Celebrating Dreams...Because Relationships Matter
I really wanted to include pictures with this post...but my photo card reader is broken (more techno woes...).
My friend Linda graduated from Nursing School (LPN) last night, achieving a dream she has had for more than twenty years. It was a celebration of so many things, and I am so proud of her.
It hasn't been an easy journey, but life is hard and throws us many curve balls. I have so much respect for her, though, because I don't think I would have finally every connected with one of those pitches and hit it out of the park the way she has. I think I might have struck out long ago.
To say Linda has had a hard life is an understatement. (Two thoughts come to mind here. More of her story is on my web site and I love the title of Kathy Guy's blog, "Because Relationships Matter" because that just sums it up. If I were truly techno proficient, as you know I am not...I would have the clickable link here, but I don't. Kathy serves as the Director of Community at Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana. Great thoughts can be pondered there.)
Anyway, to say Linda has had a hard life is an understatement. She lost her first husband at 25, leaving her a widow with two young kids. Her second husband, Steve, has been in jail for the last 20 years. And she has stayed by his side all that time. Because relationships matter...she has raised their four children, including a set of twins, who I have as tag along much of the time, the 11 year old daughter, especially, as she and Nicole are friends. Because Relationships matter. (I know, the math may have you perplexed...Linda and Steve and kids had family visits.)
She has worked hard, raised the kids, stayed with Steve, and never lost sight of her dream. And our family was able to be a part of that. Because relationships matter. And last night she achieved that dream.
Twice before she had planned to start nursing school; the first time her dream was interrupted when her first husband really wanted her to stay home. The second time her dream was interrupted because Steve went to jail. She is an example of perseverance we could all take something away from.
The weather was the culprit this time that seemed to be conspiring against her as she looked forward to the culmination of the dream by participating in her graduation. On Tuesday she drove a combined eleven hours to pick up her mom and two oldest kids so they could be there with her. The kids had to be back in Ithaca, NY this morning to work. Linda herself has to work at ten. Graduation was scheduled for Thursday evening, allowing Linda time to get the older two back to Ithaca in time for everyone to meet their responsibilities.
Until it snowed...and moved graduation to Friday evening. But with some creative planning and lots of support from many (because relationships matter) we found a way to get everyone to where they needed to be. Not without difficulty, but with perseverance. And as a result her friends and family were there to cheer her on as she has achieved her first dream, and see what is possible.
And I am honored to have been a part of this journey walking alongside her. Because Relationships Matter.
My friend Linda graduated from Nursing School (LPN) last night, achieving a dream she has had for more than twenty years. It was a celebration of so many things, and I am so proud of her.
It hasn't been an easy journey, but life is hard and throws us many curve balls. I have so much respect for her, though, because I don't think I would have finally every connected with one of those pitches and hit it out of the park the way she has. I think I might have struck out long ago.
To say Linda has had a hard life is an understatement. (Two thoughts come to mind here. More of her story is on my web site and I love the title of Kathy Guy's blog, "Because Relationships Matter" because that just sums it up. If I were truly techno proficient, as you know I am not...I would have the clickable link here, but I don't. Kathy serves as the Director of Community at Granger Community Church in Granger, Indiana. Great thoughts can be pondered there.)
Anyway, to say Linda has had a hard life is an understatement. She lost her first husband at 25, leaving her a widow with two young kids. Her second husband, Steve, has been in jail for the last 20 years. And she has stayed by his side all that time. Because relationships matter...she has raised their four children, including a set of twins, who I have as tag along much of the time, the 11 year old daughter, especially, as she and Nicole are friends. Because Relationships matter. (I know, the math may have you perplexed...Linda and Steve and kids had family visits.)
She has worked hard, raised the kids, stayed with Steve, and never lost sight of her dream. And our family was able to be a part of that. Because relationships matter. And last night she achieved that dream.
Twice before she had planned to start nursing school; the first time her dream was interrupted when her first husband really wanted her to stay home. The second time her dream was interrupted because Steve went to jail. She is an example of perseverance we could all take something away from.
The weather was the culprit this time that seemed to be conspiring against her as she looked forward to the culmination of the dream by participating in her graduation. On Tuesday she drove a combined eleven hours to pick up her mom and two oldest kids so they could be there with her. The kids had to be back in Ithaca, NY this morning to work. Linda herself has to work at ten. Graduation was scheduled for Thursday evening, allowing Linda time to get the older two back to Ithaca in time for everyone to meet their responsibilities.
Until it snowed...and moved graduation to Friday evening. But with some creative planning and lots of support from many (because relationships matter) we found a way to get everyone to where they needed to be. Not without difficulty, but with perseverance. And as a result her friends and family were there to cheer her on as she has achieved her first dream, and see what is possible.
And I am honored to have been a part of this journey walking alongside her. Because Relationships Matter.
Labels: adversity, Graduating from Nursing School, perseverance, relationships
posted by www.kathypride.com at
8:39 AM
1 Comments:
I have a friend like that too, who has endured and persevered through unthinkable obstacles....I don't know how she forces herself to get out of bed every morning and face all she does...I am in awe of these people.
The funny thing is, I have learned, is that somewhere, someone is in awe of us in the same way!
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