Permission to grow up

Back in 1999 the government started issuing quarters for each state and like most people we started our collection. At the time Kent said that he wasn't in any hurry to complete the set because that would mean that Erik would be turning 15. Well as time marched by and the collection became more complete we could see that day coming. Since Erik was the last one we still didn't want the day to come so we never completed the set, it was missing just the Utah quarter. So over the past 3 1/2 years we have had the Utah coin in our possession but we really didn't want to add as that would mean we would be saying out loud that Erik had grown up so we simply avoided it. Several times Erik had that quarter in his hand and we would just look away, laugh or say something like "sorry we don't know where the book is" or "no we can't put it in because that would mean you are grown up and we won't accept that". Well since he has graduated and is ready to head off to college and his mission we felt that time had come to give him permission to "Grow Up". So for one of his graduation presents we gave him a card and a note in regards to this along with the quarter taped to the back of the card. It's kinda one of those things that brings a bit of tears to your eyes but it had to happen.

So the time has come.

Congratulations my grown up young man! Love you forever!