Here we are again. Time for Five Minute Friday!
I’ve had the best time tonight on Twitter at what we call #fmfparty (Five Minute Friday Party). I skipped my workout to hang out with some of the greatest people on the planet at this online party. My last name was even changed by my friend Holly. She made my day. Seriously.
We free-write on a one-word prompt for five minutes and share what we’ve come up with at Kate’s place. It’s a flash-mob of sorts, and I love it.
This week’s word:
–WAIT–
Go.
I’ve never been good at waiting.
Never.
It seemed like an eternity waiting for my wedding day to arrive, to marry the man of my dreams.
Then the nine months of pregnancy with each child. I couldn’t wait to hold our babies in my arms.
Crawling. Walking. Running. I always looked forward to the next stage in my babies’ journey. It’s quite possible I was so focused on the thing, or event, or next step, I didn’t appreciate the waiting.
I know I didn’t.
And now? I’m still not great at it, but this year, I’m doing much better.
I fast forward to four months from now, and it’s a little unsettling. My baby boy–our youngest–will already be finished with high school.
Wait, what?? How can that be?
Yes, he’ll be graduating from high school in May. (I’m too young to have my baby graduating, right??) He’ll be embracing bigger and better things in his journey. As will all of us.
You better believe I’m doing all I can to slow time. To embrace each moment. To appreciate the wait.
He can’t wait for graduation day. I’ll wait all I can for it to arrive. But when it does come, and it will come quickly, I’ll be proud of this fine young man God has given his dad and I the privilege of being parents to. What joy he brings us.
Wait. Friend, don’t rush time. Appreciate each moment. Savor each memory. Enjoy the wait.
Stop.
Bless you! Thank you for being a part of our journey!
Julie
Amen! Wait and see the goodness of the Lord! I am not good at waiting either! The answers, the big reveal cannot come soon enough sometimes. Loved hanging out with you tonight. Oh how I have missed my #fmfparty peeps!
Yes, Mary. It was great hanging out with you. I need to get over there tonight. Bless you, friend!
I remember when I had my daughter and ladies who seemed like they were like 100 (LOL) were always telling me to enjoy it that they grow to fast. And i thought they were crazy that I would have them forever… WRONG! My daughter is now 12 and my baby is 10. It is hard to believe and I often wonder about what I missed and I reflect on what I didn’t miss and those memories are in my head as if they are happening right before my eyes. I pray that your memories of your son and this season of his life are plenty and pleasant and all things good. Just remember, you will always be his Mama!! ALWAYS!
Amen, Marisa. So thankful for the honor to be our children’s mom. Such a gift! Thank you for stopping in!
Ok, you’ve done it. Shocked me. “Four months from now…”
Wait! What? So soon? No way! But, oh yes. I checked the calendar and you are right. Exactly 4 months from tonight, my baby boy graduates from high school.
I knew that day was a day in the future, but it is coming too fast. It will be here before I am ready.
And though I have done a better job this year of savoring time and conversations, I Can wait for that day to arrive.
This is a timely reminder that as the days get busier with those senior plans, commitments, decisions… each is a precious memory to enjoy.
Yes, Kim. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?! Precious memories, indeed. May we cherish each one in the next few months, and not be too busy getting ready for the big day. I appreciate your friendship, Kim! Bless you!
Such wisdom here, my friend – but it’s so hard to remember to enjoy it, isn’t it? Until – that is –until we know how short the time really is! Thanks for the reminder!
It’s hard for me to remember, friend. Bless you, dear one!
This reminds me of an interesting phenomenon I’ve experienced…”slow time”. I’ve been in a few car accidents, and been thrown from horses, and each time it seemed to be a leisurely affair…I had to wait, seemingly forever, for events to unfold.
I’ve also experienced it in combat, watching an RPG come my way with the feeling that I could dance a jig to avoid it, it was going so slow (and I felt I could move at normal speed).
I just wish I could apply slow time to the joyous and cherished moments in life.
I wish the same, Andrew. Those precious and joyous moments in life! I am thankful for them today.
A great reminder on the importance of waiting for each moment as they happen. Everyone says their babies grow up to fast. Mine is only 20 months and soon I know he will be gone. “The days are long, but the years are short.” Is a quote someone told me when my son was just a few months old. I know it to be true, but maybe not as much as you do. 🙂
Amanda, that’s so true. “The days are long, but the years are short.” I love this! Thank you so much for sharing this, and for stopping in. Bless you!
Thank you for the great post Julie! It’s almost like taking a long road trip and never stopping to enjoy the views and places along the way. We are so focused on our life’s destination or goal that we forget that each day is precious and meant to be enjoyed!
Great analogy, Verona. May we cherish each day and each moment! Thanks for being here!
Thanks for this – yes, we all struggle with the pain of the wait, and imagine being in the ‘better days ahead’ – except when the ‘days ahead’ will carry their own challenges and losses and bittersweet joys. God help us to embrace all that THIS moment contains – the joy and the sorrow, and to glorify him in it. #fmfparty
Oh, Ruth, I love your words here. Yes, “God help us to embrace all that THIS moment contains.” Thank you. Embracing this moment with you, friend!
It’s easy to wish the days away, but then we look back and wonder where they have all gone. I suppose it’s especially true with children, who change in the blink of an eye (it would seem).
But living in the present? That’s where it’s at!
Amen, sister! Living in the present. May we each intently do this today! Thanks for stopping in, Jen!
Yes! I can relate to you about wanting time to slow. Old oldest graduated last year and is now away on the opposite coast from us. Believe me I’m much more intentional about the moments. I still have 3 at home and oh, how much slower I live! It’s a lesson learned for sure! Thanks for sharing with us!
What a gift, learning that lesson early. Glad we have this in common. Bless you, Rachel!
Enjoy the wait! This year my ONE word is “Cherish” and it has me noticing the little things and challenging me to be invested in the wait even when it’s hard! Thanks for this sweet word – their childhood and time at home with me will pass by too quickly I know! Bless you
Great word for the year, Jamie. I’m glad to read you are noticing the little things in life. Such a gift! Thanks for prompting me to do the same!
Okay, so I’m not a good wait-er so the encouragement to enjoy the wait just goes over my head!! 🙂 But you are right, there is much to be missed in the wait if we are always focused on what’s ahead. Enjoy this time with your boy as you are right about the speed with which it will pass by! I’ll remember your words as I sit and wait in the future. So glad I could make you laugh last night!! Much love!
Hey, friend! Yes, you made me laugh. That was priceless. Thankful we can journey together and appreciate the waiting while we do. Bless you!
Julie, thank you for the gentle reminder to not rush time with our children. Routines and schedules keep everyone incredibly busy. I have two (9 & 5 years old) that I too remember thinking, “I can’t wait for them to walk, to talk, to tie their own shoes”, etc. And now, they are both in elementary school and the cuddle time is less and less with our daughter (9-she’ll be 10 in May). Our son still loves the extra snuggle time (he’ll be 6 in Feb). Anyhow, I think it’s such a good thing to be reminded that the time we have with our little ones while they are young goes extremely fast and we should really try our hardest not to rush each day away.
Those are busy ages, friend! Yes, they grow up way too fast. Cherish each moment, and it looks like you are. Keep up the great work, mama, and enjoy that snuggle time!
Great wisdom here Julie! So often we miss out on the present because we’re focusing on waiting for the future! My boy leaves home in 6 months! In fact I’m writing about it now for my next Tuesday post! I can understand you, friend. 🙂 Blessings on your weekend!
Dear Julie, such a good reminder. We may not like to wait but when we rush life, we forget to smell the roses. Blessings Diana
Smelling the roses… great reminder to do that today. Thank you, Diana.
Julie, I’m in the same boat as you… our oldest is in the throes of college selection, financial planning, and continuing to improve as a student and an athlete as he prepares for God’s next steps for him in his journey. I, too, am learning to enjoy the waiting… and loved finding and reading your heart through Five Minute Friday. Hugs!
So glad we can walk this road together. Bless you as you enjoy the waiting! Lifting your oldest in prayer!
Great post Julie!! Let’s enjoy our waiting time!!! May God bless you…
Enjoying it with you! Thank you!
It’s a lesson I almost learned too late! I was very impatient when our girls were young teenagers. It took awhile to repair the damage (we instituted regular dates–coffee Fridays with my eldest and Mountain Mondays with my youngest (just what it sounds like–we climbed mountains together). I’m so glad that I took the time to wait, to listen to get to know them–it made it so much easier to navigate the really hard times they’ve had since right alongside them–not so much as a mommy, per se, but as a trusted friend.
This sounds priceless, Anita. Thank you so much for sharing this. So encouraging!!