Looking back and bragging a bit

 

Why the pictures? Well the other day I sat and watched my baby well not really I guess if you call a 14 almost 15 year old a baby walk up to his position in the band out on the parking lot. OMG seriously there is no way he is that old. Right? Can I really have a Freshman in High School. I wanted to post on here a baby picture I will see if I can't load one. Wow how he has grown. He started big as it is but how he has grown. He was only... 9lbs 8oz 21 3/4 inches when he was born. Now he stands 5'11 and I won't say how much his weight is cause I just don't know anymore. He is a grown man size though. The top picture and goes back on time line of age.

How proud I am of him. He has come so far over his life with the struggles he has encountered in his life. Life hasn't been easy by any means for him. In his short life he has lived 16 places. Gone to multiple schools, multiple wards made lots of friends. He has dealt with parents divorcing, being the oldest and taking on more responsiblity than I would have like him too. Struggled with his mom going to school and working. Then babysiting alot when I say alot way to much if I could have controlled it. This year I thought this is great we are going to give him a break let him be a teenager move in to house more space more freedom to roam. Then his next struggle in life hits. This time health related. He has amazing strength and faith. Even though he has had all these struggles I am amazed at the accomplishments he has made. He is working on getting his Eagle scout, Plays in the Varsity Marching band, Smarter than anyone should be. But he still has the kid mentality wants to play and have fun.

I look at all of this and look at the amount he has grown in maturity especially spiritually this year. The trip to Nauvoo really made a difference in his faith and testimony. You see it in him. I found out that our old ward the ones my sisters are still in were reshowing a sex education video they played last year. I say education video. It is video of someone who goes around all over giving seminars to teens showing how the bible and waiting till marriage is related. She also gives them the statistics on STD's in the world today. When I told Malcolm and Cole they were going he was come on mom it is etched in my brain do I really have to see it again. YEP!
But why it makes me so uncomfortable watching it. Well this whole conversation was taking place at Chili's after back to school shopping with Cole and Malcolm. I looked at him and said well either you can go watch it again or I can tell you everything she said. He like THE TALK with you was bad enough. Cole is sitting there in the blue he and I have had the talk but he had not seen the video. Actually I started talking to them after a girl told Cole that she wanted to have sex with him in the 4th grade. OH MY GOSH!!! Seriously! So I decided it was time. Anyways, all day he was do I have to go. I really felt like they should have it every year right before school starts it re focuses them on what to be aware of.

So tonight it was after 6pm and I couldn't get hold of Stephanie or Michelle to make sure where it was at. So he came down stairs and I said I guess you'll just go to our SED tonight. He like no if this is where you want us to go then I will find out. He calls his cousin and get the place. Wow! I don't know if I would have done that when I was a teenager.
I picked them up after the fireside not much was said. But when we got home Cole said thank you for having me watch it and Malcolm just gave this look. He didn't have to say a word. I am so proud of him and who he is. I can't wait to see the man he is growing to be. If this is any sign he will be great!