August of 1993, the pace of life changed a little here on Paradise Mountain… I took the plunge and entered the incredible world of education-ready or not. There I was heading out the door in a red dress with ribbons to match and my Garfield lunchbox.. “Look out World cause here I come!”

And what an experience it was. As I attempt to dust off some of those memories that have been shelved a long time ago, I can’t help but smile. The educational part of education was great. I’m sure it’s so much a part of me that there’s no way to separate out how much of those years of learning I now put to use, but I know it makes all the difference in who I am. Spelling lists ( my whole spelling idea is a complete nightmare, but that’s a complete other story.. Maybe later ;)..);nature walks, Research papers, Science projects; difficult Language diagramming sentence experiences and creative writing; Music class and the enjoyable times of special singing groups; Art class which somehow I always managed to end up with a sad rendition of what might have been (Art is not one of my strong points); Bible class and the discussions that made me think, like how long forever is- made my brain hurt; Social Studies and History opened up a whole new world to me and made me want to travel and experience it all..

And then there was the social aspect of things. Learning life lessons.. It’s not always fair.. Sometimes it hurts.. Learn how to get along.. Not everyone is included always.. Accept people for who they are.. Be compassionate.. Share.. Give it your best no matter what.. I was blessed with an amazing group of friends as I grew up. Somewhere I still have a collection of notes that we passed-ulta sneakily back and forth- discussing what ever crisis was at hand. My teachers put a pile of time into me.. And patience too-I can’t imagine putting up with me as a child :).. I learned so much! Thank you, Berea Christian!

And then it was over. While I enjoyed school, I could hardly wait to be out. Hard to believe that I’ve been out for almost as many years as I was a student..

So for 20 years now, August contains a date that strikes an incredibly sad note in the hearts of the Horst gang.. Father even wrote a song about it. I wish you could hear him sing it. It almost brings tears to my eyes.. ” Now the Summer’s Over, School is drawing nigh..” This usually is accompanied by tears, and we all morn the passing of another year, the carefree days of summer-back to the grind of school.. And while the amazing days of summer will still be as fleeting this year- as they were before, School is no longer drawing nigh for us.. Deborah graduated Friday night!

20 years.. Of hot lunches, countless rounds providing transportation, permission slips, new dresses- for the first day of school and each music program, tuition, attempting to the get the school children out the door on time, helping study for that test, covering so that one of us could rush off on some important  school related activity, etc etc.. What a marathon- no wonder my parents felt like crying as Deborah walked across the stage, diploma in hand..

I remember Baxter Black commenting on his daughter’s grad that she walks onto the stage-still his little girl, and walks off the stage an adult woman ready to take on the world-college, job world, or whatever.. So I watched Deborah extra closely to see if I could see a difference-Just kidding.. While I’ll be the first to admit I don’t have the parental sentimental idea going on here- He has a point.. Just shaking hands with the Chairman of the School Board marks the official change from childhood to whatever is next..

We attempted to sing an accepella version of “Pomp and Circumstance” .. The last verse written by Patricia Martin really struck me.. “Lord into the future, We follow in step; Thru faith we shall conquer, by grace we are kept; Our torches all burning with kindling divine, hearts holy and yearning, lights ready to shine; Until Thy returning, we’ll serve Thy design..”

So Congrats, Little Debi!! I love you

Bonus pics:

We were so glad the Daniel and Ruth and their hilarious, energetic children were around this weekend. Friday night when Deborah quit celebrating and came home- she had the most excited helpers ever helping her unwrap her gifts.. They pretty much would have each gift unwrapped by the time she’d open the card.. Adorable..

My van “Faith” got a workout pulling this exotic trailer back to the Greenbrier Trail..

The boyfriend’s Mom has the most incredible flower bed full of Irises, peonies, etc that I’ve ever seen. Completely breathtaking..

This time of year is just amazing.. As we sat around a campfire last night, I said “I sure wish there was a way to can evenings like this, and open them up next February..” Hey we are opening up a can of Memorial Day weekend tonight.. Y’all wanna come over? LOL What a Wonderful World!!

Probably 10 years ago, our family went with a local Old Order family to a lake for a picnic.. James was about 4 years old and somehow spent the entire evening with Julia and I.. I will never forget the 3 of us being out on the moonlit lake in a boat, and him looking at us with big blue eyes and saying, ” I wish you were my Mothers!”

Obviously last Sunday was Mother’s Day, so we take time to think a little more about the huge impact these ladies make on society.. What an undertaking. A lot of my friends have embarked on this incredible journey already, and I’m sure they would have lots of wisdom for me.. What does it take to be a good mother?

As I analyze the Mother figures in my life, I think I have came across the one main key to a successful mom.. ( Okay so this is totally a shot in the dark- all you Mothers are welcome to comment and correct me at the end of this post 🙂 ) .. But as I observe- It’s the ability to be a friend.

I have had lots of opportunities to stand back and watch over the years.. Take the mom with lots of boys, that isn’t afraid to tussle, put up with a pet groundhog (named Chuck) living in a laundry basket on her back porch, help skin out whatever the traps bring in, and cook and cook and cook..

Or the mom with lots of girls.. I struggle as I write this one because obviously we are an all girl family, Yet we weren’t exactly raised to be all lace and tea parties.. Instead dear Mother put up with us roller blading around the kitchen table, attempting to dig holes to China in the garden (we weren’t actually sure we’d make it to China, but we thought we’d probably find something pretty cool if we only dug far enough 🙂 ), playing an unique version of “Ghost in the Graveyard” in our house (this worked amazing because we had two stairways to our upstairs- so you could thunder down the steps a thousand mile an hour and maybe make it to base ok:) ), putting up with our “band practice” directly below their bedroom on Sunday afternoons-for a surprise concert, etc etc..

But We made.. Childhood, teenage years, and now as I attempt to pretend I’m an adult, I can honestly say my mom is one of my best friends. Because, for forever, she’s taken the time to listen to me, encourage, direct, chastise (this one wasn’t as much fun), laugh with and sometimes at, counsel, and the list could go on.. And that in my opinion is the way to be an amazing friend..

And so Mother dear, and all the other ladies who have taken time to be interested in me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your influence really does make a difference. God has blessed me tremendously through you. I love you,    Kendra

Bonus pics:

One thing I learned from Mother is to observe my surroundings. I discovered these little Lady Slippers as I was heading out the lane. What a unique flower!

We enjoyed one of the most beautiful evenings up on Reddish Knob recently. Craig thought the sunbeams on the mountains were so beautiful, he could just eat them.. It was raining in the Valley and from time to time we could see rainbows.. And then the sky opened up and sent sunbeams-instead of slanting out, they slanted in- right over Mt. Crawford, which the Boyfriend (who is a native of the town) explained to us “Is the chosen place”.. Now you know.. 🙂 Oh and Deborah made the discovery of the year, by roasting “pop biscuit” Garlic Breadsticks on a stick over the fire.. The new “must have” for every campfire party..

Some couple from N.C came and asked if we’d take a pic of them, so we exchanged photography capabilities.. I love the goofy shot.. Notice Batman in the VT cape sailing behind us.. Not sure what Bruce had in mind there.. 🙂