A Poem I Did Not Write

It's that time again - the end of the school year. Time is going by so fast and it seems to go by faster each year. This poem, even though I did not write it (can you say plagerism?) is dedicated to all of my mom friends. Grab a tissue!


Let Me Hold You Longer

by Karen Kingsbury

Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:

First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,

And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts...



The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips.

The last time I lifted you and held you on my hip.

The last night when you woke up crying, needing to be walked,

When last you crawled up with your blanket, wanting to be rocked.



The last time when you ran to me, still small enough to hold.

The last time you said you'd marry me when you grew old.

Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from your past----

Would I have held on longer if I'd known they were your last?



Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap,

The last time when you wore your favorite faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten, those last days of first grade,

Your last at bat in little league, last colored picture made.



I never said good-bye to all your yesterdays long passed.

So what about tomorrow----will I recognize your lasts?



The last time that you catch a frog in that old back yard pond.

The last time you run barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images will represent your past.

I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your lasts...



The last time I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight.

The last time I pray with you and tuck you in at night.

The last time when we cuddle with a book, just me and you.

The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.



The last piano lesson, last vacation to the lake.

Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.

I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass.

but as I do, I sometimes miss today's sweet, precious lasts...



The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test.

The last time when I shout that yes, your room is still a mess.

The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there.

The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.



My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass.

I want to hold on longer----want to recognize your lasts...

The last time you need my help with the details of a dance.

The last time that you ask me for advice about romance.



The last time that you talk to me about your hopes and dreams.

The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.



I've watched you grow and barely noticed the seasons as they pass.

If I could freeze the hands of time, I'd hold on to your lasts.



For some bright fall morning, you'll be going far away.

College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way.

One last hug, one last good-bye. one quick hurried kiss.

One last to understand just how much you'll be missed.

I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed.



Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.

I get by with a little help from my friends!

Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!

Proverbs 25:13 (The Message)

Recently I had an epiphany of sorts - we mom's need other mom's to get through the crazy seasons of motherhood. And crazy season refers to any and all seasons of motherhood - they all so far have challenges.

I was most reminded of this on Friday night. Jere had the first game in his baseball tournament. Caroline had a birthday party for her sweet friend since birth, Madeline. Madeline's party was uptown at Ray's Splash Planet (great place, by the way!). Jere's game was at the baseball fields in Weddingon.

Both started within a hour of each other.

I assumed David and I would have to divide and conquer - He would take Jere to his game and I would take Caroline to the birthday party. I really wanted to see Jere play. Madeline's mom, Christy, said she would take Caroline with her to the party.

You mom's know how crazy busy the minutes leading up to an off-site birthday party can be. Yet Christy was willing to do this for me. And Dawn was willing to keep an eye out for Caroline in the indoor water park that is Ray's Splash Planet.

At the game, Jere hit his first out of the park/over the fence home run. We were so proud of him! I am so glad we were both able to be there to see it. It is a moment I will not soon forget!

Friends playing back up for me and being somewhere when I can not be are not uncommon. I am so thankful for the friends I have who

• pray with me and for me and my family,
• walk beside me (running when necessary),
• do life with me,
• encourage me,
• grab what I need when they are at wal-mart, target, harris teeter, costco, michaels, ann taylor loft (don't laugh it has happened)
• allow me to bounce ideas off of them,
• make dinner for my family when there is a need,
• pick up one or both of my children at school,
• take pictures of them at an event I can not be present for,
• take my children when I need a break - or when I am packing to go out of town - or when I am out of town!,

So to my friends - Thank you - you are a refreshing blessing to me!

I should also add that I am more than happy to do any of the above for one of my friends! We mom's have to stick together and help one another out!

Where to start?

My blog has not been updated in quite some time. Partly because my computer was invaded by a virus (but it's now fixed!!) and partly because we have been busy. Apparently my photo software was not re-installed when my computer was fixed. I will have to add the photos later.

The last week has been very busy for our family. And the next week and a half will be busy too!

Last Friday, I attended a very special Mother's Day Tea in Caroline's classroom. Her class sang 3 songs - The Lord's Prayer, I Can Only Imagine and Every Step I Take (Waves of Mercy). I know what you're thinking - a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds singing I Can Only Imagine? I had been warned by Caroline earlier in the week when she started singing "imagine" in her sweet, flat singing voice. For a minute I thought they were going to sing the song "Imagine". whatever. Then she sang some other parts to the song and I said "are yall seriously going to sing I Can Only Imagine?" She said yes.

So I was prepared to focus on some other object in the room - so that I would not cry - while the class sang this incredibly moving song about being face to face with Jesus Christ -

Surrounded by Your glory what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus? Or in awe of you be still.
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing Hallelujah - will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

But it was so sweet and I only teared up for a minute. (I think because I was not surprised by the song). They had precious motions and it was a kid version of the song.

Just an aside: Do any of you deal with public sad/emotional/moving events the way I do - focus on something else really hard so that you can hold yourself together? Perhaps not the most emotionally healthy way to handle things, but it works for me!

Jere had his last regular season baseball game Friday night. They won and were ranked 2nd in the league going into the playoffs. One of his hits hit the top of the fence - he almost hit one out of the park! We are so proud of Jere and the great season he has had!

Sunday was Mother's Day. Our church had the Sounds of Liberty lead worship and it was AMAZING! We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Beth's (David's sister) house. Jere and Caroline had a blast swimming.

Today I went to the Columbia Zoo with Jere's class/grade at school. We had a really fun day and saw lots of very interesting animals. Some of the areas smelled more than others. At one point Jere said to me, "breathe in though your mouth mom - the smell isn't so bad"

We are looking at a weekend full of baseball games (at least two), birthday parties (three), and hopefully some rest and relaxation.

After tomorrow, there are only 7 days of school left! I am ready for summer!

Back and Educated

We're back from GA. David and I ended up driving to ATL on Friday - there was an issue with the plane and he decided at the last minute to drive.

It sure does take much longer to drive to Atlanta than to fly - especially when you add in Friday afternoon traffic! And mulitple stops at Cracker Barrel . (Just kidding about CB - we did not eat there ONE time the whole weekend!)

In addition to some quality time with David, I had really been looking forward to sleeping in. And sleeping in I did do - on Saturday morning.

Sunday morning I went with David to a simulator of his airplane and learned what to do as "pilot in command". If something were to ever happen to David while flying (not just death, stroke, passing out, diabetic coma -even though he is not diabetic) I am now equipped and ready to get the plane on the ground.

I pray it never does - because I would be scared silly. But I did it twice in the simulator. The first time - punching him gently to wake up and then saying to the instructor, "I guess he is not going to wake up!" And the instructor said - "Nope - and if you do nothing you will crash this plane"

Okay then.

So I did the things the instructor had just told me to do - and we survived!

Next week - I start the classes to be a pilot.

Oh how I jest!!