Change Commences

 com·mence·ment  (kə-mĕns′mənt)

noun

1. A beginning; a start.

2.

a. A ceremony at which academic degrees or diplomas are conferred.

b. The day on which such a ceremony occurs.

The caps and gowns were just pint-sized versions of the garb that older students would soon wear in this season of transition. Their faces were also a preview of their older compatriots: Some were solemn and cautious. Others were exuberant and carefree. And there was every reaction in between.

Our family had one of the serious preschool graduates from the K-State Center for Child Development. Thankfully, Kinley's class was the third of the classrooms to walk across the big stage toward Willie the Wildcat. She'd had time to watch her classmates interact with Willie and survive the encounter. When you're 5, Willie can seem a little overwhelming, even if he is on bended knee. 

When you think about it, graduation is a bit overwhelming - no matter the stage of life. It's all about change. While some people may embrace change, others of us struggle with it.

If you think about this grand ceremony as "graduation," it's all about ending something. It's kind of like that book you don't want to end. You're afraid the next one won't be quite as good.

If you think about it as "commencement," it's about new beginnings. And that can be a scary thing, too - whether you're a 5 year old who will enter kindergarten in a few months or a high school senior from a small town class of 15 going to a university where not "everyone knows your name." (That can be good and bad, I suppose.)

It can be scary for a college graduate, whether moving on to a graduate program or off to conquer a new job. Even scarier is the phase where you're still looking and worrying about finding that job or hearing from that next school. 

But we "old" people aren't immune either. Circumstances often force us to "graduate" or "commence" to a different stage of life - whether it's a newly empty nest, an illness or death, a job, a move or any number of situations in which we are searching for a new "normal."

But facing those changes is much easier with a support system. It's a lot easier to smile if you've got people protecting you and standing beside you in difficult or scary circumstances.

It's easier to face those transitions when you have cheerleaders, like parents and little sisters ...

... and grandparents ...

... and even uncles (who may "tweet" about questioning the "need" for preschool graduations but then get converted because of the cute pint-sized caps and gowns).

Before the ceremony, neither Kinley or Brooke would get their photo taken with the new Willie the Wildcat statue at K-State's Student Union. But after Kinley faced a living, breathing Willie, the statue was a whole lot easier (though it didn't matter to Brooke, who still kept her distance).

That's typical of change, isn't it? We dread it. We drag our feet. And sometimes, it transforms us to a better version of ourselves.

So here's to you, Kinley. May you commence to all the good things life has in store for you!

Same goes for your little sister!

Yesterday, Jill sent me an email of thoughts shared with Wheatland USD 292's 13 graduates by their Superintendent Gary Kraus. Kraus shared insight from Hal Urban's book, The 10 Commandments of Common Sense: Wisdom from the Scriptures for People of All Beliefs.

It seems the world today is sadly lacking in common sense, don't you think? Though these ideas may be a bit esoteric for a 5 year old and 2 year old, I hope their parents and we in their supporting cast can help these little girls to live their lives this way. It wouldn't hurt the rest of us either. I decided to include them for future reference - for me, as much as for them:

5 things we should avoid because they are bad for us:

1.          Don’t be seduced by popular culture; it prevents you from thinking for yourself.

2.          Don’t fall in love with money and possessions; it will make you greedy and shallow.

3.          Don’t use destructive language; it hurts others as well as yourself.

4.          Don’t judge other people; it’s better to work on your own faults.

5.          Don’t let anger get out of control; it can wreck relationships and ruin lives.

5 things we should do because they are good for us:
 

6.          Keep a positive outlook on life; it’s the first step toward joy.

7.          Bring out the best in other people; it’s better to build them up than tear them down.

8.          Have impeccable integrity; it brings peace of mind and a reputation of honor.

9.          Help those in need; it really is better to give than to receive.

10.     Do everything in love; it’s the only way to find true peace and fulfillment.

Advice for Graduates by Kinley Marie

Madison with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Moore

Advice for Graduates

By Kinley Marie

Amanda and grandparents Woody & Nadine Logback

I learned a new word this week: Graduation. It is a big word for someone like me. From what I can tell, the people who graduate wear funny hats.

I know all about funny hats because my Grandpa is always putting silly things on his head. He looks much sillier than the girls who were wearing their caps and gowns.

Anyway, I went to a party for one of the graduates I know on Saturday. Amanda, who is my Great Aunt Kathy's and Uncle Dave's oldest daughter, graduated from Rose Hill High School on Sunday. The week before, my Great Uncle Kent's and Aunt Suzanne's daughter, Madison, graduated from Skyline High School.  My Great Uncle Bruce's and Aunt Nina's daughter, Anna, also graduated from Corrie ten Boom Academy last week.

Whew! That is a lot of graduations. Thankfully, I didn't actually have to sit through any of them. But, I've heard that graduations are a time for advice. I am glad to offer what little I have learned in my time here on earth. I am, after all, fast approaching 17 months of age.

First of all, I would advise the graduates to stop and smell the roses.

If no roses are available, they should stop and smell the geraniums. You should notice the pretty stuff in life.

And if you get a chance to hang on to the pretty stuff, go for it. It will make you happy. (Until you get in trouble for pulling off the petals. I think it's probably worth it anyway.)

Some things in life are easier. You can even do them pretty much by yourself. You should figure out what those things are and do them the very best you can.

Some things are a little more difficult. People may have to give you a little push. And sometimes they have to catch you, too. Be thankful for the helpers in your life.

Some things are just too big to do by yourself. And it's OK to ask for help. Sometimes it's more fun to do things with the people you love.

Greeting cards and graduation speakers are always telling graduates to reach for the stars. I think that's pretty good advice.

But sometimes you'll reach for things and, for the life of you, you just can't quite reach them.

And that's OK. Ask for help. Try again. And learn from the experience. You probably learn more after you fall down than if you do it perfectly the first time. At least, that's what my Grandma says.

While you're reaching for the stars, be sure and bow your head and say your prayers, too. That's the most important thing of all.

***

A message from Grandma: Prayers for those devastated by the tornado in Moore, Okla. There are no words.

Fly Like An Eagle

Practically from the time they arrive, our children begin the march toward independence. From the day they begin crawling away to explore a world outside Mommy's arms or they take their first tentative, shaky steps, they begin that pulling away process.

The first-day-of-school bus photo evolves until they are driving their own vehicle to school. All too soon, you are the one waving goodbye from the driveway as they head back to college or head back home after an all-too-short weekend.

This past week, it was a Budget Rent-A-Truck instead of a school bus. Brent no longer packs a K-State backpack, but instead a leather briefcase with space for a laptop.

He will add another school to his allegiance. Yesterday, he began his job as the Media and Marketing Coordinator for the Morehead (Ky.) State University Eagles. It's his first job after earning his master's degree in Sport and Entertainment Management from the University of South Carolina in May.

Brent's office will be in this building. Maybe we'll get to see it next time!

As Randy drove the Budget truck and I helped navigate from Columbia through the hills of Tennessee and Kentucky, the Steve Miller Band song, "Fly Like An Eagle" kept drifting through my head.


Brent is going to be an Eagle now, but it was this part that had me thinking:

"Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future."

Indeed it does.

As I walked the Morehead State University campus on Saturday, I captured a mental picture of where my "baby" will be spending his time. I took a similar walk around the South Carolina campus when we moved him there in January 2011 after his graduation from K-State in December 2010.

The campus - and for that matter, the town - is nestled in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County, Kentucky. The 2012 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News and World Report named MSU one of the top 25 public universities in the South. Randy and I have already added some blue and gold to our wardrobes.

The bell tower on campus is inscribed with the words Love, Service, Wisdom and Justice on each of its four sides.

Those are all virtues with which we'd like to send our children into the world to make their own way. It's an exciting time as a parent to watch your child fly like an Eagle - a Morehead State Eagle, in this case.

Tomorrow: More from our trip.

Grandma's Day

Photo by Jill (smile courtesy of Grandma)

When a child is born, so are grandmothers. 

 ~Judith Levy

Both my girls: Kinley and Jill

This was my first Mother's Day since I've added "Grandma" to my job description. And, appropriately, I got to spend a little time with the Little Miss who someday will call me Grandma (or whatever she decides to call me.)

Randy and I got to pick up Kinley from daycare on Friday, and we spent the evening observing her new "tricks" ...

and being rewarded with smiles and baby chatter.

After just seeing Grandma and Grandpa on Skype for several weeks, it must have been exhausting to entertain them in person. Performing for a live audience can tire a girl out.

On Saturday, we joined the extended family at K-State's graduation, where our niece, Abby, and her fiance, Derek, added their names to a long list of KSU alums in our family.

So did Eric's brother, Drew, but I was too busy playing with babies to get a photo of him, I guess.

Kinley and her cousin, Hannah, got to spend some time getting to know each other at Drew's party.

At Abby's party, Kinley and Neelly had a heart-to-heart talk, too. That Kinley is quite a talker, it seems. Wonder where she got that trait?

Neelly and Great-Grandma Moore and Kinley with my sister-in-law Suzanne

Kinley isn't quite ready for a birds'-eye view of graduation like Braden and Neelly. Maybe at the next K-State graduation.

My nephew Blake & his son Braden and my nephew-in-law Russ & his daughter Neelly

But she definitely had the right dress on - whether she was a high-flyer on Saturday or not!

What a great Mother's Day weekend!

I Know a Spot ...

I know a spot that I love full well

'Tis not in forest, nor yet in dell,
Ever it holds me in magic spell.
I think of thee alma mater.

K-S-U! We'll carry the banner high.

K-S-U! Long, long may thy colors fly.
Loyal to thee
Thy children shall swell the cry.

Hail! Hail! Hail! Alma Mater.

I wouldn't even venture a guess about how many times Brent has heard the K-State alma mater in his lifetime. He's been going to football games since he was a little boy.

But now, when he sings it, K-State truly will be his alma mater, too.

He earned his bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communications (and a minor in business) from K-State on Saturday.

This was a photo from a long ago first day of school. As you can see, Brent's attire prominently featured his beloved K-State football team. I think it was the same year that a para at Stafford asked Brent if he had any clothes that DIDN'T feature K-State. The answer? Not many.

On Saturday, Brent continued a family tradition that started nearly 80 years ago. My Grandpa Neelly graduated from Kansas State College in 1933. (He started school at K-State in 1926 and began playing football, but he had to take a few years off in between to return to the farm to make enough money to finish).

My parents attended K-State and were there on Saturday to see their fourth grandchild graduate.

All four of us Moore kids are K-State graduates. Three of us married K-State graduates. The three grandkids who are married all chose K-State spouses.

Two more of my parents' grandchildren are current K-State students. It remains to be seen whether the last grandchild (a high school sophomore) and the first great-grandchild will follow in the family footsteps.

I'd say the chances are good. There is more than a little purple in their blood.

As I sat at Bramlage Coliseum and waited for the graduation ceremony to begin, I couldn't help but think of tradition.

The younger generation of K-Staters has switched their mortar board tassels from right to left in Bramlage, though Bramlage wasn't there when most of us were K-State students.

But for Brent's big day, it was particularly significant to have this transition occur at Bramlage. He spends a lot of time there. As a student intern with K-State Sports Information, he's probably spent more time in Bramlage than he has in the classroom.

But, in truth, the K-State Sports Information job has been the biggest classroom of all. He got to be on the front lines when ESPN's College Game Day came to town (a thrill for a guy who lives and breaths college sports.)

He had a birds'-eye view from the press box during K-State football games the past two years (and got to see him childhood hero, Bill Snyder, return to the stadium that bears his name).

He had a front-row seat as Frank Martin and his K-State men's basketball team made a Sweet 16 comeback last year.

He has discovered that he wants to make collegiate sports his career. In January, he'll start work toward a master's degree in sports administration.

So, for this Mom, it seemed appropriate that Bramlage was the backdrop for Brent's graduation on Saturday. Though the strains of K-State's alma mater made me a little teary-eyed this time around as I faced yet another change as a Mom, I was thankful: Thankful for tradition and thankful for family.

Hail! Hail! Hail! Alma Mater.