Sunday, May 16, 2010

Class of 2010


(I realize I've used my daughter's given name - But I just didn't have it in me to try and spell her Von trapp name correctly today)
Wasn't this just yesterday?



And now, look what's happened:

(maybe I should have bought the portraits)


Tomorrow is the big day. She graduates from Rio Rancho High School. Years ago I remember thinking, 2010! That's forever from now. And now it's here. And I can't stop weeping. I can handle her graduating... It's the moving away I'm struggling with. I'm not crying for her. I'm crying for me.

I don't want my life to change. I liked it the way it was. All my little chicks were under the same roof. Now it seems that my prayers are more earnest than ever as I ask Heavenly Father to watch over them and to help them choose the right.

Last week we had a Spring Fling for Relief Society and invited all the Young Women to come. It was such a wonderful evening. We celebrated the girls that were graduating from Young Women's into Relief Society. We talked about both the Young Women's Theme and the Relief Society Declaration.

Noel stood with the Young Women and repeated their theme:

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice and Accountability
Good Works and
Integrity

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,
we will be prepared to
strengthen home and family,
make and keep sacred covenants,
receive the ordinances of the temple,
and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.


Then Noel walked to the other side of the room where the women in the Relief Society were and they all stood and repeated the Relief Society declaration:



We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction. As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar. We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple, understand our divine destiny, and strive for exaltation.





Earlier I was asked to spotlight Noel - and the waterworks began. She has been such a joy to our family, it is very hard to see her leave. But I am very happy for the fun and exciting things her future holds. She is such a talented, responsible, valiant young woman. It's not fair for me to keep her all to myself.


Her plans are to attend Utah Valley University for the next year and then possibly attend Utah State University. She wants to go into nursing or physical therapy. Whatever she choses to do, she will do a great job. I love her!
The remainder of the evening was spent socializing with group games and snacks. I am so thankful for the Relief Society program. I realized that no matter where she is in this world, she'll have the women in the Relief Society to take her under their wing and to help her.

Wish me luck tomorrow. Better yet, wish me luck on Wednesday when she (and my oldest daughter who came down for the graduation) leave for their bright, new futures!

12 comments:

Ashley Ziegler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ashley Ziegler said...

I cannot believe Bubbles is graduating either!!!! Ahhh!!! I still have two weeks :( She should come visit me!!! I miss her guts. I really hope she realizes what an AMAZING example she has been for me. I look up to her. She's one of my very best friends and I'll never forget her. She's such a smart Young Women and I'm so proud of her, tell her I love her guts and miss her so much!!!

Kristina P. said...

Congrats to Noel! She is beautiful.

Valorie said...

Dione, That was a beautiful post! It made me tear up. I still have Ryan's final year of high school next year and I'm started to worry and stress about it. I identify with wanting everyone under the roof, there is such peace in that, and although I haven't had to let on go yet, I feel it right on the doorstep and it terrifies me.

Becky said...

Stop making me cry. I can't handle all of the change. I was telling mom and dad tonight that change is coming like a freight train. Oh help me, I wish you were here to hold my hand through all of this. Why do I lose you my sister when I need you the most?

laurel said...

What a beautiful post. You are such a good mother. She is a beautiful girl. Wow. It has to be so hard having two girls in less than 6 months leave the nest. Hang in their mom. I am glad you are crying. If you didn't something would be amiss. Shows how much you love them!

Nicole Marsh said...

Wow that is crazy that she is old enought to graduate and move away!! Good luck with the next couple of days.

Sarah said...

I didn't know Sylvia and I went to the same elementary as your kids!!

Time flies! It's weird that sylvia is getting married on Friday!

The Stanley's said...

I am walking with you through all of this Dione. I have one more week until graduation. I am really wondering how we survive this process of our children growing up. It hurts like I thought it would. That is not good. I wanted it to be easier. Could it be that we have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our lives for the past 20 years as mothers, and that they were part of every one of those minutes, that we are afraid to not have them by our sides? For me the answer is yes. They are my best friends and I want to keep having fun!

Chelsa said...

I can't believe that she is that old already! She is so beautiful! I don't think I'll ever be ready for my girls to leave me.

Cindy Thomas Munksgard said...

Congrats! I can't believe she's that old. I have a picture of her and McKenna from like 1997...it's hard to believe that they've grown up.

Hang in there. You've done an awesome job raising her and she will do beautifully in whatever pursuit she goes after.

I can't wait to see you at the reunion!! :)

Shelly said...

That is exciting even if a little sad. You are an amazing mom. For some reason I can't access your blog from my blog. Weird, need to figure that out.