Who knew that when we welcomed Jason and then Philip into our home as newborns what the journey would look like. Apart from the good Lord, we certainly had no idea. From diaper rash, cut lips, bruised legs, hurt feelings and the occasional rash of anger or upset, there have been lots of challenges. Once the boys met wonderful young ladies in Susan and Amanda, it seemed like their launch into adulthood was coming full circle and they would head out to be families on their own and we would observe from the edges and be glad we were dealing with some of those issues over again.
The truth of the matter is, however, that new worries and concerns replace the old ones. Parenthood seems is not for the faint of heart. In fact with two boys becoming four young adults and then two families with children growing quickly, there are additional demands on the heart of the loving parent.
Don’t mistake my comment to imply that parenthood is a burden – it is far from that. There is so much joy on the journey – so much love to be celebrated that it could never be called a burden. But there are dynamics in life that mean we worry about our kids and grandkids, which is natural – isn’t it?
So below are a few pictures that remind us how things change over time and represent the growing nature of our family. We love Jason and Susan, Phil and Amanda and all the grandchildren – Rachel, Ted, Beth, Carlyle and Fitz! And we look forward to what God will do in their lives in the years to come.
