That was then . . . this is now.

Wow.  How did we get here?  It just doesn't seem that long ago that I was looking at Goofball for the first time outside the hospital nursery and wondering who in the world he looked like.  Years later (about the time he reached the age in the pic below) we finally realized how much he looks like his uncle.  However, he has certainly become his own person.

And now he's becoming a man.  Becoming?  Shoot.  He hardly has a foot left in childhood anymore, it would seem some days.

Friday was one of those.

Each year our church family has hosted a "Family Christmas" outreach/party/whatever you want to call it.  This has actually been the 4th year for this event.  It's probably our best attended event each year.  It was decided that we should host another one this year, but none of the adults volunteered to put it together.  G, still 17, really had the desire to do this.  I have no idea where it came from except God.

After the pastor gave his approval, G took off and spent 3 solid weeks organizing and planning.  He booked special music, delegated the decorations to his sister and her best friend (except the decorating of the signs, which was a fun idea he came up with), communicated with the church secretary (ok, this also happens to be his grandma, so easy to do), planned the food, crafts and games, set-up, clean-up, program, gospel presentation (asked someone to do it--didn't do it himself).  He did it well within the given budget and Friday went off stress-free!

In the middle of the day Friday, while I was watching my 17yo stretch his wings, or rather flex his adult muscles, a friend shot me an email with a link to a blog.  Now in her defense, she DID warn that it would make me cry.  But it was such an appropriate read this weekend as I watched G organize this event, sing publicly for the first time ever, start a new job, spend time hanging out with his 2yo brother at the donut shop, and take time several times each day to wrap his arms around me and give me a hug--some serious and some . . . well, goofy.

Oh!  The blog link!  And don't say I didn't warn you--get that Kleenex ready:  Mystery

As for G . . . here's a couple pics from 'then' and 'now'.  The first pic he's about 5.5, becoming a big brother for the 2nd time.  The more recent was taken this fall.