The Ending of an Era

Eighteen years ago this morning, a child was born to us.....a son. He had tried to come 16 weeks early, but through medication, bedrest, and much prayer, we were able to hold him off for another 12 weeks. He was born to us.......a healthy baby boy. I remember my dad holding him in the delivery room and saying, "Boy is he a dandy!!" (He said that with Tim too!) A lot has happened over the past 18 years.....too much to write here. But Ethan has grown to be a fine young man with exceptional integrity, work ethics, morals, values, and a close relationship with God. I am very proud of the young man that he has become. On June 1, 2008, Ethan graduated with honors from West Branch High School. It is the ending of an era. He is the baby (even though he's 6'1" and 220 pounds....the biggest of the litter). Our lives will change now. No more football. No more track. No more school activities. No more late night suppers. We can actually go on vacations in the summer!! It will be different in our house. All of the children are now adults. I am a little sad at the passing of childhood, but I am excited to see where God takes them on their paths in life. I am excited to see God's plans for them fulfilled in their lives. I can't wait to see how this all pans out. God has been good to us. He has blessed us immensely with three wonderful children. My prayer is that they pass on their heritage to their children and their children's children. Steve Green expressed my desire in the following verses:

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift though all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find