Our Second Homeschool Graduate {Part 3}: The reception

Because this was our second-go-round, planning this graduation reception

was definitely less stressful than the first.
We wanted it to be fun and to reflect Ashlyn's personality.

Where I grew up in the Midwest, it is customary to host

a "Graduation Open House" to celebrate your high-schooler's graduation.

Typically, every Saturday in June was spent driving around to 2, or 3, or more

open houses usually hosted in the home of the graduate.

It could be a simple cake and punch affair, but traditionally is a lavish soiree

complete with several entrees, side dishes, and desserts served for all the guests that reflected

the taste of the graduate and their family.

I've seen some families spend months planning activities and remodeling or redecorating

their homes in preparation for this big event.

Family members help out with the preparations and help provide potluck-type food

or homemade desserts, and set-up outdoor tents, tables, and chairs.

That is so not a part of Texas culture.

Don't get me wrong here.

People do have graduation parties.

But certainly not to the extent that is seen in the Midwest.

And certainly not as come-and-go parties in people's homes.

For our second daughter's homeschool graduation,

 I wanted to combine the traditions of the Midwest

where I was raised along with the friendly,

"Come on in and sit a spell,"

atmosphere of Texas!!

It took a lot of work and time and planning

and thankfully, on the day before, lots of friends and grandmas

offered to help!!! 

Our menu looked like this:

Slider finger sandwiches (Find the recipe here.)

Veggie trays with dip

Various chips

Chocolate Fountain
served with
Marshmallows
Strawberries
Pineapple
Pretzel Rods and Sticks
Brownie Bites

Chocolate Cake (by Costco)

Peach Tea Punch
Lemonade
Water

Our inspiration for displaying Ashlyn's photography hobby comes from here.

"Smarty Pants" idea sourced from here.

  

Our wonderful youth pastor and his adorable family!

Our amazing Pastor!

Meet the two Norma Lea's!
Not only do they share the same name, but both of their father's were named Norman!

Our favorite Music Minister and his delightful girls!

Boy, were we blessed when this young man agreed to lead

the classroom where my children studied all year!!
His patience, kindness, integrity, humor, and wisdom

had an enormous impact on our family

and encouraged them to finish strong and do their best!!
He led by example and they loved him!!!
He heads to Togo, Africa this summer for a one-year mission

to plant a church and start a Christian School!!
God bless you, Matthew!!!

We couldn't have been more blessed by the outpouring of love and support

 from so many friends who came to be part of

 such a momentous occasion for our family!!!

Our Second Homeschool Graduate {Part 2}: Ashlyn's Story

As we were preparing to graduate our very first home-school student,

 my heart was so very full.
It's nearly impossible to express the emotions that sweep over you 

when you realize that all those years of trying to impart knowledge and facts, 

choosing curriculum for each subject that would best help

 that child learn and understand the concepts, 

begging God for wisdom,

 all the tears,

 all the adventures,

 all the planning,

 all the scheduling are culminating into this one moment. 

 How do you encapsulate all the lessons learned,

 all the answered prayers,

 all the joys,

 all the agonies,

 all the victories?

As a homeschooling Mom, the experience is naturally all different from that of the Dad's. 
 Typically, because of work schedules, 
more of the responsibility for planning and executing the schooling
 falls to the Mom. 
 So, naturally, I had more to share. 
 I wanted to share Ashlyn's story of living with 
the life-altering disease of Type 1 Diabetes,
and the things she has had to overcome in order to accomplish all that she has.
It is a story of God's purpose and His grace in our lives!

 He is very aware of what we need
 and He delights in bringing about His glorious purposes through our weakness!!

The Story of Ashlyn
May 26, 2018

"Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.  Thank you so much for coming to this very special day for our family!  It seems like it wasn’t too long ago that we were just here graduating Alexis from our homeschool, and in the “blink-of-an-eye” here we are with Ashlyn!!
Some things felt very familiar as we were preparing for this day that really made it less stressful this time, but there are also some distinct differences that set it apart from our first go ‘round.  I would like to share some differences about Ashlyn that has made the experience of homeschooling her straight through to graduation a completely distinct experience from that of her other siblings.

If you happen to have had more than one child, you were immediately struck with how different each of your children’s personalities are from each other.  This couldn’t have been truer for our first two babies.  The first was a tiny, feisty, sassy, right-handed red-head, and the second was a quiet, content, happy, easy-going, left-handed blond.  Ashlyn was always happy to just be wherever there were people, to eat, and to sleep.  Her older sister thought all those activities were useless wastes of time.  But their differences did not end there either.

We soon realized that of our 6 children, Ashlyn would win the “most-likely-to-end-up-in-the-hospital-for-something-bizarre” award.  From her first day of life when she unexpectedly stopped breathing and turned blue, resulting in a week-long stay in the hospital to her waking up from a nap when she was nearly 3 years old screaming in pain and unable to move her left leg.  We were transported in an ambulance to Children’s Hospital in Dallas where she was quickly diagnosed with a septic hip that required immediate surgery and another week-long stay in the hospital.
But nothing could have prepared us for the emergency that would send us back to the emergency room with her when she was 8 years old.

Our sixth baby had been born just 12 months earlier and we were struggling to keep our heads above water while homeschooling 3 active kids and juggling 2 toddlers and a preschooler.  Ashlyn had begun having stomach issues that were very random but always ended with vomiting.  Her pediatrician told us we would need to start charting what she was eating to pinpoint what food was upsetting her stomach.  After months with no solution, she added terrible headaches to the stomach issue.  In January of 2008, I had had enough.  Nothing is more stressful or heart wrenching to have a child who is suffering, and no one can tell you what to do about it.  I finally made an appointment with the doctor again to talk about what was causing these “migraine-like” headaches.  But on the evening that President Obama was inaugurated, January 20, 2009,

 we had ice cream sundaes as a treat and I started up a fun movie.  

Ashlyn kept leaving the room to use the bathroom over and over.

  I finally followed her to see what she was really doing

 and why she was not watching the movie with us.

Then, it hit me.

 I realized then that she had recently begun chugging tons of water.  Her clothes were really starting to looking baggy…..like she was loosing weight.  I had already made an appointment with the pediatrician but thought it would be fine to wait the three days until the appointment.   When we arrived, they asked me the reason for our visit that day.  I told them I originally was coming in to talk about Ashlyn’s excruciating headaches, but that I was concerned about her excessive bathroom use, her massive water drinking, and how she looked really skinny to me.   The nurse jumped into action and within a couple minutes the doctor walked in and calmly told me to take Ashlyn straight to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital in Dallas.  He had already called them to alert them we were coming and that we were not even to go home for clothes.  Later, I realized that my ignorance could’ve have cost us her life if it weren’t for God watching over our girl.  She had been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

We stayed in the hospital for three intense days, and after a particularly hard day, Ashlyn asked me with tears coming down her face, “Why did this have to happen to me?”  
I immediately sent up a flare prayer asking for wisdom from the Lord
 on how to answer that question. 
He immediately put in my mind the story of Queen Esther
 and how God gave her something in her life that she never wanted.  
But He had a purpose for this new arrangement and she had a very special job to do for God.  

We have never let Type 1 Diabetes define Ashlyn’s life.

Instead, we want her to use it as the framework for helping others.
We have learned as a family how to adjust to what she needs and be understanding with those who are just different from ourselves.
This diagnosis confirmed to us that we had made the right decision to homeschool!
We don’t get depressed or worried about what her future holds because we know Who holds her future.
When I was looking through the scriptures for a theme verse I could pray for her life just after her diagnoses, the Lord led me to Jeremiah 29:11 where I have it marked for her.  “For I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, plans for peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

We know that God has something very special planned for this girl.

He has clearly walked every step of her life with us.
He protected her when we didn’t even know her life was in danger.
Her determination to get up and keep going has been an inspiration to us!
We are so thankful that God chose her for our family and can’t wait to see what He has been preparing her for!!

Congratulations, Ashlyn!!

I love you with all of my heart!  I am absolutely amazed at what God has done with your life since the day you were born!   You are a survivor!!  You are an overcomer!

Keep your eyes on Jesus for He will carry you through.

Stay in His Word.  Let it be your map and the first place you turn to for the questions in your life.
God designed and orchestrated your life for a very distinct purpose.  Seek that purpose and His will for your life.
I close with this piece of poetry by an unknown author

 that fully says what it is my heart today for Ashlyn:

"My life is but a weaving 

Between my God and me. 
I cannot choose the colors 
He weaveth steadily. 

Oft' times He weaveth sorrow; 
And I in foolish pride 
Forget He sees the upper 
And I the underside. 

Not 'til the loom is silent 
And the shuttles cease to fly 
Will God unroll the canvas 
And reveal the reason why. 

The dark threads are as needful 
In the weaver's skillful hand 
As the threads of gold and silver 
In the pattern He has planned 

He knows, He loves, He cares; 
Nothing this truth can dim. 
He gives the very best to those 
Who leave the choice to Him."