4 Down and 6 to Go

Well, last month we had yet another one of our children graduate from high school.
It's always a surreal moment and one that doesn't get any easier no matter how many children you have.  They are each so unique and it really is a bittersweet time.  
The Christian high school that our children have attended has a wonderful way to celebrate these precious young men and women.  There is a baccalaureate service for awards and such, including a slide show of the graduates, and then the graduation service that evening.  Each student has a table of pictures and memorabilia to celebrate their accomplishments and personalities.  The teachers and students who speak are awesome and this year the main speaker was NC Supreme Court Justice.
All that to say, my little guy grew up.  He became a strong, fun, personable, lovable man of God and I know God has great things for him ahead.  We all love him so much and I think he was also a little sad at graduation.  He made so many special friends as well as being a role model to younger students.  Teachers kept coming up to me and saying how much they will miss him, his smile and friendly demeanor.  I'm so thankful that I was able to homeschool him for 9 years and then have him attend such an awesome high school.  
He will be staying local and attending NC State, so I'm super glad about that!  Here are some pictures from that evening.

Changes and More Changes

We've had many happenings around here lately, which is one reason the blogging hasn't been happening as much.
First of all, my oldest graduated from college!  Yes, we are proud parents of a UNC tarheel graduate.  As you can tell from the below photo, he graduated on crutches.  With only a month left of college to go, Will tore his Achilles tendon playing basketball.  He had to undergo surgery a week later and then try to hobble to classes the following weeks.  He is still finishing up some classes this summer to graduate with a double major, but his plans to leave in June with a special branch of the military have been put on hold.  Not sure what is next for him, but we know God is in control.

Next my oldest daughter returned from college for 3 weeks, and is now in Colorado working at a Christian family dude ranch.  It is a beautiful place and we are so thankful that she got hired.  We visited the ranch as a family for a week 5 years ago.  It is such an awesome place and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for her, but she will be there all summer!  Yes, 10 weeks of her being gone!  I know she's been away at college all year, but that has only been a 1 hour drive from home and she visited every few weeks.  This is over half a continent away and needless to say, I had a very hard time saying good-bye.  We are over the shock and so happy for her, but summer will be vastly different with her gone. Here she is the airport leaving on her journey.......sniff, sniff.

And then my second son also came home from college for 2 weeks, and is now back in Tennessee doing an internship at a church. He will be back in a month or so and doesn't seem so far away.  We are so thankful he got this opportunity and know he will grow and learn much.  It was hard to say goodbye to him as well. You know even with 7 children still here, the house seems kind of quiet. Like I always tell y'all.....they grow-up in a blink of an eye, cherish the time they are home with you.

In pondering the choices we make as we raise our children, I'll leave you with some wise words from John Piper, "God will make it His rule to use our best efforts as wise, God-honoring choices to produce the most influential life. But not always. He can break that rule and make even a foolish decision fruitful.  He has His ways to keep us humble and fearful of pride.  He has His ways to keep us hopeful and protected from discouragement in view of our fallibility."  (from Life As A Vapor)

A Year of Classical Conversations

My Anna.....graduating last week from her Christian Classical high-school. I homeschooled her through 8th grade.  I can't believe she is a high-school graduate now!  I'm so very glad I was able to spend more time with her,especially in the early years, by homeschooling her.

Last August when we were beginning a new homeschool journey, I said that I would let you all know how using Classical Conversations for a year has been.  Well, we have loved it!! It has been such a blessing to us and I think this past year has been one of our best homeschooling years........yes, even with having 2 "babies" to tend to and 5 different grade levels to teach. So, for time's sake, I'm going to give a bucket-list of reasons we have liked it so much and why we will continue with CC. 


1. It gives me a scope and sequence that I can use for preK-12th, if desired.
2. All my children have enjoyed it immensely.
3. I love the community it has given us and the other homeschool moms I have met.  These mothers, and Dads, are not only very committed to their family, but very committed to homeschooling.
4. My children have learned so very much!  The memorization comes so easily to them and they have been so "impressed" with themselves.
5. It actually frees me up some in the morning.  I can put on the CC time-line or weekly CD and they can begin without me. 
6. I have loved learning along with them and especially learning about Classical education in general.


We will continue next year and I'm actually planning on being a tutor the for the K-1st grade class.  MK is so excited that I will be her teacher : )

Perspective

Anna 16 years ago, right after we had moved to NC.

Anna now, getting ready to graduate from high school .....sniff, sniff

Just wanted to give some of y'all out there some perspective.  Maybe you have a house full of little ones or just one precious little baby in your arms, either way, let me tell you....it goes by so fast!  I know you hear it all the time and I know I've said it a dozen times on this blog, but they don't stay little very long and you blink, and they are driving, talking about colleges, and actually sounding kind of mature.  

God has been helping me a good bit with "perspective" lately.  For instance, I got really upset this past weekend about some really silly things. I had missed the sign-up for one of my kids tennis tournament and that was the last straw. I felt like I had so many things to do and so many things to remember, that I just lost it!  My husband talked me down and helped me start a list, right on the fridge, and not just try to keep everything in my head or even in my calendar (which I frequently forget to look at.)  I had read somewhere that a Mom told her daughter, "If paying taxes is your biggest problem, then you really don't have any problems." WOW,that is really true!  We as Americans make the biggest deal over things that are so insignificant in eternity. So, I put my "problems" in that sentence......

If missing the sign-up for a tennis tournament, is my biggest problem, then I really don't have any problems.

If trying to figure out where my Mom is going to live, is my biggest problem, then I really don't have any problems.

If being sad that my precious daughter is all grown-up and graduating from high-school, is my biggest problem, then I really don't have any problems.

Try this with your "problems" and it really helps with perspective.  You know, we all have bigger fish to fry, right? (that saying helps me too : )

So, hug your little ones today and kiss them and cherish even changing diapers or cleaning up cheerios off the floor, or helping them with long division one more time.  Because, it will be over soon. Oh Lord, help us keep an eternal perspective!

Graduation Day Pics

I made it through without too many tears!  We're so proud of Ben's perseverance!

 The last morning with Ben and Anna going off to school together.....sniff, sniff

 Getting the diploma!

 Ben's senior table, well actually 1/3 of a table we get to decorate with memories.  Of course, there were a bunch of things he wouldn't let me put on it : )

Nana and Ben.....they are very close.  I'm so glad she gets to share in our lives.

 Proud little sisters

 My three big kids....now Anna is a senior!

 Crazy family shot.....didn't work out too well

Yes, this cake fed all of us and a few of his friends : )

Graduation Day!

This little guy is 18 now and graduating from high school today!  How can it be?  We are so proud of him, but the emotions are conflicting as well. He worked hard and has been disciplined.  The school is a Classical Christian School and is hard academically, with all the classes being honors level.  This was harder for my son than it is for others.  He has to work extra hard.  Academics, particularly math and science subjects, come harder for him.  He's my sports guy and is talented in strength, size and skill.  We counted all the sports that he has played on a team and it came to 8 different sports!  He also is a young man after God's own heart and this is where I am most proud.  He loves theology and studying the Bible.  That is his passion.  He is trying really hard to get into a small Classical Christian college in Franklin, Tn.  I pray he gets in, but I will so miss him here.  Again,  bittersweet emotions : (  Ben left this morning for school for the last time in his dress uniform.  My husband cried when he left and of course that got me crying as well.  But it will be a happy day, right?  I set up his senior table yesterday with all his pictures and some memorabilia.  This morning we have the parent assembly, with a slide show, awards and the students together as a class sing their favorite hymn.  Tonight is the graduation ceremony.  I will post more pics tomorrow.  Pray for me that I can get through day this without too much crying and hug your little toddlers extra hard today......they don't stay little forever!