For the last thirteen years I have had the goal of homeschooling my kids ... and it all started with Cory.
I remember
... teaching Cory his colors
... teaching him to read
... playing with Playdoh
... memorizing Psalm 100 and Genesis, Chapter 1
... reading Button Soup and Robin Hood 10,000 times
... building a castle out of sugar cubes
... making pilgrim hats out of construction paper
... watching the dissection of a shark, ick!
... taking photographs in Glacier National Park together
I remember
... the frustration of multiplication tables
... reading every assignment aloud to my son during 4th and 5th grade
... holding my breath as I waited for standardized test scores to come in
... driving to t-ball practice, soccer practice, swim lessons, choir lessons, basketball practice
I remember
... thinking that he'd NEVER remember the difference between an adjective and an adverb
... believing that I'd NEVER get quiet time just to write
... being certain that, "Sit down and finish that page" was the most used sentence in my vocabulary
... questioning that in the end if it would all pay off.
Well, I'm happy to say that on May 24th at 3:00 p.m. Cory Joseph Goyer received his diploma of graduation. His dad and I got to present it to him, and offer words of advice. I offered two bits of wisdom.
1) "Cory you've worked hard and you've excelled in your studies, but for your future my advice is not to work harder. Or even to work smarter. But to abide in Christ. Even machines can be trained to do work, but only men and women--guided by the Holy Spirit--can bear fruit that lasts for eternity."
and
2) "If at first you don't succeed, go back and do it like your mother taught you."
John also spoke a few words--although he was so choked up he could hardly speak.
"Cory, the day you were born, and I first saw you, I couldn't imagine this day. I am proud to call you my son ... even prouder to call you my friend."
There wasn't a dry eye in the place.
So congratulations Cory ... for all your hard work. Your parents are proud of the man you've become, and I know God is proud, too!
And for all of you with kids out there ... keep going. Your efforts will pay off!
With joy,
Tricia