Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
through many tears, final tests, wind, and rain..
Crystal finished high school!
Everyone pitched in to try to make her home school graduation a fun time!
We will not tell all the stories about the hours spent trying to find fabric for her graduation cap to match her gown (which Mom had purchased for $3.95 at a goodwill two years ago), or of how we had a first cap almost done, only to discover the measurements we got off the internet for the mortarboard were for a kindergartener's cap...
But we got the cap done (thanks to cardboard, poster board, nobody-will-ever-know-it-doesn't-quite- match fabric) and a homemade tassle (thanks to light blue and white crocheted cotton we happened to have in a drawer for the tassle, and a tassle band and 2014 "charm" from a decorative tassle we found at Dollar Tree. Maybe next time I'll order gown and cap to match and have the hours of work all done. Oh well!
So then the day before the graduation, the girls and little boys started working on making about 90 graduation cap candies for toppers for cupcakes.
The morning of the graduation, Crystal baked cupcakes and then we hurried to the Cowboy Church about 3 miles away to meet the janitor and get a key for the day. Back home again, we iced the cupcakes...
and Rose cut Twizzlers to size for the graduation cap candy tassles.
Lots of work went into those cupcakes!
The finished job laid out in the fellowship room in a separate building beside the church.
And then after a rather frantic hour of returning home to get last minute things, dress and meet at the church again for practice, the prelude begins. We asked Kenn to get some photos for us. First was a harp song by Amanda Zarkovacki which we weren't coordinated enough yet to snap a photo of.
Then Iva filled in and then Beth and Emily Albertson played a piano and violin duet.
Crystal and Carrie played "O Worship the King," a piano duet.
Crystal played "How Firm a Foundation."
Meanwhile, in the back, about 20 home school children line up to come in, two by two, up the aisle while my sister Iva played "Pomp and Circumstance." I straighten Crystal's collar.
I helped the children start out properly, wishing I could be up front to watch them all come in--Iva's children had dressed up so charmingly in western attire. They all filed up to their front seats, and then I took Jonathan's arm, and he and I walked up together behind the children.
Crystal then came in last. Behind her over there is the church janitor, whose curiosity had been aroused and he had decided to accept my invitation to stay and join us for the service.
Jonathan emceed the service and is giving the welcome.
Rowen Albertson, father of some of Crystal's best friends, Beth and Emily Albertson, offered the invocation prayer. He had given time and thought to that prayer, and it was very, very meaningful as he prayed Scripture, reminding God of His commands to teach our children diligently, and to train them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, thanking God for the privilege of homeschooling, and asking for the continued freedom to do so.
The home school children's choir sang "Gentle Shepherd/Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us."
The Albertson sisters played "I Don't Know About Tomorrow."
Bro. Steve Kearney, our fill-in pastor, read a letter to Crystal sent by Bro. Dennis Goodwin, whom Crystal had asked to speak, but couldn't make it.
Crystal, her mother, and Aunt Iva sang a trio on "You'll Never Walk Alone."
Crystal gave her student address.
"Ladies and gentlemen, cowboys and cowgirls, city slickers and country bumpkins,
I stand before you today as valedictorian, salutatorian, class dunce, and everything in between!
I am the class, the whole class, and nothing but the class!"
Then our family sang "I'm Never Alone on the Lone Prairie," a cowboy song praising God for His presence. In the second verse it talks about feeling lonely as in the distance the coyotes wail, and the children filled in some coyote wails while Jonathan and I sang that part.
On the first verse, it says,
"I tell my blues to skedaddled,
Jump back in the saddle..."
and that is where Jonathan lifted Danny up onto the saddle (church decor) which we'd put on the platform.
Aunt Iva had a superb little speech titled, "Advice from an Aunt--Tools for Your Journey."
Then our family sang a challenge in song, "Climb Every Mountain," from Sound of Music, but I had written a second verse"
"Go where Christ calls you. Choose to obey.
He will walk beside you, showing you the way.
Climb every mountain, trudge every plain,
Peace will follow trouble; joy will temper pain.
And when days are rough, He will still be enough.
Just as long as you’re true, He will be there for you!
Climb every mountain, ford every stream.
Christ will be your rainbow! He’ll fulfill your dream!"
Crystal's mom gave the following remarks before Jonathan presented Crystal with her diploma.
"Crystal, it’s been a privilege being your teacher for the last thirteen years–from kindergarten through your senior year of high school. You have been our staunchest support in our home schooling effort. You have worked hard and always made excellent grades. You finished your last final test just yesterday. You were right on the line, but you made it!.
You have not only done well at your desk, but you have also done well in extra curricular classes such as Home Ec and piano. When we couldn’t afford lessons, you uncomplainingly took piano lessons from your mom and practiced diligently. You have gone beyond practice and been willing to share your music, not just on the platform but for shut-ins and the lonely. You have been your mother’s right hand help in the home, learning how to do laundry, clean the house, make whole meals and clean up afterward, raise puppies and chicks and kids. You have your driver’s license. You’ve had an article printed in a mission paper, raised your own support to go on a trip to Africa this summer, and are preparing to do God’s will.
But what blesses me the most is that through all the years of hard work and fun, you have gained a good character. You are conscientious in being faithful to a time of daily Bible reading and prayer. You have been willing to confess Christ before men. You are not ashamed to befriend people in wheelchairs, sing at a friend’s deathbed, and return good for evil when you have been rejected. You are quick to say, “I’m sorry,” if you feel you were wrong. You’ve been patient when I’ve been impatient, you have been a huge encouragement to me. It is a blessing to me that at age 18, you still hold your parents, their beliefs, opinions, and advice in respect. We have tried to give you a safe and loving nest in which to grow. Now–we are giving you wings! God bless you!"
"And now you may turn your tassle!"
Crystal and her dad had put together a bouquet of beautiful red roses for Crystal's teacher--one for each grade she'd taught Crystal. How they did it was so sweet! Then Crystal gave me a hug along with the bouquet.
For the recessional, our family sang "I'll Walk With God," and on the last two lines, Crystal left the platform and walked to the back
The service concluded in prayer offered by Rudy Zarkovacki, home school father and friend.
I hope to add more photos another day of after the service. It was such a blessed time--almost unreal to me, as we'd worked so hard and been practicing till right before the service so it hardly seemed for real this time!
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