Off to College!

 

So the last few days have been all about Shad leaving for college!  One night the guys took a boat trip on the Chain of lakes in Winter Haven.  I LOVE this picture!

He had to say goodbye at work!

It was Selah's birthday- so for 1.5 months we have 3 kids the same age-this time it's three 16 year olds~

When we came home from China we stopped at this Denny's off I-4 so our family and friends could meet Shad.  Ironically it was the best spot for Steve to pick Shad up to leave for the airport as Steve had a meeting that morning.  

We had about 5 seconds to say goodbye!  That was probably good!  We had one last prayer as a family and they were out the door!

Since Shad is going to school in Phoenix they had the opportunity to do some sight seeing at the Grand Canyon.  I LOVE this picture of my two cowboys.  They rode a mule into the canyon.  

And even at the GC they found an animal to help!  Poor squirrel wanted their water.  

They have tons and tons of amazing pictures-it's hard to chose which ones to post!

Please pray for Shad as he is starting school two years early and is quite far away from us!  He has almost all his year paid for thanks to several scholarships he's gotten.  Pray that he will make the transition to college life and keep his grades high!  Pray that he will draw closer to God and find his calling for his life!  

Family Beach Pictures & Shad's Party

 

Pictures are so important to me, especially as time goes on and kids grow up....

For many years I was not a very nostalgic person.  But as I grow older I began to  miss everything about the past.  In the past few months I've found myself really missing my "Boot Mama" my great aunt that raised me.  For most of my life I only looked forward to the future and didn't pay too much attention to the past.  The way I looked at it, there was nothing I could do about the past and I was too busy to think deeply about the it.  Now with one son grown and basically on his own & the second one leaving for college in a week, the past is a happier place for me!  Not that I'm not thrilled to see them pursue their dreams and have fun but I miss the simple days.  We had a great time for many years and we still have a great time but it's different  And it begins when they leave for college.... nothing is ever the same.  So knowing that in the back of my mind I get ready to watch another one leave.  Every day I think "this is the last time" for this or that.  Shad is a VERY strong willed kid believe me we have had our moments!  One of my close friends loves to tell me that I met my match and had to go to China to get a kid as stubborn as me LOL  She is right!  Despite that, I will miss him very much!  

Last weekend we had a combo Grad/Going Away to college/Birthday Party for Shad.

We rented out our local theater & surprised him :)  We watched Jurassic Park in comfort.  the theater is renting out it's smaller rooms.  It was great and we want to do it again.  

Surprise!

But this is what I see.....