A very special graduation

One week from today, we'll arrive in Boise to attend a special family event. Our daughter-in-law and Willie's wife, Debbie will receive her degree from Boise State University. This will be a wonderful accomplishment for a young lady who has shown both grit and determination while working toward her degree.

It has not been an easy road for Debbie, but she has never let any obstacle obscure her vision of earning a Bachelor's degree, the first in her immediate family. For the past seven years, she has devoted long hours at different jobs to pay for her education. She's worked for the Boise City Recreation Department for several years, and for three years, she ran a pre-school program for employees' children at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise.

Last year, she changed her major from elementary education to multi-ethnic studies. That meant an additional year tacked on to what had already been a long run. Adding to the burden was the fact that for 18 months, Willie and Debbie have led separate lives five days each week. Willie has worked in Newport as a reporter, lived with us, and has either flown or driven to Boise nearly every weekend since October, 2003. Not an easy situation for any marriage, but these two seem to have risen to the challenge.

I remember when Annie first told me that Willie had met a new girlfriend not long after he moved to Boise.

"She's really sweet," Annie said. "I think you'll like her, Mom." Annie nailed that one. Since the first time we met her, we have both loved and admired Debbie for her warmth, her generous, caring heart and her tenacity to achieve long-sought-after goals.

Plus, she's fun and properly impish for our family needs. I remember one time in Boise when we went to a second-hand store, bought some really ugly wigs, put them on and drove around town, giggling so hard we were crying.

When she comes up this way, we usually take time to go for a scenic drive and lunch. Last year on a fine spring day while she was visiting during her break (I finally admit this publicly), we drove to the end of a really rough road somewhere around Sandpoint on a Viggo search. No luck, but we now know why he drives a 4-wheel drive pickup when he comes home.

Debbie's graduation announcement from Boise State arrived in the mail a couple of days ago. After leaving it on the counter for Bill to see, I put it away in my Bible where I store really important historical and family items. This event next Saturday will mark the third time we've attended a Boise State graduation, including Annie's last year and Willie's three years ago.

And, as usual, when the name "Deborah Williams Love" is read during the commencement ceremonies, I'll be making a fool out of myself, yelling and cheering at the top of my lungs.

It goes like this: WE LOVE YOU, DEBBIE.