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baccalaureate

by Shawni
I am trying to catch up with some of the graduation stuff so bear with me as I’m posting all these things in a clump right here right now while it’s all fresh in my mind.  This is a TBT to last week 🙂

Of all the graduation festivities, Baccalaureate was my very favorite.


It was a more spiritual part of graduation, an interdenominational service.

Dave and I were so very impressed with how beautifully it was done.

The biggest reason was the music.  Ok, and the fact that my son was graduating.

But from the moment these bagpipe players led all the graduates down the isles into the auditorium tears were welling in my eyes the whole time.

The orchestra was fabulous and the choir equally good.

I loved the speakers too.  The principal talked about “Don’t Stop Believing” and shared some really great motivational stories and the students voted on the other speaker who was a science teacher who gave us three main challenges:

1) Be a contribution in whatever you choose to do in life.

2) Be a GIVER and RECEIVER of kindness.  When life gets tough, focus on helping someone else.

3) Love something bigger than yourself.

She also said “never let your curiosity dwindle and your creativity die down.

Wise wisdom.

The choir sang “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” which of course caused a little bit of weeping, and then they started into “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” my all-time favorite ever, and I’m surprised I could hold my camera steady enough to get this footage.

It was just so beautiful…see if you can listen to this without bawling.

We took a whole slew of pictures afterwards.  First of all with this great core group of Max’s friends.

How grateful I am for them and how they have helped us “raise” Max the last couple years.

Back when those two started kindergarten:

And this is from back when those same three up there were little:

Oh boy lots of memories.

These four have had some pretty great double dates this last semester:

And this cute girl has been fun for us all to get to know.

These kids go to church with us.

Volleyball buddies.

These two went to preschool together when both our families lived back in Virginia.

Here they are back then:

Sweetie pies.

And these two have known each other since second grade (I wish I had an old picture!).

Oh boy I love all these kids, and I love how they loved and looked out for each other over the years.

(That picture makes me tear up all over again…they are all heading out their separate ways and it may be killing me even more than them!)

I especially love this one.

He and that little program and all those good people sure filled up my heart that afternoon.

12 comments

Jaclyn Leblanc May 28, 2015 - 1:11 pm

Congratulations to Max! What an exciting time – I'm the oldest and I remember how it was for my parents to have their first graduate. Feels like forever ago now, though!

I also just saw this article and thought of you and all of your wonderful parenting advice… http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2015/05/10/the-benefits-slow-parenting/2LImOAIyqElORCStgOADSI/story.html

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Nicole May 28, 2015 - 2:11 pm

I absolutely love how you have pictures of them as littles and then now. So wonderful!

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Annika May 28, 2015 - 3:22 pm

Oh my goodness, you made me tear up! It makes me think back to my HS graduation 9 years ago. Such great memories and friends.
That looks like such a fabulous graduation, it must've been their goal to make everyone in the room cry!!

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Tyra May 28, 2015 - 3:24 pm

The pictures from when they are little and then now is so cute!!!

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Tyra May 28, 2015 - 3:24 pm

oh and congratulations on Graduation Max!

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Kerstin May 28, 2015 - 3:57 pm

Not a single tear shed over here. I hope I may still read your blog. 🙂

Congratulations to Max!

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Eyrealm May 28, 2015 - 6:14 pm

Nope couldn't do it without crying. That song brings back so many memories! I am blown away by the quality and size of that high school choir and orchestra! That is just unbelievable! Love these kids…especially that tallest one! What a great high school experience Max has had!

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Anonymous May 29, 2015 - 9:18 pm

So when does Elle leave for London? What will she be doing there? Please tell me what the process is to get a teen cleared for a work visa. I heard it's hard!

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Aubree May 29, 2015 - 10:34 pm

That song was amazing! And I can't believe they are a high school choir!

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Tanika Rice May 31, 2015 - 5:09 am

So amazing!!! Spiritual. I got goosebumps and it's not my son who graduated! Hormones, man!

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Terri Moore May 31, 2015 - 5:35 am

Any chance you can share what high school this was… That song was AMAZING!!! Maybe I need to move on your side of town. Over here in Peoria I haven't seen anything like that ever done… 🙂 It was so BEAUTIFUL!!!

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Terri Moore May 31, 2015 - 5:36 am

Any chance you can share what high school this was… That song was AMAZING!!! Maybe I need to move on your side of town. Over here in Peoria I haven't seen anything like that ever done… 🙂 It was so BEAUTIFUL!!!

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