Growing Pains

Growing pains are in full force around the Mondragon casa.  Sadly, it is not the children experiencing any growing pains (at least that they're telling me).  It is the mama.  My babies are growing so fast and it literally pains my heart.  Some of it may be stemmed from my own selfish desire to control and protect, but I love these precious little hands that still need cleaning, feet that need shoes, noses that need wiping, plates that need to be filled, cups that need refilling, dresses that need to be buttoned, and even bottoms that need changing -- I think you get my gist.

Juliana, my 4 going on 21 year old, has of late become OBSESSED with getting married and all that follows.  Here is what our conversations look like most days:
Mom, when I get big I am going to marry Jamison.
Will I have a house? (yes, hopefully)  What will I do in my house? (dust, wash clothes, make beds, make dinner, wash dishes, vacuum, mop, ....)
What else will I have to do in my house?
Where will we live? (how about next to mom and dad?) No, I want to live out in Georgia by the beautiful sandy beaches.
And so on and so on .... EVERY single day now.  We also discuss babies and cars.

In addition, she has become quite a helper to me.  She gets in these moods where all she wants to do is help me clean or get ready.  Last night, she changed Addie and Breck's clothes (and his diaper), fixed their taco for dinner, and then made sure they ate their food.  I also overheard her the other morning *reading* the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac to the others (I guess she does listen after all).  After that, she stood in the middle, held their hands, and they each took a turn praying.  She may just work me out of MY job.

I really do love seeing these little souls change and develop, but it certainly keeps me on my knees and reminds me of the frailty of life.  It pains me because I know my time with them is so short.  It pains me because in spite of my best efforts and my set boundaries, their lives are in the hands of the Father.  No one warned me about these growing pains.