I feel quite awful from my sickness as I type this at the end of the day, but I woke up this morning feeling really good. Lily and I planned the day last night and decided that what we wanted to focus on today aside from her getting a workout (my workouts are pausing due to illness), was to fully organize the house. Mostly that meant organizing toys and setting up an area for Lydia and Mary to play with all the American Girl dolls that have been in storage.
When I woke up, I had sinus issues, but my energy was almost 100%. I quickly got cracking on housework. Lily and I had so much fun playing house together. We moved a dresser, created a great area in the girl’s room for them to store and play dolls, and overhauled how and where the toys are stored (and got rid of quite a few that are no longer useful). It was so fun to do this with Lily. As we were working, we let Clarissa (to Lydia’s terror because Clarissa is not guaranteed to be careful) play with the doll things for a little bit. Here are twp photos and a video of that moment.
While putting new batteries in toys, I got to use the new battery organizer Clark and Swathi gave us for Christmas. I’m obsessed with organizing, so I really love this!
Here is Clarissa taking a nap with her baby doll:
Also, today we learned good news from our real estate agent about how selling our condo is progressing.
At 5:45, I went to pick up my friend Nick to take him to his high school graduation. Nick is around 30 years old, and has been trying to get his GED for 12 years. Recently, Utah started a program that allows adults to go through all of the high-school classes and get a diploma without having to take a GED. Nick enrolled in this program and completed every requirement. I am so happy for him. I have been his friend for about 11 years. I’ve followed his fight to get a GED, and now seeing him get this diploma is so amazing. It was such a special thing to be a part of. I got to pick him up, take him to the graduation, treat him to dinner afterwords and drop him off. It was a very meaningful time. We wore face-masks in my car to be smart about germs and I cleaned up good when I got home.
Nick was so happy. We arrived and he got his cap and gown and we took some pictures. The sun was very bright!
While we were waiting for the ceremony to begin, we hung out by my car and Nick just talked to me. He was so happy. So excited. He couldn’t believe this day had come. I asked him, “Now that you have your diploma, what is next?” He told me not to ask him what was next, because he was just loving soaking in the feeling of having climbed the mountain. He faced so much frustration. Every time he didn’t pass the GED was hard for him I’m sure. Now, he finally got what he’s been chasing for so long. It must have felt so good. It must be a building block to his own self-confidence, his belief that he can achieve what he puts his mind to. He told me that at one point he had completely given up on the idea of a GED. Then he said his grandma got really sick and she is his greatest inspiration. When she was sick, he thought she might die, and he knew he needed a way to cope if that happened so he knew he had to throw himself into something that would make her happy. Someone suggested school to him. He found this program and the rest is history. Once he enrolled, he really took off. He did around 3.5 years of high school credits in one year. As of last week, he had a full credit left before he could graduate. He had them send him home with everything he needed to complete to graduate this week, and he had a ton of work. He paced himself, and worked diligently over the weekend, and amazed his teacher when he turned in the completed packets Monday so he could graduate Wednesday.
He also told me about his social studies class. He loved that class, and he is so good at history. In fact, his teacher let him teach a class for thirty minutes on the industrial revolution. Nick beamed as he told me he loved that teaching opportunity. He was just so happy. Just absorbing it all. To have finally climbed the mountain, something that so many times felt impossible. He did it, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Then Nick lined up to walk for his graduation. Here is a video of him walking and below are pictures of the proceedings:
Nick was so excited about his graduation that he asked the Principal if he could borrow his cap and gown for 20 extra minutes so I could drive him to Maverick where he worked so he could show himself to his coworkers in his cap and gown. She obliged and we made the trip:
After going back to the school to return his cap and gown, I took Nick to Firehouse subs and then dropped him off at home. The whole time he was high on his accomplishment, and just reminiscing on the journey. He was so happy.
At home I showered, sanitized my phone and collapsed into bed. I was gradually fading into feeling really sick during my time with Nick and by the time I got home I was wrecked. I watched more “Our Town” while Lily put the kids down, and eventually I revived myself to go walk with Lily. We had a great time talking as usual. Because I feel so sick, I cancelled my bike ride tomorrow with my friend Daniel Olsen, which makes me sad, but it’s the right thing to do.