Right Before My Eyes

 Last week, we hit a new milestone in our home.  For the first time ever, we are parents of a six-year-old.  He was one very excited kid as his birthday approached!  It happened to fall on a snow day, so our family was home together and not having to move at the normal pace of chaos.  (A) and I were still in our room around 7:00 discussing how to tackle the day when he came to the door VERY concerned.  He was worried that he wouldn’t be able to get dressed, because he didn’t know if his clothes would fit anymore now that he was six.  We got a good giggle out of the moment, and reassured him that while he was growing quickly, it wasn’t quite THAT quickly and the clothes that had fit yesterday, and earlier in the week would still be just fine. 

This is how the birthday boy came rollin' in the kitchen for breakfast (all of his own doing).  He then held up the 6 fingers, asked me to take a picture, and instructed me on who I was supposed to send that picture to.  I'm not sure if we are 6 or 16.  

 A few hours later in the day, I began to look through pictures and memories of him from the past year to post on social media.  Doing that confirmed my reality that he has grown at a crazy rate of speed this past year, but it also reminded me just how much has changed in our life in 12 short months.  At his birthday last year, I was still expecting his little sister.  Then there were precious pictures of him holding the tiny newborn in the first week or two she was home from the hospital.  And now she is mobile, vocal, and able to get into everything.  She wants to play with him instead of being held and snuggled- and it has happened right before my eyes.

 

As I continued scrolling through the pictures, I shed some tears seeing my healthy, vibrant Granny from just a few short months ago, while knowing now what health challenges she faces and the toll they have taken on her.  I wanted to cry again as I saw pictures of him riding, grooming, and visiting with his sweet pony, Snoopy, who lost a health battle also, right before Christmas.  I watched (b) go from looking like a toddler, to smiling and posing like a little boy, found pictures from the first day of school, and many other milestones from the year.  It was a stark reminder of how quickly things can change, and it all happened right before my eyes.

 

365 days worth of pictures and a flood of emotions.  The reality that our children are growing and developing so quickly, and we can’t hold on to things and people we love forever.  I can’t control any of that, but what I can control are the beautiful memories we are making.  The big ones like trips together and celebrations held, and the small ones like reading books, playing “bears”, breakfast cupcakes, trick-or-treat cherry pie, and birthday dinner off paper football plates.  While my heart twinges a little at how quickly things can change, I will cherish the changes happening right before my eyes.  I know in another 365 days I will be looking back again and my heart will play through another wave of emotions that the memories bring.

 

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3