Graduation is set for this coming Saturday, and we will be saying goodbye to another group of kiddos who have been educated under the watchful eyes of Principal Chuck Thompson. Now, Mr Thompson relies on a tremendous number of people each and every day to accomplish this feat, a giant Thank you to every member of our dedicated staff.

Some of our next batch of graduates 🎓 are set to move on to the next level of education, and others are set to join the workforce. The next group is still trying hard to decide what is going to be next in their lives.

  The amount of emotions involved for our students is trumped by what the parents are experiencing, probably more for the Moms than the Dads as their world 🌎 is about to change forever. Having raised five kiddos myself a long, long time ⌛️ ago, I am confident in saying that this is a life changing week.

  The week should be a week long celebration for the students and for the Moms. I’m not crying, you’re crying will be heard repeatedly this week as the moment gets closer and closer.

We can call this week : Senior Mom Week  and for the Junior Moms, the message should be, enjoy the next year because it will be over before you know it.

  The end of the week will be life changing for many and on different levels. No two families are the same, and we can show a few different examples.

Mom #1 – Vickie Easter has been experiencing this week a few times before. The difference between this one and her girls is twofold. It’s her baby boy who will be wearing the cap and gown. Thankfully, she has grandchildren now that she can love on !

Mom #2 – Shelia Harris is experiencing her second graduation in two weeks as Natalie finished up college, and now her baby girl is ready to leave the nest. No grand babies yet, so she will have to spend more time with Marion. That sentence can be read one of two ways !

Mom #3 – Kristy Jones is about to send her young man off to Lynchburg, and in this case, Maci will go to receiving Love for 2. The hugs 🫂 will get tighter at first, and eventually, Maci will say, “Mom, I can’t breathe because you are holding too tight.”

Moms #4 and #5 – Denise Webb and Debbie Odum. These two young ladies are going to need a new hobby to help fill the void that will be created by the lost time they have been blessed to spend with their daughters. Two terrific children raised by two neat ladies.

Mom #6 – Joi Ogle has not only raised Wyatt since his birth but has also spent more than a few years coaching her son in the swimming pool. There Bond is obviously a great one as it has led to him going up to Roanoke to swim 🏊‍♂️ at the next level. Fortunately, the Star 🌟 City is a short drive away, and the Ogles have younger children.

Mom (and Dad)#7 – Mr. & Mrs DeHaven are rookies at this week as Camden is set to graduate. Kevin has the type of job that has him interacting with a large number of students each year, but this class includes the couple’s firstborn.

If you see 👀 someone on The Hill who has a glazed look in their eyes this week, just know that they will all eventually be back to normal life, it might just take a while. Let’s try and make the transition as smooth as possible for them.

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Later today, Vickey Ritchie and friends will gather at Hillsville Elementary School for Special Olympics Basketball 🏀 practice. The final stop ✋️ of a whirlwind weekend for the group. It’s 8 am. now, and Vickey has no idea of who all will walk through the gym door later on until it happens. Yet, everyone will feel welcomed, and she will adjust on the fly as needed because that’s what leaders do.

Have a Blessed Day 🙌