Graduation

Last Thursday night was bittersweet for me, my baby girl graduated from Kindergarten.  As we were sitting there waiting for the ceremony to begin I kept thinking that time had sped up.  As the evening progressed and the kids were called up one by one onto the stage, I was amazed at how grown up she looked.  Gone was my little girl, a more confident girl has taken her place.  When her name was called to walk up on stage she marched right up there like she owned the show.  Her teacher, Mrs Hughes, said these three things that I believe truly sum up my Peyton:  she is a girlie girl, a tomboy and compassionate.  These are so true.  I still remember when I found out I was having a little girl; all I asked God for was a healthy little girl who would wear dresses and play in the mud.  Well, sometimes you get what you ask for and then some.
As the night progressed I began thinking about the next graduation that will be happening.  My oldest will graduate from high school in 2 years.  It only seems like yesterday that he was in kindergarten.  Then 2 years after this my middle son will be graduating from high school.  Where has the time gone? 

There are days that I wish I could stop time and just stay where we are.  Then there are days I would like to rewind time and revisit the joy of the early days of their youth.  I admit some days I just want to fast forward past the hard parts for them, but as I read in the book of James today:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

 I know that these hard times in their lives will make them better, just as the hard times in my life have helped me to become more mature and more complete.  One of those times was graduation night 2011 and one will be graduation night 2013 and finally graduation night 2015.  I will consider these nights pure joy as my babies move on to the next stage of their life.  I love you guys!