Moments

My next door neighbors are going through the excitement of having teenagers who are entering the realm of dating... And I am looking at my future life through their days and, frankly, I'm nervous!! I have been praying for a long time that Christ decides to return soon, but now my prayers for rapture have taken on a new sense of urgency! I just want to be raptured before I deal with teenagers!!!!

I'm only partially kidding! :)

Right now my babies dream of what they're going to be when they grow up, how successful they'll be and yes, of having families. However those dreams are paired with laughing at Phineas and Ferb, watching Barbie movies and playing Roblox on the computer. They build blanket forts and practice gymnastics in their bathing suits. They chase crickets and love to jump on my bed... They're still kids. And I cherish that so much and yet I can see time slipping through my fingers.

My son still wants me to hug on him. He doesn't mind that I kiss him or tell him that I love him. However, things have begun to change... In public, he doesn't want me to call him "Bug". That's his nickname but now he's embarrassed when I call him that at church. Wow. Peer pressure already. Chloe and Jillian are still in where I can love on them unabashedly... And I am taking advantage of it!

I know that the day is coming soon when they will be embarrassed to be seen with me. I won't be able hang out with them and when I ask the question, "Who wants to come with Mom to the...", they won't jump up and down at the opportunity to have "Girl time"...

The adage says that the two most important gifts that parents can give their children is roots and wings.

I believe this.

And so I'm working each day to make my children independent and self-sufficient. I've also heard the saying that when a mother has children, it is as though her heart has grown legs and is walking around outside her body.

I also believe this.

It is a painful process to encourage these little people that I love so desperately to grow away from me.

Blessedly, I am sooo proud of the little people they are becoming. And I am so thankful that I am here to enjoy the journey with them. And that is exactly why I am not excited about how swiftly the time is passing by.

I regret every time that I don't take advantage of the time I have with them.. The times that I lose my temper, the times that I'm not engaged in their lives, the times when I feel like they're an interruption to whatever I'm doing... At night, when they're sleeping in their beds, I sit up and regret the moments that I've lost; the opportunities to pour into their lives that I missed; the chances to show them how much I love them that I won't get back... And I wish I could turn back the clock on the day. Obviously I can't, but I can work on making sure that tomorrow, I don't have as many moments to regret and more moments to remember and savor.

Moments like these... Jillian laying right outside the front door waiting to go swimming

Chloe playing "Paid Programming". Not even kidding. They are demonstrating the power of OxyClean (Shout carpet cleaner) on our stained floors!

Jillian making her penguin do the "funky, funky" dance

Nathan as Alfalfa