Is it Friday already?

It can't be. Because that would mean that my time off is over. You know, my time off to be a stay at home mom.  My time off cleaning house, cooking meals, shuttling kids back and forth. 

Yeah, that time off.

I took the boys to school this morning and was amazed to realize they only have 4 more weeks left of the year. 4 weeks! It's gone incredibly fast. Our bank account is very excited for the summer break. One month's reprieve from the "Newman payment" is enough cause for celebration to throw a parade, in my opinion.

When I think back to last fall, I never could have imagined everything that the boys would do, see, hear, and learn this year. I am stunned at what they've been given the opportunity to do. I thought we were just sending them to a good school. God had so much more in mind. They have grown as Christians, as young men, as members of a community, as sons and brothers.

In short, they've grown.

And that is bittersweet.

Bitter = because I want them to stay my babies forever. I want them to cuddle with me and I want to sniff their hair and feel their warm smooshy bodies snuggled up against me.  They are all arms and legs now. Nothing smooshy about either of the boys. Even Sissy is getting sort of gangly. And they are so smart. They read voraciously (both of them), they know things about science and history and art that I don't even know, and they know people that I wish I knew (can you say Grammy-award-winning Irvin Mayfield?)

Sweet = because they are really becoming the people that Paul and I have been praying for them to become. Warm, compassionate, empathetic, and genuinely kind.

I thought we'd homeschool forever. I never imagined this time in my wildest dreams. In other words, never say never. God has a plan, and that plan may or may not include your plans. Ask me how I know.

I keep reminding myself that God is sovereign. That He has plans for all of us. He knows better than me. I have to trust in that every.single.day.

Even on the days that I don't feel like it.

4 comments:

Tiffani said...

oh He is SO sovereign...

I miss mine being babies oh so much..they grow and grow and grow and now I have a toothless almost 10 year old!? Double digits?! I may pass out!

Enjoy your weekend in not just your job but your ministry...

Amber said...

Okay...so I needs to know your story, but I think that you and I lead parallel (kinda) lives.

We Christian Schooled FOREVER and just switched to homeschooling. I thought we would be in Christian School until the end, but the Lord had other plans for us. Would love to hear your story about the opposite decision for you guys.

And I SO get it about the babies growing up. Sniff. Sniff. So not ready for it.

Robin said...

I totally get the "bittersweet" part. G will be 11 in a few months and we are already dealing with tween hormones but then he will come up and hug me and tell me he loves me and remind me of the little toddler boy he once was...

Heather said...

That is so true, Jen. I see reflections of all of that in my life, too.