Abundant Life Church Preschool Graduation 2011

Sophie Jeanne Gunther

Preschool Graduate

Knows Everything.

Just ask.

Sophie’s Preschool Graduation Ceremony was held this past Tuesday morning. Unlike our other Graduate’s Ceremony, Sophie’s would be held inside our church unaffected by the elements of the weather which totally didn’t matter because the weather was beautiful. Welcoming the relaxed setting, I breathed a sigh of relief over the end of the Graduation celebrations. Lack of sleep coupled with the strange mix of emotion over one child graduating high school and another preschool has just about pushed me over the edge. But God in His infinite wisdom used those four and five year olds shouting nursery rhymes and Scripture at the top of their lungs to jar me out of the crazy that was my emotional state.

Though we lacked the photography of Diana, we managed to capture some of the highlights. Sophie’s cuteness loves the camera. Even the iPhone and Droid cameras. Below, Sophie and classmate are up for their big part—leading their class in I’m a Little Teapot. How fitting that Sophie would do this part in all of her shortness. On a side note, I want to share that Joe is recently concerned about her height. I’m scratching my head at his confusion on why she would be short seeing as how we have held a battle for thirteen plus years over who is taller. We are somewhere between the 5’4 1/2″ – 5’5″ mark. But my longer legs + high heels = I WIN.

On the way to the church I had a pep talk with Sophie over her stage fright and prayed with her for courage. She stood up to the microphone and whispered “I’m a little teapot, short and stout”. The rest of the class shouted way louder and we all giggled. When she and the other lead classmate joined the rest of the class she moved her lips occasionally and refused to do the hand motions. And we loved ever minute of it.

She received her Diploma and the Degree of Student of Rhymes {I kid you not! It’s right on the Diploma.} in spite of her lack of shouting. She was blessed to have her teacher, Shawn, two years in a row. Last year Shawn taught Pre-K3 but was moved up to the Pre-K4 class this year much to our delight. Above to the right in blue shirt is Liz. Liz has been an aid at the preschool for many years as you’ll see at the end of this post in Courtney’s photo of her Preschool Graduation at ALC thirteen years ago.

 

The proud Graduate asked me earlier that morning if we were having her party at the house like we had Courtney’s. Thankfully, her class had a party on the last day of school the week before so I totally claimed that party as her big celebration. She mentioned several weeks ago that she was about to graduate and she was finished with school. I totally let the wind out of her huge sail by counting down the years she had to go from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. She responded with, “Mom, please stop talking.”

The proud Graduate with her “big” little nephew

The above picture cut out the balloons and therefore, doesn’t fully portray the obnoxiousness that was our brightly covered bags and huge balloon bouquet for our Graduate.

Maybe it’s just me but I think that smiles says, “thank you for not getting me flowers.”


Our gift to Sophie was a set of instruments including a drum, tambourine, harmonica, and ocarina.

I wonder if there’s anything prophetic about her opening those instruments {namely, the drum that she’s begged for} in the church.

Praise Him on the instruments, Sophie!


Our Graduates.

Courtney gave Sophie a “hippy chic” outfit that is so precious.

Sophie dug to see what else was in the bag.

{Giggles}

Courtney, you know she totally will appreciate it once she wears it.

Cammie will take the little Graduate shopping and

she’ll probably receive way too much stuff from Big Sister with the love language of gift giving.


The Graduate with proud Mom and Dad

****

And here’s where the emotion gets all crazy again…


That’s Courtney graduating from ALC Preschool in 1998.

Liz is the one in blue. Special lady. LOVE her.

Courtney’s teacher, Paula, has her back to the camera.

Paula is the grandmother of the ever popular Cooper—Sophie’s “boyfriend” last year in Pre-K3.

Cooper’s mom taught one of the other classes last year but no longer teaches there and Cooper moved on to another school.

That was a sad day for Sophie.

****

We are so proud of you, Sophie!!! We love you!

Kindergarten, HERE SHE COMES!

We hope you’re ready.