Caleb Graduates...

So a piece of my heart walked onto a stage just the other day and into the rest of his life and I can't seem to catch my breath as time just races ahead of my heart...

How can it be that 18 years have slipped into a moment cause last I checked you were your older brothers' "project", your little sisters' super hero and my baby boy...

and now we are at that place where holding on meets letting go....

and it does not get any easier...

As his brothers before him, this child will be missed.

His first visit home will be anticipated...

His favorite meal (pizza) will be waiting...

His room will remain until the New Year when little sisters armed with Pottery Barn Teen catalogs and big plans cannot be held back any longer...

His dog will sense his arrival...

(Photo curtesy of Lynn Cobb Studios)

not understanding the separation but in true puppy style, delighting in the moment of his return.

(Photo curtesy of Lynn Cobb Studios)

Come August, my "home soon" texts will carry a more profound and problematic connotation. 

However, I am finding that in the "letting go", there is time to exhale - to trust that the years of lessons and rules and consequences and fun and love and prayer have brought us to a place of expectation and excitement as another part of my heart steps into the rest of his life...

the grip can be loosed as the boy becomes a man and the Lord's path begins to mature.

Warning... 😉 the video is long but full of memories and love...

Congratulations Caleb.

We love you! 

Caleb...

Can I just say something about my "baby boy" who is the "middle child" of 8 siblings, is taller than me and is getting ready to graduate...

Caleb may not win all the awards and he may not get officially recognized for the decent young man he is becoming but let me tell you, he is kind and responsible and mature and he is my quiet helper.

He doesn't seek the spotlight but he does seek truth and justice and peace and order - which is hard to find in this house of crazy

He has not been your typical high schooler and his quiet, reassuring presence will be so missed next year as he begins to seek his purpose.

So while he may not receive much "official recognition", I see him and those who love him see him and the Lord sees him and sees his heart and in Caleb's quiet, unassuming way, he will change this world...

Happy 18th Birthday Caleb

My dearest Caleb...  

Today you are 18 years old.

The world now sees you as a man.

I still see you as my baby boy.

You have always known how to make me laugh...

and how to touch my heart...

and I am not sure I am ready as the moments we have without you begin to overtake the moments we have with you.

"Mom, when I grow up do we have to be separated?"

A question asked from your 6 year old sweet self!

The reply from my formally 46 year old self caught in my throat as my answer danced around my heart's desire and the absoluteness of time.

In the preciousness of the moment, I want it to be but I have learned to treasure up all the moments in between as that baby boy becomes 18.

With each of you, I think I began to mourn this time even as I held you all for the very first time, not fully understanding the beauty of the journey, because it is beautiful.

The ache of arms outgrown is gently replaced by the anticipation of purposes fulfilled. 

The Lord entrusted you to me and with every one of those precious, passing moments, I have been releasing you back to Him.

Caleb, you are funny and interesting and talented and have a maturity that allows me to release with more ease...

or maybe it's the five other distractions still at home????

Nah, it's definitely your maturity😉

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”

C.S. Lewis

You have good aim my darlin! Don't allow this world to turn your gaze away.

Happy (gulp) 18th Calebebeeeee!!!

Happy Birthday Caleb

My goofy little 1 year old,,, 

is now my goofy big 16 year old!

Somehow I thought you were immune....

immune to the whole growing up thing...

immune to the deep voice and the "taller than me" height and all of the habits and distinguishing characteristics of a teenage boy!

But nooooooo....

You had to go and grow up on me!

One of these days I will forgive you...  maybe...

*grin*

Happy 16th birthday to the one who makes me laugh...

keeps the doctors in business...

as well as the potato farmers - hehe...

who is pretty awesome on the soccer field...

and with a canvas...

and who will forever be "peanut" in my heart!

Love you KK...

pic by my eldest 

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Summer is Almost Here and...

so are the creatures, the creepy, crawly, slithery creatures that only come out when the weather is warm enough to want to be outside...

So, why, why, why do they seem to want to be inside??!!

This is what I found when I opened the mudroom door the other day...

Yep, I screamed!  I screamed for Charlie who happened to be the eldest boy child with me at the time and BTW, an expert creepy, slimy creature getter outer boy child!  Have I told you how much I love having sons??  Hehe!

I wish I had thought to snap a pic of the thing when it was laying at the bottom of the mudroom stairs (IN MY HOUSE), but all I could think of was that I wanted it OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!

It was BIG, y'all!!

Really BIG

and slimy and just plain yucky!!!

I know they eat bugs and that is a good thing, a necessary thing round here, but Lord, couldn't you have made them just a bit cuter, cuddlier and just less gross????

You know, I can handle the cute little mouse that decided, for some insane reason, that he wanted to live in this house, this house with 5 kids, 4 dogs and one crazy cat!

I can handle (kind of) the coyote that showed up in our front yard.

I can even handle the gators. I grew up around gators. I looked at the laundry room window one day and saw a gator meandering across the street and thought, "Cool, I should go take pictures!"

But this thing, this thing that looks like it belongs in the Jurassic period, I cannot handle!!!!

Thank goodness I have my mighty creepy, crawly, slithery creature getter outers!

Thank goodness for BOYS!!!  Hehe!

No Greater Love

This child of mine

This wonderful child of mine earned enough "good behavior tickets" at school to get to choose a treat

So what did he choose, you ask???

Did he choose no homework??

No!

Did he choose to sit where ever he wanted for a day??

No!

Did he choose to sit with a friend at lunch??

No!

So what did he choose??

My sweet baby boy chose to read to his sister!!!!

Lizzie was SO excited!  I love my kids! 

$20 TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY - IF...

You can guess who Caleb chose to be in his school's wax museum...

I will give you some hints:

He was a famous artist
He had an Ocelot as a pet

He was a little bit disturbed - LOL

Leave your guess and if you win, I will donate $20 to the charity of your choice!