Lucy’s graduation

Lucy graduated this last June. She was Valedictorian of her class of 25 students, and came away with a lot of honors.  She participated in every sport, took part in school politics and clubs, and somehow managed to be the kid I depended on most to help me around the house.  She’s the kind of girl that anticipates needs around the house, and that has made her a wonderful person to have by my side.  She’s also wicked funny, and if it sounds like I’m running sentimental, it’s because after graduation, she spent the summer working and then went off to school in Massachusetts.  BICS is a gap year program that focuses on biblical scholarship and community, and I’m glad she’s there- but it’s been a long three months without her!

Lucy won the female Sports award.  Despite not being super sporty.

Giving that speech!

Lucy and Superintendent/Principal Mr.Worcester.

Washburn’s traditional blue rose gift from students to parents.

Lucy and Ollie at graduation.

Bowden and Lucy.  

Bowden, Lucy and Jack

Lucy and Kyli

I’m just going to have all the combos of people here.

Lucy and Nanny

Cousin picture, without Lucy Gates.

Lucy Gates and her cousin Lucy Joy.

More cousins!

Lucy and Heidi. These girls are so wonderful.

My whole crew.

Okay, so it’s not graduation.   It it was prom.  You’re lucky to get anything, so stop complain him about the order!

Washburn also has a tradition of parents going to the beginning of prom- there’s a father/daughter, son/mother dance.  I’ve never heard of such a thing, but I do enjoy it!

Lucy’s hair before prom, done by our friend Grace.

The Senior banner at the town office.

We got front row seats thanks to Lucy’s top grades!  Go Lucy!!

Joel and Christine were out to celebrate our girl, and it made me so happy.  My kids have been as blessed with living Aunts and Uncles as I have been with sisters and brothers. 

Lucy and Mrs Hemphill at the NHS awards ceremony.  Lucy loves and is loved by many of her teachers.

 

In the meantime…

 Having this baby was so much harder on me than I thought it would be.  He didn’t sleep through the night until after he was two, and weaning him took more effort than it has before.  He’s very demanding and for the first two years of his life, he spent a lot of time screaming or crying.

(More time than most of my chickens, but not more than all of them- I’m talking about you, Jack.)

It may be because I’m older, but I think that a lot of it had to do with the fact that most of my children are so much older, and the rhythm of our life has changed so dramatically.  Add the recovery from pandemic times, and the way that changed the way people visit and engage with each other- and then throw in the difficulty of living so far away from old friends and family, and the early, dark, and long winters and I think it makes sense that it has been hard.

I can write this now because I’m on the other side of it, I think, and Ollie is an active, demanding toddler, but it was my lowest emotionally and mentally since my dad’s death.  Another long winter in this northern place is coming, but the Baby- as he calls himself- sleeps through the night, communicates his needs with more than screaming, and is all around a charming kind of guy.  He’s just in that stage where everything he does is adorable…

Or maybe we are in that stage.  All of this to say- I wish I had set down more of our day to days, more of what happened in the last ten years, but I won’t be hard on myself about it.

Bowden graduated from High School

 Bowden graduated from Washburn High School with a large class of 32 students- back when Ollie hadn’t yet made his appearance.  There are a lot of wonderful things about a small school, and a lot of weird things about a small school, but we have grown to love the community, the teachers, and the people here so much.  

This is Julian.  He also graduated.

Bowden’s girlfriend, Kyli.  (They’re still together, and we love Kyli.  We never want her to leave.)

Some of the guys…

Bowden and my mom.