Great memories and a little piece of my heart

What a great weekend I had!! I spent 100% of it with people I love and enjoy! And I remembered and corralled everyone for some informal family pictures and took tons of candid pictures too. Seeing my kids is such a great joy for me. I remember what my mom always said about what a joy it is to see your kids- you really don't understand that until you have kids-no matter what age they are. And despite the fact that my kids are all adults they continue to change and grow every time I see them. Each one is achieving and working on making their life-long dreams come true with their schooling and careers. I see the ever changing wisdom and knowledge every time I see any of them.
Ranen has a look of contentment and determination in his eyes now that he is at a different university and working on something I think he is passionate about and whats to do with his life and career. He is quiet but has a fun personality. Always a quiet character but very talented in so many ways!
Ashlyn is goal driven and is constantly learning about human nature and how to read and help people. Body language is something she is keenly aware of now. She is fun loving and loves life and her family. She is the family glue and wants everyone to be happy-the typical middle child and only girl behavior! She, like most women, is hardest on herself-if she only saw herself the way I and others see her-a very successful, smart and beautiful young woman.
Ryan, whom I had not seen in three long months, has grown into the career world and making his mark. Ryan is always the competitor and the responsible child. He was thinner but seemed happier and more sure and confident of himself. Ryan is the explorer and loves adventures and trying now things. Ryan loves adventures! Just like when they were little they continue to grow and change, despite their not knowing this.
Captured on my camera phone but also in my memory and heart are memories and pictures of my beautiful daughter on a swing with the beautiful sunset in the back ground. There are also the images of Ryan and Ranen standing on a picnic table trying to fix a basketball net-working together and then fiercely competing in a pick-up game of one-on-one. Coloring Easter eggs, eating a family meal, mini-golf captures everyone enjoying the opportunity.
As I settled down on the coach to sleep last night with my family all under one roof I had such a feeling of happiness and contentment. I knew it was effort for all three to be there for the weekend. And I so appreciate that. That and the fact that they still don't mind hanging out with their family and parents on occasions is a blessing! But I also know as each one moves on in the world with their careers and personal lives the family times will be less often and shared with others. So as I laid there last night listening and thinking I thanked God for the opportunity of being a parent, for the fantastic children I have been blessed with and the love we all share. If I'd died in my sleep I would have died a very happy person knowing that all three of these people I brought into the world are good people in so many ways and they know how to work, go after and make their dreams come true.
So as we left today I savored the moments with each child and the memories we made in a short time and the pictures both physically the ones we can see and share and those in our memories. And as we went our ways going south, then east and west parting in opposite directions once again, as always, I left a piece of my heart with each of them-see since they are always in my heart and are the only ones who know what my heart sounds like from the inside and they grew under my heart, there is a special bond-whether they realize it or not.
I'm soooo thankful for the great weekend, safe travels, opportunities to make memories, great food, hang out and the pictures we have to remember and the pieces of my heart that goes with each of them each day.

One small positive: I love how each of my kids are unique and talented in a variety of different things and ways. They all have the same parents and brought up the same way but they have went out and became their own persons making the most of their talents! I love them to the moon and back!