Graduation Week

This has been a milestone week for Joshua!

Last Sunday night, he graduated from Seminary which is a daily scripture study/spiritual instruction class that our church has for all teens in the 9th through 12th grades.  Josh attended and participated all four years he was eligible to do so.  Here he is with his Seminary graduation diploma after the graduation ceremony.  

After completing his final Monday and Tuesday, Josh had Wednesday off to relax and contemplate the future.  There was an early graduation practice at the school Thursday morning, then the ceremony was Thursday night.  Here is Josh just before we left for graduation Thursday evening.

The weather cooperated and Thursday was not super hot (by Arizona standards).  There was some cloud cover so we didn't have the setting sun in our eyes as we sat in the east (west facing) bleachers  The evening was pleasant and there was even a cool breeze blowing as we watched these excited graduates walk onto the football field.

There was a gorgeous sunset that was a backdrop for the graduation speakers.

 The score board honored the class of 2014.

There were about 450 seniors in the graduating class of 2014 at Josh's high school.

The student filed up one by one to receive there diplomas.  Josh had actually just received his and sat back down when I snapped this photo (a little too late).

Josh is happy and excited to finally be finished with high school.  He told me that while he had some good times in high school, his senior year was tough because his close friends were a year older than him and had already graduated.  He said there were days when he felt like he had no friends at high school this past year. Nevertheless, he persevered and graduated with a decent, B-average GPA.  He never got a D or F in any class.  He never had to repeat a class.  He never got in trouble or had any discipline issues.  He took a full load of classes all four years.  The first three years, he also took online classes at home in addition to his full school day.  He attended his scripture study (seminary) class every day, unless he was home sick.

Congratulations to Joshua!  

We are as proud of and pleased with him as we could possibly be!

Best of the Week - Friday Faves on Saturday

I am joining, a day late, with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story to remember the good things that happened this past week (although this week,  I simply could not limit it to just five things).

We did some house hunting (after not looking at all for months) and found a couple of single level houses that would work for our family.  The one we are most interested in right now is actually a foreclosure located about a block from where we currently live.  It is going up for auction soon and we are thinking of bidding, but are uncertain if we will be able to get it, for the price we want to pay.  It is a little smaller than our current home and it needs a bit of work - mostly cosmetic - but if the price is right, we could undertake that. Best of all, my son (who has been strongly opposed to moving anywhere), said he wouldn't mind it if we move less than a block away, although our current house will always be special to him since he has lived here since he was five.  Even if we don't get this house, it is good to know there are some single level homes in this area that are pretty much what we want and need.

I finally broke down and bought a new knee brace.  My husband had been telling me to get one for quite a while, but since I already had one that I wasn't happy with, I hesitated to spend more money on something that wouldn't help.  The old knee brace would not allow me to bed my knee, so I had to limp around straight-legged.   It would slip out of place and did not fit correctly.  The new one, fits better and provides more stability.  I wore it all day yesterday and today and had considerably less pain than usual.  

I finished reading Joyce Meyer's Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits.  I liked the book.  I always enjoy Joyce Meyer's no-nonsense, tell-it-like it is style.  Her books make me want to be a better person, and more, they make me believe that I can be a better person.  You can read my Goodreads review here. Now I am reading Angel in the Rubble, a book that Josh recently finished and highly recommended.  It is the true story of the last woman rescued alive from the rubble of the twin towers. Her story is truly remarkable and faith building.

I have found that getting a passport for the first time can be quite daunting.  We have never traveled internationally and so none of us have passports, but Josh will need one for his mission.  We are trying to get all the paper work completed correctly this weekend and are planning go to the passport office on Monday. 

We are truly feeling the love, support and generosity of family, friends and member of our church family as Josh gets ready for his mission.  On family gave Josh these two nice large pieces of luggage that he will be able to take with him to Mexico.  We surely do appreciate all of the kindness that has, and no doubt will continue, to be shown to Josh.

Josh decided that he wanted to get to know his maternal grandma (my birth mother - shown here on the right with my younger sister), so he called her this week and they had a nice long conversation.  Josh has never met her, but he decided that he would like to, so we are hoping to be able to plan a trip to visit her before long.  

Fresh blackberries have been a treat we have been enjoying this week.   Although these did not come from my garden, they were still a sweet and delicious treat!

The school year is almost over!  There are only four days of school remaining and Josh graduates from high school on Thursday!  We are certainly proud of Josh and the tenacity and grit he has shown over the past twelve years.  He has learned many things and while all the academics are important, perhaps the most important thing he learned is that he can do hard things and persist in moving forward successfully.  He has accomplished much and has a bright future filled with good things!

Prom and Mother's Day

It was a extraordinarily busy and exciting weekend for us.  It began, of course, with the happy arrival of Josh's missionary call in the mail on Friday.

Josh wanted to have a few friends over to share the excitement of opening his call and finding out where in the world he would be serving his mission, so we arranged a hasty gathering of friends at our home Friday evening.

We had over twenty people at the house when he opened his call.  It was great to see all the love and support for Josh from our friends  - some who are Mormon and some who are not.  I was so busy visiting with our guests that I only took one picture of the gathering.The two men shown in this picture standing by Josh reading his mission call letter have served as his youth leaders for the past several years.  I guess they would be the equivalent of youth pastors in some churches. They serve totally without pay and have put in countless hours, (after spending all day at their own jobs), with the young men ages 16-18.  They are amazing men and have made  huge impact on the life of my son as well as many of the other boys in our church.  Josh was especially glad that they could be with him on this special night.

Although Josh won't leave to begin his service in Mexico for several months, he has already started getting ready. Saturday, he had passport photos taken.  We will be visiting the passport office later this week.   There are also new clothing to purchase, immunizations to get and study and learning to be started.  Josh was pleased to be asked to stand in church yesterday and announce his calling.  He also called/emailed many of his friends and family members and everyone was happy and supportive of his decision to serve.  Josh is super excited - if just a little nervous about this new adventure he will soon be undertaking!

As if a mission call wasn't enough excitement for the weekend, Saturday was also Prom Night for Josh.  The event was fun and elegant and Josh and his date had a great time!

 Here is Josh ready to pick up his date.

 Pinning on the boutonniere.

Her corsage.

Josh and his cute date ready for a fun night.

 Josh, his date and the group they had dinner with. I love the modest prom dresses.  No spaghetti straps and short skirts for this group.

This elegant dinner was hosted by one of the youth leaders from church.  Mothers of the young men (including yours truly) helped with the dinner.

Josh and his date enjoyed the dinner...

...and had a great time at the dance.

 Mother's day was, for me, the best one in recent memory. There were flowers...

gifts, cards, pictures and crafts from the grand kids, and phone calls and Skype conversations with my birth mother and my daughters.

Charly made Latin American corn pancakes for breakfast (which weren't my favorite, but its the thought that counts).  It really was a very nice Mother's Day.

Quote for the day after Mother's Day:

“Kids don’t stay with you if you do it right. It’s the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won’t be needed in the long run.” 

—Barbara Kingsolver

Have a good week!

My Best Mother's Day Gifts

Mother's Day has never been my favorite holiday.  As a day meant to honor mothers, it often leaves me feeling inadequate and guilt-ridden, and I suspect I am probably not alone in those feelings.  Despite my human weaknesses and failings, I have received some truly amazing Mother's Day gifts and for these I am truly grateful.  Here are my top three Mother's Day gifts, in the order that I received them...

This amazing young woman came into my life the day after Mother's Day (May 11) some 33 years ago.   She has been a wonderful daughter and blessing since the day she arrived.   As my first-born child, she probably had the worst of my motherhood naivete and inexperience and she still grew into a woman I am truly proud to call my daughter.  Today, she is a wife, mother of three and an officer in the United State Navy.  She tackles the challenges of her full and busy life with exemplary grace and excellence. Her faith, fortitude and courage have taught me much, as I have watched her take on and overcome the trials of life. Truly she was and continues to be a daughter that would make any mother (or father) grateful!

This is my oldest grandson who arrived on Mother's Day weekend eight years ago and made me a grandma. He is intelligent, kind, helpful, friendly and fun-loving.  I am so proud of him and the fine young man he is becoming.  I am grateful to be his grandma.  I am also really looking forward to being able to spend some time with him very soon! 

This Mother's Day gift came a couple of days early when this guy received a large white envelope in the mail...

 ...with this return address on it.

Joshua has decided to put college plans on hold for a while and serve a two-year mission. In our church, missionaries agree to accept a call to serve where ever the inspiration of God directs that they are needed. In most cases, the area of service is a complete surprise to the missionary, and this was the case with Joshua. Missionaries labor on all continents and in most countries of the world.  They learn and speak the language of the area where they serve.  Most missionaries, male and female, are between 18 and 21 years old, although retired couples also serve whenever possible.  They go wherever they are assigned and serve totally at their own (or family's) expense.  The rules are strict, the work is challenging, and the vast majority of missionaries come home to say it was the best time of their young lives. Josh will be serving in Mexico.  He will report to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah to learn Spanish for six weeks, then he will be off to teach, serve and love the people of Mexico for two years!

We believe that missionaries are representatives of Jesus Christ as they go forth to teach and serve.   Having a son who is willing to put aside his own plans to serve others is truly one of my greatest Mother's Day blessings!

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and , lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

                        --Matthew 28:19-20

Happy Homemaker Monday - May Edition

Happy May and Happy New Week!  Last week was so busy and hectic, that I am truly looking forward to slowing down just a bit this week.  Today I am starting the week of right by joining with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for....

As I look outside my window...

It is dark now - almost 8 p.m..   Today was warm, breezy and cloudy.  The temperatures this afternoon were in the high nineties or low triple digits. Right now it is still 80 degrees outside.

Right now...

I have just put the finishing touches on the final project for my online class and submitted it to the teacher, and am now taking a few minutes to relax, visit my blogging friends and do a post of my own.

Thinking and pondering...

About how quickly this year seems to be going.  There are now only thirteen days of school left in the year and my youngest son will be graduating from high school in just over two weeks.

On my reading stack...

In addition to my daily scripture reading, I am enjoying Joyce Meyer's Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits and Debbie Macomber's 16 Lighthouse Road.

On my TV...

Nothing.  I may turn something on later while I do a bit of ironing.

Listening to...

The hum of the air conditioner and the TV which my husband is watching in another room.

Accomplishments of last week...

•  Dusted all the ceiling fans in the house.

• Got some old VHS tapes with "home movies" made into DVDs.
• Finished a big project at work.
• Shopped for and purchased Mother's Day and birthday gifts.
• Purchased and installed a new shower head in the downstairs bathroom by myself.
• Accomplished some purging and organizing both at home and in my classroom.

On my to-do list this week...

• Pick up Josh's cap and gown graduation photos
• Mail Mother's Day cards with Josh's cap and gown graduation photos enclosed
• Hope that Josh and his friends get their plans for Mormon Prom finalized
• Make some more homemade laundry detergent
• Keep caught up on the usual cleaning, laundry and ironing

Plans for this week...

Monday - Mail birthday packages to daughter and grandson - Done!  

                Finish and submit final project for class - Done!

Tuesday - Pick up Josh's graduation photos, church youth activity for Josh

Wednesday - Final orthodontist follow-up appointment for Josh

Thursday - Clean bathrooms and dust

Friday - Grocery shopping

Saturday - Temple, Mormon Prom for Josh

Sunday - Mother's Day!

My simple pleasure...

Reading, walking with Charly, treasuring hunting at Goodwill on half-price day

Homemaking tip...

It is always easier for me to stay caught up on things by doing a little each day, than to let things go and do a lot all at once.

Looking around the house...

I see laundry that is dry and needs to be put away and I know there is ironing waiting to be done upstairs.

I should also get another load of laundry going tonight.

From the camera...

A sweet granddaughter on her first birthday!  I love her princess cake.

A peaceful Sunday night stroll around the Gilbert Temple.

Prayer list:

My son in his future plans

My husband as he contemplates a change in employment

My friend's teenage daughter who will be undergoing heart surgery next week

Another friend's daughter who has recently been diagnosed with diabetes

Our nation because so much of what is going on in our society is simply not right - I am especially concerned about our young people!

Scripture for the week:

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

        --Hebrews 10:35-36