eighteen with an 'always remember'

I have refrained from blogging much this month because I am processing....processing that by tomorrow morning at 4:39 a.m. (May 17) I will have an 18 year old
Processing that in 2 weeks my 18 year old will graduate from high school.
Processing that Matt and my season of raising our Eli is over.

What a blessing it has been to see our son grow into a man
but this mom is sad (like crying even as I write this post)
so so happy for our Eli but so sad to move on from this season.

Eli Ben, your dad and I are so grateful for you- That God has allowed us to be your parents.  As you start out your adult life may you always remember this:

• Life will get hard- it always does sweetie.....when it does DO NOT GIVE UP- You are more than a conquer in Christ....pray for wisdom and strength and He will faithfully see you through WHATEVER hard time comes your way.
• You will have opportunities to loose your integrity- your integrity is your honesty, morals, principles. Usually these opportunities come with promises that nobody will know what you have done- or maybe it will seem that everybody is doing this 'something'.  It may promise lots of money or make you look super good- It may promise a 'great time'.....ALWAYS CHOOSE TO UPHOLD YOUR INTEGRITY- Proverbs 10:9 promises that 'Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.'
• Be careful of Pride- Pride is when you think your way (or you) is better than others.  When you look down on or put down people and build yourself up....Pride will always go before a fall- PRACTICE HUMILITY.  It's so hard and against everything you may feel like doing but so worth it- Let God build you up- let it be Him who defines the worth of what and who you are.
• When you fail (not if) YOU TRY AGAIN. and again. and again....there is not a great man or woman out there who has not had to try again after failure- It's the ones that have stopped trying that have missed great opportunity.

You've got this thing called 'grown up life' Eli Ben.....you've got it because you know and love Jesus.
It also helps that here on earth you have a dad that adores you and a mom that will stalk your every adult move and make sure you know my thoughts on certain things....smile :) :) :)

Happy 18th

All my love,
Mom

And after burning his brother with his own 18th birthday candle Eli broke out into a fit of laughter...this pretty much sums up this boys life- pester then laugh then pester than laugh- this is a trait he has learned from his dad :) :) :)