These are the days to hold on to...

I always think about that old Billy Joel song when I think about our family life. "These are the days to hold on to 'cause we won't although we'll want to". I do want to hold on to these days, to just slow things down a bit. Hayden turns 17 tomorrow and Katie and Allison are close behind. As we sat at dinner tonight I couldn't help but think these days are ending soon and I couldn't help but being so very grateful for each and every day we've had. They are growing up, things are going to change. What a blessing to have my three kids all sitting together at dinner, how sad that I know that nothing is forever. I love how we laugh and joke, I hate that I had to tell them at dinner tonight "no f*rting at the table". I hate the word "f*rting" too but sometimes you have speak their language! Instead of my desired affect of stopping the terrible offense it made the whole family laugh and say the word about 100 more times. I hope they leave our home with more than the most basic table manners, I hope the kids walk away from their family of origin remembering that we laughed a lot, not that their mom sometimes lost her temper and called them "hateful, hateful children"...that never really happened...I'm speaking in theory of course! I hope they remember that we taught them about their Savior and why we believe what we believe. I hope they remember that we didn't have a lot of things often because we chose to use our money differently ...like bringing a little boy home from Thailand and helping to support other children in need. I hope they remember that even though we didn't take expensive, lavish vacations, we took time together all the time. I hope they cherish the memories of singing together with their siblings and their dad at church and I hope they learned that they were leading in worship not performing. I hope they use their gifts and talents to go wherever, no matter how far away, to serve Christ and to make a difference for His glory. So as I sat at the table enjoying dinner with my family I was abundantly and exceedingly grateful for each of them. I was grateful that God has entrusted them to us to raise for Him, I hope that we are found faithful in the end with that task. I will forever cherish the memories of laughing with my children and watching them interact with one another. "These are the days to hold on to, cause we won't although we'll want to..."