Derek's graduation weekend started out with 5 students being baptized in the river. Guess that gives me a whole new perspective on a cold baptismal. It was in the mid 40's outside. Can't imagine how cold the river was. The testimonies of God's movement in their lives was incredibly moving. We hung out for dinner and enjoyed the difference that a school year had brought. From the awkwardness of everyone being new to each other to now lifelong friends, the dining room had a whole new "feel" to it. Laughter and tears and memories of the past year were flowing as students anticipated graduating and yet dreaded departing. Graduation was as typical as it could get for a non-typical school Seems kind of par for the course for how we've chosen to educate our kids and was full of moments that were sweet and good. At the end 50+ students crowded onto the stage steps and sang their class song - I'll try to post the video below. You'll really have to look for Derek - he is in the back behind the set of twins with brown hair on the right. His hair is pulled back.
We stayed way later than we should have that day but it was worth it. Derek was able to spend time with his friends for the last time. And we had a sweet God sightings and encounters with with families and parents and students. You'll just have to ask us in person for those stories - too much to write here.
We finally left and made our way to Salt Lake City. We stopped at a cool little place just outside the Tetons for dinner. Another amazing drive. We arrived at our hotel after 11 and pretty much went straight to bed. We woke to a beautiful sunny day and as we were on the ground floor, a little patio. As I pulled back the curtains to see our surroundings, we were met with a sweet surprise of a pond and ducks and snow covered peaks. We traveled to Goblin Valley State Park and explored Mushroom valley for a bit. Then we headed to Moab and hiked to Corona Arch.
Finally on Monday we began the trek over to Denver to catch our flight back to Philadelphia. I might have left my wallet in the rental car and it might have meant for a crazy kind of hour while I attempted to go through airport security without an I.D. Might I suggest that's not the way to travel. By God's grace, I made it through and we made it to the gate with 10 minutes to spare. We had a beautiful flight home and landed in the pouring rain. I called the right hotel at the wrong location to pick us up at the hotel. Definitely on a roll... sigh. We pulled into our house in Dauphin at 1:30 am. We are still readjusting to time zone changes - ok, the reality is that I am still adjusting. Duane and Derek seem impervious to that.
It's good to be home. It's even better to have my son back - it's crazier and wilder and sweeter already. Really awesome to see all that God has done in his life and thankful, ever so thankful that he is a good, good Father and always at work.
