My Grandma told me when I was just starting to have children that my life would be very different from now on. I would have long days and short years.
I had no way to fully comprehend the wisdom she was offering to me. There have been so many long days -- little sleep, an overwhelming list of cyclic chores that are never really done, addressing and disciplining the same issue too many times to count, changing diapers, heights, weight, addresses, and multiple other things. The days have been sooooo long and yet the years have flown.
As we prepared this week I worked on a slide presentation with my friend Lana (totally fabulous by the way - I do NOT deserve such a friend!) I could NOT have done it this week without her shoulder to cry on, her ears to listen, and her hands to help. We pulled picture albums out of storage and pulled pictures to scan and put into the slide show. Wasn't it just recently that I brought him home from the hospital? It wasn't that long ago that he learned to tie his shoes and spell and draw me the most beautiful pictures. Yet, the pictures show the train of time has run away. I see it in the lines that have been drawn on my face, the silver streaks in my hair and more dramatically I see that my little boy is gone and in his place is a young man.
My heart stops. My breath whispers away....... where did it go?
Tears fall as I remember and wish I would have enjoyed those long days a little more. They went too fast.
I don't think I will have the opportunity to read him another book or to hold him in my lap. Those days are gone. It is so hard to set those things aside.
In their place I have found other delights. There are long conversations and sitting by him to watch a movie on the couch. I see so much of his Dad in him. I see Christ growing in him and I see the Lord drawing HIS plan out upon his heart. What a young man he has become!!! But....... it is so hard to see the seasons changing.
So with a small ceremony, a stiff upper lip and a trembling hand we graduated our first homeschool graduate, our first son, our first man. Elijah didn't want a lot of fanfare. He wanted something quiet and intimate. So we had dinner with a VERY short list of people and a slide show of his life to this point. To introduce the slide show, greet everyone and offer our thoughts we did an announcement program with animae characters. Elijah didn't know we were going to do that and was more than surprised but thought it was funny and it kept things a little lighter (no tears for me!) Then Tim and I stepped up to the podium and presented him with his Diploma, graduating him from High-School and into the next step of his life's journey.
Tim and I puzzled over what to call our school. We really didn't want to just say "Walker Home-School". There isn't anything WRONG with that and it definitely is accurate but didn't really reflect the heart of what we have tried to do. So after noodling over it and talking to the kids we decided on "The Old School".
Here is some of our "presentation" from yesterday........
Our family has been built on the principle that God’s ways are always the ones that are best. Not always the easiest but definitely the best. It is in His ways that we find peace, rest, and strength.
Jeremiah 6:16 says: Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. NKJV
We have tried to frame our school around this philosophy. We want to raise you in the Ancient Ways, the ways that God lays out for us. So we have called our school – The Old School.
We have taught you Old School basic knowledge skills – reading, writing, math, science and history. We have taught you Old School basic disciplines like hard work, frugality, and trades like carpentry, leather craft, and concrete. We have taught you Old School values like the honesty, integrity, patience and respect. We have tried to teach you Old School Spiritual walk – prayer, the Word, and a relationship with Christ.
We, as your instructors and parents, find that you have met all the requirements needed to step forward from your elementary and high-school education. You have reached a stage of completion that will graduate you to the next step God has in His plan for your life. The mastery of these skills will take the rest of your life. There will be many more times when you are ready to advance to a new level of proficiency in each of these areas. We are excited to walk through each new season with you. Congratulations!
Tim did the talking and did awesome! I was so proud of him and Elijah!
For those of you who know me well --- you will be amazed. I didn't shed a tear, not yesterday. There were a couple of close calls but Elijah asked me not to cry and the Lord gave me grace to honor his request.
IMMEDIATELY following his graduation, we added some participants and friends to the group and we had his Eagle Scout Commencement. A little more formal, but not too long. The Color Guard marched in the flags and we were honored to say the pledges. There was a second slide show of his scouting adventures.
Garnet (our friend and the church secretary) helped me take the slide shows we had made and embed music in them. SOOOO nice; it took her HOURS to do it! What a gift she gave us!!!!
Tim served as the emcee but Vicki Hentz, the Prickly Pear District Chair for the BSA came and presented his Eagle Certificate and Awards. The VFW, Post 10010, is the Charter for the Troop Elijah Eagled from. They sent a delegation also which was such an honor. Men that fought for our freedoms and then have turned to invest in the young men coming up in Scouts. Friends from church, family (even my Dad was able to come - HURRAY), Elijah's boss and his family, friends from our community that have invested in Elijah's life, so many that gave of their time to come and honor him. We were overwhelmed :)
Elijah had wanted to thank the VFW and had a plaque made with the names of every Eagle Scout to have come out of the 1211 Troop they have chartered for the past 50 years. Elijah surprised them with this gesture. It was amazing to watch as he honored the post for their support.
Did you know that only 2% of all the boys that start a scouting career actually attain the rank of Eagle Scout? TWO percent! That is a FABULOUS accomplishment!!
The men from the VFW surprised us as well by bringing and presenting to Elijah a gorgeous certificate of accomplishment. Elijah was very honored.
Elijah gave his "Mentor" pin to Mark Skeels. Mark not only was the one who got Elijah started in Scouts but served as Scoutmaster through Elijah's scouting career. Mark is one of those rare men who actually really cares about the boys in his troop and invests above and beyond what is expected. It was such a sweet thing for Elijah to have the opportunity to thank him and honor him. Mark also surprised us by presenting Elijah with a Centennial Scouting Knife.
Elijah presented Tim and I both "Parent" pins. I held it together - BARELY.... as he thanked us for our support and for encouraging him and even pushing him :) I have a good son; I am so grateful.
Then it was off to cake and visiting. The lady at Costco did a great job on the cakes. I don't generally like cake but I do like most of Costco's cakes. I went in with pictures of the Eagle Award and Doris free handed it for me -- wasn't that super sweet!?!?!? She did an amazing job.
I am going to try and post some pictures and the two slide shows. We'll see if I can get it to work.
Lana and her girls helped facilitate the reception. I could NOT have done this without their help. Lana's family helped ours clean up and pack up.
I came home UTTERLY and COMPLETELY exhausted but elated. New adventures lie ahead......
