5475 Days~15 Years

5475

It's been 5,475 days since I became a mother.

 We've all heard our parents and other adults repeat the same banal words, 

"they grow up too fast." 

Once upon a time that was laughable or at least worthy of a good eye-roll.

 No more. 

 I concede their accuracy. 

They are painfully accurate, 

and those words resound loudly through my ears. 

Mitchel's 15th birthday is today. 

He's so excited. So am I. 

No, 

not because the years have sped by 

and my 21 1/2" newborn son has sprouted

 to an over 6' tall young man, 

but because  he wanted to spend his birthday 

with his dad, brother and me. 

Talk about a fleeting moment. 

I'll take it! 

We visited Williamsburg, VA to play miniature golf at Pirate's Cove, or Argh Putt-Putt as Nichoals calls it. 

The day was perfect starting with lunch at Red, White and Blue Memphis BBQ followed by an hour playing Black Beard's course-we nearly had the place to ourselves. 

Even though we struck out at Nike Outlet for a pair of 15 cleats, all was not a loss. 

Troy took Mitchel back to the sports consignment shop we passed 

and he bought a new Omaha bat for $18 used. 

He'd had his eye on that bat for some time 

but the $200 price tag kept him at a distance.

A quick drive thru at Wendy's for dinner gave way to a beautiful westward 

 drive as we headed back home enjoying the sun setting before us. 

Mitchel smiled and laughed all day long. 

Nicholas loved it  just as much and both of them can't wait to go again. 

It's going to be a tough day to top, 

but I'm willing to give it  try sometime soon.

Soon because I know the days and years are good 

at passing me by unawarely.

The prospect of looking ahead to years 16, 17 and 18 

don't bring a smile to my face right now, 

so I'll stop here 

while I'm happy. 

Happy birthday to my first born, 

Mitchel Troy Henion. 

I'm so richly blessed to have you as a son and part of my life. 

May your 16th year be better for you than any year yet. 

I love you!

5475 Days~15 Years

5475

It's been 5,475 days since I became a mother.

 We've all heard our parents and other adults repeat the same banal words, 

"they grow up too fast." 

Once upon a time that was laughable or at least worthy of a good eye-roll.

 No more. 

 I concede their accuracy. 

They are painfully accurate, 

and those words resound loudly through my ears. 

Mitchel's 15th birthday is today. 

He's so excited. So am I. 

No, 

not because the years have sped by 

and my 21 1/2" newborn son has sprouted

 to an over 6' tall young man, 

but because  he wanted to spend his birthday 

with his dad, brother and me. 

Talk about a fleeting moment. 

I'll take it! 

We visited Williamsburg, VA to play miniature golf at Pirate's Cove, or Argh Putt-Putt as Nichoals calls it. 

The day was perfect starting with lunch at Red, White and Blue Memphis BBQ followed by an hour playing Black Beard's course-we nearly had the place to ourselves. 

Even though we struck out at Nike Outlet for a pair of 15 cleats, all was not a loss. 

Troy took Mitchel back to the sports consignment shop we passed 

and he bought a new Omaha bat for $18 used. 

He'd had his eye on that bat for some time 

but the $200 price tag kept him at a distance.

A quick drive thru at Wendy's for dinner gave way to a beautiful westward 

 drive as we headed back home enjoying the sun setting before us. 

Mitchel smiled and laughed all day long. 

Nicholas loved it  just as much and both of them can't wait to go again. 

It's going to be a tough day to top, 

but I'm willing to give it  try sometime soon.

Soon because I know the days and years are good 

at passing me by unawarely.

The prospect of looking ahead to years 16, 17 and 18 

don't bring a smile to my face right now, 

so I'll stop here 

while I'm happy. 

Happy birthday to my first born, 

Mitchel Troy Henion. 

I'm so richly blessed to have you as a son and part of my life. 

May your 16th year be better for you than any year yet. 

I love you!

I did it, Grandpa-HOME RUN NIGHT!

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Mitchel Henion.

Big M.

Red Helmet.

May 26, 2009.

Clover Hill Athletic Complex.

Yankees Junior team.

Dad & Coach Leon Layne.

6 o'clock game.

Opponents-Diamond Backs.

2 Doubles. 1 Walk.

6 RBI's.

1 HOME RUN!

With the sky threatening an imminent downpour, we head to the fields to get this standing game in and done. The Diamondbacks formally noted after our last meet up that they weren't trying to win and didn't realize it was a standing game. Well, here we meet again-not a ray of sun in the sky.

My son had been having  a great night all around. He's been working hard at the batting cages nearly every day after his workouts, just to get some swings in-he says, just to build back some of his confidence-I say.

Mid way through the game he'd put two doubles under his belt and a walk against 2 of their pitchers. Stepping back up to the plate...

Mitchel blasted a HOME RUN....BEAUTIFUL! It was so exciting to witness. The whole thing was great. The second the ball left the bat, we knew, even before he umpire's hand went up: that one was OUTA HERE! Trotting around the bases, he & his coach on 3rd let out a little collaboration of excitement, his team surrounded him at home plate, fans from the games all around peered to see it, grinning (and grimacing alike) Coaches relived their own baseball years, and some of the other team's parents and coaches waited in the parking lot to congratulate him! What a FUN night. It's late now, but tomorrow night we're taking him out for a celebratory dinner. I am so proud of him chasing that dream and doing the work to make it a reality. I'm so happy for him and he's over the moon! I'm sure he'll sleep all night with that smile glued to his face, if he sleeps at all. Congratulations my Son! I am proud of you and I love you.

I did it, Grandpa-HOME RUN NIGHT!

View Blog View Blog

Mitchel Henion.

Big M.

Red Helmet.

May 26, 2009.

Clover Hill Athletic Complex.

Yankees Junior team.

Dad & Coach Leon Layne.

6 o'clock game.

Opponents-Diamond Backs.

2 Doubles. 1 Walk.

6 RBI's.

1 HOME RUN!

With the sky threatening an imminent downpour, we head to the fields to get this standing game in and done. The Diamondbacks formally noted after our last meet up that they weren't trying to win and didn't realize it was a standing game. Well, here we meet again-not a ray of sun in the sky.

My son had been having  a great night all around. He's been working hard at the batting cages nearly every day after his workouts, just to get some swings in-he says, just to build back some of his confidence-I say.

Mid way through the game he'd put two doubles under his belt and a walk against 2 of their pitchers. Stepping back up to the plate...

Mitchel blasted a HOME RUN....BEAUTIFUL! It was so exciting to witness. The whole thing was great. The second the ball left the bat, we knew, even before he umpire's hand went up: that one was OUTA HERE! Trotting around the bases, he & his coach on 3rd let out a little collaboration of excitement, his team surrounded him at home plate, fans from the games all around peered to see it, grinning (and grimacing alike) Coaches relived their own baseball years, and some of the other team's parents and coaches waited in the parking lot to congratulate him! What a FUN night. It's late now, but tomorrow night we're taking him out for a celebratory dinner. I am so proud of him chasing that dream and doing the work to make it a reality. I'm so happy for him and he's over the moon! I'm sure he'll sleep all night with that smile glued to his face, if he sleeps at all. Congratulations my Son! I am proud of you and I love you.

A Bird's Eye View

It appeared that we'd made it through the storm unscathed. And we did,  the nearby bird was sounding an alarm as her once beautiful song was replaced by a screeching siren. She saw us before we heard her. My sons' excitement when finding tiny aqua eggs scattered across our driveway over took her warble. So beautiful! It was amazing to behold those four delicate eggs, yet we sadly realized that it was their demise that allowed us this opportunity. 

Searching high and low, Mitchel tried to find the nest that once tenderly held these babies safe in its care. Nowhere in sight. I think Momma Bird high on the roof's peak knew, but we couldn't help her. 

Not wanting to drive over the eggs, we collected them up and placed them under a bush. It was the best we could do. My dad always told my brothers and I that a bird would not return to nurture her eggs once it was touched by human hands. Is this true? I don't know, but for my boys it was a good deed done. The eggs were so fragile. Even Nicholas' small hand could easily nestle three of them. On the contrary, showcased in Mitchel's' huge hand, one looked not much bigger than the specs of dirt it collected while rolling across the ground.  But here is where God caused my heart pause.

The second my eyes saw that wee form sit on my son's hand, my heart was flooded with the renewed sense of God's enormity. Unlike the passionate yet helpless momma bird, God's eye view is backed with His ultimate greatness. What a huge relief to know that I never have to worry about being blown about in life to the point that my heavenly father has no choice but to look and me and cry out in hopelessness. No, He is so great that my security in Him is both unassailable and eternal.

John 10:27-30 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one." 

 

A Bird's Eye View

It appeared that we'd made it through the storm unscathed. And we did,  the nearby bird was sounding an alarm as her once beautiful song was replaced by a screeching siren. She saw us before we heard her. My sons' excitement when finding tiny aqua eggs scattered across our driveway over took her warble. So beautiful! It was amazing to behold those four delicate eggs, yet we sadly realized that it was their demise that allowed us this opportunity. 

Searching high and low, Mitchel tried to find the nest that once tenderly held these babies safe in its care. Nowhere in sight. I think Momma Bird high on the roof's peak knew, but we couldn't help her. 

Not wanting to drive over the eggs, we collected them up and placed them under a bush. It was the best we could do. My dad always told my brothers and I that a bird would not return to nurture her eggs once it was touched by human hands. Is this true? I don't know, but for my boys it was a good deed done. The eggs were so fragile. Even Nicholas' small hand could easily nestle three of them. On the contrary, showcased in Mitchel's' huge hand, one looked not much bigger than the specs of dirt it collected while rolling across the ground.  But here is where God caused my heart pause.

The second my eyes saw that wee form sit on my son's hand, my heart was flooded with the renewed sense of God's enormity. Unlike the passionate yet helpless momma bird, God's eye view is backed with His ultimate greatness. What a huge relief to know that I never have to worry about being blown about in life to the point that my heavenly father has no choice but to look and me and cry out in hopelessness. No, He is so great that my security in Him is both unassailable and eternal.

John 10:27-30 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. "I and the Father are one."