Graduation Review

The Girl graduated from High School on Thursday morning.  Where did the time go?  She was rather low key about the whole thing, but it was an important day...and we were glad to be there with her (except The Boy, but he'll get his day.)  Here are some highlights:

Never one to look too serious....

Pretty good family kind of day....

 The Besties...ready to change the world!

 Plus some other friends....McKay....

and Spencer.....

and Brooks....

 and the PTA co-presidents with their girls!

But the cousins...ah, the cousins!

LOVE these kids!!!

To Graduation....And Beyond!

Today is graduation, and for some of our PGHS friends, it is just the beginning of a much bigger plan...



106 seniors will receive their diplomas with a mission call in hand as well.  It's been very cool to watch each week as these young men prepare for their future with a mind set on serving the Lord first.

Bad Mom

Sunday night was the Seminary graduation.  The Girl has served as our stake's Seminary Council representative, so she had to speak at the graduation.  We had a good group of kids graduate and The Girl did a pretty great job on her talk.  But did anyone (read: her mom) get a photo from the night!?!  NO!

What is this world coming to that I can't remember to bring a camera to a graduation event?

Holy cow.  That is just bad.  I've become too complacent, apparently and not at all like the Good Mom I was when the kids were little and I was taking pictures of them everywhere, doing anything.

So sad.  I guess I need a good long weekend timeout.  Maybe this weekend?

Announcement, Announcement, Anno-ounce-ment!

After a crazy. hairy project, and loads of PhotoShop help from my Dear Friend Wendy, here is what we ended up with for The Girl's graduation announcement:

The Girl did her own word selection o the announcement itself, thus the "Epic Conclusion" part.  But I think it fits her.  We are just very proud of her and so excited to see what next great thing she gets to do.

Graduation: Bonus Video

I LOVE THIS!!

Great Expectations

Yesterday I received three separate high school graduation announcements.  These were from two neighborhood kids--one whom I was able to work with on our Stake Youth Committee last year.  The third was from a young woman who had asked me to write her a letter of recommendation in part of her application to the US Naval Academy.  (She was accepted, by the way.)

I love that I get to work with such terrific kids, like these three I heard from yesterday.  I am astounded by their innate goodness and their wishes to do good wherever they are.  They are motivated and conscientious.  They work hard and excel at the things they are doing.  And those things are as varied as the kids themselves.  I have seen seen them participate in athletic, music, academic, charity and dramatic endeavors.  In every case, they are achieving their goals and learning and growing as they do.

They make me want to be better too.

Our HS will hold its graduation on June 2nd.  I have so many young friends crossing into the adult rhelms of their life that day.  I am proud of each one of them.  And I count myself very blessed to know them and to have worked with them as they matured and developed their leadership skills and testimonies.  I wish them much luck as they begin their next chapter and move into that next phase.  There is so much ahead of them.  I can't wait to see the fantastic things they will pull off.

Graduation Day

Today is graduation day for our local high school. They have their ceremony at BYU in the Marriot Center, as there are too many people to hold it at the football field, like ours was back in the day.

Thinking of my sweet "kids" who are graduating today I was reminiscing about our graduation...long ago and far away--as illustrated by my favorite graduation photo, above. At our ceremony, I remember singing the national anthem and "I'll Be Seeing You" with the Chamber Choir. Then I recall some beach balls and Craig Rubio "surfing" on the backs of the chairs on the field. I sure don't remember what our valedictorians said in their speeches, but there were about 6 of them. I remember wearing my blood red snake skin heels; oooh, I loved those shoes. I remember seeing so many friends and saying goodbye.

A Dear Friend who works with the Young Women with me told me recently, as I was already missing these YM and YW that are moving onto bigger and better things, that it was a good thing that I no longer teach high school. She said that I would be a basket case this time each year. I'd have a hard time letting any of them go. She is probably right. I admire and love these kids and want them to be happy and successful and do what they know is right. Plus, being a grown up isn't all it is cracked up to be some days.