Graduation

Well it is done.  Kirsten successfully graduated from high school.  The parties are done, the presents are opened, the leftover party food is packed away.  We survived.  Exhausted, but alive!  While we had no doubt that she would graduate, with honors, we are proud of her accomplishments.  Kirsten graduated second in her class--she received this neat little plaque naming her as 'Salutatorian'.  I keep having to check the spelling on that word.  I know that she didn't have a huge class (93 graduated), so I know her odds were good, but she worked hard and we are proud of her.  The Valedictorian, Kendra (aka Kendy) is a girl she has known since birth, the youngest daughter of good friends.  We figured that the difference between the girls' cumulative GPAs can be broken down to Kendy doing Concert Choir (which gives you some extra GPA points) and Kirsten failing to achieve an 'A' out of Mr. DeHoog's Freshman PE class (that is subject matter for another blog entry all on its own).  In other words, they both worked really hard to achieve their high honors. 

We are proud of her.  But it isn't for reasons like the salutatorian award or the list of scholarships awarded.  No, the real reason we are proud has to do more with what people have shared about her to us.  During the past few weeks we have heard from many different people about how they feel about Kirsten.  Staff, administration, teachers, parents of friends, classmates.  Adjectives such as 'kind' and 'caring' and 'responsible'.  Phrases like: 'her smile just lights everything up'; 'I know I can count on her to always get it done'; 'she is such a nice, nice girl'; 'Her servant heart is apparent'; 'She has a heart for mission'.   Those are the things that make us the most proud; knowing that she is living her life mindful of others, caring for others and being kind to others.  We teased with someone that it was 'good parenting' but the reality is that it is ALL her and how God works thru her.  We tried to show her the way, but she is the one who made the choice on how she wanted to live and react and think about and with those she comes into contact with. 

I know this may seem a little braggy.  I am mindful that it may come across that I think my child is perfect...nope, she has her faults and failures just like the rest of us.  But for the past week, we have been operating in an 'it-is-all-about-Kirsten' mode and it is ok sometimes to brag it up a bit.



Annika, Kirsen and Joshua...her siblings were pretty proud of her too!



Happy Graduation Kirsten!  Can't wait to see what happens next!