Class of 2012 Graduation Weekend

Congratulations to all of the students who recently graduated! Eva was so excited for each of you that she played dress up in my old graduation cap. I think she still has a few years before she's ready to go away to college....

Last week on Thursday morning I stopped by the elementary school where I used to work. I didn't take any photos of kids, but here is what the entrance looks like. I had originally hoped to make it for the 5th grade graduation ceremony but sometimes my job as a mama throws a loop in my plans. Eva and I still made it in time to visit with some teacher friends and to see my former students do their graduation walk where they walk the full hallway loop 3 times.

As I visited with former colleagues the two questions I got most were, "Do you love staying at home?" and "Do you miss teaching?" My answer to both question is YES! I love, love, LOVE being at home with Eva. I also miss being in the classroom. When I see my students all grown up my heart swells with pride and I just want to give them all a million hugs. (Although when I was teaching them all day, every day there were plenty of moments that I felt other emotions towards them.)

The 5th graders who graduated were a particularly challenging group. When I look back at that group it was definitely the hardest, but also the group I probably prayed the most for. There are a few friends in that group that I still think of and pray for often. Kids who need stability and love and most of all Jesus. I hope someone shares that hope with them. Ironically only 5 of my students from that group were still there on the last day of 5th grade. I would have loved to see all of them.

I also saw my students that are now 4th graders (well technically they are now 5th graders). They were my last class and I don't want to call them my favorites so I'll just say that they were awesome! Almost all of my last group of kids still goes to Lee.  I was soooo happy to see them and they seemed pretty thrilled to see me to! I'm sure it helped that I had a cute baby on my hip. I will definitely be back to see that group graduate next year if at all possible. I love those kids!

Later on Thursday Eva and I went to the Westlake Academy Baccalaureate Ceremony. Ryan was asked to give the Baccalaureate speech - what an honor to get to encourage such an amazing and intelligent group of Seniors!

Eva loves her friend Mollie! Mollie is one of our students who has been with our ministry from early on and we are sad that she'll be leaving us for A&M but excited to see what God does in her life.

Westlake Academy, Class of 2012

Saturday afternoon we saw our Westlake Seniors walk across the stage at their graduation celebration. Eva did a great job of playing quietly on the floor during the ceremony. It probably helped that we packed a bag full of toys to entertain her.

Ryan with Ramsey and Sydney

Mollie with the Bradley family

There were some other Seniors we would have liked to get pics with but we decided to play it cool since all of the families were there. Yeah, I guess they can take photos with their families instead of their cool Youth Director and his wife.

Monday night another one of our girls graduated from Steele High School. We were excited to cheer for Mea as she walked across the stage in her trendy wedges!

Mea will be going to TWU in Denton. She may not realize it yet, but she'll be getting several Denton recommendations from Ryan and I (where to live, where to eat, info about the best college ministry ever!) After the ceremony we got to go back to Mea's house to celebrate at her graduation party! Eva was all partied out last night.

And just because it was cool... there are several airfields and airports in the area that we live in and this huge plane flew over while we were taking pictures. I liked how the space in the clouds looks like a heart and it flew right through it. Neat.

Congratulations to all of the Class of 2012!!!!!!!