Redeeming the Time

Today is the start of Labor Day weekend. I cannot believe the summer is almost gone. I had so many plans to do so many things, and now I look back and wonder where those days went. Well Elijah turned one at the beginning of the summer, then Sami turned 3, and Paige turned 12! Then there was the big move that started for Jenn and Kory. Charlie is waiting patiently for his mom and dad to take him back home. They may be surprised at the new "tricks" Charlie has learned while playing with Beaux. I guess I can scratch the plans to plant spring flowers and just go straight to the fall mums now, and spread more grass seed to fill in the big dirt patches that dogs and grandkids have managed to pepper my yard with. Another pool season has come and is almost gone. At least we had great heat blasts this year to make swimming a top priority on all of our lists. It was great to see Samantha's fear of the water dissipate and see Wyatt graduate from life jacket to swimmies-- and when supervised closely, no aids at all. He snorkels his way across the entire pool. Jamin is Wyatt's hero. He can't wait for Jamin to come around so they can play big boy games. Victoria went on her first solo trip when she visited Jenn and Kory this summer. She is turning into a beautiful young lady. Elijah now can say a few words, and those are used powerfully in his world. I watch all the kids and wonder where their energy is generated, because I feel slower than ever. I keep reminding myself that Jamin once told me I wasn't old because I still can play with them. I still try. Those days are etched deeply in my mind. I need to remember those words of wisdom when I lose my energy. The seasons still go round and round, and I can still look forward to the changes that come with them. O Lord, keep my mind on You, so that I can still be of use. Let me redeem my time here so it adds a memory to someone else's life. Wyatt told me he wanted to marry me this week. I told him I was already married to Oppie. I look around at my life and see that the Lord has indeed redeemed the time for us with a wonderful family.