My Son’s Leaving
filed in Life on May.19, 2008
We went to church yesterday and they were honoring this year’s graduating seniors. They called each one up front and told a little bit about what their future plans were. And in case you are keeping track, none of them said they wanted to be a dental hygienist or a T-shirt printer. I don’t imagine many seniors today would say either of those. I guess that just means less competition for me and my wife. Anyway, after calling them all up to the front of the church, the church then showed a slide show/video that had been put to music including pictures of each kid. They had several pictures of each kid beginning with the baby pictures and working their way up to senior-hood. It was kind of like watching them grow up from babies to grown men and women in just a matter of seconds. As I sat there watching the videos, I couldn’t help but think of my 5 year old son who will be starting kindergarten next year. I have to admit a tear came to my eye as I sat there in the pew and realized that one day in the near future, that will be my son up there, a grown man, and leaving us to go off to live his life. I remember that day in my life when I left home, and somehow as a 17 year old, I never really imagined what that must have been like for my parents. But thinking about that now from a parent’s perspective, I think that will probably be the hardest day of my life. I can’t imagine coming home to a house without my boys being there (currently a 5 year old and a 12 week old). But it will happen. And I imagine I will get through it… just like every other parent does. But it really does make you stop and appreciate how great it is having kids in the house. We are truly blessed.

May 20th, 2008 on 8:11 am
It took us so long to have kids, it seemed like it would never happen. Now that we have twin girls and another girl on the way, it is amazing how fast the time flies!!! Our girls are already past 2 yrs now and it seems like just yesterday! We are truly blessed……and grateful for this time.
May 20th, 2008 on 8:03 pm
Just wait till next year at this time when you are going thru Kindergarten graduation. It’ll hit 10x harder. It was fun, but something about seeing my boy up on stage telling everyone he wants to be a basketball player when he grows up, while dressed in a green cap and gown (just like I wore when I graduated high school), just makes you think about how little time you have with them. Especially while they still think you are the coolest guy on the planet.
And I get to do it twice more!
May 21st, 2008 on 12:35 pm
Rusty, I was with Ray a few weeks ago when he,myself and my husband Ron stopped by. You and Beth truly have a wonderful family. I remember taking my son Ron to A&M (he will be 49 this year) and I cried all the way home. I think when a boy leaves home for school things are never the same if he comes home,but mine married while finishing his engineering degree. You will find yourself at many activities with these children when a tear will quietly show up. My son has caught me with the tears rolling and he will say Are you having memories Mom? and of course I am,but I am so thankful for the opportunity for those memories. Tell Beth hello and give the boys a hug.
September 26th, 2008 on 9:04 pm
The last few years, Max’s birthdays have been really hard for me. I realize that Max’s time at home with us is more than half over! I keep telling him that we are moving wherever he decides to go to college, because I can’t imagine my home without my son, and I can’t imagine not seeing him every day.
Tonight, Mike and I went to a visitation for a young lady who passed away at age 17. I had never met her or her family. Mike knows the father from one of the boards he is on. It was very emotional for both of us. It certainly made us stop and think how blessed we are each and every day to have our precious baby girl.
Every day, I realize how lucky we are to have our wonderful, healthy children. They are definitely our greatest blessings!