Another Milestone Reached (Almost)

I've promised to stop calling my youngest son the b_ _ _. I'm glad that I never promised to stop calling my 3 sons "boys", because they will always be "the boys" to me. Of course, I also think of them as blondes, although no one else has probably thought of them as blonde for at least 10 years.

Well, the ba _ _ has his final final at the University of Georgia on Tuesday. Although he will not be an official graduate immediately, it's just a matter of days . . .

Wasn't it just a couple of years ago that we brought him home an hour or two before Mom and Dad arrived with his two older brothers? When I said that he had a Roman nose, my mother objected, saying, "No, he doesn't! He has a pretty nose!" As he had done with his first two grandsons, Dad just sat and smiled at the sleeping baby. (Well, he never said I couldn't use the b _ _ _ word when I was referring to his infancy!)

Big brothers were happy to receive rocking chairs and Cabbage Patch babies. It didn't take long for them to lose their dolls' pacifiers and shoes, but we still have those dolls. (along with boxes and boxes of their own baby clothes)

The role of big brother came easily to the two oldest. One of my favorite memories was the occasion when I explained to them that their brother "cannot drink Kool-Aid." The youngest was in his infant seat, and the two oldest were running around with their Tupperware sippy-cups. Imagine my surprise when they came running into the kitchen to announce, "Mom! Mom! He can drink Kool-Aid!"

Well, the 3 "boys", now "men" by any stranger's assessment, have been a trio for over 20 years. We've survived broken bones, lost soccer games, totaled cars, and worse. We've celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, THREE Eagle ranks, and better.

A gift of the "worse" is the realization that each day is precious. We never know when a gathering of our whole little family will be the last. We may be celebrating a milestone or simply sharing supper, but whenever we're all together--well, it doesn't get any better than that!