Aidan's Graduation Speech By Mom (Megan)

Aidan, as we celebrate your graduation and all of your high school accomplishments, the verse Colossians 3:23 comes to mind.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”  

Up until recently, your homeschooling journey has been a solitary one.  In fact, you jumped right from co-op Kindergarten class in NH to 11th grade Chemistry and Physics, never having taken a single group-setting class in between!  

Each day of highschool you woke up early to a similar routine.  Hours of studying, reading, and memorizing Scripture were interspersed with basketball games with your 6 brothers and a weekly, virtual piano lesson. This past year you gave up playing with the LCA Lions in order to work and save for college.  I’m not sure that I’ve ever met a 17 year old who was as disciplined to save quite so much in a short amount of time!

In your spare time you’ve pursued your talents for creative writing and leatherworking and gifted your family with exciting stories and beautiful, handmade wallets.  

One of your most unique accomplishments was finishing your first marathon in a rain and wind storm, which (due to the extreme weather conditions) also ended up being 26.2 miles of VIRTUAL misery. Aidan, no matter how dreary or lonesome or thankless the task or goal might have been, you have persevered and accomplished everything you set out to do with excellence, looking to God, not to men, for your reward.  

You are my third homeschool graduate, and I’ve started a tradition of gifting each of my homeschoolers with a book from their favorite author at the end of their highschool journey.  Siobhan took C.S. Lewis.  Ethan claimed St. Augustine.  And, out of the hundreds of books you’ve read in Omnibus, YOU have favored Wendell Berry.  Discovering Jayber Crow together was a highlight of my school years with you, so I was excited to find his collection of poetry, called “The Peace of Wild Things.”    

These poems were written by an author who shares your love for solitude and quiet reflection on God’s creation.  I’d like to read you his poem, “The Peace of Wild Things.”

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come

into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Thankfully, Aidan, you rest in the grace of the God who created this world.  As you step into so many unknowns, I encourage you to remember Matthew 6:28-30 which reads, 

 “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?" (Matthew 6:28-30 RSV).

Aidan, I have full confidence that God will continue to lead you and provide for you every step of the way, in the little details and in the life-changing ones. I am thrilled that you’ll be surrounded with like minded souls at Patrick Henry.  Dad and I love you and can’t wait to see your adventures, friendships, and dreams unfold.  

This book of poetry is for you, and, as we promised you 13 years ago, you may now open your Kindergarten time capsule.  🙂

A Letter To Grace and Ethan From Mom (Megan)

Grace and Ethan,

If I had to choose a title for my speech and a theme for this past year, it would be “Expect the Unexpected.”  Last May Ethan came home from his beach trip at RUF with flowers for me, the biggest balloon I’d ever seen, and an even bigger smile on his face.  I knew he had met someone pretty incredible!

Grace has introduced a fun spontaneity to my level-headed and regimented son’s life.  Her idea of a study break is to crawl under a porch to rescue a litter of abandoned kittens or to meet up at the horse farm at sunrise.  It’s Grace who surprises us with a waffle party for 11 on Sunday morning and who raids our fridge to cook a late night snack with Ethan.

I’ll never forget Stephen’s comment when we followed Ethan to Grace’s family’s house for Thanksgiving dinner.  Stephen just shook his head in disbelief and said, “Never did I imagine I’d see our son Ethan in a 1984 pick up truck with cowboy boots and a cat riding on his shoulders.”  We have certainly learned  to expect the unexpected!

My favorite spontaneous plan with Grace happened one Friday afternoon when I got a flurry of texts and messages.  Grace’s mom was in South Africa, and Grace needed to RUSH to a bridal shop to try on the last dress of its type before the store closed.  Of course I dropped everything and joined her on the adventure which I’ll treasure as one of the sweetest memories I could make with my future daughter in law.  I was lucky enough to get the very first look at Ethan’s exquisite bride!

If I were to choose one verse to encourage the two of you as you start your life together, it would be Ephesians 3:20-21.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! 

Grace and Ethan, as you start your life together, keep your eyes and hearts fixed on the God who often does the unexpected and who loves to bless his children beyond their wildest imaginations.  

Ethan, you are my first son and one of my best friends. I had you all to myself for 17 years as your mom and teacher. We’ve read about a million books together, ran a marathon, and bought geckos and a baby ball python.  I’ve always said I wouldn’t hand you over to just any woman, and when you fell in love I’d probably be a force to be reckoned with.  Your brothers TRIED to encourage me by saying that, out of 7 future daughters in law, there would probably be ONE I’d get along with.  Grace, I never expected that I’d be so crazy about the girl who stole my son’s heart.  I love you as my new daughter, and I’m so excited for the adventure God has planned for the two of you.