These are the times of your life

I get so busy with work stuff, worrying about the economy, who will win an election, are we secure, that I sometimes forget what is really important.  What is really important is spending time with my family and watching my two little babies grow up to be boys.  I was reminded of that again tonight.  A friend gave us tickets to the Florida Panthers hockey game.  It was last minute and the two boys and I ate dinner, jumped in the car and headed down to the Bank Atlantic Center.

The Panthers do a great job putting on a show for the kids.  Though the arena is less than half full, they have all kinds of contests and other kid related promotions and activities.  My boys really enjoy going to Panther games.

I on the other hand really enjoy going to anything with my two sons.  It never fails that they do and say things that make me realize how fast they are growing up and how lucky I am to have them.  Tonight when they sang the Star Spangled Banner instead of having to tell them to stand, they both got right up.  My youngest son Bradley took off his hat and held it over his heart.  Watching this little 7 year old standing there at attention with his hat over his heart, singing the words to the National Anthem, I was pretty close to tears.

After this a commercial on the scoreboard talked about going to a local college and getting an education so that you "can go places".  My 9 year old son Landon looked at me and said, "Dad that is what I want to do, I want to go to college so I can be like you and go places."  I was so touched that he would want to be like me.  I had to explain to him that going places was more than just actually going to different places, but that there was another meaning to it.  I thought about it. I don't want him to have to go to different places, but I sure as heck hope that he does "go places".  But the simple way he said this which encompassed how he thinks about me was enough to make me realize how blessed I am to have these two boys.

So remember time marches on and the little ones don't stay little forever.  If you are lucky enough to have kids, cherish every day and moment you can spend with them.  Before you know it, they aren't little anymore.