Celebrating Matthew's 18th

We decided a while back that we wanted to do something special for Matt's 18th birthday.  We had a manhood ceremony, kind of like a rite of passage into manhood for him.  Marc put a lot of thought into which men he wanted to be there.  We didn't tell Matthew about it, so that was a little bit of a challenge to plan it and arrange for him to be off work that day.

 

 

  Marc told Matthew that there was a meeting at the church.  McKenzie was hiding with the camera and took pictures.  His expressions were funny when he went in because most of the men that were there weren't from our church.

 

The men were asked to speak a blessing and a charge to Matthew.

 

I hid in the back for the beginning of it and listened.  It was a very special time with a lot of Godly men imparting wisdom to him.  It was neat to hear the different takes each man took on it.  We had men as old as my dad down to young men in their twenties. 

 

 

I think it was good for the little guys to hear too.

 

Marc opened in prayer and then did a talk first.

 

Matthew with his grandpa.

 

Some of the men are from the church we are attending now and some are men that have known Matt most of his life.

Afterwards they all went to the fellowship all for a reception.

 

Malachi and his cousin Clayton.

                             Matthew with one of his best childhood friends.

 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4

We were very grateful for the men that took time out of their busy schedules during the holiday season to come.  I know it meant a lot to Matthew.

 

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On Matthew's actual birthday (New Year's Eve) we had a family party.  Matthew and Daniel (the young man that is courting McKenzie) went squirrel hunting.  McKenzie and I were cooking fried fish (already something that I don't enjoy doing) when we realized they were going to clean the squirrel to cook. Yuk!!!  Daniel did the cooking, and I think everyone but Madeline and I tasted it. 

 

Lots of candles!!!

 

We sent him on a scavenger hunt to find his birthday present.

 

A new deer rifle!

 

                                 I think he had a memorable 18th birthday! :o)