Building Forts

I am so thankful for the moments. Life slows down long enough and they just get to be kids. Building forts. Making memories.

Teenager

It's official. He's a teenager. 13 today.

He's been talking about this day for years. We had the tweeny-bop years and then the official tween years. Now it's finally here....teenager. Thank goodness it takes thirteen years to get here. That it is a gradual growing and stretching. Rocky and I have both had our fair share of time with teenagers but nothing is quite like having one in your home. A teenager of your very own.

Like much of our parenting we think we have it all figured out until we have to parent a particular age or behavior. I mean really, we were the smartest parents ever until we actually had kids. So here we are about to embark on this new teenager frontier. And I, for one, am excited. I'm looking forward to navigating this new territory and find comfort that God will provide us with the wisdom and discernment we need to raise Sam up to be a young man after God's heart.

We have been so blessed by Sam and the joy and fun he brings to our family. At thirteen he is still my go-to snuggler and he has the most tender heart. I'm not sure what chokes me up more when watching a sad movie-the content of the movie or seeing my big boy cry without any inhibition. He is impulsive and passionate and at times can drive us mad but I am certain these qualities will be favorable ones as he matures. He is a protective brother to his sisters and to hear him talk about how things will be "when his little brother is home" makes my heart melt.

I have always said there is a special bond between a mama and her son. I think our year of homeschooling only strengthened that bond. We pray that Sam will be a leader and that in those pivotal moments he is looking to the one that loves him most to guide him. We pray his tender heart would reach out to those desperate for a loving hand . And as he begins to inventory the qualities he finds attractive in girls that at the very top of the list is lover of Jesus.

Today we became the parents of a teenager and I am so thankful. We love you Sammy Ryan!

Seriously?

Warning: a few sappy, teary mama posts ahead as I document my two oldest monkeys growing warp speed right before my eyes. I mean seriously, weren't they just this little? Wasn't this just yesterday we were dropping them off for their first day of Kindergarten and 1st grade? It feels like it. And why did I think they were so big then? They were just babies, these two. Tuesday marked Maggie's last day as an Elementary student. Six years of school behind her and she's off to Middle School. She had been preparing me for weeks that this day was going to be hard. That she would most likely shed a lot of tears and for me to please be prepared for the emotional disaster that I was sure to find at pick-up that day. The last day always ends with the 5th grade talent show and assembly that includes a slide show that seems to mercilessly evoke tears from all the mothers. So I prepared myself for said slide show with camera and kleenex in hand. Slide show came and went and no tears on my part. Whew. I made it. As the assembly ended and the kids were preparing to leave the gym I glanced over at her and she seemed to be keeping her composure so I did as well.

Maggie Kindergarten/Sam 1st grade {2006}

Maggie 5th grade {2011}

I returned just an hour later to find my now 6th grader sobbing in the pick-up line with a red blotchy face and puffy eyes. The lump in my throat grew and I bit my tongue determined to keep it together for Lu as she was obviously an emotional basket case. She got in the car and the weeping started all over again with a few audible words about her amazing 4th grade teacher and the sweet custodian that she dearly loves. People that have surely had a life-long impact on her and people that we will be forever grateful for.

It wasn't until we got home and she had been adequately consoled and I was sitting in silence in the car that the tears started to fall. I feel like the day just snuck up on me. I realize it is so cliche, but it's so true when a parent says "it was just yesterday that....." and that's how I feel. It was just yesterday that I was taking her for Kindergarten Round-up and it was just yesterday that the playground teacher was prying her from my leg to walk her to class-every.single.day.of.kindergarten. Right before my eyes she has grown into this amazing young lady. She possesses so many qualities and gifts that make us proud. She's a hard worker, she's an excellent student and is totally focused on her grades, she's an awesome competitor on the court and on the field, she's a good friend and a good sister. But what got me to the core on Tuesday when I was reading her report card was one sentence that stuck out among all the others. "Maggie is a kind and caring student who goes out of her way to help others, especially our special needs students." There were other wonderful comments that would make any parent proud but this was the one that got me. This is who she is. Not because of anything we have done. Of course we try to instill compassion and teach kindness. But Maggie is Maggie because of the way God created her and he gave her a beautiful, compassionate heart. She has no fear or apprehension in helping others. Even at times that I may shy away or fear overstepping, she reminds me to treat others as Jesus would. She has a strong sense of right and wrong and struggles when she does not see justice delivered appropriately. She has a desire to know and love Jesus. She wants to learn and understand the Bible and is constantly challenging herself to spend more time in His word.  She teaches me everyday.

So seriously. This little girl of ours is growing up. And seriously, as hard as it is for us to watch that time pass I am so giddy excited for the years ahead. Middle school kids can be pretty weird, but they are so fun and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of the coming years with her and Sam.