Timeline Assignment

 Who would think a little class assignment would get me to thinking so much about lost time?

Maisie's class was given an assignment to complete a timeline of their lives.  Last night, she and I sat down and worked on hers.  I was excited to help her complete this easy task.  We put cute stars and letters on the poster.  She wrote very neatly and included her birthday, when she lived in Ocean Springs during Hurricane Katrina, when she moved in with us, and when she was adopted.  It was cute and simple. 

This morning, as the other students passed me in the hall with their assignments, I began to notice cute baby pictures.  I saw pictures of some of the kids at their first Christmas, or hospital picture.  I saw a few family pictures when the kids were younger.  They were very creative. 

Then I realized, I don't have any of those things with Maisie.

I guess I knew this face in the back of my mind, but I've not come face to face with the reality of it.  I don't have a clue what she looked like as a baby.  I don't know what her favorite toy was, or what she got for her first Christmas. I can't tell about her taking her first steps or riding a bike for the first time.  I don't know when she lost her first tooth, got her first hair cut, or what she said as her first words. 

I was a little choked up when all of these things hit me this morning.  Although I think adopting older kids is a blessing to both the parents and the child, I know the saddest side of that is the loss of time.