CANDY BAR SPEECH I MADE AT KRISTIERAE'S HOMESCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONYATION CEREMONY

by Trinette Ellis 


Since KristieRae's favorite treats are candy bars, I decided to base my speech on all her favorae's favorite treats are candy bars, I decided to base my speech on all her favorite ones. (For each candy bar mentioned, I held up that particular candy)

When I decided to homeschool KristieRae and Ryan 10 years ago, many of our family and friends were very supportive, but some thought I was just PLAIN (Plain M&Ms) NUTS. (M&Ms w/ peanuts) Undaunted, I ventured forth on this journey of homeschooling. My first visit to a homeschool  curriculum vendor hall yielded a rather expensive spending SPREE. (SPREES) I brought home MOUNDS of curriculum. On the drive home from the fair, visions of teaching my children GOOD and PLENTY danced in my head. Little did I know that much of what I purchased turned out to be a DUD (MILK DUDS) of a curriculum. Thank God for homeschool  used book sales.

Our years of homeschooling have been filled w/ learning about things like the MILKY WAY and TURTLE habitats. I remember how excited I was when KristieRae truned in some of her first writing assignments like this one: My dog died. I miss my dog. We will get a new dog. She even used a period at the end of each sentence.

 Homeschooling has afforded us the luxury of extended family vacations. We have visited 42 states and enjoyed the natural beauty of 28 National Parks. Kristie's favorite place was NEW YORK (YORK PEPPERMINT PATTY) City where we enjoyed a bus tour of the city which included a drive down 5TH AVENUE.

As many of you know homeshcooling can be quite challenging. Even though some days are filled with lots of SNICKERS. One does hit some SOUR PATCHES. On these days, weeks, and sometimes months, I found the support of my friends from KRHEST to be quite a LIFESAVER. With KristieRae and Ryan being together full time, the tension could build up at times between them, and we would have to TAKE 5 to regroup. On a particularly bad day in 4th grade, KristieRae handed me this note: Dear Mom, Ryan might be the greatest thing on MARS (MARS BAR) with all the aliens that live there, but I wish I could throw him off the Earth. I'm so mad at him I'm getting hot. So hot I could catch him on fire. Love, Kristie

After 9 years of homeschooling and 1 1/2 years of part time public education at LakeView Technical Academy, KristieRae spent her junior year preparing for college. We found out she is quite the SMARTIE (king size roll of Smarties) and SKORED (SKOR BAR) well on her ACT. Because of this, she was accepted to Carthage College and was awarded over $40,000  in scholarships. This leaves her father and me praying for a huge PAY DAY (King size Pay Day bar) to help pay for the WHOPPER ( huge box of Whoppers malt balls) of her remaining tuition. (HELD UP A 100 GRAND BAR) I am especially thankful KristieRae was accepted to at local college, as who would help me find all the THINGAMAGIGS I lose if she moved away.

KristieRae on this day we celebrate you and all that you have accomplished until now. We look forward to watching you fulfill your dreams to become an Environmental Conservationist and save the earth,  one tree at a time. As your parents, it has been our greatest JOY (King Size ALMOND JOY) to witness you grow into the young woman God intended you to be. Thank you for making parenting for us one of the easiest jobs in the world. We love you and we are very proud of you.

Oh, one last thing, when KristieRae was a little girl she was obsessed w/ the idea of getting a cat. Since Kevin is NOT a cat person, he would tell her that when she went off to college she could have one. Well, since you will be living at home during your college years this is the best we can offer you!! (KIT KAT BAR)