Almost

A few weeks ago in conversation with friends, I mentioned about the fact that when school starts this fall, I won't have any kids going back to school. My youngest child graduates high school in a couple weeks. How did this happen? Haha....I know how it happened, I blinked and just like that my kids weren't kids anymore. They were grown and fending for themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed all the stages my kids had, but watching them grow into older teens was my favorite time. We used to have great conversations with them as teenagers. A lot of times their friends would hang out at our house and we would all talk for hours just about life and growing and God. I treasure those times because when we had those chats, nothing else mattered. No Tv or cell phones, or computers.....just kids and good conversations and laughs. Lots of laughs were on me because my kids and their friends....and my husband liked to pick on me. (I've been told all my life that when people pick in you they really love you.....and I could feel it, believe me)

So....today.....at this point and time, I am almost done being a parent of school aged children. Wow. Never thought of it that way before. Yes, I'll always be a mom.....yes, I always be there for my kids.....yes, parenting is ever changing with each age and stage a kid is in. But, figuring out my role now is not so simple. This will take time and time is always getting away from me.

I love how God gives us grace for each day. He helps us and guides us whether we know it or not. By His grace our kids live out another day with us on this earth.  By His grace he chose to make us parents.....and making  me a parent is a bigger mystery. 😉 I am thankful for the time with my kids and how as they are grown they can now be my friend. They understand me better than anyone on most things in my life, so they can listen and help me along too. They tell me when I need to work on things or if I'm being rude or naive or just silly. I appreciate them more than they could ever imagine.

My kids may always need me, but I may need them just as much.  My husband and I are almost at the end of thr child rearing stage of our married life. Wow, this hits hard. This stage only makes me love our God all the more. His mercy and grace are evident every day that is spent with the ones we love. Anytime we can text, talk to, hug, or laugh at with those we love deeply, it is such a blessing. I'm trying to never take any precious amount of it for granted. To God be the glory!