Firstborn's Graduation Party: Our Blessings

Rather than try to get a group picture, I took individuals of Firstborn with the people who came. These people represent so much more than friendship. Many of them are like our family here, so far from our own. I simply could not exist here without them.

Her Korean auntie. She's our school nurse. She is so dear, I always want to get sick when she is working. This family is such an encouragement to us.

The sweet 7th grade friend who Firstborn tutored this year.

Her coaches. They've encouraged her, made her team captain to build leadership in her, judged the intensity of practice work-outs on her panting level. We love them!

One of her senior class sponsors. She's been here a year. I feel like I've known her 10. We are kindred spirits.

Sweet Missy. A teacher, yes, but also our hometown girl and friend. Firstborn will get to attend her wedding in September in America.

Getting hard to type this...her Turkish teacher, who has believed in her from day 1. She once used Firstborn's high Turkish test score to get a museum discount for the entire class. She announced last week that Firstborn and a few other needed to come to the principal's office. They walked in to find Turkish breakfast prepared for them.

Two families that we love and have invested deeply in our family.

Our Southern fix family. Just here one year, but Southern sisters at heart. They've told her, as they are moving back to Mississippi, they are just a phone call away.

Sigh. And this one. He has led her youth group all these years. Took her on the retreats that served to take her relationship with the Lord as her own, not just her parents' faith. Took her to Wales on her first mission trip and first time to be out of the country without us. He's not Mr. So-and-So. He's Uncle Mike.

Our school receptionist, who gives her a smile and so much love each day. She teases Firstborn, who is serving as a teacher's aide this year, that we are all using her to be a coffee and tea barista. There is some truth in it.

This sweet family and this sweet guy. They've been here 10 years. They are like family. She's known this boy next to her since she was about 2 feet taller than him. He'll be a friend for life.

Sweet teacher who has invested in her in youth group. It meant so much that she came to celebrate her.

This gal has bought many of Firstborn's paintings and commissioned her to create some. She was the one who first told her that her art was amazing, and it was her gift.

Oh goodness. This is a tough post to write. This sweet Tennessee gal came and took this school by storm with her leadership ability and talent. She has invested so much in Firstborn. L cries when she thinks of her leaving, but has decided there's no goodbye. They're meeting up in Tennessee.

She's her aunt. Through and through. She's known Firstborn since she was 5. Prayed for her, encouraged her, taken her on trips, treated her to surprise doughnuts, helped her survive math. She's more than a friend. I simply won't do Turkey without her, and I've told her that.

The post must be written! I can get through it. This family we have known since we got here. They've been our best friends. Holidays, vacations, thick-and-thin. We've done it all. They are moving in a few days. It's going to be a tough goodbye, but we have a forever friend in them. She already looked up how far it would be for her to drive down to Mississippi from North Carolina if Firstborn needs anything.

 I made it to the end! There are others, but these are the photos I took that day. I can not even begin to explain the depth of love I have for these folks and the others who have invested in us. It's going to be a big week. Graduation is Tuesday. Y'all pray. I'm going out to buy waterproof mascara today. I'm so humbled and grateful!

Firstborn's Graduation Party: Saving the Day

And right in the midst of it all (I didn't even have my make up on...where's that waterproof mascara?), a taxi drove up with my friend L in it. I had asked her if she would come sometime before for "last minute touches." I envisioned us sipping coffee, moving a jar of flowers or two, and watching a sermon together waiting for the church-goers to arrive. But what she found was all my junk crammed on the porch, me in a bathrobe with tears streaming down my face, and a downpour that wouldn't stop.

She smiled and said, "We got this!" And then she told me all she needed was a cup of coffee, but everything was going to be ok. I ran in to start a pot, and she pulled and hung and re-did and suggested. And before we knew it, everything that couldn't get wet was in a covered place. Everything that could get wet was outside.  We were drying chairs and tables as we were able. The party had been transformed to a hybrid plan that would work.

And I kept thinking how God puts people in our lives when we are at a point where we just can't move forward. I could not move or even think at that point, but she could. I'll never forget her help that day.

By the time my family arrived home, it looked beautiful.

We began setting the table with the food. This was one of my hilarious contributions. Firstborn saw it the day before. She giggled and said, "Where's my hair?" So, I peeled a banana and gave the graduate hair.

I hired some fun cookies to be made.

And as my friends arrived, they brought all kinds of food to add to mine. The food just kept pouring in.

It was a beautiful mix of good ol' American picnic and all our favorite Turkish foods like sarma and kisir.

As I reflected on the day later, it struck me that the storm was promised. I knew it was coming. It was set for 1PM, right about the time of the party starting. I thought it would be minimal, but it was fierce. God didn't take away the storm. But He did move it. He moved it to early morning. By the time the guests came, it was fully an outdoor party. We are promised storms, but we are also given the tools to weather those storms. And sometimes, God moves them ahead, and lets them pass sooner and easier than we expected. Just for us.

Firstborn's Graduation Party: Rain, Rain Go Away

I planned a graduation party date weeks ahead. It was basically the ONLY free time we could host a party for Firstborn, as she leaves on a senior trip this week. And it really doesn't rain much here. So, my plan was to have an outdoor, picnic-themed, graduation party in our little front yard. Everyone chipped in with various ways to help. Sweet Cheek tied little cookies to make them look like diplomas. 

I even assigned Firstborn a job. We stopped to get a pallet (which didn't fit in the van, so we drove with the door open!) and she nailed into it, tied it with string, and displayed pictures from her various activities, her senior pictures, and ones from when she was little. 

I printed some simple tags that read 2017. Sweet Cheeks, the green thumb in the family, gathered and arranged wild flowers. I didn't pay a dime to a florist. 

Firstborn and I checked the weather once we hit the 10 day mark. Scattered thundershowers? What? Here? We felt confident that forecast would change. Yet it didn't. I then determined that perhaps we'd get a brief sprinkle, but the party would go on.

I woke at 5:30AM (after the annual banquet the night before! yawn!) and began setting it up. I had gone on Pinterest for some ideas, but decided to spend about 30 minutes on Pinterest, mark a couple cute things to do, then just move on! The main thing is people, not decorations. I also bought a JENGA set and asked friends to sign a block for her. So, this was her little display. Set up by  7AM. 

Rather than getting big tables, I brought out all the small end tables and coffee tables we had. I set up little groups around the yard. CC had trimmed and cut the yard up to look nice the day before. 

Everything looked great. Two big tables for food, lots of little tables for people, signs, displays. We were all set. The weather had been saying the scattered thundershowers could be expected at 1, right as the party got started.

But they didn't come at 1. They came right then. It was an absolute downpour. I was exhausted. I'd been up late for the staff event the night before, then up early the next morn to set up the party. And it's just everything. My daughter is graduating and leaving home! So, along with the rain came a downpour from my eyes. CC and kids had left for church. I frantically grabbed the picture display first, then began dragging everything inside, wondering how we could possibly host an indoor event inside, wishing I had rented some sort of tent. 

Staff Banquet

It was one of the busiest weeks of my life this past week! We had piano concerts and other events at school, culminating in our staff banquet on Saturday night and Firstborn's graduation party on Sunday afternoon.

CC and I always get each staff member some sort of gift at the end of the year. We had spotted this year's gift a full year ago, so it was nice to have that all taken care of. And they loved what we got them!

This year, for the first time, we were given the entire 2nd floor of the Italian restaurant that hosts us. We've gotten bigger! It was such a fun night.

Here are a few pictures I took with friends. I didn't manage to get a picture with my date; maybe next year. I'm planning to keep him. 

There will be some hard goodbyes this year for me. But these are friends who will stay my friends forever. And I'm grateful for the buddies who will be here next August when I return. 

It's Coming...

Today we are hosting a graduation party for Firstborn. It's going to be simple and country, just like her. We stopped along a construction site to snag a pallet, and now she's fixing it up for a picture display. Sweet Cheeks is out collecting wildflowers, but not the ones that make Papa sneeze. We are all working together to make this party fun, but to keep in mind the purpose. The purpose is not to look like Pinterest. It's to honor her and thank those who have invested in her life. I am overwhelmed at gratitude towards the Lord. At a time when we are sorely missing aunts/uncles/cousins/grandparents, our friends here are stepping in to fill the roles. They are bringing food to help me with this Sunday picnic theme.  There's no Hobby Lobby or catering service here. What they are doing for me is tremendously helpful. They are texting, "Wouldn't miss it..." It's helped to ease the blow of an overseas graduation so much.

This has been such a strange mix of bittersweet joy. There's overwhelming joy (This is why we educated her! Well done! Good grades, college decided, future is bright!) and sadness, as she will be not only graduating, but moving her to her passport country for the first time in her life, far away from us.

One of my tasks this week was to gather pictures for the event. I will readily admit it was the hardest part so far. So many memories. Singapore. Turkey. USA summers. They told me it would fly, but how can you really understand until it happens to you?

And so we face the next 10 days. Sunday we party. Wednesday she leaves on her senior trip (to Rhodes, Greece!). On the 13th she graduates.

Here is a little sampling of my memories right now.

1st year picture, and the only professional picture I ever had made of her. She became fascinated with her tongue that week. All the pictures reflect it. And I love that. 

4 days old. We had just checked out of Gleneagles Hospital and walked across the street to the US Embassy in Singapore (most expensive one ever built) to get her "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" (We became the experts of these after 5 of them. And yes, she can be the President. She'd make a good one. But she might not get elected. She's too conservative for our crazy nation.) 

Summers. USA. Cousins. 

And the sports pictures. I used to arrive early to every game. I knew it wouldn't last forever; I wanted every second I could take. Now I understand why my dad would sometimes even come to my practices. I didn't understand that back in the 1980's. 

She's been posting about what's coming. She gets it. Whenever I run to the grocery store down the street, she hops in the car. We are taking everything we can get. 

I slipped out to the bathroom before the piano concert this week. There were the graduation gowns, pressed and ready to go. 

Here's my beautiful soon-to-be graduate. She used to be what some might call "strong willed," but by God's grace, He has turned that into strong conviction. As much as I will miss her, I can say with full confidence that I'm not worried about her. She is in His hands and has given her heart to the Lord. I love you, ME! 

And just to make you laugh...here's me blogging this. Ha ha! We will survive! 

Piano Recital 2017

Thursday night was the Spring piano recital for our kids. It was really fun to have it in the auditorium at school, a beautiful spot with good acoustics.

This is likely Sweet Cheeks' last year to take piano, as we let them make their own choice on it once they hit 7th grade. She has loved learning the piano, but is very interested in learning a new instrument in 7th Grade Band this upcoming year. She did a great job on her songs! In addition to her solo, she played a duet with Twinkle, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."

Big Ben started piano this year and loves it! We never have to remind him to practice, he just hops on the piano and starts. Twinkle and Miss Middler have worked their way up to being one of the final performers, as the songs grow in difficulty level at the concert. It was just beautiful.

Here are all of the piano students.

And my awesome kids with their awesome teacher, Mrs. Park. She was one of the first people we meet when moving here.

Twinkle had an attendee and some flowers. Sweet kids.

I was really touched at the friends who came to support them, even in SUCH a busy time of year. I did not get a picture of B, or the P family, or the B family, or the W family, and others. But it was sweet to have people cheering them on.

Well done, kids. Now, enjoy a little break from practicing! But don't forget your recital songs. The grandmothers will want to hear them! 

Speeding Toward the Finish Line

Things are getting crazy over here. I know in the US, you are already graduating your kids! We have another week or so to go. But there is an event every night! Here are some snapshots from our busy days and nights.

After the music concert, we piled a bunch of kids in the car to get them home. 

Our Spring music concert was fabulous! This year our only performer for the school concert was Firstborn. She took a World Music class, so they performed a Polynesian drum routine, as well as a Haka dance from New Zealand. This awesome group of kids even painted their faces to go with the genre. 

And every night that we get home, we race down to see our babies. They are growing up and so much fun! They are properly domesticated and socialised, let me tell you! 

And in spite of the crazy schedule, CC and I found a few minutes to grab a Starbucks together. We talked shop the entire night, but still! We were together, and it was fun!