Graduation!

Gavin and his girlfriend, Skye

My grandson, Gavin, graduated from high school this past Saturday.  Gavin and his older sister Annika were home schooled through a Home School Co-op.  During Gavin’s final two years of high school he also attended a Technical Career School majoring in automotive collision work.  He loves to work with his hands and also loves working with cars.  Gavin graduated with honors, is a member of the National Honor Society and is an Eagle Scout.  Due to his achievements at the Technical School he obtained a full-time job as soon as he finished all of his classes.  We are very proud of him and were so happy to be able to see him graduate! 

                                   My son Chris, daughter-in-law Kristi, grandson                                                         Gavin and granddaughter Annika. 

 

                              

 

Birthdays and Graduations and Anniversaries, Oh My!

June has always been a busy month for our family and this year is no different, pandemic or not.  My daughter-in-law, Kristi, celebrated her birthday a couple of weeks ago.  For the first time in three months we went to their house in order to celebrate her birthday with them. 

Last night we celebrated my husband Tom’s birthday with the family.  His actual birthday is later this week but it is easier to get everyone together on weekends.  We went to his favorite barbecue restaurant and then came back to our house for cake.  This was the first time we actually went in a restaurant since early March.  I must say the restaurant did an excellent job of social distancing.  They even had employees in the parking lot telling you where to park and letting the waiters inside know that you had arrived.  We did not go in the restaurant until the table was ready and then they took us directly to our table.  There was a QR code on the table that you scanned with your phone and then you received the menu on your phone, thus doing away with physical menus, so nothing would be shared between people.  It seems like there is a whole new way of doing everything these days.  Tom did have a very nice birthday and we really enjoyed seeing our family again.  He actually gets a double celebration this weekend because tomorrow is Father’s Day here.

Tom's Birthday Gifts

Next weekend our grandson, Gavin, will be graduating from high school!  We were not sure if there would even be a ceremony due to the Covid restrictions.  However, many of the restrictions were lifted in our state last week.  His graduation will be held in a much larger auditorium than would normally be required in order for there to be socially distancing seating.  There are only seven tickets available per graduate and each family will sit together but be spaced from everyone else.  Gavin is our second and last grandchild and I can’t believe he is graduating already!  We are very proud of him!  

Then just two days after Gavin graduates my son and his wife, Chris and Kristi, will celebrate their 25^th wedding anniversary.  Time does go fast!  My brother, Charlie, also has a birthday on July 4^th but he lives out of the country and I have already mailed him something.  This is definitely a busy time of the year for us!

Tom and I have been very good about following all lockdown restrictions since they started last March.  We have only gone to the grocery store and have worn masks when there.  We have not spent time with family at all until this month.  Since many restrictions have been lifted, we are not breaking any this month but we are seeing family each weekend.  With the exception of the restaurant last night and the graduation next weekend we are not spending time around large groups of people and even those are guided by social distancing rules.  It is so strange that in these pandemic days there can be a concern about even being with your own family.  I am thankful we are able to see our family now while many of the restrictions have been lifted.  However since the state has opened up, we have seen a slow but steady rise in the number of cases of Covid and there has been some mention of the possibility of another lockdown.  I certainly hope that is not the case but if so, at least we have gotten to see family a bit now before we lockdown all over again if necessary.

 

I Pray

I pray

For understanding and kindness among all people

That no one is harmed by weapons, words or anger

For equality and fairness for all

That people can disagree and still respect one another

For people to understand the concept and the joy of accepting, hearing and caring about those that are different from ourselves

That when we see a friend, we are grateful that we can all be uniquely different and still be friends

For when we are not able to do these things, we put ourselves in a box and we risk losing the goodness and love in our hearts as we risk becoming angry, bitter and lonely

Maybe this is unrealistic.  No one is perfect.  I just know this is how I attempt to live my life, and yes I make plenty of mistakes.