Today.

Today

when I least expected it

my kids somehow grew up

before my very eyes.

I thought I would try letting them

cut out their own pumpkin tops

(after I had drawn the line to follow)

and they just kept going

without looking back

to find out what to do next.

Ben even remembered to tell us that

you have to scoop it out good

just like Jesus cleans all the sin out of us.

Apparently they HAVE been watching and listening.

I never touched Ben's pumpkin.

He was all business

and not to be interrupted.

I did help Bethany just a tad,

(and it was a VERY small tad!)

but the plan was all hers.

Really, who knew that Ben could cut out letters like this...freehand?

Bethany carefully drew and executed her plan.

She cut out her whole cat

all by herself.

And when I was amazed

she gave me a giant hug.

She had also amazed herself.

I did not cry the day my baby went off to first grade.

I did not cry when they were baptized

or when they sang their first solos in children's choir.

But today, as they carved their own pumpkins

and talked about who they wanted to go trick-or-treating with

and did not mention their parents' names

I was tempted. Very tempted.

I took pictures instead.

Because they are still

just as delightful

as when they were really little.

I want to savor the growing up, too.