Another Graduation Completed

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o now our third oldest son is officially graduated from homeschooling.   We had a graduation party for him this past Friday and it went real well.  We were praying all week for the weather to be good, after harsh storms had hit a lot of our area.  It was wonderful seeing family and friends.  We mainly served desserts, including wondeful cookies one of my sister-in-laws made, brownies (that had to be made the night before at our church because once again my oven decided not to work), cookies, and all the toppings you can think of for icecream sundaes.  One of my close friends and her husband did all the serving, keeping things running very smoothly.  An older couple in our church that are like grandparents to our kids, made this beautiful cake for Jayson, which captured one of his passions.  He was so surprised.  It was hard to cut into it!  But it tasted just as wonderful as it looks!

One of the neat things after his party was all overwith, and the cleaning was done, Jayson putting his arm around me without any prompting, and just saying “thanks mom for a great night, it was the best.”  We were up late that night reading through all his cards.  Of course he was blessed with gift money, but it was neat to see what touched his heart even more.  He received a hand written note, not on fancy stationary or even in a card, but on school-type white line paper, from a widowed man in our church.  It was plain and simple, but the man spoke from his heart, encouraging Jayson in his walk with God.  It genuinely touched Jayson’s heart.  Another older couple in our church gave him a book by John Piper (I don’t think they knew he is one of my favorite authors.  It can be hard to push the books a “mom” likes on our kids to read). Yet, Jayson thought that was a neat gift too, and though he is not one to just read through a book, we saw his light on late that night, reading this book.   He received other personalized gifts, and this is what seemed to touch his heart the most.  When we take the time to make an impact, to be personal, it means a lot, and makes a lasting impression. 

My husband and I gave him a new Bible for his graduation gift. It was emotional for all of us.  My husband and I had talked about it before, but had not said anything to our kids.  We had gotten a new Bible for our son Matthew, but he never received it – he was buried with it.  We got Jayson a new Bible.  One of our daughters who usually tries to hold her emotions in, saw it just before we gave it to him, and said, “I bet that was hard to get – at least you get to give it to him.”  We told Jayson this, and that most importantly it is God’s Word we want him to always follow, but indeed, we do not take it for granted either, to give this to him. 

This below was the cover to his graduation invitations.  A friend took a picture of him and it turned out so neat.  The verse on it is our continued prayer for him.  (Deut. 5:33)

♥ We love you Jayson! ♥

 

~ by Loni on June 16, 2008.