My baby boy grew up this summer. I'm not sure exactly when. It feels like it happened over night. But really, it has been a series of nights- nights when I was not the one to tuck him in with a story, a snuggle and a prayer.
It has been a strange summer- when this big kid has gone off on his own adventures. Gone two places that I have never been! Gone on four different excursions. Gone from me, his MOMMY, for a total of 28 days this summer!
It has been a strange summer- when this big kid has gone off on his own adventures. Gone two places that I have never been! Gone on four different excursions. Gone from me, his MOMMY, for a total of 28 days this summer!
I know he is anxious about middle school. I know he is thinking way too much about our impending move. I know that he eavesdrops and hears way too much. I know he sees the hurt that many of our friends' families are going through. My little sponge, he's taking it all in-- and yet, something beautiful is coming out!
A young man. Ok, I know he is not a man- more of a man-child- or a mini-teenager. No hairy armpits, yet-- but smelly ones. No hormonal crushes, yet-- though he does get moody and demand a shower daily. No deep voice, yet-- but, deep thoughts and deep questions abound.
It is a miracle to see your child's character grow as he steps out independently more and more. It is similar to the miracle of birth. I remember holding him and being amazed that God had done that inside this body! I really didn't do much- except feed him lots of pie. (And, by feed him, I mean that I got a strawberry pie pretty much every week that spring of 2004.) That's how I feel now-- I see this person who is making big decisions, and learning big life truths and there is really no other way to say it, except to say, that I feel like I have a front row seat to a miracle!
A young man. Ok, I know he is not a man- more of a man-child- or a mini-teenager. No hairy armpits, yet-- but smelly ones. No hormonal crushes, yet-- though he does get moody and demand a shower daily. No deep voice, yet-- but, deep thoughts and deep questions abound.
It is a miracle to see your child's character grow as he steps out independently more and more. It is similar to the miracle of birth. I remember holding him and being amazed that God had done that inside this body! I really didn't do much- except feed him lots of pie. (And, by feed him, I mean that I got a strawberry pie pretty much every week that spring of 2004.) That's how I feel now-- I see this person who is making big decisions, and learning big life truths and there is really no other way to say it, except to say, that I feel like I have a front row seat to a miracle!
He came home with 1000 photos from his trip to Montana. And just as many stories. He grew in a friendship, with empathy, with bravery. He tried fly fishing, painting, flips off the diving board and tubing behind the boat. Most importantly, he saw the beauty in the clouds and waters and trees the Creator made.
He came home with dirt behind his ears and 100 new songs and jokes from his week at Mount Hermon. He knows the trick to winning a cookie bake-off and conquering the Flying Squirrel. He opens his Bible on his own now to have a JAM (Jesus and Me) time, because he wants to.
He came home with dirt behind his ears and 100 new songs and jokes from his week at Mount Hermon. He knows the trick to winning a cookie bake-off and conquering the Flying Squirrel. He opens his Bible on his own now to have a JAM (Jesus and Me) time, because he wants to.
Really. See that big kid? Sure, he is the youngest on the team, but he long ago gave up his binky, coloring books, Spidey costumes and toy cars. He is currently at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Flying to Moscow. Flying to Yerevan. Going to build, paint, clean and work his little booty off at a Young Life Camp that they are preparing for teenagers. So, kids older than him will go to this camp and hear about God's special plan for their lives because a kid was living out God's special plan today. He is learning to serve- even though he might morph into a monster during the upcoming teenage years, I know these experiences are forming him into the strong, faithful, loving man I know he will one day be.
PS: I'm going to have to make him hold my hand the rest of the summer every day, because I miss him so much!!
PS: I'm going to have to make him hold my hand the rest of the summer every day, because I miss him so much!!