Eli James Joseph Etherton: I am so blessed that God chose me to be your mother. Being your mama bear has been a privilege, full of a vast range of emotions. I have been by your side as you succeed, fail, embrace life and push it away. I have watched you fall in love and experience the pain of first loves lost. I have stood on side lines to cheer you on in awe of your God given athletic talent when only hours before I was lecturing you because I know you have the potential to do so much in life. As your senior year comes to a close, I want you to know that I am so very proud of the young man you have become. You light up my life, you show me what it means to be okay just being in the moment…..you give me hope for the future of a world you will live in much longer than me. Your senior photo shoot was so much fun; I cherish the time we spent together selecting your clothes and shoes, making certain your hair cut was timed just right and then spending an afternoon with Jennifer as she captured photos of your beautiful soul. I love you, Eli. You will always be my Mini Man.

Love, Mom