These pics make me sad. There's nothing more these days that tug at my heartstrings than knowing my kids are one step closer to leaving the nest. Oh sure....I've have bad days, as a mom, we all do, but if I could, honestly, I'd keep them home forever!
Tawnya, I understand, completely, where you're coming from. But, I want to encourage you by saying there's also nothing better than seeing your children grow into lovely, good, God-honoring young men and women. I hate that my oldest is no longer at home, daily, but what a joy it is to watch him become a man...a good man. I have prayed and prayed that my sons would grow in stature, in wisdom, and in favor of God and man over the years, and, knock on wood (and thank the Lord!) they both appear to be answered prayer. Hang in there! And, hug those punks as much as possible, because the time flies, as Donna's pictures so eloquently show. :), E.
Catching up here - as moms we are "working our way out of a job" for sure. A successful launch of a great young adult is a WONDERFUL thing. But bittersweet for sure.
I keep trying to put into words how I feel about this season of my last child growing up, and I find it so complicated. It is a strange thing to be overcome with such joy, pride (in the good sense), sadness and loss of control.
But ready or not, time is flying by. And I know deep down that that is a very good thing. Deep, deep down (-:
Your children are absolutely adorable.
And you were new to Madison in 2001? When did you start on the WTM boards? 2000 or 2001 is when I started there. You had to be pretty close to that. I didn't remember that you were new to your area at the time.
I started on the boards in about 1999. As soon as I got the book. It was before I had Katie and before we moved to Madison. When I moved to Madison and went to a homeschool meeting, AmyJ came up to me and said.... "donnabooshay I know all about you." It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
Oh, that's really fun. And how did I not know that AmyJ was on the boards? I know her from the QLCS, but not from WTM. When I count the friendships I made on that board, it is quite amazing.
MY friend has that verse in her daughter's room. We actually used it for one of Rebekah's birthday party favors. It was a tea party as I recall. I love your old shots.
Oh sweet little Katie! Your little caboose. We love our baby sister (ok not a baby anymore) so much. The only thing she'd probably say is that her three older sisters are a little...ahem...mothering at times.
Loved the videos yesterday! Made me laugh!
Sarah P. from it's freezing and sunny in Iowa (Last year it was in the 80's and we mowed the yard....I'll think about that tomorrow)
I adore that bible verse. I have an only child, and each day gets harder to watch him grow so quickly. I just have to keep in my heart that he will one day be an amazing man that I will be proud of.
Alright. Thank you. I shall stop moaning when I look in the mirror these days. If I don't like what I see, I will work on my inner Spirit and not my make-up. This is a very timely reminder!
love this post, though it makes me want to cry... because my little ones (nearly 8 and 5) are growing up so stinking fast and I just want it to slow down a bit! Weird considering those first years with both I was ready for them to HURRY UP AND SLEEP THRU THE NIGHT!
Your beauty shines through every one of your posts. Love that picture of Katie. I feel I know you and your family and thought to myself, "My how she has grown." Such pretty girls.
Donna, Love, love, love the photo and the expression on tiny Katie's face.
I often have a hard time letting go and dealing with change like my kids growing up. I read a touching, funny book this week, "Until I Say Good-Bye" by a woman living with ALS. She quotes Dr. Seuss, and the quote has stayed with me all day: "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." You help me stay present in my life every day and to celebrate the joy to be find in now. Thanks, Donna. :)
I love that picture of your kids! Your daughters are lovely, and it starts on the inside. I have read Emma's blog too, and she is so thoughtful and grounded (and getting more so all the time). What a great thing to see your children grow into young adults like that. :) Sometimes I forget to trust God, and I get scared for my kids' futures. The world is so crazy. Then I remember that I have to trust, and hope. :)
Happy Anniversary to you and your home in Madison where Katie has grown into a lovely person with a smile that lights up our days here at the QLCS. So very thankful for you and your family! love and prayers, jep
I've been reading your blog for a while now, but haven't commented before now. I found my way here through The Pioneer Woman a while ago, and then when I saw something you had posted about the Madison area and the VATC (I think that's what it's called) I just had to come back! I live in Milwaukee but have a family friend who lives in Stoughton and has been involved with the Verona area theater stuff for many years. She's been in productions but has, of late, mostly been doing work with costumes.
Anyway, I have a silly little comment to make about your adorable picture. Well really my comment is that it reminded me of the picture from Back to the Future...you know, the one that Marty has of his disappearing siblings. I googled the picture from the movie, and of course, the resemblance is iffy. Maybe except for the greenery in the background!
I'm a very new photographer, who'd love to improve, and desperately needs some tutoring. Know any good tutors in Milwaukee? Otherwise, a trip to Madison may not be out of the realm of possibility!
I'm trying hard to enjoy this fleeting moment that one friend of mine referred to as 'the golden season' - no one is in diapers and no one is yet driving. I don't love the chaos and relentlessness of it, even still.... I think some women are more intuitively wired for this than others... but I am fully aware of how much I will miss it when it is done and they are gone. Trying to learn to appreciate each moment and season as fully as possible!
These pics make me sad. There's nothing more these days that tug at my heartstrings than knowing my kids are one step closer to leaving the nest. Oh sure....I've have bad days, as a mom, we all do, but if I could, honestly, I'd keep them home forever!
ReplyDeleteI would too. But I can't.
DeleteIt is my biggest regret that I ever let them leave the house.
Tawnya,
DeleteI understand, completely, where you're coming from. But, I want to encourage you by saying there's also nothing better than seeing your children grow into lovely, good, God-honoring young men and women. I hate that my oldest is no longer at home, daily, but what a joy it is to watch him become a man...a good man.
I have prayed and prayed that my sons would grow in stature, in wisdom, and in favor of God and man over the years, and, knock on wood (and thank the Lord!) they both appear to be answered prayer.
Hang in there! And, hug those punks as much as possible, because the time flies, as Donna's pictures so eloquently show.
:),
E.
Thanks Elizabeth!! More and more I find myself singing Cher's "If I could turn back time!"
DeleteCatching up here - as moms we are "working our way out of a job" for sure. A successful launch of a great young adult is a WONDERFUL thing. But bittersweet for sure.
DeleteDonna, what a beautiful family you have! On the inside and out! Happy Wednesday. ♥
ReplyDeleteThank you Gayle! So nice of you to say!
DeleteI don't think Katie was much bigger than that when I first met you both in the nursery at FLAME. And I have to say, I fell in love with both of you :)
ReplyDeleteThis was the year we moved here!
DeleteWe fell in love with you too!
I keep trying to put into words how I feel about this season of my last child growing up, and I find it so complicated. It is a strange thing to be overcome with such joy, pride (in the good sense), sadness and loss of control.
ReplyDeleteBut ready or not, time is flying by. And I know deep down that that is a very good thing. Deep, deep down (-:
Your children are absolutely adorable.
And you were new to Madison in 2001? When did you start on the WTM boards? 2000 or 2001 is when I started there. You had to be pretty close to that. I didn't remember that you were new to your area at the time.
It is raining here! Yahoo! Rain Girl is happy.
Love to you,
Di
I started on the boards in about 1999. As soon as I got the book. It was before I had Katie and before we moved to Madison.
ReplyDeleteWhen I moved to Madison and went to a homeschool meeting, AmyJ came up to me and said....
"donnabooshay I know all about you."
It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
Oh, that's really fun. And how did I not know that AmyJ was on the boards? I know her from the QLCS, but not from WTM. When I count the friendships I made on that board, it is quite amazing.
DeleteDi
MY friend has that verse in her daughter's room. We actually used it for one of Rebekah's birthday party favors. It was a tea party as I recall. I love your old shots.
ReplyDeleteOh sweet little Katie! Your little caboose.
ReplyDeleteWe love our baby sister (ok not a baby anymore) so much. The only thing she'd probably say is that her three older sisters are a little...ahem...mothering at times.
Loved the videos yesterday! Made me laugh!
Sarah P. from it's freezing and sunny in Iowa (Last year it was in the 80's and we mowed the yard....I'll think about that tomorrow)
The first picture is wonderful ! Katie is so little compared to your three oldest children ! I love this photo :)
ReplyDeleteI adore that bible verse.
ReplyDeleteI have an only child, and each day gets harder to watch him grow so quickly. I just have to keep in my heart that he will one day be an amazing man that I will be proud of.
Beautiful Bouchers! Baby Katie looks just like a doll.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this verse. And thank you for sharing the beauty within you daily on this blog.
Love you. Mean it.
Mary Z
Alright. Thank you. I shall stop moaning when I look in the mirror these days. If I don't like what I see, I will work on my inner Spirit and not my make-up. This is a very timely reminder!
ReplyDeletelove this post, though it makes me want to cry... because my little ones (nearly 8 and 5) are growing up so stinking fast and I just want it to slow down a bit! Weird considering those first years with both I was ready for them to HURRY UP AND SLEEP THRU THE NIGHT!
ReplyDeleteYour beauty shines through every one of your posts. Love that picture of Katie. I feel I know you and your family and thought to myself, "My how she has grown." Such pretty girls.
ReplyDeleteDonna,
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love the photo and the expression on tiny Katie's face.
I often have a hard time letting go and dealing with change like my kids growing up. I read a touching, funny book this week, "Until I Say Good-Bye" by a woman living with ALS. She quotes Dr. Seuss, and the quote has stayed with me all day: "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
You help me stay present in my life every day and to celebrate the joy to be find in now. Thanks, Donna. :)
{{{LIKE}}} jep
Delete{{{LIKE }}} too!!!!
DeleteI love that picture of your kids! Your daughters are lovely, and it starts on the inside. I have read Emma's blog too, and she is so thoughtful and grounded (and getting more so all the time). What a great thing to see your children grow into young adults like that. :) Sometimes I forget to trust God, and I get scared for my kids' futures. The world is so crazy. Then I remember that I have to trust, and hope. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary to you and your home in Madison where Katie has grown into a lovely person with a smile that lights up our days here at the QLCS. So very thankful for you and your family! love and prayers, jep
ReplyDeleteYour girls are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI have 4 girls, ages 29, 17, 15, and 13. The three younger ones are always taking pictures together and they are best friends.
Last summer I got a few really great photos of all four girls together, priceless!
I've been reading your blog for a while now, but haven't commented before now. I found my way here through The Pioneer Woman a while ago, and then when I saw something you had posted about the Madison area and the VATC (I think that's what it's called) I just had to come back! I live in Milwaukee but have a family friend who lives in Stoughton and has been involved with the Verona area theater stuff for many years. She's been in productions but has, of late, mostly been doing work with costumes.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have a silly little comment to make about your adorable picture. Well really my comment is that it reminded me of the picture from Back to the Future...you know, the one that Marty has of his disappearing siblings. I googled the picture from the movie, and of course, the resemblance is iffy. Maybe except for the greenery in the background!
I'm a very new photographer, who'd love to improve, and desperately needs some tutoring. Know any good tutors in Milwaukee? Otherwise, a trip to Madison may not be out of the realm of possibility!
Thanks for your blog!
I'm trying hard to enjoy this fleeting moment that one friend of mine referred to as 'the golden season' - no one is in diapers and no one is yet driving. I don't love the chaos and relentlessness of it, even still.... I think some women are more intuitively wired for this than others... but I am fully aware of how much I will miss it when it is done and they are gone. Trying to learn to appreciate each moment and season as fully as possible!
ReplyDelete