By Keith Carver
Our mailbox is overflowing. Six days a week our mailman brings a new batch of college recruitment material. We’re hearing from them all—big universities, small private colleges and all schools in between.
My daughter, Carson, is finishing up her junior year of high school and, perhaps like many of your children, planning for the next phase of her life. We are knee deep in the college admissions process.
It doesn’t seem possible. Our little girl has become a young woman overnight. Hollianne and I are trying to enjoy every day with her before she leaves for college in a year. I’ve realized how much I’ll miss having her in our home on a daily basis.
To celebrate this milestone, I’ve started collecting a list of the little things that I’ll miss about Carson. Included on my list are:
- Watching her compete on the soccer field.
- Enjoying her homemade chocolate chip cookies, often made late at night.
- Watching her build the perfect s’more in our backyard fire pit.
- Experiencing college football and basketball with her. Her commentary is always insightful and hilarious.
- Seeing her enjoy her Bible studies with friends.
- Hiking new trails as a family.
- Attending concerts together.
I realized, however, that while this writing exercise is good for me, I need to make sure that I share these thoughts with Carson—right now.
While she certainly knows how much I love her, she also needs to hear it from me—right now.
Life is fleeting. We owe it to those we love to not only celebrate the big milestones in life, but the quiet, ordinary ones, too. These small moments and memories are what make our lives so special.
So, I encourage you to take time out of your day to share your thoughts with those close to you. They’ll appreciate it, and if you’re lucky…you might get a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies in return.
Keith Carver Blog Contact
UT System Administration
Keith is husband to an amazing woman and dad to three active children. He enjoys getting outdoors with his wife, Hollianne, fishing, watching his children play sports all over East Tennessee and reading biographies of historical figures. He currently serves as the executive assistant to UT President Joe DiPietro.