04.24.10
My Baby on the Dean’s List
Last night my boys and I joined Andrew, my oldest son, in the celebration of accepting his certificate for making it on the Dean’s List at his school.
I went with Andrew to receive his Dean’s List certificate at his previous school, but this time I brought his two younger brothers to watch the ceremony,too. They were able to see the wind ensemble and the school choir perform.
Then the processional began with all their pomp, heheh.
Then the students entered.
And there he is!!! My baby boy (shown circled and under the arrow in the picture below, hehehe). He’s standing because they call out the specific schools where the students belong and request that they stand. Andrew was among the students at the top 5 percent of their class.
And here he is with his brother, Matty, and me after he received his certificate. Andrew is in the middle holding his cert.
After the ceremony they served cupcakes and drinks.
Some of the cupcakes looked yummy, but since none of them were organic, we passed up on them and instead headed out to Whole Foods to get our own celebratory grub.
Andrew had his appointment with his counselor this past week and found that he still needs four more classes to take before he can graduate with a BA. I thought he was a little closer than that to the finish line, but it’s still not bad, and if all goes well he should finish by the end of this year. Wow, I can’t believe my baby boy is all growd up! I was so happy for him last night and even felt at moments a bit teary for him. So much has happened since the day he was born, even the scare that I might not see him finish high school. But not only has he finished high school level, he is close to finishing his BA and even got on the Dean’s List two times. I thanked God for that nice, nice moment. I have been blessed.
Marlakins
patti said,
April 25, 2010 at 5:27 am
Administrator said,
April 25, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Thanks, Patti! It’s amazing to watch our kids grow, huh? Kids are really such a blessing.
Marla
patti said,
April 26, 2010 at 7:50 am
I’m trying not to think about them growing up. It happens too fast! While I am so enjoying watching Grace emerge as a young lady, I know it will be such a short time before she’s an adult.
I told her the other day how much fun it is learning who she is and what her likes and dislikes are now (as compared to how she was when she was little). She hates wearing pink (but loves lavendar), thinks make-up and nail polish are a waste of precious minutes that could be used knitting or crocheting, and her ability to teach herself new skills astounds me. I am meeting my “child” all over again for the first time. It’s like getting to know the pieces of a new friend. it goes so fast…………
They are such a blessing and the time is so short!
Administrator said,
April 26, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Hi Patti:
I know what you mean about trying not to think about when the kids grow up. I enjoy them so much that it’s sad to think that one day they may go off and leave us. . . wah. But I want them to be happy with a good family, too, so I know that it’s necessary and I have to deal with it when the time comes! I just try to remind myself to be a good mother-in-law, so that I don’t stress out the younguns, heheheh. I’ve already told my sons many times I’ll be a good mother-in-law, ha ha!
Oh, so Grace doesn’t like pink anymore? I remember you had me make her a pair of pink leg warmers a while back. Boy how we change! But yes, it’s really neat to see how the kids develop their own personalities. And to see that they are really their own people full of inquisitiveness and their own thoughts. They often say interesting things to me and bring up interesting topics that I otherwise likely wouldn’t think about! Besides the fact that I didn’t have any brothers, so living in a house full of boys has been a very different experience for me. Lucky you to have a couple girls! And as Andrew gets out there more he even sees things that he thinks I’d like and shares it with me like books, news articles he forwards to me of world and local events as well as art and crafts like quilting exhibitions! He’s turning out to be pretty fun. I can’t believe that he’s going to be 22 this July. . .
The Bible tells us that children are a blessing, and I truly believe it. It helps to bring a fuller meaning to me of 1 Timothy 2:15 “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” Being a mother is truly a wonderful experience. Too bad so many women have let their chance escape them when their children were young and they didn’t spend much time with them.
Marla
patti said,
April 27, 2010 at 8:17 am
I can’t remember what season you made those warmers but I remember Grace only could wear them for 6 months of one cold season (was that the first year we were here?). She started growing shortly after that and grew 10 inches in one year. They were passed onto Kassandra by that point (who happens to LOVE pink).
Grace’s tastes in colors, styles, etc. has only really hit this past 6-8 months. About half way through her 11th year. And when she turned 12 in Feb. of this year (for whatever reason), her preferences became much stronger with certain things. She became much more bold in asking/expressing her likes/dislikes.
I do love having girls. But they are MUCH more challenging then boys when it comes to puberty, I think. I realize Luke isn’t there yet but he just isn’t as emotional as Grace in general (although he can be at times – usually food related). I think being a visionary he’s probably more emotional then the average kid too. My husband is a visionary and is probably slightly more emotional then the average guy too. I so would have loved to have another boy. Luke prayed for YEARS for a brother. When I miscarried, I felt sad for him as well! The poor kid is surrounded by women. Even all the animals are female. He asked the other day if we get pygme goats this year if we could at least get one male.
funny kid.
I can buy Luke just about anything and he’d say he likes it. I don’t dare do that with Grace anymore. Kassandra just loves everything. That’s definitely a personality difference between the two. Grace has ALWAYS been my pickier child (oh my!). God gave me one just like myself. :\
Anyways, congrats on Andrew’s achievement! I love the verse, “I have no greater joy then to know my children walk in truth.” It’s in 1 John.
patti
Administrator said,
April 27, 2010 at 10:25 am
Hi Patti:
Yes, nice verse you pointed out from John, “I have no greater joy then to know my children walk in truth.” I had always thought John was referring to fellow believers when he mentioned “children” since I don’t think he had his own, but I can certainly agree that it could also apply to our own biological children!
And it’s very true that it’s so nice to see the boys choosing, on their own, the moral path. I think they actually have more convictions than I do. For instance, I didn’t grow up in a Christian household, so I still carry some of my old bad habits like cussing. My boys don’t cuss at all, and even don’t like to hear it. Helps me to keep myself in check! Ha! But I’m not a compulsive cusser except when I smash my finger or almost get into an accident, heheheh. Aaron is even more sensitive in that he doesn’t even like to say certain words like “stupid,” or any racial terms like the “n” word or anything along those lines. He’s very sensitive about offending people. While I don’t have girls, growing up with only girls, I have come to believe that boys can be more sensitive than girls! All my boys, including Brian, can’t speak when they get upset. They just clam up. I don’t know this happening with girls! Ha! This really surprised me. I found that my boys aren’t the only ones like this. I had another male friend who was telling me how his father was so upset with him for something to the point his dad kicked over a stool. He said he couldn’t say anything, and his father even commented, “He can’t speak.” He knew that happens to him. But I do know that my boys are sensitive and even sentimental. When I was younger I always thought boys were insensitive or non sentimental. I sure found out how wrong I was! And this reminds me how God made woman to be man’s helper. God didn’t make a helper for woman (although man should care for his woman and love her! Interesting that the Bible doesn’t say the woman should love her husband, but to “obey” him).
Anyway, yes, it’s fun thinking about our kids, huh? Grace is definitely developing her own voice! I think that’s a good thing, so long as she does it lovingly. At least that’s what I tell my boys. Whatever they do or say, do it with good intentions. Only time will tell how well they take to that, heheh. Oh, and speaking of sensitive, my middle son is super sensitive, to the point that it’s difficult for me. I think he’s over sensitive, and it worries me at times. If he meets the wrong girl I really think it could destroy him if things go wrong. Andrew, on the other hand, is pretty level. I feel good that he can hold his own, but at the same time I know that he’s sentimental. One time I was in his room reaching for something on his shelf when I knocked over a bowl with seeds in them. Turned out those seeds were the same seeds we had picked up years ago along one of our walks! He had saved those seeds and didn’t want to lose them when I spilled them on the floor. I found that he saves things like that. All these years quietly saving things. . .
Anyway, we can go on and on about our kids, huh? If I had known what I know now years ago, I might have wanted to have more kids. . . But I agree with you how interesting it is that they all have their own different personalities despite growing up in the same household. Now one of my goals is to encourage them to love each other through thick and thin. I try to impress upon them that one day dad and I won’t be around, and they need to make sure they care for each other if the need arises. They each seem to have their own strengths, and I’m trying to encourage them to help each other out with them.
Okay, yak laters!
Marla
Kim Cuadra said,
April 29, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Yes! I believe our sons learn how to carry themselves from their dad. They know moms are a soft place to fall. It is very interesting to see them from little ones and now that they are grown, how they handle life.
I don’t know how single moms do it. It is very challenging task at best.
Being a mom is the most important position I ever held! Best job, most rewarding!
Administrator said,
April 30, 2010 at 8:57 am
Thanks, Kim!
Agreed, agreed, agreed! The boys definitely look up to their dad, I don’t know how single moms do it, either!, and yes, being a mom has been so rewarding!
Take care.
Marla