As Quickly as the Turning of the Leaves

"As quickly as the turning of the leaves in fall...

so my little boy became a man."
~Author Unknown~

I remember, as though it were yesterday, standing over you as

you peacefully slept in your hospital cradle.  I contemplated nervously—but joyously—

what would be required of me as a new mom.

Even before you were ever born, I loved you.

But once you were here, I knew I would be willing to die for you.

To me, you were the most precious child that had ever been born.

And I watched, with utter delight, as you excitedly explored the

 newness of the world around you in those early years.

Every holiday—like Christmas and Easter—

became an occasion of even greater joy,

as I experienced them anew...

through your wide-eyed innocence.

From your earliest years, you loved fantasy and make believe.  And you totally

captivated me with your vivid imagination.

My sewing machine got quite the workout for a few years—

making all those fun costumes to

fuel your creativity.

Then, before I knew it, you were of school age.

You had such a zeal for learning, and I was frequently amazed

at how quickly you grasped concepts that were well beyond your years.

I really loved all the fun things we did while homeschooling. 

The special bond that developed between us—

as a result of all the time spent together—

is something I will always treasure.

From my viewpoint, those years passed all too quickly!

I sometimes wonder who learned more—

you from me...

or me from you.

You've always been such a caring, loving, and protective

big brother to your sister.  And to this day, you continue to be

one of her biggest heroes.

During all those years you played sports,

you know I was your biggest fan!

Did I ever embarrass you, Son—belting out my enthusiasm for you...

 from the stands?   ; )

Were you aware that there were many times my enthusiasm turned to

apprehension, as I watched some of your daredevilish feats?

I suppose you'll never outgrow your love of extreme sports. 

Good thing I'm a praying mamma, huh?!   ; )

Though you are much like me—serious-minded—

you are no stranger to fun.

Over the years, your quick wit and humorous antics have brought much

laughter and lightheartedness to our family.

And we have been blessed by your talents more than you realize.

As I reflect on this day—the 27th year since your birth—I am

blessed beyond words that the Lord saw fit to make

YOU my son!

I am proud of you, Joshua, and love you more than you will ever know.

Happy 27th Birthday, Baby!