Nathaniel graduates

My boy graduated last week.  Can this possibly be true?!  How did this happen?!  Since when did I say he could grow up and graduate? 

This is what he looked like last week, I swear.

Ok, now I am going to start to lose it.  My squishy, bald, fat little boy made a deposit on his college apartment today. (I actually paid the money, but you get my point)  

Wait! Stop!  Don't do it, stop moving the tassle over!  You're not supposed to grow up this fast!  I need a Valium.

Some  background information regarding my boy's name:
I wanted to name a son Nathaniel since I was 14 years old.  Remember Barbara Mandrell, the country and Western singer?  (I lived in Oklahoma at the time and it is a requirement to listen to that kind of music if you live there) This is what she named her son because it meant, "gift from God".  I loved that. Then in my 11th grade English class we were assigned to read The Scarlett Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  I thought the name was so dignified, so important.  It was at that point when  I knew I had to have a son with that name.

Nathaniel

Morgan is only 14 months older and couldn't quite pronounce Nathaniel as a little tyke.  Hmm, I wonder why?  She called him Sanyo, which morphed into Sanno (we spell it Sano actually)

Sano

He is not so little anymore.  Check out how my dearest beloved is trying to stand up as straight as he can to not look so dwarfed by his little boy.

(Picture taken before seminary graduation where Nathaniel was a speaker.)

He also turned 18 last week.  How rude of him. 

I have two more children that are younger than Sano and it looks like they are growing up just as quickly as him too.  Life is moving on.  Nurturing my children is my job.  It is my passion.  It is my calling.  And they are slowly but surely, growing into adults.  They are one by one taking on life in the way they want to and it is thrilling to behold.  And heartbreaking at the same time.  My babies are not babies anymore. 

  So I guess I need to deal with this change.  It is bittersweet.  I am so happy for him really.  I can't wait to see what he will do in his life.  There is so much to accomplish from this point on.  Nathaniel, my gift from God, the world is your oyster. Seize the opportunities in life and make the most of every single one.  Give thanks along the way to the One who created you.  Choose to be happy and share that happiness with others.