The Things I Miss the Most

I sat today and thought about the things that were once a part of my life that I now miss. I miss the daily talks on the phone with my grandmother. I miss watching my grandfather drink coffee while he worked in the yard. I miss my other set of grandparents who left this life before they got to see my sons become teenagers. I miss my sisters and my parents who have moved away but am thankful for daily talks with them. But the thing I miss the most is the house full of boys, running and playing. I miss the TGIF night -eating dinner in front of the TV and then laying on the floor together. I miss playing at the boat park and watching tadpoles develop into frogs. I miss reading story books at bedtime until I fell asleep. I miss fresh picked flowers, brought in by little hands in the spring.  I miss the midnight talks on my bed after Dad got home from work. I miss being so crowed in the bed that I couldn't turn over. I miss baby chicks and quail hatching in the kitchen. I miss sitting on the couch with two small boys on each side as we read about American history. I miss Christmas morning and going outside  on Christmas Eve to listen for the reindeer's bells. BUT I am thankful that these things that I miss have been replaced by 3 friendships that I will always treasure. I am thankful for the phone calls I receive everyday from my 2nd son. For the conversations we have about science and biology. I am thankful for the many "I love you" that I get from  my youngest and I am treasuring this time that he is home again. I am thankful for his safe return from war three times and I thank God that HIS promises held true. I am thankful for my oldest son who beat all odds of being born to teenage parents. I am thankful that my 3 sons are  close to each other. I look back and can't believe how fast time flew by. But I look forward to the future and cherish each day. For I know that this life passes way too fast.