Things That Make Me Feel Old

Jonathan had his mission "farewell" yesterday. It finally hit me that he's really leaving in just over a week, and on top of wondering what I was going to do without his random texts in the middle of the day and his playing U2 and Jon Schmidt on the piano whenever we're at Mom's house and the overflowing joy he brings into my life, I suddenly felt really old. Nobody I taught when he was a 6-year-old in Primary should be old enough to go on a mission, even if he is technically 19. Charlie, who was in that same class of 6-year-olds, came over to Mom's house after church. I've seen Jonathan grow up, so the change was gradual enough not to shock me into old age, but Charlie is now suddenly 6'3" and getting ready to send in his own mission papers. Yikes! Then, while we were eating, I overheard somebody tell my 7-year-old nephew that it wouldn't be long before he was leaving on his mission. Wait a minute! Let's just let him be a kid and enjoy what a great kid he is before we send him off, shall we? I am glad that I didn't let too many chances to enjoy Jonathan's growing-up years pass me by, and it was fun to experience a lot of those years through "adult" eyes, but I still don't think I'm old enough to take my baby brother to the MTC.