A Grand Accomplishment! Yea Ryan!!

My graduation was one of the coolest things to happen to me. I got to graduate with ten of the coolest people. I made new friends and got to talk about things I liked. I felt the spirit very strongly. I had one of the best experiences ever. Hearing the speech given by the graduation speaker was inspiring and made me realize a few things. I'm keeping them personal though. Walking across the hall made me feel like I had accomplished something grand.--Ryan

Since his early childhood Ryan has shown a strong capacity to see task through to the end. This characteristic could be seen in the way he finished difficult school assignments, to finishing the fifty mile hike twice on the Appalachian Trail with his Boy Scout troop.  This past year he has shown a true “can do” spirit as he has struggled with difficult math classes at New River Community College. He is a steadfast and reliable priesthood holder who takes serious his commitments.

Ryan, these attributes and the many others that you have will serve you well as you prepare for a mission and embark on a career path and follow the spirit to obtain all that the Lord has in store for you.----Barry wrote this and it was read to Ryan as he came forward to obtain his diploma from Barry and I.  

 He is one awesome youth!  ( I can say that for 8 more days, then he becomes an "adult")  I wish he could be around the wonderful youth that attend the LDSHE conference every day. (He sure could use a friend like that.  He has Barry and Connor, but sometimes another 'outside of the family friend' is needed too.)   These LDSHE youth are a remarkable group of people.  I believe talking with some of them has helped him see with greater clarity his desires for his own future, and how they will take a bit more work than he has given to realize them than he has in the past. On the way home we talked much about the wonderful words that Brother Shawn Coombes spoke of to all the graduates. He spoke about how important it will be for them to learn how to listen to the spirit of the Lord and to follow that spirit, even if it is a hard direction the Lord is giving, to have faith and trust.  As Liam and Delaney slept the back seat of the Honda--the others were in the suburban--we talked much of his goals for his future and the thoughts he had based on what Brother Coombes spoke of. (He spoke of other things too--it was these things that Ryan referred to in regards to thoughts he wants to keep personal.)  I'm grateful for the time we spent.  I sure do love my son, and I'm so grateful the Lord blessed my life by letting me be his mother.

 Brother Shawn Coombes and Garrett Watson were the speakers. 

 

Sister Kari Brimhall, the committee chair person over the youth conference and graduation.

 How wonderful our extended family is.  Brian and Risa brought their littles out--past bedtime--to support Ryan on his grand day of celebration.  They were sooo supportive that they did this, not just once, but twice!!  Yes folks, Risa and I had a miscommunicative moment and they made the trip to SVU the Friday before and again the night of the actual event.  Thanks.  We loved having you there!

Ryan, Josh Witherspoon and Cory Hale---the three boy cousins of the same age, on Barry's side of family were all graduating this year.  And wouldn't you know it, they all had their graduation ceremonies on the same night!!   (of course, because Murphey's law is still quite in force!)
Cotton and Beulah has quite the dilemma.  They solved the problem by having Cotton attend the Pulaski County High School graduation ceremonies and Beulah came to the LDSHE ceremonies at SVU in Buena Vista.