When did this happen?

So when did this happen that my first born is about to become a part of the youth group at church? I thought that was for teenagers! Oh wait, he IS almost a teenager. But wasn't it just a couple of years ago that he started kindergarten? And last month that he was in fourth grade and had to have his appendix taken out? No?

Wow! At the risk of sounding trite, "they grow up too fast!"

Yesterday, Kouba, the youth minister at our church, called to tell me that they are going to kidnap the incoming 7th graders Saturday morning. They will be here about 7:00 a.m. to surprise Nathan. He leaves with them, in his pajamas (note to self: Have Nathan wear pajamas!). They will be going to another kids house for initiation, of sorts, and then out to eat at IHOP.

I am so excited for him, it's all I can do not to tell him. But knowing Nathan, if he knew in advance, he would talk himself out of going. So my hope is that he will just go with the flow, and not have time to think about it.

I remember when Charlton, my niece, first sat with the youth group one Sunday morning at church, instead of with us, I cried realizing how fast she was growing up. And now she is expecing her first child. It gets past you too quickly. You realize that the days of teaching and making impressions on their hearts are slipping away.

I've really been struggling with church lately. I don't have the energy to get everyone ready in the mornings, or maybe that's just an excuse. I can't let this time slip away. I take for granted that the kids know what I knew about God at those ages, but I don't think they do. I have been remiss in guiding them and have been inconsistent in church attendance these last couple of years. If you are a believer, please say a prayer for us. I need strength and determination to keep this family on track with God. I think I have been sort of waiting for Steve to take the lead since he became a Christian, but he's not there yet. I still need to be a constant support and example for him, and I have been sorely lacking in that.

I love my church family, and I miss them.