15 Years

15 years ago today a wonderful thing happened. Hubby and I became parents for the first time. We were a little nervous but confident we could handle anything and everything. What can I say we were very young.

November 22, 1996 at 9:59pm the United States of America welcomed a new citizen.

Also in 1996: Duke Nukem 3D shareware was released, Ask Jeeves was formed, Ebay had just gotten started and we're using IE 3.

Oldest son at age 1

The following year brought: the bird flu, Hong Kong went back to China, Tiger Woods, a sheep named Dolly, and the Hale-Bopp comet.

In 1998, we welcomed a daughter. Also, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, Windows 98, and Google.

1999 followed with the birth of another son and: the devastating Columbine High tragedy, the West Nile virus shows up, IE 5, MySpace, Bluetooth.

Next came 2000. We celebrated Oldest Son's fourth birthday, already the years were flying by too fast. We also experienced: the election of George W. Bush, and Y2K.

Quickly onto 2001. This year we welcomed our youngest child and: Watch our country fall apart and come together on 9/11, experience the terror of going to war in the Middle East, Hear stories about anthrax laced letters and get wary about checking the mail, Wikipedia goes online, the Ipod is released, as well as Windows XP.

The next 10 years sweep by and in this time period of your young life son you witness: the election of another president, the crash of the economy, and many other highs and lows.

I'm saddened that my children have to grow up in a time of war and terror. A time of financial hardships everywhere. A time of broken dreams and hearts. Still, son, you are the next generation. You are the generation that will help my generation fix the mistakes made and being made by the generation(s) before me.

My little golden haired boy. My child who loved eating the inside of a piece of bread, Barney, Teletubbies, George of the Jungle and Toy Story. My silly little boy who loved sleeping with a spoon of all things. Now you're nearly grown. 15, wow, it doesn't seem right. No longer a boy and not yet a man. What a hard age to be. You're doing great though. Your kind to everyone around you, respectful, responsible. You are working out a plan for your future and I know you'll do great. Just take you're time these next few years, I need this time with you before I send you out in the big scary world.

Taken earlier this year