20 is a special number today!

As I logged on I saw that I have published 20 posts so far. 20 seems to be a number that grabs my attention today... with a good reason....

20 years ago today we started our journey of parenthood. It has been a journey that has blessed us six times over, four of those blessings live with us, two are visiting with their grandfather, having greeted him as he entered heaven's pearly gates.

We have made many mistakes and learned many lessons in the past years. Our eldest has been there through it all, often closer and more involved than he'd like. My husband often acknowledges to him that he has gotten the best and worst of us- the first blessings but also the first mistakes as we attempt to parent and sometimes don't do a great job.

To meet the eldest you would be blessed to see the good stuff- he has done a good job of forgiving and forbearing our lack. God has blessed us with a compliant mild natured, patient young man who strives to make good choices. He was fun to watch grow, approach life and imagine adventures as a youth. He traveled the world well with us- while we lived in Germany for 3 years he never spent his birthday in Germany! He survived his years at homeschool, adjusted to and enjoyed private school and endured the final year at a public school- departing with 4 college courses under his belt and prepared for college ahead of him.

We had some ups and downs in the teen years but overall ithas beena fairly steady on path for him. We have been blessed to see him continue to have a heart after God- listening and seeking out good companions. He has seen God's provision in his life with jobs that have paid for his education and he continues to endure long days of studies and work to check the blocks for future gains.

This morning as we celebrated his life it was with a list of the things we love about him. He suffered well as I read it to siblings, things like- your smile, love of tapioca pudding and his math minded brain. He often reminds me of many of our family members- From my dad comes his dry humor and servant heart. His uncle passed on to him his signature and mathmatical talent- actually many bloodlines converged for that as he has electrons running through his blood and brains- just like his dad, and my dad and.... He handles a chainsaw well and shares that talent to bless others like his uncle.

It has been 20 good years, many life memories stored up. He is the one we began the path of parenthood with and some day soon he may be the one who helps us to begin the empty nest adventure. Until then I will enjoy him when we see him, I continue to learn to let go and watch him find his place in the life that awaits him. My the past 20 years have passed quickly, I sure hope the next 20 are as full of memories as these have been.