A Whirlwind Few Days!

We made it through our big 10 day period of crazy activity ... so much joy, so much pride for both of our sons as TJ graduated 8th grade and Drew from college!

We spent three days in Wisconsin ... the first night celebrating with extended family over dinner, and doing a little pre-graduation packing up of Drew's apartment. Sunday was filled with ceremony ... first, Baccalaureate at the chapel, attended by all 13 in our group. It included a couple of songs by Carthage Choir, and was very nice. Drew has spent many hours in the chapel during his college years since it is home for Carthage Choir, so it was a great way to wrap up his time on campus.

After Baccalaureate we headed to the library to check out a special commencement display that included items from Drew's great-grandfather's Carthage College graduation in 1928!

The original diploma for Elvyn Turner Scott, his graduation announcement, and other items from his time at Carthage 84 years ago were a special treat for our family to have on display as we celebrated the accomplishments our newest Carthage grad!

There is also supposed to be a story in the Carthage student newspaper this week about the connection with Drew and his great grandpa, so we'll be anxious to see that as well. It's great to be at a school of this size where they care about history and family connections!

We walked around campus and took in the sights of Lake Michigan on a beautiful May afternoon, and enjoyed a picnic lunch on campus as we waited for Commencement time. About 600 students graduated with Drew, and each was called individually over the stage for all to enjoy. Carthage Choir sang twice, and it's hard to imagine they were the last songs Drew will be part of in a group like this, since he has been in some sort of organized choir for 14 years, all the way back to 3rd grade! But now it's his turn to move on and conduct the choirs, and help kids develop their own love of music ... which makes me very proud.

On Monday we loaded up the contents of his apartment into a U-Haul truck ... and after a delay with a bad tire and awaiting roadside assistance ... we pulled into LeRoy, IL last night to put his furniture in storage as he finishes up student teaching and looks for a place to live as he begins his teaching career in August. He'll be student teaching through June 11, and then home with us for a few weeks. We feel very blessed to have a confident son with a job lined up ... and we'll really enjoy our last weeks of him living at home before striking out on his own later this summer.

I'm happy to say that overall, I felt pretty good and kept distracted enough to just keep going all weekend ... but getting home and crashing in my own bed was a big treat last night!