Transitions....

Tonight we began the first of several transition milestones in our lives. I'm not too sure I'm ready for this transition but ready or not, here we come!  Tonight's milestone was Brad's last choir concert in his high school career.  We had a solo that he sang wonderfully and he was so poised up on stage.  As I watched his solo and the rest of the concert, I realized, this is it... The last kid to graduate from High School, the last kid in a choir concert, the last kid to worry about underage curfews and the last kid to make a college decision.  We are really proud of Brad's accomplishments as we are proud of Misty and David's.  Brad will graduate next Thursday night cum laude and attend Marquette University in Milwaukee next fall as a Pre-med student.  Wasn't it just yesterday that he learned how to ride a bike and how to write his name?  Time sure has flown.

Brad singing his solo

We have gotten to know a couple of Brad's friends really well. There is his friend Kal, who all through High School had the same long haircut and about 8 weeks ago, got most of it cut off to donate to "Locks of Love".  I cried when I saw him and his short hair!  I had never seen him with short hair!  Kal loves to run and has a heart for service.  Last year he was the only one of his friends to letter in "Service Learning".  Brad stays at Kal's house when we are out of town.  His parents, Karl and Krisi have become Brad's other parents.  He even has a bed at their house.  This family has been a huge blessing to us.  We know that Brad has a safe place to lay his head and a home full of love to go to when we are gone.  

Kal and Brad with their prom dates, Rachel and Ally

Then there is Alex.  Alex is the kid that hangs out at our house.  He comes here even when Brad isn't.  He calls after major snow storms to see if we need help with snow removal.  Alex is  a swimmer and loves to talk.  If he does not end up in politics after college I will be totally shocked.  He has strong convictions and is not afraid to stand up for them. This is a kid that knows his faith, defends his faith and serves often at his church.  The other thing Alex does really well is EAT!  When he is here we order 2 large pizza's for 4 people knowing that Alex can eat an entire pizza on his own.  And with that pizza he will drink most of a gallon of milk.  

Brad and Alex

As we head into a week with the Baccalaureate Service, final projects, exams and papers due, final transcripts to Marquette University for college, graduation and finally the beginning of graduation parties I will have to keep reminding myself that these kids NEED to move on. Each of them is heading off to a different college in a different area.  Each of them has different talents and each will have a different walk with the Lord, and probably different even from what they look like now.  They will explore what it's like to live without Mom and Dad right there. They will experience good times, great times and really tough times in their lives.  They will all need prayer.  What I need to remember the most though is that as much as I love each of them, they have a heavenly Father that loves them even more than we as parents do and that He will direct and guide each of them as they walk through life.  We can't ask for much more than that, can we?