Riding Bicycles and Being Free

I purposely did not write yesterday so I could gather more significant events to write about. Actually, I ws just plain busy. My day started out great: kids all were ready for church on time, so for the first time in a long time, we weren't tardy to Sunday School. The service was really nice and peaceful. Jim sang a solo and I played three songs. I have always been curious about a few things in regard to church and ettiquite while in church. I want to know if it's ok for me to laugh when my kids do something funny during services...not like an out and out belly laugh, but a chuckle. Has that happened to any of you? Yesterday, while in church, right in the middle of a pretty serious part I looked over at Megan. She and Robby didn't get home the night before until 3:30 am.....(her dad had a talk with her about that) and she didn't have the energy or time to shower before church, so her hair was super curly, residual from "Annie" . I looked at her and she was dozing, ever time her head would fall and jerk a little, her hair would bounce back a second or two after her head did. It was really funny. Well, just when I laughed/ actually chuckled, the pastor caught me. I felt like I was eight years old again and was getting busted for singing my version of "Glory, Glory, Halelluya"...that's another story.
After church we went to a pancake feed at Holy Name Catholic Church that was sponsored by the Boy Scout troop in which Robby, Andrew, and Nathaniel belong. I was so happy to "not" have to cook. I am amazed at the amount of time and energy that goes into being a Boy Scout. When I was younger I was a "Juniorette" and had a great amount of fun. I don't think I was in this group very long, but did enjoy the time that I spent with the other girls. My mom's cousin, Mary Huber, was our leader and she always had crafts for us to make. I think the juniorettes were the Catholic Church's version of the "Girl Scout" I really don't remember.
After taking a long nap I ventured outside to watch Anabelle ride her bike, with no help. She is very proud of this accomplishment. As I stood there, taking pictures, I thought..."this is it, this is the last child that we will teach to ride a bike. This is our last child to accomplish this great milestone. And,,,I have to tell you, it made me sad. After all these years, she's the last one. Dave is all grown and is doing his own thing, Meg is getting ready to start on her own, Robby is in high school, Andrew not far behind, and my Nathaniel is in the 5th grade. Where does all the time go? Seeing Anabelle on her bike brought back a lot of memories. Memories of my kids, but also memories of my childhood. I remember the day that my dad brought me a bicycle to my Nana's house and how he took the training wheels off. I remember that fear of falling and the jumpy feeling in my chest each time I started to tip. I also remember my dad being there to catch me incase I fell. When I watched Anabelle, I thought, "She's so much braver than I was." She chased Bob and me off and kept telling us, "I can do it by myself" I don't need help, but thankyou". I wish she needed our help a little bit more.
I think I started readlly thinking about the kids growing up when I saw a couple at the pancake feed. The Foley's, they have older children that are our children's ages and we have participated in a lot of sports, theatre, etc, with them, and they have a new baby. Their next youngest is in junior high, obviously a Big suprise. He is now about 6 months old. I watched them with the baby and thought.....Boy am I glad that's not me! That was the first time that I really felt that way and meant it! In the past I had wanted to hold friend's babies or Bob would ask if I wanted another baby. I can honestly say..."I am so glad that God gave us what He did". Seeing Anabelle ride her bike and knowing that she is the last, was actually a good thing. I have to remember to cherish and savour thhose "first/last" moments of her life. And I think it's ok to chuckle in church every now and then. I think God was probably laughing, too, when witnessing Meg's bobble hair. Isn't this what a part of being free is all about? Well, have a great today!
Love you!
Mary