As much as I enjoy having all of the kids here, I know they can’t stay here. They have their own lives. It’s taken me a while to make this transition from wanting them all in my nest and keeping them close to finding freedom, life, and peace in the spreading of their wings. Its like the Bible says about time. There is a time for raising children and dedicating your life to their foundation. Then there is a time for them to break free.

Again it goes back to life in the womb. There comes a point where the infant outgrows the environment that for the growing time appointed has kept them fed and safe and warm. But to remain in the womb longer than the appointed time would not be good for the child or the mother. I did the best I could to give my kids a good childhood. In the process I became both a worse and better person. I would do it all again if needed.

Christmas family pictures do not have the same felt necessity as they did when all the kids were little. When they were young they were “my children” and these were pictures of “my family”. That’s how it felt. But somewhere over time, I can pinpoint no time when it happened, but this family evolved into something much bigger than myself or anything I call my own. No longer can I claim another as belonging to me in this life.