One more post to capture the family texts that came in on Tennie's birthday.
Geoff:
Tennie, I love that you are so adventurous. And that you are so confident and capable; you really are good at stuff! I love your determination - you can do anything! And I love your sense of humor. I love how fun you are and I love how you love me. I love how you live your religion through love - showing people how you feel and how we should all act. I love your love of justice and equity - you are going to change the world! I LOVE you!!!! Happy Birthday!
Ceci:
Happy birthday Tenn! There are no words to give justice to how amazing you are but here is an attempt...I love how creative you are! Your head seems to be in another more expressive and wonderful world. I love your sense of humor and your laugh! I love how compassionate you are about everyone and how you are always going to stand up for your opinions and speak your mind. I love how aware of the world you are! The world needs more people like you! And the people that are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do! I hope you have a magnificent birthday and I wish I was there with you to celebrate!
Nikki:
Happy happy birthday, Tenno!! I am so grateful for you and love you so much! I love how creative and imaginative you are, how passionate and dedicated you are to causes of justice and to being a voice for the voiceless. I love that you love fiercely and unconditionally. I love your thirst for learning and understanding, and that you delve in deeply to issues and aren't satisfied with canned answers. I love how kind and warm and welcoming you are to everyone. I love how sincerely interested you are in others' lives. I love your adventurous and brave and full-of-life spirit. I just love you like the dickens!!
Erica:
Happy birthday, Ten! You are an amazing person. It has been so fun to get to spend more time with you this year. You are determined, charismatic, confident, thoughtful and outward looking, capable, smart, creative and have super interesting ideas. I love you lots!
Ingrid:
Happy birthday, Tennie! It is so fun to read all the wonderful things people say about you, and to know the YOU behind all the awesome compliments. You love so fiercely that your heart might burst out of your ribcage. Your creativity and imagination have fueled hundreds of hours of playtime. Your musical abilities are beautiful. I love WHO YOU ARE, and that I get to be with you forever. Happy 19 fat ones!
Christian:
Happy birthday Tennie! There are so many ways I love you it would take me tennie years to explain! You are so gifted in every way. Your heart is pure gold. Your smile is pure joy. Your talents are purely endless. Your desire to make an impact and change in the world is pure inspiration. Your mind is surely brilliant. Your charm is surely evident. Your passion is resilient. Your thirst for knowledge is admirable, love for your family adorable and the world is yours to explore(able). I am so honored to be related to you and I'm so excited to see the many beautiful things that you will do in this lifetime, this is just the beginning! I love you today and every day and I can't wait to party with you!!
Brittany:
Happy happy happy birthday to my dearest darlingest Tenno!!! I love your curiosity, your determination, your hilarious nature, how easy going you are, how much fun it is to spend time with you doing anything, how interested in others you are, how you always look at the positive and the good in a situation, how caring and gentle you are -- I love everything about you and am so glad I got to spend time celebrating your wonderful life tonight!
Ian:
Happy belated, Tenn! You are so awesome. It is fun to talk with you about so many things because you are interested and knowledgeable about so many things. I just wish we could hang out more often! We still have a spot for you any time you make your California trip! You are a remarkable person, with tons of good things in store. 19 is an awesome year!
Tennie is well loved!
Showing posts with label Tennie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tennie. Show all posts
Monday, March 25, 2019
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Snapshot of Tennie - Part 1
Tennie describes herself as "ageless", and for good reason. She is always a kid. She has always been an adult. She has always been old as the hills and seas and deep forests.
Looking back, I can see all sorts of clues as to how Tennie would evolve into an adult. Many of these I have mentioned previously, but they still represent her as a person today.
Tennie came out of the womb conqueror, explorer, creator, comedian, peacekeeper and with a connection to all living things. We often use to say, when she was just a toddler, that her spirit wanted to burst out of her tiny physical body. She was expansive, exuberant, independent, sensitive and loving from day one. She loved to push all limits.
Last year on Instagram I articulated aspects of Tennie and want to capture it here.
When she learned to walk she pretty much said, "I've got it from here, mom!" That is when I realized her gift of independence. From there unfolded a wild imagination, never-ending creativity, insatiable curiosity, and ability to lead a group from fantastical play to a rally for good, a strength to move mountains and a power of goodness that exceeds the limits of her mortal body's limits. She's smart, capable, kind and loves all people. I count my blessings I get to be the mother of such a human.
She is a creator. This sounds pretty exaggerated, but the world is her canvas. She sees possibilities in ideas, words, object, nature, cultures and people. It comes out magically in her writing and many creative expressions. She pulls from here and there to create beautiful things at home, school, with friends and community. If she envisions it, it will happen. And often just being part of something, it happens.
She is an explorer. She would live in nature eating bugs if she felt that were the full meaning of her life. She is perfectly comfortable and confident in the wild. As a matter of fact, she prefers to venture off of the beaten path, both literally and symbolically in her life. She likes to pave her own way. She likes to see what hasn't been discovered yet. And she likes to do it all barefoot. And when we travel, she likes the back roads, the non-touristy areas to see what a place is really like; to interact with locals in a very real and authentic way. She LOVES road trips, even sleeping in the car or under the stars, all while surviving by eating a can of Spagettios, cold.
Tennie doesn't like people to tell her what to do. Not in a resisting authority kind of way, and rarely a disrespectful kind of way (I wouldn't have said that when she was two), but in the way that she wants to figure things out. She is ok with the bruises and scars that come from blazing her own trail.
Tennie loves all living things. She cares deeply about nature and God's creations. She has a reverence for them all. She also loves all people, particularly the underdog. She really seeks connection, especially with those who are starving for one. She's considered being an inner city school teacher. She wants every kid to feel loved, respected and to realize their greatness. It is the same with minorities, the homeless, and anyone else forgotten or on the fringe. Her everyday needs are pretty minimal. If she has money, she gives it away.
Tennie is an activist. She will stick up and rally around all those living things above. If there is a march for a marginalized group, she's in it. If there is a choice to be the voice of someone whose voice is not heard, she'll choose it. Another potential career option is an activist journalist. Some things need to be said, and she's willing to take the arrows in her back to say them.
We recently heard of a major called International Peacekeeping. Tennie immediately expressed interest. She has the kind of strength and capacity to make significant changes in people's and group's lives. She loves to push cultural boundaries and encourage people to see things in a new way.
She has come home pretty much every weekend since at BYU. When she comes home an energy fills the house. We all laugh more, discuss more and come together more. Again, she is a gatherer, connection maker, builder and peacemaker. She always chooses kindness. At BYU she holds a Sunday night tea party for all the girls on her dorm floor. At first she provided the mugs and tea and honey, and now all the regulars have their own mug, and contribute to the gathering.
And is she ever fun! She is silly and crazy and funny and laughs easily. She sends me memes often that make me laugh out loud.
She is super smart and curious and doesn't buy into hoop jumping. She learns what she wants to learn because she's curious. Always has. Currently she is taking Islam and Christianity, Medicinal Herbs, Astronomy and International Cinema. She told me she wished she could major in each one, and how she wished she knew all her professors knew about the topic. I love her curiosity.
Lastly in this jumbled mix of adoration for Tennie, is her conquering soul. Anything is possible. Her inner strength is remarkable.
There is no one else like her.
Happiest NINETEENTH birthday, Tennie!
Looking back, I can see all sorts of clues as to how Tennie would evolve into an adult. Many of these I have mentioned previously, but they still represent her as a person today.
Tennie came out of the womb conqueror, explorer, creator, comedian, peacekeeper and with a connection to all living things. We often use to say, when she was just a toddler, that her spirit wanted to burst out of her tiny physical body. She was expansive, exuberant, independent, sensitive and loving from day one. She loved to push all limits.
Last year on Instagram I articulated aspects of Tennie and want to capture it here.
When she learned to walk she pretty much said, "I've got it from here, mom!" That is when I realized her gift of independence. From there unfolded a wild imagination, never-ending creativity, insatiable curiosity, and ability to lead a group from fantastical play to a rally for good, a strength to move mountains and a power of goodness that exceeds the limits of her mortal body's limits. She's smart, capable, kind and loves all people. I count my blessings I get to be the mother of such a human.
She is a creator. This sounds pretty exaggerated, but the world is her canvas. She sees possibilities in ideas, words, object, nature, cultures and people. It comes out magically in her writing and many creative expressions. She pulls from here and there to create beautiful things at home, school, with friends and community. If she envisions it, it will happen. And often just being part of something, it happens.
She is an explorer. She would live in nature eating bugs if she felt that were the full meaning of her life. She is perfectly comfortable and confident in the wild. As a matter of fact, she prefers to venture off of the beaten path, both literally and symbolically in her life. She likes to pave her own way. She likes to see what hasn't been discovered yet. And she likes to do it all barefoot. And when we travel, she likes the back roads, the non-touristy areas to see what a place is really like; to interact with locals in a very real and authentic way. She LOVES road trips, even sleeping in the car or under the stars, all while surviving by eating a can of Spagettios, cold.
Tennie doesn't like people to tell her what to do. Not in a resisting authority kind of way, and rarely a disrespectful kind of way (I wouldn't have said that when she was two), but in the way that she wants to figure things out. She is ok with the bruises and scars that come from blazing her own trail.
Tennie loves all living things. She cares deeply about nature and God's creations. She has a reverence for them all. She also loves all people, particularly the underdog. She really seeks connection, especially with those who are starving for one. She's considered being an inner city school teacher. She wants every kid to feel loved, respected and to realize their greatness. It is the same with minorities, the homeless, and anyone else forgotten or on the fringe. Her everyday needs are pretty minimal. If she has money, she gives it away.
 |
| Tennie and her friend, Callie in California a few weeks ago. |
We recently heard of a major called International Peacekeeping. Tennie immediately expressed interest. She has the kind of strength and capacity to make significant changes in people's and group's lives. She loves to push cultural boundaries and encourage people to see things in a new way.
She has come home pretty much every weekend since at BYU. When she comes home an energy fills the house. We all laugh more, discuss more and come together more. Again, she is a gatherer, connection maker, builder and peacemaker. She always chooses kindness. At BYU she holds a Sunday night tea party for all the girls on her dorm floor. At first she provided the mugs and tea and honey, and now all the regulars have their own mug, and contribute to the gathering.
And is she ever fun! She is silly and crazy and funny and laughs easily. She sends me memes often that make me laugh out loud.
She is super smart and curious and doesn't buy into hoop jumping. She learns what she wants to learn because she's curious. Always has. Currently she is taking Islam and Christianity, Medicinal Herbs, Astronomy and International Cinema. She told me she wished she could major in each one, and how she wished she knew all her professors knew about the topic. I love her curiosity.
Lastly in this jumbled mix of adoration for Tennie, is her conquering soul. Anything is possible. Her inner strength is remarkable.
There is no one else like her.
Happiest NINETEENTH birthday, Tennie!
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Miss Tennie is 19!
We're going to interrupt Geoff and Ceci's Moroccan adventure to talk about Tennie turning 19 yesterday!
I picked her up from the train station with the Beatles "You Say It's Your Birthday" song blaring from the windows, a traditional song we play first thing on a birthday morning. We missed Ceci's dressing up and dancing, though!
Our festivities revved up in the evening when we had a Girl's Night Out with Geoff's sisters (we missed cousin Bailey who is sick). At Tennie's request, we met at Cedars of Lebanon for a Middle Eastern dinner experience. Oh my that food was good.
A belly dancer showed up and Tennie and Britt jumped up to give it a go.
Britt is always up for a good party. She dressed up in her Turkish dress for the occasion. I love her face in this next picture.
She is so fun! She broke out some party hats.
Beautiful Erica can get a little crazy when away from her two sets of young twins!
The party for some of us continued at Classic Fun Center for some rollerskating. Us older partygoers hadn't been on skates for over 20 years! And Tennie doesn't ever remember rollerskating, just iceskating. Luckily they have these geriatric-looking training wheel tools for folks like us.
I didn't get any pictures of me in my red, sequined jacket that only slightly distracted from my knee and wrist guards as I tried to reacquaint myself with rollerblading. And Britt showed up in bell bottoms, which were very appropriate.
Most astonishing was the 10:00PM crowd that came in. All kids under 16 have to go home (Stella passes), and all sorts of sub-culture, rollerskating regulars appeared. Lots of them. Very good people watching!
We rolled in around midnight. It was a great night celebrating one of the world's best humans. Happiest 19 years, Tennie!
Oh, and P.S. Geoff and Ceci found a Lebanese restaurant and joined our celebrations from afar.
I picked her up from the train station with the Beatles "You Say It's Your Birthday" song blaring from the windows, a traditional song we play first thing on a birthday morning. We missed Ceci's dressing up and dancing, though!
Our festivities revved up in the evening when we had a Girl's Night Out with Geoff's sisters (we missed cousin Bailey who is sick). At Tennie's request, we met at Cedars of Lebanon for a Middle Eastern dinner experience. Oh my that food was good.
A belly dancer showed up and Tennie and Britt jumped up to give it a go.
Britt is always up for a good party. She dressed up in her Turkish dress for the occasion. I love her face in this next picture.
She is so fun! She broke out some party hats.
Beautiful Erica can get a little crazy when away from her two sets of young twins!
The party for some of us continued at Classic Fun Center for some rollerskating. Us older partygoers hadn't been on skates for over 20 years! And Tennie doesn't ever remember rollerskating, just iceskating. Luckily they have these geriatric-looking training wheel tools for folks like us.
I didn't get any pictures of me in my red, sequined jacket that only slightly distracted from my knee and wrist guards as I tried to reacquaint myself with rollerblading. And Britt showed up in bell bottoms, which were very appropriate.
Most astonishing was the 10:00PM crowd that came in. All kids under 16 have to go home (Stella passes), and all sorts of sub-culture, rollerskating regulars appeared. Lots of them. Very good people watching!
We rolled in around midnight. It was a great night celebrating one of the world's best humans. Happiest 19 years, Tennie!
Oh, and P.S. Geoff and Ceci found a Lebanese restaurant and joined our celebrations from afar.
Friday, February 15, 2019
New York
Geoff had some meetings this week in New York, and last week on the way home from Idaho he and Tennie decided to make it a Daddy/Daughter trip. They took off last Friday and Tennie came home Tuesday. They packed in lots of good times.
It was beautiful and sunny and cold. They hit the Waldorf in honor of Eloise.
Over the days they walked a hundred miles around the city, exploring neighborhoods and cafes and the nooks and crannies of Manhattan.
They took a ferry around the Statue of Liberty and explored the immigration museum on Ellis Island.
It was beautiful and sunny and cold. They hit the Waldorf in honor of Eloise.
Over the days they walked a hundred miles around the city, exploring neighborhoods and cafes and the nooks and crannies of Manhattan.
They took a ferry around the Statue of Liberty and explored the immigration museum on Ellis Island.
They sampled The Met, which is all you can really do unless you have a week!
They sent a text while there, pictures of them in front of many of the great European artists. In response to the Van Gogh photos I mentioned wishing I could see Geoff looking at those, and how I could imagine him soaking up the paintings (he LOVES Van Gogh). Tennie immediately sent this picture. I love Geoff's love of things, and I love that Tennie captured it.
And I love Tennie's love of diverse things, big things, messy things, loud things and expansive things. While she would be equally as at home in the Amazon or the wild wilderness or a village in Africa, New York is a good fit too! She loved everything about it, again.
They hit Cafe Lalo, a place Geoff and I went when dating.
And they saw The Lion King.
And they went to night Jazz clubs and found a favorite little underground venue that they can't wait to show us.
They split ways and Tennie made her way to the airport for home and Geoff stayed for meetings, a short trip to D.C. and got home last night.
New York never disappoints.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Empty Space
The reality of Tennie moving out hit me hard yesterday. I spent the morning cleaning the walls and baseboards of her empty room (as Ceci will move in soon). I paused to take this in.
And I stood a moment absorbing this.
As I made my way around the room I came across this drawing by Ceci on the far side of Tennie's bed, at bed level. I had noticed a drawing was there before, but I had never really looked at it. But this day I did.
Ceci had left it for Tennie the day we left for Cambodia without her.
As I scrubbed, I thought about raising Tennie. It wasn't always easy; often we butt heads. I remembered the ways I used to worry about her, the ways I was critical of her weaknesses, and sometimes even her strengths. I reflected on how I wish I would have done many things differently as her mom. I've talked to Tennie recently about these things. I've asked her forgiveness for my mistakes.
I thought I had already mourned her leaving, as we had conversations about her moving out months ago, and we ended up traveling without her for so many months. I had already made a decision to let her go; I knew it was time for her to make choices, learn from them, and work out her own life moving forward. It took some wrestling to accept that my parenting role needed to change. This was all a process and ultimately a choice. It was hard emotional work for me.
I know Tennie was God's before she was mine, but I felt a deep sadness that my short time with her was over. Thankfully I will always hold the role of her mother, but my application of that role has changed, and I was again mourning the end of her childhood. I feel a large void, an empty space in my heart and life, just like that empty room in our home.
I guess Tennie and I are both facing some growing up pains, just different phases. Both of us have a large empty space to fill with new experiences and relationships. Both of us have unknown things to learn, and new experiences to have. I'm allowing myself to feel the emptiness for now, but soon I will begin to explore how to fill the empty space with new interests.
Before I go, let me share a note I wrote to Tennie as part of a church class this past Sunday. It attempts to capture her great soul.
For over 18 years I have watched and marveled at your powerful, indomitable spirit. You were born ready to take on the world. Your enormous spirit seemed to want to burst out of your small body.
Your creativity and imagination, mixed with your leadership and kindness, and your extraordinary people skills, made you overwhelmingly mighty from the beginning. Your sense of adventure was evident from the time you rode around in the Baby Bjorn, the summer we lived in Chiapas, Mexico when you were 3-6 months old, pumping your arms and legs excitedly, smiling and making eye contact with every single passerby. You skipped right over the separation anxiety stage, as you were born with a gift of independence. Watching you throughout your childhood was like watching a master artist who would experiment with different elements of the world to create new masterpieces. It was messy, often loud, and always a magical and exciting process.
I've had the opportunity to sit on the front row for 18 years, and now your'e off to a new stage with new audiences - bigger and better. Listen for me, I'll be cheering at a distance.
As hard as it is to let her go, I can't wait to watch the future she and God will create together.
And I stood a moment absorbing this.
As I made my way around the room I came across this drawing by Ceci on the far side of Tennie's bed, at bed level. I had noticed a drawing was there before, but I had never really looked at it. But this day I did.
Ceci had left it for Tennie the day we left for Cambodia without her.
As I scrubbed, I thought about raising Tennie. It wasn't always easy; often we butt heads. I remembered the ways I used to worry about her, the ways I was critical of her weaknesses, and sometimes even her strengths. I reflected on how I wish I would have done many things differently as her mom. I've talked to Tennie recently about these things. I've asked her forgiveness for my mistakes.
I thought I had already mourned her leaving, as we had conversations about her moving out months ago, and we ended up traveling without her for so many months. I had already made a decision to let her go; I knew it was time for her to make choices, learn from them, and work out her own life moving forward. It took some wrestling to accept that my parenting role needed to change. This was all a process and ultimately a choice. It was hard emotional work for me.
I know Tennie was God's before she was mine, but I felt a deep sadness that my short time with her was over. Thankfully I will always hold the role of her mother, but my application of that role has changed, and I was again mourning the end of her childhood. I feel a large void, an empty space in my heart and life, just like that empty room in our home.
I guess Tennie and I are both facing some growing up pains, just different phases. Both of us have a large empty space to fill with new experiences and relationships. Both of us have unknown things to learn, and new experiences to have. I'm allowing myself to feel the emptiness for now, but soon I will begin to explore how to fill the empty space with new interests.
Before I go, let me share a note I wrote to Tennie as part of a church class this past Sunday. It attempts to capture her great soul.
For over 18 years I have watched and marveled at your powerful, indomitable spirit. You were born ready to take on the world. Your enormous spirit seemed to want to burst out of your small body.
Your creativity and imagination, mixed with your leadership and kindness, and your extraordinary people skills, made you overwhelmingly mighty from the beginning. Your sense of adventure was evident from the time you rode around in the Baby Bjorn, the summer we lived in Chiapas, Mexico when you were 3-6 months old, pumping your arms and legs excitedly, smiling and making eye contact with every single passerby. You skipped right over the separation anxiety stage, as you were born with a gift of independence. Watching you throughout your childhood was like watching a master artist who would experiment with different elements of the world to create new masterpieces. It was messy, often loud, and always a magical and exciting process.
I've had the opportunity to sit on the front row for 18 years, and now your'e off to a new stage with new audiences - bigger and better. Listen for me, I'll be cheering at a distance.
As hard as it is to let her go, I can't wait to watch the future she and God will create together.
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Tennie is Flying!
After a lifetime of dreaming, months of studying and applying, and weeks of preparing and packing, Tennie is officially a freshman at BYU!
We were concerned her stuff wouldn't fit into her small dorm space, but it did.
Getting it all in the car was a little squeezy.
It was strange for her to see her old stuff (and some new stuff) in a different space. I don't remember the feelings of moving out on my own, but I was reminded what a big deal it is and how much courage it takes.
In all the preparations and hoopla there wasn't really time to process the reality of it. We're all just so excited for her. While nervous, she is so excited too.
We went out to dinner with Davey and Erica and kids. They will be a great resource to her in Provo. And her roommate didn't show up on move-in day, so we didn't get to meet her.
We left her in the evening as she was meeting up with a few girls we had met earlier to go to an opening dance/social. These next few days are orientation and a lot of social engagement. Classes start on Tuesday.
Go Tennie Go!
We were concerned her stuff wouldn't fit into her small dorm space, but it did.
Getting it all in the car was a little squeezy.
It was strange for her to see her old stuff (and some new stuff) in a different space. I don't remember the feelings of moving out on my own, but I was reminded what a big deal it is and how much courage it takes.
In all the preparations and hoopla there wasn't really time to process the reality of it. We're all just so excited for her. While nervous, she is so excited too.
We went out to dinner with Davey and Erica and kids. They will be a great resource to her in Provo. And her roommate didn't show up on move-in day, so we didn't get to meet her.
We left her in the evening as she was meeting up with a few girls we had met earlier to go to an opening dance/social. These next few days are orientation and a lot of social engagement. Classes start on Tuesday.
Go Tennie Go!
Monday, August 27, 2018
Preparing to Launch
Tennie has been packing up her childhood. Items she has treasured for years are suddenly stuffed into a bag and piled up to take to Goodwill. Creative stories, stuffed animals, keychains, shells, books and photos, clothing, and souvenirs from our many adventures over the years have been remembered, loved one last time, sorted and piled. It is an emotional process closing up your first chapter called childhood, and yet, it opens up physical and emotional space for the next exciting chapter to unfold.
In Tennie's case, she is losing her bedroom, as Ceci will move in, so she really is keeping only ONE bin of treasures. She's very sentimental, so I've admired her courage to let so many things go.
She's also been spending hours setting up a new, independent life by applying for scholarships and loans, figuring out health insurance, registering her bike, buying books, getting an ID card, new banking, and a host of other minutia a new freshman must do.
We went to the BYU campus on Saturday to map out her classes.
The leaves are just starting to turn on the mountains. I'm pretty sure Fall on the BYU campus is one of the best memories for BYU students! Geoff and I are flooded with memories, even though so many things on campus have changed. We kind of want to follow Tennie around to her first ward social, her first day of classes, and other firsts! We promised we wouldn't, though.
We scouted the library for a good, sunny and quiet study spot and then rented a locker for her books. We all amused that her first locker ever is at BYU! I'm going to buy her a little mirror and some posters...
Ceci LOVED the library, saying over and over that she could spend HOURS in there. Someday she just might be spending hours in there!
Tennie and I have been shopping for everything she'll need in her dorm, from bedding to post-its, as well as clothes and toiletries and bike tubes and everything in between.
She's still got a list of things to do before school starts the day after Labor Day, and she officially moves into the dorm on Wednesday! This is getting very real around here!
In Tennie's case, she is losing her bedroom, as Ceci will move in, so she really is keeping only ONE bin of treasures. She's very sentimental, so I've admired her courage to let so many things go.
She's also been spending hours setting up a new, independent life by applying for scholarships and loans, figuring out health insurance, registering her bike, buying books, getting an ID card, new banking, and a host of other minutia a new freshman must do.
We went to the BYU campus on Saturday to map out her classes.
The leaves are just starting to turn on the mountains. I'm pretty sure Fall on the BYU campus is one of the best memories for BYU students! Geoff and I are flooded with memories, even though so many things on campus have changed. We kind of want to follow Tennie around to her first ward social, her first day of classes, and other firsts! We promised we wouldn't, though.
We scouted the library for a good, sunny and quiet study spot and then rented a locker for her books. We all amused that her first locker ever is at BYU! I'm going to buy her a little mirror and some posters...
Ceci LOVED the library, saying over and over that she could spend HOURS in there. Someday she just might be spending hours in there!
Tennie and I have been shopping for everything she'll need in her dorm, from bedding to post-its, as well as clothes and toiletries and bike tubes and everything in between.
She's still got a list of things to do before school starts the day after Labor Day, and she officially moves into the dorm on Wednesday! This is getting very real around here!
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Tennie is a High School GRADUATE!
What a whirlwind of happy activity we've had around here! After a 9-day road biking trip with the advanced road biking intensive, to wrap up the school year (more on that coming soon), Tennie graduated from high school last Friday.
My mom, Geoff's dad, and wife, Robin, and Geoff's sister Ingrid and family came into town for the event. We could only get 7 tickets, so grandparents joined us for the pomp and ceremony of graduation itself.
Ceci and I tracked Tennie down to give her her cords. Tennie was feeling all kinds of mixed emotions.
Ceci wanted to stowaway for a walk across the stage.
We grabbed a picture of the gathering of the 2018 graduates. Tennie is right in the middle.
We got there early and got pretty good seats with a direct view of where the graduates would walk. Here she is walking across the stage...
Adele ran into her favorite AISU friends, Raja and Alexa.
We met up with Tennie for a few minutes after to get a few pictures. Here Keenan is videoing Tennie's explanation of each of her cords.
Tennie was in the top four in her class with a perfect 4.0. We're so proud of her natural curiosity and hard work.
On Sunday we gathered family to celebrate.
After eating taco salad and strawberry shortcake, we gathered around while the adults gave advise, everything from paying your bills on time and reading the assignments before class to staying humble and relying on the Savior in difficult times that are sure to come. There was so much love and support and encouragement in that room!
Geoff and I gave her four symbolic gifts, each representing something we have tried to teach her throughout her life, as well as our greatest tools/resources to encourage her to use going forward.
1. A copy of all of her father's blessings, a reminder to remember who she really is and why she is on this earth.
2. A new set of scriptures (a step up from the basic paper ones she got when she was baptized!) This was to symbolize holding to, and feasting on, the word of God.
3. A new iphone 8. (Let's not pretend this wasn't her favorite gift.) This was symbolic of the power of prayer and constant communication with God.
4. Lastly, she opened the quilt I made her with pieces from her childhood clothing, a reminder to wrap herself in the comfort, direction and testifying power of the Holy Ghost. And it might just remind her of a happy childhood.
And just like that, in the midst of hoopla and friends and family and love, a chapter ended.
Her future is bright.
My mom, Geoff's dad, and wife, Robin, and Geoff's sister Ingrid and family came into town for the event. We could only get 7 tickets, so grandparents joined us for the pomp and ceremony of graduation itself.
Ceci and I tracked Tennie down to give her her cords. Tennie was feeling all kinds of mixed emotions.
Ceci wanted to stowaway for a walk across the stage.
We grabbed a picture of the gathering of the 2018 graduates. Tennie is right in the middle.
We got there early and got pretty good seats with a direct view of where the graduates would walk. Here she is walking across the stage...
And then right as she neared where she would get her diploma, some young people stood up with large poster board signs to cheer on their graduate whose name was just called. I couldn't see a thing! I missed her getting her diploma! I sat through a 90 minute graduation and missed the 10 seconds I was there to see! Oh well. Thankfully Geoff's dad got a distant shot. The principle, Nathan Justis, is in the tie, and is a good friend of Tennie's. He wrote her BYU recommendation. In the vest is Tennie's teacher, mentor and friend, Trevor Huish. He introduced her to road biking, and they rode to and from school every day for the last 18 months. He also wrote her a BYU recommendation. Too bad the pictures are all so blurry and/or dark!
Adele ran into her favorite AISU friends, Raja and Alexa.
We met up with Tennie for a few minutes after to get a few pictures. Here Keenan is videoing Tennie's explanation of each of her cords.
Tennie was in the top four in her class with a perfect 4.0. We're so proud of her natural curiosity and hard work.
On Sunday we gathered family to celebrate.
After eating taco salad and strawberry shortcake, we gathered around while the adults gave advise, everything from paying your bills on time and reading the assignments before class to staying humble and relying on the Savior in difficult times that are sure to come. There was so much love and support and encouragement in that room!
Geoff and I gave her four symbolic gifts, each representing something we have tried to teach her throughout her life, as well as our greatest tools/resources to encourage her to use going forward.
1. A copy of all of her father's blessings, a reminder to remember who she really is and why she is on this earth.
2. A new set of scriptures (a step up from the basic paper ones she got when she was baptized!) This was to symbolize holding to, and feasting on, the word of God.
3. A new iphone 8. (Let's not pretend this wasn't her favorite gift.) This was symbolic of the power of prayer and constant communication with God.
4. Lastly, she opened the quilt I made her with pieces from her childhood clothing, a reminder to wrap herself in the comfort, direction and testifying power of the Holy Ghost. And it might just remind her of a happy childhood.
And just like that, in the midst of hoopla and friends and family and love, a chapter ended.
Her future is bright.
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