Congrats To Krystal, My College Grad
On Saturday, my oldest daughter graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of West Georgia. When ceremonies concluded, she gave me a quaint little hug and smile. Then she and her mom grabbed one another with with a marathon hug and wept profusely. And I was thinking- Hey, how about a little more of that for me?
I'm recognizing in my daughter a person of strength and special character. Her final Semester consisted of 21 credit hours of upper-level classes, and she made straight A's! I have a College degree, but I struggled to make decent grades in PE and Basket Weaving. This girl worked hard with her studies. Such never came easy, but she exhibited a tenacity and determination to succeed that made me doubly proud. In College she faced her doubts and challenges with a characteristic refusal to give in.
So, indulge me as I tell a little more about my daughter who is also a hero of mine. She is a pretty girl. But she is not too full of herself. And friends mean the world to her. She is very good at being a friend, and people who connect with her tend to stay connected. As I visited with them at her apartment, I found them all to be characteristically nice and genuine, easy with talk and sincere about life. Just like my daughter. And as I watched the special day unfold, it crystallized that she is so far ahead of me at the same stage of life. I was a bit more cocky and had matters more planned out. But she treats others with such great respect. She values people, and they know it. And that is why so many good people are drawn to her. Me? I am just now entering into some resemblance of maturity in how to truly value others and treat them with respect.
Krystal is not as religious and myself. At her age I was quite connected with church and being Baptist. Her church involvement has, at best, been sporadic through College. But that does not much bother me. Why? I recognize spiritual maturity that is moving along at a fine pace. She believes. And, she is a person of prayer. I have not doubt that the outward elements of religion, which I do consider to be important, will come along according to God's timing.
I want to thank Krystal's mom and my wife, Debbie. She is an unassuming and gentle person, which greatly admire in her. And Krystal is the product of her amazing job as a mother. I think my kids have but little idea how blessed they are to be connected to this woman. Constantly she works, sacrifices, and even does a bit of scheming and manipulating for their benefit. Often I am dragged along with the latest effort, with agreement but not nearly the energy of my spouse. She is Krystal's best friend. And my daughter, no longer a girl but now a full-fledged woman, will continue to grow in personal respect and outward reflection of her amazing mother.
The Graduation itself was a rather simple ceremony. Most of her friends, who started College at the same time as she, were observers because they still have a year to go. The President of the school is of Lebanese lineage, and proved to be an interesting personality. The speaker was a trial lawyer. He did something likely to be uncharacteristic of his profession- he made a promise, to keep it short and to-the-point- and kept his word. Good for him.
Here is my favorite picture:
05.13.08 (12:11 am) [
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posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
05.12.08 (9:43 pm)
Congratulations to Krystal!
Oh Dave ~ how nice of you to share this!
I know how proud you and Debbie are!
*You know I had to chuckle when I read this tidbit!
"but I struggled to make decent grades in PE and Basket Weaving"
posted by:
LadyG (
reply)
post date:
05.12.08 (11:36 pm)
Congratulations to Krystal. you and your wife did a fantastic job raising her, congrats to you both.
posted by:
sebastianjoshua (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (2:14 am)
congratulation... :)
i know she want to hug you and thanks you for all your support
i think she's really proud to have you as her father... :-)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (7:54 am)
Reply to: auntconi
Actually, I did have a course in basket weaving. One of the profs offered several folklore classes, and I was always willing to take some easy credits. So I found myself one day sitting on the porch with an old backwoods fellow, learning to weave baskets as he spun his tales. It was interesting, and I think my basket warranted a "C" for the project. Another part of my fine College education. PE? I made an A in Tennis.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (7:54 am)
Reply to: sebastianjoshua
Yes, I get my fair share of the hugs. Just unfairly pouting in this particular post!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (7:57 am)
Reply to: LadyG
Her graduation has proven to me to be quite a moment, a rite of passage. Officially she moves from child to adult, from dependence to responsibility, and from subordinate to friend. All will take some time for me to become accustomed, and to like. She is a fine young woman. And, now, I've three more to bring to this point.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (9:15 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
I apologize ~ I thought you were joking. I should know better by now. I have also done some basket-weaving craft in my younger days and it isn't as easy as one might think.
I trust you are all safe from the recent tornado disaster.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (9:38 am)
Reply to: auntconi
Apologize? Now, let this be the last time I ever see that word in my comments. This blog is a no-apology-zone. And I was joking. It is funny that a school of higher learning would offer credit for such a subject.It is right in there with Diversity Training, etc. Now, please repeat after me, "I will never again apologize to PastorDave..."
posted by:
rosietulips (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (10:12 am)
Awww! Congratulations on reaching such a milestone, Krystal! And congrats do you, too, PastorDave and Debbie for raising such a fine young woman!
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (11:46 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
"...repeat after me, 'I will never again apologize to PastorDave...'"
I hope I can comply ~ but remember I am old and not sure how long ... ... what were we talking about?
:)
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (12:48 pm)
Congratulations..you have good reason to be proud.
posted by:
(
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post date:
05.13.08 (12:51 pm)
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on such a glorious event and milestone. Pappa done good.
posted by:
squirrelzone (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (12:53 pm)
I guess I should have been signed in when I wrote the above comment of:
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on such a glorious event and milestone. Pappa done good.
Life is such a wonderful blessing.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (2:04 pm)
Hey Daddy!
This is Krystal. Mom let me read your blog. I wanted to say that I love you and that I never meant to not hug you. You know you mean the world to me and that I am very grateful for your help and support throughout college. I could not have done it without you and mom. I love you!
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (3:36 pm)
Congrats Dave. Nothing more fun than watching them finish something truly significant they've done themselves.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (3:37 pm)
Oh wow... Congrats Krystal. Didn't see your comment above.
posted by:
spook102956 (
reply)
post date:
05.13.08 (7:45 pm)
Congratulations! You have every right to be very proud of your daughter. I have a dau in college that sounds very much like yours.
posted by:
Robin (
reply)
post date:
05.14.08 (10:45 am)
Congratulations! I understand that she got a BA, but did you tell us in what???? Maybe I just missed it.
posted by:
FinalyFree (
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post date:
05.14.08 (8:07 pm)
A wonderful post, Pastor. Thank you for sharing this very proud moment in your family. Congratulations to you all :)
posted by:
ggirl (
reply)
post date:
05.30.08 (11:23 am)
Congratulations to the entire family--your daughter and everyone who supported her in her blooming. You're right--great photo, but mainly because the young lady is so beautiful. lol!!
