The Raising.

When fall ambles around on it's lazy golden feet and the nights get cooler, I begin to notice how the boys are growing right up, little legs getting longer, faces more defined.

When do the inches grow and how is it that one day we just notice that they're not so little anymore?

So with all this growing, Pop gets out a ladder to raise the little yellow swing, and little boys climb up behind wanting so desperately to be big.

I watch, imagining that one day their legs and arms will grow into a man and they will raise the swings for their own sons and grandsons and great-grandsons.

But for now, they are still my little boys just stretching out their legs...

...and dropping their heads back with laughter and wonder...

...as they soar to new heights.

And then I'm reminded of the little girl inside who is growing too, faster than the honey crisps turn red.

Soon we will start all over again, just as we did nearly three years ago when Tate entered this world.  And starting over is wonderful and scary, like when summer turns to fall and we wonder if we will love this season as much as last time and deep down we know we will for every year and every new baby begins with yet another rich layer of meaning and understanding that we just didn't have before.

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 I think I see now...the raising.  It's all about raising people and trees and swings and our timeworn eyes, looking up to the leaves and the sky and the Great God of the whole universe.

And so we raise our praise to Him and relish the glory of all that raises in our lives.