Flashback Friday

For this week's Flashback Friday we are talking about graduation! I had a feeling we'd have this topic soon.

I graduated from high school May 31, 1997. There were 58 in our class. We took a special picture for the yearbook of those of us who had been "together since kindergarten." We were a very close class and still are now.

We had an awards night a few weeks prior to graduation and that is where I found out I was my class valedictorian. (I debated putting this in this post. It isn't something I ever tell people...it took me a long time to even tell my husband when we were dating! I told my Mom the topic and she said, "are you gonna put it?" because she knows me so well!) I was very excited to find out because I knew it was close for the top few spots. When I began working on my speech, I decided I did not want anyone to hear it before graduation, even my parents, because I wanted it to be a surprise. I included things about all the people in our class in the speech. The quote I used was from Corrie ten Boom----"Memories are the key not to the past but to the future."

The week before graduation we had a Baccalaureate Service at the local Baptist church. After graduation we had an all night party at the high school. We'd had events all year long to raise money. The seniors could earn points for volunteering at the events. The points translated into prizes for us for items for college, like microwaves and mini fridges.

My church had a graduation banquet to honor the seniors as well. That year there was a college graduate and one other high school graduate besides me.

I remember getting a lot of presents when I graduated. One special gift was a quilt put together by my Mom and aunt. My Mom secretly sent pieces of fabric and a pen to all different people from my life--teachers, relatives, classmates, etc. They wrote me a message and mailed the fabric and pen back to my aunt so it could be passed on to the next person. My aunt turned the messages into a quilt. It is a treasure to say the least. Many of the people who wrote on it have passed away since then which makes it extra special. Here is a picture of it: This is what my Dad wrote: This is the square Peepaw did. He called me "Sweeetheart." This one is from my Mom. (Pes is a nickname.)This one was from my senior English teacher.
Have a day of blessings!

2010 Book #19: "You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be" by Max Lucado

Book Description
God made only one version of you. He custom designed you for a one-of-a-kind assignment.

You are heaven's Halley's comet; we have one chance to see you shine. You offer a gift to the world that no one else brings. So find it and bring it! And when you do, both you and God will smile.

Yes, you can be everything God wants you to be.

My review: I received a book called You Can Be Everything God Wants You to Be by Max Lucado from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program to review. Parts of this book are taken from another of Lucado's books called Cure for the Common Life. It is a quick read and good book of encouragement I thought.

People around us have expectations that we are to choose a certain vocation or have a certain ministry. We need to do what we are made to do though, not what someone else tells us we should do for whatever reason. The main idea of the book is to find what you are good at doing and what you love and do that thing. It's not about the salary you make or being "higher up the ladder" than someone else. We need to find the thing we are good at and do that. One of the quotes I really liked in this book is: "Success is not defined by position or pay scale but by this: doing the most what you do the best."

I enjoyed reading this book and appreciated the encouragement from it. It would make a nice gift for someone who is graduating.

Have a day of blessings!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! I'm glad you could stop by today as we join together in giving thanks. Today we are at Women Taking a Stand. Thank you to Laurie for hosting today.

I have so many things for which I'm thankful! I love to join in giving thanks with so many others. This is a busy time of year but we can't be too busy in our daily lives to stop and give thanks.

This week I am thankful for...
~ lunch dates with my hubby. We have both found that we look forward to our lunch together once a week.

~ good health for my son. He is feeling better this week. He has been talking so much and acting normal. I am so thankful. The other morning he gave me a long list of what he wanted for breakfast. He ate what I fixed him and I knew he was feeling better!

~ Christmas decorations. I love all the festive decorations I see on houses, businesses, and even blogs!

~ Christmas music. I have so many favorite Christmas songs. I enjoy hearing old favorites as well as new ones play on the radio.

~ my sweet cousin. She is graduating from college this weekend and I'm so proud of her. She has amazing grades and finished in 3 1/2 years. She will continue her education for her master's degree next. I love you, Chel!!

Hope you are having a wonderful day! Remember to stop in your busy schedule and enjoy the season!

Have a day of blessings!

We made it home!

It's so nice to be home! We are unpacked and two loads of clothes are washed and hanging out to dry. My sweet husband helped hang them this afternoon. We had a nice trip. When we got home, he said we had gone 795 miles. Whew!!

We left home Wednesday afternoon and stopped for the night at my Mom's house. We left Thursday morning in time to stop for lunch in Abilene and then continued on our way to Lubbock. We visited with my BIL for a while and then went to my Dad's, where we were staying. Friday morning we attended a convocation and lunch reception. Then Saturday morning we attended the actual graduation ceremony. Both ceremonies seemed to just go on and on (they were about 2 hours a piece I think). We were glad we were there though to support my BIL at this great achievement in his life. He still has some clinical work to do but then he'll be an occupational therapist. He has worked hard to achieve this goal and we're proud of him! Saturday after nap we went back to help my BIL and SIL load their moving van. Sunday morning we went to church with my Dad and headed back towards home after lunch. We stayed another night at my Mom's and came home this morning.

Caleb did great on the trip. He is still not caught up on his sleep, but we can work on that this week.

The temperatures were cooler than I had expected when I packed. I'd put in mostly shorts for Caleb and myself. My Dad said he'd throw a pair of Caleb's jeans in the wash with his clothes in case he needed a clean pair. Saturday when we got back from graduation, he'd done our whole sack of dirty clothes. It was a very nice surprise and saved us time of doing them today!

I had a couple of funny observations about graduation ceremonies too. First, why do women wear high heels to events that will require lots of walking? I have never understood this! I am not a very fashion conscious person so I go for comfortable more than cute. Looking cute is fine, but I cannot stand it to hear complaints about how you're feet are hurting! I did not pick the shoes, you did! Another thing is the lack of modesty. I don't know how many strapless and/or low cut dresses I saw. I have never understood why women choose to wear revealing clothing. I saw a lot of that this weekend; it always bugs me. I guess because I wonder why they wear what they wear....is it because they like it and it's cute (which many of the dresses do have cute designs/patterns/colors)? is it because they are seeking attention of males? is it because they want to show off their bodies?

Caleb told Daddy Saturday night that when he graduates there will only be two "graduaters." I asked him if that was so it wouldn't take so long! Pretty good logic there to cut down on the time of the ceremony. I told him probably the next time we attend graduations will be in a couple years when we see Chel at college, Cody at high school, and Caleb from Kindergarten.

We're all happy to be home. My husband will be back to work tomorrow and we'll be back on our regular routine here. We'll also be getting ready for our mission trip that is coming up in a few weeks. I'll write more about that another day. Hope you have a wonderful week!
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"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:1-2

Gladuation

We have been looking forward to attending the graduation this weekend for my brother-in-law. He is getting his Master's Degree and will be an occupational therapist.

Caleb has been talking about "gladuating." I don't know why he started saying that because previously he was saying it correctly. He told me he is going to be five and then later he will gladuate. I said okay thanks for telling me that! (Not something I especially want to think about today!!) He's had a bunch of questions too about graduation....He asked if me and Daddy graduated. I said yes, then he asked where he was at. I said you weren't born yet. He said well where was I? I didn't have a good answer for that one.

I am getting things packed up for us. I have made my list of how many outfits we all need. There are two graduation activities...one on Friday and another Saturday morning. I'm getting out dressy clothes and then something to change into afterwards for those two days. As I've been packing I've been thinking of how many more changes of clothes we'll all need when we go on our mission trip in June. I will finish up the laundry tomorrow so I won't have as much to do when we get back.

I read a post from Blogger about how to schedule a post so my Thankful Thursday and Friday Favorite can appear this week! I am hoping to get some reading time on the drive so I can get caught up on my book list. I had been doing a book a week, but I've gotten behind!
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"I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations." Psalm 89:1