Little Things

I was reminded this weekend that we are always touching someone's life.

It may not seem so at the time, but sometimes years later you are made aware.

For years, I have been giving these cards to high school graduates.

 Maybe they were friends of my kidnicks or someone I got to know as a 4-H Leader. 

 Such was the case on Sunday when I received a message through Social Media from a college sophomore.

He thanked me again for his graduation gift 2 years ago and shared that the cards had been misplaced in  the college move. 

He wondered if he could cash one of them in for two specific items. 

And that he missed my baking.

Yes, you may.

They are on their way.

The fact that he even REMEMBERED my gift and then felt comfortable enough to ask, warmed my heart.

Deeply.

Better Late Than Never

 I am finally attempting to share one of most proud moments in my life.  

Three weeks late, but that seems to be par for the course recently.

(ALL of the photos were thoughtfully taken by my sister)

Since LPP's college graduation was on a Saturday morning, we drove over the night before and celebrated her.

My sister and brother in law stayed at the same hotel and we took over Dad's patio...as well as a neighboring room's chairs.

Gifts were opened and dessert was had.

Swimming took place by only the youngest, who also took her place in the hot tub.

Silently.

And panicked her poor, old mother for a long moment.

And hair was done.

Saturday morning had us taking a shuttle to the Westmont Campus bright and early.  

Hubby's sisters and our niece drove down from Pismo to join us

and we found our places on the beautiful baseball field.

And then the bagpipes.

If there is one sound in the world that makes tears flow like a gushing river, it's bagpipes.

They led the graduates down the steps on campus to the field.

And I tried to gain control.

I mean really?

I had not even seen our girl yet!

Her class banner with scripture that has followed the class of 2019 for 4 years.

And the graduates.

One of who has been  fixture in our life since the day he was born.

How they ended up at this same school still boggles my mind.

Leis were given.

Smiles were captured.

Confetti cannons went off.

And congratulations were given.

And poof.

It was done.

A Westmont College Graduate with Honors.

And a teacher made official.

The pride that I have in what she has done and the sheer joy in the person she has become, is endless.

And I am not the only one who feels that way.

Congratulations to all!

Our girl in on the right side, second row with the pale blue sash.

Sunday Truism

The Sunday Truism from 4 years ago, came to fruition yesterday.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, 

if you love one another.

~John 13:35

Can't Think of A Title

I have been attempting to prepare myself for May and June since Mom passed away. 

Graduations, birthdays, reunions and Mother's Day fill these two months

What I have realized is that there is no preparing for this.  

Any of it.

The emotions hit at unexpected moments as well as the times I would expect them to.

Last Thursday, Hubby and I drove to Santa Barbara for the night to take part in LPP's Celebration of Teaching and to take her out for a belated birthday dinner.

Each Credential Student spoke on a particular aspect they have discovered through their student teaching.

LPP's was on Choosing Joy.

I did receive a text from her a week or two ago to prepare me ahead of time.

Remember I just mentioned I'm learning there is no preparing.

This is what pounded that fact into my brain.

LPP spoke how she finds joy in her students and how they in turn feel it through her.

In the little things.

The everyday things.

She ended with what her Grandma taught her.

To Choose Joy.

Yep.

I didn't embarrass her with the ugly sob until she sat down.

Today is another one.

Twenty Eight years ago I married my Hubby.

And we are watching our girl, alongside our son and younger daughter, graduate with Honors.

And receive her Teaching Credential.

Dad is sitting with us.

As are my sister and brother in law.

Mom is here too.

In the flowers blooming.

In the beauty surrounding us.

In our hearts.

Always.

As we look through photos taken in the days to come, we will be missing who we can not see.

High School Graduation 2015

 But, we must remember to feel. 

Not just look.

She is in each of us.

 

Gratitude

As LPP has registered for her last classes as an undergraduate and we have filled out our final FAFSA forms (for 4 years, at least), I find myself reflecting on just how grateful I am that she chose the college she did. 

It has not always been easy, but it has been faith building, nurturing, rewarding,  safe and academically held to a high standard. 

We received the following letter yesterday from the school.

Further solidifies my feelings.

Dear Parents,

 The Easter season offers so many reasons to give thanks for a renewed sense of hope. As you are all too well aware, our community, including your students, have been through a lot these past months: trials and tribulations, tremendous loss for some, major and minor inconvenience for others, and anxiety and fatigue. Your students have rallied beyond what we could ever imagine by not only adapting to the ever-changing demands of weather but by reaching out to each other and, more significantly, to our Montecito neighbors. They have modeled what it means to be a Christ-follower, and it has been inspiring. This is the glory of the resurrection, the hope of Easter, that He came to make beauty from ashes and to carve a path for us that leads to abundant life.

 I give thanks as we look toward the end of the year. Thank you for your faithfulness, your trust in us, the ways you have helped your son or daughter grow in their sense of independence, resilience and, ultimately, their faith and hope. I give thanks for our amazing leadership at the college, for President Beebe and his team who worked tirelessly to move us through this season while staying focused on our core commitments. These include helping your student become a deep-thinking person of God who is equipped to serve the world with excellence in any sphere of society God calls them to.

  As a parent of a graduating student, I know I join all the other parents of seniors who give thanks for the transformation in their student’s life, for the ways they have grown and changed as faculty and staff have invested in them during these years. We celebrate this milestone together. For those of you with students returning in the fall, we’re grateful for continued opportunities to learn together, draw closer as a community, and experience in new ways the hope to which He has called us.

 I’m so grateful you have walked this journey with us.

Senior Director Alumni ,Parent Relations