This is a crappy iPhone photo of one of my favorite moments from today.
The kids and I were sitting in the living room when suddenly Tanner pointed towards the window.

“Oh, hello!”

He was greeting this little guy who was hanging out on our screen.
The amazing part was that our blinds were pulled down with only about four inches or so revealed at the bottom.
Yet he noticed this tiny butterfly in that narrow space.
I smiled and shook my head. That’s my child.

I had another moment like this two weeks ago, only this was with Drew.
It was a Friday night; both boys were out and about and I was lounging at home.
Suddenly the phone rang.
Drew was on the line and without so much as a hello, he said,
“Mom, I want you to stop what you’re doing right now.
Get your keys, get into your car and drive until you can see the moon. Trust me.”
I did as instructed, but Drew didn’t hang up. He talked me through until I saw the full moon.
He was right. It sure was a beauty.
Again. That’s my child.

You work so hard to raise your kids and try to instill specific values over the years — but then you get to the point that you realize that you’ve influenced them without even trying — and in ways that never even occurred to you.