Changes

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about life and all the changes that happen. Just looking around we have one of the most beautiful changes happening around us, Autumn. The leaves are changing and nature is preparing itself for the next season. Isn't that so much like we do?c Constantly preparing for the next season in life? Whether it be children growing, changing friendships or the dynamics of our neighborhoods, life is constantly changing. We have lived in this neighborhood for eleven years now and really there have not been very many changes. Sure we have gained a new home behind us, the neighbors girls have grown and moved out to start their own adult lives and one is going to be having a baby in a few months, the trees have gotten significantly bigger and yes, we have added 5 kids since moving in. But one change that I have been noticing the most lately is the elderly neighbors. We moved into a neighborhood where there were several "older" families and not very many young ones at all. Several years ago the spunky man across the street passed away and this spring another man kitty corner from us passed on. There is an elderly couple across the street that have been in poor health the last few years and currently he is in the hospital. The sweet little old lady whose husband passed a few years ago fell and broke her hip a year and a half ago, her family has been going through the house and cleaning things out to prepare to sell it. The dynamics of our quiet little neighborhood will change a lot depending on who buys it. I secretly hope it is a nice family with kids around some of my kids ages, especially Jarrett. Boys are scarce around here.
Another big change has been my children, where has the time gone (and this year has been fast) Jeni is 19, Jarrett will be 11 in a few months and he has changed so much in appearance and attitude. Gabi will be 7 in March and is changing a lot, she has lost a couple teeth and is a very good helper with Eliza and loves to be a girl. Gretchen will be 5 in March (which seriously is only 5 months away?) that is a whole hand. Yikes! She seems to be trying so hard to be a good helper with Eliza as well, however she has not found her grace yet and Eliza is too big for her to help in the ways she wants to. Elliott will be, gulp, 3 in 8 weeks. He is a blast and has an awesome imagination. And little Miss Eliza, she is almost 8 months old already, really? How can that be? I just had her a couple weeks ago. She has changed so much in appearance and is doing as all babies do, growing and learning new things. I want to freeze time, maybe on a warmer day though.