Boys To Men

This is our young family, back when we thought we were done having kids with 2. (The twin girls came a few years latter and were quite the surprise!) Back then I lived in a boy's world: I prided myself in the fact that I knew all the names of all the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Power Rangers, and which colors went with who. We went through a professional wrestling stage, and I had to learn who they were. Professional Sports teams and players, then Nascar Drivers. (I was so excited when I found out I was having girls, and thought to myself "I finally get to shop in the Barbie isle!")

There's just something about little boys and their mothers. (I guess it's the same for little girls and their daddy's.) But, this week I learned something, that little Boys grow up to be men. It's a sad fact of life. And it became all too clear to me one day this week . . . My oldest son started college. College! I can not be old enough to have a child in college! Kyle is going to Western Bible College. It is a local Assemblies of God college right here in Phoenix. He wants to be a Youth Pastor.

Kyle's first day of Preschool, and first day of College.

And on the very same day Kyle started college, Zach made an appointment to meet with a Marine recruiter. AHHHH! Zach is a senior in high school this year, so he is now looking into what he wants to do for college. He wants to be a Music Pastor. But, Zach loves school and loves to learn and wants to also study things like History, and get a degree he can use if he's ever not employed at a Church. And he wants someone else to pay for it! (or at least help pay for his education)

Well, the Marines have a program called the Musician Enlistment Option Program. Zach would have to audition on Guitar to be in the Marine Corp Jazz Band. He would still be a Marine, and go through boot camp, etc., then they would send him to the Armed Forces School of Music. And after that he would be stationed at one of 12 bases that have bands. These bands play for all the ceremony's, inaugurations, etc. And during his active duty and after, the Marine Corp would help pay for his college. The recruiter told me that the bands never get called up to the front lines, but this is still very scary for a mom to think of her little boy joining the Marines. Especially during times of war.

Zach will be looking into other options for college as well. I just wish we could go back in time. This is one of my favorite pictures of me and Zach. At Sea World, learning about Starfish. To think of him out there in the "real world" is just a little too scary! Maybe I could somehow sabotage his homework, so he would fail his Senior year, and not go anywhere!

Me and my Men!