This April we have had another milestone extravaganza with our children’s birthdays. Reese turned 20 on the 3rd, McKenna turned 16 on the 18th and Drake will be 13 on the 25th. Wow…how did the time pass so quickly!?
Oddly, Reese’s turning 20 bothered me a bit more than him getting married last summer. I’m not sure why this is so. You would think that becoming a mother-in-law would be the thing that makes me feel old! When I think about the last 20 years I have a lot of wonderful memories and some that aren’t so great. Oh how I wish I could go back and correct MY behavior as Reese was growing up. It’s sad to say that I didn’t always respond to him in the right way. I didn’t always discipline in the right way. I didn’t always spend the time I needed to with him. I didn’t always give him my undivided attention when he deserved it. I didn’t always say the right things. I DID always love him. Always. Even when I didn’t like him very much and he didn’t like me very much…I always loved him. And I still do! I am so proud to be his Mom. He’s turned into a great person who knows how to love others, desires to serve God and wants to make a difference in the world. Wow…what a gift he is!
Drake…I can’t believe he is entering into the teen-age years. Goodness. My baby…13! Yikes! Now that makes me feel old! Drake has always been so shy (until you get to know him!). I know he’s growing up because he’s starting to leave that behind. I can see him making better choices already. Oh how I wish I could go back and correct MY behavior during Drake’s first 13 years. It’s sad to say that in addition to all of the ‘didn’ts’ and wasn’ts’ listed above I haven’t always been patient enough. I haven’t always tried to see it from his perspective. I haven’t always kept my word. I haven’t always loved unconditionally. I haven’t always led by example. I HAVE always loved him. Always. Even when I didn’t like him very much and he didn’t like me very much…I have always loved him. And still do! He brings me joy! I am so proud to be his Mom! He is growing into a great young man who is loyal and loving towards others, can make you laugh and lift you up and is learning to serve God and please Him. Wow…what a gift he is!
Oh how I love these children of mine! Always have. Always will.
Oddly, Reese’s turning 20 bothered me a bit more than him getting married last summer. I’m not sure why this is so. You would think that becoming a mother-in-law would be the thing that makes me feel old! When I think about the last 20 years I have a lot of wonderful memories and some that aren’t so great. Oh how I wish I could go back and correct MY behavior as Reese was growing up. It’s sad to say that I didn’t always respond to him in the right way. I didn’t always discipline in the right way. I didn’t always spend the time I needed to with him. I didn’t always give him my undivided attention when he deserved it. I didn’t always say the right things. I DID always love him. Always. Even when I didn’t like him very much and he didn’t like me very much…I always loved him. And I still do! I am so proud to be his Mom. He’s turned into a great person who knows how to love others, desires to serve God and wants to make a difference in the world. Wow…what a gift he is!With McKenna’s birthday came a driver’s license. Yay! And not so ‘yay’. It will be nice to be able to have someone to run an errand for me every now and then (until she gets tired of that!) and
to help chauffer her brother around. The insurance…not so great! McKenna is my only girl…and I am so glad that I have her! Oh how I wish I could go back and correct MY behavior over the last 16 years. It’s sad to say that in addition to the ‘didn’ts’ listed above I wasn’t always compassionate. I wasn’t always understanding. I wasn’t always a good listener when she needed to talk. I wasn’t always available. I wasn’t always kind. I WAS always in love with her. Always. Even when I didn’t like her very much and she didn’t like me very much…I was always in love with her. And still am! She’s my girl! I am very proud to be her Mom. She is growing into a beautiful young woman inside and out who is learning how to please God and desires that in her life. She cares about others and is there for her friends no matter what. Wow…what a gift she is!
to help chauffer her brother around. The insurance…not so great! McKenna is my only girl…and I am so glad that I have her! Oh how I wish I could go back and correct MY behavior over the last 16 years. It’s sad to say that in addition to the ‘didn’ts’ listed above I wasn’t always compassionate. I wasn’t always understanding. I wasn’t always a good listener when she needed to talk. I wasn’t always available. I wasn’t always kind. I WAS always in love with her. Always. Even when I didn’t like her very much and she didn’t like me very much…I was always in love with her. And still am! She’s my girl! I am very proud to be her Mom. She is growing into a beautiful young woman inside and out who is learning how to please God and desires that in her life. She cares about others and is there for her friends no matter what. Wow…what a gift she is!
Drake…I can’t believe he is entering into the teen-age years. Goodness. My baby…13! Yikes! Now that makes me feel old! Drake has always been so shy (until you get to know him!). I know he’s growing up because he’s starting to leave that behind. I can see him making better choices already. Oh how I wish I could go back and correct MY behavior during Drake’s first 13 years. It’s sad to say that in addition to all of the ‘didn’ts’ and wasn’ts’ listed above I haven’t always been patient enough. I haven’t always tried to see it from his perspective. I haven’t always kept my word. I haven’t always loved unconditionally. I haven’t always led by example. I HAVE always loved him. Always. Even when I didn’t like him very much and he didn’t like me very much…I have always loved him. And still do! He brings me joy! I am so proud to be his Mom! He is growing into a great young man who is loyal and loving towards others, can make you laugh and lift you up and is learning to serve God and please Him. Wow…what a gift he is!Oh how I love these children of mine! Always have. Always will.
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