Another Homeschool Graduate

Ron and I were so blessed to spend a recent weekend with our son's family, celebrating our granddaughter Eve who is graduating from high school! We were able to attend her Senior Gala & Violin Recital . . . SO special! 

It was a quick trip, but it was filled to the brim with the best things. We were grateful that all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together to allow us to go.

On Saturday evening, we had a yummy meal featuring Hawaiian burgers, followed by a time of singing and playing instruments. Delightful!

We had a pre-recital outing at Beans in the Belfry, a fun coffee shop that is in an old church building. There was live music, delicious coffees, and good times with our people.   

We were back home in time for everyone to get ready for the gala. Look at these beautiful sisters! Nora (left) accompanied Eve's solo piece at the recital. So special! 

Our sweet senior posed with her parents. We are so proud of their homeschooling journey! Eve is an accomplished young woman, and she is also a kind and compassionate soul. 

The gala featured a delicious dinner, a slide show of pictures of the seniors, and remarks from the seniors and their parents. Then the formal recital began. 

Eve solo piece was "Violin Concerto in Hungarian Style in A Minor, Op. 2." It was so beautiful and we were bursting with pride and joy!

We all rode back to Ryan and Sarah's house and then we had a time that was as meaningful as the recital. 

Since they do not have family nearby, and they are not a part of a homeschool group in their new home, Ryan and Sarah had chosen not to have a formal graduation service for Eve. But after the little girls had gone to bed, Sarah read aloud letters of recommendation that she had written about Eve for college applications. Beautiful! Then we all had the opportunity to talk about Eve, which was easy to do, and we applauded her accomplishments. Finally, the conversation turned to education in general.

If you're a longtime reader here at Thinking About Home, then you know that I homeschooled my children for twenty-eight years and that I loved it with all of my heart. I am passionate about the lifestyle that homeschooling allows. My youngest graduated six years ago  . . . but I still miss the homeschooling way of life. Of course, I am busy with other things, but I miss the joy of learning side by side, the feast of ideas, the discipleship, the time spent together, the purpose. 

But that night, as we sat philosophizing together, I could "see" some of the return on our investment in our children's lives as they have carried on that same investment in their own children's lives, and I felt a deep satisfaction. No, I am no longer directly guiding anyone's education, but the truth hit home that I have had some part in sowing the seed for generations that follow. 

Congratulations to Eve, our fourth grandchild to graduate from homeschool! Blessings on your next steps, sweet girl!

And these words, which I command you today
shall be in your heart. 

You shall teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
when you walk by the way,
when you lie down, and when you rise up. 

Deuteronomy 6:6, 7

Five on Friday

It's time for a another Five on Friday, a gathering of blessings big and small. 

{one}
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Our second grandchild graduates from high school this weekend!

I can hardly believe that Maddie is old enough to graduate. But then, I said that when Gavin graduated too. Hmmm . . . I suppose it's just a fact that the older you get, the faster time flies. I anticipate graduations and other milestones will just keep flying by. 

But regardless, this is Maddie's one and only high school graduation and we are so proud of her! She is a delightful young woman and we know that she will soar! 

Photo by Bekah

{two}

Pineapple House was filled with beautiful music this week as Bekah's piano students (currently four of her nieces and nephews) presented their spring recital. It was Paul's (7) first recital and he did such a great job! Then Peter (11), Nora (13), and Eve (14) played their selections and we were all so impressed! It had been a while since the last recital (pre-pandemic), so it was especially thrilling to see their progress. By request, the teacher also played. 

(After the program, the two tiny girls played a duet. ~smile~)

{three}

We also had our last book club meeting of the school year this week. Even though I "retired" from homeschooling three years ago, I have continued to guide a book club for a group of homeschooled girls. It is a sweet time of book talk and tea and fellowship.

This year, we have had varied themes. One month we read and discussed books that had been translated into English from another language. Another month we read books with talking animals. This month we read books that took place on or near the sea. So much fun! 

{four} 

This is so random . . . 
but I added sweet potato fries to our Mother's Day dinner leftovers and I thought it made a pretty plate! Do you like a pretty plate? Do you enjoy leftovers? (I love them!) 

{five}

Spring on the sideboard: a sweet little picture of a bird on a strawberry vine, picked up on an antiquing outing with Ron, and a couple of wool strawberries on the tea tray. 

Blessed be the Lord, 

Who daily loads us with benefits, 

The God of our salvation! 

Selah.

Psalm 68:19

Lately . . .

 

Quiet and cozy is how I like my January. 

We've had some of that.

s

And we've also had a visit to my sister's new home in a new town, a fun book club meeting, and a winter birthday party! 

Bekah's January became less "quiet" this week when she started college. At least she has company while she studies. 🐈

(Is he keeping her company or enjoying the sun? Both?)

 

How do like your January? 

Five on Friday | Sweetness

Yes, it was a sweet Friday. There was sweetness of all kinds! 

{one} a sweet treat

Sarah and the children arrived bright and early with . . . 

These are all seasonal donuts at Dunkin' right now: spiders, pumpkin, and the brand new ghost pepper donuts! We had had a long conversation about the new donuts on our family group chat, so those of us here today were willing to sample them . . . for research purposes, of course. 

We each braved a small bite of the ghost pepper donut. And we survived! Yes, it was hot, but it was balanced by the sweet strawberry icing. I wouldn't eat a whole one, but it was a fun flavor experiment. 

And, although I observe Halloween not one little bit, I can definitely eat a spider made of a glazed donut and a chocolate Munchkin. 

{two} a sweet story

Today was the day of our Anne of Green Gables marathon. Could there be a sweeter story? I have seen this series so many times, and I never tire of this wholesome, inspiring, well-told story. 

I have so many favorite scenes. When Matthew and Anne make their first drive to Green Gables, Anne chattering away, and then is overcome with the beauty of her surroundings. When Matthew has a heart-to-heart with Anne and persuades her to apologize to Mrs. Lynde. Anne's tender farewell to Marilla and Rachel as she leaves to take a teaching job at Kingsport Ladies' College. 

This is another one, at the train station as Anne has just left for a year at Queens Academy: 

Marilla: I'm afraid for her, Matthew. She'll be gone so long. She'll get terrible lonesome.
Matthew: You mean, we'll get terrible lonesome.
Marilla: I can't help wishing that she'd stayed a little girl.
Matthew: Mrs. Spencer made a lucky mistake, I guess.
Marilla: It wasn't luck; it was Providence. He knew we needed her.
Matthew: Even with her queer little ways.
Marilla: I loved her for them.

{three} a houseful of sweet faces

{four} sweet photos from afar

Kati send a few pictures of our five-month-old grandson Caleb. He is starting to sit up, and as of today, he has two tiny teeth poking through his gums!

{five} another sweet treat!

For our Anne of Green Gables Day lunch, we had chicken salad sandwiches, fruit, and chips, with ice cream for dessert. 

Diana Barry: "I wish I were rich, and I could spend the whole summer at a hotel, eating ice cream and chicken salad." 

I decided to put an autumn spin on our ice cream and I found a recipe for pumpkin pie ice cream. If you are one of those "pumpkin spice in the fall" people (I am), then you'll probably like this sweet treat! I'll share the recipe on my blog next week. 

{30 Days of Thankfulness} Day 20

Today I am thankful for a gathering of homeschooled girls at our monthly book club. 

Even though I have "retired" from homeschooling, I decided to continue with book club again this year. It is a sweet time of book talk, tea and goodies, creativity, and fellowship. I am blessed to have these girls in my life! 

Our Last Homeschool Graduation

And just like that . . . Bekah completed thirteen years of (home)school. 

(It really did seem "just like that.") 

I am still catching up here on the blog. Graduation was over two months ago, but it took me so long to finish my wedding posts . . .  I am probably giving you whiplash with all of this time travel. But my youngest child's graduation is too big a milestone not to record it here in the annals of Thinking About Home!

When the wedding was over, there was no time to waste!

Bekah and her friend Grace were graduating on June 8 (exactly three weeks after wedding day), so planning began in earnest. (Preliminary planning had already begun, but now it was time for action!) On Monday, we ordered graduation announcements.

We finalized the details of the ceremony, planned the menu, and went shopping for decorations. Grace's sister Lydia was creating slide shows for the two graduates, so we also needed to gather and select photos. Bekah and Grace met to design a program. I asked my friend Terri, who also did the flowers for Kati's wedding, to create an arrangement for the graduation. (Not only did she create a lovely arrangement using Bekah's graduation announcement for inspiration, but she gave it to Bekah as a graduation keepsake! Thanks, Terri!) All the while, we were cramming in that last bit of school work required for graduation! Oh yes, it was a busy time!

By God's grace, we got it done. It was all hands on deck as we did the last minute set-up and then dear family and friends began to arrive to celebrate this milestone in the lives of these beautiful girls!

Andrew surprised Bekah by arriving in his full academic regalia, bringing a little pomp and circumstance to the occasion! 

There were congregational hymn: "Be Thou My Vision" and "To God Be the Glory." Bekah's nieces and nephews sang "He Will Hold Me Fast." 

The parents of both graduates spoke about the girls and then presented them with their diplomas. (I have included the text of my talk at the end of this post.)

The slide shows were precious, a tableau of photos from babyhood to the present. Here is Bekah's:

(If it seems to jump right into the middle, it is because I have edited the title frame from the slideshow video due to the fact that I don't share any last names or any identifying information on the blog. Other than that, it's all there!)

Ron and I with our four homeschool graduates!

We took a photo of Bekah with her nieces and nephews!
(Because of the laws regarding foster care, I had to blur the sweet faces of the twin boys.)

It was a whirlwind for sure, but Bekah and her friend Grace, as well as both families, were so pleased with the beautiful graduation service! These girls have worked hard, and both are accomplished young ladies! 

And so after twenty-eight years of homeschooling, that part of my life has come to an end. It is bittersweet. But I am grateful for the years that I have had with my children, to teach, guide, inspire, grow, advise . . . and to just be with them. I wouldn't trade that time for anything in the world! 

My speech . . . 

At age 40, after a period of serious illness, I became pregnant. Although we had hoped for another child for years, this certainly seemed like the “wrong” time. It was a difficult (scary) pregnancy. I was on several medications. There was a crisis day when we believed that the baby was not going to make it. My doctor sent us for an ultrasound which showed the baby alive and well. She was born seven weeks prematurely, and she had some challenges in the first weeks and months of her life. But here she is today at her high school graduation. God had a plan for Rebekah’s life. There is a word in the Bible that I love. It is Ebenezer and it means “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Let me give you a little background. After a series of battles with the Philistines, Samuel had called Israel to repentance and they had responded. They gathered at Mizpah...they fasted, they confessed their sin, and repented.  But as they were gathered, word came that the Philistines were again coming against them in battle. They called out to God, and Samuel offered sacrifices. The Lord answered with a "great thunder" that confused the Philistines, and Israel soundly defeated them. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying "Thus far the Lord has helped us." I see this special day, this ceremony, as an Ebenezer, for as we mark this occasion, we are looking back and acknowledging that He has directed.  "Thus far the Lord has helped us." Not only did the Lord help Rebekah as a baby, but He helped her as she grew. He planned who she would be and how she would serve Him. He gave her a love for beauty. She loves great literature and pretty dresses, home décor and pretty tables. She went through a phase where she wanted me to make “dear little lunches,” and she cut out pictures of pretty food from the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. She loves poetry and old movies and Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. He gave her an ear for music and a song in her heart. Kati taught her to play a Christmas carol on the piano when she was six, and she has never stopped playing. There was the one day when we went to the local playground and I heard the chimes in the playground ringing out Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and I knew our Rebekah was playing. She learned to play classical music which is beautiful and soul-stirring. Oh, but the hymns. Many is the time when I have asked her to play a hymn and then another and then more as we sang along, hearts moved, tears flowing, souls encouraged. “Thus far, the Lord has helped us.” He made her heart tender. Toddler Rebekah was a character and her sin nature was strong. She had temper tantrums and meltdowns and she challenged everything that we thought we knew about parenting. But then we saw glimpses of tenderness . . . towards animals, towards babies, towards others . . . and we knew that the Lord would draw that tender heart to Himself. Now Bekah is for the underdog, she adores her nieces and nephews, and, most importantly, she loves the Lord and seeks to please Him. “Thus far, the Lord has helped us.” As a homeschooling mom, I needed the Lord’s help! In some ways, Bekah was the most challenging of my students . . . perhaps because she is the most like me. The two of us struggle with procrastination and time management. We’re both slow. We can dawdle our way through our days. It was not unusual for Ron to come home from work to find us still reading, or to find Bekah working on her math or some other project. But the Lord did help us. As we sought His help, He guided our steps, helped as we planned our courses, provided opportunities for Bekah to learn and serve in unique ways. In spite of ourselves, Bekah is a young woman who is accomplished and responsible and has deep faith in Jesus. I really can hardly believe we are here, at the end of this leg of the journey. At the end of your homeschooling years, Bekah.  At the end of my homeschooling years. Oh, how I have treasured these days and all of the time we have spent and learned and grown together. Bekah, I know that the future is still unsure for you and you still have hard choices and decisions to make. But I am not worried. Our loving Father knows your future and he will continue to help . . . one step at a time. “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (II Timothy 3:14, 15)

Ron's speech . . . 

The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  We began our homeschool in September of 1991, and as of yesterday, we completed our 28th year of training our children in the way they should go.  For us, this has been a great experience. Not only have they learned many things, but we have learned many things as well.  What does it mean to train up a child? One commentator says that to train up a child refers to the total process of molding a child’s life. The word “train” comes from the root word meaning “to put into the mouth,” which implies the idea of conditioning the palate. Thus, potential training should help children develop a taste for the things of God. “When he is old” simply means “when he is grown up.” The verse stresses the single principle that education in the home forms the person throughout their lifetime. As we stand here today, we truly feel that Bekah has been trained in the academics as well as the ways of God. We have no regrets and feel that we have prepared her for the rest of her life. Though this is the end of her schooling from us, she has the skills to continue to learn for the rest of her life.  To us, a child is a wonderful gift. With this gift comes a great responsibility. Who better can teach and train a child than we parents? We thank the Lord for all of His blessings.