Growing Up Way Too Fast

The past couple years of sleepless nights, temper tantrums, and somebody always needing something has often led me to wonder why people say "They grow up way too fast."  There have been many times I wished I could fast forward through.  "Enjoy every minute" doesn't seem to fit when you are trying to comfort your colicky baby who has been screaming for hours or when you have to carry your 2 year old out of the mall kicking and screaming because he decided to throw a fit when it was time to leave.  Why would we not want to speed this up?  Now I get it.

Last night, we were all sitting at the dinner table when the phone rang.  Dan and I chose to ignore it and check it after dinner.  Brandon says "I go get it Mommy."  He's never "got" the phone before and I didn't even know he paid attention to where it was. Surprised, I said "Ok".  He got down from his chair and said "I be right back and eat".  Then he ran all the way out of the kitchen, through the living room and into our bedroom.  He came running back with the phone and said "Here ya go, Mommy."  Seriously?  When did he become "old" enough to do this?

Tonight, I was giving him a bath.  He said "Mommy, I sing a special song for you."  He's never sung a special song for me so again I was surprised.  I said, "Great, I'd love to hear your special song."  He sang "Momma, please get me outta here."  He can be so funny.  It was the sweetest song I have ever heard.

Even though I have been "enjoying every minute", trying not to blink, and taking thousands of pictures, my son is growing up way too fast.

Remembering Alan

It has been a long time since I last blogged.  Mainly because I just haven't taken the time.  Tonight however, I really feel like blogging.  I think I need to.  Sometimes you just need to put your thoughts into words.  

The world lost a beautiful, young soul this morning.  Alan Schlehuser was welcomed into Heaven, leaving his family and friends devastated and shocked.  On Sunday morning, Alan had an accident on I-65.  He was life lined to Methodist where he was in a coma due to brain swelling and had many other injuries.  He left us this morning.  He was only 21.  His birthday is Monday.  I have so many questions. These are just a few.

Why did this happen?
Why did God not protect him?
Why did God not answer the hundreds of prayers asking for his healing?
How do I continue to believe in the power of prayer when it didn't "work" this time?



I feel angry.  This is so unfair.  
I feel betrayed.  Did God not hear me or the hundreds of others praying for him?
I feel heartbroken for his parents and sister.  How do you bury your son?
I feel heartbroken for all his friends.  Parties, get togethers, weddings etc. will never be the same.
I feel scared.  Will this happen to me? Will I have to bury my kids?  The thought is unbearable.


Somewhere deep down inside, I KNOW that God does love us.  He does protect us. He does hear us.  I am confident that God welcomed Alan with open arms.  I am confident that Alan is smiling down on us from Heaven. He has the sweetest smile.

I guess that's the answer.  Our life here on earth is such a small blip in time.  God has promised us forever.  It's just not on our terms.  He never promised that life would be easy, He just promises that He will be by our side and get us through it.  We will all have a wonderful reunion in Heaven someday.  Everyone we loved, who loved the Lord, will be there, no matter how they died or how early they left us.  Once we are reunited we will never have to say goodbye again.  What a wonderful thought.  As Carrie Underwood sings so beautifully "This is our temporary home."

Alan's life on earth was full of happiness and everyone who ever knew him will talk of his sweet smile.  I haven't seen Alan in a long time.  I didn't really "know" him as a teenager/young adult.  To quote another famous singer and Seymour native, "I was born in a small town."  I grew up with a HUGE extended "family".  I went to White Creek Lutheran School until the 8th grade.  Yes, it is in the middle of nowhere but there is no other place I would rather have been raised.  At one time there were 70 kids in my school (from kindergarten thru 8th grade).  Needless to say, we were close.  We knew everyone, most of us were related in some way.  If it happened to a White Creeker everyone knew about it.  You were loved not only by your own family, but by everyone else as well.  That holds true today.  Alan and his family are White Creekers.  They will always be a part of my extended family.  

My mom also had a daycare when I was growing up.  Alan and his sister Betsy were two of the children she took care of.  Growing up I saw them at least 5 days a week.  We played, celebrated birthdays and holidays.  I remember snuggling with each one of them when they were babies.  They lived just a few miles from my house and I used to babysit for them.  Such great kids.  I still cannot believe he is gone.   

I went through a couple old photo albums tonight and found a couple adorable pictures of Alan and some of the other kids I "grew up with".  Some of them continued a lifelong friendship with Alan.  I wish I would have "kept up" a little better. You just always think there is plenty of time.  I guess there will be, at our reunion in Heaven. 


Below is a picture of me "supervising" the kids swimming.  Yes, that is me with the bangs and crazy long hair not looking at the camera.  The kids from left to right are:
Kendra Phelps, Brittany Meyer, Alan Schlehuser, Brandon Goecker, and Tyler Ross.

 This next picture is from a Halloween party one year.  I can't tell who everyone is but I'm in the back with the bangs (always) and pigtails.  Erin Jones is the blonde beside me on the left, her sister Morgan Jones is the blonde beside me on the right.  I think my sister Mandy is the one dressed up like Raggedy Ann. Brandon Goecker is in the middle in the red sweat suit. Lindsey Ross is behind the little tiger.  Alan is the adorable clown on the far right.

Keep smiling that sweet smile, Alan.  We'll catch up on all that I missed, next time I see you.