Endings...and Beginnngs

What is it about endings?  Why are they so hard, even when we have even greater things ahead of us?  A precious phase of our life ended today...the moment we dropped all three of our kids off at school. No more babies or toddlers, no more preschool, no more diapers and sippie cups. And as ridiculous, or cliche as it is...I'm really sad about it. Oh I know...I'll  get over it soon enough. I'll have "my freedom" and will be more productive.  On my days off, I can now drop them off at the load line with my stretchy pants and glasses on, coffee in hand, go straight back home and back to bed if I want (like I'm so sure, there will still be a messy house to deal with, piles of laundry taller than Lia, and groceries to buy...). But right now, in this moment, I don't care about any of that. I loved that part of our family's life. I barely remember how hard it is when they were babies...instead I remember chubby cheeks and slobber kisses. I remember sweet baby cuddles and new milestones reached every day.  So as I drop off all three of my babies today...especially the baby of my babies, I think I'll allow myself to be a little sad. 

And then, I'll remind myself that we've been through much harder things than starting Kindergarten...only 12 weeks ago.  

And I'll remember to be grateful. 

I flash back to 5 and a half years ago... the day we found out about Lia's extensive heart defects. I remember so clearly as we sat in that tiny office talking to Dr Matt Lemler, the one who read her fetal echo, and is now her pediatric cardiologist. I remember him telling us what he thought he saw on the echo (which was spot on correct, by the way) and us dying inside. I remember looking him in the eye and asking him, "What does this mean for our baby's future?  I mean, will our baby live to be 100?"  I remember his answer...  "No.  No she won't... But Mrs Stone, most of us won't live to be 100."  

So there you go.  That uncertainty has never left us.  I think about it every single day. 

 But here's the deal...nothing's for certain. Nothing in this life, anyway. What is certain?  What do we know for sure?  Heaven is certain.  God's promises are certain.  His faithfulness is certain. That's what we can cling to and find comfort in.  And so we do just that. 

Today, our little miracle, Lia Kate Stone starts Kindergarten.  That is a milestone that was never certain for her.  Today, she is healthy and strong. She is full of joy. She is ready.  And we are grateful. 

Thank you, Lord. With tears in my eyes, I can never say Thank You enough....

With these two guys to look after her for the next two years...I think she'll be ok.  I'm thankful for them too.  Let's do this 2013-2014 school year....