Growing Pains

by Cindy R. Williams

I sit in the dark in our hotel room in Show Low. My three sons and their father are all snoring lightly after a long day snow boarding.

I smiled at them as they laughed as they groaned about their aching muscles. They loved their "man" day today while I sat at the window writing for most of the day, with a lovely view of snowy mountains.

As I write this, my eyes blur. As in the Lord of the Rings series, the "Fellowship of the Williams Five" will become the "Williams Four" tomorrow. My oldest son will be leaving a week early for BYU Provo to visit a friend in Idaho to go mountain climbing before school starts. It has been glorious to have all three of my sons around this past year.

I wipe away tears now as I continue. More rapid change is coming. The "Fellowship of the Williams Four" ends February 6 when my second son leaves for the MTC for his two year mission to the Texas Dallas Mission.

At one time, it was the "Fellowship of the Williams Seven" that is before my two daughters married. Soon it will be the "Fellowship of the Williams Three" for about six years, until our youngest leaves for his mission. From Seven in the home to three. That is a hard reality to swallow right now.

All I know is that it is very painful to go through these changes as our children grow and leave the nest. I am one that had a hard time each year school started. I love my children home.

Hard as this is, however, I truly wouldn't have it any other way.  Each of my children has a great love for the Lord and are going about their lives under His direction.

Although my heart is full of thanks to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to mother them for these all to short years, my heart aches. This must be the meaning of bitter sweet.

May I leave one little tidbit of advice to all you mother's with your children still gathered around your knee?  Hug them often and enjoy each moment even thought you are tired. Make wonderful memories. It is gone all too quickly.