Turning 5 and the Start of a New Book

As we tucked the kids in bed tonight it was a little bitter sweet. It was their last night as four year olds. They are excited about waking up and being five years old tomorrow morning, and I am too...kind of. 

The thing is, I've been wishing them older a lot the last 2 years. But now that they are getting there I just don't know that I'm ready for it. I'm going to get real honest here for a minute... ages three and four have been a little tough, or should I say rough. There has been a lot of fighting, yelling, screaming, crying, pleading, begging and praying, and I'm not talking about all these thing coming from just the kids either. :) It's been a trying couple of years. But there has also been a lot of growing, caring, sharing, learning, loving, forgiving, and praying going on these last two years too. The fact is my babies will be finishing up preschool this spring and after a summer full of fun, fights, and travels they will be starting kindergarten in the fall. KINDERGARTEN! A part of me wants to jump up and down singing praises to the Lord for making it this far, but then the other part of me just keeps saying, "Kindergarten...how did this happen!" And I know what some of you might be saying, "Kindergarten, that is still five months away!" 

I feel like them turning 5 isn't just a new chapter but the start of a new book. As for the ending of this first book, I would have to say that the last four years have been the most exhausting of my life. Not just physically, but emotionally, and mentally as well. Everyday has been full of ups and downs. But the things that have kept growing daily are my children, my love for this family, and my faith in the Lord. And in the end what more can I ask for.