We went as a whole family (there are six of us) to this year's ICCM conference. I didn't get as much time to hang out with the family as I had liked—I never made it to the lake, the woods, fishing or a hike—but one place we were consistent was the table. Taylor University feeds their conference attenders very well.
One of the things we like about having four children is that the oldest (now twelve) is able to assist with one or more of the younger ones on occasion. So it isn't unusual for JR (our son, the oldest) to be helping with KA (our daughter, the youngest at 18 months). What we wished we had the camera for was the looks of adoration that each gave the other as JR was helping KA with something at the table. She just looked up at him with this big smile while he looked down at her with another big smile. Moments like these remind you that not only do they really love each other, but they like each other, too.
My wife caught these smiles, too and I made a comment about how JR, twenty-some years from now, might be standing as a groomsman in KA's wedding, with much the same look now: very proud.
It can be fairly disturbing to think of your children in twenty years; much can happen and has to happen before then. But leave it to my wife to out-do me. She reminded us that in twenty-some years, one or more of JR's children might be flower girls or ring bearers or some-such role in this far-off wedding of our youngest daughter to some (as yet) nameless man.
Now if that doesn't get a Dad's eyes moist, well, you'd better check for a pulse.
