Carter's Graduation

This past weekend we celebrated Carter's graduation. I would say "little brother" but he is only little in age. The english language should have two different words for little in age and little in size. Though he is younger in age he is in no way small than me in size, or strength.  

This fall Carter will be attending Virginia Tech in the Corps of Cadets. Which basically means he will be living as if he was in the military school and after he graduates (with a degree in Engineering) he will be in active military duty (Marines) for 5 years. 

Here is Emily "helping"

Mom's lovely graduation decor

We had a vast quantity of fruit, and there were still another box of grapes, two containers of watermelon, and cantaloupe in the fridge. We did go through most of it though! 

How are you supposed to make floral arrangements look "guy-ish"? 

Carter does not particularly like, at all, to have his picture taken; consequently the only option was to take a picture of him smiling candidly. 

A representative from Virginia Tech came to give Carter a scholarship for excellent high school achievement. (Not sure exactly what it was but it was something along those lines)

Please note that Carter posed for a picture, take a good look because this will not happen again till his college graduation!

We had a friend of ours smoke 40 lbs of pork shoulders for dinner. After smoking for nearly 12 hours it was tender, moist, and delicious! 

We asked a couple of godly men to give a some exhortation to Carter. One of the men could not make it so his ambassador (his wife) read it for him. He compared the Christian walk to various moves in fencing.

My mom read a letter written form Abigail Adams to her son whom was embarking on a long journey when he was 10 years old, it fits perfectly with what my mom had to say, sending her son off. 

MY DEAR SON,

T'is almost four months since you left your native land, and embarked upon the mighty waters, in quest of a foreign country. Although I have not particularly written to you since, yet you may be assured you have constantly been upon my heart and mind.

It is a very difficult task, my dear son, for a tender parent to bring her mind to part with a child of your years going to a distant land; nor could I have acquiesced in such a separation under any other care than that of the most excellent parent and guardian who accompanied you. You have arrived at years capable of improving under the advantages you will be likely to have, if you do but properly attend to them. They are talents put into your hands, of which an account will be required of you hereafter; and, being possessed of one, two, or four, see to it that you double your numbers.

The most amiable and most useful disposition in a young mind is diffidence of itself; and this should lead you to seek advice and instruction from him, who is your natural guardian, and will always counsel and direct you in the best manner, both for your present and future happiness. You are in possession of a natural good understanding, and of spirits unbroken by adversity and untamed with care. Improve your understanding by acquiring useful knowledge and virtue, such as will render you an ornament to society, an honor to your country, and a blessing to your parents. Great learning and superior abilities, should you ever possess them, will be of little value and small estimation, unless virtue, honor, truth, and integrity are added to them. Adhere to those religious sentiments and principles which were early instilled into your mind, and remember, that you are accountable to your Maker for all your words and actions.

Let me enjoin it upon you to attend constantly and steadfastly to the precepts and instructions of your father, as you value the happiness of your mother and your own welfare. His care and attention to you render many things unnecessary for me to write, which I might otherwise do ; but the inadvertency and heedlessness of youth require line upon line and precept upon precept, and, when enforced by the joint efforts of both parents, will, I hope, have a due influence upon your conduct ; for, dear as you are to me, I would much rather you should have found your grave in the ocean you have crossed, or that any untimely death crop you in your infant years, than see you an immoral, profligate, or grace less child.

You have entered early in life upon the great theatre of the world, which is full of temptations and vice of every kind. You are not wholly unacquainted with history, in which you have read of crimes which your inexperienced mind could scarcely believe credible. You have been taught to think of them with horror, and to view vice as

" a monster of so frightful mien, That, to be hated, needs but to be seen."

Yet you must keep a strict guard upon yourself, or the odious monster will soon lose its terror by be coming familiar to you. The modern history of our own times, furnishes as black a list of crimes, as can be paralleled in ancient times, even if we go back to Nero, Caligula, or Caesar Borgia. Young as you are, the cruel war, into which we have been compelled by the haughty tyrant of Britain and the bloody emissaries of his vengeance, may stamp upon your mind this certain truth, that the welfare and prosperity of all countries, communities, and, I may add, individuals, depend upon their morals. That nation to which we were once united, as it has departed from justice, eluded and subverted the wise laws which formerly governed it, and suffered the worst of crimes to go unpunished, has lost its valor, wisdom, and humanity, and, from being the dread and terror of Europe, has sunk into derision and infamy.

But, to quit political subjects, I have been greatly anxious for your safety, having never heard of the frigate since she sailed, till, about a week ago, a New York paper informed, that she was taken and carried into Plymouth. I did not fully credit this report, though it gave me much uneasiness. I yesterday heard that a French vessel was arrived at Portsmouth, which brought news of the safe arrival of the Boston; but this wants confirmation. I hope it will not be long before I shall be assured of your safety. You must write me an account of your voyage, of your situation, and of every thing entertaining you can recollect.

Be assured I am most affectionately yours,