Do you have a big dream in your heart? If you’ve heard me speak or write, you know one of my mottos is, “Dream big because we serve a big God!”
Our oldest daughter Heather had a big dream in her heart—to get her college Associate’s degree in Business Administration. And she did it, while working full-time and taking care of her two little girls, Annabelle and Violet!
Our daughter Heather is a college graduate! We are so proud of her!
Heather wanted to quit many times. I encouraged her she would reach the finish line and to keep going. And she did. Ray and I and our family are so proud of her!
Heather’s pretty degree holder
Heather’s college degree
Below she is walking across the stage to get her degree. Of course, our family, her girls, her boyfriend Matt, and her friend Lindsey cheered loudly as she did!
Heather in procession
Heather crossing stage to get her degree
Below is a great headshot pic of Heather. She looked so beautiful in her cap, tassel, and gown!
Heather in her cap, tassel, and gown
Heather needed me to come get her phone and purse before the ceremony. I snapped a couple of pics of her and me before she graduated. I’m so excited and happy for her!
Me with my daughter Heather before her college graduation ceremony
Heather & me before her graduation ceremony
During the graduation ceremony, the speaker asked all veterans who had served in the military and those serving now to stand up, for us to honor them. Ray served in the U.S. Navy for over 14 years as a combat medic.
Ray honored as a veteran
Below is a great pic of our family with Heather: Ray, our daughter Leah, Heather, and me. We’re just missing our middle daughter, Eden, who is in OKlahoma and couldn’t come for the ceremony.
Our family with Heather at her college graduation: Ray, Leah, Heather & me
Below is a pic of Heather after the ceremony with her two precious girls,Violet and Annabelle.
Heather after her graduation with her 2 girls, Violet & Annabelle
Before the ceremony, I took a pic of Violet and Annabelle in their pink dresses by an ice cream freezer at a coffee shop at the church, where the graduation was held. It made such a cute pic!
Violet & Annabelle in their pink dresses
Below is a pic of Heather after graduation with her boyfriend, Matt Franklin. They’ve been dating two years now and he was very proud of her, too.
Heather & her boyfriend Matt after her graduation
Below is Heather with her friend Lindsey, who has been a great friend to her.
Heather & her friend Lindsey after her graduation
I thought it was funny when my husband Ray told me that Heather had taken a picture with her “friends” at graduation. I said, “What friends? All her classes were online!”
Heather is a social butterfly. She had just met these people at her graduation ceremony and took pics and funny videos with them. I thought it was hilarious. Welcome to the social media world! You can see the long line of graduates in back of them.
Heather at graduation with peers
I gave Heather a little party at her house with family and a couple of friends to celebrate this huge accomplishment.
I ordered a cake from Hy-Vee, which was a white cake with white frosting and inscribed with blue frosting, “You did it, Heather!” It also had a cute little cap and scroll on it for the degree. They did a beautiful job on the cake and it was delicious!
Heather’s college graduation cake
I found these adorable, teal-blue “sprinkle” plates and napkins and heart cup decorations to match the cake for the party at the dollar store.
Sprinkle, teal-blue plates and napkins for party
Heart cups for party
We had a few tasty snacks like little smokies with BBQ sauce, potato chips, pickles, olives, broccoli with ranch, and Matt’s mom Kay brought yummy salted pretzels, drizzled with caramel.
Little smokies with bbq sauce
snacks for party
Salted pretzels drizzled with caramel
Since Heather loves the ocean like I do, I bought her a silver necklace with a clam pendant and a white stone and a silver bracelet as a gift.
Silver necklace with clam and white stone
Silver bracelet
Matt’s mom Kay bought her a beautiful, sunflower recipe book as a graduation gift. It was very cool!
Heather’s sunflower recipe book gift from Kay
Recipe book gift
Here’s a pretty pic of Heather wearing the necklace and bracelet I bought her.
Heather wearing necklace & bracelet I gave her
Here’s a great pic of Heather, Violet, and our daughter Leah at the little party. I love Heather’s picture of the ocean and stairs in the background.
Heather, Violet, & Leah at little party
Heather’s party with Matt and his mom Kay and our family
Heather’s pregnant friend Tiffany came to the party. Her due date is in July. I think pregnant women are beautiful. She looked so cute in her hat. They’ve been friends since they were teens.
Heather & her friend Tiffany
Her girls enjoyed the snacks. Here’s Annabelle acting silly, eating cake! Her girls were very proud of Heather, too!
Annabelle being silly
Violet with cake
I drew a little sign with a heart (I love hearts!) on the girls’ white board for the party to congratulate Heather.
Congrats sign
What big dream or goal is in your heart? Whatever it is, you can do it!
God helped Heather to accomplish this amazing dream and goal, even while working full time and taking care of her girls, and He can help you, too! Nothing is impossible with God!
Ray and I are so very proud of Heather! If you would like to bless Heather with a gift for her college graduation (money is always good!), please feel free to do so!
“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”–Ephesians 3:20, The Message
Heather did it!
We’re so proud of you!
