Growing Up...

I am having an emotional day today for some reason. It started back when Toy Story 3 came out... you know at the end where Andy is giving his toys to the little girl? Well, this triggered a very emotional nerve in me again last night as we watched it on TV...

 Our oldest (Alex, 12) had a bear that he named "Grizz" that he got at his sister's 3rd birthday party at Build-A-Bear workshop almost 7 years ago. All of our kids have one of these special bears, including Ashlyn. Grizz sat on Alex's bed in his Orlando Magic outfit for years. He went to school for teddy bear picnics and on other various trips. Well, last year our neighbors were having garage sales and our kids wanted to know if they could sell some stuff too. So Alex came out and put a box of his toys in our neighbors driveway. Apparently someone was inquiring about the teddy bear in that box and so my neighbor yelled over to Alex asking how much he wanted for his bear. Alex wasn't sure and so he asked me. I said, "Are you sure you want to sell Grizz???" He said, "Well, I don't know..." I told him it was his decision. So he went next door to collect his profits from the gal and off she went... looking quite happy. Alex came back over to me and said, "I had a lot of good times with Grizz. Now he can go on and give someone else good times." :(
He says he didn't mean to put Grizz in the box. I think he was regretting the decision even before the girl pulled away from the curb, but he was afterall 11-years-old. It was one of those great decision moments. He was growing up. If I had had enough time to ponder the idea, I'd have said "no way!" But we were busy that day and I felt like it was his decision to make. I had to let him make it on his own. UGH. We all went to see Toy Story 3 together as a family when it came out at the theater. Averleigh was a baby and slept the entire time. We all thought about Grizz at the end of the movie and my not-so-sappy husband and I were both in tears. Not for the silly bear so much, as the time that flies by. Our kids only stay little for a short time and then something happens overnight and they aren't so little anymore. Last night I was realizing that again. I'm about to be the mother of a teenager. 2 teenagers!!! One who I've had the amazing privelage of raising his whole little life and one who is a great hope growing in our hearts. It hasn't been easy. Our firstborn is strong-willed to the core, but tender as a little lamb. He is wildly protective and fiercely courageous. Fittingly his name means, "defender of mankind". The Lord gave us that name, as He has of all our children, and I know He intends to see it through. I am so thankful today for my sweet Alexander Benjamin. I think I will kidnap him from school one day soon and take him to Build-A-Bear... Just me and him. He's still my little boy and he needs another Grizz! Well, ok, I need another Grizz.:)