The last one in the red cap & gown.

The baby of the family has officially turned his tassel.

 

 

 

 This past Friday I dusted off a dress I haven't wore since June of 2009.  The dress that I wore when I graduated high school.  For some reason, I never wore other than that one time. Others also put on their Sunday Best for the traditional ceremony that celebrates those like our tall, handsome fella in a red cap & gown.  Small town graduations are short & sweet.  Quick welcomes & farewells.  Standing O's from the graduating class for those who are most deserving.  Back flips off the stage.  Unique wahoo's when their loved one's name is called.  Short & sweet, but still memorable nonetheless.

Sam's cousin (one of three that graduated with this class) was the salutatorian && praised the Lord's name with his welcome speech.  He spoke so elegantly about how following the Lord can only bring bring good things to your life.

Tassels have turned.

We had to follow the post graduation ceremony traditions...  of lots of pictures!

To the graduate:  dude, we are so proud of you!  We are so thankful to call you ours.  Thanks for loving us so weirdly well.  I have no doubt you are going to do great things with your one sweet life.  I pray that you will be inspired by the work of the Lord && seek his face in all things.   We love you, cutie!

The one with 18 candles.

Sam's graduation supper was Saturday night.  I woke up Sunday morning and walked into the kitchen.  Today was my sweet little brother's 18th birthday.  After the inspiration of Sandra from the entire week before.. I wanted to more than just a couple of wrapped boxes.  So balloons were bought & blew up.  Gifts were wrapped with ribbon. Mini Happy Birthday Signs were made... etc, etc.  He was awoken by the loud sound of annoying sisters singing Happy Birthday && a burnt (the way he likes it) piece of sausage with a candle lite just for him.

I hope he felt loved.  I hope he felt celebrated.

 I'll explain the balloon messages later.

 

Around lunchtime, we asked Ryan how he wanted to spend his day -- knowingly, he said fishing.  So we went down to our pond and were joined by about 8 of his buddies to enjoy a day in the sun... celebrating him.

 

 

 

&& that night, we celebrated Ryan with his 2nd favorite meal (1st being Mama's breakfast).. the Ultimate Feast at Red Lobster

 Then home.. to celebrate with Dewey's cupcakes.

 

Okay.. so the balloons were an absolute joke.  Ryan's sweet little gal is 15.  We always joke about how young she is.. when in reality the age difference is nothing.  When I was writing on the balloons.. I wrote 'you're legal'..  Ashley was like we should write "& she is not!"  So we did.  We adore Gabi - I hope she can laugh about our little joke with Ryan.

 

All day long, we went out of our way to act crazy && so excited for him.  We sang, had birthday hats, joked, && sang a lot more.  Turning 18 is a big deal.. and we wanted to make sure he knew that we knew it is a big deal.  

   

Ryan, I hope you had a good birthday.  I hope you felt loved.  I hope you felt celebrated.  I love watching you grow into a crazy sweet young man.  Happy 18, Cutie.  You deserve nothing but good things.  I love you.

 

The one who makes big, bigger.

 Sam's mom amazes me.  She thrives in the moment to make someone feel loved and celebrated.  For example, Sam graduation.  After all the ceremonies we went to Applebee's for supper.  As soon as we all got settled, Sandra pulled out this Congrats Grad! centerpiece and these stuffed smiley-faces with graduation hats on the table in front of Sam.  She then pulled out a small bag of gold Congratulations! confetti and sprinkled it all over the table.  && then this crazy woman pulled out a large hand shaped noise maker and started shaking it back & forth while loudly saying Congratulations!! You're a graduate!  Congratulations to the graduate! Wahoo!

I am inspired by her.  She makes little things a big deal.  She makes big things an even bigger deal.  She is so sweet and thoughtful.  She does not care how crazy she looks.. as long as someone is smiling and knows we are here to celebrate them.  I know that in Applebee's, Sam felt good.  I know he felt loved and he felt celebrated.  Mission accomplished.

This past Saturday, Sandra did it again.  She invited some friends and family over celebrate the graduate one more time.  She is obviously so proud of that boy.  :) 

So we arrived to a set table with prepared salads, appropriate condiments and NCSU napkins.

 

 

We ate chicken, steak, baked potatoes and fresh summer desserts.

We played with babies.

 We drank coffee && did a little fellowship around the fire pit.

 

Most importantly, we celebrated Sam.

 

Inspired? Mission accomplished.