Pomp & Circumstance

It's official!

Spokes graduated on May 22, 2010

with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

He's not much of one for pomp & circumstance so he opted out of the ceremony but his diploma arrived via priority mail the other day & I found his name on the graduate list in the local newspaper :) We celebrated with a quiet family dinner & reminisced about his childhood.

We are so very proud of this kid ... as much for things he's done - as for things he hasn't done.

He & we practically grew up together! We'd go back & do some things differently if we could - but looking at Spokes now I'm convinced we must've done something right. He's always been pretty low key - rather quiet - softspoken - never needed to be the center of attention - smart & athletic. His teachers always had such nice things to say about him. In hockey he was a team player & in cycling he perseveres w/ incredible (remarkable!) discipline & determination. He's practical & resourceful, responsible & dependable. Everyone who knows him seems to like him - but he has never felt the need to be everybody's friend. He's always chosen his friends well & he's a good friend (& role model) to both of his sisters.

Spokes worked while going to school, attended a state college & lived at home - which meant that "in the end" (or for him, a new beginning) he graduated with zero/nada/zilch student loans & no debt other than a credit card that he's managed wisely in order to establish good credit. He doesn't even have a car payment at this point. No one is depending/relying on him for anything & he owns minimal stuff.

Spokes is about as free as one can be at this point & yesterday .... he left the nest (insert proud & sad tears here). He moved about an hour or so away - and in with six other guys/cyclists who will be sharing a house & the rent for the summer. For graduation, along w/ a check we gave him a laundry basket full of stuff he can use in his new place - things like laundry, dish, bath and hand soap, paper towels, cleaners, skillet & lasagna pan, pain relievers, antibiotic ointment, toilet paper, aluminum foil, plastic baggies, etc.... My oldest daughter said it was a gift only a mother could give :) We also tucked in new Bible.

Yesterday was bittersweet. Before saying goodbye, & as he was packing up to leave, his dad & I both wrote in his Bible & we quick snatched pics of him & his diploma. The fact that his college graduation pic is so unlike most graduation pics you see just seems appropriate because it was never our intent to raise him to be like anyone/everyone else. With God's help (The LORD knows we needed it!) I think we did alright - & he will too :)

¹ My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,

² turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,

³ and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,

⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,

⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:1 - 6

P.S. It's funny - we went to a bbq this weekend & some of the people there that were our age are just beginning their families as we are celebrating our first child's college graduation. Just seemed kinda strange.