graduation and F A R E W E L L S

It's been an emotional couple of weeks. Having your first child graduate from high school is tough enough. Living here knowing I'm sending him to college in less than a month is even harder. As if that's not enough, we're also dealing with farewells and see-you-laters.

On the large screen as they walked in... Justin's was a little tall for their camera

Living in Germany adds to the intensity and emotions we are going through. Graduation was beautiful. It was held at the FCK soccer stadium in Kaiserslautern- a beautiful arena.

The kids were told there is a huge fine for even walking on the perfectly-manicured field. The setting was amazing.

There were a couple clouds in the sky and  a slight breeze making for perfect conditions. We couldn't have asked for better weather.

Being a military school, our families are from all over the states. The stage was lined with flags from the fifty states- something you don't ever see at a graduation.

The presentation of the colors and flag was precise and perfect. The band also did a phenomenal job.

The ceremony was streamed live online which was another cool thing for our families all over the world to watch.

Technology is amazing.

I still can't believe I was texting with my parents in Utah, my sister in Colorado and our cousins/Granny/Jim's dad in Illinois all at the same time as we were sitting in the stadium and they were watching at the same time online.

It helped us feel just a little closer for a major life event that we wanted to share- for that I'm grateful.

I continue to be amazed at how dynamic these kids in Justin's closest circle of friends are. They're brilliant, athletic, driven, fun, focused, grounded and are bound to accomplish great things.

I'm also learning that graduating from an American high school overseas is a completely different experience than being in the states.

What these kids are going through right now has been unbelievably tough and is going to get tougher before it gets any easier.

In the military, assignments are usually three, maybe four years in one location. For most of these kids, they're used to the moving- it's a way of life for a military brat.

Once kids get to high school, parents try to time it so they can graduate a kid without moving them in the end- if they can help it.

That being said, very few of Justin's friends spent all four years at Ramstein- it's rare for any of them to spend all of their high school years at the same school.

Now that graduation has happened, it's time for the bulk of these families to move on. Their time in Germany is up.
The goodbyes have already started and they've been tough- not only for the kids but for the moms as well.

I've been lucky enough to become close friends with some amazing women. I'm going to miss them dearly.

It feels like we just had to do this leaving Kansas. The emotions are surfacing again and it's just as difficult.

Without family here in Germany- our friends have become our family.

We've bonded in a way that I think only happens living overseas. I've never become so close to my friends as quickly as I have here. They are definitely friends for life- they're family.

I think the most difficult part of living here is that these seniors don't know when they'll see each other again. Where will they have their five, ten or twenty-year class reunions?

In Mulvane, or any other small-town, non-military school- most pick schools in Kansas. They know they'll see each other over Christmas break, or summer.

For this graduating class, they have selected colleges all over the United States. Central Michigan, Arizona, Westpoint, Virginia, Clemson, Trinity near Chicago, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, and of course Justin is headed for Kansas.

Not only are they spread all over the states, their families are as well relocating to Colorado, Illinois and a few families to both Texas and Washington DC.

While our paths will hopefully cross again, it doesn't make the good-byes and hugs and holding these kids any easier right now.

As sad as I am to see so many leave, I'm just as grateful for my good friends that are staying.

I'm also reminded to make the most of our time here and focus the experiences that create those memories we'll look back on.

Europe is amazing. Castles are pretty cool, but I'm pretty sure the meaningful relationships we've made while here in Germany are what we're going to miss the most once our time is up.