Welp, Lucy graduated yesterday. Which means so did I as a mother of high-school-goers. The business of letting go of high school has been a roller coaster of so many thoughts and activities for all of us around here, and I’m not even sure where to begin.
So we’re going to start with some of Lucy’s “lasts” and reminisce about the other kids a little too. Because gosh! Every one of my children has graduated from the very same high school. So many of the same things celebrated in the same spots. And for some reason that is speaking to me right now.
Baccalaureate Memories Through the Years
Oh man, Baccalaureate is one of the best parts of graduation in my opinion. It’s a non-denomenational spiritual service filled with reflection and the most beautiful music. And I have to say, our high school is pretty incredibly good in the music department. Plus they sing “Come Thou Fount” every year that makes me cry. And this year was no different. Here’s the one from Max’s year back in 2016:
And here’s that one boy of ours when it was all over:
Then there was Elle graduating one short year later:
Next came Grace, glowing at her own baccalaureate ceremony:
And most recently, Claire Bear went ahead and graduated too:
And then suddenly I found Dave and I standing there in that very same spot with Lucy.
My baby.
It was kind of surreal to stand there for the last time, Lucy dressed in the same gown all her sisters had worn. A “25” tassel hanging from her graduation cap.
All those kids all smiles. Full of excitement for the approaching end, and anticipation for the future.
Nana and Papa cheering that girl on, just as they have all our kids through the years.
Love them so much!
Seminary Graduation and Spiritual Milestones
Just as it was for all my other kids, seminary graduation was the same day as Baccalaureate. Just a little later in the evening.
Lucy was kind of done with graduation festivities by this point, and we only got a few pictures. But I am so grateful she has had the chance to participate in the seminary program for all these high school years. It’s a chance for these kids to get some spiritual uplifting right smack-dab in the middle of the school day.
There was a nice program and a slideshow of all those kids graduating.
Love that Dave’s cousin’s daughter has been friends with Lucy since they were born, and they got to do all things graduation together.
These are most of the kids in our ward congregation who are the graduating seniors this year:
They, as well as those leaders, and so many other incredible girls have been so good to my Lucy.
All the other kids were here in this very spot too. Graduating from seminary.
Max was the speaker at his graduation all those years ago, and all those memories were just washing over me like nobody’s business that night with Lucy graduating.
My Own Seminary Graduation
I have to share this video of MY seminary graduation just because I happened to find it way back when and it’s pretty fun to share. Because I got to shake hands with two future prophets of our church at the end:
Graduation Photos and Final High School Moments
Lucy’s friend asked if I would take graduation photos in the stadium before all this graduation hoopla was wrapped up and tied up in a bow.
And I was secretly glad because that meant maybe Lucy would be willing to be there too.
I mean, once again, I love the reminiscing of the other times we did this too. We did it with Claire:
And Grace too:
Once again, surreal to see Lucy out there in that same spot.
And I just gotta share these photos:
And there we have it. So many things leading to the end of the end.
The high school finale for all of us:
Letting Go at Graduation: The End of Our High School Years
Coming soon.
Congratulations on your graduation Lucy! I am so happy for you! You are going to do great things! Sending love from MN.
Sooo awesome!!! Way to go Lucy!!!