Dot on the line.

Our Pastor was speaking of the timeline of life...specific to the world's existence.  He said that even if we lived for 90+ years it would just be a speck (so-to-speak) on on the timeline of life.
Well, as I look back the difference the months and years make, I find that each "speck" is significant!
Thank goodness for pictures.
I remember way before digital cameras were available.  Those cameras with the wind up film?
The ones that made that horrible noise as the flash "warmed up" and signaled its readiness with the blinking light??
Makes me feel kinda old...
I'll admit, there was something kind of fun about sending a full roll of film away to be developed...
The exciment of paying for the package so you can open it up to see if you got at least one good picture of the boy you liked. ;)
But for those few good pictures that were worth keeping, inevitably there would be a bunch of bad ones - flash not on, someone not smiling, out of focus...
Those moments would not be remembered, they would be trash.

So I salute the person who came up with the digital camera and the beauty that is the delete button.
Because as I post pictures of my kids (especially the ones of all 4 of them together), it is almost never the first picture taken that ends up on the blog....usually more like the 6th or 7th in a series of 15.

This was the pic I had taken and posted of the boys Christmas Day 2011:

Each individual shot and their "descriptions" were posted sometime in the winter of 2011-2012:

Cale - LOVES to be put 'in charge,' drawing, eating, making everyone (including himself) laugh, making meals, and watching Christmas light show displays on YouTube.  DISLIKES being embarrased, when he is scolded, sleeping alone, when 'wrestle time' is over, and being told no.  TERRIFIED OF: the toilet overflowing

Megersa - LOVES motorcycles! singing songs, praying before we eat, reading books, his toy helicopter, and jumping. DISLIKES trying new food, sitting on the potty, being sick, taking turns and watching movies. TERRIFIED OF: bees (even if they come near)

Thaddeus - LOVES crawling at lightning speed, climbing steps, being tossed in the air, and smiling so hard his eyes disappear.  DISLIKES being blocked from the bathroom, refrigerator or steps, having his diaper changed, nap time, and wearing stuff on his head.  TERRIFIED OF: nothing (not yet anyway)

Shepherd - LOVES his purple blanket, being tickled, talking in the early morning, splashing at bath time, and things that shake.  DISLIKES when someone takes his toy, being startled, getting stuck in random places, and staying still while being dressed.  TERRIFIED OF falling down.

Outdated now - everyone's face is a little more mature, and their hair is longer and fuller... Things that make the boys smile or cry is on a list that is always changing, along with their habits and behaviors....like dots on a line:

Cale is no longer afraid of the potty overflowing!!

Megersa is still afraid of bees, but his time spent on the potty has drastically decreased!

Shepherd is accustomed to the sensation of falling down...

And Thad is now walking, so crawling is rarely seen anymore.

I know these dots will change over and over and over again, I just hope I can remember to record their significance to their lives and our family.