Seventeen

                                             
                                   Our youngest.

Seems like they were born sometime close to just yesterday.   6 feet and 4 inches of boy twin will tell you that this is not so.   Today we stand in excitement, celebration, and ~yes~ a little bit of trepidation to announce that they are seventeen .   I have written about this some; here and here .

Though they are twins, in typical fashion, they are each attacking their special day quite differently.   Boy twin, just wants to get through  school - if it were up to him, he would have stayed home today.   He chose to open all of his presents, leaving no wrapping un-torn.   Grandpa got him a very particular Swiss Army Knife (They all tell me that every man must have one. I agree. But he is not a man, he is my Sonny-Boy.)

Girl twin , who has been telling her friends all month that her Birthday was coming, put on a special dress, Birthday Princess Ribbon , Birthday Tiara , and the brand new make-up that Grandma made sure she was able to open and use on her special day.   She chose to open her gift from Grandma, and just 2 from Mom and Dad so that she would have more to enjoy when she came home.
 
As we step into this final year of major influence over their lives, where they take more of the reigns and we practice letting go, I am filled with many emotions.   It is becoming real that these small creatures , the last additions to our little family, are soon going to be flying off in search of life, love, fame, fortune, education and deciding who they really are without the constraints and close guidance of their parents.

One year.   One year to pray like I've never prayed before.   One year to show them Jesus every day.    One year to ask more leading questions like, "Is it worth how hard you are going to have to work for that?" "How does that fit into your faith?" "Do you really want to do that??"   One year to issue less commands like, "Eat your vegetables." "Be kind." "No you may not watch bloody chainsaw sexpot vampire f-bomb movies . I don't care if every other parent lets their kids."   One year to practice waiting for them to ask for my opinion rather than throwing it at them with the force of a hurricane every chance I get. (I don't really do that.) (I don't think.) (Much.)

Sonny-Boy hugged me this morning. I wonder if he will hug me when he comes home for Thanksgiving with his wife and children....

Blessings on your day friends,