On Sunday was Josie's graduation. I can't believe it is here (it makes me feel old!). I am feeling way more sad about this than I expected. It has been so much fun being closer to home these last two years. I have enjoyed getting to see her every week when she came for youth group, attending her volleyball games, and doing her hair for dances. I am kind of dreading not getting to see her as often! But so thankful God blessed us with this special time to make memories. I tried to talk Josie into HLG. Hello, how fun would that have been? But she is going to Western. Which I am actually very exicted for her about. I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for her as she is living in the Campus House. (In Kristina's old apartment-how funny!) I can't wait to see her experience college because college was an awesome time for me. At college I figured out who I was, met my husband, and met my closest girlfriends of all time. Seeing Josie prepare for this transition has reminded me that sometimes growing up is hard to do, at first. (I don't need to be reminded I didn't meet my husband on the first try)
Now to my two year old, Grace. GROWING UP IS HARD TO DO! We are really struggling right now with being two. I was going to post something yesterday but I was really frustrated so I let my thoughts marinade for 24 hours. My thoughts yesterday-If this is parenting sign me up for something else! (I know not so grown up at all) She has decided she doesn't have to listen at all. She has her own ideas about the way things should go, and they often happen to be different than my idea about how thing will go. So, I'm caught between wanting to set clear boundaries so she can learn submission and wanting to model patience & self-control. I confess yesterday afternoon I found myself half way through an entire bag of chocolate chips before I broke down and went and kneeled at her bed to pray for her while she slept. So now you know my dark secret!
While confessing my parenting weeknesses isn't easy I know its necessary. I am hoping someday Grace and I will read this together and laugh at both of us. I hope we are best friends and I can remind her she was her own little person (Like my mom and I do now). And finally I am thankful. Because these challenges have made me feel weak, and I've been reminded to dig deep in Scripture letting God fill me up for the "battles" ahead. My children are truly teaching me how much more I need to allow the Lord to refine me, because growing up is hard to do, even for me.