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As our children grow up, my sister and I have had several conversations about being a little sad that the child is gone
as they turn into adults. Not that we don't want them to grow up,
but you just kind of miss that little person that hung around your
knees and asked you for a juice bottle. Sometimes you can
stumble across a little something that triggers memories and
you would just love to squeeze that 31/2 year old again.
Well, last night I dreamed that this little guy was back!
It was the most vivid dream! I could feel him giving me one
of those strangle-hold hugs around my neck
and talking a mile a minute in that little toddler voice!
He was sweet-smelling and fresh from a bath in his little footie
pajamas. I can't believe how real it seemed. It was as if God
gave me a little gift....a brief glimpse back in time....
it gave me a warm feeling and a smile on my face all day today!
I flipped through a box of photos this evening (no, I don't have them
in albums or scrapbooks...I've been a little busy!) and found
this photo. This is exactly how he looked in my dream.
He had to have his 4 front teeth removed when he was three,
hence the toothless grin at such a young age.
What a sweetie....and he still is!
Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful post. Thank you for sharing your special dream {yes, I do believe that it was a gift from God} and your sweet memories. I often find myself wishing that I could bottle up my kids to save forever, but life's not like that and I want to see them fly. But, oh, how I want to savor these sweet, innocent, formative years.
ReplyDeleteToo cute!
ReplyDeleteI have those dreams once in a while too. In fact I rarely dream of my daughter as she is today, its usually as a much younger child. Same thing about houses, I wonder if you do too...in my dream I'm always in my childhood home, not the one I live in now nor any other house I've lived in. The past is always with us...!
So cute! I love the toothless smile! This makes me cry. :( It hits home to what I've been going through lately.
ReplyDeleteI'm always catching myself going through pictures and realizing my babies aren't babies anymore. My children are still young, but I miss the toddler stages with each of them. It's funny how you take the moment that you're in and wish it would speed up. Maybe it's only me that does that, but I'm starting to take a step back and treasure the present moments with my children a lot more than I used to.
Thanks for sharing!
So sweet Betsy. I am reliving my son's babyhood through his son, my first grandchild. It's a wonderful gift.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet is that! I don't have many dreams at all that I remember when I wake up, so I don't really know if I dream much about my kids or not, but I loved reading about yours. It is amazing how fast they grow up, isn't it? And how funny that my post earlier was a little bit related to them growing up but on the flip side. We must have been on the same wave length, or at least drinking the same coffee. :)
ReplyDeleteNatlie ~ yes, it is so true! We praise them with each milestone and encourage them from day one to progress...and then when they're all grown up we want the baby back! Savor every moment! :)
ReplyDeleteI am new here! What a great blog!
ReplyDelete♥ Hugs :
Kayren ~ yes, must be the same coffee! ;) xo
ReplyDeleteI believe that this "dream" you had was a gift from God. In this world, we get worked up by so many things...whether they be disappointments, worries, bad news, etc. But it isn't these things or circumstances that cause us to lose our way....I believe that we loose our way because we forget to be thankful! I think God may have given you this "dream gift" so you could reminise on that time, look through the photo's, and really enjoy that time....a time to be thankful!!! Great post my friend. Strider
ReplyDeleteStrider ~ you just don't know how well you hit the nail on the head! I did have a big disappointment this week. You are right...a gift from God...and I am so thankful for this boy. God knows and He cares and sometimes he gives us that message in a vivid way.
ReplyDeleteYes, a dream as real as that would be a gift from God. To have the opportunity to hear and see my little children once more would put a smile on my face all day as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a cute face he had! I'm glad God encouraged you in such a wonderful way. May God bless you and your family even more this week.
What a lovely picture and I love the sentiment behind it as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe in dreams very much, they are an insight into our subconscious, like small reminders of what we have and who we are.;))
what a very special gift that dream was ...especially as he is a senior and actually getting prepared to fly...
ReplyDeleteguess what mine are all in boxes too~ sigh!
Time definitely flys by and before you know it will be holding and hugging the next generation. I love those dreams that seem so real, (when they are good ones) ha
ReplyDeleteI understand about the dream. I've had dreams like that, very rarely, maybe just once or twice - that are so vivid, so real, so GOOD, that I cried upon waking up and realizing that they weren't reality. Maybe they're just God's way of telling us that there IS a heaven, and we just have to keep taking the next step. The photo is precious! Which of your boys is he?
ReplyDeleteSusan
girlsinwhitedresses ~ Hi Susan! This is my oldest, Taylor. He's a senior in high school this year!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure this feeling is with every mom. You love who your child is becoming and you wouldn't want it any other way ...but at the same time, the child is gone forever and it's a little sad. At least we have all those sweet memories!
Dear BETSY,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing... Please visit my site so you can get your FRIENDSHIP AWARD.. Thanks..
Betsy...I have tears as I look at Taylor and read your post...HOW WELL I remember that adorable three year old in my sandbox!! He was SOOOO adorable and always TALKING! He is STILL adorable just...well...TALLER!
ReplyDelete;)
Ah, those stranglehold hugs! How I miss those! What a sweet post - brings back lots of memories!
ReplyDeleteYes, I miss the sweet little girl who would hug me and say..I'm glad you're my Mom! I'm trying to get maximum mileage from my grandson before he gets too big!! Thanks for reminding me of some sweet memories!...Debbie
ReplyDeleteAwwww...love this post so sweet, tender and motherly. What a great mom you are. I know exactly what you say here and have wished that myself in part. They are so adorable at that tender age but as you note, all age are to be enjoyed too.
ReplyDeleteThis picture of Taylor is adorable!! And he IS just that, still. Where did the time go?
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy,
ReplyDeleteOh my dear, I just know that feeling so well. I have it with my 18 year old daughter so often, it sometimes just hurts to see her all grown up. She is becoming my friend now, instead of the defiant teenager. HAGWKD
So adorable! I love the gappy stage. If this was around Halloween all he needed was a little cape and he could have been a wee vampire.
ReplyDeletewhat a very special gift indeed! i often say that i would love to have just one hour with my kids when they were 2 and 4. they would sit on my lap while i read them story after story. the warmth of their bodies and their trusting looks of love as i read would be pure heaven!
ReplyDeleteLovely picture, my youngest two havent lost their front teeth just yet..will take a snap when they do :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute picture! My daughter just turned 17 and I have lots of those moments lately when I think about when she was little!
ReplyDeleteManuela
such a cute picture too! A beautiful dream to have indeed!
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy, I loved your post, in my hall way I see pictures of my kids when they were little and I get that a sadness that I miss that little person,even though I still have them, they are now 23 and 21 years old. But I think God always gives us little gifts through memories, dreams, a smell that makes us think of our children being babies. I can't wait until someday I have grandchildren, its our chance to enjoy our kids all over again.
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