The Senior Picture That Did Me In

 

"Here is an iconic picture of me leaving high school FOREVER!" #ididit ~ Leyden

I've been so good about not crying during Leyden's senior year. I survived two rounds of senior pictures, Senior Prom, Awards Day, and Senior Recognition at Pintlala without a hint of sadness. I got choked up at Senior Banquet when I got to the end of the poem I read, and I had a few misty-eyed moments at her graduation tea, but no real tears. Until today. This picture did me in. 

Reality hit me square in the face... my only baby is finished with high school, and graduation is in 3 days! Even though I've had some extra time with Leyden, this moment is tough. I am bursting with pride because of all this amazing girl has accomplished in spite of difficult circumstances. Although juvenile rheumatoid arthritis altered her path, with a lot of determination and prayer, Leyden achieved her goals. Not only did she finish high school, she finished with all As and Bs for the year, and with many accolades and honors. I couldn't be more proud! But my heart is a little sad. This photo marks the end of a chapter in our lives. Soon Leyden will go to college and I won't be able to walk into her room to ask if my shoes look okay with this outfit. She won't be there to slap my hand when I try to buy cupcakes or donuts at the grocery store. She won't be able to go with me to take the dogs for a late-night ride because they got excited when I opened the garage door. Yes, my mama heart is a little sad. But it's also happy for my girl and the big world of opportunity that awaits her!
When Leyden was born, I had no idea what I was doing, and I had no idea what joy and fun she would bring to my life. My all-time favorite job is being Leyden's mom. It's been an interesting journey, and I finally learned when she was about 10 that she isn't just like me, and I tried to figure out how to change my parenting style to fit her personality. She keeps me laughing, and I can count on her to cheer me up when I've had a hard day. I've been the furthest thing from the perfect parent, I've messed up more than I'd like to admit, but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I have always done what I thought was best for her. I have prayed for Leyden every day of her life. I have worked hard to make sure she has what she needs, and I have given her the best advice I know to give.

Leyden isn't perfect, but she has the most important qualities that a human can have: she loves Jesus and she shares His love with others, she has compassion for others, she's a great friend, and she knows how to laugh (even at herself sometimes). She's taught me so much as we've navigated life together, and she's been forgiving and merciful when I made mistakes. I am so proud of her big heart and great attitude, but I can't take full credit - it took a village. There are too many villagers to name them all, but Mom, Dad, Jim, Martha, Crystal, and Jessica have been there from the beginning and have meant more to me than words can express. Each of them have offered their support and love throughout Leyden's life, and I can promise that she wouldn't be where she is today without them. Of course, Brad joined us early in the journey and has been a rock for Leyden. He has made sure she has everything she needs (and most of what she wants), and has shown her what unconditional love is. I can't imagine our lives without his influence. His parents and brothers have been amazing, too - accepting Leyden into their family and treating her like one of their own. There are many other people who have been a part of Leyden's life and left an indelible mark. I can't thank my villagers enough! 

I'm a little sad that my house will be more quiet in the fall, and I'm going to miss Leyden's yummy dinners and seeing Ringo's tail wag when she walks in the door every night, but I'm SO EXCITED for Leyden! She has walked through a lot of dark valleys to be able to stand on this mountaintop, and she deserves all the praise and honor she receives. She is a precious girl, and I can't wait to see where God leads her!

Senior Banquet

Leyden

This past Friday was Leyden's Senior Banquet and Senior Prom. It was a lovely evening, and I'm so grateful that her school hosts this formal affair to celebrate the seniors and their accomplishments. 

Leyden with Mom & Daddy

Leyden with MawMaw

Jarrett & Leyden with Papa Jim & Meme

The evening started with dinner, then the Headmaster and the Vice Principal recognized seniors for different achievements. 

The National Honor Society members were recognized and given their honor stoles, and students who have maintained a 3.5 GPA for their entire high school career were introduced and given honor cords. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian were announced and presented with medals. They are both amazing students, and very deserving of their positions.

The Who's Who nominees were recognized, and our sweet Leyden and her date were voted "Friendliest" by their classmates!

Leyden & Jarrett - Friendliest

The seniors in the Homecoming Court were introduced, and Leyden received a certificate for serving as Senior Attendant. 

Leyden - Senior Homecoming Attendant

After the awards were distributed, a family member for each senior stood up and offered a blessing over them. There were lots of tears as emotional parents stood and offered their hopes and dreams for their children. I promised Leyden I wouldn't cry when I gave her blessing. I kept my word, but I had to stop for a few seconds and take a deep breath before I started. 

Our Senior Blessing for our precious Melodie Leyden:

I found this poem, and I knew it was perfect for you. I think the author must have known you. 

It Couldn't Be Done
By Edgar Albert Guest
 
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a BIG, BIG grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

Leyden, with God’s help, you’ve already tackled things that cannot be done. There is nothing that you and God can’t do. You have amazing strength, faith, and compassion. You truly are a miracle. You're my hero, and you know that. We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see where God leads you! We love you!

I got emotional when I got to the last line of the poem because my sweet Leyden has seen more than her fair share of obstacles and struggles, and yet here she is, standing on the mountaintop, victorious over the valleys. By the grace and power of our Almighty God, this child has conquered and overcome, and I am SO EXCITED to see what God is going to do in her life!

Jarrett & Leyden (laughing, as usual!)

The Century Plant

When Leyden and I visited our cousins in Austin, Texas last November, I saw Century Plants everywhere and asked our cousins what they were because I’d seen one on my daily commute for years and wondered what kind of plant it was. "Texas Tom" and "Suzy" explained that the Century Plant is native to Texas, produces a flower stalk that is very tall, and the plant dies once the stalk is produced. Also, contrary to the name, they bloom after 10-15 years, not a century.

So, earlier this year, around March, the Century Plant that I see every day bloomed, and I was so excited! One day I stopped and took this picture. 

I loved how the bloom at the top of the tall stalk looked like a tree out of a Dr. Seuss book! It was such an amazing sight to see – this plant with downward sloped leaves with an asparagus-like stalk shooting out of the middle, reaching for the sky. I enjoyed seeing the plant on my way to work every day, and I was always interested to see how much taller it had grown. I often wondered how long it would take for the plant to decay and if the stalk would fall over or just shrivel up and shrink away, but mostly I was just happy to see it!

The plant itself has been turning darker and darker lately, and it got to the point that the plant was looking almost black, even though the stalk remained a pretty green. I came to work on Monday of this week and I noticed that the plant had been cut down and removed from its place in the center of the yard. The almost completely intact plant bottom was beside the driveway of the house, with a few long, dark leaves piled on top of it. The green stalk had been split into pieces and thrown beside the pile. The inside of the stalk was a light color and looked like wood. I really wanted to stop and touch it because I was so curious about its texture. 

In the Century Plant's place in the yard stood a bird bath encircled by pine straw in a small concrete border. It made me sad, because that plant was a bright spot in my morning – a reminder of my precious cousins in Texas who told me all about this special plant, and it made me think of the silliness of Dr. Seuss and how God must really have enjoyed creating such wonderful things on this earth for us to marvel over. 

I knew the day I saw the bloom for the first time that it would be temporary and the plant would die, and I thought I had prepared myself for its demise, but I realized on Monday that I missed that interesting plant way more than I thought I would. I didn't realize that the plant made me feel a connection to my family, and had become a sort of symbol of the good times we enjoyed with them in Austin.

Then I remembered what the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, 

a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

a time to kill and a time to heal, 

a time to tear down and a time to build, 

a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 

a time to search and a time to give up, 

a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

a time to tear and a time to mend, 

a time to be silent and a time to speak, 

a time to love and a time to hate, 

a time for war and a time for peace."

 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

This Century Plant that I had come to enjoy so much had a time to be planted and a time to be uprooted, and its time had come to be cut down and thrown away. I shouldn't be sad about that; I should be grateful that I was able to experience it. I can plant my own Century Plant in my yard and watch it grow and one day watch it bloom! And when it dies, I won't be sad, I'll thank God for the opportunity to watch it grow, and perhaps go buy another!