Then and Now - The Difference a Year Makes

This (above) was Andrew and Levi last night at our local baseball team's game...
And this (below) was them last year around the same time at a game...


This (below) was Levi and Andrew enjoying the fireworks this year: (Notice the look of awe on Levi's face, pretty cool)


This (below) was Levi last year at the festivities:


It's a little crazy the difference a year makes. My son's growth is the most visible and obvious. Last year he was finally starting to eat cereal and applesauce. This year mealtimes are becoming less of a battle as he discovers his tastes and we learn to trust him that he knows if he's hungry.
Last year he was a bald, bald baby. This year he's had 3 haircuts and has a full thick head of the stuff.
Last year he was somewhat sitting up, working hard on it, this year, he's running and climbing stairs like their nothing.
Last year he slept through the fireworks, this year he said "Oh" a lot. :)
That's some of the physical. There's some of the negative that he can say no and throw fits now. Not so fun.
It makes me wonder what next year will bring. My son will be 2 1/2 years old. I wonder if it will be less dramatic. He's already talking some, running, etc... I get the feeling everything will just be more distinct. He'll hopefully be saying sentences, and hopefully have a little more control over his clumsy feet. :) I wonder if it will be easier or harder that he'll be able to communicate better? Will he get less frustrated? Will he talk my ear off or just be as busy as he is now?

Here's the thing, I may not know, but my Heavenly Father does. He sees everyone of Levi's steps. Even those that will eventually take him away from my care. Levi's days are already numbered. God knows where he will go and when. He knows how many days he will have. I can only pray they will outnumber mine and that they will honor Christ. That's all I can do, pray hard that my son will be called and that he will choose to glorify God with his whole life.

The even better thing? If you had told me a year ago all that would happen in the next 12 months, I would have cried and been so afraid. Why is this better? Because I didn't know. And I didn't need to. The Lord knew. He knew what this year would bring and that He would walk us through it. Cancel that, Carry us through it.

So no matter what the next year brings, I will still say and believe the truth in Psalm 63:8
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."

Because that's what God desires. My soul clinging to Him for my very existence, and He will uphold me. That may not look how I think it should, but He will not fail me.