Photo collage
Photo collage #1

This past week we experienced another one of those ‘firsts’ in life, our first child graduating from high school.  Yep, you read that correctly.  Charissa, our oldest daughter, made it official by graduating from the Riedy Girls school.  Come to think of it, that makes her the first graduating class from the school too… funny how that works.

Charissa graduation
Charissa graduation

With graduation came a slew of different events; finding the early childhood photos, creating multiple photo boards, recognition of the graduates at FamilyLife, rehearsal, formal graduation ceremony, graduation parties, and more planning for the next steps in life.

Deb and I had the privilege of handing Charissa her diploma as she walked across the stage to a packed crowd at a local church during that graduation ceremony.  Hard to believe as parents that we’ve arrived at this point.

Now, off to the next adventures.  She will be starting at College of the Ozarks pursuing a Bachelors in Science in Culinary Arts in August.  Congratulations Charissa on a job well done – must have been the great teachers and principal in your high school.

UPDATE: read the Commencement address article about the homeschool graduation ceremony written by Mike Masterson, a guest speaker during the ceremony.  One of Charissa’s bio lines is featured in the article.  Can you guess which one?