936

At a recent MOPS meeting, one of the speakers shared that we only have 936 weekends with our children before they turn 18.  Her statement struck me and has stuck in my mind ever since. Of course I won’t get to spend all of those 936 weekends with my kids – especially when they hit the age where we are no longer “their world,” and they start spending more time with friends, attending sleepovers or youth group events, going on mission trips, participating in sports activities, and maybe even studying once in awhile. ;-)

[caption id="attachment_73" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sunday afternoon baseball..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_72" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ellie on "first base";)"][/caption]

Brandon and I were talking about this last night, and about how desperately we want to make the moments count with our kids – investing in them, teaching them, discipling them, enjoying them, playing with them, creating memories and traditions with them, laughing with them, cuddling with them, and loving them.

[caption id="attachment_76" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Everybody tackle Daddy!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_70" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sliiiiding into first base... ;)"][/caption]

The fact that Brandon’s job often takes him away from home for extended periods of time or, as is the case right now, can be highly demanding time-wise even when he is home, puts a whole new spin on things for us. Family time comes at a premium, and we are quickly learning not to take it for granted.

[caption id="attachment_78" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="An attempt at a family pic...this makes me laugh!"][/caption]





Sometimes the challenges of parenthood – trying to figure out discipline, losing sleep, cleaning up endless messes, constant training – distract my focus away from the incredible gift I have been given in each of my children.  It’s so good to be reminded that this season of my life is incredibly rich, filled to the brim and overflowing with opportunities - to make an eternal difference in the hearts of my children, to develop a relationship with them that will last a lifetime, and to grow and be changed myself in the process.



Li’l B is almost 5. That means we have already spent nearly 260 of those 936 weekends with him.  Time is flying.  Life is short. I just want to make it count.

[caption id="attachment_79" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photography by Li'l B :)"][/caption]

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Ps. 90:12