Cloudy with a chance of...YOU'RE STAYING IN TEXAS!!

This blog could easily have also been titled "To Book a Flight or Not Book a Flight?...That is the Question"  Here's the situation...if it doesn't rain the festivities will be held outside and you can invite as many family members as you want!!  But, (there's always a but!) if it does rain the festivities will be moved inside and only 4 tickets will be given per family. 

Really?  Rain in Illinois???  What do you think the odds are of it raining?  Have you been to Illinois???  Trees, water, grass...GREEN grass.  Wondering if it's going to rain or not is like wondering if the wind is going to blow in the Panhandle.  OF COURSE IT'S GONNA RAIN!!!  Because of the predictable Illinois weather the question then became - How do you squeeze 8 people (or 9 if our other precious Taylor would've been able to go) into 4 seats??  Naturally, that's the only logical option!  Duh!!!  We would sort out the minor details of which four would be the seater's and which four would be the seatee's after our arrival.  I'm sure it would be settled over a game of cards and a pitcher or two of sweet tea & chocolate chip cookies (homemade of course!)!!  The seater's would be praying that the seatee's would go easy on the cookies!!! 

Obviously since I'm writing all about it the decision was made to not book the flight because the odds were much greater that it was going to rain than it wouldn't.  It turns out that flying 1,000 miles and having to sit on someone's lap (or having someone sit on your lap) for 2 hours was not that great of an option afterall.  So here we are...Me and Colton in Amarillo and Mom & Dad in Pampa... still 1,000 miles a way from the graduation ceremony of our first nephew, first cousin, and first grandchild.  Bummed doesn't even begin to describe how we feel.  So, we will hang tight and patiently (maybe) wait for a text from my sis that has the first of the many graduation pics of the day.

If we were there for this blessed occasion we would have the greatest graduation party for our Taylor and many, many congratulatory speeches would be said by all.  Knowing my family the way that I do I'm sure that some of those speeches would be much more humorous than others!!  Taylor, it might be a good thing that we're not there!   

Here though, is what I would try to choke out between many tears and lots of laughter!   

Taylor,

Congratulations!!!  Saying we are proud of you doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of how we feel about you.  But PROUD, we are!!  Not only for the person you chose to be during those tough teen years, but also for who you've become as a young adult.  You have continued to hold onto those amazing morals and values your fabulous parents raised you on and you have truly "kept your nose clean!"  With all the peer pressure and expectations to "do" things while in high school, you have stayed strong in your beliefs and it's carried you through.  Give yourself a pat on the back and take a minute to join us in being proud of you.

In addition to being so unbelievably proud of you we are so excited!!  God has blessed you with some amazing gifts and talents and we can't wait to see how He uses those gifts through you.  We all have an idea in our head of what we think your future holds, but we KNOW that God's plan for you is 1000x more amazing than anything we can possibly dream up!    

Hang on bud!  You are about to go on the ride of your life!!  You are entering the time of your life when you begin to learn so much about yourself...keep God close. Although you may stay in touch with a friend or two from high school you will more than likely meet your true life long friends during your college years...keep God close.  You will learn what it's like to have an independence you haven't experienced or needed to experience up to this point...keep God close.  You will have greater responsibilities that will also have greater consequences when not taken care of...keep God close.  You will no longer get to have your mommy call in for you when you're sick or "sick"...keep God close.    You will realize how important family is and will realize how much you need your parents AND Greyson...keep God close.  And lastly, you will no longer get to use ANY excuse you could use before because the moment you have waited for is here...YOU ARE AN ADULT...DUDE, KEEP GOD CLOSE!

Now some advice from your old, wise Aunt Erin

1. Stay true to who you know you are!
2. Your choices, your consequences!
3. God first. Family second. Everything else (school, hockey, chicks, fun) prioritized as needed, but remember...Advice #2!!! 
4. When you get into a situation and don't know what to do, remember what your mom and dad taught you over the last 18 years...whatever the situation is...they were right!  I PROMISE!!
5. Work Hard, Play Hard, but again remember Advice #2
6. Eat Group Apple Pie as often as possible!
7. Thank God every day regardless of how good the day was!
8. Smile!!
9. If you ever need ANYTHING, call 1-800-AUNTERI

Taylor Blake, it's been a joy watching you grow up and turn into the amazing person you are.  I personally can't tell you how thrilled I am when my phone rings and it's you on the other end.  I can't imagine what my life would be without you as my nephew.  I am proud and honored to be your aunt!!  I love you more than a fat kid loves cake and will be screaming my head off from Texas as you walk across that stage!! 

Go conquer the world!  I expect nothing less from you!!  

I love you big bunches than that!!!!  Don't forget...party in July when you get to town!!!  :)