Congratulations, Mom!

A word of thanks and praise from your boys and husband.

Mom’s graduation.

Today, my Mom graduates from Freed-Hardeman University.

She could have graduated a long time ago - it’s been a dream of hers to finish college one day. But she put that dream on hold to homeschool my brothers and me all the way through high school.

And so, for a mother who sacrificed so much for her family and who exemplifies the Proverbs 31 woman:

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her…”

From Justin

Mom had talked about going back to college for many years before she finally did. She has always put our family first, so she waited until much later in life to finish her education. I had the privilege of watching her overcome many of the same challenges I faced in my own schooling.

I am incredibly proud of my mother, not only for completing her degree, but for doing so with perseverance, a cheerful spirit, and an unfailing willingness to be there for us despite the demands of her coursework. She is a living reminder that, when we pursue education, careers, or any of the things we need to build our lives, we must never lose sight of the deeper purpose behind it all: to glorify God and to serve others.

Those are qualities I hope I can one day embody as well as she does.

From Jonathan

There was never a moment in my life when I felt like my mother didn’t care. In the little things, in the big things, she always poured herself into her role as teacher, caregiver, and confidant.

The time and effort it took to be a present and kind parent to 4 sons, who are each a handful in their own right, speaks to a character of love and investment that places her among the greats of history.

Conviction to shape her brood against contemporary cultural convention. Selfless Service in the form of personal sacrifice. Determination in the face of challenges.

These are the qualities present in my mother, whose story is written in the lives of her children, and many others who know her as a source of light and love.

From Joshua

My Mom is graduating college today. It’s a little hard to think of
what to say to that when you’ve seen her achieve bigger
accomplishments. Not that graduating college is a small feat, because
it isn’t. Graduating college takes time and dedication, lots of
sleepless nights, and feeling overwhelmed because everything is due at
once.

But my mom has been overwhelmed before, with everything needing to be
done at once. She had a lot of sleepless nights before starting
college. She’s already given so much time and dedication, and
accomplished greater things.

Because she’s my mom. Raising not one, but four children. I’m sure
college is nothing compared to all of that. And besides, she’s been my
mom for a lot longer than four years.

And she always will be.

From Jameson

You always worried about going back to college and whether or not you could handle it. But I always knew you could do it, thanks to your tremendous organization and tireless work ethic during our homeschooling days. So much of the college workload is knowing what you have to do and then just getting it done. You’ve always been organized, and you kept us all on the right track.

You taught me that while your dreams never have to die, you may have to put your own dreams on the back burner for a while, helping others achieve their goals and dreams before you can reach your own.

Your unfailing focus on God, His word, and His providence in our lives will forever be the thing I am most thankful for.

Congratulations, Mom!

From Jim

There are many positive things I could say about my wife with her graduating college.

These things I could say about her before she decided to return to college, but college has brought them out of her and I am not surprised.

I have witnessed these things over our 37 years of marriage and the 38 years I have known her. These things are built into her character and are why I love her.

You will see from these characteristics how I knew she would succeed in this endeavor. Pam, in her late 50s and now at 60 years old, has made an “A” grade in every class at Freed-Hardeman University. “AI” tells me this puts her in the top 2% of the nation. Well, I tend to think she is more like one-of-a-kind. Let me tell you about Pam from my perspective.

1. When Pam decides on doing anything, she is in. All the way. She is invested. She is dedicated. 100% all the time, all day, every day.

This healthy obsession and dedication take her to places that many would think she could not achieve. This can be seen years ago in her deciding to just take up quilting and being so dedicated to it that those in quilt shops would rave about her detailed stitching. Or her taking up baking and decorating cookies that ladies and even guys would just brag about the attention to detail and the great craftsmanship in her work. Or homeschooling 4 boys from about 1995-2020 Or how about this surprise.. How many of us would choose and then take steps to do a radio show with no experience? Now, others are starting to do podcasts and radio shows following her lead. Some in the town of Henderson can’t wait to listen to the next episode to see what she and her guest are talking about.

2. Pam can overlook those who think it strange to spend a lot of money on college this ”late” in her life, when many would think she has so few years to work and see the fruits of her efforts.

Well, that is where she is being underestimated. If Pam makes up her mind, she probably has 20-30 years to work if she wants. Where many would think she has only a few years before retirement, she sees herself as just getting started and not much different than the 20-year-olds that she is graduating with this weekend. She is excited, and she can’t wait to see what the next years hold for her and the great opportunity out there to make a difference. And that is part of her story you must understand, which leads to the next point.

3. Pam wants to make a difference in people’s lives. Not just contact people who need her, but make a huge impact for them. She is selfless, you see, and she knows and wants to help those who are most in need. The babies, the children, the parents, the aged. The impact she will make is due to her great humility and caring attitude that she has always shown to her children, her parents, and her spouse. She has demonstrated this by doing every job imaginable to help her dad and those in retirement homes. That takes a special person when it is family, but it really does when it is not family and you don’t really need the job. What a difference she will be making in the future. I am sure of it.

4. I can’t help but mention some of Pam’s greatest accomplishments. Justin, Jonathan, Joshua, and Jameson. Ages 22, 29, 32, and 34 years old. The amount of time and effort she put into teaching these boys from Pre-K thru 12th grade. 14 years each x 4 boys = 56 years of teaching in about a 25-year span. She kept meticulous records of each class, each grade, each test, each paper so she could prove when asked what they had been taught. All have graduated college now. Pam put them first every day, and today we are so proud of them and each of their lives and wives (Maegan, Kelsey, and Ashley) that they are blessed with to spend their lives with. And we have some great grandchildren (5 in all, as of now) that we are proud of as well. Our boys are daddys and husbands, and much of their good character, I know, comes from her great teaching.

5. All of us can learn from Pam: As spouses, as parents, as siblings, as children, as grandchildren, and as friends.

What do you want to do? What keeps you from doing it? What do you need to learn or do to overcome these challenges? Don’t see obstacles in your path, see opportunities, and have courage, have want-to, and have grit, (Pam has a lot of grit), and tackle it with the determination Pam displays. Her story is inspiring, and she has only just started. Some of the best chapters are in front of her. I am glad I am with her and by her side. Now you know some of the reasons why I love her.

Her loving husband, Jim