Inspiring New Pages

Graduation season is almost as exciting around here as Christmas!  Since my kids have been in high school, we have attended high school graduations every year.  This year, we got over 10 graduation announcements, 4 graduation ceremonies, and 5 parties!  Wow! I love graduation seasons because it is the end of one page, and the beginning of a new one.  It is amazing to see what these young adults have done and where they are headed.

Our family has had the privilege of being a part of the Idaho Home School Graduation group for several years.  This is the largest home school group in the state that puts on a wonderful ceremony for home schooled kids.  This year’s program included musical talents, class speakers, awards for National Merit Scholars, as well as The Honorable Daniel T. Eismann, Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court addressing the class.  Mr. Eismann’s address was inspiring to the young adults as well as those of us in the audience.  Speaking of his own experience in combat, as well as his career as a judge,  he shared with the graduates that God is always with us directing our paths.  The Idaho Home School Graduates have been honored to have Judge Eismann attending their ceremony for many years, and privileged to hear him speak. 

Hope House Graduates 2010

Over the last several years, we have been introduced to Hope House in Marsing, a home for kids who have had failed adoptions.  This year is the second graduation that we have attended there.  What a privilege to be a part of these special young adults’ lives.  Unlike the home school graduation, where the kids have had wonderful families to support them all their lives, these kids have been bounced around all their lives and have ended up at Hope House.   Most of the graduates have been there at least all of high school, and consider Hope House their family.  Only 1 of 4 graduates had any family there to speak on their behalf.  Instead of formal music talent, we heard heart felt songs sang by the graduates.  The overriding themes were of redemption and forever friendship.  Hope House has lived up to its name by truly giving these kids hope. 

Today, we are attending one more graduation at Covenant Academy, another special place.  This school started out as a home school family helping other home school families about 25 years ago.  They offer full-time and part-time enrollment, so they have not had many full-time graduates.  Today’s graduation happens to be one of their own kids who wants to be president some day.  He is a very bright young man with great future ahead of him.  I expect another inspiring ceremony.

Thank you to all the graduates who have inspired us this year.  Congratulations!  May God richly bless you as you begin this new page of your lives.