May 14 - Graduation Day

The day has finally arrived!  Oliver and I graduated from Columbia International University at 11:30am, both with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Humanities, summa cum laude.  We were able to have Oliver's parents, his brother, and Cindy in town for the big event.  Oliver's dad tried picking Griffin up from the nursery and bringing him into the ceremony to see us graduate, but the applause and screams of congratulations for the graduates just prior to us scared Griffin.  So, Granddaddy played outside with him until the end of the ceremony.  It was so special for Oliver and I to sit together at our graduation and walk, one right after the other, across that stage.  It has been a long, tough road, and there has been a lot of sacrifice made for us to go back to college 5 years after graduating high school.  College was a lot different for us than for most people.  There were no late night chats with the roommate, sororities, fraternities, sports, parties on the weekends, road trips with friends, hall meetings, or anything like that for us.  We came into it all married, and three semesters before I finished, I found out I was pregnant.  I cannot say it's been easy, and I cannot say it's been all fun times.  But I can say that it was worth it, and I can say that we are proud to have overcome all the obstacles by the grace of God. 

May 13 - Sour Face

This is Griffin's sour face.  He makes it whenever he doesn't want to do something, he doesn't like what's happening around him, he's frustrated, etc.  It's basically his way of expressing displeasure, short of crying and whining.  I'm glad he has such a cute sour face.  Yes, we were out at the pool for a little while again today.  Earlier, Oliver and I had graduation practice over at the school.  We're both a bit surprised that we aren't more excited for tomorrow.  I think we're both dealing with a lot of residual stress from the past years in college and stress about the future.  But regardless of how we feel, God is good, and he has a plan for our lives that will bring him glory.  And that is all we need.

May 12 - More Sun Fun

May 11 - Thrilled

This was from a couple of days ago, but it would work just fine for most days this week (and probably for most days the entire summer) since we're seeing a LOT of the pool in the heat that is South Carolina.  I just love this shot...It really captures how thrilled Griffin is with our little inflatable pool.  He is in rare form when he's playing around in the water, and it makes my heart glad.  Cindy and I definitely caught some rays and absolutely drove our neighbors crazy making a ruckus with Griffin in the pool.  I have found that the pool is also a fantastic containment device, corralling him into a limited area that he enjoys being in, so I can sit back and relax watching him play.  This is a far cry from normal life inside the house, where the kid never stays in one place for more than two seconds and continues to find new and potentially dangerous things to place with/in/on/under.  There is no sitting down and relaxing watching him play anywhere else in the world besides in this pool.  And THAT is one of the many reasons why it is the best purchase a mom can make in the summer.  Just do it, moms.  Just buy a little pool.  It is money well, well spent.

May 10 - Nani's Here!

There is nothing that makes Griffin (or me, for that matter!) happier than to have family in town!  Cindy arrived today to stay in town until the day after our graduation, and we're all pleased as punch.  In other news, today was my final exam in Romans, the final exam of my college career!  As I walked outside those doors for the last time as a student, I couldn't help but throw my head and arms back and breathe in the relief and joy of completing my college degree.  I am done!  Done, done, done!  Hallelujah!  What a day.

May 9 - The Chair

It has happened...Griffin has finally figured out how to climb up on the furniture.  We're working on staying "on your bottom" a lot these days.  Griffin likes to get his juice cup, some toys, and a few books up on this chair all at the same time.  He regularly signs "help" to get all these items on the chair with him and again to get down once he's thrown them all onto the floor.  I fully expect and am anticipated the dreaded first fall from such heights, but I'm glad to say that day has not yet come.  What a big boy we have.

May 8 - Sweetness Itself

Sweetness itself.  I am so blessed to be a mother.  I know that not everyone gets to experience the highs, the lows, the blessings, and the trials, and I am so thankful that God has allowed me this precious gift.  As I celebrate my second Mother's Day (or my third, if you count pregnancy), I praise the Lord for using Griffin to sanctify me, for providing for all our needs, for protecting us daily, and for sustaining me through the difficult times.  Although the requirements that fill a mother's day (pun intended) can be exhausting and completely draining in every way, it's moments like the ones in this picture that bring clarity to how rewarding and fulfilling motherhood truly is.