From Boys to Men...

18 years ago, at about the age of 4 months, still buckled in his carseat, we dropped Adam off at his first, and only daycare.  Chris Pierce had a waiting list but we finally got him in.  She was awesome.  That very day, as Ival went to pick him up, he saw an old friend from high school that he hadn't seen in years.  As it turned out, her son, just a few months older than Adam, also went to Chris' daycare.  Though the boys started out together too young to play, or talk, or walk, as they grew older, they became fast and best friends.

Over the years, Ben and Adam were inseparable.  Ben spent most weekends at our house.  He was like another son to us.  Today, at age 18, they are still best friends and spend a lot of time together.

Tonight, I looked outside and there they were - almost like little kids again, jumping on the trampoline and being boys.  I can't describe the feeling that came over me.  So many wonderful memories - trick or treating in their costumes, coming to our house for the 4th of July every year, growing up together to become wonderful young men.

They now spend their time together going to cross-fit training to prepare themselves for the military and hanging out.  Ben has joined the Marines and will be leaving for boot camp in July.  Adam is getting ready to join the Army.  They've come so far. 

I knew they'd have a fit if I went out and took pictures - pictures that I felt I needed to have.  So, being a mother, I snuck upstairs and watched for a long time as they enjoyed being boys, and managed to sneak a few pictures through the window at the boys who have been such good friends for such a long time.

Then Adam came upstairs and caught me.  So I skulked downstairs and told them I needed a picture of the muscles they've gotten while doing cross-fit.  After a lot of talking, I finally got a few...

What a wonderful night this was...