One down, eight to go.

Yes, I have already posted, but I didn't want to neglect posting our oldest son's graduation pictures.  He graduated this past Saturday with 9 other homeschooled students from our area.  It was a really neat experience.  On the one hand, it was hard to believe that my  (once) little boy has already made it through 13 years of school; on the other hand, it is sobering that I still have 8 more students to go.  No room to rest on laurels, yet.  :)

 Jake has been an easy student from the get-go.  He's the type that you would have to lock in a dark closet to keep him from learning - and even then he would probably devise more creative strategies to complex problems than he would have in light and freedom.  A "true lemons into lemonade", "there's no obstacle, it's just a stepping stone or an opportunity for growth" type of fellow.  He's the sort of student who could confuse you into thinking that the home-educating journey would be a piece of cake and that you should jump in with both feet.  (Grin.  They're not all like that, let me assure you....)  Jake's just...been a joy.  He loves God and seeks to serve Him.  That means the most of all. 

It was a real and true honor to be the one to hand the diploma to Jacob.  (Jeff was unable to come to the ceremony - too far of a drive and too long to sit upright...)  We've been on this journey since the day he was born - and it's exciting to see Jake enter a new stage of life.  He's ready.

 He's applied for a full-time position at the library he already works at part-time, and he will be taking five classes this fall at one of our local colleges.  A couple of the classes will be on-line, and one at night.  He has a basket full of potential colleges and the test scores and grades to back it all up - but he has chosen the "no debt" plan to get his degree (computer programming) - and that plan begins by living at home for the next year and attending school nearby.  The choice was his to make, but it sounds like a good plan to me.  I'd love to see him earn his bachelor's (or beyond) without carrying a large amount of debt.  Personally, I think it is good for a young person to work their way through college - we appreciate what we have had to work hard to accomplish.  Besides.  I'm not in any rush to send him far away.  I need his tech support too much.

We're proud of you, Jake.