All my kids at dinner

I had a most unexpected surprise this evening. Don came by for dinner. This is surprising because he has sort of run away again. I don't think it's technically called "runaway" when it's an adult who no longer lives at home. It sure doesn't feel the same as it did when he was younger and, you know, my responsibility.
He sort of vanished, as he does, on Saturday night. His landlord called me and told me about it, also mentioning that I should come by and pick up Don's various and sundry. Who moves out without packing? This is why it's more of a runaway thing.
He's been in touch, which is nice. This way I know that he is alive, even if I dont know where he is. At least I'm not running around town in disguise, trying to find him. I don't know where he's staying, but I'm more or less certain that he isn't harming himself with more than green flora which may or may not be legal. Tonight, he and a friend just showed up as I was pulling dinner out of the oven, so I set some extra plates and we made do.
Laying eyes on him was very comforting.
I'll tell you what, though: I never can seem to wrap my mind around these sorts of realities. It does get easier to bear, though.
I am really hoping that there will be spouses for them, and grandbabies for me, one of these days. Do you think that normalcy is in my future....anywhere?

What makes for a good parent? Is there such a thing? Maybe the better question is : What makes for good children? I'm sure I have no idea. By some standards, I have failed miserably. If the goal is to keep your kids out of prison and off the streets and maybe off drugs, then I am an abismal failure. Which is too bad, really, because I put a lot of effort into that parenting stuff. But, I like my kids. They keep coming home, and they are super confident that they are loved. They keep me involved in their lives, to varying degrees. They talk to me about what they are dealing with. That has to count for something, right?

Heck, God Himself has so many errant children. He seems to be primarily concerned with keeping a vibrant relationship with His children. They can sin and fail and make a right mess of things, but as long as they keep coming back to Him...keep talking to Him and seeking Him out, then He seems to be pleased. In fact, the relationship always seems to be the point, if I'm understanding my bible correctly. God allows His children to make their own decisions and learn things the hard way, but He's always nearby to offer redemption and unconditional love.
If that's the model for an ideal parent, then I'm on the right track.