Sixteen years ago, I introduced Whit to this little corner of the internet. He had just turned two years old, and I wrote a letter to my sweet little “Cookie” on his birthday. Looking back at those photos today, I can still see that same little boy with the sparkling blue eyes, the mischievous grin and a heart that seemed far bigger than his tiny little body.
Today, I’m sharing his senior yearbook photos. And honestly… This one feels hard. When these photos arrived in my inbox, they absolutely stopped me in my tracks. The smile is still the same. Those impossibly blue eyes are still there. But the little boy who once climbed into my lap for stories has grown into a remarkable young man.
One little story from yearbook picture day feels perfectly fitting. Par for the course, neither Whit nor I realized there would also be a casual photo for the yearbook. We showed up prepared for the formal portraits, so he arrived in a wrinkled T-shirt and gym shorts knowing he’d change into his dress clothes once he got there. When the photographer explained there would be a casual session too, Whit never missed a beat.
They told him to pick a prop from the cabinet.
He picked the rose-colored glasses.
They told him to put his hands together.
He did.
They told him to have fun with it.
He certainly did.
And when it came time to choose which casual photo would appear in the yearbook, this was the one he selected, complete with that familiar grin and just a hint of a smirk. If I’m being honest, the rose-colored glasses feel pretty fitting. One of the things I admire most about Whit is that he doesn’t spend much time worrying about what other people think. He is comfortable in his own skin, willing to laugh at himself and happy to roll with whatever life throws his way. I can tell you with complete confidence that John would have had a hissy fit and walked straight out of there. It’s one more reminder that God doesn’t make copies. He gave me two boys with entirely different personalities, and I wouldn’t change a thing about either of them.
As we begin this final year of high school, I find myself praying many of the same prayers I’ve whispered over him since he was small. I pray that Whit remains grounded in God’s love and always knows that his family loves him wholly and unconditionally. I pray that he continues to embrace the qualities that make him uniquely himself and never feels pressure to become anyone else simply to fit in. I pray that he continues to be courteous, kind and chivalrous. I pray that he remembers you only need one or two truly wonderful friends rather than a crowd of acquaintances, and that those friendships are built on trust, respect and genuine love for one another. I pray that he continues to value hard work and recognizes the gifts he brings to every room he enters. Most of all, I pray that he never loses the uninhibited joy that has always been one of my favorite things about him.
If you’ve followed along here for any length of time, you’ve watched this child grow up right alongside our family. You’ve celebrated birthdays, golf tournaments, orchestra concerts, Walks of Fame, college visits and countless ordinary moments that somehow became extraordinary simply because they were ours.
And now… Senior year.
I have celebrated every season of this child’s life, and this one will be no different. I know this year will fly by. There will be football games, college applications, golf matches, prom, graduation and countless “last firsts.” I also know how quickly those moments disappear if we’re too busy worrying about what’s next.
So I’m making myself a promise. Just as I did with John, I intend to soak up every single moment, celebrate every milestone and be fully present for all of it. No regrets.
Let’s do this, Class of 2027.
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