Ready or Not.....

Here it comes.....

Five short weeks to go.

I look at this picture, and I see so many things. I see how ridiculously happy and excited he is. How proud of himself he is. I see him at five years old, at twelve, and now at *almost* eighteen.  I see that little boy who crawled into my lap every night, for one more snuggle; and the teenager that lays his head in my lap almost every night still, asking for one more back rub.  I see that brand new teenager, struggling to understand enough of the class to do his homework; and the young man who has learned how to push himself to succeed, giving up so much to better himself scholastically. 

He is one of the most amazing things I have ever been a part of.  He is beyond awesome. And in five short weeks, everyone who knows him will get the chance to celebrate just what a wonderful, amazing, awesome and just plain cool young man he really is.

Hey, Teenager?  If I haven't told you lately?  I am more proud of you than you will ever possibly realize, and more thankful to God for giving you into my care than I ever believed I could be. You are the epitome of strength of character, endurance of spirit, and beauty of soul. 

Mama loves you, baby.