Happy Wednesday, friends! I realize it's the 8th day of March, but can you even believe it's already this time of year? Before we even know it, May will be upon us and summer will be staring us down. There are lots of reasons for me to love March. Here are just a few!
First, it's the beginning of what I like to call the birthday season. Our youngest sons, Jonah and Noah, will be twenty on Friday! I cannot believe that I will no long have kids in their teens.
Shouldn't they still be this little? It certainly seems so. The years went by so quickly!
I'm really excited for my husband and Graham for an upcoming trip they have with the sheriff's department. This will be Todd's third time and Graham's second time to travel to New Mexico for some special training for emergency services. This was them on their last trip, right before the world shut down in 2020.
We celebrate my dad-in-love turning 80, and we celebrate my Dad turning 92!
This picture was taken of Dad and me right before I left for my honeymoon.
I look forward to the time change, because it means longer days, more sunshine, and the fact that summer is looming right around the corner. I am not one to wish away my days, but I also kind of can't help it. I love having things to look forward to, but I also want to try and enjoy each day for what it is.
I look forward to celebrating Drew's 23rd birthday on April 3rd! I can't share about Graham, Jonah, and Noah without including Drew. Speaking of Drew, he has a new job that he started this week. I'm so happy for him, that he loves it so far, and that he enjoys the people he's working for. Noah also starts a new job next week, and I am happy for him as well. I feel like they're thriving right now, which is always exactly what a mom wants for her kids.
I've said it before and I'll say it again—parenting adults is not for the faint of heart! Sometimes my heart can hardly take it, they're so grown. It hits me at the strangest of times that our lives are so different from what they once were. We were so close when they were all at home, so I struggle with not always seeing or talking to them all on a regular basis. I'm fine, I'm fine, I just struggle sometimes with how things are now. I hope I knew to cherish those moments of their childhoods! I think I did, but I really hope I genuinely loved and treasured all of those God given moments.
With it being birthday season, I'm always a little reflective during this time of year. Bear with me for the next couple of weeks, I'll get past it once again. Those are the things I look forward to at this time of year. What about you? Do you have anything coming up on the horizon that you're looking forward to? I'd love to hear them, if so! Thanks for reading my blog, friends. Love to all.
Wow to all the birthdays! It reminds me of my sister - she has twins with birthdays on March 23, a singleton with a birthday on March 28, and her last one on March 31! She is a teacher and I always teased her about her impeccable timing to have the rest of the school year off.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the time change! Although it has gotten a bit more seasonably cool around here, I think there is just such a mental shift.
Don't forget to take needed days off before the end of the school year - I am telling myself this as well. I got to the end of the finish line last year and was so depleted. As teachers, we put everything off until the first day of summer, I think!
I think it is perfect to have half of the break at home and half away. We haven't made any plans but Tom is off. Our struggle is that our kids come home for an Easter break on Wed, so we also want to be with them. We are in the stage where we soak up that time with them at home (where they want to be) so what you said was very relatable.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Oh yes! I am anxiously awaiting the time change too. I love when the day start getting longer and warmer... oh I long for warm sunny days outside. February and March always feel like the longest months of the year since our weather really doesn't start turning nice until sometime in April. Though it has been a pretty mild winter so far so I'm crossing my fingers we'll have an early start to spring. We're lining up college visits for this spring so I'm pretty anxious and excited for those and seeing all the options opening up for our middle son.
ReplyDeleteThose are a lot of birthdays coming up! I know what you mean about the shock of no longer having teens. I still have a couple of years of having a teen but my youngest will be 18 at her next birthday so she will be legally an adult which blows my mind. It's hard to believe but it helps me to realize that *every* person with adult kids has gone through this! And I have to say that I love my older two as adults in college so much. I actually think we've grown closer even though of course we aren't physically close to them. I am one of those weirdos who would happily do without the time change. I didn't grow up with it and it seems unnatural and unnecessary to me. But there's nothing I can do about it (except complain so I do, lol!). I'm glad you have things to look forward to!
ReplyDeleteAmy- how funny that your sister's kids all came at the same time of year! I would guess she got a lot of teasing about that at work too. It's getting cooler here today and for the days to follow as well. I don't mind it too much, though. I noticed it will be the same there next week as well. I'll have to think about a day off in April after testing or in early May. I like how we're doing Spring break too! I hope you have a great day, my friend.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, that's so exciting! I know you're looking forward to those trips.
ReplyDeleteMaria, I know, right? I feel the same way as you, obviously. I have to say we're really close to them all now as well, I just have a very different role in their lives. I love it when we're able to talk and get caught up, though. Drew called me at work on Monday to talk about his job, and I loved hearing about it for the five minutes that we talked. I get that about you not loving DST since you didn't grow up with it. I'm not sure how I would feel about it, if they were to do away with it like they talk about doing.
ReplyDeleteToday is my "baby's" birthday, so we celebrated last night because they all have church tonight. He is 24 today :) Now I'm in the phase of always saying to the boys..."remember when you were little and we did this...?" and they indulge me and share in the memories with their own versions. But yes, parenting adults is as hard as any of the other phases, I would say. It's equally rewarding, but you still worry and want to guide them, when they let you :) I always say, "Ok, I'm going into mom mode now!" and they just listen and smile.
ReplyDeleteAnd that picture with your dad...he looks like George Jones!
That is a lot of birthdays! Definitely a birthday "season":) I hope you enjoy each and everyone celebration! What wonderful blessings! And hooray for spring break....and a chance to get away! Hope you have a great trip!!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about parenting young adults. We are in the same setting, the same stage of life. And they are experiencing new things out on their own. Seeing and talking to them is cherished, since it brings back a little glimpse of how life was when they were still under our roof!! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to all your guys! I hope they have a great trip this weekend! Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteLots of wonderful celebrations for your family! And you’re so right…it seems like it gets harder on your heart the older they get. But it sounds like you have raised some wonderful young men and I know they make y’all so proud! Hope you enjoy your spring break next week!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, it's like that here too, as far as the memories go. They indulge me. I also use that saying on occasion, but I don't do it very often. I never want to nag them! That's the hard part of parenting adult kids.
ReplyDeleteIt is, Jennifer! Thanks for that!
ReplyDeleteTanya, I know you're in the same boat!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mandy! I appreciate your kind words. They're pretty amazing, although of course they do also have their moments when I just shake my head and wonder where I went wrong. 🤣
ReplyDeleteYou all sure do have a big birthday month! This season of life has been tough for me...parenting teens is tough. I'm sad they don't seem to need me as much, but I can appreciate their independence as well.
ReplyDeleteWe do, Jen! I get that and can say the exact same. These older teen years and early twenties have been that for me. I struggle with us never being together these days! I just randomly cry over it sometimes. Parenting is never for the faint of heart! I do love their personalities and who they are right now, though, but I also miss us being so close.
ReplyDelete