Were Has the Time Gone,, Happy Birthday To my 6 YR OLD

November 25, 2007

I remember years ago as a child my father saying to me “Time stops for no on,,it marches on”.  I always thought that was just one of those things he said to get me to clean my room or do my homework.  In retrospect I know it was one of those life lessons he was teaching me.  Enjoy each moment because before you know it time has gone by.  In this instance I am again humbled at how fast my children are growing up.  Six years ago we were celebrating Thanksgiving and anxiously awaiting the New Year.  With the New Year referrals from South Korea would start up again and we were at the top of the list.  Six years latter we are celebrating his birthday, eating cake, having friends over and building the tons of Lego ships he received.  In the blink of an eye we went from anxiously awaiting word that we were parents to no longer having babies or even toddlers in the house.  We now have children and soon children in school full time.  I am reminded of my dad’s words “time marches on” soon it seems they will be gone.

We did have a wonderful celebration for his birthday.  With friends over from his class and family.  Cake (shaped like a Lego) ice cream and chips.  They played games and even in the cool afternoon went outside for some running around.  Kids are not as bothered by the cold as we are.   Jackets and shoes in place and they can play for hours in the outdoors. 

There is a bitter sweetness to his birthday as well (I experience on my daughters birthday as well).  There is a mother in another country that I am certain is sad on this day.  I wonder if his birth mom is grieving today.  I wonder if she knows how much he is loved.  How much we love her, even if we never meet her, she is part of our lives.  I pray for her today and everyday that she has comfort and has found joy and happiness in life.

We now head full force into the holiday season.  Its time to decorate the outdoors, cut down the tree and get ready for Christmas.  And yes it will be hear and gone in an instant as Dad said “time marches on”.  I will enjoy each moment with my children.  Drinking in there excitement for each season and each new thing.  When they are grown I will have all these memories to sustain me as they venture out to make there own lives.