A Joyful Graduation

Well, it happened.

My oldest child graduated from high school.

I don't think it has hit me because I didn't shed a single tear at the ceremony. A couple of people asked me how I was doing and if I was okay and honestly, I was doing great! I was happy for Josh and all the other kids, many I've known since 3rd grade. It was a cool ceremony - I wasn't even bored at all and usually, there is at least one speaker where I'm thinking, "Did we really need this one?"

I am excited for Josh and his future. I know he's ready to take the next step and move on with his life. And I don't have any regrets from his high school years because we went to everything that we possibly could: basketball games, soccer games, baseball games, drama productions, heck, I even went to his prom with a raging fever this year just so I could see the kids all dressed up (well worth it; I highly recommend it).

Maybe that's why there's been no tears. I know that he lived these past four years as fully as possible, and I was a part of that as fully as possible, and I feel satisfied and content. Like I've eaten a really good meal, just enough, not too much, and every bite was delectable.

I also know that this boy, my boy, will always be a part of my life.

So, no tears, just joy for all he's accomplished and for all his possibilities.

Josh at age 8 and ten years later at (almost) 18.

Senior Sunday

Yesterday was Senior Sunday in my church.

Never heard of it? Neither had I until we moved into this house 8 years ago.

It is a fabulous tradition.

A couple of Sunday's before high school graduation, all of the seniors in the ward who are graduating are the speakers for the main meeting (sacrament). They usually get a topic from our church's "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet, like honesty, accountability, etc.

It is by far one of my favorite meetings (the other being the Sunday before Christmas when we sing carols the whole time). The kids are so excited about life and they're heading off to college or missions and the sheer potential of their lives just gets me all giddy. There is also usually a musical number by the youth that is a "put goose bumps on your skin" kind of piece.

This year was no exception. And especially poignant for me because, well, for the first time, I had a senior.

Josh's topic was education. If you know me, you know that education is a pretty important thing at our house, so I wondered how he would approach it.

Josh talked about how our whole life experience is an education. That we have the opportunity to learn formally through school, but also the responsibility to learn from all areas of our lives. He talked about the three things he had learned in high school: 1. To love other people, 2. How to work, and 3. Importance of faith.

He really spoke from the heart. It was personal. It was real. And it was by far my favorite talk (and the best, too, I think, but I might be biased).

All 9 seniors spoke, and they sang "Homeward Bound" for their song. David cried through almost the whole meeting. I smiled and beamed and was so happy.

It was a good day.