High School Graduation Day, February 17, 2007

Program

Opening prayer, Uncle Carl Alsup
Slide show, Halee from baby to young woman
Comments, Dad David Marshall
Presentation speech, Andy Covington
Valedictory speech, Halee M. Marshall
Prayer of blessing, Grandpa Howard Marshall
Diploma presentation, Carol Teague
Closing prayer, David Marshall

2007 Valedictory Address
By Halee M. Marshall

Hi Everyone.  Thank you so much for coming and sharing this great day with me. I look around this room and can’t help but feel loved. It really means a lot to me that you are all here.

In 1994, when I was five years old, I started my academic career. It’s kinda weird to think about it that way, but that is how it goes. For the most part I was your average student. I was never the smartest kid, nor was I the dumbest. I made A’s, B’s, and C’s all the way through school. But I was the most quiet, and most of the time I was the teacher’s pet. My favorite teacher was Mrs. Wetzel - she was a nice, patient, Godly lady. I would hang out with her at recess instead of the other kids. I liked her so much that I invited her to my tenth birthday party ... and she came.

I have to admit when I first started out, I had a hard time understanding why I had to learn all this stuff, ‘cause even though I never voiced it, all I ever want to be was a mom. I thought it was just plain silly and a waste of my time. I’d rather be painting or cooking up something strange and smelly in the kitchen. My thinking is different now; I know that there is a reason behind anything and everything you learn in school.

When I was in the 1st grade, I had my first embarrassing moment. I wore a dress to school that day. I started leaning back my chair just like every adult told you not to. Then my chair fell over and my dress went flying up over my head revealing my Little Mermaid underwear to everyone. And all at once, several girls in the class said, "I wore my Little Mermaid underwear today too." I was so embarrassed!

When I was about ten years old I started my love-hate relationship with cooking. I loved creating things, but I hated reading the instructions. Through many mistakes, tears, and my mother teaching me and my father harassing me, I finally learned that there is a reason why they give you instruction and that hate finally left.

In 7th grade my parents started home-schooling my brother and me. Now I’m not saying that home-schooling is for everyone or that it’s better than public school, but for my family it probably was one of the best decisions we ever made . I know for sure I would not have such an amazing relationship with my family if we had not. I will say that there are many benefits to being home-schooled. I got to travel around with my family and visit all sorts of places and meet all different types of people. I believe that is just as important as learning English.

Now I have to tell all of you something, I have a couple of the best parents in the world, and no one can tell me differently. They have raised me under God’s laws, and have shown me what a happy, Godly marriage should look like. They have always supported anything I wanted to do. They have always been there to pick me up whenever I would fall. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for always giving me your all. I love you.

From the time I was born, up until I was five years old, I was the girliest of girly-girls. One time when I was four I got frustrated with my mom because she did not understand the importance of all the shades of pink I was wearing to be the exact same shade, from the pink in my bow all the way down to the pink in my shoes. I looked up and told her, "Mom! I have to look immaculate so I can mesmerize everyone!" My mom is best friend. Not everyone understands our humor, but that never mattered - we always have fun anyway. I feel like I could tell her anything without being judged. I hope and pray that if I have a daughter someday, our relationship will be something like yours and mine. Mom, you are beautiful to me in every way. I love you so very much. I look up to you in everything. You have had such great patience with me and my quirky little ways. Thank you for everything. I love you.

I have always said that my dad is my number one hero. I feel so blessed to have such a great dad. He has set the perfect example of what I should look for in my husband. Dad, "You are the apple of my eye, the pepperoni on my pizza, the butter on my bread, the frosting on my cake!" I want you to know that no matter what, I will always be your little girl. I love you, dad.

Branin, you are the best brother ever! I know I may pick on you a lot and give you a hard time, but it's only because I think you're pretty weird ... I'm cool. I only pick on those I like. You are so much fun to be around. You are so funny and talented, but my favorite thing you do is your awesome karate moves you do going down the hallway when you think no one is looking. Thank you for being a great brother and friend and my mental punching bag! I love ya!

Mom and Dad told me I could start dating when I became sixteen, but always told everyone else that I wasn't going to start dating until I was eighteen. I said that I didn't see the point of dating that young. If you decide that you wanted to get married, you couldn't. So several months after I turned sixteen, there was this boy, that I had known since I was eleven, that started showing more interest in me, and I felt in my gut that I should give him a chance. Marshall, I love you so much. I'm glad I listened to my gut. I love the fact that you love God more than you love me. You make me so happy. Thank you for being an amazing boyfriend. I love you.

August 28^th is Marshall's birthday and the day that I met him, but it's also the day that I met another very important person, Emma. We were “joined at the hip” the first day that we met. I will always consider her one of the greatest friends that I have ever had. We could do some of the most boring things and still manage to have a ton of fun. Emma, you are the grooviest chick around. You're funny and beautiful. I'm glad that we have been friends for so long, you’re like a sister. I love ya!

Now for the rest of everyone, my church family, my family and my friends, now don't think that because you are one of the last, that you’re not important to me. You all are the best support system a girl could ask for. You are some of the sweetest and nicest people and I feel so blessed to be able to grow up around you. I'd like to give a special thank you to my Aunt Colleen and Uncle Carl, my Uncle Rob and Aunt Judy, and my grandparents for coming so far to be with me today! I love all of you.

When I look back on all that I have been through, I can't help but see how God was there with me. I have Him to thank for everything. He has given me a great family, amazing friends, salvation, and healing. He has done just so much. He has always had my back, no matter what. I pray that everything I do with my life will be to glorify Him.

Now that this point of my life is coming to an end, I have to start making plans for my future. From here I plan on going on to Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy in Austin. Someday I wish to get married and have children, and maybe someday I will own my own business. Thank you again for coming.  February 17, 2007

Trifle - created by Halee

Halee’s a Living Stone

By Andy Covington

Description of Halee:  honest, truthful, dependable, loyal, forgiving, would give up anything for someone else even if it were to a stranger in need, doesn’t get offended easily, hard worker, can laugh at herself, uplifting, not negative, imaginative, doesn’t succumb to peer pressure, leader – not a follower, loves her family, enjoys all ages of people and can feel comfortable with almost anyone, stealthily competitive.

Graduation Day:  Pictures, scrapbooks, visiting around the reception tables.  We are all making a memory.  This chapter in Halee’s life has come to a close and a new chapter is beginning.

ROCK – Joshua, chapters 3-4

1. God told Joshua to lead Israelites across the Jordan River.

1. Banks steep
2. Step of faith
3. God provides

Parents, David & Shannon = Joshua and the priests

2. Israelites were obedient
   1. Protected
   2. Blessed

Halee = Israelites

3. After crossing, takes stones from mid-Jordan, bring to camp and make an altar
   1. The altar of stones was a reminder
   2. When asked about the stones, a chance to tell about God’s guidance and deliverance

Pictures, scrapbooks = stones, which are the testimony of God’s provision and His hand on Halee’s education

1 Peter 2:4-5

   1.   God calls us believers “Living Stones” and our lives are to be a testimony, constantly and consistently.

2. We are celebrating with this Living Stone, Halee.  She is a success and will continue to be a success for several reasons.
   1. Support and love and continuous prayers and good examples from her parents.
   2. Halee reads her Bible and believes what God says.

Success is a Bible word.  Jesus is a Success with a capital S.  He succeeds in everything He does.

Society – the world attributes success to winning athletes, popularity, elected politicians, self-made millionaires, and all kinds of achievers.

God’s standards for evaluating success are even higher than those established by man.  His principles of success, shown in the Bible are built on faithfulness, trust, integrity, discipline and obedience.  Remember the list I read about Halee at the beginning?  Halee is a success and will always be a success.

Joshua 1:8

Halee believes and lives this word.  She is a success and will continue to be a success because she holds this truth.  It isn’t a secret and all those who do believe it and live by it are a success.

This truth is:  God has an unconditional love for us.  He doesn’t love us because we are “somebody.”  He loves us and sees the wonderful possibilities for each of us.  He’s our biggest cheerleader.  He loves each of us as though there were no one else to love, but us.  He will never love us a bit more in the future than He loves us right now.  We can grieve the Lord, insult Him, resist Him, and even disobey Him … none of these things removes or lessens His love.  Our perverse actions only hinder His blessings, because He can only bless obedience.  We cannot add to God’s love nor subtract from it.  The good news is that we can cooperate with His love and enjoy it forever.

And that will be Halee’s “Secret Recipe for Success” all the days of her life.  And it can be ours too.  It is our choice. 

Congratulations, Halee, for your obedience and hard work.  All of us thank you for glorifying God in your education and your life choices.  May you continue to listen to His direction only and give Him all the glory for your success.