My How Time Flies...

Today is Chad's 16th birthday! They sure grow up fast. It seems like only yesterday... yada, yada, yada. Anyway, as I was reflecting back over the past 16 years, I guess I've done a little growing up of my own. Well, at least you could say I've learned a few things along the way.

Like most expectant parents, Dennis and I signed up, and showed up, for childbirth classes. I must admit nothing they said in that class or that my doctor said prepared me for what was to come. For instance, I don't remember anyone saying that you shouldn't eat a foot long chili cheese dog (yes, all by myself), and try to run across the parking lot to avoid the freezing cold (no, I didn't have a coat on because I didn't have one that would wrap around my gigantic belly) the night before you go into labor. No, they didn't tell me that. I had to learn the hard way, around 3:30 a.m. when the foot long chili cheese dog decided it didn't like it down there. Nor, did anyone really explain that thing about the water breaking. Of course I had seen it on TV shows, but that was the depth of my knowledge. My first thought was - "What an idiot, now I've gone and peed on myself". Of course once I couldn't stop it I began to realize it might be something else.

Fourteen and a half hours later, we were parents. And we still didn't have a clue. And, I'm not sure we still do, when it comes to parenting. It's one of those things that you just have to keep working at and hope you don't totally screw up, especially when you only have one kid to practice on.

The great thing about kids is that they are resilient and ever changing. Each year brings new joys and new challenges. As far as I'm concerned, each year just keeps getting better and I wouldn't go back in time if I could. Oh sure, we could have done some things different, and probably better, but then we wouldn't have learned the valuable lessons that followed.

One thing I do know though, is that the birth of that beautiful baby boy was also the birth of a rekindled relationship with God. Today, I'm thankful for them both. I just hope that God thinks that life with me keeps getting better, too. Somehow, I think he does.

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2 Peter 3:8

My Prayer:

God, thank you for letting me see but a glimpse of your love for all your children, in my love for my son. Teach me to expand my love to all people and to act out of love in all things. Amen.