My Graduate

 My oldest son Nicholas graduated this past spring. When people tell you to cherish those times when they are young, they are dead serious. The days may be long, but my sweet friends, the years are so very quick. This is one of  my favorites of his senior pictures. Last summer we took a trip up north to Duluth, MN to do his senior pictures. It was a special time to spend with just him.  With jobs and school, a large family, well, the last year just went by so quickly. I want to stop time. I want the kids to be small again, back when I thought my days were so very long. I want to tell myself, to enjoy it. You know what? I think I already told myself that and time still went very fast!!

 He was my first baby. He was such a happy baby and it feels like it was just, like maybe only 4 years ago. How is it that he has grown into a young man already? And a very nice young man at that?

 I used to read to him as many books as he could carry. (which turned out to be about 17) Times I cherish so much in my mind and heart.

 Here we are at his grad party end of June. I'd like to do a follow-up post about the actual grad party for future reference. Would you be bored if I did that? This was such an emotional time. In just 2 short years we will have our next graduate.

He's thoughtful and kind, loving and caring. He's faithful, has a great sense of humor, (dry as it is)  and I am so very proud of him!

He's a nice young man with a strong faith. Exactly what I've payed for his whole life.
God is so GOOD.

 Big brother, little brother. A very special relationship. My book-end boys. Oldest and youngest.

Nicholas ended up graduating with an Associate's degree from our local junior college and graduating with his homeschool class from high school. He was looking into becoming a CPA. 

(Thank you state of Minnesota for PSEO classes, all his generals are done for free!) 

PSEO=Post Secondary Education Opportunity

  I am blessed to have him home another year though,  as he continues to work full time and discerns a calling he's feeling from God to join the seminary.

 Yes, this sweet boy may have a vocation to the priesthood! Please will you pray for him? He is feeling called to be a diocesan priest. We are all very excited for him. He felt God's calling in His time though, not in the seminary's time, so it's too late to get in this year.  He will have a discerning year to pray and prepare. He gets to go spend a weekend with the seminarians next month. I'm so excited for him. This news also changes the way a mother prays for her son.

Her first-born son who will always look like this to her.