January 2006 Skye starts college at Southern Virginia University. 15 years of study at two additional universities, BYU-Idaho and BYU-Hawaii, 13 years of marriage, 3 daughters and many late nights of study later she has graduated from Southern Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Politics.
Skye played on the LaCross team back in 2013-2014 when the school colors were Green and white. They changed to the Crimson colors in 2017.
Skye at the White house in 2018.
Skye was so excited for her graduation that she asked us back in October of 2019 if we could come to her Commencement Exercises in May. BUT....... COVID-19, and the world wide pandemic made them postpone the ceremony until October of 2020. BUT ..... Still COVID-19. The virus caused them to postpone the graduation indefinitely. Skye was heartbroken. She worked for 15 years for this and now she doesn't get to enjoy her collegiate Graduation Ceremony.
What do you do?
🎓🎓🎓🎓
You plan a surprise Graduation Ceremony.
Skye's mother-in-law Donna called me up and said she wanted to put on a graduation for Skye at their home. She made arrangements with Ryan to make sure they could come down that weekend, then we planned a real Graduation.
I sent out invitations and made a program for the event.
And Donna and Doug made a podium, bought the banner and planned a great day for Skye and it was all done in secret. It's amazing that between the 67 people in our two families we were able to keep her from being suspicious and surprise her.
So on October 24th while getting ready to go out to dinner and celebrate her big achievement, when she peeked out and saw the chairs, banner and podium she thought to herself, "aww.... how cute. They are going to have a little graduation for me."
🎓🎓🎓🎓
I had purchased a cap and gown for her and when Ryan brought it out and had her put it on she thought "Okay... this is fun". But she still had no hint that Shiloh and all her kids, Cami, Jacob and their family and Darryl and I were there to honor her and join the Lowry's to celebrate her big day.
Doug started playing "Pomp and Circumstance" and Ryan brought her outside. She looked over and saw Emily and realized that her family was here. She was very surprised when she saw Darryl and I, but the look on her face at the sight of her Aunt Sandy, Dr. Sandra K. Shawver, in her full Doctoral Regalia, stopped her in her tracks. We were clapping and cheering and she was so overcome with emotion it was quite a few moments before Ryan could get her moving forward again to her seat.
Sandy gave an amazing commencement address just for Skye and then presented her with her diploma. We sang "O Shenandoah" just like they do at the end of graduation at SVU. It was a wonderful ceremony and worth every bit of time and money spent to be there for her and share this special moment with her.
Her sister-in-law, Clarissa, made this delicious cake the yummy cake pops to celebrate!
And how do you finish off your graduation in October in South Carolina? You go for a swim!
Now, I know this seems like a full day, but wait until you see what the evening had in store for us!
🎃🎃🎃🎃
No comments:
Post a Comment