We have just returned from Soren's high school graduation. The time we spent with him is burned into our memories now, making us better and happier people.
The first thing we wanted to do, as soon as we arrived, was to go and see Soren's Eagle Scout project.
Yes. That's right! The Graybill family's first Eagle Scout. Not the first Borja family Eagle Scout, as that went to his Grandpa Mike and then to his father.
Can you imagine? Three generations of Eagle Scouts? I am glad we are sitting down when we write this.
There is a lovely park close to where Soren lives, full of trails. Someone, in their wisdom, donated the land instead of selling it to developers. It has trails, but in a couple of sections the trails were kind of steep, so also slick. Soren built walkways on those two sections.
Now, the second set of stairs:
Part of his project was organizing a crew to do it. Pretty cool, huh?
And then, something we didn't expect.
Soren gave us both the most amazing awards.
They were Eagle Scout Grandparent Pins.
We wore them the entire two days....even to his graduation. We thought about wearing them on the plane ride home, so we could enthrall everyone on the jet with our grandparent stories. But we were worried that with all of the lifting, etc., one does at airports that we could lose one.
They are now proudly displayed in our home.
The next thing we did was to give Soren his graduation present. It was three books of his life with us (the fourth to come after Vicky can put the Eagle Scout and graduation photos in it). We have done so much together over the years, and these books really capture it. We assume these books will grow in meaning over the next several decades of his life...especially when he himself is a grandparent.
This is something we have done for all of our grandchildren's graduations. When I say "we have done" what I really mean is "Vicky has done." They are joint projects in one way, but Vicky does most of the work sizing photos, putting them on the pages to look nice, writing the captions about where we were, etc. She is a real grandma, and I'm proud of her for that.
In the above photo you can see Soren in a swimming pool. Here are the photos of that memorable day:
We are highlighting these photos because this was our first alone time with him. Vicky taught him how to put his head underwater and swim and how to dive.
....and he has been on his high school's swim team, and has gone to state and has won awards.
Just one more photo that we look at regularly. We have had such meaningful times with him, and with our other grandchildren. We have been blessed.
Then we all returned to his home for burgers AND for the cake Soren had made. He's quite the cook. It was a spice cake and was scrumptious. Our small group of eight ate the ENTIRE cake!
The next morning......off to the Graduation.
Dad is taking the photo below, and mom is giving him a high five.
Then we came home....someone had put up yard decorations:
AND WE PARTIED!!!!
We had a lunch, sat around and talked (caught a few winks), and then had the celebratory dinner.
During that time Rachelle called Soren, Emily, and Sean to congratulate Soren. They know Soren, having had him out to visit, and really like him. That call meant the world to us.
A huge variety of foods, something for everybody. All of the other grandparents attended, Uncle Jules and Aunt Diane, and two leaders from his church group.
His Dad and Mom had made a special cake for him (and the rest of us, I guess).
And then Soren did something extra special. He made a speech about his gratitude toward his family and toward his church leaders. It was very moving. We both were crying during it.
And as the ungrateful grandchildren of ours always do....then they leave and go create their own lives. How dare they do this!!!
Here is something we came across several years ago that describes parenting but also grandparenting.
"Raising children is like being moved around in a theater. When children are very young, you are the director of the play of their life. Later you have front-row seats for what is happening with them. Then maybe fourth-row seats. They get older, and you, the parents, get to watch from the front of the mezzanine. But you keep getting moved farther back. Eventually you’re so far, you’re in the seats they used to call paradise."
Here is Soren's next destination in life:
We're in paradise.
