Celebrate Milestones: Graduations, Birthdays, and So Much More

How do celebrate milestones when life just keeps on going? Graduations, an engagement, birthdays…they are all happening at the same time in our family! It’s a controlled (and sometimes not so controlled) chaos. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Stacy Lyn and family celebrating together

I wrote in my new book, Love Language of the South, releasing in 2024:

On occasion I’ve asked myself, “Is all this hoopla necessary, or are we merely sticking to traditions that make us run around like chickens with our heads cut off?” Usually, I say this as I am running around with a tray of finger sandwiches but feeling like a chicken with my head cut off. And every time, the answer is “yes!” These events are personal milestones that precipitate completely new chapters in our lives. With every new chapter there is an enormous transition. And we need events that signify these rites of passage and help people we love enter their new worlds!

All of these milestones are important! No matter what else is going on, we take time to acknowledge their importance.

Stacy Lyn with son Howlett in front of Auburn University brick and glass building. Text: Love my birthday boy!! Had a great visit at @auburnu!! — With my son Howlett for his birthday at Auburn U. We had to go to him because of exams.

Even if we don’t have the perfect celebration, recognizing big achievements and milestones in some way gives the recipient solid ground on which to begin their next big adventure.

Now on to our beautiful chaos!

April has been a whirlwind of a month. Howlett had a birthday, Hampton and Abbi got engaged, and we found out what sex our new grandbaby will be. Watch the video in this post to find out which!

How much fun is all of this? Of course, each one of these things needs a major celebration.

Boy or girl? Celebrating the reveal of a new grandbaby! — Boy or girl? Milly, my 13 year old, made the reveal cake. That’s Becca and Forrest kissing in the background.

On top of all of that, this weekend we will be celebrating Hampton and Abbi graduating from law school and my daughter Graylyn graduating from the MBA program at UAB. I’ll share more on that after this weekend of fun.

Hampton and Abbi at Fenway Stadium after getting engaged - the happy young couple standing together with a background of bleacher seats — Hampton and Abbi got engaged at Fenway Stadium.

As you probably can imagine, the rest of this summer is going to be super busy with baby and bridal showers. And at the end of the summer, there will be the arrival of a new baby and a new daughter-in-law!

The thing about life is that it doesn’t always stop to let you plan, arrange, and celebrate milestones exactly as you would like. Bills still have to be paid, work has to go on, and other life events still happen. It can all be quite overwhelming, but lately I’ve noticed that the impossible still happens. God makes all things that seem impossible, possible.

I don’t have to do more than what one day, today, brings. I try not to look too far ahead, and I try to just do the next right thing. It always, ALWAYS, works out. Somehow.

I’m excited and overjoyed at my family growing and thriving. One of the highlights is that I get to share them with you! Thanks for being here and following along!