Congratulations, Dylan!

It's been a tough road and an even longer one but he has made it (with lots of help from many people).  In just 6 short weeks Dylan will graduate with the Class of 2013.

 He has stayed busy since Christmas working at Dominos Pizza. He enjoys his guitar, fishing, hunting, and cooking up some the craziest recipes! He had to grow up alot in the past couple of years making some typical and some not so smart teenage choices, but he has over come them.  I love the man that I see in him when he is working in the yard, at the farm, or taking care of his brother and sister. 

  “And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1c (NLT)

For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   Jeremiah 29:11

In Jeremiah, the Lord also tells us, "Before I formed you in your mother's belly, I knew the plans for you..."  What a testament Dylan is to this! When we don't see the reasons for things or don't like the way things are turning out, eventually years down the road you can stop and say, "Oh that's why it was that way!"  As a teenage mom I struggled.  When I graduated from college and fought for my boys against my parents, it was an ugly point in our lives, but there was a purpose.  When Dylan decided that at 18 living at Nonnie's was better for him, I was angry.  Every time my husband and I have argued over the fact I never reversed a shared custody with my parents, I shut down.  But 19 years down the road, this young man is graduating, going to school, and is receiving a pell grant for all of his schooling needs, all because of the path over the past 19 years.  Talk about God knowing the type of person/student he would be and having a plan to make sure he had a future.

Come September, Dylan will head to WyoTech in Wyoming.  He will be in their diesel mechanic program with the hopes of working on large commercial equipment.  He will also have a second area of study in small engines.  

So as Dylan prepares to enjoy his last summer before adulthood sets in with a lifetime of working the 9-5 job, we have been told that we can not talk about him leaving.  It breaks her heart and she has told us every reason why this is a very bad thing for Dylan to live so far away.  Dylan, I hope you see the love she has for you.  She thinks you hung the moon.

Congratulations to the Class of 2013 and to you, Dylan!