Steve said these are arrows, not dominoes.

At Joshua’s high school graduation, as I envisioned each child reaching this same milestone in quick succession, I remarked that the “dominoes were beginning to fall.” Steve replied, “Not dominoes. Arrows. Today the arrows are beginning to fly!”

I know he’s right, of course. They ARE arrows and it’s super exciting to watch them fly.

But I have to be honest, it sure does seem like dominoes at times. All of a sudden, I find myself looking around and thinking, “Where is everyone? Is this everyone I’m supposed to have?”

What used to be a family of continual expansion and growth is becoming a shrinking family right before my eyes. My older ones are gone more and more often, as working jobs and other various pursuits call them out of the home. Joshua just left for college again. Ethan’s graduation is coming up this spring and his sights are set on university as well. Some afternoons lately, I find myself at home with only four children. (That’s a 50% decrease!) All this is as it should be and it brings such joy to my heart to see them spreading their wings.I am writing this, not really to disagree with my husband 😉, but to encourage the younger moms who may feel like things keep growing and growing and expanding to the point that they wonder if they are literally going to lose their minds. I’ve been there, and I will never forget the stress and demands of those years. Truly it changed me forever as a person, which I now see as all part of God’s plan.

If you are in the stage of overwhelming growth, I’m here to share with you that before you know it the tables will turn. The scales will tip. The dominoes will begin to fall… or however you want to look at it. So allow yourself to roll gently along through the moments. The crazy, demanding, overwhelming moments. God will get you through every hour crowded with needy little people, every moment of craziness, every long night and stressful day. This stage will not last forever. Take a deep breath, remember not to over-stress, and remind yourself to enjoy the growth, enjoy the decline, enjoy each stage, all as a gift from God’s hand.The quiver may be crowded, but the arrows are sharp and the bow is being drawn!

This new stage I’m finding myself in brings various emotions of course, but overall I’ve been surprised over the past couple years at how quickly the dynamic of life can change. How thankful we should be that they are God’s dominoes and God’s arrows. We can turn to Him as our Rock through all the ups and downs, changes, and seasons of life. ♥