I have posted about our children less often over the years, a combination of respecting their privacy more as they grew into their teen years and taking fewer pictures as I got busier with managing life overall. But we have big news, worthy of a picture and a post!
We celebrated our first graduation in May! First Son received a diploma with an Oreo for an official seal. He said he wanted Oreos instead of a diploma, so he also received a little package of Oreos courtesy of a dear friend who has been like a second mother to him.
We had an amazing graduation party, shared with one of his best friends. They printed out pictures of them together, including First Communion, Confirmation, and one at the graduation mass hosted by our parish. My heart just about burst. I attended school in a dozen different school systems before graduating high school. I can hardly believe my oldest, though he moved three times before he started school, has so many memories with the same group of young men.
Everyone wants to know, what is he going to do next? So did we! Until just a few weeks ago, nothing was official. This respectable looking young man will be attending our diocesan seminary in the fall.
After driving all over Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska last summer, and applying to a dozen colleges in October (Yay! We're all done, I thought), First Son announced in late January that he wanted to apply to the seminary. Reader, February is very late in the year to be starting a seminary application. There are lots of pieces that have to be completed in a particular order. Our vocations director was helpful and encouraging and we got most of it done enough to be sure of his own preference before he had to turn down scholarship offers by the end of April. (Also, in case you didn't know, it's worth asking what the deadline really is. His second choice college said they would hold his scholarship offers through the early summer in case he discerned he wasn't supposed to be in the seminary.)
There's a lot to say about all the prayers and discernment for the last few months, but most of it is more private than this blog. I'm happy to chat privately, if anyone has questions.
A bit about how I feel about Charlotte Mason's philosophy, now that we've graduated a student:
When the vocations director came for dinner and told us about the House of Formation, how the young men study, pray, and work together, I asked him whether he knew about Charlotte Mason, because at the House of Formation, "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life."
In the past few years, our son has read much he appreciated and enjoyed that he never would have picked up if it hadn't been assigned. (Dante, I'm looking at you.) Mater Amabilis is not designed to shape young men for the priesthood, but it gives a great foundation for those that discern a call. And while our young man may or may not be ordained a priest in 8-9 years, I'm proud of him for listening to God and asking if this is his way.
Mater Amabilis is a great blessing. Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education is a way of forming the whole person. I'm so happy we were able to live this life with him for thirteen years of formal-ish education.
