My Life as a COMMA!

I know we are past half way through July….but this is mainly about something that happened to me on the fourth of July. 

My husband and I have done the same thing for the past 13 years…..a tradition of family on the fourth.  We were looking forward to this same tradition this year.  We usually spend the day at my dad’s house and swim in the afternoon and then go to the club and have a picnic and play and watch fireworks with friends and family!  Well, this year we were at dad’s and KABOOM!  Thunder and lightning hit!  We got the kids out of the pool and continued having fun.  But in the course of all this..our picnic time at the Sportsman’s club was cancelled. 

We got word that we were all just going to meet at my brother in-laws instead.  So my friends and some family all went over there.  We ended up in his front yard watching all the kids play.  Some of the neighbors were down and playing.  One of the men there looked familiar to me but I honestly couldn’t place where from.  I have come to realize I have lived enough life that I can’t figure out “which compartment” of my life they come from.  I have stopped trying to decide where or which one……sometimes it is just too hard.

Anyway…..my sister in law called to me and asked me to come across the yard where she was.  As I walked closer I realized she was standing next to the man I thought I had recognized.  She said this man thinks he knows you and you know him.  I looked at him and said, “I thought I recognized your face but just haven’t been able to place where from.  Please forgive me….but do you mind telling me your name?”.  He just looked at me and smiled.  Then he told me his name…….and for a second I thought I would faint.  Immediately when he said his name……I knew EXACTLY who he was.  I knew I could see in his eyes…..the boy that I had known years before. 

You see, this man standing in front of me, was once a boy who had gone to 1st – 6th grade with my sweet, oldest son Cody.  We talked for a bit…..and then I realized this sweet family I had been watching….this husband and wife, and their two beautiful daughters……was once just a young boy…..the same age as my son. 

This reality sunk in very hard for me.  No one could believe it. “No…really?  Would he have been that old?”  “Are you serious?”  “Wow!  You really could be a gramma!”  Those were just a few of the comments I heard when I shared this story with others around. 

Then I went to Bryce.  I told him that if he ever wondered what it would be like if his brother were still here…to look at that young man over there in the blue shirt.  He glanced over his way…and I told him that he had been friends and went to school with his brother Cody.  Bryce just looked over in awe…..he just couldn’t stop looking. 

Well, I had also told this young man about my new family and had pointed them out. I had gone back and sat down watching all the kids play.  Honestly, I was just trying to catch my breath.  The realization of where my son would be…..the fact that he would have a job, have a home, and be married and maybe even have kids! 

Then………..I looked across the lawn……..and saw this………..and my heart melted..