I've been struck recently by how quickly my children are growing up.  I'm always so busy with the day-to-day tasks.  Sometimes I remember to look up and realize what all the day-to-day stuff is really all about.  Here's just a sampling from some recent photos.

     Josh earned the Arrow of Light, graduated from Cub Scouts, and became a Boy Scout all in a span of about 10 minutes.  He's in a group with High School boys now?  My "little" first-born son with High Schoolers?  Really?  He's always the oldest at home.  Now he suddenly looks so young.

     Last weekend, I taught Abby how to use the sewing machine and she helped me sew Mary Faith's baby blanket.  Embarrassingly, she's already a much better seamstress than I.  I even ran the stitches right off the edge of the blanket once!  She needs to do a "whip stitch" to complete her sewing badge for American Heritage Girls.  I had to tell her I had no idea what that was.

     Sam has joined cub scouts now as a Tiger Cub.  He was disappointed that Josh has already moved on.  "I'm sure going to miss Josh", he lamented.  Good thing we homeschool so they're together all day!  Sam also had his birthday this week.  We got out his baby album and I told stories of when he was little.  My how time has flown!

     Jake is really enjoying school this year.  He loves to get out his books and "do school" with the older ones.  If I forget to do math with him, he reminds me.  He says math is his favorite subject after snacktime.

     Becky is always trying to keep up with everyone else.  She was quite the entertainment at Abby's Taekwondo belt graduation as she imitated everything they did.  Here's her version of pushups.

     Mary Faith is also growing quickly.  I always know we're getting close to the birth when I have to hold my breath to shave my legs.  I opted not to post the picture of Bekah kissing my big ol' stretch-mark-covered belly.  I hope you're not disappointed.

     As I see how fast the older ones grow up, I'm so thankful to still have little ones running around and on the way.  If I only had the older ones, I'd be really sad that the toddler and baby years were over.

     I love all my precious kiddos and can't imagine my life without even one of them.  I'm so blessed to have the privilege of being their mother, even though I am so unfit and inadequate for the task.  It's so good to know that our God is more than able to take care of all of us, despite our shortcomings.   I'm humbled that He trusts me with these precious Treasures of His.