Raising Boys: Preparing for Take Off in its Various Forms

As we gathered around the table to eat breakfast this morning, I mentally prepared myself to mentally prepare my oldest for a monumental first:

going to Vacation Bible School with a friend {and without mommy}.

We went over the basics tenents of going to VBS with friends as he excitedly chowed on his oatmeal and granola:

Me: Remember to stay--

G: with my group.

Me: And treat others the way--

G: I want to be treated.

Me: And don't leave with anyone-

G: Only Miss Melissa. Or you. Or daddy.

Me: Right. And have fun.

G: I'm going to have the most fun!

Right. I know, I thought; he will have fun. And he will most likely be fine. And while he's off having his fun I'll be thinking about how four years ago, I was still growing his little body inside my stretching abdomen ... about how we were two wrapped in one and I could hold him snugly within the safety of my own body.

As he all but bounded out of our own car and into Melissa's van, Melissa's son and G began talking about Legos and Lego magazines and what they would do at VBS.

My heart leaped into my throat -- when did my firstborn get old enough to swap Lego magazines with Melissa's oldest son in the backseat of her minivan on the way to Vacation Bible School -- without me?

Before I shut the door of the van, my oldest hugged me, gave me a kiss, smiled and bid me farewell, telling me he'd see me after school.

And though my eyes were brimming with the wetness of tears as I backed out the driveway, I couldn't help but smile at the sweetest of this reality as I recalled our breakfast conversation and the banter between the older kids as we loaded them up for the ride:

This is what we've been doing for the past four years -- preparing him to take these steps into the unknown, into the unfamiliar with excitement and zeal all while making sure he knows there's a soft space at which to land after the adventures are exhausted.

Everyday Life: Affirmations

Like a college kid on graduation day, I feel like I'm standing atop of the diploma mountain, thinking back on the winding, beautiful, sometimes steep road I've tread daily for nine straight months.

Tonight is the last night of our nine-month long Vantage Point3 journey.

It's truly been a hike in every sense of the word.

Sometimes I've found myself winded and breathless, chest tight, heart pumping, swallowing the sting of tears while trying to navigate up the side of some rocky terrain.

And often I found myself standing under warm sun, basking its glow while soaking in a new view after painstakingly making my way through such a stretch.

I've heard that with climbing mountains you've gotta have good tools, a good guide and an amazing team.

We've had that and more.

The people who I ventured out with have spoken truth into my life and spoken grace.

They've carried my burdens and shouldered the wind while standing next to me.

They've given me new glimpses of my Savior's face and shown me other chapters in God's epic tale.

I'm so grateful.

Our last task as a part of the group was to write affirmations for each other ... and I'll admit, I didn't know quite what that should look like.

I mean, we've learned so much about God and about ourselves -- we've written our entire life stories and shared, we've divulged our values and our ideals, our callings and our priorities, our strengths, our seasons in life.

We've walked so many miles together, I didn't know what to highlight.

So I did the only thing I knew how to do {other than writing each person a blog post ha!}: I prayed for the right verses to come to my mind and I laid it all out on paper.

But, this time, instead of relying only on black and white to bring life to something, I added color.



Because sometimes, I feel like after we've just totally and completely emptied ourselves, poured ourselves into a journey, we need a piece of paper, a picture to hang onto to remind us where we've been.

{Instead of leaving me some love via comments, tonight will you just stand here with me as I revel in this mountain-top view? I cannot for the life of me figure out how to disable Disqus comments!}