And now-


And now my son Philip is a senior in high school. He is an Eagle Scout. He is preparing to serve a two-year mission. Now he stands on the edge, ready to spread his wings and and fly. Not yet. Soon... but not quite yet... not today...

And now my sweet little five year old girl, Emily is at the beginning... kindergarten... while Philip is a senior. Strange to think how many years have blown by since I began motherhood. If I stand back and look at my children as a group... it seems there are quite a few. I understand how some may perceive my family that way. I have to make myself step back to see it, though. I don't normally stand back. I am usually up close. That's the way I like it. That's how mothering works best: Up close...Up close, they don't look like many children. Up close, they look like individuals.

I know each one personally. I know the kind of cake Daniel Jr. likes for his birthday. I know Philip's favorite ice cream flavor (flavors! haha). I know the teachers Levi likes and those he doesn't like. I know the boys Charity thinks are cute. I know what Megan is writing about for her latest assignment (and that she is a gifted writer like Levi). I know Emily is afraid to try at school because she is so used to being successful at everything she tries, that she thinks she should be able to read after having had the ABC's introduced to her once! I know Katherine, at three, thinks she is just about as smart as every one of her three older sisters... and me sometimes. And Joshua... I know he is gifted in relating to people. He loves. Even at 18 month old; he loves us...

And now- after all these years, I am here; in the good old days. I know the day will too soon come when I look back and say that these were the best days of my life: When I had adult, near adult, teenage, pre-teen, young children, and pre-school aged children all in my home at once.

Now I have it all. Don't I? What future could life hold for me that can possibly bring me more joy than that which I have right now?

I'm not in a hurry to find out. I'm happy to linger in this moment, and to thank my God for all that is now.

Comments

  1. MelanieOctober 27, 2009 at 6:54 AM

    Awesome. Someday I'll be there with you! I miss you guys. Wish we had money to go visit family.... By the way, Philip is huge!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JenOctober 27, 2009 at 10:02 AM

    You have such wonderful kids! And you're an awesome mom!

    ReplyDelete

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