Denham Springs High School 2011 Graduation

 


Courtney’s High School Graduation day finally arrived on Friday the 13th. The topic of the day: weather. All week we had anticipated the possibility of rain on Graduation night. With the football field as the site of the ceremony, the students and families were on edge. During practice, students were given five tickets in the event that the ceremony would be moved to the gym due to rain—a decision that could be made as late as 6:00 p.m., the time the gates to the field would be opened, just one and a half hours before the ceremony, the time we were planning to arrive to find seating in the anticipated crowd.

All week and especially on Grad day I had revisited 1987 when rain descended upon my class at DSHS and we were forced into the {then} only gym with two tickets per Graduate—something we were assured during practice rarely happens on Grad night. I’d encouraged my graduate to prepare for the worst and find God’s blessings in whatever happened. So when we arrived to find blue skies we were ever so grateful. I was especially grateful I’d forced my compact umbrella into my handbag “just in case” because it served well to block the glaring sun.

 

 

So blue skies. And even Sophie was exceptionally well behaved in spite of the heat.

Shielding herself from the sun with her program, she rarely complained. Well, unless you count that one time during the ten summa cum laude students’ speeches when she told Lauren, “this is boring. When are they gonna’ throw their hats?” My apologies to Lisa, Courtney’s friend, fourth in the class and first to give a speech. You should know she said that long after you gave that first speech.

As the sun set and the ceremony continued, dark clouds gathered to the north and seemingly dry lightening began displaying a brilliant show. My friend squirmed in her seat, my dad joked that if lightening hit the bleachers it would shoot all the way down. I tried to ignore it. As it continued, many people left the bleachers for solid ground, some left to retrieve umbrellas. I prayed. I asked the Lord to move the dark clouds, lightening show and threat of rain further north. The winds began to whip and more people left the bleachers. I kept praying.

Eventually, the Principal announced the ceremony would be moved to the gym where we would not all fit and the five tickets that the students were given for family and friends would be much coveted. The crowd booed and the Principal said,”don’t say I didn’t warn you,” removed his jacket and went back to the ceremony. At this point, diplomas were being issued. The honor Graduates including Courtney had received theirs. But with 400+ students we had a long way to go.

My family and friends and I decided to leave the bleachers. Mom and Dad left to wait in the car in case of rain. Joe and Sophie followed behind them. The rest of the gang waited at the gate ready to rush the field to our Graduate once the ceremony was over. The winds increased, the lightening continued. I looked up at the field in time to see the mass of students rush toward the gate near the gym. It wasn’t the lightening that forced them off the field. A huge dust cloud whipped around them. We had endured smaller gusts of wind out by that gate and had turned around multiple times to avoid dust blowing in our eyes. I hadn’t heard the Principal announce a fifteen minute break when the mass exodus occurred. With only four rows of Seniors left in the last section to receive their diplomas, the ceremony would ultimately be moved to the gym. Most of us were frustrated that we’d made it through lightening only to have a dust cloud interrupt the ceremony. A little dust in the eye wouldn’t kill them or us and might even make for stronger character, in my opinion.

But I would make the best of the situation as I’d encouraged my Graduate to do. We moved toward the gym with the masses of family and friends and soon word spread that family and friends of Graduates who had already received their diplomas should wait outside. So we willingly waited outside while loved ones of students not yet graduated worked their way into the gym. Then began the exit from the gym of the ones who’d received diplomas. Mass chaos. The wind kept whipping, the temperature dropping and the lightening show never stopped. But the rain held off.

The night did not end with the anticipated traditional cap throwing—the highlight of graduation ceremonies as noted by even the four-year-old Sophie. As you’ll see in the video below, our Graduate exited the gym with diploma in hand while we whooped and hollered. A note of caution: you may want to take Dramamine before watching. You may also want to fast forward to the 1 minute 46ish second mark when Courtney is in sight.

[vimeo 23880871]


Courtney with two of her best friends Lisa and Mercy

Courtney is an Honor Graduate #36 in her class.

Lisa is one of ten who graduated summa cum laude #4 in her class.

Mercy, although not one of the Honor Graduates, is a special young lady with the ability to be in the top as well.

Mercy, you know how people say that some of the students who skated by in high school end up excelling in college? Prove them right!

 

 

Our Graduates had their own cap throwing ritual. In the end, chaos reigned at the Denham Springs High School 2011 Graduation Ceremony. The night continued with more confusion as I lost my parents and Joe who were trying to inch toward the exiting vehicles for my pick-up in case of rain. I’d forgotten Joe broke his Blackberry earlier that day and Mom and Dad’s phone was dead so I couldn’t get them. But in spite of the crazy weather and chaos, our girl Graduated. It may not have happened the way we’d hoped but one thing is certain—it never rained on us.

God is faithful even in the midst of life’s unexpected and questioning circumstances. Needless to say, we’re so proud of our Graduate! We love you, Courtney!


Joedaddy, The Graduate and me

Great friends sharing in my joy!

The proud family and friends.

Lauren and Courtney

 

Aunt Katie and Courtney

Mom and Dad—the grandparents, in the way back of the car because they made room for me in the event of rain, arriving home LAST, after the Graduate made it home. Sorry, Mom and Dad.

The only sign of rain… after the ceremony. Courtney and good friend, Katie, heading to Project Graduation.

***********

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there’ll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that’s what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain