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Here We Go: Graduation & Counting my Blessings


My second son, Michael graduates Saturday and I am looking forward to seeing family and friends as we come together to celebrate his achievement and hard work for the past twelve years.

This morning I'm thinking of all of the people who have impacted his life in big or small ways.  Help me focus on what is important!

1.  Joshua.  His big brother.  Together they grew up sticking together through very tough times in our family's life.  Read together, played together and fought together.  Such different people and yet so not.

2.  Caleb.  His little brother.  His first fan and follower.  From traveling basketball, baseball and football to High School football and wrestling.  Caleb watches closely.  Faithfully following this big brother.

3.  David.  His Dad.  His Sunday afternoon movie/football game partner.  His sounding board.  His leader.

4.  Oreo, Buster and Frosty.  O.k. they might not be people but they have impacted him.  His companions and best friends.  His calming.

5.  Frank and Barb.  His Grandparents.  Hero and confidant.

6.  Dennis and Jessie.  His Grandparents.  The leaders of his fan club!

7.  Chuck and Vicki.  His Grandparents.  Who he is patterned after.

8.  Aunts and Uncles and Cousins.  ALL of Them!  That is a lot!  They adore, treasure, mentor and cheer him on!

9.  Joe Dunn.  Church family. His hero and his mentor.

10. Don Madron.  Church family.  Hero and mentor.

11.  Larry Pierce and other neighbors.

12.  Riley Kammerer, Mark Speck and Chuck Graff.  Employers.  Friends.  Mentors.

13.  Mr. Schlict, Mr. McBride, Mr. Stokey, Mr. Korf, Mr. Fulchert, Mr. Vough,  Mr. Neil, Mr. Redinger, Mr. Huckfeldt, Mr. Humphrey.  Coaches and all of the many others who taught, believed and impacted him.

14.  Administrators.  Mr. Jeffries, Mr. Pavlik.  Believed and impacted him at an early age.

15.  Teachers and Mrs. Chum!

16.  Teammates and Friends. Derrik, Tayler, Luke and his senior class.  Kids that no one could imagine impressed him or taught by their good and bad examples.

17.  Zachery E. who inspires him.

The list is endless as I think about it.  I cannot put everyone down.
How do I ever thank God for all of the amazing people He brought into my son's life?  
How do I ever thank them?
We are truly the wealthiest people I know.





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