Word of the Year 2016: Transitions

Every year is filled with it’s excitement and challenges and transitions. Some years, though, you know are going to be a roller coaster ride. This year the children are ages:

25, 17, 15, 10, 5 and 3.

Let’s start at the top, shall we?

My dear oldest daughter, Christina, is expecting our 2nd grandchild in February. What a joyous time of transition this will be for her little family. This will be our first grandson. To type those words, I have to fight back tears.  I almost can’t believe it. See, I was on the phone with her after one of many miscarriages. I’ll never forget the words that crushed this mother’s heart: “Mom”, she whispered, “I don’t think I can do this again. I don’t think I want to try again to get pregnant, only to have to go through this again.” My heart crumbled with those words. I knew that feeling. I’ve lived that feeling. And my silent prayer was that at some point, she would heal enough to try again, if it was the Lord’s will for her family.  Here we are, six or eight weeks from meeting this newest member of our family. This one I dared to love, even before we knew for sure there was a beating  heart, or what color blankets we would be buying.  A tiny little creature, capable of causing so much excitement, so much exhaustion, so many aches and pains, so many hopes and dreams. I am sure there will be sleepless nights, worried nights, joyous moments, lots of Facetime phone calls, lots of miles on our cars as we travel back and forth to Berea (or wherever they land) to see this little one and our granddaughter.

Sarah, my 17-year-old is graduating High School in May. how is this possible? At five, I could not get her to sit still for more than 5 minutes. I remember how crazy-fast she learned to read. I remember watching her go through book after book, pour over math, get braces on and off. I watched her learn to dance, then to teach her friends to dance. I watched her come up with brilliant idea after brilliant idea. Some we told her to keep in the vault. We’ll be millionaires one day if we can get our act together and make one of her inventions. I watched her (and cringed with her) through experiments with bangs (she does not rock the bangs look, no), with dye (this actually turned out cute once,  and dismal once, the jury is still out on whether we are willing to let her try that again) and through straight hair and curly hair. Big, curly hair.  I watched her get jobs, work harder than I ever imagined she would. I saw her treated well by employers and treated poorly, and in each case, she responded with dignity and respect. I am so proud of her.  And yet, here it comes. Graduation. That time in life where I get to hold her hand less and watch her walk further away than she has ever done. College is on the horizon.

Anne Mary, my 15- year- old is also graduating High School. What on earth. I thought I had at least three more years of teaching her to enjoy, when I realized she is actually finished. She is transitioning to college, something she started in the fall and will continue in the upcoming year. The days spend marveling over her beautiful mind, treasuring her playing music, watching her make her first outside-the-family friends, teaching her to use social graces are not far in the past. Seeing her being called to missions, then follow that call have occupied many hours of prayer. Listening to her recite whole books of scripture to me, not because she was in a contest or was looking for any prizes, but just for the sheer love of the Word, have marked her path to maturity. From here on, most of her learning will take place outside the walls of our home. I’m sad I won’t be involved in quite the same way, but at the same time, it’s time.

David, my 10-year-old is transitioning to being the “big kid at home.” He does not yet have the freedoms and responsibilities of an oldest, but he’s getting there. He’s faced challenges many I hope will never know with numerous food allergies, and the associated behavioral challenges. He hated reading, then a book sparked his interest and he loves to read now. He puts together lego creations that boggle my female mind. He is quick to always give a hug, give a kiss, pay a compliment and to play a game. He loves strategy games. He loves video games that he gets to play occasionally. He wants more friends. He’s getting there.  But this year, he is also taking over kitchen duties and will soon begin learning to cook. I’ll need some help once the girls transition full-time to college!  I am looking forward to this special time with him.

Daniel, my 5-year-old is transitioning to being a full-time student in our home. Right now, his days are spent in play, but in recent months he spent more time drawing. He’s a surprisingly good at drawing for his age. He is an introvert, and he is learning his way to do this in a large, noisy family. He excels at math, and loves learning to read.  But he’s transitioning from preschool to those magical years when the world of learning everything is opened up to him. I can’t wait to see what captures his heart and makes him tick.

Rebecca, my littlest, my 3-year-old is also transitioning. She just got moved out of her room sharing with Daniel and is now sharing with Anne Mary. We can now say, it’s in the girls’ room or the boys’ room once again. And this time, she is in a top bunk. She’s always been surprisingly independent. Now she is even more so. She is still an early riser, but now has the beautiful habit of taking a book to bed with her every night to pour over, even after “lights-out”. She’s three. Life is nothing BUT transitions at this age.

Duncan, my dear husband is transitioning from working at Humana for over nine years, to working for 1E. This has been a huge transition for him, giving our family new opportunities and new challenges.

And me? I am transitioning from homeschooling five to just homeschooling three this year. I am going from being a grandmama to one, to being one to two. It has not happened yet, but looking ahead to next fall- and things will be so very different.  My blog is back on my list of priorities because it’s my way to minister from the midst of a very busy household. My speaking engagements are starting again.  The last two years have been filled to the brim with teen events and teen ministry at our house. I have no idea what my new focus will be in this arena. I doubt all the college kids will come over here to hang out.

So, the word of the year: Transitions.