10 years

Karin and I were emailing earlier and figured out that she had met Bubba about 10 years ago when he sang in a Mother's Day Children's Choir at our church that she had directed. We were not new to the Parish, but with two small children, and a third on the way, had just started to get more involved. Shortly after that, Karin and I started taking classes to join the Catholic Church. My third child was born days before the classes started, so he came with me to every class. A definite conversation point. I got to know Karin and her husband and friend during the classes, and after our classes were over, I started singing with their choir. In the years that I've been singing with them, Karin and I have become quite close. She's the godmother of my 4th child and I of her LG. Her husband remodeled my house and employed my son. we've shared a lot together. And Bubba, whom she firs met 10 years ago, as a 7 year old second grader, is graduating from high school in 6 weeks.

I was thinking how different my life is than it was 10 years ago. The obvious, including another child and a house. And the not so obvious at first glance. The changes inside my heart and in my spirit. 10 years ago I was still in my 20's, although barely. My outlook has changed a lot. I'm less judgemental. I've gone through more. I've lost both of my grandparents, who were rocks in my not always easy life.

I wonder what 10 more years will bring. 10 years from now, my children will be 27, 23, 19 and 16. I'll have been married for nearly a quarter of a century. It's somewhat likely I'll be a grandparent. My 40's will be nearly over. My mother will be in her early 70's, but my in-laws will be almost in their 80's. What will my inner changes be like? What will I be doing with my life? 10 years feels like it's flown by, but at the same time, so much has happened. What an adventure...