Bethany graduated this week! Like for real and legit! I decided I wanted to hold a graduation for Beth for all the nontraditional things she has learned in the last three years and do it before SHS has their graduation on the 19th. To have the whole family there, we needed to do it this past weekend! As I was planning it out, I asked Beth if she'd like to have her GED done before the celebration. We weren't sure we could get it done in a week but we started looking into it. Beth passed the last couple of practice tests, we went to the school and got the paperwork done we needed on Tuesday, and then we went to the adult education offices and got clearance. Beth scheduled two of the four tests on Wednesday at UVU and the last two on Friday at SLCC in West Jordan and she passed them all! Friday afternoon we had an official high school diploma from the state of Utah. It turns out not only was it possible, but completely doable! The experience was super good for Beth. She feels like her whole future has opened up to her. It is exactly what I wanted for her!

On Saturday evening, we went up the canyon to a place that I had picked out with a small stage and a stream and a bridge and towering pines. It was beautiful!  While we set up, Mariah, with her new camera, took pictures of Beth in her cap and gown. Ben swept the stage. Kevin carried in the screen and projector and generator. Sarah strung pictures of Beth on her first day of school from preschool through 12th on a line between the trees. Megan designed backdrops for the pictures and had certificates designed and printed for each of the siblings to present to Beth. McKay brought his speaker and guitar. We were ready to go!

We started with pomp and circumstance (of course!) and Beth's faculty (her family) walked in first followed by Beth and we all crossed the stage and took our seats. Kevin (as superintendant of our school) gave a speech celebrating Beth and her example of resilience. Then Beth gave the valedictorian speech which was amazing (she talked about what she had been through and what she learned). Next, Grandma and Grandpa shared favorite memories of Bethany. Afterwards, Beth sang "The Past" from Anastasia and sounded amazing! Then it was time for the awarding of certificates. Each sibling gave a certificate to Beth and presented her with a small token. I gave her "I Don’t Have to Feel Good to Live Well." Savannah gave her "Life’s more fun when I’m with you." Sarah gave her "Showing Compassion for Others." Megan gave her "Looking Outwards/Seeing the Bigger Picture." Mariah gave her "Trusting God." Cheyenne gave her "Consistent in always being there." Calianne gave her "Creating Beauty" and Ben gave her "Ben's Best Buddy." We took a small break to set up the projector and then showed her a video Kevin made of friends and teachers expressing their admiration for her. Finally it was time to present her diploma and move her tassel and because we could do it our way, she even got to throw her cap in the air! We cheered and then crossed the bridge into the rest of her life!

It was really wonderful. It was everything I wanted it to be, and I left feeling such appreciation for the amazing family we have and the support we're able to give to each other! Of course, we needed to eat after that and we had hamburgers and great stuff as a picnic up there in the canyon and even had cupcakes with graduation caps on them! For those of us wanting to hang around a little while longer and soak in the ambience, Ammon made us a campfire and we roasted marshmellows. It was a terrific evening! Yay, Beth! Yay Skinner High School faculty and staff! Yay God for showing us all we had to celebrate!

In other news, Mariah planned and carried out the track team's Angels and Devils 5K fundraiser. We ended up all running it except for Beth who had to work. It was fun to be running a 5K together again! Mariah did such a fantastic job, too, with sponsors and food, prizes and a drawing! We had great fun dressing up as devils and angels, too!

Ben participated in the "Bring the House Down" fine arts showcase at the school on Thursday and Friday nights. Kevin and I went on Thursday and they did a fantastic job. Ben participated as part of the choir which also did choreography to their songs but we also heard the orchestra, the bands, and the folk ensemble and watched the dance teams. It was the last concert in the old high school as they will be tearing it down this summer!