Changes, Changes, Changes

It's been 2 weeks since my last post and life has been very different around our house. Good, but different. Bedtime comes early these days - when the sun starts setting it's almost bedtime! And unfortunately, wake up time comes before the sun starts rising. Today was especially hard because it rained all night and was still raining this morning. With the windows open and the skies still dark, it wasn't easy to quit pushing that snooze button. =)
John David is doing well in school. He has had a "happy face day" every day except one so far and he is really learning a lot. They are working on all their vowels as well as simple math. He has memorized The Lord's Prayer, a poem called "I Had a Little Turtle", and a couple of Bible verses already. He loves Thursdays because that's pizza day in the lunchroom and he even gets chocolate milk! How exciting! =) Every other day he takes his lunch with him.
Julia still misses him a lot while he's gone and she's never very happy about taking him to school. Today she stayed in bed and slept while I took him so it's been an easy morning. Picking up John David is the highlight of her day and it's so cute to hear her squeal in delight when she first spots him.
We have less than 6 weeks to go until this little Baby Sullivan is born so I'm keeping myself busy getting ready. I learned my lesson with Julia and this time I plan to be totally ready 3-4 weeks early. In case you're wondering if this baby has a name yet, the answer is no. She won't be named for sure until after she is born and we can see her and hold her. We do have a couple of names that we both agree on and will choose between though. (Another lesson learned from having Julia!)
My duties as children's pastor are winding down and will be totally done within a couple of weeks. Yesterday was my last day to be in charge of Sunday morning Impact service but I will be shadowing my replacement for the next couple of weeks to make sure the transition goes well. Junior Bible Quiz is already out of my hands except for just giving advice and support to the people running it. I'm sure I won't know quite what to do with myself once I'm all done. Maybe I'll go to a big people service! Although, unless there are games, puppets, and some object lessons involving slime or whipping cream, I'm not sure my attention span can handle it anymore. =)Oh, well........

Lifetime of Lasts

Well, I did it - I survived one of the hardest days of my life. I sent my baby boy to school for the first time! I wasn't worried a bit about him because I knew he would have a great time (that was confirmed when he stood in the hall with me as first one class and then another filed by before the tardy bell rang and he loudly said hello and waved to every student as they passed). I was the one I knew would have a hard time. I was holding it together decently as we left (decently meaning I was only crying silently and not wailing) until Julia started crying and saying "John David, come back!" Once we were in the car, we cried a little more and then we headed to Walmart to shop away our pain (don't laugh that we went to Walmart - it was just the only store that was open at 8:00 in the morning).

I came across this poem last night. It's written from the perspective of a mother looking back over the years after her son is grown. We have so many memory making times ahead of us and I want to treasure each moment as it comes knowing that my baby will be all grown up much too fast.

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips...
Last time that I lifted you and help you on my hip...
Last time when you had a binky stuck inside your mouth...
The last time that you crawled across the floor the this old house.

Last time when you ran to me, still small enought to hold,
Last time when you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from the past,
Would I have held you longer if I'd known they were the last?

Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade...
Last at bat in Little League, last colored paper made.
Last time that I tucked you in for one last midday nap...
Last time when you wore your beat-up Green Bay Packers cap.

Last time that you caught a frog in that old backyard pond...
Last time when you ran barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn.
Silly scattered images to represent your past.
Would I have taken pictures....if I'd known they were the last?

The last dark night you slipped in bed and slept between us two,
When last I read to you of God or Horton Hears a Who!
Last time that I smelled you hair and prayed after your shower...
Last time that we held devotions in the evening hours.

The last time that you giggled watching doodle bugs go,
Last time that you made an angel in the melting snow.
I never even said good-bye to yesterdays long passed.
Would I haved marked the moments...if I'd known they were the last?

Last piano lesson, and last soccer goal you kicked...
The last few weeks of middle school, last flowers that you picked.
Last time that you needed me for rides from here to there...
The last time that you spent the night with that old tattered bear.

Last time that I helped you with a math or spelling test,
Last time when I shouted that your room was still a mess.
Time and life moved quicker, taking pieces of your past.
Would I have stretched the moments...if I'd known they were the last?

The last time that you needed help with details of a dance...
Last time that you asked me for advice about romance.
Last time that you talked to me about your hopes and dreams.
Last time that you wore a jersey for your high school team.

I watched you grow and never noticed seasons as they passed.
I wish I could've frozen time, to hold on to your lasts.
For come tomorrow morning life will never be the same.
You'll plege forever to your girl, and she will take your name.

And I will watch you, knowing God has blessed you with this day.
I never would have wanted to somehow make you stay.
They say a son's a son until he takes for him a wife.
You're grown-up now; it's time to go and start your brand-new life.

One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss...
One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how quickly childhood sped past.
Would I have held on longer...if I'd known it was your last?"