My youngest boy

I just love how Christian is so kind and gentle. Here he is holding one of the many baby lizards all over our yard. I appreciate how thoughtful he is. Once this last school year he was accused of bullying another little boy and he was devastated. After getting to the bottom of it he was telling the little boy something he had heard and thought that the rule on the bus was. He is definitely a stickler for rules and makes sure if anyone is out of line or not obeying those rules he will let them know for sure! I find him always having a friend no matter where we go. I can always count on him to be MY buddy so I don't have to go anywhere by myself. He went with me to a funeral yesterday so I didn't have to sit by myself. What a sweetie. I have found that now time goes by so fast! I mean Michael is a junior. Jess is in 7th grade and Christian only has 2 more years of elementary left. Why does time go by so fast? I wish I was back when my kids were little, playing in the mud and listening to their take on the world. I wish I would have appreciated those times more. I have this poem that I am going to share with you......

Now is the time to get things done. Wade in the water. Sit in the sun. Squish my toes in the mud by the door. Explore the world with a boy just four. Now is the time to study books. Flowers Snails, How a cloud looks. To ponder "up" Where God sleeps nights Why mosquitoes take such big bites Later there'll be time To sew and to clean. Paint the hall. That soft new green To make new drapes, refinish the floor, Later on... When he's not just four.

.......thats how I feel. If only I would have seen that when he was four. Now Christian is almost 10, going to be a Webelo, and playing tackle football. Time will fly even faster and before I know it I will be an empty nester and finally understand why my mom holds on so tight! I love you Mom and are so grateful for all you taught me about being a mom. I love my children so much and I know that I learned that from you. We all love being together and doing things together. As I was growing up every Saturday we would go on a hike. Didn't matter where, we just went. So many memories were made and we grew so close. I feel very fortunate to be so close to my family and for my children to have been also. I know that they all have a role in the people my children are becoming. I am sad for the lost time but excited for how wonderful the time coming up is going to be. Life is sweet!