Transformations

Things are changing. Things cannot remain the same, though we wish it we cannot make time stand still.The next year will be a time of great transformation.

I will go from being a mom to also being a grandmother. That is a change I look forward to. As is the change of having a daughter-in-law. Expanding family is a wondrous and wonderful thing!

Then there is the transformation of the baby of the family, Beav, into a young adult. I know that this has been a gradual thing, and the chrysalis has been dropping away for quite some time now, but there are definitive moments when you feel it is done, a finished thing. That happened today when we had one of those chance conversations while riding in the car together. This young man talked about taking classes next year as a senior that would enable him to get college credits. And he added, "That would be a good thing, don't you think?" Huh?! Is this the same child that was arguing with me six months ago about . . . well, about everything?! These moments can catch you off guard, but, because this is my third child I actually recognize milestones when I see them and savor them.

A more traumatic transformation looms a few months down the road. We will be leaving the military lifestyle as Ward puts in his retirement papers and heads off to the civilian world. This is a huge change. For over twenty-six years we have lived and loved this way of life. As challenging as it has been, it has also been a source of pride that Ward has been allowed to serve this wonderful nation as a leader of its young men in uniform. He was good at it, and I like to think I was good at supporting him in doing his job well.

However, we won't look back with any regrets. We look forward to finding out what God has planned for us next. Stay tuned for how he helps us become first time home owners and transition out into "the real world."