Last High School Graduation

Graduation Day - May 25, 2018

It's hard to believe it's been four years since Miriam walked into the portals of Oak Ridge High School.  Four years of learning different subjects from different teachers; four years of making new friends as well as culling out people from friend groups; four years of Band and drumming; four years of homework and tests; four years of riding the school bus - well, almost four years; and so many more that I cannot name.  Four years and now everything is going to stop.  Not only a break but a total halt. High School days are over!

The card we sent to relatives.  (Picture taken on May 11, 2018)

Miriam's graduation marks the last time we will see our own child graduate from high school.  Unless a miracle happens - which is a possibility I am not going to discount at this point.  :)  It also means that Tim and I will not be getting up at 5:30 am to prepare breakfast and packed lunch.  She will also have to read the bible on her own instead of her father reading it to her while she eats her breakfast.  There will be changes to happen in her life as well as ours (her parents) just because she's graduating from high school.

This year's graduation was different for so many reasons: 

1. It was a cold day.  In fact it rained on the morning of graduation day getting the students wet during rehearsal.

2  We did not have a big family get-together.  Outside our immediate family, only her Grandpa George was present - per Miriam's request.

3.  We were late going to the stadium - we had to stand by the fence links to watch the ceremony.

4  Varoff, Band Director, decided to involve the the graduating members of the band to play during graduation.  

It is hard to write down everything in one blog post but pictures will tell more stories than words can tell.  Here between these few words and the pictures are lines that tell whoever will read or scroll this page that my husband and I are proud of our daughter for her accomplishment and the hard work, discipline and diligence that made it a fun ride.  That we are thankful to God for the grace that He granted her so that things that seemed impossible were made possible and the spiritual guidance that kept her to stay on course when it seemed better to take the other way.  And most importantly, we are thankful for those moments when Miriam was clearly aware of the hands of God in situations that seemed out of her control. God is good!

I see graduations as a milestone on the 
highway of God's grace.

The Countdown Begins Today

Ten days before Shannon's graduation from high school.  Some invitation/announcements to her graduation have been sent.  She has her cap and gown hanging in the guest room.  Her dress had been purchased when I checked her out last Friday - 'Senior Ditch Day".  She still needs to buy a pair of comfortable shoes.  From now on there will be a series of events related to the graduation.  They will have a Senior Picnic/Pool Party this coming Friday and a Senior Dinner Dance on Saturday.  On Sunday our church will give another picnic for the graduates...and then Monday, they will have a Senior Breakfast at Oakridge where they will have a slide show of the graduates.  By the time the graduation comes, they will be all exhausted.  Shannon decided not to attend the overnight party after the graduation ceremony in spite of our prodding.

Planning for the May 27th and the days around it are going on.  Shannon's graduation will bring so many relatives together.  It will be a celebration of a milestone and at the same time a family reunion.  I'm praying that people will have fun just being together. 
So far I am staying calm although earlier this week I felt overwhelmed when Tim announced that he will be preaching this Sunday.  He likes to preach and I support him...but I was hoping that he could help me during the weekend.  Preaching will take up his weekend.  He has been on several business trips most of last month and this month.  Things that I asked him to help me with have been put aside because of his schedule.  So when he told the family of his preaching commitment this week - a week when he is also in Portland for three days, I was not happy.  In my sulking I was reminded of what Ann Voskamp said: fight feelings with feelings.  Unhappiness is the opposite of gratitude.  So I reversed the situation by counting all the things that are going well.   It works and only through the grace of God.  Looking at the positive side of things makes it possible for me to face God with gratitude and shift my focus from the physical to the unseen.  It is God's gift that I have a husband who likes to ponder and speak on the words of God.