Our FIRST homeschool graduate

It seems almost unbelievable that we've made it this far!

I blinked and our first young one has graduated and is ready to take on whatever God puts in his path.

It's been such a blessing to not only be his mother all these years, but also his teacher.

I thank God for being the one to teach him...

his letters and numbers...

 how to read and write...

how to love and appreciate music...

that it's okay to have fun and be silly...

how to explore and fall in love with the great big beautiful world all around us....

teach him who Jesus is and our beautiful Catholic Church....

all about the saints...

learning and living virtue (which the teaching comes so naturally in a big family, since there's always someone who needs help or held)....

and SO MUCH MORE!   

And this was all done alongside his 8 siblings, who love him and look up to him and truly know him since they've been his "classmates" all these years.  THIS has been the biggest blessing of all!!  Siblings becoming best friends!!  

It's amazing to look back and somewhat take a breather.  I can change my "I think I can" to "I did it!!!" and "we made it!!".

All through God's love and grace and wisdom!!!

Congrats, Jonathan (aka "Fone" - here on the blog)!!

I love you and am SO proud of you!!!

++Thank you, God!!++

Blessed with 17 years with you!!!!

Happy birthday today to our young one who first made me a momma.  It's such a blessing watching you grow and mature and I'm so excited to see what God has in store for you in the future.  You are handsome.  You are humble.  You are super smart.  You are one amazingly talented kid!  You put in 120% of yourself in whatever you do and excel amazingly.  I am so blessed to be your mom!!  

 (performing in Shrek)

 

 (performing in Seussical)

 (March for Life 2018)

 (you always had the best expressions during the ride pictures from our WDW trip!)

 (you played in Marvello the Magnificent as Marvello)

++Thank you, Lord, for Fone!!  

Please help him feel your love and presence all throughout the next year!!++

16 Things We Love About YOU

I teared up with this birthday this year.  This awesome kid has gotten over the hump of crazy grouchy teenage boy hormones and has became one of those sweetest, most pleasant, responsible, dependable, and handsome teenagers I have ever met.  I know I'm his mom, and you all would say that I'm biased.  Maybe a little.  But if you've met him or know him, I think you'd absolutely agree too!

Obviously with this birthday, we also celebrated a big milestone - DRIVING!!  And he passed his driving test and got all his hours in, so he's an official driver.  And what a blessing that is!!!  It's so strange still, but the reality is setting in and man, it totally takes a different trust in God and letting go even more.



So I've already shared a few things above, but here's 16 more things we love about this guy - Fone....

#1 ~ that you play games with me (Rose)

#2 ~ that you are my best friend (Mario)

#3 ~ you are handsome 

#4 ~ you are nice to me and kiss me (Yoda)

#5 ~ you help me with my school if mom is busy (Rose, Pookey, Max)

#6 ~ your drive to always do your best 

#7 ~ you babysit me (Max)

#8 ~ you play video games with me like Clash of Clans and Clash Royale (Ariel)

#9 ~ you are so responsible and an amazing helper/volunteer who genuinely wants to help others 

#10 ~ I like playing games/video games with you (Mario)

#11 ~ you are smart and do amazing with your school

#12 ~ your snuggles and smooches (Lady)

#13 ~ you are funny (Melody)

#14 ~ you were the first to call me "Mom" and have made all these firsts so fun and enjoyable

#15 ~ you help me when I play video games (Pookey)

#16 ~ I am a mini YOU!  (Pookey)

++God love you and bless always, Fone!  We love you and are SO proud of you!!  May St Christopher always intercede for you in safe travels!++