AGE

Once upon a time I said I wanted to be done with child-bearing by the age of thirty.

I had visions of being a young (er) parent, like the generations before me.

However, I married later than they and thus got a later start...

Plus, Mike and I have never really experienced married life "alone" as our oldest is a honeymoon baby.  I thought it might be nice to have that "alone" time later on and still be "young" enough..

So much for MY plans, huh? 

It is true in a sense that age is just a number.. our youngest was born well into my thirties and we wouldn't trade him for anything.

As I look at things now, I see huge blessings in having the age gap from the eldest to youngest.

People often will say things to the tune of "Wow!  It must be so hard" etc. etc. etc. but to be honest, as the older ones get older, the baby years get "easier" as I have more helpers around to do various tasks.

(Notice, I did NOT say everything is easier..whats the phrase?  "Little kids, little problems" and vice versa).  No longer do I have to do EVERYTHING by myself.  I can have one of the big kids run and switch a load of laundry or get lunch together or rock the baby as necessary.  

It is beautiful to see the older kids interacting with the little one.  It is truly a joy.  I also hear about all these empty-nesters who mourn the loss of the noise and chaos and people...With a bigger age span, it is highly unlikely we will have the fast and furious mass exodus that my parents had, for example.  Even if the all the big kids move out within a couple of years of one another, I'll still have the littles around for a bit longer to get us used to the idea.  God's Word calls children a gift.  So, while we may never get that alone time while we are yet "spring chickens," we are surrounded by tangible gifts and olive plants round about our table.