A Roller Coaster Weekend

This was a memory making weekend. On Friday our younger daughter, Allison officially graduated from the Academy of Home Education at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. For me it was emotional – happy over our completion of school, sad at that close of this phase of our lives. Happy over this phase of our lives, sad at the changes that are pressing in on us. It was a roller coaster! But we all pay to ride them, and this was a good one.

The picture above is of the two sisters together the morning of graduation. They’re thicker than molasses and closer than I could’ve hoped for with seven years between them. Big sister Whitney was always the mother hen watching out for Allison, bossing her around, and busting out laughing at all Allison’s antics. Time has changed that a bit – now they tell each other how to dress, who to hang with, or how to handle a situation. They respect one another enough to heed the counsel that’s given.

This picture is a bit blurry, but it was taken over the Internet by my sister. The ceremony was posted over the web site of the university, so my family who were unable to attend were able to watch and participate with us! Each graduate and their family was asked to stand while they were introduced to the crowd. A paragraph describing each student was read while they stood.

Allison also had the privilege of playing the piano during the ceremony. She played, “All Glory Laud and Honor”, a fitting piece for a home school graduation. All glory goes to the Lord for helping us to reach this momentous occasion. He kept us going, kept me encouraged, and provided for the books and materials each year.

The parents – do we look stressed? Remember the roller coaster analogy! No, really this wasn’t a stressful day, it was a day for celebrating and that we did!

If I’d had a hat I would’ve thrown it too! Woo-hoo! We did it…we’re finished!

No more lesson plans, grade books, teacher’s curriculum, text books, or standard achievement tests! I won’t let myself go to the sad note of all the other things that I’ll miss next fall when Allison’s gone. Just as God’s grace has been sufficient for these last 13 years of her schooling, it will be sufficient for the empty nest. My husband’s calling it, “The Love Nest” – now that sounds pretty good! Praise the Lord for a loving husband who has understood my roller coaster moods and has soothed and comforted me. I am blessed.