My firstborn graduates from high school tonight.

Such a momentous occasion.

I remember that night of my high school graduation. Getting ready....hoping my hair looked all right. Hoping I looked all right. I would be sitting on the front row, since I was in the top 10 of my class, so I wanted to look good. Dashing out the door, asking my older (and much more beauty-savvy sister), "How do I look?" She had no idea how I idolized her. Her reply I will never forget: "Beautiful." I smiled the rest of the night.

I don't physically remember walking across the stage and getting my diploma--I have a picture of me shaking our vice principal's hand and receiving the diploma, but it was a blur in my mind. I do remember the family party afterwards. My sister-in-law made a cake and I remember a note from my oldest brother. He talked of silver being formed in the crucible and how that brings forth its best potential. It was prophetic of his life at the time....and mine years later.

I remember that last summer before college....having a serious crush for the first time, on a guy who was interning with our youth group at church. I enjoyed his flirting with me and had my first kiss that summer. I fell hard for him and entered college that fall wondering what would become of us. He gave me a New Testament with a note in the front. I kept it for a very long time. We eventually went our separate ways, after I met someone those first few weeks of college. But I will never forget him and the way he introduced me to the feeling of butterflies in your tummy and spending hours dreaming.....

Yes, high school graduation is a turning point...a celebration of achieving a goal, a looking forward to the next adventure.

I can't believe my CHILD is there. He is a young man....happened so very fast.

I like who he is; I like who he is becoming. I look forward to celebrating him tonight.

Congratulations, Levi Thomas Hinson.

You have made me a very proud mother today.