Celebrating Graduation: For Amy… and For All Graduates

In just a few days now, Amy Hendrix Wood, Leslie’s daughter, { shown with Leslie and her husband, above } will be graduating from high school and, after a summer vacation with her younger brother and her parents in Paris, will be heading to the University of Texas - Austin in the fall. I know many of you too, readers, also have children graduating soon - or who have just graduated - either from high school or college.

I have not met Leslie’s daughter, Amy, although I feel like I know her from all the conversations Leslie and I have had about mothering her children and the touching post Leslie wrote about what she’s learned about being a mother, here.

Since this will be the last post I write before Amy graduates from high school on Saturday, I thought I would share a few thoughts with you, Amy, and with all of your mother’s blog readers who might also have children graduating, too.

Amy, you have been blessed with opportunity as have many of the children of your Mother’s readers and, despite our country’s imperfections, the USA is still the only country in the world where you are truly free to create the life of your dreams. And so as you graduate and begin a new life away from home for the first time this fall…

and, Amy, this is the necklace I want you to have - not to wear but to keep in a special place…and to remember to always *Choose Happy* - even though there will be days when that will be hard to do. Your prayers will always be heard - even if they are just a quick whisper.

And Amy, your Mom has told me how many friends you’ve made over these years in high school in Midland, and many of them will be your friends for life now. But…

… this is what I know, from the vantage point of years, to be true about friends..with one caveat..which you will see below.

The one caveat? Some true friends may not be able to walk the shadows with you at the time of your greatest need - because of what is going on in their own life. I hope the compassion of the God within you enables you to forgive them, hug them and then go out together for coffee to set everything right again. And, in my Oprah moment, may I share what I know for sure?

Nothing will be more important to you as you travel through life than a few trusted girlfriends.

And Amy, and Hadley Court readers, really remember this…even when the world conspires to take you away from following your heart, your dreams, your visions - due to money or circumstances, try your best not to let it…but if you can’t control it in the moment, don’t give up.. just keep following your vision.. because, truly:

Your dreams are the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.

The University of Texas at Austin is lucky to have you as an incoming freshman, Amy. May all your college years ahead be filled with joy, learning, fun, and experiences that you will cherish and remember for the rest of your life.

And Hadley Court readers, I wish the same for your own graduates, too.

And to all of you who are parents of graduates: thank you for raising our next generation. Without your sacrifices, hard work, and sleepless nights - we would not have the hope and future of our country, our world - your children.

Leslie Carothers

for

Leslie Hendrix Wood

Decorator
Chancellor Interiors
Midland, Texas

Founder, Editor In Chief

Hadley Court

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