Nurture Your Child

as the pearl he is. Each of these children sitting before me are so cute and wonderful, each is valued and unique, and each has grown with your parenting, to be the people they are today. But you are not yet finished. Praise these children, help them to grow further, and don't be discouraged...with little kids come little problems and with big kids come big problems, but they will still need your love and guidance to get them through. These are the words the priest spoke to us parents sitting in the audience, watching as our sons and daughters took part in their confirmation ceremony. It was a beautiful ceremony, very touching, watching these 32 children accept their role as a child of God, to live as good people and be their very best. There were many tears shed throughout the service, mine mingling with the mother sitting to my right, and flowing more heavily as I watched another mother wipe at the tears flowing down her own cheeks. But there were also many smiles and moments of laughter. I was so proud of my 'sun'...he rasied the sun above his head to help the sunflowers grow, and then he said his part in the play as eloquently as was possible. When he was blessed with a cross upon his forehead, I watched as he said "Yes, I want to be a child of God." His godparents standing with him, their hands placed upon his shoulder, his guiding light in his spiritual life. It was a perfect ceremony, my only regret that my mom wasn't there to share in its magic. The magic of Kaeden...the boy he used to be, the man he is becoming, the confused, turmoiled teen he now is.

Here are a few pictures of my son. We weren't allowed to photograph during the service, but you can still see what a handsome young man my guy is turning out to be. And don't forget to cherish and treasure your little pearls in life, nurture them, and watch them grow.