it was the best of times.  it was the worst of times.

I am so lucky to have gotten to spend some time with this family.  They have six boys and lots of energy, compassion, personality, and a bit of craziness (who doesn't have craziness, right?).

In every family there are milestones and some of those milestones are all joy and some of them bring with them a bit of the bittersweet.  I'm talking about the first day of kindergarten, the first lost tooth, when your 16 year old gets their permit, when your child goes off to college or on a mission for 2 years.

It's because these particular steps mean something.  Things are really changing.  There's no denying it.  You may have been living in a little dream thinking your kids would never grow up.  And then one day they do.  And these moments have a way of making you look back and look forward at the same time. 

You know that it's time for growing up and at the same time as his life plays out in front of your eyes you wonder how the years could have gone so quickly.  You remember the sweet moments when playing with toys on the carpet was the only world he ever knew and now your world is about to change.  And it feels like the best and worst of times.  You want change and it makes you happy.  The change also means there's the letting go that makes you sad and wistful for the memories that you have tucked away in your heart. 

You wonder why you didn't hold that book on his head so he couldn't have that growth spurt...so he could just stay your small little boy. 

Except you look at the man that he's becoming and you couldn't be more proud of the life that he's creating and the path that he's walking.

So this post is for Pam.  I haven't been where you're at.  I can only imagine.

And it's also for Ethan.  Have a wonderful mission in Salta, Chile.

it's a wonderful. LIFE.