12 and 9

I thought the other day about the fact that our children are now 12 and 9 years old. 12 and 9. What the ????? When did this happen? If you consider the fact that at age 18, a person is considered to be an adult and usually as adults, people don't live with their parents anymore, B1 is 2/3 of the way there! And B2 is halfway there! Gees. Some kids graduate from high school, head off to college, and never return to their parents' house again. I did not do this; I left for college for 4.5 years, came back and lived at home for another 2.5 years, and then got married. But who knows what paths my children will choose? Maybe they'll choose to live at home while they attend college. Maybe they will go far away to college. Maybe they will come back home after college like I did. Maybe they won't. We'll just have to wait and see which path they and God choose. I just need to remember that I must enjoy every possible minute with them, always.

I remember being with my friend Melissa once when her kids were 8 and 6. B1 was 2 at the time and B2 probably wasn't even conceived yet. I remember Melissa introducing her kids to someone and when she said they were 8 and 6, I thought that sounded old. She had old kids.

I remember holding my babies in church when they were about 6 months old and thinking that it would be a long time until they could go to the nursery at church (usually around age 2). Well, now, they are both too old to go to the nursery (it stops after 2nd grade). Wow.

I remember bringing both of them to my school (on separate occasions) when the parenting classes there had activities for toddlers. They would come with me in the morning, sometimes hang out in my classroom for the first class of the day and then go to the parenting class for the next 3 hours. My dad works at my school as a security person and sometimes they would hang out with him too. He would take them to the cafeteria and buy them a chocolate chip cookie (our school makes the best!). He would usually help me out and take them to the babysitter afterwards too. It sure doesn't seem like long ago but for B1, that has been 7 years now!

I also remember once, seeing someone I knew when I was on the way to the Peanut Butter and Jam Festival in Highland. I had my 2 little girls in tow and we were going there to get some pizza, do a few activities, and listen to some music. This person told me that she used to do the same with her kids when they were little. I remember thinking that I would be going to Peanut Butter and Jam Festivals (which are held every Friday in the summertime) for several years to come. I haven't been to one for 2 years now.

Time really does fly, doesn't it? Oh, don't get me wrong, we still do lots of fun stuff together. It's just different sort of stuff, and honestly, I think I like it better than when they were really little. I always tell people that I'm not a good "little people" person, which is why I teach high school. We go swimming, to the City Museum, to sporting events, concerts, amusement parks, and movies now. They have also become good help at grocery stores because I can give them part of my list and they know what to go and get.

We are really lucky to have these 2 wonderful little souls in our lives. God blessed us pretty well when He gave them to us, trusting that we will raise them to His liking. I think we are doing a pretty good job so far. I hope so.....but I also know that some of the most challenging years are still ahead.........