This is my favorite picture of all time. Micah asked me yesterday if we could go to Mill Creek park and look at the leaves and this picture instantly came to mind. Jake was about 1 month past his first birthday and still a bit wobbly in his walking, but he was in extreme independent mode. He saw that path before him and would have nothing to do with holding my hand because he wanted to explore.
I guess it's because he's my baby, but I felt a pang of sorrow go through me when I took this picture because I knew that within a blink of an eye I would be taking him to his first day of school and suddenly it would be time to plan his graduation party. There was my baby...my little miracle child...taking his first independent trip away from mom. He was completely oblivious to the dangers around him, but they were so clear to me. I came home that day and printed the picture and stuck it to my fridge. Tilden asked me why I liked it because, "you can't even see Jake's face". I don't need to see his face- - I love the picture because of the journey and the fact that he was so small. I caught a moment in time that symbolized his future as well. It's priceless to me.
January has never felt like the beginning of a new year to me. It's always September when the leaves change and the kids start a new grade in school. It's a new beginning and they are a year older suddenly and we are transitioning from summer into the "cold" months. You don't realize how much the kids have grown over the summer until you have to buy them new winter clothes. My jaw dropped when I took Micah to Kohl's for some jeans and he needed a size 14. Just last fall the size 12's were to big on him. I am going to wake up tomorrow and he will be asking me for the car keys. Time is no friend to a mother.
As I start MY new year and track the progress of my 4 amazing children, I love to stop in front of my refrigerator and freeze time as I look at this picture of Jake. He was starting on his journey down his path of life. All I can do is pray that he makes it safely "around". Alex , Caleb and Micah all started on that same path just as determined as Jake. It makes me proud and sad at the same time. sigh
1 comment:
I've always loved that picture too, but now I have a deeper respect and love for it :) Time is no friend to a mother, you've got that right! Noah tells me about how he's going to school next year at least 50 times a day. I wish he wasn't in such a hurry!
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