Another graduation today! Yesterday was Abbey’s HS graduation;
today Eliza graduated from 6th grade, elementary school. I wasn’t planning to
be emotional but I couldn’t hold back the tears sitting in that room with a lot
of parents and a whole lot of 6th graders. I’m sure having Abbey graduate yesterday
and also sending Emily off for her 10-week summer internship played into those emotions
too. But really, my tears were not so much about sadness. Instead, I was overcome with feelings of gratitude.
Gratitude for having all of my children attend what I feel is the best
elementary school ever! Which, I really have no merit in professing that; because
it is the only elementary school my children have ever attended.
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| Eliza's 6th grade graduation day from Windridge Elementary school. LtoR - Lance, Eliza, LuAnn (teary eyes), and Andrew (allergy eyes) |
In 2000 Lance and I were looking for our first home. It was a struggle. Nothing seemed right or felt right in the locations
we were looking. We were separating from
military activity duty and time was running short. We needed to find a home quick. One particular day, when we began our home search,
I prayed that God would lead us to a neighborhood that would be good for our
children, a place where they would have good friends and go to good schools. I know that prayer has been answered many
times. But today, during a 6th grade graduation, ending our 16 years at Windridge
elementary school, I was easily reminded of how blessed my children and entire
family have been by the plea of that prayer.
Our family moved into our home on 500 East just a few months
before Emily, our first child, would begin Kindergarten. Memories of Windridge Elementary school just flooded
my mind during today’s graduation.
Memories of the 1st grade Christmas program, 2nd grade
Patriotic assembly, the Utah 4th grade program, and the 5th grade program all about
our wonderful American History. Those
were touching programs for me and I appreciate the teachers that helped my children
learn the songs that have been forever engrained in their minds, helping to give
my children their own sense of pride and gratitude for our country and
state.
I thought about all the great teachers my children have had
over the years. We’ve had our favorites
and those not so favorite. But each one
of those teachers was the right one for my child at that time. When it would come time to begin a new school
year, I would pray that my children would get the teacher that was right for
them. I never felt a need to ask or
request a teacher. My children and I would
hope, but in the end we trusted in God and the decision. Sometimes we would have to grit through the
disappointment when “friends” were not in the same class. In the end, it all
worked out and I believe we’ve all been better because of it. Windridge has some amazing teachers! They go above and beyond in so many
ways. As the 6th grade teachers spoke
today, I was overcome with gratitude for them.
I could feel the love, care, and concern these teachers have for their students. It wasn’t just today I felt that, but it
seems to have been my experience at every 6th grade graduation. I really love and admire these teachers and
how they’ve loved, taught, pushed, provided wonderful opportunities for my children,
and helped prepare them for the next step – junior high. Teachers at Windridge continue to be a support
and example to all of my children.
Appreciation and thanks filled me too as I looked around the
room to see parents that I’ve seen at the school countless times, helping in so
many good ways, giving hours and hours of service for our children, my children.
PTA presidents, PTA board members, room
mothers, parent classroom volunteers and more!
Windridge elementary, the school tucked safely within the neighborhood,
has the most amazing and supportive parents!
It’s been a wonder to be a part of!
Because of these parents and many of them are my friends, they have also
been a blessing in my life and my children’s lives over the years. Thank you!
I was also filled with gratitude for the experience Eliza
has had serving as a student council member this year and the unique
opportunity that has been for her. She
has learned some great leadership skills, made some lasting friendships, participated
in some wonderful service opportunities, and has been on the side to see what
hard work and planning goes into events.
All of these things I was grateful she got to experience as I sat there
honoring her today. Thank you, Mrs. Harris.
Thank you everyone! From
the awesome principals over the years, the kind secretaries and custodial help,
to the ground duty for helping my children learn some of the hard-knock lessons
and some growing pains at recess, to the friendly crossing guard, and the many
others who’ve helped and been influential at Windridge Elementary and in my
children’s lives. You are a
blessing!
I could go on, as there are many more memories in my mind
and my heart. My soul really is filled
with gratitude and yet, perhaps a little sad as I close a chapter on our families’
elementary years. For now though, the
tears have stopped and I feel better expressing myself AND I can talk now without blubbering. :)
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| Mrs. Williams, Eliza's 6th grade teacher - 2016 |
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| Andrew's 6th grade graduation with his teachers, Mrs. Carlile and Mrs. Workman - 2012 |
Working on finding Abbey's picture with Mrs. Carlile and Mrs. Workman
when she graduated from 6th grade in 2010.
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| Emily's 6th grade graduation with her teacher, Ms. Schultz - 2007 |
