Today I am so thankful for just being a mom. I love watching my kids grow up and become people of their own. It’s like slowly unwrapping a Christmas gift.

At first you get “It’s a boy!” and uncover what color eyes they have, whose nose they inherited and how long their toes are.

As the weeks and months slip by, you notice their little personality quirks – strong wills about sleeping or not sleeping, favorite positions, and funny facial expressions.

So many qualities that I see in my kids now as teenagers, I’ve seen in them since they were infants!

My oldest entered the world on his terms. He came by surprise (but not emergency) C-section, flipping over the plans of his carefully planned, all-natural mother. As if that wasn’t enough, when it came time to nurse, he preferred to have a plastic bottle. Even the lactation nurse was baffled!

One of my family members summed it up after she spent the morning trying to help him nurse – “It’s like he doesn’t want to.”

Is that even possible? Does an infant have a want-to? Mine did! And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I know where those genes came from, ‘cause I wear the same brand!

Then my daughter was born. Precious baby girl born two days after Christmas. From day one I could tell she was different than my first. She took to nursing like a pro, snuggled next to me and loved the company of people.

When she was about 5 and her brother a little over 7, I decided they were big enough to stay in their rooms in the morning until 7:00. I am not a morning person, so this would help me ease into the day better.

I remember one night before they both went to bed, I rehearsed the 7:00 rule. Caleb, the oldest understood perfectly. We had a camera monitor in his room and would watch him look at the clock before exiting, making sure it was 7:00. Mackenzie on the other hand…not so much.

She looked at me that evening and said, “What does 7:00 even mean anyway?”

Then there’s my youngest. Zach. The jokester of the bunch. I introduced him to a friend one time and he proudly proclaimed, “I’m the spicer of the family!” He meant he liked spicy foods, but how he said it was truthful too.

At 2 years old he made up his first knock-knock joke. It went like this: Knock-knock. Who’s there? Chicken. Chicken who? Chicken bathtub!

To which he cracked up! The funny thing is taking a bath was one of his favorite things as a little tyke. I couldn’t say the word bath until I was ready to run the water! Otherwise he ran into the bathroom, grabbed the drain plug and insisted, Bath! Bath! Bath! Bath!

As I watch them all grow up, I’m so proud and thankful for each one. It’s a gift I keep unwrapping as the years go by. One of my prayers for them has been that they would understand how God made them and use the gifts and talents He’s given them.

So as I watch Caleb make his knives, I see that same strong will at work in a positive way. He doesn’t quit until he figures it out and achieves the goal!

As I watch Mackenzie sing, I see her words and presence touch and encourage people no matter what time of day it is.

And as I watch Zach stand up and make people smile, I smile and praise God for the gifts He so freely gives.

These kids are not mine to hold onto. They are mine to raise for a time with the goal of training them to be their own person. They will raise their own families one day, and work at their own job and repeat this process called life. I consider it a great privilege and honor to watch God grow them up.

Those first 5 years sure felt like 20, but today the years are flying by. I am so thankful for the time I have with each one!

There really is “no greater joy than to see my children walking in truth.” Truth of how God made them.