Summer is HERE, And the Boys are Blooming!

It's been quite awhile since I last posted on my blog.  I have good intentions, but sometimes life gets in the way.  We just had Justin graduate from High school:

And Nicholas graduated from 8th grade:

Both boys graduated with high honors.  SOOO proud of my two boys, I can't even tell you how proud I am!  It's so amazing to watch your kids grow into young adults, and then into adulthood.  It's also slightly scary.  As proud as I am of them, I still feel like hanging on to them and finding a way for them to stay little for a while longer.  All the parenting books and magazines talk about kids going through growing pains, but I don't recall any that I read talking about the growing pains that PARENTS go through.  With our kids reaching and striving for independence, it makes us feel good that we've brought them up well, and that they are right on track, but it also hurts that we have to let go and LET them have the independence that is appropriate for their age.   How I long for another "Mommy, I love you more than anything!", or the sweet snuggles, hugs, and kisses of the 3yr. olds they used to be.

I long for those days, but I am trying not to look back too much.  The wonderful, responsible, and spiritually-minded young man that Justin has grown into is such a pleasure and a blessing to us as parents.  I honestly don't even know how he got that way, or what we did right, but apparently we did something right, and he did a lot right.  =)

When I think of how much Nicholas has grown, I'm just amazed at all the obstacles he has overcome to become who he is today.  Again, he is a fine young man, who is on the verge of blooming into his "real" self.  He's got 4 years of High school to go through yet, and I am so looking forward to watching him bloom.  Already, he has turned out to be a nice "kid" and while he's not at that "responsible" level that Justin is at yet, I can see little glimpses of it starting to peek out ready to emerge and help him become the young man he is meant to be.  I am SO proud of this kid, it actually hurts and makes me tear up thinking about all he has overcome and accomplished in his young life.

So, there's my mushy post for the year.  LOL!  I am just looking forward to what lies ahead for us as a family as well as for the boys.  =)