Gage Graduates

Wow! We have three down and one (or more) to go! Gage graduated Friday, June 5, 2009, from Taylorsville High, along with 504 of his peers. We sent this picture out with his graduation announcements. Watching my children graduate from high school has always been kind of a bittersweet day for me, and this was no exception. Here is the sea of blue and white caps and gowns. The ceremony was held in the Huntsman Center. We spotted Gage as soon as he entered, but he never could quite locate where we were seated. We kept waving our arms as he would look our direction, but he couldn't spot us.
The senior members of the Jazz Band performed. This was Gage's official last performance on the drums for Taylorsville High. It made me feel kind of sad. He is at the far right in the picture. It was funny to see these guys playing jazz music in their caps and gowns. They are a talented bunch.
Gage was lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents in attendance. The ceremony itself is always a little long and boring. I can imagine how the grandparents must have felt about it! My mom mentioned that they only have three high school graduations left (or more depending on our Ukraine adventure). I hope they stick around for all of them. They'll be in their late nineties by the time Brayden graduates!
This was the third high school graduation this year for the Lawrence grandparents! If you think one is long, how about three? Camille and Tiffany also graduated this year.
Overall, it was a great day. We missed Marissa. She had to work and go to school. After the ceremony, we all ate dinner at our house. Gage went to his all-night party and got home about 6:00 a.m. this morning.
This morning Gage said he can't quite comprehend the idea that he's done at THS and
won't be going back next fall. I even think he was a little sad when he was talking about it. Who would have believed it?

Feeling Anxious

Another Sunday fading away. It was a good day, except that I'm feeling anxious. First the good part: Church was a lift for me today. Marissa had to do sharing time in Primary today, and it was great watching my daughter pull off a 25-minute portion of Primary with the children spellbound. She's so much more capable than I was at that age. Gage played the piano today for a stake priesthood meeting. It's nice to know all those hundreds of dollars I spent for lessons didn't go wasted. Eric is in Montana for a few days cleaning carpets at Brian and Susan's motel. He wanted to earn a little money while he was on leave. He'll be back to our house June 4th but leaves for Guam June 12th. The time is going by too quickly.

So why am I feeling anxious? We learned Friday that the Parliament in Ukraine will be voting this Tuesday, June 2, on a bill that proposes putting a moratorium on international adoption from Ukraine. I don't know if my heart can take this again. Our plane tickets are purchased, and we are supposed to be heading for Ukraine June 13. Our adoption agency tried to put our minds at ease, but I will not be at ease until I hear news from Ukraine on Tuesday.

My thoughts and prayers turn to the other families being affected and all of our children that are half a world away. Please pray that those people who have the fate of these children in their hands will be influenced for good and that the proper decisions will be made.

Brayden

We tended my little nephew, Brayden, for five days in May while Brian and Susan went to a work seminar. He was a lot of fun.

Seminary Graduation

Here are a few pictures from Gage's Seminary graduation last Sunday. Michael was home sick in bed and couldn't be there. Grandpa and Grandma Parker traveled from Logan to share the day with us.

Here are some of Gage's friends also graduating. This graduating group led the way in putting on Savior of the World last summer for Youth Conference. It was about a five-month undertaking. They all became good friends in sharing that unforgettable experience.

My Brother on Everest

My amazing brother, Bruce Parker, is on Mt. Everest right now and is attempting to "summit" any time now. We are all on pins and needles. He set a goal to climb the highest mountain on every continent, "the seven summits," and he will hopefully be wrapping up his goal within the next few days. If you are interested in reading his story, visit bruceoneverest.blogspot.com

Yes, the Rumors are True

Well, I better post to let you all know we have a new SDA date of June 15. This all happened very suddenly. We requested June 15, when we had to cancel our first date, in hopes that something positive would happen regarding Bogdan by now, but nothing is happening, and we decided we better not let this chance slip by to help another little person/persons out there, so we are gearing up for the adventure. We'll provide more information later.

Twenty-three years ago

It's hard to believe that 23 years ago on Mother's Day, I became a mother for the first time. Now that little boy is all grown up and serves in the United States Air Force. Today, May 15, 2009, Eric graduates from his specialty training in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and is flying home tomorrow for a blessed 26 days! Yahoo! Oh, how I wish we were there for his graduation.

Eric, the one who didn't care for academics much in high school, received the Distinguished Graduate Award, in Recognition of Outstanding Academic Achievement.

These pictures were taken in January. We all flew to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for his basic training graduation .

At this stage in our lives, being together happens fewer and farther between. We're all looking forward to seeing him. With Gage's pending mission, who knows when we'll be together again?