I love a spirit filled teenager...


I am pretty lucky. To be honest.
When Scott and I started dating, he was working with our youth group at church. Honestly, they were our first set of "married friends"....

And, we worked together in Youth Ministry for years...and then just about the time Mason began his pre-teen years, God moved us from that ministry.

But, it seems like forever, we have been surrounded by teenagers.

Some good..well, some can be thugs, sure. But can't we all.

Anyways, I am lucky enough to be surrounded by some pretty awesome ones.


And the other day, my sweet friend Kayla, who, by the way, is a grownup, trapped in her little youthful body... ;)
shared this pic on Instagram.

What a powerful scripture. Philippians 1:11

Oh, if my actions can just be righteous enough to make God proud.

Like sands thru the hourglass...

Nope.
This is not a post for a Soap Opera.

This is a post about this guy. The 16 year old. The Junior in High School.

I can't even believe where I am today.

I look at this picture, and to use the word "surreal" doesn't even begin to capture the magnitude of my emotions.

This guy.

I have this joy, this overwhelming, almost breathtaking joy, just looking a him.

Don't get me wrong, some days he acts like an idiot. And some days, I could punch him in the face. For doing something stupid.

But, to be quite honest, some days it literally takes my breath. At the love I have for him. And the way that I look at him. And I am so incredibly proud of the man he is becoming.

He is not that little boy anymore.

The little boy that LOVED to throw the ball. The little boy that had a skip in his step like I had never seen. The little boy that loved his mama so much. And I never knew that existed.

That little boy has slowly, and very gradually, turned into this young man, that has a heart, and a spirit of gentleness that I simply can't explain.

I love watching him get the door for a lady as we walk into the post office. I love the way he looks at his girlfriend when she is being so very silly. And he smiles, that smile, that I know it runs so deep inside of him.

I love watching him run the basketball down the court, with his tongue stuck out, because he does that when he focuses.

I love watching him laugh at Disney shows, because he sits on the couch with his little brother. I love how they sit in the backseat of the car, and share a set of earphones, because his little brother is typically too irresponsible to remember to bring a set of his own. I love that.

But, the thing about it is.....that ironically, this growing process happened so.very.gradually, that you never really saw it going from one phase to the next. And now BAM. There it is. He is a man.

But---it seems like I am watching him, like sands thru the hourglass...and he is slipping away...and oh how I do see that. I see it SO VERY FAST...and it's like there's nothing I can do to slow it down. Nothing about it is gradual.

So, as this year begins, and we step into what is called "Senior"...well, I know there will be tears. And I know it will hurt in my gut.

But, I also know that I can cry later, or at night. When he is all tucked in.

So, my plan, and my heart's cry, is to hold on. Clear my eyes. Look up. With a head held high. And embrace each second of this journey.

I want to watch him walk proudly. Play Strong. Study hard. Focus. Dream. And begin to see all that his future holds in store for him.

So, my mental seatbelt is buckled. It looks like it's gonna be a wild ride.....here we go.......

Documenting life....

The other night...I sat...not feeling so well, and Scott and both boys were gone for the night...so, while they were gone, I didn't work.

I didn't watch TV.
I didn't really feel like much of anything.

So, I started browsing back thru my blog.

And, wow. I love so many posts. Just some "real" posts, where I have documented the daily bits of our lives.

And, I have gotten away from that.

So, as Mason's high school journey is coming to a close, and the first page of the next chapter of his life is slowly turning to open....I am determined to not let these sweet days slip by...

So, hopefully, I can get back to my blog, and why I love it so.

Here's where we are right now...
Chap is finishing his days in Intermediate School. And moving onto Junior High. Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

And Mason, well, he wraps up his Junior Year this year, and I feel like it is already beginning...the hourglass of time...