In a Blink of an Eye

In a moment a smile stretches across my face as a five pound baby boy is placed in my arms for the very first time. 

And in a blink of an eye. . .

. . . he’s just days away from starting Kindergarten.

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In a moment I understand that the heart actually expands when my tiny baby girl is placed in my arms for the very first time.

And in a blink of an eye. . .

. . . she straps on a backpack and anticipates her very first day of Preschool. 

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In a moment I look down and see a big fat “+” on a pregnancy test and my pregnancy ticker  reads, “200+ days to go”.

And in a blink of an eye. . .

Oh my.  It’s all going so fast.

Charlie starts school this week and Chanelle next week.  I thought I would be scared.  I thought I would be terrified.  I thought that my heart would feel as though it’s being ripped out of my chest. 

But then I remembered. . .

I remembered the way I feared, cried, and grieved Charlie’s preschool experience.  How I fought it, how I dreaded it, how I thought we had come to an ending. 

We dropped him off.  We said good-bye.  Chad fought back tears and I let mine fall. 

We let it happen and we saw. . .

We saw him grow.  We saw him blossom.  We saw him become more “Charlie”.

Then I realized. . . it wasn’t an ending, it was a beginning.   

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I won’t lie.  There may very well be a walnut size lump in my throat when their hands unclasp mine and we go our separate ways.  There may be a few tears that slip from my eyes as I climb back into the car and start up the engine.  As I drive away, slow deep breaths and numerous prayers will be necessary.

More than anything, though, I’m excited. 

Excited to watch them stand on their own.  To watch them discover.  To watch them grow.  To watch them learn.  To watch them become more of who they are supposed to be.

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In a blink of an eye everything can change. . . and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.