It dawned on me recently that Evan is basically mid-way between birth and high school graduation. That is a rather sobering, though exciting, thought. It all happens way too quickly, though. What seems to drag on forever as kids (childhood) is but a fleeting moment from this parent's perspective.

I have seen a lot of changes in Evan recently. He seems more caring and interested in others. He seems to be developing passions and interests which I think will carry him throughout his life. Those are exciting, neat things ... and I am particularly excited because I feel he is already on a faith journey where he will discover his "God-call" and pursue it the way that we're called to.

But it all makes me a little wistful ...

The little baby in him is long gone. Except for memories, gone is the baby who stiffened hard as a board and screamed when he needed fed. Gone is the little "jumpy guy" who would bounce for long periods in a chair hung from the doorway. Gone is the baby who never cared at all if he had a wet or dirty diaper. Gone is the baby who slept face-down by holding his hands under his chest, tucking his knees under his body, and sticking his little baby butt up in the air. (Though we do occasionally still catch him in that general position!) Gone is the baby who learned the alphabet when he was just barely a year old.

Gone, too, is the toddler who went around with one shoe on, the other shoe off. Just a memory is the tike with no modesty who would run through the house as "Captain Underpants" ... often without his underpants. Gone is the little guy who taught himself to read at age three and was doing addition and subtraction problems to boot. Gone are the countless hours of playing board games with him, one after another (usually Monopoly). Gone is the kid who needed his mom and dad for everything and whose world revolved around us.

More and more, as I look at him even at age eight (almost nine!), I am seeing the young man appear. And I like what I see. A young man who cares for others. A young man who is developing passions and interests. A young man who is academically gifted beyond his understanding. A young man becoming increasingly interested in the challenges of this world. A young man with friends who he cares about, and they about him. A young man with a true gift for music and in particular rhythms and playing the piano. A young man who is growing to be tall and strong and handsome.

It is hard to think about ... it brings tears to my eyes. His mom and I love him more than he will ever realize. You hate letting go of the baby and the toddler but ultimately Evan is God's child, not ours. (Although Lisa, after 27 hours of labor, may have disputed that!) I just pray that we give him the foundation that God wants him to have ... and I thank God for the blessing that is ... Evan.