Seasons Change

This Christmas will be 3 Christmases since my kids returned to Africa.  I can't believe it has been that long.  I just finished writing Christmas cards for them.  Seven of my babies are moving into secondary school.  Such a season of change.  They aren't babies anymore.  They are young men and women.  It is so hard to picture them as that.  When Alesha and I visited a year and a half ago, they had grown and changed so much that my mind can't even fathom how different they are now. 

I wish I could sit down with each of them and have a long chat about school, faith, life and growing up.  Kids in Africa and kids here aren't that different.  They share struggles and dreams, they have hopes for the future and problems with friends.  I'd like to shelter my kids from having to deal with the heartache, but I can't. 

So, as always, I will lift up my prayers and treasure them in my heart for my kids.  It is in these moments that I miss them the most.  It is in these moments that I miss the laughs, the conversation and most of all, their hugs. 

Faith and Stella with Uncle Tony.
Stella used to be "as tall as Uncle's leg".