Nathan's Graduation

One of these days time will slow down, right?   I never imagined when I first sent him to Kindergarten on the big yellow bus in Palatine, IL, that the next 13 years would go so quickly.  Yet in some ways, his Kindergarten year seems forever ago.  I can barely remember some things, and others are so vivid.  I remember the day his Pokemon cards were stolen by some older kids in the courtyard.  I remember him and the neighbor kids climbing all over the big tree that got knocked down in a wind storm.  I remember that he always wore sweatpants, never jeans (until high school!).  His four front teeth had silver caps, his "chompers", and he was proud of them.  He was afraid of the wind.  He loved Legos and Ninjas.

He went to Kindergarten in Palatine for two months, then we moved back to Bainbridge where he went to school for his entire career.  First at Blakely Elementary while we lived with my parents, then at Wilkes after we built our house.  Then Sakai Intermediate, Woodward Middle, and Bainbridge High.  One of the most touching things in his graduation packet was a 5x7 notecard with the thumbnails of all his school pictures since Kindergarten glued onto it.  One of the reasons I love living in a "small" town!


The graduation ceremony was held at the Bainbridge High School stadium.  I went early to get seats.  All the bleachers were packed, but somehow there were nine empty chairs right up front!  And our friends, the Blackfords, were sitting right behind us. Their daughter, Erin, was also graduating.  It was nice to have someone to chat with while we waited.

The graduation ceremony was very inspiring.  Two students sang original songs they had written for their Senior project, three students gave wonderful speeches, and the Principal and the school district superintendent also spoke.  Then they presented the diplomas to the graduates.  Nathan and his friends were sitting in the second to the last row, so it took a while for their turn. 

Waiting in line...

Receiving his diploma...

It's official!

The ceremonial cap tossing!

Nate with my parents.

and with Brad's mom and Alicia

Our family.  We didn't intend to be so color coordinated! 

Nate with some of his friends.  

L to R:  Grace Knight (she just moved to Las Vegas a few months ago, so she should have graduated from BHS), Mackenzie Marcum, Alex McMillan, Jared Bell, Alex Nowjack, Nate, and Erin Blackford.  

Nate has known Jared since they were born. They're only a few weeks apart.

What's next for Nathan?  Well, at the moment, his plan is to go to Seattle Central Community College for the Fall quarter, then go to BYU-Idaho for Winter and Spring semesters, then go on a mission.  Eventually, he wants to get his PhD in European History and be a Professor. I'm excited for his future, but I hope the next 13 years don't go as quickly as the last!