PICTURES

 Nathan had his birthday and here is, officially at 16 years old. :)
He got a cool coffee mug, coffee and a whole bottle of Hershey's to himself for mochas.

He got a hilarious unicorn card from Uncle Mike and Aunt Amber, it sings about unicorn magic.

 First attempt at a blowing out the candles pic...





and re-staged for another pic.

 He went to formal last night with a friend named Lauren.






Doesn't he look just spiffy?!!

And Lauren seems like a very sweet girl, if she is as sweet as she is beautiful she'll make someone very happy someday.

 We told her she looks like a Disney princess.
Ellie said where do you get dresses like that?!


They had a lot of fun and laughed much.

 Here is my JAM the man. I adore him!

He went to his first school dance on Friday. I had eyes there at the dance so I didn't chaperon this one. He said it was a lot of fun.
I keep saying to them that its so hard being the mama, as good and right and healthy things happen that signify their growth into manhood, my heart at once is thankful and ...happy, but also grieved at the loss of their childhood. The mother-son thing is so inexplicable, the good and right thing is for them to grow out from under me, so to speak, but the detaching pains me. No one warns you that cutting the apron strings actually does hurt the mama, they aren't just strings tied around her waist, they are strings that are woven deeply into the mama's heart after cradling, loving, nursing, tending, singing, teaching, growing, raising up this little wild boy creature. All of this in a healthy way, I am talking about. They must grow into men, still loving me, of course, still having a tender place for me in their heart hopefully, but I musn't hold them too tightly and hinder their man-hood. Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, or Bringing Up Boys by Dobson, one of them talked about mothers who damage their boys by not letting them grow up and  away. If this is all done well, the son will still adore his mama and be able to leave and cleave to his wife. Much prayer, always much, much prayer.

And there was another visit to see the bulldog pups! Aren't they SO CUTE!

Ellie said they got there and the pups were ready to play and play and then then were done and they all fell to sleep! :)
We are so looking forward to having one of these cute little things in January when they are ready to separate from their mama!