Nothing makes you realize how quickly time flies by more than watching your children grow. It is a phrase that my father has said to me many times, and now that my kids are the ages they are, it all makes sense. Holly and I have been blessed with three wonderful children. Most of the time, anyway. I mean, c'mon...they're teenagers! But as each one grows, matures, and continues to turn into the person they were meant to be, I can't help but sit back and savor the little moments I get to share with them. Someday they'll realize just how special they were.

Ryan Brainard
Ryan Brainard
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It seems like all I get are little moments with Chase. But he is 18 years old. He is a senior with a job, a girlfriend, and finally one eye on the future. He loves hanging out with his friends, but he will still make some time to chat with his old man. Seeing how much he has grown as a man this past year gives me hope. Not that I didn't have hope for him. But it's as if all those talks about responsibility and money and his future finally sunk in. I'm not sure where he'll be after he graduates. It could be a four-year school, or he could still be living at home as he pursues other avenues. But I know I'm going to miss him dearly when he leaves.

Simply Sage Photography
Simply Sage Photography
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Stuck in the middle. That is Carly. Our hopeless romantic who wears her heart on her sleeve. You never wonder what Carly is thinking or feeling. You can sense it. Carly and I share many personality traits. We both love music. So much so that we're going to see Taylor Swift together next summer. She loves to read as I did at her age. And she has her sights set high. She is an eternal optimist. But like others her age, sometimes life can get her down. I always tell her that she can't be blue for too long because her light is so bright. When it shines on us, we're better for it. I look forward to her light every day.

Ryan Brainard
Ryan Brainard
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Being the youngest means sometimes being forgotten. Not our Cayleigh. She will not sit quietly in the corner! She is up and in your face and ready to have some fun! She too has grown so much this year. She shares her sister's passion for reading. She also discovered that she loves volleyball. As the youngest, Cayleigh has always been around. But now she is going to games with friends and hanging out after school. She is experiencing freedom for the first time, and she likes it. I love our little moments together, but I just adore watching her and her sister too. It is a bond that will last their entire lifetime.

I will often mention to my dad that I truly am feeling 'old' now that I have kids this age. His response is always, how do you think that makes me feel? He is right, of course. He doesn't have a son about to graduate high school as he did back in 1993. His son now has a son that is about to graduate from high school in 2023.

Father time is undefeated, indeed. Thank you for the little moments.

 

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