I'm busy raising men, not boys. Posted 1998:

I wrote that 6 years ago. Now a 2004 update.

One son is in Afghanistan humping the mountains. He sent us a tape recording he made while humping at 8,000 feet in elevation and said that they were walking uphill heading for 9,000 feet. They took and gave enemy fire. They gave much better that they received. In less than two years he has earned his Airborne wings, his Expert Infantryman's Badge, and his Combat Infantryman's Badge. I was definitely successful with him.

The other son just graduated high school. On February 26, 2004, he was one of his school's representatives in the state math meet. On February 27, 2004, he represented his school in the state WIAA wrestling tournament. He and his best friend were the first two wrestlers in the school's history to earn a spot in the state tournament. Now he is heading for the nation's top undergraduate engineering school. I succeeded with him also.

Thank you God. They are both men.

2006 Update: Oldest son got back from Afghanistan fine. He will deploy to Iraq in August. Youngest son is working in a countertop shop this summer. Mom and Dad are going to start their own company this summer. We will build custom wood caskets, urns, display cases, and make memorial videos of people's lives and/or special occasions.