Celebrating Milestones
My oldest graduated high school and turned 18 last week! It’s a big milestone happening right in tandem with our overseas move…something this kid is “used” to doing. We just counted it all out and he has moved 10 times in 18 years!
Matt and I keep talking about what we remember from our own high school graduations. I remember the special printed announcements we sent out to everyone, the special events, taking pictures with my parents and just wanting to be with my friends. It’s been much the same for Joel over the last few weeks.
Our mailbox has been inundated with graduation announcements with amazing senior pictures on the pretty paper with inspirational quotes. I’ve enjoyed seeing the different traditions of this area in New Mexico. Joel has had different events from a Senior Lock In, a Senior Sunset, movie nights, etc. A group of moms here with kids attending the same high school has been preparing a big celebration party, renting out a restaurant to host friends and family and guests to celebrate. I’m sure each one of my kids will have a slightly different graduation experience with local traditions varying widely from place to place, but we were really grateful to be included here and feel a part of this group.
Joel’s graduation ceremony was on the Fields of Dreams in 100 degree weather making it a hot, sweat-fest of proud parents and family. It was so fun to see all those happy kids (or do we call them adults now?) so thrilled for this moment they’ve been looking forward to for so long. This graduating class is pretty unique having experienced a whole year and a half doing virtual school during the pandemic, and different levels of school events as the pandemic levels eased. This was the first class in two years to have a formal graduation ceremony and I was so happy they had this moment together. There were lots of speakers, but our favorite was one of the top 10 of the class who shared a poem about their time in high school, rather than a traditional speech. Here’s what he wrote:
Freshman year was right on par
We never realized we’d get this far
2022
Sophomore year was one year longer
And we got a bit stronger
Life changed fast and we took on Zoom
Perhaps we were doomed
But life resumed
2022
Junior year many considered the hardest
Maybe we were the smartest
But not without the teachers, the ones on the field
And not in the bleachers
They made us who we are in becoming Seniors
And now we’re Seniors
2022
Senior year was supposed to be the best
Yeah, we played hard, then we still had a test
Sports, jobs, applications
The list goes on, boyfriend, girlfriend
PDA yeah come on
2022
Now let’s take a moment to reflect on the days
Let’s turn back, take a look at our ways
And give ourselves a little hard-earned praise
What did we learn in this high school phase?
2022
Lesson #1 yeah Life moves fast,
Things are great but not always a blast
It has it’s ups and downs, but the downs never last
2022
Lesson #2 yeah don’t be a fool
Did you ever really thing I-Hall had a pool
But apparently Starbucks is pretty cool
2022
Lesson #3 yeah, be happy to be me
When I’m saying that I’m referring to you
Because no one else will ever do
No one else can fill your shoes
2022
Lesson #4 yeah explore your options
You might be a poet but perhaps you didn’t know it
But only trying will ever show it
Or maybe you suck and could take some humiliation that we’re all used to facin’
2022
Now I can’t wait to see what y’all are going to be
Cuz you guys are pretty crazy
But if I had one thing to leave, my own advice
It’s not hard to be nice
Congratulations Class of ‘22
Part of me felt a little sad that it was just our family there cheering in the stands for Joel, but as I listened to all the other names before him be cheered on by huge crowds of extended families and local friends, I realized we had friends there — other parents of Joel’s friends — who would be cheering for him too. I loved the huge confetti poppers that some families had and seeing all the fun posters that were made. I loved that Joel decorated the top of his graduation hat so that we could spot him, too. It was just so fun and so special. Definitely a proud moment for all of us!
So how am I feeling through all this? A bit nervous…just like Joel. Having a child graduate and leave home is a transition for everyone. The family dynamic changes. Relationships get sweeter, I think. I’m also feeling excited for him.
I’m not feeling worried, or wondering if I taught him everything he would need to know —even if I did, he has probably forgotten. I am confident that I have taught him what will really matter in his life. Faith in Jesus Christ, the beauty of repentance, the power of covenants with God, the importance of pursuing education for his fulfillment and to serve others. I’ve told him his whole life that the most important thing I want him to know is how to receive and act on impressions from God to guide his decisions all along the way.
What’s next for him? Joel isn’t going to school right away. He has decided to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we are currently waiting for the email to arrive that lets him know where he will go and when! He is just soaking up the remaining days with friends before we all jump on a plane for Germany, and get him ready to go. Joel has always had a unique life and has developed amazing skills of bringing people together and stepping into each new place with confidence and an excitement to get to know and serve others. After all of our moving around, I know he longs to stay put in one place, but I also know that all this moving around have given him the right environment to develop characteristics and abilities he wouldn’t have otherwise. I see him recognize this too.
Being a military kid is hard. Sometimes these transitions are such a gift for really appreciating friendships, feeling the depth of attachments and love, and an ever-present need to rely on God. I often wonder if we would naturally look to God as much without being in such a constant state of change. I do know, and am grateful for, how this period of moving gives us the chance to have more poignant conversations with our kids about growth, resilience, goals and faith. We’re about to hit the resent button again and I am excited to see how we all work to learn and improve through this next phase of life.
I know for sure that God is in the details. And that He is celebrating these milestones right along with us.
