Another Noteworthy Graduation

The days have been speeding by since my oldest son, Paul David, graduated from Law School.

It has already been a month and over the last month so much has happened that I fear it all gets mixed up in my brain like fruit cocktail. I know, such an odd comparison, isn't it? It isn't that fruit cocktail is bad, but each fruit is so tasty separately and then someone had this brilliant idea of throwing them all together in small pieces and adding a bit of sugar and voila! the individual goodness is gone and replaced by the mass mixture.

Very similar to my life over the last month: I turned 60,  my son graduated from Law School, my brother in law visited from Brasil, my nephew rekindled our family closeness, The World Cup, summer began and friendships changed. In a week, another sister- in- law arrives with her husband from Brasil ( my same former husband , same family)

so the slow down isn't here just yet.

Paul has accomplished much in his life and as I reflected on what to say to him in his scrapbook I am finishing of graduation(shhh, it's a surprise!), it occurred to me how important it is to specifically think through what it is you are proud of when commending your children. I think that this is no matter how old they are, how  unworthy you feel, how young they appear, or how small or large the celebration and moment.

Paul is a fine man , graduate of the Air Force Academy, former military officer, having attained the rank of Major, served in Italy,  Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Panama, and even Texas. He was good at his job, I could tell, and  am not just saying that because I am his mom.

Paul was always good at whatever he determined to do, from collecting coins, to writing papers and giving speeches. Of course he was a valued member of our armed services!

His graduation from the Air Force Academy was one of the highlights of his earlier years, and my favorite part was watching as his hat flew high into the air, signifying the end of being a cadet on that beautiful day in May of 1996 , my husband's and my 25th wedding anniversary. Beautiful Moment!!

So it was not with any trepidation that I listened when he unfolded his plans and career change, deciding to go into Law School. Surely he would succeed, just as he always had. The fact that he had a wife now and newborn twin daughters just made it more challenging. He is not afraid of hard work, he is determined, he is one of the smartest men I know, he is a man of faith, he would do well.

This is a picture of the family when he began school, Allison working as much as she could, the girls not pausing from growing and giggling as he studied.

While in school Paul was chosen to be on the Campbell Law Review team, and also among other accomplishments, he entered a  trial team competition and won the award for Best Closing Remarks. Of course, since I raised him, oh so many years ago, it was not with any degree of surprise that I heard that he won this particular award! He won every argument we ever had easily and handily, throughout his childhood, always being careful to show respect as he debated with Mom.

 Family is important to us, so as many as possible decided to attend and support the graduation of Paul in May this year. Tio Xilo and son Pedro arrived from Brasil, sister Rachel flew in from New Mexico, sisters Becca and Margie with their entire families, and brother Andrew and myself all descended on Fuquay-Varina , North Carolina. We were all pleasantly surprised to hear he was graduating Cum Laude and ranking  5th in his graduating class!! We had a BLAST being together!!! Allison's parents came and so did Paul's grandma from Tennessee. I was beaming with pride and adoration through it all.

Why am I proud of Paul?
How can I properly express a heart full of words on a simple reflective blog, then transfer it to his scrapbook? Such a daunting task, yet a simple one too.

I am happy he is going to be a Lawyer and fully expect his success in that field. I was happy he graduated from the Air Force Academy, became a Major, changed careers and pursued another goal. I am happy he studied well and graduated high in his class.

However, my pride in Paul is based on his relationships with his wife and children, now numbering three. Paul's faithfulness in fatherhood over the length of his years on earth will continue to cause me deep pride and joy.  My pride in Paul has a direct connection with his fear of God, his commitment to Jesus Christ, and his pursuit of righteousness as he ages. I am thankful every single day that Paul is guided by God into His Kingdom and that Paul upholds the Laws of God first and foremost.

Simply stated, I am proud to be Paul's mom. I love him.

Just thinking.....

Sometimes a perfectly odd feeling overtakes me and I sit at the computer and want to blog. No reason that I can identify, just a need to sort out my thoughts and mind and it results in a blogging session. I suppose the Blog Time could be similar to someone coming home, sitting down with a cup of coffee with a spouse, and reviewing things.

When the kids were growing up, our family had this incredibly hilarious habit of stopping whatever we were doing after a party, dinner, gathering or visit from friends, and 'reviewing' in our own language,using our own grading system and without other people present. Kind of like a Report card by Ribeiro. If a friend was over they rarely were included, but as soon as they left, out came the heads and in came the comments.

"Did you like the interactions between _____ and ____?", "How about that dress she wore?" '" Was there enough food?" (this one was my normal inquiry!)"I think next time less veggies and more drinks", "Can you believe she brought such and so who wasn't even invited?!" Well, you get the idea, just a little bit of gossip and gab thrown into the Ribeiro blender and sorted out and served amongst ourselves. It seemed so normal and non -threatening , certainly not critical or mean, just fun and distinctively our own.

I think that is what I miss the most about the girls leaving to begin their own homes and families. The Gab Sessions After the Events . I went to the last day of school for the year meeting today and am dying to talk about the ridiculously unimportant things. But alas, none to gab with and the need to ready for the next activity, taking care of Ethan.

I have been chatting with God alot about this weather, the beauty of His creation, the need to just love the moment and live in it, as opposed to wishing for something else and looking forward to the next acceptably fun event. Even this week I was thinking about going away and getting a break from the routine and almost missed appreciating the beautiful time the family was having being together at the beach in Ocean City.

The skies were beautiful, the family all happy to be together at the ocean, the Mack 'n Manco still the best boardwalk pizza around.....

What a blessing that was , restoring me for a day.

As I was writing this, Ethan dashed by me with a box of chalk "uncaJosh' gave him, for the driveway, smiling as if he had been given a million dollars. I pray he stays excited about the little things.

 

Becca called with a quick inquiry as to how to preheat an oven already overheated. We decided the off and back on system would work best, chatted a few more minutes and bid each other a fun afternoon doing very different activities.

You see how my mind goes?

I had begun this blog to write my thoughts about son Paul graduating from Law School recently. Between work, grandsons, sons showing me resumes, beginnings of making an empty garage , eating some lunch(I did make a tasty chicken the other evening :-) ) and a phone call, I am done with the great Blog.