A wise son brings joy to his father. Proverbs 10:1a
Today we celebrate Samuel’s graduation from high school. It has been a joy to homeschool him and we are very proud of all that he has accomplished. Over the last several years we have become more advisers than teachers, planning and overseeing his work rather than instructing. He has had many wonderful tutors through high school who have contributed to his education; we could not have done it all ourselves.
Most of all, he has been a blessing to our family and his daily presence will be missed when he begins college in the fall. He will still be living at home, but he won’t be here to tuck Little Man in for his nap or drive Ladybug to her piano lesson. Samuel has always been exceedingly dependable, even throughout the tumult of the past three years.
It has been a joy to watch him develop his skills as an athlete and musician. He enjoyed running X-country and track this year and made it to State in both sports. Along with some siblings and friends, he recently created a music video. If you or your kids are into music and film, you can appreciate how much work goes into something like this! They uploaded it to YouTube yesterday and it already has over 1, 000 hits.
As we see him graduate, Russ and I wish we could go back and do some things again. We lost a lot of time with our older children these past few years, but they are remarkably resilient. We are very thankful for the young man Samuel is becoming and we know with deep assurance that God has a wonderful plan for his life. What a blessing and privilege it is to be part of it.
~Lisa
Congrats to Samuel!
And, Congrats to the homeschool mama who has graduated another blessing, raising them up to love and serve the Lord.
Yes, when bringing newly adopted kids into our homes, our big kids do "lose" a lot of time with us. However, I believe that they also gain a lot be watching their parents seek the Lord and persevere through the challenges. And, they gain a lot by being able to pour their own love into their new sisters and brothers. Don't worry about what Samuel has lost … I am sure that he has gained more than he's lost. God will be faithful to make up for the lost time with his parents.
Blessings,
Laurel :)
Congratulations on your son's graduation! I want to look at his video – please tell me how to find it!
Heather Nordstrom
Congratulations to Samuel!
Congratulations for finishing high school, Samuel!!
Congratulation Samuel! Sonds like you are one wonderful and deeply loved son and brother. Best wishes.
Congrats to Samuel!!!
I agree with Laurel, our older children loose some when an adopted child comes into the family, but I must say that in the long run the maturity and growth I have seen in our older children has been amazing. Loosing a little part of our selfishness for another is always a good thing.
Congratulations Samuel!
And congratulations Lisa and Russ for leading him through this stage of his life!
I wish I could weave words like you do, Lisa. I feel the same in so many ways. Trust the Lord with your big kids, as well as your littles. He is doing a marvelous work in your lives.
Praying with you.
He sounds like a Godly young man. Thanks for sharing – that's what we're aiming for with our little guys, and it helps see a real live guy reaching the goal!
Cheers to Samuel (to Lisa and Russ as well)!
Wish we could have been there to celebrate with you all. Looking forward to seeing you next month.
P.S. I need one those wonderful pictures for my board!
Woohoo Samuel. And, what a great picture…I think I have an Eagle Scout picture from the same place. Caleb graduates on Saturday and then he too will be an Idaho Freshman! Go Vandals!
Would you share the music video? I would love to see it.
Kathrin, I would love to share it. I'll put a link to it on my blog in the next several days. Thank you for asking.
Congrats, Samuel! Yay!
Yay! I want to see the video too.
I just loved this post! I love hearing you say that you have become Samuel's advisors and that so many other have had a hand in teaching him! Isn't that how it should be, a slow subtle transition into adult life! And what a blessing to have a boy who has been steady through all of the craziness! Praise God!
Wow! I am so proud of him and you guys too! I Can still so easily remember him as a baby like it was yesterday. So it is hard to picture him going off to college. Maybe because he and Maddie are the same age and she is a senior but I also think it's been too long since I have seen you guys! My best wishes to him!