Time Flies When You are Having Fun

How is it already the end of August? What happened to summer,and the kids hanging out and playing at home? How are we already into the fifth test of third grade and Super Star days of kindergarten? Time is an amazing thing---in the blink of an eye, it moves SOO quickly. Other days it seems to go on and on forever. I look at my kids some days and think, "How big they are, so grown up, so mature." Then, I look again and realize they are still so young, so raw, still so eager to have independence but not really sure what to do with it. On my really "good mom" days I can see that most of the disagreements my oldest and I have are not about the problem at hand but about his change to a more independent kid. He trusts William and me more than anyone, so we get the brunt of his trying out new attitudes, new words, new phrases. I know this is a phase, but some days it is easier to handle than others. As odd as the wrapping appears, this is one of the gifts of parenting. You are driven to be a better person so you can be a better role model to your children. Patience, wisdom and discernment are the three things I pray for the most for me in dealing with the kids. As hard as it seems sometimes, and as frustrating as kids can be (like I find a rotten peach in a paper towel in the car seat pocket that everyone denies leaving there just as an example), parenting is an amazing, spectacular ride that is a blessing to enjoy. I listen to my friends with teenagers or kids who are at college who tell me over and over, "Enjoy every day----it goes by too quickly!" Somedays I want to freeze and hang on to forever, while others I want to fast forward and start anew the next day. All of them I am thankful to our Father for giving me. He is there on the good days and the bad days, and has a plan for every day. It all intertwines somehow. Some ways I see; others, not yet; but, I trust him and thank him for the gift of my boys. They challenge me everyday to live the gospel by showing grace ane mercy, hope and love. Some days are better than others, but, I always like a good challenge!

Love,
Eve