I would be remiss in not acknowledging the big spring and early summer Beth has had--in case you hadn't heard, she graduated Monticello High School with high honors back in May! As with Kenny before her, Beth persevered through the unique trials and tribulations of her generation--the covid years--and flourished in her role as a diligent high school student (look at all those sashes, medals, cords, and banners on her!).
At the beginning of the weeks-long graduation festivities, we hosted a social event at our house for Beth, with many family friends and even some family--Rick Pruden--attending. Above, she smiles with her graduating classmate Autumn...
Beth was one of numerous repeat honorees at the high school's awards ceremony in which her academics were recognized, as well as multiple scholarships. Pictured below, Beth is receiving a medal for getting "Distinguished Honors" (a greater than 4.0 grade point average):
Unlike Kenny, who had to wait several months (due to the start of the covid pandemic) to celebrate his graduation, Beth and her classmates had a more traditional ceremony (we were outside in the football stadium with friends and family). Below, Stephen hugs his "big" sister--Stephen was dressed up fancy because as a part of the band, he played "Pomp and Circumstance" amongst other things for a long time that night!
(And, yes, if you haven't seen Stephen in a while, he is definitely that big and "furry" now!). Beth also got to celebrate in person with her friends, including her friends Hannah and Arianna:
Below, Beth is pictured with a number of other friends from our church, including Emmanuel, Ivan, and Naideth:
While it is tempting to think that Beth's next big challenge is college--she leaves in August to start her first year of higher education at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville--that wasn't really the case. You may not be able to tell from this picture below, but the medal she's "biting" is perhaps one of the last images of her with that missing front tooth:
After years of often painful and awkward dental work, Beth's teeth are close to being fixed, and should be completed before she goes off to college.
In addition to these tremendous efforts, Beth left Monticello in early June to spend the next 6 weeks (or so) in Rhinelander helping her grandparents. While we'd been planning this for months, her extended visit developed new urgency when my dad fell and needed to spend some time in the hospital and physical rehabilitation facility (he's back home again, and is doing well). Beth came shortly afterwards and has been helping with driving, cooking, cleaning, and some other unpleasant business--my parents' 20-year-old cat had reached the end of the line, and Beth helped with getting the cat put down and buried.
This has been a truly remarkable past couple months for Beth, and I just wanted to be sure to give her a public shout-out for her hard work, dedication, patience, and big heart! Luv ya, sweety-pie!!
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