's house about 6 hours away. They will be home on Wednesday or so, but when you are accustomed to having a them around all the time, it is kinda lonely without them, quieter, but not necessarily better. A, my daughter had a hard time going, fearing she would be homesick, K was happy to go as they have video games there and we don't. My ex is not an evil man, but we do have different opinions on what is appropriate supervision and entertainment. He, of course, thinks I am anal, and I think he is too permissive. We don't fight about stuff, but every once in a while I have to phone him and say, " This is what I am hearing and I am concerned about..." Mainly, I pray a lot and ask God's protection over them while they are away. I am so thankful that their ever present and loving Father is always with them. I told my daughter that I had no easy solution for her homesickness, but that this could be an opportunity for her to grow in her relationship with God and take Him at His Word when He tells her to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with prayer and petition, make your requests known to God". We talked about how she would have the responsibility to bring her fears to God, again and again if she needed to, in order to have some peace. I was pleased to have her tell me that she was doing so during a phone call, and after a few days, she is not experiencing that anxiety anymore. Thank you Jesus, I think that I would be a royal pain in the petutti (sp?) ex wife if I did not have Him to rely on when I am feeling anxious over not being able to protect my kids! Man, I would totally go teach a course in highschool about the long lasting effects of making stupid choices as a teenager/young adult- the problem is that we are all so smart at that age that no one would listen!!!