Stages

While I was sitting in the park on E St. and 4th the other week listening to a fun kids band and soaking up the nice Alaskan sun, a funny thing dawned on me. I was watching my "tweens" run and play with my new friend's children, 2, 5 and 8. I looked at the varying ages of the children in the park dancing and playing. All the children all the ages. Teaching parenting and breastfeeding classes I tell the parents about the different stages the children will go through, that each thing is normal, when to expect each change etc. Watching my children play with the other children I was reminded of when my own were little and sweet. I watched my friend's little girl in her cute little shoes that were a bit too big, but she insisted on wearing and thought of the times Ashleigh insisted on wearing "cute" shoes. I thought of the time Jacob told me wanted his hair cut in a mohawk just like Magnus Schieving's. Each of the stages, each of the months, the years going by like sand in a hour glass. I miss the times when each of them were little babies who relied completely on me for their food. I miss the times when I had to nurse them to sleep. I miss the times when mama's hug made it all better. But with all of that... I love each new stage, when they learned to talk, to walk, to do things on their own. I love who my children are becoming, the little people they are growing to be. I enjoy spending time with them. Learning all the new things with them.... ski team, algebra, brightly colored hair extensions, skateboarding, and most importantly giving their lives to Christ.

Ashleigh has these two sweet pixie sprites that think she walks on water. I think they are adorable. The two girls make me think of the boys that are older than Jacob which he thinks walk on water. These boys, when I look at them now, I still see the cute little angel faces that used be, that are now replaced with man faces and deep voices. I know in time I will be calling their moms and asking what to do with Jacob's next stage.

As we cross over into each new stage, I pray I will cherish each moment with the children. As we leave one stage and enter a new one I look forward to who the children become.

with love my friends- I pray for each new phase you enter. May you enter it with open arms and open minds,
Love,
Angela