It's Been Awhile

Goodness it sure has been awhile since I've dusted off the old blog. It's not that I haven't had anything to say. It's not that I haven't thought about posts. Perhaps I've even written a few DOZEN posts in my head! But life has been been wonderfully, deliciously, amazingly busy around here. My beautiful babies are growing like crazy, now ages 5 1/2, 7 1/2, a week from 9, and 11. Maybe it was reading  a terrific article about being "in the sweet spot" that prompted me to post today. Or maybe it's the fallish breeze blowing through my open windows. Or the fact that half of my herd is off adventuring. Or that the kiddos head back to school in less than five weeks. Whatever the reason, here I am.
This summer has been like no other. I'm still a mom of four busy children. But they are no longer babies. With my youngest being five, we have a new mobility. We were able to see a water ski show and fireworks at Jumpin' Jacks. We were able to go to parks without a diaper bag. We were able to swim without floaties or swim diapers. It's amazing. Of course I miss the baby phase, but I am really enjoying the "people" my children are becoming. They are funny, witty, helpful and smart. They are capable and confident. They keep me honest and humble. Often, they are my mirror...reflecting the good as well as the bad.
I was shopping for school supplies and a few gifts today and stumbled upon a book called, "If I Could Keep You Little..." by Marianne Richmond. I truly burst into tears in the store right then and there. Here are the words to this wonderful tribute to children growing:

If I could keep you little, I’d hum you lullabies. But then I’d miss you singing your concert’s big surprise.

If I could keep you little, I’d hold your hand everywhere. But then I’d miss you knowing, “I can go…you stay there.”

If I could keep you little, I’d kiss your cuts and scrapes. But then I’d miss you learning from your own mistakes.

If I could keep you little, I’d strap you in real tight. But then I’d miss you swinging from your treetop height.

If I could keep you little, I’d decide on matching clothes. But then I’d miss you choosing dots on top and stripes below.

If I could keep you little, I’d cut your bread into shapes. But then I’d miss you finding, “Hey! I like ketchup with my grapes!”

If I could keep you little, I’d tell you stories every night. But then I’d miss you reading the words you’ve learned by sight.

If I could keep you little, I’d pick for you a friend or two. But then I’d miss you finding friends you like who like you, too!

If I could keep you little, I’d push your ducky float. But then I’d miss you feeling the wind behind summer’s boat.

If I could keep you little, we’d nap in our fort midday. But then I’d miss you sharing adventures from camp away.

If I could keep you little, I’d fly you with my feet. But then I’d miss you seeing sky and clouds from your seat.

If I could keep you little, I’d keep you close to me. But then I’d miss you growing into who you’re meant to be!

My goodness how those words capture what my heart is feeling! In just a month, my oldest will enter middle school and my baby will go to kindergarten! How can it be?! Wasn't I just nursing my first, looking out the window as the big yellow bus came to pick up the neighborhood kids?! As I sat there holding my fussy little one, it felt like decades before I would be sending him to school. And now he is 11! "The days are long but the years are short." How true it is.
I don't want to be sad for the time gone by. Instead, I will hold on to the memories while enjoying today. Truly being in the moment with my "little" ones.