Just read the phone book

This is my most favorite King family graduation tradition.

It could be because the rest of the day involves the most boring speech ever – the one that lists the most popular baby names from 18 years ago,with a few stand-out exceptions. (I have been to enough graduations that I have tried to use my time wisely by coming up with an acceptable alternative to the annual listing of names but alas, it hasn’t come to me yet. Stay tuned, though, because we have plenty more graduations in which to use my creative energies.) And if you've never had the privilege of sitting through these speeches, just find an old phone book and start reading. It's the same thing.

It’s funny because if a high school student tried to give a speech, minus verbs, adverbs, prepositions, and adjectives, they’d never get to participate in the event. (Is “in absentia” a verb?)

Or maybe I love this tradition because it involves some of the best self-care known to man. Or woman. Or maybe just me. Give me a sewing machine, some old jeans, discarded (or sometimes stolen as soon as they have a stain or small hole) t-shirts, and you won’t see me leave the basement again.

Or at least not until Mr. Victor decides he needs something and there is no one else in the whole of the universe who can help him out with that need. Ever.

Thinking that there were three quilts to be made for Spring 2019, I started early their junior year. I started with the one that in the end, did not need to be finished by May 2019 after all. But that’s okay. It’s waiting for the day when we do have something amazing to celebrate. I am trusting that day will come and I’m willing to wait. In the end, I realized that I probably should have started even sooner than that since I was frantically sewing bindings on last week.

But they did get done.

But for those who prefer to see a bunch of 18 year olds dressed in the same fashionable gown, here are some of those photos.

We have decided that there is a special crown in Heaven for HopeAnne, who, by the time she graduates, will have had to sit through way too many of these proceedings.

Two more

And just like that, we will have two more graduates tonight.

One of the first photos we have of the two of them together

There was a video circulating this week of Isaac coming through the kindergarten building on his "senior walk". He didn't just acknowledge Victor, he picked him up and chatted with him a bit. Victor, for his part, held on like a baby koala.

I cried every time I watched it.

I won't tell you how many times I watched it.

But these last couple of weeks have held many of those moments as these two finished their high school careers in marvelous and mature ways.

One was Prom King and has been getting in as much socialization with friends as he can. Friendships and connections have been very important to him through the years. It will definitely be difficult to leave all of these friendships behind but I have no doubt he will quickly make new ones in the fall.

He didn't say a word until he came home

with crown in hand

The other has had some last concerts; last time conducting as intern with the middle school orchestras, last time as principal violist with the Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra, and last concert with the high school orchestra. He received a very special scholarship, the Seth Zaiser Memorial Scholarship, and should be proud of the comments said about him, "Not only is he one of the most accomplished musicians that has come through this school but he is also one of the kindest students you will meet."

Always, always trying to get the Good Doctor

with this juvenile game

Conducting the 6th grade orchestra with HopeAnne 

as principal violist

Isaac was presented with the Seth Zaiser Memorial Scholarship by 

Seth's parents, George and Pam.

We celebrate their victories over the past years but we also celebrate who they are and who they are becoming. At the same time, we mourn because there should be King "triplets", not "twins" graduating tonight. But we know that none of their stories is over and there is a plan for all of them, a plan for good, and a plan for redemption. We do not lose hope.

The newest citizen

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. 

This day has been years in the making. A plan. Waiting. Finding out the plan was based on incorrect legal counsel. Starting over. Waiting again.

The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. 

And then it came down to the wire. We need to get this kid on a ship this summer. He needed a passport. But we were in limbo with citizenship, on paper anyway, in neither country. We contacted an immigration attorney, we called our Congressman's office, we connected with relatives in Kenya who had some of the paperwork that we needed. We collected everything everyone said we needed, and more.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. 

And we prayed. And prayed. And begged. And asked our prayer partners to join us. I was surprised at how much peace I actually had, knowing how poorly this would turn out if he couldn't join us on that up-coming vacation. Fully expecting, according to the earthly timing of everything, that this would be another of God's last minute answers to prayer. But however it happened, I knew it would come through. But it wasn't last minute. Mountains moved and prayers were answered in half the time we expected.

"Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."

And yes, God, our God, you are majestic in power. Your right hand shattered the enemy's attempts to discourage and divide. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. I have seen your redemption in this child of God many times through the years but especially this year. In your strength you will guide your redeemed.

Exodus 15: 2-6, 13

Our personal Eagle Scout to the rescue -

again.

Another year of you

Happy birthday to the child who has made her presence known since the day she entered this world.

You are an encourager through and through and a great listener.

You are passionate about God, people, and the arts.

You have kept us on our toes in so, so many ways.

This next year promises to be one of many changes, decisions, and unknowns. But you've been on this journey long enough to put your trust in the One who knows yet only shows us a step at a time. May you keep your eyes wide open to see the blessings of faith to come.

We're excited to see what's next.

Happy birthday. We love you so much, Mariana. The icing on the cake is that you come home on your birthday. Looking forward to a summer with you.